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THE 



BATTLE ROLL: 



CONTAINIKG 



)ESCRIPTIONS OF THE MOST FAMOUS AND MEMORABLE 



LAND BATTLES AND SIEGES 



IN ALL AGES 



ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY, 



BY ELBERT ^PERCE. 



ILLUSTRATED. A-7 i 

C- .* 



NEW Y R K:^ 
MASON BROTHERS, 

108 & 110 DUANE STREET. 
1858. 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by 

MASON BROTHERS, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of 
New York. 






SLEOTBOTTPFD BT PRINTED BY 

THOMAS B. SMTTH. - A. 0. ALVORD. 

82 & 84 Beekman-st., 15 Vakdewatkb-steebt, 



%7 



/^ 



TO 



LIEUTENANT GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT, 



^i fm anJ priot ; 



THE BRILLIANCY OF WHOSE MILITARY ACHIEVEMENTS HAS PROVED 
HIM TO BE 



The Greatest General of the Age, 



THIS RECORD OF THE BATTLES OF ALL NATIONS, IS BY PERMISSION, 
RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY 



THE A UTHOR 



THE BATTLE ROLL. 



ABANCAY— ABOUKIR. 



ABANCAY, A.D. 1537.— The battle of 
Abancay was fought near a river in Peru of 
that name, on the 12 th of July, 1537, between 
the Spanish troops of Alvarado on the one 
side, and those of Almagro on the other. The 
battle occurred during the civil war which 
broke out among the Spaniards after their 
conquest of Peru ; and the forces on both 
sides were nearly equal, each consisting of 
about five hundred men. The loss in killed 
and wounded, on either side, was trifling; 
but Alvarado and his whole army were made 
prisoners by the victorious troops of Almagro. 

ABENSBURG-, a.d. 1809.— This place, a 
small town of Bavaria, was the scene of an 
engagement on the 20th of April, 1809, be- 
tween the Austrian and the French armies, the 
latter under Napoleon Bonaparte. The Aus- 
trians were defeated with considerable loss. 

ABOUKIR, A.D. 1799.— Aboukir is situ- 
ated on the Egyptian coast, 10 miles east from 
Alexander. It is at present a village with 100 
Arabian inhabitants. It has a strong castle 
on the western side of the spacious bay of 
Aboukir, protected by a projecting point of 
land, and several small islands. 

Oa the twenty-fiah day of July, 1799, Na- 
poleon arrived within sight of the peninsula 
of Aboukir. Before him lay the intrenched 
camp of the Turks, and although the force of 
the enemy exceeded nine thousand men, 
while his army consisted only of eight thou- 
sand men all told, he determined to make an 
immediate attack. The Turks occupied the 
peninsula of Aboukir, and had covered the 
approach to it with two lines of intrench- 
ments. The first ran directly across the neck 
of land, about one mile in front of the village 
of Aboukir. At either extremity of this line 
were two mounds of sand, each of which was 
garrisoned by two thousand men. The sec- 
ond, a mile in the rear, was strengthened in 
the center by the fort constructed by the 
French, and terminated at one extremity in 
the sea, and at the other in the lake. Between 
the two lines was placed the camp. The first 



line was guarded by four thousand men ; the 
second by five thousand men, and supported 
by twelve pieces of cannon besides those 
mounted on the fort. 

The French general, Lannes, with two 
thousand men, attacked the right of the first 
line. General D'Estaing, with a like number 
of men, attacked the left, while Murat, whose 
cavah-y was arranged in three divisionp, 
charged upon the center, with the view of 
piercing through, so as to turn both wings of 
the first Une, and thus prevent all communi- 
cation with the second. The Turks fought 
with desperate valor; and although their 
right wing gradually gave way before the 
impetuous charge of the French, their left 
maintained its position, until Murat, with one 
vigorous charge, drove his cavalry through 
the center of the Hne, and then, dividing his 
force, rushed on to the destruction of the two 
wings. At that moment the Turks fled in 
confusion to the second line. The French 
cavalry followed in hot pursuit, and, unable 
to reach the second intrenchment, the Turks 
rushed tumultuously into the lake, where al- 
most the whole were either drowned or cut 
do^vn by the grape-shot which was constantly 
poured upon them by the French artillery. 
The other extremity of the line met with the 
same fate. General Lannes attacked the 
mount on the right ; the cavalry charged it, 
after piercing the center, and the Turks, 
flying at the first onset, were driven into the 
sea, and met the fate of their unfortunate 
comrades on the right. Now Lannes and 
D'Estaing united their forces and attacked 
the village in the center. The janizaries de- 
fended themselves bravely, hoping to be sup- 
ported by the second line : but no sooner did 
Murat perceive a column of Turks advancing 
for that purpose, than he charged them with 
his cavalry, and completely routed them. 
The village was then carried with the bayonet, 
and its defenders, refusing aU quarter, were 
put to the sword, or escaped and rushed into 
the water, and were drowned. 



G 



ABTDOS. 



Inspired by tWs success, Napoleon hoped 
by repeating the same maneuver with the 
second hne, to destroy the whole remainder 
of the Turldsh army. He estabUshed a battery 
to protect the operations of his troops, and 
after allowing his army a few hours for re- 
pose, he commenced an attack upon the inte- 
rior and more formidable line of defense. 
On the right a trench jomed the fort of Abou- 
kir to the sea ; but on the left a trench which 
was to have joined it to Lake Maadich, was 
not completed, leaving a small open space 
between the intrenchment and the lake. It 
was decided by Napoleon that D'Estaing's 
division should attack the intrenchment on 
the right, while the principal effort was to be 
directed to the left, where the whole of the 
cavahy, under cover of Lannes's division, were 
to enter at the open space between the 
trenches and the lake, and take the Turkish 
line in the rear. At three o'clock the charge 
was made. D'Estaing's division, arranged in 
echelon of battaUons, advanced gallantly ; but 
the Turks, transported by their ardor, rushed 
from behind their intrenchraents upon them, 
and a bloody conflict took place on the plain. 
Discharging their fusils, the infuriated janiza- 
ries rushed to the attack, wielding their for- 
midable sabers in the air ; but Turkish valor 
at length yielded to the steady pressure of 
the European bayonet, and they were borne 
back, fighting for every inch of soil, to the foot 
of the intrenchment. The French were 
here arrested by the plunging fire of the 
redoubt, and the sustained discharges of 
musketry from the top of the works. Le- 
tourcy was killed, Fugurres wounded, and 
the French column, broken and disordered, 
recoiled from the field of carnage toward the 
exterior line. Murat also signally failed in 
his attempt on the left. True, Lannes forced 
the intrenchraents toward the extremity of 
the lake, and occupied some of the houses of 
the village ; but when the cavalry attempted 
to pass through the narrow defile between 
the works and the lake, they were assailed 
by such a terrible fire from the gun-boats that 
they were repeatedly forced to retire. The 
attack had failed at both extremities, and Na- 
poleon was doubtful whether he should con- 
tinue the combat or rest contented with the 
advantage already gained. 

But the Turks themselves relieved Napo- 
leon from this perplexity. No sooner did 
they see the column which had assailed their 
right retire, than they rushed out of the fort 
of Aboukir, and began to cut off the heads 
of the dead bodies which lay scattered over 
the plain. Napoleon instantly saw his ad- 
vantage, and quickly turned it to the best 
account. Advancing rapidly with his reserves 
in admirable order, he arrested the sortie in 
the center, while Lannes returned to the attack 



of the intrenchments, now, in a great meas- 
ure, denuded of their defenders, and D'Es- 
taing re-formed his troops for another effort 
on the lines to the right. AH these attacks 
proved successful ; the whole Une of redoubts 
was captured almost without resistance, while 
several squadrons penetrated through the 
narrow opening on the margin of the lake, 
and entered the rear of the second line. The 
Turks now fled in the wildest conftision to- 
ward Aboukir ; but Murat's cavahy, which , 
now occupied the space between the second 
hne and the fort, charged them so furiously 
in flank, that they were driven into the sea, 
and almost all perished in the waves. Murat 
penetrated into the camp of Mustapha Pacha, 
where he made that commander prisoner 
with his own hands. The remnant of the 
Turkish army, about two thousand men, fled 
to the fort of Aboukir. A heavy cannonade 
was immediately opened on the fort, which 
surrendered, July 30th. Five thousand 
Turkish corpses floated in the bay of Abou- 
kir, two thousand perished in battle, and two , 
thousand were made prisoners of war in the 
fort. Hardly any escaped — a circumstance 
almost unexampled in modern warfare. 

ABYDOS, B.C. 201.— -Philip, king of Mace- 
don, father of Perseus, who proved last mon- 
arch of that country, was at war with the 
Rhodians. The inhabitants of Abydos made 
common cause with that commercial people, 
who often came to visit the shores of the 
Dardanelles. Philip was successfial in his 
passage through Thrace and the Chersonesus, 
where many cities surrendered to his arms, 
but Abydos shut its gates against him, and 
prepared for a bold resistance. Nothing of 
what is usually practiced in such warlike pro- 
ceedings was omitted in this siege. No place 
was ever defended with more bravery ; but 
this bravery, in the end, degenerated into 
brutahty and fury. Confiding in their ovni 
strength, the Abydenians repulsed the first 
attacks of the Macedonians with the greatest 
vigor. On the side next the sea, the ma- 
clunes no sooner came forward than they were 
immediately either dismounted by the balistaa 
or consumed by fii'e. Even the sliips on 
which they were mounted were in danger, 
and were saved with difficulty. On the land 
side they also defended themselves for some 
time with great courage, and did not despair 
even of defeating the enemy. But, finding that 
the outer wall was sapped, and that the Mace- 
donians were carrying their mines under the 
inner one, they sent deputies to Philip, offering 
to surrender upon the following terms : That 
such forces as had been sent to them by the 
Rhodians and King Attalus should return to 
their respective sovereigns, under his safe con- 
duct ; and that all free citizens should retire 
whitlaersoever they pleased, with the clothes 



ABYDOS. 



they had then on. Philip answered coolly, that 
the Abydenians had only to choose whether 
they would surrender at discretion, or con- 
tinue to defend themselves bravely. This re- 
port being made by the deputies, the besieged, 
in transports of despair, assembled to debate 
what was best to be done. They came to 
the following resolutions: — First, that the 
slaves should be all set free, to animate them 
to defend the city; secondly, that all the 
women shouM be shut up in the Temple of 
Diana, and all the children, with their nurses, 
in th'j Grymnasium ; that they should bring 
into the great square all the gold and silver 
in the city, and carry all the rest of the val- 
uable effects to the vessels of the Rhodians 
and the Cyzicenians. These resolutions hav- 
ing passed unanimously, another assembly was 
called, in which they chose fifty of the wisest 
and most ancient of the citizens, but who at the 
same time had vigor enough left to execute 
what might be determined on; and they 
were made to take an oath, in presence of 
all the inhabitants, that the instant they saw 
the enemy masters of the inner wall, they 
would kill the women and children, set fire 
to the galleys laden with their effects, and 
throw into the sea all their gold and silver, 
which they had heaped together : then, send- 
ing for their priests, they took an oath either 
t) conquer or die, sword in hand; and, after 
having sacrificed the victims, they obhged the 
f)iiest3 and priestesses to pronounce before 
t:ie altar the greatest curses on those who 
should break their oath. This being done, 
they left off countermining, and resolved, the 
instant the wall should lall, to fly to the 
breach, and to fight till the last. Accord- 
iagly, the inward wall tumbling down, the 
besieged, true to the oath they had taken, 
fought in the breach with such unparalleled 
bravery, that, though Philip had perpetually 
sustained with fresh soldiers those who had 
mounted to the assault, yet when night sep- 
arated the combatants, he was still doubtful 
with regard to the success of the siege. 
Such Abydenians as marched first to the 
breach, over heaps of slain, fought Avith fury, 
and not only made use of their swords and 
javelins, but after their arms were broken to 
pieces, or forced out of their hands, they 
rushed headlong upon the Macedonians, 
knocked some down, and broke the long 
spears of others, and with the pieces struck 
their faces and such parts of their bodies as 
were uncovered, till they made them abso- 
lutely despair of the event. When night 
put an end to the slaughter, the breach was 
quite covered with the dead bodies of the 
Abydenians; and those who had escaped 
were so overwhelmed with fatigue, and had 
received so many wounds, that they could 
hardly support themselves. Things being 



come to this dreadful extremity, two of the 
principal citizens, being unable to bring them- 
selves to execute the awful task they had 
undertaken, and which now came before 
tliem as a horrid reaUty, agreed that, to save 
their wives and children, they should send 
to PhiUp by daybreak all then- priests and 
priestesses, clothed in their pontifical habits, 
to implore his mercy, and open the gates to 
him. Accordingly, next morning, the city 
was surrendered to Philip, while the greatest 
part of the Abydenians who survived vented 
millions of imprecations against their two 
fellow-citizens, but more particularly against 
the priests and priestesses for dehvering up 
to the enemy those whom themselves had 
devoted to death with the most solemn oaths. 
Phihp marched into the city, and seized, 
without opposition, all the rich effects which 
the Abydenians had collected together. But 
now he beheld a spectacle which might have 
terrified even an ambitious monarch or a 
conqueror. Among these ill-fated citizens, 
whom despair had made furious and distract- 
ed, some were smothering their wives and 
cliildren, and others stabbing them with their 
own hands ; some were running after tliem 
to strangle them, others were plunging them 
into wells, whilst again other3 were precipi- 
tating them from the tops of houses; in a 
Avord, death appeared in all its variety of 
terrors. Philip, penetrated with horror and 
grief at this spectacle, stopped the soldiers, 
who were eager to plunder, and published 
the strange declaration that he would allow 
three days to all who were resolved to lay 
violent hands on themselves. He was in 
hopes that in that interval they would change 
their determination : but their resolution was 
fixed. They thought it would be degenerat- 
ing from those who had lost their lives in 
defending their country, if they should sur- 
vive them. The individuals of every family 
killed one another, and none escaped tliis 
murderous sacrifice but a few whose hands 
were tied, or were otherwise kept, by force, 
from destroying themselves. And Philip, 
during the three days, satisfied his ideas of 
humanity by refraining fi:-om plundering the 
city he saw burning, and by beholding a peo- 
ple destroy each other, whom he might have 
saved with a word I 

B.C. 190.— In the year 190 b.c. the city 
of Abydos was besieged by Livius the 
Roman praetor, and the inliabitants, after 
sustaining a siege of many days, were about 
to capitulate to the Romans. The only point 
of difference related to the soldiers of the 
garrison of Abydos, whom Livius would 
have allowed to quit the place, but without 
arms, while they insisted upon keeping them. 
The affair, however, was about to be set- 
tled, when Livius hearing of the victory of 



ACRE, ST. JEAN D'. 



Polyxenidos over the Rhodians, and fearing 
that the former, flushed with success, would 
come to surprise and attack the fleet he had 
left at Canae, he abandoned the siege and 
put to sea. 

ACRE, ST. JEAN D' ; known in the 
middle ages as Ptoleniais, is a city and har- 
bor on the coast of Syria. It is the capital 
of a Turkish pachalic, between the pacha- 
lics of Damascus and TripoU. The city is 
situated at the foot of Mount Carmel, and 
at present contains about sixteen thousand 
inhabitants. 

A.D. 1191. — The ill success of the first 
Crusaders appeared to redouble the zeal of 
the Christians for the recovery of the Holy 
Land. Great misfortunes had attended many 
of the enterprises, but vast numbers had been 
enriched by the plunder of magnificent cities, 
and some of the leaders had acquired terri- 
torial possessions. France and England for 
a moment laid aside their quarrels ; and their 
kings, Philip and Richard, levied armies for 
the delivery of the Holy Land. 

Followed by their numerous battalions, 
accompanied by their most powerful vassals, 
the two kings embarked and met at Messina. 
The French directed their course toward 
St. Jean d'Acre, which city, having an ex- 
cellent port, was equally necessary to the 
Clu-istians to preserve Tyre and Tripoli, as it 
was to the Saracens to secure a communica- 
tion between Egypt and Syria. For more 
than two years, G-uy of Lusignan, King of 
Jerusalem, had besieged this important place 
\vith forces much less numerous than were 
employed in defending it. With an army 
increased by torrents of Crusaders, with 
which the West constantly inundated the 
East, and the wreck of the army of the Em- 
peror Frederic, Guy ventured to march 
against Saladin, who was advancing to suc- 
cor Acre. Never had the Christian legions 
evinced more ardor : the combat was bloody, 
but the success doubtful. Each claimed the 
honor of the victory ; but certainly the loss 
was least on the part of the Crusaders ; they 
resumed the siege, and the besieged con- 
tinued to defend themselves with the same 
vigor, when Philip Augustus arrived in the 
camp. His presence added greatly to the 
hopes of the besiegers ; the walls of Acre 
were falling fast beneath the attacks of its 
numerous assailants; the victorious soldiers 
would speedily have aclneved the long-de- 
layed conquest, if the King of the French had 
not checked their courage out of courtesy 
for the English monarch: he thus lost the 
great opportunity of wliich the infidels made 
good use; they repaired their breaches ; and 
with the strengtli of their walls their spirits 
revived also. At length Richard arrived, 
dragging in hia train, bound in chains of 



silver, Isaac Comnenus, King, or as he osten- 
tatiously styled himself. Emperor of Cyprus, 
which island he had conquered during Ids 
voyage. A happy harmony presided over 
the first proceedings of the Kings of France 
and England, who shared by turns both 
honor and danger. The army calculated 
upon seeing Acre yield to the first general 
assault. When the French monarch attacked 
the city, Richard mounted the trenches. On 
the following day the King of England con- 
ducted the assault, and Pliilip in his turn 
provided for the safety of the besiegers. The 
emulation which prevailed between the two 
nations and their kings produced extraordi- 
nary acts of valor. Ptolemias saw indeed 
beneath its walls all the iUuetrious captains 
and warriors that Europe could then boast, 
and that in an age excelling most others in 
chivalric bravery. The tents of tlie Franks 
covered a vast plain, and their army presented 
a noble aspect. The presence of the two 
monarchs had re-estabhshed disciphne, and 
Acre must soon have surrendered, if discord, 
that eternal enemy of the Christians, had not. 
entered their camp with Richard. 

Conrad of Montferrat, and Guy of Lusig- 
nan, both claimed the poor honor of being 
King of Jerusalem ; and the Kings of England 
and France took opposite sides. Whenever 
Philip took the fiekl, Richard played Acliilles. 
and remained in his tent. The besieged had 
never more than one of the monarchs to con- 
tend with at a time. Amid their disputes, 
both monarchs fell dangerously ill ; and their 
hatred and suspicion were so great, that each 
accused tlie other with having made an at^ 
tempt upon his life. As Saladin sent them 
refresliments and physicians, and as they ad- 
dressed frequent messages to him, each mon- 
arch reproached the other with keeping uji 
an impious understanding with the Saracens. 

They, however, began to be convinced 
that such dissensions jeopardized the safety 
of the army and the interests of the cause ; 
the Jerusalem monarchy was amicably ar- 
ranged, and the siege was resumed with fresh 
vigor. But the besieged had taken advantage 
of the respite granted to them by the Chris- 
tian cabals, and had strengthened their forti- 
fications, and the besiegers were astonished 
at the opposition they met with. Saladin, 
with a numerous army, was on the heights 
above Acre, so that the Clu-istians were be- 
tween the two fires of his forces and the 
garrison of the city, and whenever the Cru- 
saders attacked Acre, Saladin made a skir- 
mishing dash at their camp. But time must 
exhaust the resources of a city so strongly 
beleagurcd : the walls began to crumble un- 
der incessant attacks, and war, famine, and 
disease weakened the garrison; there were 
not soldiers enough to defend tlie walls and 



ACRE, ST. JEAN D'. 



move about the cumbrous machines; the 
place wanted provisions, munitions of war, 
and Greek fire. The troops and the people 
began to murmur about Saladin and the 
emirs ; and the commander of the garrison at 
length proposed a capitulation to Pliilip Au- 
gustus; but he swore by the God of the 
Christians that he would not spare a single 
inhabitant of Ptoleraais if the Mussulmans 
did not restore all the cities that had fallen 
into their power since the battle of Tiberias. 

Irritated by this determination, the chief 
of the emirs retired, saying that he and his 
companions would rather bury themselves 
beneath the ruins of the city than hsten to 
auch terms. On his return into the place, 
he communicated his courage, or rather his 
despair, to every heart. When the Cliris- 
tians resumed their assaults, they were re- 
pulsed with a vigor that astonished them. 
In one general assault a Florentine knight of 
the family of Buonaguisi, followed by a few 
of his men, fought his way into one of the 
towers of the infidels, and got pessession of 
the Mussulman banner that floated from it. 
Overpowered by numbers antl forced to re- 
treat, he returned to the camp, bearing off 
the flag he had so heroically won. In the 
same assault, Alberic Clement, the first mar- 
shal of France of whom history makes men- 
tion, scaled the ramparts, and, sword in hand, 
penetrated into the city, where he found a 
glorious death. Stephen, count of Blois, 
and several knights were burnt by the Greek 
fire, the boiling oil, the melted lead, and 
heated sand which the besieged poured down 
upon all who approached the walls. 

The obstinate ardor of the Mussulmans 
was sustained during several days ; but as 
they, received no succor, many emirs, at 
length despairing of the safety of Ptolemais, 
threw themselves by night into a bark, to 
seek an asylum in the camp of Saladin, pre- 
ferring to encounter the anger of the sultan 
to perishing by the swords of the Christians. 
This desertion, and the contemplation of the 
ruined towers, filled the Mussulmans with 
terror. While pigeons and divers constantly 
announced to Saladin the horrible distresses 
of the besieged, the latter came to the reso- 
lution of leaving the city by night, and 
braving every peril to join the Saracen 
army. But their project being discovered 
by the Christians, they blocked up and 
guarded every passage by which the enemy 
could possibly escape. The emirs, the sol- 
diers, and the inhabitants then became con- 
vinced that they had no hope but in the 
mercy of the Christian leaders, and promised, 
if they would grant them liberty and life, to 
give up sixteen hundred prisoners, together 
with the wood of the tvue cross. By the 
capitulation, they engaged to pay two hun- 



dred byzants of gold, and the garrison, with 
the entire population, were to remain hos- 
tages for the execution of the treaty. 

The terms of the capitulation remained 
unexecuted ; Saladin, under various pretexts, 
deferring the payments. Richard, irritated 
by a delay which appeared to him a breach 
of faith, revenged himself upon his prisoners. 
Without pity for disarmed enemies, or regard 
for the Christians he exposed to sanguinary 
reprisals, he massacred five thousand Mussul- 
mans before the city they had so bravely 
defended. 

Such was the conclusion of this famous 
siege, which lasted nearly three years, in 
which the Crusaders shed more blood and 
exhibited more bravery than ought to have 
suffered for the subjugation of the whole of 
Asia. 

During this siege, six archbishops, twelve 
bishops, forty earls, five hundred barons, and 
three hundred thousand Christian soldiers 
were slain, and the loss on the part of the 
Saracens, equaled, if it did not exceed, this 
number. 

Second Siegk. a.d. 1291. — In the year 
1291, it was retaken from the Christians by 
the Saracens, and of the followers of the 
cross, sixty thousand were slain. The Sara- 
cens rushed into the city, slaying all that 
came before them, and cruelly murdered a 
number of nuns, who, to repress the lust of 
the infidels, had mutilated their faces. 

TmRD Siege, a.d. 1799.— On the 16th day 
of March, 1799, the French army under Na- 
poleon Bonaparte, appeared before Acre, a 
town celebrated for its long siege, and the 
heroic deeds it witnessed in the Holy Wars. 
It is situated on a peninsula, which enables 
the besieged to unite all their means of defense 
on the isthmus which connects it with the 
mainland. The Pasha of Syria, Kara Yussuf, 
with all his treasures, arms, and artillery, had 
shut himself up in Acre, with the determina- 
tion of making a desperate resistance. Sir 
Sidney Smith, at that time commander of the 
Enghsh squadron in the bay of Acre, im- 
mediately made preparations to assist the Turks 
in its defense. He had been apprised of its 
danger by the Pasha of Syria, and he arrived 
there two days before the appearance of the 
French army, with the Tige?' of eighty-four, 
and Tlieseus of seventy-four guns, and some 
smaller vessels. On the 14th of March he 
captured a whole French flotilla, dispatched 
from Alexandria with the heavy artillery and 
stores for the siege of the town. The guns 
taken were immediately mounted on the 
ramparts of the to^vn, and contributed in a 
most important manner to the defense of the 
place. The battering cannon of the French 
was thus reduced to four bombs, four twelve 
and eight eight pounders. The French, how- 



10 



ACRE, ST. JEAN D'. 



ever, commenced and continued their opera- 
tions with great activity. They repulsed a 
sally ol' the gamson on the 26th with great 
vigor, and two days afterward they exploded 
a mine which they had run under one of the 
' principal towers, and a practicable breach was 
eifected. The grenadiers immediately ad- 
vanced to the assault. They were arrested, 
however, l)y a ditch fifteen feet deep, which 
was only partially filled by the ruins of the 
wall. But inflamed by their ardor they 
sprang into the ditch, mounted to the other 
side, and entering the breach, they effected a 
lodgment in the tower. But they were not 
adequatc>ly supported, and the Turks, return- 
ing to the charge, succeeded in driving them 
from tliat part of the ramparts after a desper- 
ate struggle, and great slaughter, back into 
their own trenches. A second assault was 
made on the 1st of April, with no better suc- 
cess, and the French general-m-chief deter- 
mined to await the arrival of the heavy 
artillery from Damietta. In the mean time 
the Ottomans on the other side of the Jordan 
were collecting all their forces, with the in- 
tention of coming to the assistance of the 
besieged city. Napoleon saw the necessity 
of prompt action to prevent a general con- 
centration of the hostile forces by sea and 
land against the camp before Acre. He at 
once marched a portion of his army to join 
the ti'oops which he had stationed at Naza- 
reth under command of Junot, and completely 
routed the enemy in the battle of Mount 
Tabor, after which he returned to the siege 
of Acre.* The French at length succeeded 
in adding three twenty-four and six eighteen 
pounders to their batteries, and they now 
opened a furious fire upon the tower which 
had been the scene of such vehement con- 
tests. They rim mines under the walls, and 
exhausted all their resources of art to reduce 
the place, but in vian. The vigor and reso- 
lution of the garrison increased with every 
hour the siege continued. By a desperate 
effort, on the 6th of May, the French suc- 
ceeded in effecting a lodgment in the nearly 
demolished tower, but they wei-e driven back 
with immense loss, and the Turks regained 
possession of all their fortifications. For 
two months had the breach been practicable 
and the trenches open, but no sensible prog- 
ress was as yet made in the reduction of 
the place. On the evening of the 7th of 
May, a few sails were seen from the tower 
of Acre, on the furthest verge of the hori- 
zon. The French quickly made the same 
discovery, and both the besiegers and be- 
sieged rejoiced in tlie hope that succor was at 
hand. The English cruisers in the bay stood 
out to reconnoiter this unknown fleet, and 

• See battle of Mount Tabor. 



the hearts of the brave defenders of Acre re- 
joiced when they beheld the two squadrons 
unite, and saw the English cross and the 
Ottoman cresent unite and float from one 
masthead. Soon a fleet of ninety sail entered 
the bay with seven thousand men, and abund- 
ance of artillery and ammunition from Rhodes. 
Napoleon, calculating that this reinforcement 
could not be disembarked for at least six 
hours, resolved to anticipate its arrival by an 
assault during the night. At ten o'clock that 
night the division of Bon drove the enemy 
from the exterior works. The artillery ap- 
proached the counterscarp and battered the 
curtain. At daybreak another breach in the 
rampart was declared practicable, and an as- 
sault ordered. Lannes's division renewed the 
attack on the tower, wliile General Rambaud 
led the column to the new breach. Bravely 
marched on the grenadiers ; they made their 
way through all opposition to the summit of 
the rampart, and the morning sun fell upon 
the French banner floating from the tower. 
The fire of the place was now sensibly slack- 
ened. The French intrenched themselves in 
the lodgments they had formed, with sand- 
bags and with the corpses of the slain. And 
over this bloody parapet could be seen their 
bristhng baynots gleaming in the hght. Al- 
though the troops in the roads were embarked 
in boats, stiU several hours must elapse before 
they could arrive to the assistance of the be- 
sieged. In tliis extremity Sir Sidney Smith 
landed the crews of the ships and led them, 
armed with pilces, to the breach. Tliis sight 
reanimated the courage of the besieged ; they 
mounted the long-disputed tower amid shouts 
from the heroes who still defended it, and 
they hurled down huge stones upon their as- 
sailants — the French, at haff pistol shot, fired 
at them ; muzzle touched muzzle ; standards 
clashed together, and in a bloody hand to 
hand struggle they contested for victory. The 
French at length gave way before the united 
strength of the British and the Mussuknans. 
The grenadiers were driven fi-om the tower, 
and a body of Turks rushed through the 
gates, attacked them in flank, and drove them 
across the ditch with great loss. The French 
division under Rambaud, however, was more 
successful. The soldiers reached the summit 
of the rampart, and, leaping down into the 
tower, attained the very garden of the 
pasha's seraglio. But suddenly Sir Sidney 
Smith, at the head of a regiment of jani- 
zaries, discipHned to the European method, 
rushed to the spot. A tremendous fire was 
opened upon the French from the housetops 
and the barricades which surrounded the 
seraglio; and at length the assailants were 
cut off from the breach at which they had en- 
tered, and driven into a neighboring mosque, 
where their lives were spared by the inter- 



ADDA. 



11 



cession of Sir Sidney Smith. In this bloody 
aflfair the loss of lives was very great on both 
sides. Rambaud was killed, and Lannes 
severely wounded. But Napoleon was not 
dismayed by this disaster. He resolved to 
make a last efifort with the division of Kleber, 
which had been hastily recalled from its ad- 
vanced post on the Jordan. On the morning 
of the 10th May, he advanced to the breach, 
in person, and seeing that it was greatly 
enlarged by the fire of the preceding days, 
he ordered a new assault. Again was the 
summit of the ruined wall attained ; but the 
French were there arrested by the murderous 
fire wliich issued from the barricades and in- 
trenchments with which the garrison had 
strengthened the interior of the tower. 
Kleber's division arrived in the evening, and, 
proud of their triumph at Mount Tabor, 
they demanded to be led to the assault. " If 
St. Jean d'Acre is not taken this evening," 
said one of the colonels, as he was marching 
at the head of his regiment to the assault, 
"be assured Vernor is slain." He kept his 
word : the fortress held out, but Vernor lay 
dead at the foot of the walls. A Httle before 
sunset a dark massy column issued from the 
trenches, and solemnly and firmly marched 
to the breach. They ascended unmolested 
to the summit, they descended uninjured into 
the pasha's garden, but when they had 
reached that point, they were assailed with 
irresistible fury by a body of the janizaries, 
who, with the saber in one hand and the 
dagger in the other, speedily reduced the 
whole column to headless trunks. In vain 
other columns, and even the Guides of Na- 
poleon," his last reserve, advanced to the 
attack; they were repulsed with dreadful 
loss. Among the killed in this last encounter 
was G-eneral Bon; Crosier, aide-de-camp to 
the general-in-chief, and a large proportion 
of his staff were wounded. Napoleon now 
despaired of success, and preparations were 
made for a retreat. A proclamation was 
issued to the troops, announcing that their 
return was required to withstand a descent 
which was threatened from the isle of Rhodes, 
and on the 20th of May, for the first time in 
his life, Napoleon ordered a retreat. 

Fourth Siege, a.d. 1840. — On the 3d of 
November, 1840, the city of Acre was bom- 
barded by the British fleet under Admiral 
Sir Robert Staffoi'd. The cannonading be- 
gan from the ships and vessels at 2 p. m. ; 
and endured tliree hours. The town was 
completely demolished, and the fortifications 
damaged so materially that the Egyptians 
evacuated the place during the night. Dur- 
ing the cannonade, about 4 o'clock of the 
third, a large powder magazine in the city 
exploded with a tremendous concussion. 
Many lives were lost by this explosion. The 



entire British force employed on this occa- 
sion, consisted of about three thousand men. 
The Egyptians numbered at least 5,000. 
The British lost only fifty-nine men killed 
and wounded ; while the Egyptian loss was 
two thousand men killed and wounded and 
three thousand made prisoners. 

ADDA, B.C. 223. — In this year the Roman 
consuls, Flaminius and Furius entered the 
country of the Insubrians, at that portion of 
it where the river Adda empties into the Po. 
It was the first time that the Romans ever 
passed this river, and they were so roughly 
handled in their passage, by the Insubrians, 
that they made a treaty with them and quit- 
ted their country. 

ADDA, A.D. 1799.— The Adda is a rapid 
stream in Italy, which, descending from the 
lake of Lecco, runs in a deep and swift tor- 
rent, over a surface of twenty-four leagues 
to the Po. The right bank is in almost aU 
places higher than the left ; and the bridges 
at Lecco, Cassano, Lodi, and Pizzighitoue, 
are defended either by fortified towns or 
Utes-diL-pont. On the 25th of April, 1799, 
the allied forces of Austria and Russia, ap- 
proached the French army which had re- 
tired to the hue of the Adda. A sharp 
skirmish ensued between the Russians, under 
Prince Bagrathaor, and the French, before 
the walls of Lecco, resulting in the defeat of 
the former. Suwarroff, the Russian marshal, 
now prepared to force the passage of the 
Adda. To frustrate this intention. General 
Moreau, commander of the French army, ac- 
cumulated his troops in masses on that part 
of the river, which seemed chiefly threatened. 
But while entirely engaged in this design 
the Austrian division succeeded in throwing 
over a bridge during the night at Trezzo, and 
before morning his whole troop had crossed 
over to the right ; while, at the same time, 
Wukassowich surprised the passage at Brivio. 
The French Une was thus divided into thi-ee 
parts. General Serrurier's division, eight 
thousand strong, was not only cut off from 
all support, but even from receiving any or- 
ders from the remainder of the army. The 
divisions of Ott and Zoph commenced a fu- 
rious attack on the French under Greneir. 
The French met the assault vnth the utmost 
liravery ; but the overwhelming force of the 
enemy gradually drove them back toward 
Milan, leaving a bloody track of corpses be- 
hind them. In this affair they lost two 
thousand four hundred men, including eleven 
hundred prisoners. Serrurier's division, whose 
communication with the balance of the 
French army, was entirely cut off by the 
passage of Wukassowich at Brivio, estab- 
lished itself in a strong position at Verderio 
and the brave general determined to defend 
himself to the last extremity. General Gril- 



12 



ADRIANOPLE— AGKA. 



let's brigade escaped destruction by embark- 
ing on the lake of Como and steering for 
Menagio. Serrurier's division was soon sur- 
rounded on all sides by the allies ; his retreat 
was cut off, and his division threatened with 
destruction, for the enemy's force was three 
times stronger in numbers than his own. At 
length after an obstinate, but vain resistance, 
he laid down his arms, and surrendered, de- 
livering into the hands of the enemy seven 
thousand men as prisoners of war. In the 
mean time General Melas carried the Ute-du- 
pont at Cassano, and pursued the fugitives as 
far as Gorgonzelo, on the road to Milan. In 
these engagements the French lost eleven 
thousand men, and unable to meet the great 
army of the allies, sixty thousand strong, 
which was advancing in pursuit, they aban- 
doned Milan, and withdrew beliind the Tes- 
sino. 

ADRIANOPLE, a.d. 323.— This cele- 
brated city of Turkey in Europe, is situated 
on the Marizar, anciently called Hebrus, 
where that river is formed by the Toonza 
and the Arda, 134 miles north-west from 
Constantinople, It is beautifully located in 
one of the richest and finest plains in the 
world, on the sides and base of a low hill, 
and, when viewed at a distance, presents a 
magnificent appearance. In early times it 
was the capital of the Bessi, a people of 
Thrace. 

In the year 323, Constantine gathered to- 
gether his forces at Thessalonia, for the pur- 
pose of Avresting all power from the hands 
of Licinius. The Roman world was now 
divided between Constantine and Licinius, 
the former of whom was master of the West, 
and the latter of the East. Constantine's 
army consisted of 120,000 horse and foot. 
His legions were levied in the warhke prov- 
inces of Europe : action had confirmed their 
discipline, and victory had elevated their 
hopes. The naval preparations of Constan- 
tine were in every respect inferior to those 
of Licinius. Licinius, although old and feeble, 
called forth a spirit which animated all those 
around him, and prepared himself for the 
contest; collecting the forces of the East, 
and filling the plains of Adrianople Avith his 
troops, and the straits of the llellespont with 
his fleet. This army consisted of 150,000 
foot and 15,000 horse; but it contained 
fewer soldiers, though more men, than that 
of Constantine. His fleet consisted of 350 
galleys of three banks of oars. The fleet of 
Constantine consisted of only 200 small ves- 
sels. Licinius awaited the approach of his 
rival in a camp near Adrianople, which he 
had fortified with an anxious care, that be- 
trayed his apprehension of the event. Con- 
Btantine directed his march from Thessalonia, 
toward that part of Thrace, till he found him- 



self stopped by the broad and rapid stream 
of the Hebrus, and discovered the numerous 
army of Licinius, which filled the steep ascent 
of the hiU from the river to the city of 
Adrianople. Many days were spent in 
doubtful and distant skirmishes; but at 
length the obstacles of the passage and of 
the attack were removed by the intrepid con- 
duct of Constantine. We are assured that the 
valiant emperor threw himself into the river 
Hebrus, accompanied only by twelve horse- 
men, and that by the eSbrt or terror of his 
invincible arm, he broke, slaughtered, and 
put to flight a host of 150,000 men. The 
credulity of Zozimus prevailed so strongly 
over his passion, that, among the events of 
the memorable battle of Adrianople, he seems 
to have selected and embellished, not the 
most important, but the most marvelous. 
The valor and danger of Constantine are 
attested by a shght wound which he received 
in the thigh ; but it may be discovered even 
from an imperfect narration, and, perhaps, a 
corrupted text, that the victory was obtained 
no less by the conduct of the general than by 
the courage of the hero ; that a body of 5,000 
archers marched round to occupy the thick 
wood in the rear of the enemy, whose atten- 
tion was divided by the construction of a 
bridge; and that Licinius, perplexed by so 
many artful evolutions, was reluctantly drawn 
from his advantageous post, to combat on 
equal ground in the plain. The contest was 
no longer equal. His confused multitude of 
new levies was easily vanquished by the ex- 
perienced veterans of the West ; 34,000 men 
are reported to have been slain. The fortified 
camp of Licinius was taken by assault the 
evening of the battle ; the greater part of the 
fugitives, who had returned to the mount- 
ains, surrendered themselves the next day to 
the discretion of the conqueror ; and his rival, 
who could no longer keep the field, retired to 
Byzantium, and confined himself within its 
walls. Constantine immediately undertook 
the siege of Byzantium. — Gibbon. 

AGRA, A.D. 1803.— Agra is a city of 
Hindostan, and the capital of the province 
and district of Agra. It is built on the 
south-west bank of the river Jumna, and is 
distant from Calcutta 950 miles, and from 
Bombay 850. After the capture of the city 
of Delhi, the ancient capital of Hindostan, 
by the British under General Lake, the Mah- 
ratta forces retired toward Agra. Thither 
they were speedily followed by General 
Lake, and on the 10th October, 1803, he 
came witliin sight of their army, wliich was 
posted in a strong position intersected by 
ravines, in the front of the city. He im- 
mediately attacked them ; and the Sepoys, 
under Lieutenant Colonel Gerard, suc- 
ceeded in dislodging them after some se- 



AGRIGENTUM. 



13 



vere fighting. Following up his advan- 
tage, Lake ordered up fresh troops, who 
pursued the enemy over the glacis, and en- 
tered the city with the fugitives. But as the 
garrison still held out, it was necessary to 
besiege the ramparts in form. On the 12th 
October, two thousand five hundred of the 
enemy came over, and entered the British 
service. On the 15th the breaching batteries 
were finished, and commenced a heavy fire 
on the ramparts, the garrison of wliich, 
amounting to 6,000 men, finding the breach 
practicable, on the morning of the 17th sur- 
rendered at discretion. 

By these decisive means, the last strong- 
hold of the enemy fell into the hands of the 
British- The results of this victory were 
immense. One hundred and sixty pieces of 
brass and iron cannon were taken, besides aU 
their ammunition and military stores. 

AGRIGENTUM, b.c. 409.— Ambition and 
thirst of plunder having led the Cartha- 
ginians into Sicily, their general opened the 
campaign by laying siege to Agrigentum, an 
opulent and well-fortified city. In order to 
construct terraces and causeways, the besieg- 
ers destroyed the tombs which environed the 
city, wliich sacrilege cost both parties very 
dear, for the effluvia which escaped the vio- 
lated graves bred a most destructive pesti- 
lence. Thousands of soldiers were carried 
off" daily, and, among them, Hannibal, the 
general of the Carthaginians, fell an early 
victim to the disease. We need not remind 
our readers that this was not the great Han- 
nibal, The multitude beheld, in this afflic- 
tion, a punishment from the gods for the 
profanation of the ashes of the dead. To 
render them again propitious, prayers and 
offerings were made, and even a young child 
was sacrificed to Saturn. Notwithstanding 
these pious vows, famine, a no less redoubta- 
able scourge, was added to the calamities of 
the besieged, who, without hope, and with- 
out resources, began to speak of surrender- 
ing. The Carthaginians refused to make any 
terms with them. Only one resource was 
left to the unfortunate Agrigentines ; that 
of abandoning their city and taking refuge in 
tlie neighboring states. They must either 
leave their aged and sick to the mercy of 
a barbarous enemy, or remain and perish all 
together. Necessity prevailed over human- 
ity ; never was exliibited a stronger scene of 
desolation than of the Agrigentines, so re- 
cently happy and wealthy, departing forever 
from their homes, abandoning their sick or 
aged relations, their property, and all they 
held dear. In their misfortunes they re- 
ceived a friendly welcome from their neigh- 
bors, the inhabitants of Gela, whilst the cruel 
Carthaginians pillaged the city, and massacred 
every inhabitant who had been left behind. 



Second Siege, b.c. 262.— In 262, e.g., the 
Romans laid siege to the city of Agrigentum. 
The Carthaginians had foreseen that the Ro- 
mans, emboldened by the assistance wliich 
they should have from Hiero, would probably 
attack Agrigentum. They had, therefore, 
chosen it as their place of arms, and had 
strongly fortified it. The Romans encamped 
within a mile from Agrigentum, and com- 
pelled the enemy to shut themselves up 
within the walls of the city. As it was 
evident that the siege was to be of long con- 
tinuance, the Roman soldiers dispersed them- 
selves for the purpose of cutting and bringing 
in grain, which was now ripe. While thus 
separated, the Carthaginians suddenly fell 
upon them ; the Roman foragers could not 
Sustain such an attack, and were put to 
flight. The Carthaginians advanced to the 
Roman camp, and, dividing their troops into 
two bodies, the one commenced to pull up 
the palisades, whilst the other attacked the 
guards posted there for the defense of the 
camp. But, although the Carthaginians far 
outnumbered the Romans, the latter sus- 
tained the charge with the greatest bravery 
and resolution, for they knew that to desert 
their posts, was death by tlie laws of Rome. 
Aid soon arrived, and the Carthaginians were 
driven back with great slaughter. 

This action rendered the Carthaginians less 
disposed to make sallies, and caused the 
Romans to be more cautious in their foraging. 
The siege continued without a decided move- 
ment on either side for nearly five montha 
But the Carthaginians, meanwhile, suffered 
greatly. At least fifty thousand individuals 
were shut up within the city, and they had 
consumed nearly all their provisions. Han- 
nibal, the commander of the Carthaginian 
forces, sent courier after courier for aid and 
provisions, and at length Hanno, a Cartha- 
ginian general, arrived in Italy with fiifty 
thousand foot, six thousand horses, and sixty 
elephants. Erbessus was placed in his hands 
by the inhabitants, and thus the Romans, 
also, became in want of provisions, as all 
their convoys were obliged to pass through 
that city. They were at length reduced al- 
most to the last extremity, and Hanno, being 
informed that the Romans were greatly af- 
flicted both by famine and disease, and seeing 
that his own troops were in good condition, 
marched with his whole army, and fifty ele- 
phants, toward the encampment of the Ro- 
mans. He sent in advance of his army a body 
of Numidian cavalry, that they might draw the 
Romans from the camp before they learned 
the full extent of his army. As he expected, 
no sooner did the Roman cavalry see the 
Numidians approach than they charged upon 
them. The Numidians fled precipitately 
toward the spot from whence Hanno was 



14 



AI— ALBUERA. 



advancing. The Romans hotly pursued 
them, and rushed directly into tlie trap 
which Hanno had laid lor them. They were 
surrounded by Carthaginians, and a great 
number, unable to escape, died fighting to the 
last. The main body of the Romans were 
discouraged by the fate of their cavalry and 
Hanno was somewhat intimidated by the 
boldness so strongly evinced by the Romans, 
and although the two armies were so near 
each other, no important action was taken 
within two months. At length the Roman 
consuls were apprised by Hanno that he had 
appointed a time for the battle. They re- 
mained silent. Hanno now offered them 
battle with more haughtiness, reproaching 
them with their abject timidity. The Ro- 
mans contented themselves with defending 
their camp. At last, one day, Hanno as usual 
attacked the intrenchments, and the Romans, 
according to custom, marched out only to re- 
pulse him. But when Hanno's troops, fa- 
tigued and harassed by a continual round 
of skirmishes from six in the morning till 
noon, were retiring, the Roman consul 
charged upon them with all his legions. 
Hanno's men, although surprised, fought 
with desperate valor ; but they were equally 
matched with the Romans, who had come 
into the field fresh from repose. The mer- 
cenary soldiers of the first hue of the Cartha- 
ginian army, first began to waver. They 
not only abandoned their posts, but throwing 
tliemselves into the midst of the elephants, 
and upon the second fine, disordered all the 
ranks, and in a few moments the whole army 
was flying. Plannibal also made a sally 
from the city ; but he was repulsed by the 
Romans with great loss. The Carthaginian 
camp was taken; thirty elephants were 
killed, three were wounded, and eleven fell 
into the hands of the Romans. The Cartha- 
ginian soldiers were either cut to pieces or 
dispersed, a few only escaped with their 
general to Heraclea. The Romans gave 
themselves up to the joy of their victory, 
and Hannibal, hoping to take advantage of 
their fatigue and neglect, at night quitted the 
city. He was pursued, however, the next 
morning by the Romans ; but he had accom- 
plished such a distance that only his rear 
guard was overtaken. The inhabitants of 
Agrigentum seeing themselves abandoned 
by the Carthaginians, slew many of those 
who remained in the city, either to avenge 
themselves on the authors of their miseries, 
or to win the favor of their conquerors. But 
they fared no better on that account ; twenty- 
five thousand men of them being made 
slaves. Thus, after a siege of five months, 
Agrigentum was taken by the Romans, and 
a great number of other places surrendered 
themselves, in consequence, to the victors. 



Some years afterward the Carthaginians 
retook Agrigentum in a few days, and com- 
pletely razed it to the ground. It was after- 
ward rebuilt, however, and is now called 
Gergenti. 

AI, B.C. 1451. — Ai was a small city about 
twelve miles from Jericho ; and Joshua, who 
considered it weak and illy defended, en- 
deavored to capture it with only a detach- 
ment of 3,000 men. But the Israelites were 
totally defeated, and driven back into their 
own encampment. A crime had been com- 
mitted, and, until the ofiender was punished, 
God withheld his protection. Achan, a man 
of the tribe of Judah, had, against the strict 
injunction of Joshua, secured and appropriated 
to himself, at the sacking of Jericho, a rich 
Babylonish garment, with two hundred she- 
kels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty 
shekels weight. The culprit, after being 
discovered, was taken to a valley, with liis 
family, his cattle, and his tent, and all his 
newly-acquired treasure. The goods were 
burned, and the culprit and his family were 
stoned to death. Now, a second attempt was 
made against Ai, with divine aid. After 
planting an ambuscade on the western side 
of the town, the main body of the army 
advanced on the northern. The King of Ai, 
at the head of liis troops, immediately marched 
out to meet them ; the Israelites feigned to 
retreat until they had drawn the enemy some 
distance from the town. Then, the 30,000 
men who constituted the ambuscade, saUied 
forth, and entered the city. They instantly 
applied the torch, and soon the city was en- 
veloped in flames. Now, Joshua, at the head 
of the main body of the army, turned upon 
the enemy, who, unable to contend against 
them, turned and fled. The Israelites, pur- 
suing, cut them down, and not a man es- 
caped. Every man, woman, and child was 
given to the sword, and the King of Ai was 
hung, and his body, after hanging until sun- 
down, was buried at one of the gates, be- 
neath a pile of stones. 

AIGUEBELLE, a.d. 1742.— Near this 
place, which is situated on the left bank of 
the Arc in Savoy, a battle was fought, in 1742, 
between the troops of the King of Savoy and 
the allied armies of France and Spain, which 
resulted in the defeat of the former. 

AIGUILLON, A.D. 1345.— The fortress of 
Aiguillon, a town of France, at the junction 
of the Lot with the Garrone, was garrisoned 
by the English in 1345, who resisted an attack 
from a numerous French army in that year. 

ALBUERA, A.D. 1811.— The battle of 
Albuera was a bloody battle : 15,000 men 
were slain in four hours. Of these, 8,000 
were Frenchmen, and 7,000 English. On 
the 16th day of May, 1811, the French 
forces, amounting to 20,000 men, under com- 



ALCANIZ— ALEXANDEIA. 



15 



mand of Soult, advanced On the English and 
Spanish army, under Beresford, who occupied 
the heights before Albuera, and then followed 
the most terrible battle of the Peninsular 
War. The French army, in solid columns, 
steadily moved over the field, and firmly as- 
cended the heights. The artillery of the 
enemy poured forth their messengers of 
death upon these columns with fatal effect. 
The French returned the fire with equally 
terrible precision, and continued steadily to 
advance, vomiting fire and death upon their 
enemies as they proceeded. They gained the 
heights occupied by the Spanish. The En- 
glish rushed to retake and maintain these 
heights ; but the French crowded upon them 
with the bayonet, and drove them from the 
contested ground with great slaughter. The 
third brigade of the English army, which 
thus far had been unemployed, now came to 
the rescue; but the havoc committed by 
Soult's artillery upon the British ranks held 
them in check, and victory seemed to be 
within the grasp of the French. But now 
came on, hke a whirlwind, the gallant British 
brigade, the Fusiliers. Soult's cannon still 
spat forth death upon the English ranks, and 
the French infantry showered mitrailles in 
murderous succession upon them. Up came 
the Fusiliers, they dashed against the oppos- 
ing ranks of the French, and, with the force 
of a hurricane, they bore onward through all 
opposition. The French line faltered, they 
gave way, they broke, and, in disorder, flew 
rapidly down the hill. The Fusiliers pur- 
sued, and, with triumphant shouts, battled 
with the few who still desperately endeavored 
to oppose them ; until all resistance was over- 
thrown by the death of the gallant registers, 
and the English stood, proud conquerors, on 
the heights. The following extract from the 
"Reminiscences of a Subaltern," vividly de- 
picts the horrors of the battle : " About 6 
o'clock, A.M., we came in sight of our troops 
on the field of battle, at Albuera ; the French 
were discerned near a wood about a mile and 
a half in their front. We now advanced in 
subdivisions, at double distances, to make our 
number as formidable as possible, and, arriv- 
ing on the field, piled our arms, and were 
permitted to move about. With awful as- 
tonishment we gazed on the terrific scene 
before us. * * * Before us lay the ap- 
paUing sight of 6,000 men dead, and mostly 
stark naked, having, as we were informed, 
been stripped during the night by the Span- 
iards ; their bodies disfigured with dirt and 
clotted with blood, and torn by the deadly 
gashes inflicted by the fcuUet, bayonet, sword, 
or lance, that had terminated their mortal 
existence." 

ALCANIZ, A.D. 1809.— Alcaniz, a town 
of Spain, in the province of Ternel, in Arra- 



gon, is built on the side of a hill, on the right 
bank of the river Gruadaloupe. 

On the 23d of May, 1809, Blake, who 
commanded the Spanish forces, occupied this 
town with 12,000 men. General Suchet, 
who had been recently appointed by Napo- 
leon to the command of the French in Arra- 
gon, determined to march against him. His 
troops consisted of 8,000 infantry, and 700 
horse, but the superior quaUty and discipline 
of these troops, gave him hopes of an easy 
victory. 

Suchet commenced the action by directing 
an attack of 3,000 of his best men against 
the center of the Spanish line which rested 
on the Mount of Las Horcas. These men 
boldly advanced, but they were steadily re- 
pulsed by Blake's infantry and artillery; 
against the fire of which they found it im- 
possible to advance. The French troops were 
greatly discouraged by this check, and Suchet, 
Avho was apprehensive of greater disasters, 
had he continued the action, gave orders for 
his troops to withdraw, after a short combat. 
Such was the disorder which prevailed among 
them, that although they were not pursued, 
they were, by a false alarm, thrown into 
confusion, and fled, as if routed, to Semper. 

In this action, Suchet lost nearly 1,000 
men, wliile the Spaniards were only weak- 
ened by the loss of 300. 

ALEXANDRIA, b.c. 46.— This celebra- 
ted city derives its name from Alexander the 
Great, by whom it was either founded, or 
raised from obscurity, 332 years B.C. Alex- 
andria is situated on the ridge of land between 
the sea and the bed of the old Lake Mareotis, 
about 14 miles W. S. W. of the Canopic, or 
most westerly mouth of the Nile, in Egypt. 
The two main branches of the Nile are to 
the east of Alexandria — the first in this di- 
rection being that on which is placed Rosetta, 
and that still further east being that on which 
Damietta is situated. Between Alexandria 
and Rosetta is Aboukir Bay. 

B.C. 46. — After having defeated Pompey, 
Caesar entered Alexandria, to endeavor to reg- 
ulate the affairs of Egypt, then embroiled by 
the ambition of Cleopatra. During his abode 
there, AchiUes, minister of King Ptolemy, 
disgusted at his proceedings, raised an army 
of 20,000 disciplined Egyptian troops, and 
offered battle to the great dictator. Csesar 
had only 3,000 thousand foot and 8,000 horse. 
Without giving a moment's consideration to 
his weakness, and relying entirely on liis 
constant good fortune, he made a sortie from 
Alexandria, where the Egyptians besieged 
him, and drove them to a distance from the 
walls. He fought several battles with the 
same results, but, weakened in the end by 
his own successes, — for, though victorious, he 
in each conflict necessarily lost some men, — 



16 



AT.TCYATT DRTA. 



he ceased to be the conqueror. It was in 
the course of this war that the celebrated 
Alexan'h'ian library was burnt, the collecting 
of which had been the work of many kings, 
and consisted of more than four hundred 
thousand volumes. It was likewise after a 
contest in which he had been worsted, that 
he had to swim for his life, which he did 
with one hand, holding, it is said, his " Com- 
mentaries" in the other. Caesar did not es- 
cape the fascinations of Cleopatra : as she 
did by all who came within the circle of her 
machinations, she made him subservient to 
lier ambitious views. She had one son by 
him, named Csesarion, afterward sacrificed 
to the jealousy of Augustus. After passing 
through many dangers, he received succor, 
and was triumphant ; he defeated the Egyp- 
tians, under their king Ptolemy Bacchus, 
who di'owned himself in the Nile. 

In the year a.d. 213, Caracalla, the cruel 
Emperor of Rome, in the midst of peace, and 
upon the slightest provocation, issued liis 
command for a general massacre at Alexan- 
dria. From a secure post he viewed and di- 
rected the slaughter of many thousand citizens 
as well as strangers, without distinguishing 
either the number or the crime of the sufferers; 
since, as he coolly informed the Roman senate, 
nil the Alexandrians, those who had perished, 
and those who had escaped, were alike guilty. 

Second Siege, a.d. 260. — Under Gallus, 
Alexandria, whose population amounted to 
300,000 freemen, and as many slaves, became 
the theater of a frightful civil war, which 
lasted twelve years. All communication 
was cut off between the different parts of that 
unfortunate city ; every street was inundated 
with blood ; the major part of the better sort 
of houses were converted into citadels, and 
these horrible disorders were not appeased 
till after most of the inliabitants had perished 
by the sword, pestilence, or famine. 

Third Siege, a.d. 296. — In the year 296, 
Alexandria Wiis besieged by Diocletian, Em- 
peror of Rome. He cut off the aqueducts 
which conveyed the waters of the Nile into 
every quarter of that immense city, and 
rendering his camp impregnable to the sallies 
of the besieged multitude, he pushed his 
reiterated attacks with caution and vigor. 
After a siege of eight months, Alexandria, 
wasted by the sword, and by fire, implored 
the clemency of the conqueror, but it expe- 
rienced the full extent of his severity. Many 
thousands of the citizens perished in a pro- 
miscuous slaughter, and there were few ob- 
noxious persons in Egypt who escaped a 
sentence of death, or at least of exile. 

Ancient Alexandria must have been far 
different from the Alexandria of the present 
day. According to Pliny, it contained a 
population of 300,000 individuals. Much of 



its grandeur perished when, in the year 389, 
the Emperor Theodosius ordered all the hea- 
then temples throughout the Roman domin- 
ions to be destroyed. But there yet re- 
mained a magnificent library of several hun- 
dred thousand volumes, including all tlie 
Greek and Latin literature, of which we now 
only possess fragments. 

Fourth Siege, a.d. 611. — Chosroes, eleventh 
King of Persia, after having conquered Syria, 
Palestine, and the greater part of Asia, at- 
tacked Egypt, surprised Pelusium, and ad- 
vanced as far as Alexandria vdthout obstacle. 
The city might certainly have been supported 
by its fleet, but the archbishop and prefect had 
employed all the vessels in carrying them- 
selves and their enormous wealth to a place 
of safety in the isle of Cyprus. Chosroes 
entered this second city of the Greek empire 
in triumph, and found in it almost incalcula- 
ble riches. Heraclius sued for peace, which 
Chosroes granted, but only with a view of 
preparing for a fresh war. This recom- 
menced in 627. The haughty Chosroes was 
conquered; his own son caused him to be 
killed, and restored to the Emperor Heraclius 
all his father's conquests. Thus Egypt re- 
turned, but for a very short time, under the 
Roman domination. 

Fifth Siege, a.d. 640. — Mahomet, who 
was destined to subdue, by his arms and his 
religion, half the globe as then known, had 
made himself master of Arabia. His success- 
ors thought it their duty to extend his 
opinions and liis conquests. Amrou, the 
lieutenant of the Cahph Omar, took possession 
of Palestine, and entered Egypt. He em- 
ployed tliirty days in the siege of Pelusium, 
and then advanced to the ruins of Heliopolis. 
Thence he proceeded to ancient Memphis, 
called the Widow of her Kings, after she was 
eclipsed by her rival Alexandria : her palaces 
and temples were sinking into ruins. The 
two banks of the NOe, here three thousand 
feet wide, were united by two bridges of 
sixty-three boats, connected by the little isle 
of Ronda, standing in the middle of the river, 
and covered with gardens and delightful 
habitations. At the eastern extremity of tlie 
bridge was the city of Babylon, and the camp 
of a Roman legion defended the passage of 
the river and the second city of Egypt 
Amrou laid siege to this fortress, which 
might be considered as a part of Memphis. 
After a siege of seven months the place was 
carried by assault. The Greeks, on retiring 
from Upper Egypt, occupied all the import- 
ant places of the Delta, but were driven out 
of them in twenty-two days by Amrou. At 
length Amrou commenced the siege of Alex- 
andria. This firs-t commercial city in the 
world was abundantly supplied with all the 
means of defense and subsistence : the sea was 



ALEXANDRIA. 



11 



always open to it. If Heraclius could have 
been roused from his lethargy, considerable 
reinforcements might have been sent to sup- 
port the besieged. Alexandria itself furnished 
excellent means of defense; the two great 
sides of the long square which it forms being 
covered by the sea and the lake Mareotis, 
the fronts of attack were narrow, and easily 
defended. Amrou, however, never ceased 
to excite the courage of the besiegers by 
sending them fresh reinforcements daily. 
The Moslems had carried their war into 
Egypt, with the determination to extermin- 
ate all vestiges of the Christian religion. The 
Saracens fought with the courage of lions : 
they repulsed the frequent and almost daily 
sallies of the besieged, and soon, in their turn, 
assaulted the walls and towers of the city. 
Alexandria was abundantly provided with 
the means of subsistence and defense. The 
numerous inhabitants fought for the dearest 
of human rights, reUgion and property. But 
the Moslems, animated by the cause for 
which they contested, the spread of their 
beloved religion, and by their hatred of the 
Christians, fought with a desperate valor, 
wliich at length conquered. In every attack, 
the sword, the banner of Amrou, glittered in 
the van of the Moslems. On a memorable 
day he was betrayed by liis imprudent valor: 
his followers, Avho had entered the citadel, 
were driven back, and the general, with a 
friend and a slave, remained a prisoner in 
the hands of the Christians. When Amrou 
was conducted before the prefect, he remem- 
bered his dignity, and forgot liis situation : a 
lofty demeanor, and resolute language, re- 
vealed the lieutenant of the caliph, and the 
battle-axe of a soldier was raised to strike 
off the head of the audacious captive. His 
life was saved by the readiness of his slave, 
who instantly gave liis master a blow on the 
face, and commanded him, with an angry 
tone, to be silent in the presence of his 
superiors. The credulous Greek was de- 
ceived : he hstened to the offer of a treaty, 
and his prisoners were dismissed, in the hope 
of a more respectable embassy, till the joyful 
acclamations of the camp announced the 
return of their general, and insulted the foUy 
of the Christians. At length, after a siege 
of fourteen months, and the loss of 23,000 
men, the Saracens prevailed ; the Greeks 
embarked their dispirited and diminished 
numbers, and the standard of Mahomet was 
planted on the walls of the capital of Egypt. 
The conquerors were astonished by the great- 
ness of the prize ; and Amrou, in acquainting 
the caliph with its capture, said : " We have 
taken the great city of the West. It is im- 
possible for me to enumerate the variety of 
its riches and beauty; and I shall content 
myself with observing, that it contains 4,000 

2 



palaces, 4,000 baths, 400 theaters, or places 
of amusement, 12,000 shops for the sale of 
vegetable food, and 40,000 tributary Jews. 
The town has been subdued by Ibrce of arms, 
without treaty or capitulation." It was on 
tills occasion that the famous library is said 
to have been destroyed, conformable to the 
fanatical decision of the caliph, that " if the 
writings of the Greeks agreed Avith the word 
of God, they were useless, and need not be 
preserved ; if they disagi-eed, they were per- 
nicious, and ought to be destroyed." This 
barbarous judgment being carried into efiect, 
the books and manuscripts were distributed 
among the 4,000 baths belonging to the city; 
and so prodigious was their number, that six 
months are said to have been required for 
the consumption of tliis precious fuel 1 Such 
is the tale which has so often aroused the 
pious indignation of every scholar, and ad- 
mirer of the learning and genius of antiquity. 
Gibbon denies both the fact and the conse- 
quences, because the whole occurrence rests 
on the solitary statement of Abulpharogius ; 
but, since Gibbon's time, several new author- 
ities have been adduced to support the 
authoritiy of Abulpharogius. The fact of the 
burning of the library by the command of 
Omar, is considered by many of the Oriental 
scholars, beyond question. 

Sixth Siege, a.d. C45. — Alexandria was 
tranquil under the government of its con- 
queror, but after the death of Omar, Amrou 
was recalled. The Greek emperors feeling 
keenly the loss of Egypt, took advantage of 
this circumstance to make a descent upon its 
coasts. At the sight of their ancient com- 
patriots, the Alexandrians rose, took up arms, 
drove out the infidels, and opened their gates 
to the Greeks. Amroi/, being informed of 
tills revolt, returned from LilDya, chastised 
Alexandria, and drove the Christians from its 
walls. Persuaded that such an example 
would be sufficient to restrain the Egyptians, 
he again set out for Tripoli ; but the Greeks 
returned once more, and took possession of 
the port and the city of Alexandria. Amrou, 
exceedingly irritated, came back ; but he had 
sworn, this time, to dismantle this indocile 
city. He kept his word ; he protected the 
Alexandrians as much as he could from the 
fury of the soldiery ; but he razed the walls, 
dimini^ied its extent, and left the inhabitants 
to exist amid the ruins of their country. 

Seventh Siege, a.d. 1171. — Egypt belong- 
ed for three centuries to the Fatimite caliphs ; 
but this race degenerated: divided among 
themselves for the possession of power, one 
of its two branches had the imprudence to call 
in the Sultan of Damascus to its aid. After 
several battles, the latter was the conqueror, 
but he kept liis conquest for himself Saladin, 
his son, became, in 1171, Sultan of Egypt. 



ALEXANDRIA. 



The descendants of this great man were, in 
their turn, displaced by the Mamelukes and 
their beys, a singular kind of mUitia, con- 
tinually recruited by slaves from Mount Cau- 
casus ; themselves choosing their sultans, as 
the Prastorian Guards had done, and, like 
them, disposing of power. Egypt was con- 
quered by the Ottomans. Selim I. contented 
himself with weakening, for the time, the in- 
fluence of the Mamelukes ; but, always am- 
bitious, they resumed, by degrees, their 
authority under his weak successors, and 
only left the Ottoman Porte a shadow of 
power in the provinces over which they 
tyrannized. 

Eighth Siege, a.p. 1798. — Napoleon, im- 
mediately after landing in Egypt, advanced, 
at the head of 5,000 men, toward Alexandria. 
The shouts from the ramparts, and the dis- 
charge of some pieces of artillery, left no 
doubt as to the hostile intentions of the 
Mamelukes ; an assault was immediately or- 
dered, and in a short time the French grena- 
diers reached the top of the walls. Kleber 
was struck by a ball on the head, and Menou 
thrown down from the top of the rampart to 
the bottom; but the ardor of the French 
soldiers overcame every resistance : and the 
negligence of the Turks having left one of 
the principal gates open during the assault, 
the defenders of the wall were speedily 
beaten in rear by those who rushed in at 
the entrance, and fled in confusion into the 
interior of the city. Shortly afterward. Na- 
poleon issued a proclamation to the Egyptians, 
with the enileavor to conciliate them, and 
then, at the head of his army, conmicnced hi.-i 
march through the country toward Cairo. 

ALEXANDRIA, battle of, a.d. 1801.— On 
the morning of the 21st of March, 1801, two 
magnificent armies were drawn up in battle 
array, within sight of the city of Alexandria. 
French valor and English courage were about 
to meet and strive for the supremacy. The 
French army consisted of 11,000 men, of whom 
1,400 were cavalry, Avith 46 pieces of cannon. 
The French troops were posted along a high 
ridge of hills which exten'lerl from the sea to 
the canals of Alexandria. In the rear of the 
left wing of the French army stood Fort 
Caffarelli, and in the center arose Fort Cretin. 
The position occupied by the British was by 
nature strong; their right wing advanced 
before the rest of the line nearly a quarter of 
a mile on high ground, and extended to the 
large and magnificent ruins of a Roman 
palace, within fifty yards of the sea; their 
left rested on the Lake Maadich ; the inter- 
vening space, about a mile in breadth, con- 
sisted of a succession of low sand-hills. In 
front of the position was a level sandy sur- 
face, which commenceil before the left, and 
extended as far as tlie French lines. On this 



plain cavalry could act; but as they ap- 
proached the British videttes, they found the 
ground strewed with large stones, the re- 
mains of Roman edifices which formerly had 
covered all that part of the shore. Gun-boats 
in the sea and the lake, protected each flank ; 
on tlie left, in front of the fines occupied by 
the troops, was a redoubt, mounted by twelve 
pieces of cannon ; two were placed on the 
ruins of the Roman palace, and, in the center, 
slight works were thrown up, to aid the fire 
of the musketry. In this position, the En- 
glish army, consisting of 11,500 men, with 
thirty-six pieces of cannon, awaited the 
attack of the enemy. The morning was 
gloomy and sad. A mist covered the entire 
plain. Both armies were buried in the ob- 
scurity of the fog. Suddenly, the report of a 
musket, followed by tAvo cannon shots, was 
heard on the right wing of the French army ; 
the English officers, thinking the attack was 
to commence there, galloped hurriedly in that 
direction, when a sharp rattle broke out on 
the left wing of the enemy, wliich, with the 
loud shouts that followed, too surely an- 
nounced that the attack had commenced in 
that Cfuarter. The French, under Lanusse, ' 
in gi'eat force, were advancing against the 
Roman ruins, where the 58th and 23d British 
regiments were posted. The English no 
sooner saw the glazed caps of the republicans 
emerging through the mist, than they poured 
a fire, by platoons, upon them, and the 
French were compelled to swerve to the left. 
In this movement the gallant French general, 
Lunusse, received a mortal wound. His 
division was so disconcerted by this event, 
and the fire of the English, that they broke, 
and fled in confusion behind the sand-hills. 
But, at this instant. General Rampon ad- 
vanced at the head of a fresh column, 2,000 
strong, and, joining the broken remains of 
Lanusse's division, renewed the attack with 
greater force, and succeeded in turning the 
Roman ruins, so as to take the troops which 
defended them, both in front and flank. Sir 
Ralph Abcrcromby, the English general, im- 
mediately advanced, with the 42d and 28tli 
regiments, from the second line, to the support, 
of the menaced wing ; but soon after it arrived 
in the fire, the first of these corps was suddenly 
charged in flank by the republican cavalry. 
Notwithstanding this, the brave Highlanders 
formed in little knots, and, standing back to 
back, resisted the cavalry when they en- 
deavored to cut thc'm down. The 28r-li 
regimcmt was maintaining a severe action in 
front, when they were startled by hearing 
French voices behind their line; the rear 
rank had just time to face about when it was 
assailed by a volley from a Fi-ench regiment, 
which had got round, under cover of the 
mist; and these gallant troops, witliout 



ALESSANDRIA— ALGIERS. 



19 



flinching, stood back to back, and maintained 
this extraordinary contest for a considerable 
time. But this bold irruption of the French 
soon exposed them to the same dangers with 
■which they had threatened the Enghsh. 
The British reserve advanced, and tlirew in a 
well-directed fire upon the attacking column ; 
the French, in their turn, were assailed at 
once in front and flank. They fought with 
the utmost courage ; but, overwhelmed with 
numbers, they retired into the ruins, where a 
battalion which, by their great bravery and 
success in the Italian wars, had acquired the 
name of the Invincibles, were obliged to lay 
down their arms, after having fought with 
astonishing intrepidity, and losing more than 
two thirds of their men. The French cavalry, 
now having lost half their force by the close 
and murderous fire of the English infantry, 
prepared to cut their way back to their own 
lines. For tliis purpose tliey charged the 
English reserve with the utmost fury; but 
the English, opening their ranks, allowed 
the French squadrons to sweep through. 
Then, instantly closing their ranks again, 
they wheeled about and poured so deadly a 
fire upon the disordered horsemen, that they 
almost all, with theii- commander, Roize, 
perished on the spot. The remnant, both 
foot and horse, of the force which had made 
this formidable attack, escaped, and regained 
the French position. The defeat of this 
desperate attack terminated the operations 
of this day. The right wing of the French 
army confined itself to a distant cannonade 
on the left of the English. The French made 
a desperate attack on the center of the En- 
glish, but were repulsed by a close and 
destructive fire. At length the French com- 
mander, Menou, finding all his efforts unsuc- 
cessful, ordered a general retreat, which was 
effected in the best order, to the heights of 
Nicopolis, on his rear, under cover of the 
cannon placed on that formidable position. 
Tiie English loss, on this occasion, amounted 
to 1,500, killed and wounded. Sir Ralph 
Abercromby, the English general, received 
a mortal wound in the early part of the day. 
He died a few days after the battle. The 
French lost 2,000, killed and wounded. The 
battle of Alexandria decided the fate of Na- 
poleon's expedition into Esrypt. 

ALESSANDRIA, a.d. 1799.— The battle 
of Alessandria occurred on the 17th of May, 
1799, between the Austro-Russian armj^, 
imder Suwarrow, and the French under 
Moreau. The French were defeated, losing 
4,000 men. Alessandria is an imporfamt 
town of the Sardinian states, on the Tanaro, 
near where that river is joined by the 
Bormida. The French took possession of 
Alessandria in the year 1798; but lost it 
by their defeat in 1799. After the battle of 



Marengo, which took place the following 
year, Alessandria was again delivered up to 
the French. 

ALFORD, A.D. 1645.— General Baillie, 
with a large body of covenanters, was de- 
feated by the Marquis of Montross, at 
Alford. Montross, weak in cavalry, lined 
his troops of horse with infantry ; and after 
putting the enemy's horse to rout, fell with 
united force upon their foot, who were en- 
tirely cut to pieces, though with the loss of 
Lord Gordon on the part of the royalists. — 
Hume. 

ALIGHUR, A.D. 1803.— The name of a 
British fortress in British India, 50 miles 
noith of Agra, which was taken by the 
British on the 4th of September, 1803. 

ALGIERS, A.D. 1816.— This country of 
north Africa, now frequently called Algeria, 
was, tiU recently, the most powerful of the 
Barbary states, comprising the Numidia pro- 
per of the ancients. Forty-four years before 
Christ, it was reduced to a Roman province. 
It aflerward became independent, till dreading 
the power of the Spaniards, the natives in- 
vited the famous pii-ates, tlie brothers of Bar- 
barossa, to assist it, and in the year 1516, 
they seized the government. It afterward 
fell to the lot of Turkey. The survivors of 
Barbarossa in 1520 obtained from Sultan 
Selim, the title of Dey, and a reinforcement 
of 2,000 troops. Since then the Algierines 
have carried on almost incessant hostilities 
against the powers of Christendom, capturing 
their ships, and reducing their subjects to 
slavery. Attempts have been made at dif- 
ferent periods to abate this nuisance. In 
1541, the Emperor Charles V., who had suc- 
cessfully achieved a similar enterprise, at 
Tunis, arrived with a powerful fleet and army 
in the vicinity of the city of Algiers ; but the 
fleet having been immediately overtaken and 
nearly destroyed by a violent storm, the 
troops, without provisions or shelter, under- 
went the greatest privations ; and the emp- 
eror was compelled forthwith to re-embark 
such of them as had escaped the fury of the 
elements and the sword of the Turks. This 
great disaster seemed for a lengthened period 
to have checked all attempts to capture Al- 
giers. In 1653, Blake, the English admiral, 
with a fleet of thirty ships, sailed to Algiers, 
and compelled the Dey to make peace, and 
to restrain his piratical subjects fi-om further 
violence on the English. He presented him- 
self before Tunis ; and having there made 
the same demands, the Dey of that republic 
bade him to look to the castles of Porto Fa- 
riro and Golleto, and do his utmost. Blake 
needed not to be roused by such a bravado : 
he drew his ships close up to the castles, and 
tore them in pieces with his artillery. He 
sent a numerous detachment of sailors in 



20 



ALGIERS. 



their long boats into the harbor, and burned 
every ship wliich lay there. This bold action 
was executed with little loss, and terrified 
botli countries to make peace with the 
Enghsh; but they repulsed the occasional 
attacks of other European powers, who, in 
general, preferred negotiating treaties with 
the Dey, and purchasing an exemption from 
the attacks of the Algerine crusers. 

The atrocities committed by the Algerines, 
and particularly their bai-barous massacre of 
the crews of more than 300 small vessels at 
Bona, induced the British government to 
prepare an expedition to act against the 
forts and shipping of Algiers. Accordingly, 
on the 28th of July, 1816, a fleet consisting 
of the following ships of the line, set sail 
from Plymouth Sound, with a fine northerly 
wind : 



100 gims, Queen Charlotte, 
98 " Impregnable, 

( Superb, 
74 "< Mlnden, 

I Albion, 



50 guns, Leander, 
) Severn, 

40 " 1 Glasgow, 
J Graiiicus, 

S6 " 1 Hebrus. 



The fleet also contained five brigs and four 
gun-boats, and was under the entire com- 
mand of Admiral Lord Exmouth. On the 
9th of August, at 2 o'clock p. m., Lord Ex- 
mouth anchored the fleet in Gibraltar bay, 
where he found the 74 gun ship Minden, 
which had been ordered on ahead, when ofl" 
Falmouth ; and also the following Dutch 
ships under Vice Admiral Baron Van de 
Cappellen : 



( Melampus, 
40 guns, ■< Fredrica, 
( Diana, 



( Amstis, 
40 guns, -< Dogeradt, 
I Ecendrag. 



The baron immediately volunteered the 
co-operation of liis squadron ; and the offer 
being readily embraced. Lord Exmouth made 
every preparation for an attack upon the 
Algerine batteries. On the 13th of August, 
the 18 gun brig Satellite, Captain Jame.^ 
Murray, arrived from off Algiers, and on 
the same day, the captain of each ship re- 
ceived a plan of tlie fortifications with in- 
structions for their guidance. On the 14th, 
early in the forenoon, the wind having 
shifted to the southward, the whole fleet, 
except the Jasper, which was sent to England 
witii dispatches, amounting to 23 sail, with 
five gun-boats, and a sloop fitted up as an 
explosion vessel, under the direction of Lieu- 
tenant Fleming, weighed and proceeded on 
their destination. On the 16th the wind 
blew from the eastward ; in the evening the 
18 gun corvette Prometheus, Captain Dash- 
wood, joined from Algiers, having on board 
the wife and children of Mr. M'Donnell, the 
British consul; but the Dey, had detained 
the consul, the surg<!on, and several of the 
officers and crew of the Prometheiis. 



The fortifications of Algiers were of con- 
siderable strength. Upon the various bat- 
teries on the north side, 80 pieces of cannon 
and eight heavy mortars were mounted ; but 
the water was so shoal that a large ship 
could not approach within reach of them. 
Between the north wall of the city, and the 
commencement of the pier (which is about 
two hundred and fif^y yards in length and 
connects the town with the light-liouse) 
were about 20 guns ; and a semicircular bat- 
tery, mounting 44 guns, in two tiers, stood 
on the north projection of the wall. To the 
south of that, and nearly in a hne with the 
pier, was the light-house battery of three 
tiers, mounting 48 guns, next to which was 
the " eastern battery," mounting 66 guns in 
three tiers, flanked by four other batteries 
of two tiers, mounting GO guns ; and on the 
wall-head were two long 68 pounders, de- 
scribed as being 20 feet long. The total num- 
I^er of guns on the wall amounted at least to 
220, of 32, 24, and 18 pounders. The fish- 
market battery, 3000 yards west of the south 
mole-head mounted 15 guns in three tiers. 
Between them and the southern extremity 
of the city were two batteries of five guns 
each. Beyond the city in this direction was 
a castle and three other batteries, mounting 
together about 70 guns. In the rear of the 
city and on the lieights were several other 
batteries ; so that the total number of guns 
to defend this fastness of robbery, oppression, 
and cruelty, exceeded 1,000 guns. 

On the 27th, at day-break, tlie city was 
seen, the ships at tliis time lying nearly be- 
calmed. Lieutenant Burgess was then dis- 
patched to the Dey, to demand compliance 
^vith the following conditions : — The abolition 
of Christian slavery ; the release of all Cliris- 
tian slaves; the repayment of the money 
recently exacted for the redemption of the 
Neapolitan and Sardinian slaves ; peace with 
the King of the Netherlands, and the imme- 
diate liberation of the British consul, with 
the officers and boats' crews of the Prome- 
theus. At nine o'clock, Lieutenant Burgess, 
with a flag of truce flying, pushed off from 
the Severn frigate, which had towed the 
boat in shore; and at eleven a. m., when 
near the mole, was met by a boat in which 
was the captain of the port, by whom an 
answer was promised to the demand in two 
hours. Meanwhile the sea-breeze having 
sprung up, the fleet stood into the bay, and 
hove to about a mile from the city. At two 
p. M., no answer having been received. Lieu- 
tenant Burgess made a signal to that effect; 
and pulled off toward the Severn. Lord 
Exmouth immediately demanded, by signal, 
if all the ships were ready, and being an- 
swered in the affirmative, the fleet bore up 
for the attack in the prescribed order. At half- 



ALIWAIr-ALKM^R. 



21 



past two, the Queen Charlotte anchored with 
springs, about fifty yards from the mole-head, 
and while in the act of making a rope fast to 
an Algerine brig on shore at the moutli of the 
harbor, a shot was fired at the ship ; and at 
the same moment two shots were fired at 
the Impregnable and other ships as they 
were advancing to take their stations. Lord 
Exmouth, anxious to save the mass of people 
standing on tlie parapet of the wall, waved 
his hand to them to descend ; and immedi- 
ately afterward commenced firing, and the 
action became general as the ships brought 
their guns to bear. The cannonade from 
the ships was incessant ; and was replied to 
fi:om the Algerine gun-boats, row-galleys, 
and batteries with the utmost vigor. At four 
o'clock the Algerine frigate lying across the 
mole was set on fire by Lieutenant Richards 
of the Queen Charlotte, who returned with his 
barge, losing only two men. At seven in 
the evening, the fire continued to rage on both 
sides ; the British mortars and rockets had set 
all the vessels in the liarbor on fire ; and the 
flames soon reached the arsenal, and store- 
houses on the mole. The city also was set 
on fire in several places, by the shells thrown 
from the bomb-boats. The ordnance sloop, 
fitted out as an explosion vessel, was now 
run on shore close under the semicircular 
battery to the northward of the light-house ; 
and, at about nine o'clock, this vessel, charged 
with 143 barrels of powder, exploded. The 
fleet continued a tremendous cannonade till 
10 p. M., when the upper tier of the batteries 
on the mole being nearly destroyed, and the 
lower tier almost silenced, the Queen Char- 
lotte cut her cables, and stood out from the 
land, directing the other ships to follow. 
The breeze was so light that the Superb and 
Impregnable in standing off shore, suffered 
much from the raking fire of a fort on the 
upper angle of the city. The blaze of the 
Algerine fleet and bm-ning houses, illumined 
the whole bay. The rain commenced fall- 
ing in torrents; and for three hours the 
lightning played in vivid flashes, while peal 
after peal of thunder rolled athwart the 
sky, adding to the grandeur of the spectacle. 
During this heavy day's work the alUes lost 
883 men, killed and wounded, of whom 
65 were Dutch. No ship lost a spar ; but 
the Impregnable, Leander, Superb, Granicus, 
and Severn, had their masts and yards much 
damaged. 

At daylight in the morning the bombs 
were ordered to return to their stations, and 
to be in readiness to renew the bombardment 
of the city, and Lieutenant Burgess was dis- 
patched with a flag of truce to repeat the 
demands made on the preceding day. The 
Algerine officers, who came out to meet the 
flag of truce, declared tliat an answer had 



been sent the day before ; but no boat was 
found to receive it. On the 29th, at ten a.m., 
the captain of the port came off, accom- 
panied by Mr. M'Donnell, the British con- 
sul. In the afternoon. Captain Brisbane, 
of the Queen Charlotte, had a conference 
with the Dey, after which several other con- 
ferences were held, and the final result was, 
the deUvery to the British of 1,200 Cliristian 
slaves, the restoration of $382,500, for slaves 
redeemed by Naples and Sicily ; peace with 
the Netherlands, and $30,000 to the British 
consul, in compensation lor the loss of his 
property, and a pubUc apology for detention 
of his person. Having thus completed the 
object of the expedition, the ships weighed 
on the 3d of September, on their return to 
England, leaving the Prometheus only to 
attend the British consul. 

ALIWAL, A.D. 184G.— On the morning of 
the 28th of January, 1846, a battle was 
fought by the British and the Siklis of India, 
near the small town of Aliwal. The native 
forces, whose numerical strength far exceeded 
that of the British, contended against the 
enemy with vigor ; but, afler a most obsti- 
nate struggle, they were at length defeated 
with great loss. The British troops expelled 
the enemy from every village they attempted 
to hold, by rapid charges, at the point of the 
bayonet. Their horsemen were driven from 
every part of the field by repeated charges, 
in which the superiority of the European 
cavalry over that of the natives was most 
conspicuous. Fifty-two pieces of cannon fell 
into the hands of the victors, whose loss 
was trifling in comparison to that of the 
enemy. 

ALKM^R.— The town of Alkmasr is situ- 
ated on the great ship canal from Amsterdam 
to the Hekler, in North Holland. It is 
strongly fortified and well built. In 1573 
Alkmj3er was invested by the Spaniards ; but 
having been repulsed with great loss in an 
attempt to take the town by storm, they 
abandoned the siege. 

A battle occurred near Alkmser on the 19th 
of September, 1799, between the Anglo- 
Russian army, consisting of 30,000 men, of 
whom 12,000 were British, and the combined 
armies of the French and Dutch, wliich con- 
sisted of 22,000 men, of whom 7,000 were 
French. The Anglo-Russian army was com- 
manded by the Duke of York, and the French 
and Dutch were under the orders of General 
Brune. The battle was obstinate and bloody, 
and resulted in the defeat of the forces of the 
Duke of York, who drew back liis troops to 
their fortified hne. The loss of the British 
was 500 killed and wounded, and 500 taken 
prisoners. The Russians lost 3,500 killed 
and wounded, 26 pieces of cannon, and 7 
standards. The repubhcan army was weak- 



22 



ALMA. 



ened by 3,000 men, in killed, wounded, and 
prisoners. 

On the 2d of October, the Duke of York, 
not discouraged by the issue of the attack on 
the 19th of September, again advanced to- 
ward the French lines. He had been re- 
inforced by a fresh brigade of Russians and 
several English detachments. His army on 
this occasion was about 30,000 strong; the 
republican army was nearly of ecjual force. 
The battle resulted in the defeat of the 
republicans, who, with a loss of 3,000 men, 
killer] and wounded, and seven pieces of 
cannon, abandoned Alkmser, and all their 
former line, and took up a fresh position. 
The allies lost about 1,500 men. Yet the 
Duke of York's position was far from en- 
couraging. The enemy's force was daily 
increasing, Avhile, on liis part, no further re- 
inforcements could be expected. The insa- 
lubrity of the climate at that period of the 
year, was already beginning to affect the 
health of his soldiers. In these circum- 
stances, it was evident that unless some 
important place could be captured, it would 
be impossible for the alhes to hold their foot- 
ing in North Holland. Haarlem, a large city 
on the Spaarn, ten miles west of Amsterdam, 
was pitched on as most likely to furnish the 
necessary supplies. But the position occu- 
pied by the French, on the isthmus between 
Beverwick and the Zuyder Zee, commanded 
the approach to Haarlem. The Duke of 
York decided on an immediate attack. 
Accordingly, on the 6th of October, he led 
his army against the French. The action 
commenced at seven in the morning, and 
was obstinately contested on both sides 
during the whole day, with equal success. 
The carnage ceased with the night. The 
repubhcans lost 2,000 in killed, wounded, 
and prisoners. The allied armies lost about 
the same number, of whom 1,200 were 
English. The action was indecisive; but 
Brune, shortly after the battle, received 
strong reinforcements, and took the offensive. 
The British commander, perceiving the dan- 
gers which surrounded his army, at first 
retired, and at length capitulated, and evacu- 
ated the country. 

ALMA, A.D. "1854.— This little stream has 
been rendered famous by the sanguinary con- 
flict which occuired on its borders, between 
the Russians and the aUied armies of England, 
France, and Turkey. Tliis river is in the 
Crimea, and flowing west, empties into the 
Black S(>a, about twenty miles north of Sebas- 
topol. It is a tortuous little stream, which 
has worked its way down through a red- 
clay soil, deepening in its course as it pro- 
ceeds seaward, and drains tfie steppe-like 
lands on its north bank, making at times 
pools and eddies too deep to be forded, though 



it can generally be crossed by waders who 
do not fear to wet their knees. Along the 
north bank of the Alma, are a number of 
Tartar houses, at times numerous, and close 
enough to form a cluster of habitations de- 
serving the name of a hamlet, at times scat- 
tered wide apart amid httle vmeyards, sur- 
rounded by walls of mud and stone of three 
feet in height. A village of some fifty houses 
stands in the vicinity of the bridge over which 
the post road from Bouljinanak to Sebastopol 
passes. This village is approached from the 
north by a road winding through a plain nearly 
level till it comes near to the village, where 
the ground dips, so that at a distance of three 
hundred yards, a man on horseback can hardly 
see the top of the near and more elevated 
houses, and can only ascertain the position of 
the stream by the willows and verdure along 
its banks. At the south side of the Alma, the 
ground assumes a very different character — 
smooth Avhere the bank is deep, and greatly 
elevated where the shelve of the bank occurs. 
It recedes for a few yards at a moderate 
height above the stream, pierced here and 
there by the course of the winter's torrents, 
so as to form small ravines, commanded, how- 
ever, by the heights above. A remarkable 
ridge of mountains, varying in height from 
500 to 700 feet, runs along the course of the 
Alma, on the south side with the course of 
the stream, and assuming the form of cliffs, 
when close to the sea. This ridge is marked 
all along its course by deep gullies, which run 
toward the river at various angles. 

On the 14th of September, 1854, the En- 
glish, French, and Turkish forces landed at Eu- 
patoria, and became an army of occupation in 
the Crimea; the Enghsh force consisting of 
27,000 men, and that of the French 23,600. The 
destination of these armies was Sebastopol. 
To oppose this mighty host, the Russians had 
concentrated about 40,000 men, on the 
heights on the south bank of the Alma. At 
the top of the ridges, between the gullies, they 
had erected earth-work batteries, mounted 
with 32 pound and 24 pound brass guns, sup- 
ported by numerous field-pieces and howitzers. 
These guns enfiladed the tops of the ravines 
parallel to them, or swept them to the base, 
while the whole of the sides, up which an 
enemy, unable to stand the direct fire of the 
batteries, would be forced to ascend, were 
filled Avith masses of skirmishers, armed with 
an excellent true-grooved rifle, throwing a 
large, solid, conical ball, with force at 700 
or 800 yards. The principal battery consist- 
ed of an earthwork of the form of two sides 
of a triangle, with the apex pointed toward 
the bridge, and the sides covering both sides 
of the stream, corresponding with the bend 
of the river below it, at the distance of 1,000 
yards, while, with a fair elevation, the 32 



ALMA. 



23 



pounders were able to throw beyond the 
houses of tlie village to the distance of 1,400 
and 1,500 yards. This was constructed on 
the brow of a hill about 600 feet above the 
river, but the liill rose beliind it for another 
fifty feet, before it dipped away toward the 
road. The ascent to this hill was enfiladed 
by the fire of these batteries of earthwork on 
the right, and by another on the left, and 
these batteries were equally capable of cover- 
ing the village, the stream, and the slopes 
which lead up the hill to then- position. In 
the first battery were thirteen 32 pounder 
brass guns ; in the other batteries were some 
twenty-five guns in all. On the 18th of Sep- 
tember the allied army, the English on the 
left, and the French and Turks on the right, 
advanced in columns of brigades toward the 
Russian position. The French army was 
commanded by ;M]\I. Marshal St. Arnaud and 
General Canrobert; the English, by Lord 
Raglan, and the Turks, by Suliman Pasha. 
The Turkish troops numbered 7,000. The 
right of the alhed forces was covered by the 
fleet which moved along with it in magnifi- 
cent order, darkening the air with innumer- 
able columns of smoke, ready to shell the 
Russians should they attack the right wing of 
the army, and commanding the land for near- 
ly two miles fi:om the shore. The scheme of 
operations concerted between lho al!ic(| gen- 
erals, was, that the French and tli.' Turks on 
the right, were to force tlie ii;i.-s;il;'(_' uf the 
river, and establish themselves on Ihe heights 
over the stream at the opposite side, so that 
they could enfilade the position to their right 
and opposite the British left and center. 
When that attack was sufficiently developed 
and had met with success, the British army 
was to force the right and part of the center 
of the Russian position. These operations, 
successfully carried out, Avould ensure victory. 
When the allied army had arrived within about 
three miles from the vUlage, near the bridge 
which crosses the Alma, the French steamers 
ran in as close as they could to the bluff of the 
shore on the south side of the Alma, and com- 
menced throwing bombs into the midst of the 
Russians on the heights. Their fire was so 
effective that the Russians were driven from 
their position on the right, within 3,000 yards 
of the sea. The Russians returned the fire of 
the French steamers from the heights ; but 
without effect. They finally abandoned their 
efibrts against the steamers, and withdrew 
from the sea-side, confining their endeavors 
to the defense of the gullies and heights be- 
yond the fire of the heavy guns of the steam- 
ers. About one o'clock in the afternoon the 
French columns commenced to ascend the 
hills, covered by a cloud of skirmishers, who 
maintained a constant fire. The Russians, in 
a black mass, showed themselves to oppose 



the assailants, and poured forth volley after 
volley among them. The French paused for 
an instant; then rushing forward, they 
charged furiously into the Russians, scatter- 
ing them lUve chaff, and driving them up the 
hill in disorder. At half past one o'clock the 
British Une of skirmishers got within range 
of the Russian battery on the hill, which 
opened upon them with terrible effect. About 
tills time the Russians set fii-e to the village, 
and the smoke of the conflagration arose like 
a vail between the combatants, completely 
hiding the Russians on the right from the 
view of the British on the left.. It was a well 
executed exercise of military skill, and suc- 
ceeded in giving the British a great deal of 
annoyance. The British halted when they 
neared this village, their left extending be- 
yond it by the verge of the stream; their 
right behind the burning cottages, and with- 
in range of the batteries. The Russians now 
opened a furious fire on the whole of the 
British line, which remained stationary, for 
the French had not yet made sufficient prog- 
ress to justify it in advancing. In the midst 
of a terrific tempest of round-shot, which did 
bloody execution, the British troops calmly 
awaited the signal to advance. Although the 
infantry was inactive, yet the British artillery 
was not silent. Their cannons and mortars 
poured forth an unceasing fire of round-shot 
and shells, and fiery rockets streamed through 
the air, plowing through the Russians with 
fearful effect. The Russians, however, re- 
plied manfully, their shot falling among the 
British soldiers, who were lying flat on the 
ground to avoid the missiles, kUhng, crushing, 
and shattering at every round. Lord Raglan 
at length became weary of this inactivity; 
and gave orders for the whole line to advance. 
The British troops rose to their feet, and rush- 
ing through a fearful shower of round, case- 
shot, and shells, they dashed into the Alma, 
and floundered through its waters, which 
were hteraUy torn into foam by the deadly 
hail. At the other side of the river were a 
number of vineyards which were occupied by 
Russian riflemen. They saluted the advan- 
cing columns with Sestructive volleys. Three 
of Lord Raglan's staff were shot down ; but 
led on by Lord Raglan in person, they ad- 
vanced cheering on the men. Raglan dashed 
over the bridge, followed by his staff. The 
British line struggled through the river, 
and advanced in masses up the heights, 
through a whirlwind of grape, round-shot, 
shells, canister, case-shot, and musketry 
which was hurled down upon them by the 
Russian batteries and a compact mass of in- 
fantry. The British advanced with the ut- 
most order. The second division, led by Sir 
De L. Evans, crossed the stream on the right. 
The 7th Fusileers, led by Colonel Yea, en- 



24 



ALMANZA— AL:\'IEIDA. 



tered into the storm of iron, and were swept 
down by hundreds. The 55th, 30th, and 
95th, led by Brigadier Pennefeather, who was 
in the thickest of the fight, steadily advanced 
through the storm, occasionally faltering, but 
never" falling back; and Brigadier Adams, 
with the 41st, 47th and 49th, bravely charged 
up the hill, and aidedPennefeatherinthe bat- 
tle. The light division, under Sir George 
Brown, displayed equal valor. But their prog- 
ress was slow; the Russians, hurhng down 
hurricanes of iron, swept down hundreds of 
the assailants, and compelled the 7th British 
regiment, diminished by one half, to fall back 
to reform their columns lost for the time ; the 
23d, with eight officers dead, and four wound- 
ed, stiU advanced in the front aided by the 
15th, 33d, 77th, and 88th. Down went Sir 
George in a cloud of dust in front of the bat- 
tery. He was soon up ; but his fall had pro- 
duced a shock which paralyzed his regiment 
for a moment, and in their pause the British 
troops sufiered fearfully from the point-blank 
fire of the Russian battery. Meanwhile the 
Guards on the right of the light division, and 
the brigade of Highlanders were storming the 
heights on the left. They rapidly approached 
the Russians, when suddenly a tornado of 
round and grape-shot rushed through from 
the terrible battery, and a roar of musketry 
from behind, thinned their ranks by scores. 
It was evident that they were just able to 
contend against the Russians; and at this 
very time an immense mass of Russian in- 
fantry moved down toward the battery. 
They halted. It was the crisis of the day. 
Sharp, angular, and solid, they looked as if 
they were cut out of the solid rock. It was 
beyond all doubt that if the British infantry, 
harassed and thinned as it was, got into the 
battery, they would have to encounter again 
a formidable fire, which they were but ill cal- 
culateil to bear. The British general saw the 
difficulties of the situation, and got a couple 
of guns to bear on the Russian masses. The 
first shot missed, but the next, and the next, 
and the next, cut through the ranks so clearly, 
and so keenly, that a clear lane could be seen 
for a moment through the square. After a 
few rounds the columns of the square be- 
came broken, wavered to an;! fro, broke, and 
fled over the brow of the hill,' leaving behind 
them six or seven distinct lines of dead, lying 
as close as possible to each other, marking 
the passage of the fatal messengers. The 
Highlanders, under Sir Colin Campbell, and 
the Guards, dashed forward at full run, and 
took tlie battery at a bound. The Russians 
rushed out, and lefl a number of dead behind 
them. The second and light divisions crown- 
ed the heights. The French turned the guns 
on the hill against the flying masses. A few 
faint struggles from the scattered infantry ; a 



few rounds of cannon and musketry, and the 
Russians fled to the south-east, leaving three 
generals, drums, three guns, 700 prisoners, 
and 4,000 wounded behmd them. The Rus- 
sian retreat was covered by their cavalry. 
The British lost 310 killed, 1,818 wounded ; 
the French 318 killed, 1,033 wounded, and 
the Turks, 256 killed, and 1,230 wounded. 
The Russians lost 2,480 killed, and 4,680 
wounded. Among the English dead were 
96 officers, 114 sergeants and 24 drummers. 
The French loss in officers was about the 
same. 

ALMANZA, A.D. 1707. — Almanza is situ- 
ated in the province of Murcia, in Spain, 56 
miles north-west of Ahcant. On the 4th of 
April, 1707, it was witness to an obstinate 
battle between the French army, under the 
Duke of Berwick, and the allied forces in 
the interest of the Archduke Charles, of 
Austria, which were commanded by Lord 
Galway. The conflict began about two in 
the afternoon. The whole front of each 
army was fully engaged. At first the center 
of the aUied armies, which consisted cliiefly 
of British and Dutch battahons, seemed vic- 
torious ; but, at the first charge of the enemy, 
the Portuguese horse, on the wing, were 
routed and dispersed, and the English troops 
were flanked and surrounded on every side. 
In this dreadful emergency they formed 
themselves into a square, and retired to an 
eminence, where, being ignorant of the 
country, and entirely destitute of supplies, 
they were obliged to surrender, prisoners of 
war. The Archduke lost 5,000 men, killed 
on the field of battle, and nearly 10,000 
taken prisoners on tlie eminence. The vic- 
tory was decisive; all Spain, except tlie 
province of Catalonia, returned to their al- 
legiance to Philip, their native sovereign. 

ALMARAZ, A.D. 1812. — Almaraz, in Spain, 
was, on the 18th of May, 1812, the scene of 
a battle between the French, and the Enghsh 
army, under Lord Hill, in which the former 
were defeated. From this victory Lord Hill 
took the title of Almaraz. 

ALMEIDA, A.D. 1810. — From the position 
of Almeida, on the frontier of Portugal, it 
has always been deemed a mihtary post of 
the utmost importance. It is a well-fortified 
town, and is situated in the province of 
Beira, in Portugal, 24 miles west of Ciudad 
Rodrigo. In the year 1762, during the war 
between England and Spain, Almeida was 
reduced and garrisoned by the English and 
Portuguese soldiers. Shortly afterward it 
was retaken by the Spaniards, after a long 
siege, and its fortifications dismantled. In 
the year 1810, Almeida was besieged and 
taken by Marshal Massena, whom Napoleon 
had placed over the French army in Portugal 
Having reduced Ciudad Rodrigo, after a 



ALMONACID DE ZORITA— AMBRACIA. 



25 



long siege, Massena, with 20,000 infantry, 
and 4,000 cavalry, with 30 guns, advanced 
on the Duke of WelUngton, who, abandoning 
Almeida to its flite, retreated with liis army 
to the Torres Vedras. Before the invest- 
ment of Almeida took place, however, a very 
gallant action occurred between the French 
advanced guard and General Cra-\vford, who 
commanded the British rear-guard, 4,500 
strong, on the banks of the Coa. Crawford, 
during the whole siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, 
had maintained his position on the French 
side of the stream, and he maintained it even 
when Massena approached Almeida. On the 
24th of July he was assailed by the French. 
The British suffered considerable loss in the 
assault, and retreated across the bridge over 
the Coa ; but, forming themselves on the op- 
posite shore, they opened a destructive fire of 
musketry and artillery upon the French, who, 
with the utmost gallantry, dashed over the 
bridge. The terrible fire of the British swept 
away the head of the advancing column; 
and, after a bloody conflict of two hours, a 
lieaA^ rain separated the combatants, and 
Crawford, with his division, retreated to the 
main body of the Enghsh army. All ob- 
stacles being now removed, the French com- 
pleted the investment of Almeida, on the fol- 
lowing day. On the 15 th of August, the 
trenches were opened. The fire of th§ place 
was extremely well sustained. The garrison 
consisted of 4,000 Portuguese, regulars and 
mihtia. The French kept up an incessant 
and heavy fire upon the tov^-n from 65 guns, 
to which the garrison vigorously replied. 
But at five o'clock in the evening of the 2Gth, 
a bomb was thrown from the French hues 
which fell into the great magazine of the for- 
tress, containing 150,000 pounds of powder. 
A terrible explosion followed ; the cathedral, 
the principal edifices, and a great number of 
the houses of the city were blo^vn up, and 
several large breaches were made in the 
ramparts. Almeida was now surrendered to 
the French, and the garrison, now reduced 
to 3,000 men, were made prisoners, and fif- 
teen pie^jes of heavy cannon fell into the 
hands of the victors. Almeida remained in 
the possession of the French till the 10th of 
May, 1811, when its governor, the gallant 
General Bernier, by Massena's directions, 
blew up its fortifications, and abandoned the 
place to the Duke of Wellington. 

ALMONACID DE ZORITA, in Spain, 
was the scene of a battle between the French 
and Spanish armies, on the 11th of August, 
1809, in wliich the former were victo- 
rious. 

ALNEY, A.D. 1016.— In the year 1016, 
two years after the invasion of England by 
the Danes, a single-handed combat was 
fought at Alney by Edmund Ironsides, of 



England, and Canute, King of Denmark, in 
sight of their armies. Canute was severely 
wounded, and proposed a division of the 
British empire, reserving to himself the 
northern portion, consisting of Mercia, East 
Anglia, and Northumberland. The southern 
districts were left to Edmund. But this 
prince, one month after the treaty, was mur- 
dered at Oxford by two of liis chamberlains, 
accomphces of Echic Steon, and, in 1017, 
Canute was left in peaceable possession of 
the entire kingdom. 

ALNWICK, A.D., 1092.— Alnwick is situ- 
ated on a dechvity near the river Alne, 
in England, 275 miles north-west from Lon- 
don. In the year 1092, during the reign of 
William Rufus, King of England, a rupture 
ensued between the English and the Scotch; 
in which Malcolm, King of Scotland, was 
ultimately surprised and slain by a party 
from Alnwick castle. A cross, called Mal- 
colm's cross, stands on the spot where Mal- 
colm is said to have been killed by a soldier 
who came to offer him the keys of the castle 
on the point of a spear. 

AMBERG, A.D. 1796.— On the 24th day 
of August, 1796, the Austrian army under 
the Archduke Charles, advanced with the 
corps under Wartensleben, to attack the 
French republicans at Amberg. The Austri- 
ans, numbering nearly 20,000 men, advanced 
in three columns on the south, while Wartens- 
leben's corps, nearly as strong, attacked the city 
on the north. The French made but a feeble 
resistance; assailed at once in front and 
flank, they retreated to the plateau in the 
rear of their position, and the enemy entered 
the city without opposition. 

AMBRACIA, B.C. 198.- In the year 198, 
B.C. the Roman consul Fulvius, arrived in 
Greece, and began the war against the ^to- 
lians, by besieging the city of Ambracia 
which at that time was in possession of the 
Jlltolians. This city was defended on one 
side by the river Arethon, and on the other 
by an exceedingly steep mountain, and was 
surrounded by a soHd stone wall three miles 
in circumference. The attack was of the 
most vigorous kind, and the defense no less 
so. A reinforcement of 500 chosen men, 
whom the ^tolians found means to throw 
into the place, notwithstanding the vigilance 
of the Romans, much augmented the courage 
and confidence of the besieged. They em- 
ployed new inventions every day for burning 
the machines of the enemy ; they made fre- 
quent salhes, in which they generally had the 
advantage, and their defense was so obstinate 
and vigorous, that the consul almost repented 
having undertaken the siege. At length he 
was released from his anxiety by the ^to- 
hans themselves, who after vainly sohciting 
for peace from liim, finally opened their 



AMFIXG— ANTIOCIT. 



gates to the Romans, after receiving the 
consul's promise that the ^toUan garrison 
might retire unmolested. 

AMFIiSTG, A.D. 1322.— Near Amfing, in 
Bavaria a battle was fought, on the '28th 
September, 1322, between Louis, Duke of 
Bavaria, emperor of Germany, and Frederic, 
Archduke of Austria, when the latter was 
entirely defeated and made prisoner. 

AMIS US, a royal city of Mithridates, King 
of Pontus, was blockaded, in the year 73 
B.C., by LucuUus, a Roman consul. In the i 
year 71 B.C., after a long siege, it was assaulted 
by the same consul, and the wall forced. ' 
The governor of the city Callimachus, and [ 
the inhabitants immediately fled, after setting 
fire to the city, either to prevent the Romans 
from enriching themselves, or to secure their 
retreat. Lucullus would fain have saved the 
city, for it was not only a beautiful city, but 
was of Grecian origin, and a colony of 
Athens ; but his soldiers, raging for plunder, 
were ready to mutiny, and hoping that their 
desires for booty would tempt them to ex- 
tinguish the flames, he suiFered them to 
plunder. But the Romans not only refused 
to extinguish the fire, but aided it by apply- 
ing torches to such buildings as they supposed 
concealed thing's of value, and the greater 
portion of the city was laid in ruins. 

AMOY, A.D.1841. — This is a sea-port town 
of China, on an island of the same name. On 
the 27th of August, 1841, after a severe 
bombardment, the British fleet captured 
Amoy. On taking possession of the island, 
the British found a battery 1,100 yards long, 
mounting 90 guns, constructed with great 
skill. By this victory the English opened 
Nankin, and other ports, to their trade, and a [ 
British consul was established there. \ 

ANCRAM, A.D. 1545. — Duringa war with ! 
Scotland, the English, under command of 
Lord Evers invaded Scotland, in the year j 
1545. Evers's army consisted of 5,000 men, 
whom he led into Teviodale, and was em- 
ployed in ravaging that country, when intel- 
ligence was brought him that a Scottish army 
had made its appearance near the abbey of 
Melrose. The neighboring counties had been 
aroused, and the inhabitants, flying to arms, 
had proceeded to this place, dcitermined to 
drive back the invaders. Norman Leslie, son 
of the Earl of Rothe, had also joined the 
Scots, and he inspired them with new 
bravery, as well by his own personal valor 
and daring, as by the troop of volunteers 
from Fife, whom he commanded. In order 
to compel their forces to make a steady de- 
fense, the Scottish leaders ordered all their 
cavalry to dismount, and then with their en- 
tire army they awaited the assault of the 
English. No sooner did the English perceive 
tliat the Scottish horses were being led from 



the field, than supposing that the whole army 
was retreating, they rushed on to the attack, 
assured of an easy victory. The Scots re- 
ceived them without flinching, and with 
yells of triumph they drove back the English, 
who had expected no resistance, with great 
slaughter. Tlie English desperately contested 
every inch of soil, fighting hand to hand with 
the enemy ; nor did they fairly fly till both 
Evers and Latoun were slain. The loss of 
the English at tliis battle far exceeded that 
of the Scots. The victory of the latter was 
complete ; more than 1000 men of the in- 
vading army were made prisoners, while the 
balance were either dispersed or destroyed. 

ANET, A.D. 1590.— Near Anet, in France, 
the army of Henry IV. of France gained a 
decisive victory over the troops of the League, 
under Mayence, in 1590. 

ANJOU, A.D. 1421.— The battle of Anjou 
was fought between the EngUsh and French 
armies, at Beague, in France, on the 3d of 
April, 1421. The French troops were com- 
manded by the Dauphin of France, who 
defeated the English, on whose side 1,500 
men were slain. The Duke of Clarence, 
general of the English forces, was killed by 
Sir Allan Swinton, a Scotch knight, who 
commanded a company of men-at-arms in 
the French army, and the Earls of Somerset, 
Dorset, and Huntingdon were taken prison- 
ers. — Hume. 

ANTIOCH. — Antioch, now Anthakia, was 
a celebrated city, the capital of Syria. It 
was seated on the river Orontes, now called 
Assi, fifteen miles east of the Mediterranean, 
and forty miles south-west of Aleppo. 

First Siege, a.d. 540. — Chosroes, King of 
Persia, having spread terror and dismay 
throughout Syria by the capture of Sour 
(ancient Tyre) and other places, presented 
himself before Antioch. The attack and de- 
fense were equally warm and terrible in 
their results. The besieged surrendered, 
after having exhausted all their resources, 
and admitted the Persians within their walls. 
The confusion was horrible in this populous 
and unfortunate city. Men, women, and 
children crowded over each other to escape 
the sword of the conqueror; the streets 
could not afford passage wide enough for the 
multitude. The soldiers of the garrison, 
mingled with the fiigitives, overthrew the 
unhappy citizens, trampled them under their 
horses' feet, and crushed them to death in 
their own city and by their own troops. 
The conquerors, spread throughout all the 
quarters, indulged in a license almost unheard 
of even in such scenes: they pillaged and 
sacked the houses; they pulled down and 
burned all the public edifices; they pro- 
faned and plundered the churches ; they in- 
sulted and violated the virgins consecrated to 



ANTIOCH. 



27 



God; and the maidens and women whose 
virtue they outraf?ed were immolated before 
the eyes of their husbands and parents. 
Chosroes himself animated liis troops to the 
carnage, and excited them to plunder. He 
took possession of the gold and silver vases 
of the great church, and sent into Persia all 
the valuable statues, rare pictures, and pre- 
cious objects that decorated that superb city. 
When despoiled of all its ornaments and de- 
prived of its wealth, he ordered it to be 
reduced to ashes. Tliis cruel order was so 
punctually obeyed, that only one single quar- 
ter escaped the flames. 

Second Sikge, a.d. 638. — Antioch, how- 
ever, soon arose again from its ruins, under 
the protection of the emperors of the West. 
It was again besieged about a hundred years 
after the above-stated catastrophe, by the 
Saracens, before the eyes of Prince Constan- 
tine, son of the Emperor HeracUus. The 
infidels approached a bridge at a short dis- 
tance from Antioch, called the Bridge of 
Iron. The towers, each furnished Avith 300 
soldiers, were intrusted with the defense of 
it. These degenerate Romans surrendered 
their posts to the enemy; Constantino, in 
despair, could trust neither the courage nor 
the fidelity of his troops. Very unlike the 
Romans of the days of Pyrrhus, who would 
have thought themselves dishonored by tak- 
ing advantage of a crime, this prince resorted 
to the baseness of assassination as the surest 
means of averting the storm which threatened 
Antioch. He hoped to terminate the war 
by assassinating the caliph who directed the 
enterprises of the Saracens. An assassin was 
sent to Medina. Trembling at the sight of 
Omar, the wretch confessed his intentions, 
and the name of the person who employed 
him. Omar, so far from losing his life, ac- 
quired the honor of pardoning the man who 
attempted it : the Christian prince acquired 
the disgi-ace of having attempted a crime, and 
failed in it. The two armies encamped near 
Antioch. A general, named Nestorius, com- 
manded the Romans: endowed with the 
valor of a soldier, he for a moment forgot 
that his lue belonged to his army, and chal- 
lenged the bravest of the Mussulmans to 
single combat. Dames, who had acquired 
the reputation of being invincible at the siege 
of Aleppo, presented himself. His horse 
stumbhng while he was engaged with his 
enemy, Dames was seized and conveyed a 
prisoner to the t-ent of the challenger. Nes- 
torius, proud of tliis chance victory, was 
desirous of a fresh triumph. He olfered a 
fresh challenge, which was accepted by De- 
hac. The two champions fought for a long 
time with equal success; when, exhausted 
by fatigue, and their horses being jaded and 
breathless, they separated to recruit their 



strength. During the second conflict, Dames, 
having deceived the slaves who guarded him, 
contrived to escape, and rejoined his com- 
rades. A few days after, the two armies 
engaged, and the Romans were cut to pieces 
after a severe and bloody battle. A fresh 
perfidy of Youckinna, formerly Governor of 
Aleppo, contributed greatly to the defeat of 
the Romans. This traitor guarded in Antioch 
Derar and 200 other Mussulman prisoners. 
At the moment of the combat, he set them 
at liberty,' joined them to the troop he com- 
manded, and ranged himself under the stan- 
dard of Mahomet. At the sight of these new 
enemies, the Roman legions lost all courage ; 
they fancied the whole population of Antioch 
was pouring out upon them. The field of 
battle was, strewed with dead. The inhabit- 
ants of Antioch, finding themselves without 
resource, capitulateil ; to avoid being pillaged, 
they paid the conqueror 300,000 pieces of 
gold, amounting to about £850,000 — a sum 
which seems to us incredibly small from 
such a city so cii'cumstanced. Abou-Obeidah, 
entered Antioch on the 21st of August. 
As he dreaded for his soldiers the pleasures 
of this voluptuous city more than he feared 
the Roman armies, he only allowed them to 
remain there three days. 

TuiRD Siege, a.d. 1097. — After a disas- 
trous mbrch, in which they had met with 
many unexpected accidents and reverses, as 
well as triumphs, the great army of the Cru- 
saders, under Godfrey of Bouillon and his 
chivakous companions, advanced toward An- 
tioch. As we have seen in a former siege, 
the approach to this great city of the East 
was guarded by a bridge over the Orontes, 
on which were placed two towers covered 
with iron. But nothing could resist the van 
led by the Duke of Normandy : the Normans 
soon took the bridge and passed the river. 
Terror was spread among the Mussulmans, 
who all flocked to the city as a place of 
refuge. The whole Christian army drew up 
in 1)attle array, with trumpets sounding and 
ensigns flying, and then encamped within a 
mile of Antioch. 

The aspect of this city, so celebrated in 
the annals of Christianity, revived the rehg- 
ious enthusiasm of the Crusaders. It was 
within the walls of Antioch that the disciples 
of Christ had first assumed the name of 
Christians, and that the Apostle Peter was 
named the first pastor of the nascent church. 
Antioch was as much celebrated in tlie an- 
nals of the Roman empire as in those of 
the church. 

The walls inclosed four hills, separated by 
a torrent, which threw itself into the river. 
Upon the western hill was built a very strong 
citadel, which dominated the city. The 
ramparts of Antiocli, which were as solid as 



28 



ANTIOCH. 



a rock, were three leagues in circumference, ' 
and along them were built no less than 3G0 ; 
strong towers. Broad ditches, the river Oron- 
tes, anl marshes, still further protected the 
inhabitants of Antioch, and prevented all ac- 
cess to the city. At the approach of the { 
Christians, most of the inliabitants of the I 
neighboring provinces and cities sought ref- 
uge in Antioch, with their families and their 
property. Accien, the grandson of Malek- 
Schali, who had obtained the sovereignty of 
the city, had shut himself up in it with 20,000 
foot and 7,000 horse. 

The siege of Antioch presented so many 
obstacles and dangers, that the Crusaders de- 
hberated whether they ought in prudence to 
undertake it. The first who spoke in the 
council thought it would bo rash to commence 
a siege at the approach of winter. But God- 
frey and the legate, Adhemar, were both in 
favor of immediate attack, and the council 
decreed that the siege of Antioch should be 
immediately commenced, an'i that same day 
the whole Christian army advanced to the 
walls. Now, our readers, in contemplating 
the army of the Crusaders, must not suppose 
that, like any other army so joined, there was 
any spirit of unity in it. It was assembled 
on various principles : a few, and very few, 
were brought so far on their way to Jerusa- 
lem lj»y a purely religious motive ; many, like 
Robert of Normandy, were seduce^d by a 
wild chivalric love of adventure, and a thirst 
for that military renown which was so great 
an oljject with the age ; but the bullc of this 
host were men who had cast their all in an 
expedition which promised imbounded wealth 
— the leaders looked for dominions and states, 
the soldiers for booty. They had, hterally, 
emigrated; their desire was to establish them- 
selves in the fabulously-represented rich 
countries of the East, and they had neither 
hope nor intention to revisit Europe. There 
was no acknowledged leader to direct pro- 
ceedings or to check want of discipline. We 
have an idea that Godfrey of Bouillon was 
the leader ; but in no point of fact was he so ; 
the leaders wei-e all governed by their own 
interests ; and if Godfrey had thwarted those 
of Bohemond, Raymond di^ St. Gilles, Robert 
of Normandy, Robert of Flanders, or any 
6ther chief of rank, they would have paid no 
more attention to his authority than to that 
of one of his horse-boys. From this want of 
unity in the body, and unity of purpose, arose 
almost all the disasters of the Crusades, of 
which silly and wicked enterprises the reader 
will fuid an excellent epitome in the account 
of this interesting siege. 

Bohemond and Tancred took their posts at 
the east, opposite the gate of St. Paul, to the 
right of the Italians, the Normans, the Brit- 
ons, the Flemings, and the French, com- 



manded by the two Roberts; the Count de 
Vermandois and the Count de Chartres en- 
camped toward the north, before the pate of 
the Dog ; the Count de Toulouse, the Bishop 
of Puy, and the Duke of Lorraine, with their 
troops, occupied the space from the gate of 
the Dog to the spot where the Orontes, turn- 
ing toward the west, approaches the walls 
of Antioch. The Crusaders neglected to 
cover the southern part, defended by the 
mountain of Orontes, as they likewise did 
the western side of the city, which the river 
defended, and by which the besieged could 
make sorties or receive succors. 

The Turks shut themselves up close within 
their walls; all was quiet, all was silent. 
The Crusaders attributed tliis to terror, and 
heedlessly spread themselves over the de- 
lightful country, enjoying all the sweets of its 
climate and productions. 

Whilst thus forgetful of discipUne, as well 
as of their purpose, they were attacked by 
the garrison of Antioch, which surprised 
them, some lounging luxuriously in their 
camp, and others wandering about the coun- 
try. All whom the hopes of pillage, or the 
love of pleasure, had seduced into the neigh- 
boring villages and orchards, met with slavery 
or death. 

The desire of repairing this error led them 
into another. They resolved to scale the 
walls of Antioch, before they had provided 
themselves with either ladders or machines of 
war. Vengeance and fanaticism animated 
both leaders and soldiers, but they could 
make no impression upon the walls of the 
city, or disturb the security of its inhabitants. 
Several other assaults proved equally useless. 
Experience, for whose lessons they always 
paid so dearly, taught them that they must 
invest the place, and prevent the arrival of 
any foreign succor. 

They estabhshed a bridge of boats across 
the Orontes, and passed over some troops 
toward the western side of the city. All 
methods were had recourse to, to check the 
sorties of the enemy ; sometimes fortresses 
of wood were erected close to the ramparts, 
sometimes they planted balistas, which 
launched large stones at the besieged. To 
close the gate of the Dog they Avere obliged 
to heap large beams, stones, and pieces of 
rock against it. At the same time they in- 
trenched their camps, and took every precau- 
tion against surprise from the Saracens. 

Tlie blockade of the city was now their 
object ; but, as in all such cases, the tedious- 
ness of a siege did not accord with the impa- 
tience of warriors with an ulterior object in 
view. On their arrival before Antioch, they 
thought they should never again know want, 
and they wasted in a few days provisions for 
several months ; they thought about nothing 



ANTIOCH. 



29 



but meeting the enemy in the field of 
battle, and, confident of victory, they nei- 
ther provided against the rigors of winter 
nor against a fast-approaching want of pro- 
visions. 

The latter was not long in arriving. As 
soon as winter set in, the unfortunate Cru- 
saders found themselves a prey to all sorts of 
calamities. Torrents of rain lell every day, 
and the plains, which liad recently been so 
delightful, were almost covered with water. 
The camp, particularly in the valley, was sub- 
merged several times ; tempests and rains 
carried away the pavilions and tents ; hu- 
midity relaxed the bows ; rust gnawed the 
lances and swords. Most of the soldiers 
were left destitute of clothes. Contagious 
complaints carried off men and animals. 

Amid the general distress, Bohemond and 
the Duke of Normandy were charged with 
the task of scouring the country in search 
of provisions. In the course of their incur- 
sions they beat several detachments of the 
Saracens, and returned to the camp with 
considerable booty. Fresh incursions were 
made every day, and every day they became 
less fortunate. All the countries of Upper 
Syria had been ravaged by the Turks and the 
Christians. The Crusaders on these parties 
often put the Saracens to flight ; but victory, 
which was almost always their only resource 
in the moment of want, could not bring 
back abundance into the camp. As a com- 
pletion of their misery, all communication 
with Constantinople was cut off; the Pisan 
and Genoese fleets no longer coasted along 
the shores occupied by the Christians. The 
port of St. Simeon, situated at three leagues 
from Antioch, now saw no vessel arrive fi-om 
Greece or the West. The Flemish pirates 
who had taken the cross at Tarsus, after gain- 
ing possession of Laodicea, had been surprised 
by the Greeks, and several weeks before had 
been made prisoners. 

It was related that the son of Sweno, King 
of Denmark, who had taken the cross, and 
who was leading to the holy war 1,500 
knights, had been surprised by the Turks 
while advancing rapidly across the defiJes of 
Cappadocia. Attacked by an enemy supe- 
rior in numbet-s, he had defended himself 
during a whole day, without being able, by 
his courage or the axes of his warriors, to re- 
pulse the attack of the infidels. Florine, 
daughter of Eudes I., Duke of Burgundy, 
who accompanied the Danish hero, and to 
whom he was to be married after the taking 
of Jerusalem, had vaUantly fought by liis side. 
Transpierced by seven arrows, and fighting 
still, she was endeavoring, with Sweno, to 
open for herself a passage to the mountains, 
when they were overwhelmed by their ene- 
mies, They fell together upon the field of 



battle, after having seen all their knights and 
faithfiil servants perish around them. 

Famine and disease increased ; the Syrians 
who brought provision? Avere so extortionate 
in their prices, that the common soldiers could 
not purchase any. And not the smallest of 
their griefs was the daily, almost hourly loss 
of companions, countrymen, partakers of toils 
and dangers, to whom a conmion lot and ob- 
ject had endeared them. Desertion was soon 
added to the other evils. Most of the army 
began to lose all hope of reaching the Holy 
City, or even of subduing Antioch ; and some 
went to seek an asylum under BaldAvin, in 
Mesopotamia, while others stole away to the 
cities of Cihcia, subject to the Chi-istians. 

The Duke of Normandy retired to Laodicea, 
and did not return until he had been thrice 
summoned by the army, in the name of the 
religion of Christ. Tactius, the general of 
Alexius, left the camp with his troops, prom- 
ising to return with reinforcements and pro- 
visions. His departure was not rcgi-etted, 
and no hopes were built upon his promises. 
The desertion became common, even with the 
most brave and the most zealous ; not only 
did the stout Avarrior, the Viscount de Melun, 
whose use of the axe in battle had gained 
him the name of " the carpenter," turn his 
back upon famine and his suffering comrades, 
but even the devotion of Peter the Hermit, 
the great cause of tliis monstrous removal of 
the West to the East, Avas not proof against 
the misery all endured, and he fled away 
secretly. But the indefatigable Tancred, the 
truest knight of all the Crusades, pursued 
them, and brought back both the carpenter 
and hermit. Peter was bitterly reproached, 
and was compelled to swear on the Gospel 
never to repeat his offense. 

But Peter might have urged a better plea 
than fear for his flight; the Christian camp 
was the resort of all the vices. "Strange 
and inconceivable spectacle," says an eye- 
Avitness, " beneath the tents of the dehverers 
of Sion, were strangely grouped famine and 
voluptuousness, impure love, a mad passion 
for play, and all the excesses of debauchery 
mingled with the most horrid images of 
death." 

Syrian spies, likeAvise, stole into the camp, 
who circulated in the neighboring cities ex- 
aggerated accounts of the distress, the de- 
spair, and the vices of the Christians. In order 
to deUver the army from tliis annoyance, Bo- 
hemond, whom Mr. Gibbon too favorably 
styles the Ulysses of the Crusades, devised a 
plan fit even to disgust barbarians. He com- 
manded some Turks, who were his prisoners, 
to be brought to him. These he ordered to 
be immediately executed, and their bodies to 
be roasted over a large fire, like meat prepar- 
ing for the supper of himseff and his people; 



30 



ANTIOCH. 



directing it to be answered, if any one asked 
what was the cause of the preparations and 
the smell: "The princes and governors of 
the camp have decreed in council that, from 
this day forward, all Turks or spies found in 
the camp, shall in this manner, be forced to 
make meat of their bodies, as well for the 
princes as the army." Bohemond's servants 
followed his instructions, and the strangers 
in the camp were soon attracted by the re- 
port and the stencli to the Prince of Taren- 
tum's quarters. " When they saw what was 
going on," says an ancient author, "they 
were marvelously terrified, and fled away to 
circulate throagh Syria an account of the 
cannibalism of the Christians." Bohemond's 
plan, however, succeeded: no more spies 
were seen in the camp. 

The Bishop of Puy carried into execution, 
about the same time, a o-use of a much more 
agreeable nature. He caused the neighbor- 
ing lands to be plowed and sown with corn, 
not only for the benefit of the army, but to 
prove to the Saracens that they had no in- 
tention of abandoning the siege. 

Winter at length departed ; the contagious 
diseases abated, the princes and monasteries 
of Armenia sent in provisions ; with the de- 
parture of famine hope revived, and, strange 
to say, all these ameliorations were looked 
upon as the fruits of their own amendments ! 

Embassadors from Egypt then made their 
appearance, and the Crusaders had recourse 
to all sorts of expedients to impose upon their 
visitors. Their most splendid habihments, 
their most costly arms were exhibited, and 
the nobles and knights displayed their skill 
and courage in jousts and tournaments, and 
their graces in the dance — behind hngered 
want and privations ; in the eyes of the stran- 
gers all was joy and festivity. The Egyptians 
profess(}d great friendship for the Cmsaders, 
with admiration of their military virtues: 
their master made vast promises, and said 
they had liberty to enter the Holy City, pro- 
vided they went without arms, and only 
staid one month. If the Crusaders submit- 
ted to these conditions, the Caliph of Egypt 
would be their firmest support ; but if they 
scorned his friendship, the people of Ethiopia 
and Egypt, all who inhabit Asia and Africa, 
from the Strait of Gades to the gates of Bag- 
dad, would rise at the voice of the legitimate 
Vicar of the Prophet, and show the warriors 
of the West the power of their arms. 

To this speech a spirited reply was instant- 
ly made, rejecting all ^fussulman favors, ex- 
pressing a reliance upon God i<)r the delivery 
of the Holy Places, of which, they said, the 
Christians were determined to be the guard- 
ians and the masters. 

This was the sentiment of the Crusaders ; 
but they, nevertheless, did not entirely reject 



alliance with the caliph. They sent deputies 
and presents back with the embassadors. 

Scarcely had they departed, when the 
Christians gained a fresh victory over the 
Turks. The Sultans of Aleppo and Damas- 
cus, with the Emirs of Caesarea, Emessa, and 
Hierapolis had raised an army 20,000 horse, 
to succor Antioch. This army was already 
approaching the city, when it was stopped 
and cut to pieces by Bohemond and the 
Count de St. Gilles, who had gone out to 
meet it. The Turks lost two thousand men 
and a thousand horses ; and the city of Ha- 
rem, in which they endeavored to find safety, 
likewise fell into the hands of the Christians. 
At the moment the Egyptian embassadors 
were embarking at Port St. Simeon, four 
camels brought thnm the heads and the spoils 
of two hundred Mussulmans. The conquer- 
ors threw two hundred other heads into the 
city of Antioch, the garrison of which was 
anxiously looking out for succors. A num- 
ber of heads were also stuck on pikes round 
the walls. This they did in revenge for some 
gross insults the Saracens had lavished upon 
an image of the Virgin which hud fallen into 
their hands. 

The Crusaders had soon occasion to dis- 
play their valor in a much more perilous and 
sanguinary combat. A fleet of Genoese and 
Pisans entered the port of St. Simeon ; this 
caused the greatest joy, and the soldiers 
rushed in croAvds toward the port, to get news 
from Europe and obtain necessaries and pro- 
visions. As they returned, laden with what 
they had acquired, and mostly unarmed, they 
Avere attacked by a body of four thousand 
Saracens, who laid wait for them on their 
passage. In vain Bohemond, the Count de 
St. Gilles, and Bishop Adhemar, hastened to 
their assistance ; the Christians could not sus- 
tain the shock of the infidels, and retreated 
in great disorder 

The report of tliis defeat soon reached tlie 
camp, and Godfrey immediately summoned 
all to arms. Followed by his brother Eustace, 
the two Roberts and the Count de Verman- 
dois, he crossed the Orontes, and went in pur- 
suit of the pursueis. When he came up with 
tlie Saracens, he shouted to liis companions 
"to follow his example," and fell, sword in 
hand, upon the ranks of the Mussulmans. 
Accustomed to distant fight, and to employ 
the bow and arrow, these couU not stand 
against the sword and the lance of the Cru- 
saders : they took to flight some toward the 
mountains, and some toward the city. Ac- 
cien, who, from tlie towers of his palace, had 
beheld the victorious attack of the Crusaders, 
sent a numerous detachment to assist his 
flying troops. He accompanied them to 
the gate of the bridge, which he caused to 
be shut after them, tellin» them it should 



ANTIOCH. 



not be reoi^ened till thoy had gained the 
victory. 

Tliis fresh body of Saracens was quickly 
beaten in its turn. The Turks had no other 
hope but that of regaining the city ; but Grod- 
frey had placed himself upon an eminence be- 
tween the fugitives and the gates. It was 
there the carnage began ; the Christians were 
animated by their victory, the Saracens by 
their despair and the cries of the inhabitants 
assembled on the ramparts. Nothing can 
paint the tumults of this fresh combat. The 
clash of arms and the shouts of the soldiers 
drowned the voices of the commanders ; they 
fought hand to hand, in perfect disorder, 
while clouds of dust hung over the field of 
battle. Chance directed the blows of both 
the conquerors and the conquered ; the Sara- 
cens pressed upon each other, and embarras- 
sed their own flight. The confusion was so 
great that many Crusaders were killed by 
their companions in arms. A vast number 
of Saracens fell beneath the swords of the 
Christians, almost without resistance ; more 
than 2,000 were drowned in the Orontos. The 
slaughter lasted the whole day, and it was 
not till toward evening that Accien allowed 
the gates to be opened to the miserable re- 
mains of his troops. 

Notwithstanding these prodigious exploits, 
the Christians sustained a considerable loss. 
While celebrating the valor of the Crusaders, 
cotemporary history is astonished at the 
multitude of martyrs whom the Saracens 
sent to heaven. 

The Saracens passed the night in burying 
their dead near a mosque without the walls. 
Their sad duty performed, they retired. The 
Christians, however, know that the Mussul- 
mans never despoiled the bodies of their 
countrymen before they inhumed them, and 
flocked in crowds to the plunder of them. 
They tore up the bodies, and stripped them 
of the arms and clothes with which they 
were covered. They then returned to ex- 
hibit to their fellows in the camp the silk 
stuffs, bucklers, lances, javelins, and rich 
swords found in the graves. This spectacle 
did not in the least disgust the knights and 
barons. The day after the battle, among the 
spoils of the vanquished, they contemplated 
with pleasure fifteen hundred heads separated 
from their trunks, which were paraded in 
triumph through the army, and reminded 
them of their victory and of the loss of the 
infidels. 

All these heads, cast into the Orontes with 
the bodies of the Mussulmans who the pre- 
ceding day had been drowned in the river, 
went to convey the news of the victory to the 
Genoese and Pisans at Port St. Simeon. 

The leaders now thought of nothing but 
taking advantage of tlie terror witli which 



they had inspired the Mussulmans. Masters 
of the cemetery, they pulled down the mosque, 
and employed the stones, even of the tombs, 
to build a fortress before the gate of the bridge 
by which the besieged made their sorties. 
Raymond, who had been accused of want of 
zeal for the holy war, constructed this fort 
and took charge of the perilous post. It was 
proposed to raise a new fortress near the 
first, and as none of the leaders came forward 
to erect it, Tancred offered his services — a 
generous and loyal knight ; he had nothing left 
but his sword and his renown. He asked his 
companions for money, and undertook the 
danger of the enterprise. All were eager to 
second his courageous devotion; tiio works 
he directed were soon finished ; and from that 
time the besieged were closely shut up with- 
in the in closure of their Avails. 

The Crusaders having thus blockaded the 
city, seized the Syrians who had been accus- 
tomed to bring provisions to Antioch, and 
only spared their lives upon their swearing to 
supply the Christian array. Learning that 
Accien had sent away a great many of his 
horses to a valley some leagues from the city, 
they repaired thither by by-roads, and gained 
possession of the rich booty. Two thousand 
horses and as many mules were led in tri- 
umph to the Christian camp. 

Many of the Grenoese and Pi:^ans Avere skill- 
ful engineers, and they were employed in 
directing the labors of the siege. Macliines 
of war were built, and Autiooli Avas threat- 
ened on all sides. While despair supplied 
the place of courage with the Saracens, zeal 
and emulation increased among the Crusad- 
ers; many whom want or fear had driven 
away, returned to their standards, -and sought 
every opportunity of wiping out the disgrace 
of their desertion. The besiegers no longer 
thought of repose, and breathed nothing but 
fight. The Avomcn seconded the valor of the 
Avarriors ; some fought by their sides in the 
ranks, while others supplied them with food 
and munitions when they were engaged. 
The, cluldren even formed bands, and went 
through their military exercises. The inhabit- 
ants of Antioch opposed their children to 
those of the Christians, and several times 
tliese young combatants engaged in the pres- 
ence of the besiegers and the besieged, who 
took an interest in the fight, and animated 
their party by voice and gesture when they 
appeared to give Avay. 

There Avas formed at the same time an- 
other militia, much more formidable to the 
Saracens. The mendicants and vagabonds 
Avho folloAved the armj^ Avere employed in the 
labors of the siege, under tlio orders of a 
captain who took the title of Truand King, 
or King of the Beggars. They received pay 
from tlie general chest ; and as soon as they 



32 



ANTIOCa 



were in a condition to purchase arms and 
clothes, the king denied them as his subjects, 
and made them enter into one of the corps 
of the army. This measure, while removing 
the vagabonds from their dangerous idleness, 
made useful auxiliaries of tiiem. As they 
were accused of violating graves and feeding 
on human flesh, they inspired great horror 
and fear among the infidels, who fled away 
at their approach. 

Autioch was so warmly pressed, and the 
garrison had so httle means of defense, that 
the Crusaders expected every day to be mas- 
ters of it. Accien demanded a truce, and 
promised to surrender if not speedily suc- 
cored. The Crusaders, always full of blind 
confidence, had the imprudence to accept the 
proposals of the governor. As soon as they 
had made a truce with the Saracens, the 
leaders of the army, who seldom agreed any- 
where but in the field of battle, and whom dan- 
ger even could not always unite, were on the 
point of declaring war among themselves. 

Baldwin, Prince of Edessa, had sent some 
magnificent presents to Godfrey, the two 
Roberts, the Count de Vermandois, and the 
Counts of Blois and Chartres; he had dis- 
tributed sums of money to the whole army ; 
but in bestowing his largesses, he had pur- 
posely left out Bohemond and his soldiers. 
This was quite enough to create a division. 
While the Christian army was loud in the 
praises of the liberality of Baldwin, the Prince 
of Tarentum and his warriors breathed nothing 
but complaints and murmurs. 

At the same time, a richly ornamented 
tent, Avhich an Armenian prince destined 
for Godfrey, and which, falling into the 
hands of Pancratus, and was sent to Bo- 
hemond, became a fresh subject ef trouble 
and discord. Godfrey haughtily claimed the 
present which had been intended for him ; 
Bohemond refused to give it up. Both par- 
ties proceeded to abuse and threats; they 
were eager to have recourse to arms, and 
Christian blood was about to flow in a con- 
temptible quarrel. But at length the Prince 
of Tarentum, abandoned by the greater part 
of the army and conquered by the praj^ers of 
his friends, surrendered the tent to his rival. 

While these quarrels occupied the Chris- 
tian army, the inhabitants of Antioch re- 
ceived reinforcements and prepared for a 
fresh resistance. When they had obtained 
all they stood in need of, they broke the 
truce and recommenced the war with all the 
advantages a foolishly granted peace had given 
tliem. 

Antioch, after a seven months' siege, would 
have escaped tlie hands of the Christians, if 
cunning, policy, and ambition had not done 
more for their cause than patience and valor 
had been able to do. Bohemond, whom the 



hopes of bettering his fortune had drawn into 
the Crusade, was always on the watch to re- 
ahze his projects. The success oi' Baldwin 
had roused his jealousy. He ventured to 
cast his eyes upon Antioch, and was suffi- 
ciently favored by circumstances to find a 
man who had it in his power to place the 
city in his hands. This man, who Avas named 
Phirous, was the son of an Armenian, a 
maker of cuirasses. Of a restless, uneasy 
character, he was constantly in hopes of 
changing his conLhtion. He had abjured the 
Christian rehgion in a spirit of incousistency 
and with the expectation of advancing his 
fortune. To satisfy his ambition and avarice, 
nothing appeared unjust or impossible. Being 
active, cunning, and insinuating, he had ob- 
tained the confidence of Accien, who ad- 
mitted him to his councils. The Prince of 
Antioch had confided the command of three 
of his principal towers to liim. He at first 
defended them with zeal, but without any 
advantage to his fortune : he grew weary of 
a sterile fidelity as soon as he was brought 
to think that treacher ymight be more profit- 
able to Mm. 

In the intervals between the battles he 
had had frequent opportunities of seeing the 
Prince of Tarentum. These two men di- 
vined each other's character at first sight, 
and were not long in coming to an un- 
derstanding. They afterward saw each 
other several times, but always Avith the 
greatest secrecy. At every interview, Bo- 
hemond told Plurous that the fate of the 
Crusaders was in his hands, and that it only 
remained with himself to obtain an immense 
recompense from them. On his side, Phirous 
protested that he had a great desire to serve 
the Crusaders, whom he looked upon as his 
brothers; and to assure the Prince of Taren- 
tum of his fidehty, or to excuse his treachery, 
he said that Cln-ist hail ai>peared to him and 
advised him to give Antioch up to the Chris- 
tians. Bohemond had no need of a similar 
protestation. He had no trouble in beUeving 
what he wished for with so much ardor ; and 
when ho had agreed with Phirous upon the 
means by which the projects they had a long 
time meditated should be executed, he called 
an assembly of the principal leaders of the 
Christian arm j^ He dwelt with great warmth 
upon the evils which to that period had des- 
olated the Crusaders, and the yet greater 
evils with which they were still threatened. 
He added that a powerful army was ad- 
vancing to the succor of Antioch ; that they 
could not retreat without shame and danger ; 
and that there was no safety for the Chris- 
tians but in the conquest of the city. The 
place, it was true, was defended Ity inexpug- 
nable ramparts; but they must be aware 
that all victories are not gained by arms or 



ANTIOCH. 



33 



in the field of battle ; that those which were 
obtained by address were neither the least 
important nor the least glorious. They who 
could not be conquered might be seduced, 
and enemies might be overcome by an adroit 
and generous enterprise. Among the inhabi- 
tants of Antioch, widely differing in morals 
and reUgion, opposite in interests, there must 
be some to be found who would be accessible 
to baits of gold or to brilliant promises. It 
concerned a service of so much importance 
to the Christian army, that all sorts of at- 
tempts were justifiable. The possession even 
of Antioch itself did not appear to him to be 
too much to hold out as a reward to him 
who should be skillful or fortunate enough to 
throw open the gates to the Crusaders. 

Bohemond did not explain himself more 
clearly, but several of the leaders, who, per- 
haps, entertained the same views, easily 
fathomed his meaning. Raymond, in par- 
ticular, spoke strongly against the artful in- 
sinuations of the Prince of Tarentum. " We 
are all," said he, " brothers and companions 
in arms, and it would be unjust, that having 
all run the same risk, one alone should 
gather the fruit of our labors. "As for my- 
self," added he, casting a look of anger and 
contempt upon Bohemond, "I have not 
traversed so many countries, and braved so 
many perils ; I have not been prodigal of my 
blood, my soldiers, and my treasures, to pay 
with the price of our conquests some gross 
artifice, some disgraceful stratagem, the in- 
vention of which should be left to women." 
As none of the Crusaders were actuated by 
a more palpable ambition, or by meaner or 
more sordid views than Bohemond of Taren- 
tum and Raymond of Toulouse, they were 
upon all occasions at variance, and by their 
wrangling laid their characters open to the 
whole army. Raymond's vehement words 
produced all the effect that might be ex- 
pected among warriors accustomed to con- 
quer by arms, and who valued no advantage 
tiiat was not purchased by bravery. Most 
of the leaders rejected Bohemond'a propo- 
sals, and joined their railleries to those of 
Raymond. Bohemond, with his Ulyssian 
tact, did his best to conceal his vexation and 
maUce. He left the council with a smile on 
his lip, perfectly satisfied that necessity would 
soon bring the Crusaders to his opinion. 

He made it Ins first business to spread, by 
means of emissaries, the most alarming re- 
ports throughout the camp. Some of the 
leaders went out to reconnoitre, and to learn 
if there were any foundation for these ru- 
mors. Thy speedily returned, announcing 
the approach of Kerbogha, Sultan of Mos- 
soul, with an army of 200,000 men. Tliis 
army, which had threatened Edessa and 
ravaged Mesopotamia, was within seven days' 

3 



march of Antioch. At this account the fears 
of the Crusaders were redoubled. Bohemond 
went among the ranks, exaggerating the 
peril. The leaders again assembled to de- 
liberate upon the measures that ought to be 
taken under such perilous circumstances. 
Two opinions divided the councO. Some 
proposed that they should raise the siege, 
and go and meet the Saracens ; others, that 
the army should be divided into two bodies, 
one of which should march against Kerbogha, 
and the other remain in charge of the camp. 
This last advice was about to prevail, when 
Bohemond demanded permission to speak. 
He had not much difficulty in demonstrating 
the difficulties of both plans. If they raised 
the siege, they would be placed between the 
garrison of Antioch and a formidable army. 
If they continued the blockade, and half the 
army only went to meet Kerbogha, they 
would certainly risk a double defeat. " The 
greatest perils," added the Prince of Taren- 
tum, " surround us. Time presses ; to-mor- 
row, perhaps, it will be too late to act ; to- 
morrow we shall have lost the fruit of all 
our labor and all our victories. But no, I can 
not think so ; God, who has conducted us 
hither, will not permit that we should have 
fought in his cause in vain. If you will Usten 
to the proposal I am about to make to you, 
to-morrow the standard of the cross shall 
float over the walls of Antioch, and we shall 
march in triumph to Jerusalem." 

On finisliing these Avords, Bohemond ex- 
hibited the letters of Phirous, in which he 
promised to surrender the three towers ho 
commanded. Pliirous declared that he was 
ready to fulfill his promises, but that he would 
have notliing to do with any one but the 
Prince of Tarentum. He required, as the 
price of his services, that Bohemond should 
remain master of Antioch. The Itahan 
prince affirmed that he had already given 
considerable sums to Phirous ; that he alone 
had obtained his confidence, and that a re- 
ciprocal confidence was the surest guaranty 
of success in so difficult an enterprise. " As 
to the rest," added he, " if a better means of 
saving the army can be found, I am ready to 
approve of it, and will willingly renounce 
my share of a conquest upon which the safety 
of all the Crusaders depends." 

The peril daily became greater ; it was dis- 
graceful to fly, imprudent to fight, and dan- 
gerous to temporize. Fear put all the inter- 
ests of rivalry to silence. The greater the 
opposition the leaders had at first shown 
to the proposals of Bohemond, the more 
abundant did they now find the reasons for 
adopting them. A divided conquest was 
no conquest ; besides, a partition of Antioch 
might give birth to a thousand diffi?rences in 
the army, and lead to its ruin. They only 



34 



ANTIOCn. 



gave away that wliich they did not possess, 
and they gave it to secure the lives of the 
Christiuus. Better one should profit by the 
labors of all, than tliat all should perish out 
of opposition to the good fortune of one. 
Besides, the taking of Antioch was not the 
great object of the Crusade ; they had taken 
arms to deliver Jerusalem. Every delay was 
contrary to what religion hoped I'or from its 
soldiers, and to what the West expected from 
its bravest knights. All the leaders, except 
the inflexible Raymond, united in granting the 
principality of Antioch to Bohemond, and con- 
jured him to press the execution of his project. 

The moment he left the councU, Bohemond 
informed Phirous of what had taken place, 
and the latter sent Mm his son as a hostage. 
The execution of the plan was fixed for the 
next day. To leave the garrison of Antioch 
in the greater security, the Christians were to 
quit tlicir camp and direct their march to- 
ward the route by Avhich Kerbogha's army 
was expected, and were to return to the Avails 
of Antioch during the night. The next day, 
at dawn, the troops received orders to pre- 
pare for their departure ; they left the camp 
a few hours before nightfall, with trumpets 
sounding and ensigns flying, and after a short 
march retraced their steps, and came in sQence 
toward Antioch. At a signal given by the 
Prince of Tarentum, they halted in a valley 
west of the city, near the tOK^er of the Three 
Sisters, commanded by Phirous. It was 
there that the secret of the great enterprise 
which was to open the gates to them was re- 
vealed to the Christian army. 

These deeply-laid plans, however, were 
very near failing. At the moment the army 
left the camp, a report was circulated in An- 
tioch tliat a plot was on foot. The Chris- 
tians and newly-converted Mussulmans were 
suspected, and the name of Phirous was 
heanl coupled with accusations of keeping 
up an intelligence with the besiegers. He 
was obliged to appear before Accien, who 
interrogated him sternly, with his eyes fixed 
upon him, to read his purpose in his counte- 
nance : but Phirous dispersed all suspicions by 
his self-possession. He hims(!lf proposed 
measures for detecting the traitors, if there 
were any ; and advised his master to change 
the commanders of the principal towers. 
This advice was highly approved of, and 
Accien said he would follow it the next day. 
At the same time orders were issued to place 
all the Christians in the city in chains during 
the darkness of night. The renegade was 
then s(.'nt to liis post, loaded with praises for 
his exactitude and fidelity. As night ap- 
proached, every thing appeared tranquil in 
Antioch, and Phirous, thinking his danger 
was over, awaited the Crvisaders in the tower 



As his brother commanded a tower next 
to his, he went to him, and endeavored to 
draw him into the plot, but his brother re- 
fused with threatening words, and the rene- 
gade saw that he was at least suspected. He 
acknowledged no brother ia the man who re- 
fused to be liis accompUce, and, as his only 
reply, plunged his dagger into his heart. 

The decisive moment arrived. The night 
was dark, and a storm which had risen, con- 
siderably augmented the obscurity. The 
wind, which shook the roofs of the houses, 
together with the incessant peals of thunder, 
prevented the soldiers from hearing any noise 
round the ramparts. The sky looked in- 
flamed toward the west, and the sight of a 
comet, which appeared above the horizon, 
seemed to announce to the superstitious minds 
of the Crusaders the moment destined for 
the destruction of the infidels. They awaited 
the signal with impatience. A Lombard, 
named Payen, sent by Bohemond, ascended 
the tower by a ladder of leather. Pliirous 
received him, told him all was prepared, and, 
to convince him of his fidehty, pointed to the 
dead body of his brother. Wliile they were 
talking, an officer of the garrison came to 
visit the posts. He presented himself with a 
lantern before the tower. Phirous, without 
showing the least fear, concealed Bohemond's 
messenger, and went forward to meet the 
oflicer. He received praises for his vigilance, 
and then hastened to send back Payen. The 
Lombard rejoined his comrades, and con- 
jured Bohemond, on the part of Phirous, not 
to lose a moment. 

But all at once a panic seized the soldiers : 
at the moment of execution, they perceived 
the full extent of the danger. Not one came 
forward to mount the ladder. In vain Grod- 
fTey and the Prince of Tarentum employed 
by turns promises and threats : both leaders 
and soldiers remained motionless. Bohemond 
then ascended by a rope ladder, with the 
hope that his example would be followed by 
some of the bravest, but nobody felt it his 
duty to meet the risk. He ai-rived alone on 
the tower, where Phirous reproached him 
warmly for his tardiness. Bohemond re- 
descended in haste, and told the soldiers all 
was ready to receive them. His words, but 
still more his example, at length revived the 
courage of the men. Sixty Crusaders pre- 
pared for the escalade. Encouraged by one 
Foulcher of Chartres, they seized the ladder 
of leather and ascended the tower. Among 
these sixty was the Count of Flanders, with 
many of the principal leaders. Sixty others 
soon followed the steps of the first, and these 
were followed by such numbers, and so 
precipitately, that the parapet to which the 
ladder was fastened gave way, and fell with 
a crash into the ditch. Those who were near 



ANTIOCH. 



35 



the summit of the walls fell upon the lances 
and swords of their companions. All was 
confusion and disorder among the assailants ; 
the leaders of the enterprise, nevertheless, 
looked on with a tranquil eye. Phirous, 
over the bloody body of his brother, embraced 
his new companions, gave up to then- swords 
another brother who was with him, and put 
them in possession of the three towers con- 
fided to his command. Seven other towers 
soon fell into their hands. Pliu'ous then 
called upon all the Christian army to ad- 
vance ; he fastened a fresh ladder to the ram- 
part, by which the most impatient ascended, 
and pointed out to others a gate they could 
break in, and by which they entered the city 
in crowds. 

Godfrey, Raymond, and the Count of Nor- 
mandy were soon in the streets of Antioch 
with their battalions. All the trumpets were 
sounded, and the four hills of the city re- 
sounded with the terrible cry, "Dzew le veut ! 
Dieu le veut /" At the first report of the 
tumult, the Christian inhabitants of Antioch 
beheved their last hour to be come, and that 
the Mussulmans were about to cut their 
throats. The latter, half-asleep, crawled fi-om 
their houses to inquire the cause of the noise 
they heard, and died without knowing who 
were the traitors, or by what hand they 
were struck. Some, when aware of the 
danger, fled toward the mountain upon 
wliich the citadel was built; whilst others 
rushed out at the gates of the city. All who 
could not fly fell beneath the swords of the 
conquerors. 

Notwithstanding the confusion, Bohemond 
did not fail to take possession of Antioch ; 
and when day appeared, his red flag was 
seen floating over one of the highest towers 
of the city. At sight of this, the Crusaders 
left in charge of the camp uttered loud shouts 
of joy, and flocked to the city to partake of 
the new conquest. The slaughter of the 
Mussulmans was pursued with fury. The 
Christians, who had suffered much, exliibited 
tlieir chains to their Hberators, and increased 
their thirst for blood : the pubHc places were 
covered with dead bodies, and blood flowed 
down all the streets. Every house and thing 
that was not marked with a cross was the 
object of their fiiry ; all who did not pro- 
nounce the name of Christ were massacred 
without mercy. 

In a single night, more than ten thousand 
of the inhabitants of Antioch perished ; many 
who attempted to escape were brought back 
to either death or slavery. Accien, finding 
he was betrayed, and not daring to place 
confidence in any of his oSicers, resolved to 
fly toward Mesopotamia, and meet Kerbogha. 
After leaving the gates, he was proceeding 
without any escort, through forests and over 



mountains, when he fell in with some Arme- 
nian woodcutters. These men recognized 
the Prince of Antioch, and as he was without 
a train, and bore upon his countenance the 
marks of depression and gi'ief, they judged the 
city must be taken. One of them went up 
to liim, snatched his sword fiom him, and 
plunged it into his heart. His head was 
brought to the new masters of Antioch. 
After having received -gi-eat wealth as the re- 
ward of his treachery, Phirous re-embraced 
the Christianity he had abandoned, and fol- 
lowed the Crusaders to Jerusalem. Two 
years after, his ambition not being satisfied, 
he returned to the religion of Mahomet, and 
died abhorred by both Mussulmans and 
Christians. 

When tired of slaughter, the Christians 
turned their attention toward tlie citadel; but 
that, being situated upon an almost inaccessi- 
ble mountain, set their efforts at defiance. 
They satisfied themselves with surrounding 
it with machines of war and soldiers, and 
proceeded to indulge in all the intoxication 
inspired by their victory. The pillage of An- 
tioch yielded immense treasures; and, al- 
though provisions did not abound, they gave 
themselves up to intemperance and debauch- 
ery. 

These things took place in the early part 
of June, 1098 ; the siege had commenced in 
the month of October, the preceding year. 
After this success, for we can not call it a 
victory, three days quickly passed away in 
rejoicings and festivity ; but the fourth was 
a day of fear and of mourning. 

A formidable army of Saracens approached 
Antioch. All the powers of the East were 
roused by the success of the Christians, and 
Asia Minor seemed to be in arms to repel the 
attack of Europe. Kerbogha, Sultan of Mos- 
soul, commanded the Mussulman forces. This 
formidable leader had gained great experience 
in civil wars. Three sultans, the Governor 
of Jerusalem, and twenty-eight emirs, march- 
ed in his train. Animated by the thirst of 
vengeance, the Mussulman soldiers swore by 
their prophet to exterminate the Christians ; 
and, three days after the taking of Antioch, 
the army of Kerbogha pitched their tents up- 
on the banks of the Orontes. Their approach 
was announced to the Christians by the ap- 
pearance of three hundred horsemen, who 
came under the walls to reconnoitre. Anx- 
iety and alarm instantly succeeded to joy 
and excess ; for they at once perceived that 
they had not provisions for a siege. Troops 
were sent to forage in all directions, but as 
the territory of Antioch had been ravaged for 
several months, they returned, to the con- 
sternation of their comrades, almost empty- 
handed. The moment the infidels arrived, 
they attacked the advanced posts of the Cru- 



36 



ANTIOCH. 



saders. In these early combats, the Chris- 
tians had to lament the loss of some of their 
bravest warriors. Bohemond was Avounded 
in a sortie. In vain Tancred and Godfrey 
performed prodigies of valor; tlie Mussul- 
mans drove the Christians into the city, in 
which they were now, in their turn, besieged. 

Placed between the vast Mussulman army 
and the garrison of the citadel, the position 
of the Crusaders was awful. Kerbogha took 
possession of the port of St. Simeon, so that 
no provisions could reach them by sea, and 
famine very quickly began to exercise cruel 
ravages upon the besieged. 

At the very commencement of the siege, 
the commonest necessaries were worth their 
weight in gold. After having slaughtered 
most of their horses, they were obliged to 
have recourse to unclean animals. The sol- 
diers and the poor who followed the army 
lived upon leaves and roots; some even went 
so far as to devour the leather of their buck- 
lers and shoes : the most destitute exhumed 
the bodies of the Saracens, and, to support 
their wretched existence, disputed his prey 
with death. In this frightful distress, agonized 
mothers could no longer support their chil- 
dren, and with them died of despair and hun- 
ger. Princes and knights, whose pride had 
been most conspicuous, were debased to the 
asking of charity. More than one leader sold 
his equipments and his arms to purchase food 
for a single day. 

Many of the Crusaders endeavored to fly 
from a city which presented nothing but the 
image and the prospect of death ; some fled 
toward the sea, through a thousand dangers; 
others cast themselves among the Mussul- 
mans, where they purchased a morsel of 
bread by abandonment of Christ and his re- 
Ugion. The soldiers lost courage at seeing 
the Count de Melun fly, for the second time : 
he could brave any dangers in the field of 
battle, but he could not endure hunger and 
misery. His desertion was preceded by that 
of the Count de Blois, who bore the standard 
of the Crusaders, and presided in council. 
He had quitted the army two days before 
the taking of Antioch ; and when he learned 
th(; arrival of Kerbogha, marched toward 
Constantinople. The deserters escaped dur- 
ing the darkness of night. Sometimes they 
precipitated themselves into the ditches of 
the city, at the risk of their lives ; and others 
slipped down the rampart with tlie aid of 
ropes. 

Stephen, Count of Chartres, arrived safely 
at the camp of Alexius, who was advancing 
at the head of an army toward Antioch. To 
excuse his desertion, he did not fail to paint 
in the darkest colors the ills and perils of the 
Christians, and to make it evident by his re- 
cital that God had abandoned tlie cause of the 



Christians. The despair of some Latin pil- 
grims who followed the army of the Greeks 
was so violent, that it inspured them with 
horrible blasphemies. 

The Emperor Alexius, who had advanced 
as far as Pliilomelum, terrified at all he heard, 
did not dare to continue his march toward 
Antioch. He returned toward Constantino- 
ple, dragging in his train half the inhabitants 
of the countries he passed through, they be- 
ing afraid of being left to the mercy of the 
Mussulmans. 

The news of this retreat completed the de- 
spair of the Christians: hopewasgone; deaths 
increased awfully ; their enfeebled hands could 
scarcely wield the lance or the sword ; they 
had neither the strength to defend their fives 
nor to bury the dead. Amid such frightful 
misery, no more tears were seen, to flow, no 
more groans were heard, the silence was as 
complete in Antioch as if it had been per- 
petual night, or that no one was left in it. 
The Crusaders were abandoned even by the 
courage of despair. The last feeling of na- 
ture, love of life, became fainter in their 
hearts every day ; they dreaded to meet each 
other in the public places, and remained con- 
cealed in the interior of their houses, which 
they looked upon as their tombs. 

The towers and ramparts were almost' 
without defense. Bohemond, as lord of the 
place, in vain endeavored by words and ex- 
ertions to keep up the courage of the Cru- 
saders ; the summons of the serjeant-at-arms, 
or the trumpet-call, was equally unresponded 
to. While the army without, and the garrison 
of the citadel within, renewed their assaults 
daily, the Christian warriors remained mo- 
tionless in their dwellings. In order to rouse 
them, Bohemond set fire to several quarters 
of the city, destroying, as a pompous poet 
said, churches and palaces built with the cedar 
of Lebanon, in winch shone marble from the 
Atlas, crystal from Tyre, brass from Cyprus, 
lead from Amathonte, and steel from En- 
gland, The barons, unable to command the 
obedience of their soldiers, had not strength 
to set them an example. 

They offered to give up the city, upon be- 
ing permitted to return to their country ; but 
Kerbogha would listen to nothing but uncon- 
ditional surrender. The European invasion 
of Asia was such an extraordinary event, that 
the Saracens, perhaps wisely, deemed a severe 
lesson necessary. 

But some of the leaders, who knew how 
the minds of many of the Crusaders had been 
worked upon to undertake the enterprise, 
had recourse in this extreme distress to 
similar motives of action : they industriously 
circulated accounts of visions and super- 
natural revelations, all pointing to a happy 
issue. 



ANTIOOH. 



37 



In order to realize the promises of heaven, 
a priest of the diocese of Marseilles, named 
Pierre Barthelemi, appeared before the coun- 
cil of the leaders, for the purpose of reveaUng 
an apparition of St. Andrew, which had been 
repeated three times Avhile he was asleep. 
The holy apostle had said to him — " Go to 
the church of my brother, Peter, at Antioch : 
near the high altar you will find, on digging 
the earth, the iron of the lance which pierced 
the side of our Redeemer. In three days, 
that instrument of eternal salvation shall be 
manifested to His disciples: that mystic iron, 
borne at the head of the army, will eflect the 
delivery of the Christians and pierce the hearts 
of the infidels." 

Adhemar, Raymond, and the other leaders 
affected to beheve this tale. The report of it 
was soon spread throughout the army. The 
soldiers believed that the glory of Christ was 
interested in their safety, and that God ought 
to perform miracles to save his disciples and 
defenders. During three days the Christian 
army prepared itself by fasting and prayer for 
the discovery of this holy lance. 

On the morning of the third day, twelve 
Crusaders, chosen from among the most re- 
spectable of the clergy and knights, repaired 
to the great church of Antioch, accompanied 
by a vast number of laborers provided 
with the necessary tools. They began to 
dig the ground under the high altar; the 
greatest silence prevailed in the church; 
every instant the spectators expected to be- 
hold the ghttering of the miraculous iron. 
The whole army, assembled outside the 
closed doors, awaited impatiently the result 
of the search. The diggers had worked 
during several hours, and had thrown out the 
earth to the depth of twelve feet, without 
the appearance of any lance. Night came 
on, and notliing was discovered ; and yet the 
impatience of the Crusaders seemed to be in- 
creased rather than chminished by disappoint- 
ment. The laborers rested for awhile, and 
then in the darkness of the night resumed 
their operations. While the twelve wit- 
nesses were bent in prayer i-ound the hole, 
Barthelemi leaped into it, and in a very short 
time reappeared with the sacred iron in his 
hand! A cry of joy was uttered by all 
present; it was repeated by the anxious 
army at the doors, and soon resounded 
through every quarter of the city. The iron 
to which so many hopes were attached, was 
exliibited in triumph to the Crusaders ; it ap- 
peared to them a celestial weapon with 
which God liimself would disperse his ene- 
mies. Enthusiasm gave fresh life to the 
Crusaders, and seemed to restore strength to 
the soldiers. 

The leaders of the army who had thus ex- 
cited the enthusiasm of the soldiers were too 



prudent to let it slumber. They sent depu- 
ties to the Saracens to offer them either a 
single combat or a general engagement. 
Peter the Hermit, who had, in the lance- 
scene, evinced more exaltation than any one, 
was selected for this embassy. Although re- 
ceived with contempt in the camp of the in- 
fidels, he spoke with none the less haughti- 
ness and pride: "The princes assembled in 
Antioch," said he to the Saracen leaders, 
" have sent me to you, to demand justice. 
These provinces, marked with the blood of 
martyrs, have belonged to Christian peoples, 
and as all Christian peoples are brothers, we 
are come into Asia to avenge the outrages 
of those who are persecuted, and to defend 
the heritage of Christ and his disciples. 
Heaven has allowed the cities of Syria to fall 
for a time into the power of infidels, as a 
chastisement for the offenses of his people ; 
but learn that the vengeance of the Most 
High is^at length appeased; learn that the 
tears and repentance of the Cliristians have 
wrested the sword from the hand of divine 
justice, and that the God of armies is risen 
to combat for us. Nevertheless, we still con- 
sent to speak of peace ; I conjure you, in the 
name of the aU-powerfiil God, to abandon 
the territories of Antioch, and return into 
your own country. The Christians promise 
you, by my voice, not to interi-upt your re- 
treat. We will put up vows that the true 
God may touch your hearts, and show you 
the trutli of our faith. If heaven deigns to 
Usten to us, how delightful it will be to us to 
give you the name of brethren, and to con- 
clude with you a durable peace ! But if you 
are unwiUing to receive either the advan- 
tages of peace or the blessings of the Chris- 
tian rehgion, let the fate of arms decide the 
justice of our cause. As the Christians do 
not wish to be surprised, and as they are in- 
capable of stealing a victory, they offer you 
the choice of the battle." 

On finisliing these words, Peter fixed his 
eyes upon the countenance of the leaders of 
the Saracens : "Choose," said he, " the brav- 
est of thy army, and let them fight with a 
similar number of the Crusaders ; fight thy- 
self with one of the Christian princes, or 
give the signal for a general battle. Which- 
ever be thy choice, thou shalt soon learn 
what thy enemies are, and shalt know who 
is the God we serve." 

Kerbogha, who was acquainted with the 
situation of the Christians, but who knew 
nothing of the kind of succor they had re- 
ceived in their distress, was extremely sur- 
prised at such language. He remained for 
some time mute with astonishment and rage] 
but at length recovering liimself: " Return," 
cried he to Peter, " return to those that sent 
thee, and tell them that the conquered re- 



38 



Al^TIOCH. 



ceive conditions, and do not dictate them. 
Miserable vagabonds, attenuated wretches, 
phantoms can inspu-e fear in none but wo- 
men. The warriors of Asia are not to be 
terrified with words. The Clii-istians shall 
soon learn that the land we tread on belongs 
to us. Nevertheless, I am desirous of show- 
ing them some pity, and if they will acknowl- 
edo-e Mahomet, I may be able to forget that 
the city, ravaged by hunger, is already in my 
pow er ; I may leave it in their power, and give 
them clothes, food, women — all they stand in 
need of; for the Koran commands us to par- 
don those who submit to its la\^'S. Tell thy 
companions to be quick, and profit to-day by 
my clemency; to-morrow they shall not 
leave Antioch but by the sword. They wiU 
then see if then- crucified God, who could not 
save liimself on the cross, can save them 
from the fate which is prepared for them." 

This speech was warmly applauded by 
the Saracens, whose fanaticism it rekindled. 
Peter wanted to reply, but the Sultan of 
Mossoul, laying his hand upon his saber, 
commanded the miserable mendicants, who 
united insolence to blindness, to be driven 
out of his camp. The Christian deputies re- 
tired in haste, and several times ran great 
risk of their Uves in passing through the army 
of the infidels. On his return to Antioch, 
Peter gave the assembled princes and barons 
an account of his mission ; and they prepared 
for the great contest. The heralds-at-arms 
visited the various quarters of the city, and 
the impatient valor of the Crusaders was 
promised battle on the ensuing day. 

The priests and bishops exhorted the Chris- 
tians to render themselves worthy of fighting 
in the cause of Christ : the whole army passed 
the night in prayer and acts of devotion. 
Injuries were forgiven, alms were bestowed ; 
all the churches were filled with warriors, 
humbling themselves before God, and asking 
absolution for theh- sins. The evening before, 
a considerable quantity of provisions had 
been discovered, and this unexpected abund- 
ance was looked upon as a kind of miracle. 
The Crusaders repaired their strength by a 
frugal repast : toward midnight, all the bread 
and flour that remained in Antioch served 
for the sacrifice of the mass. A hundred 
thousand warriors approached the tribunal 
of penitence, and received, with all the marks 
of piety, what they believed to be the God 
for whom they had taken up arms. 

At length day appeared ; it was the festival 
of St. Peter and St. Paul. The gates of An- 
tioch were thrown open, and the Christian 
army marched out, divided into twelve 
bodies, which reminded them of the twelve 
apostles. Hugh the Great, although weak- 
ened by a long Ulness, appf^arcd in the fore- 
most ranks, bearing the standard of the 



Church. All the princes, knights, and barons 
were at the head of their men-at-arms. The 
Count of Toulouse was the only leader not in 
the ranks; detained in Antioch, in conse- 
quence of a wound, he was charged with 
keeping the garrison in check while the 
battle was fought. 

Raymond of AgQes, one of the historians 
of the Crusade, bore the holy lance, and ex- 
hibited it to the soldiers. Bishop Adliemar 
marched by his side, announcing to the Cru- 
saders the assistance of the heavenly legions 
which God had promised them. A part of the 
clergy advanced in procession at the head of 
the army, singing the martial Psakn : " Let the 
Lord arise, and let his enemies be dispersed." 
The bishops and priests who remained in 
Antioch, surrounded by the women and chil- 
dren, from the heights of the ramparts, 
blessed the arms of the Crusaders, and raising 
their hands toward heaven, prayed the Lord 
to save his people, and confound the pride of 
his enemies. The banks of the. Oronte's and 
the neighboring mountains seemed to reply 
to these invocations, and resounded with the 
war-cry of the Crusaders, Dieu le veut I Dieu 
le veut ! 

Amid this concert of acclamations and 
prayers the Christian army advanced into 
the plain. To consider only the state to 
which it was reduced, it had rather the ap- 
pearance of a vanquished army than of one 
wliich was marching to victory. A great 
number of the Crusaders were almost without 
clothes. Most of the knights and barons 
marched on foot. Some were mounted on 
asses, and some on camels; and, which is 
worthy of note on such a day, Godfrey 
Bouillon was obliged to borrow a horse of 
the Count of Toulouse. In the ranks were 
sickly attenuated men, marching with diffi- 
culty, and only supported by the hope of 
either conquering or dying in the cause of 
Christ. 

All the plains near Antioch were covered 
with Mussulman battalions. The Saracens 
had divided their army into fifteen bodies, 
arranged in echelons. In the midst of all these 
bodies, that of Kerbogha looked Uke an inac- 
cessible mountain. The Saracen general, 
who had no expectation of a battle, at first 
supposed that the Christians were coming to 
implore his clemency. A black flag, hoisted 
on the citadel of Antioch, which was the sig- 
nal agreed upon to announce the resolution 
of the Crusaders, soon convinced him that he 
had not to deal with aupphcants. Two thou- 
sand men of his army, who guarded the 
bridge of Antioch, were cut to pieces by the 
Count de Vermandois. The fugitives carried 
terror to the tent of their general, who was 
playing at chess at the time. Roused from 
his false security, Kerbogha ordered the head 



ANTIOCH. 



39 



of a deserter, who had announced to him the 
speedy surrender of the Christians, to be 
struck olf, and prepared for battle. 

On leaving Antioch, the Christian army 
advanced westward, toward the point where 
the mountains approach the Orontes. Drawn 
up in battle-array on a vast space where the 
mountains formed a half-circle around them, 
and secured them from surprise, their line ex- 
tended into the plain a leag-ue from the city. 
Hugh, the two Eoberts, the Count de Be- 
lesme, and the Count of Hainault placed them- 
selves at the head of the left wing ; Godfrey 
was on the right wing, supported by Eu- 
stache, Baldwin du Bourg, Tancred, Renaud 
de Toul, and Erard de Puyset. Adhemar 
was in the center, with Gaston de Beam, the 
Count de Die, Raimbaut of Orange, William 
of Montpellier, and Amenjeu d'Albret. Bo- 
hemond commanded a body of reserve, ready 
to fly to any point where the Christians 
should require help. When Kerbogha saw 
the dispositions of the Christians, he ordered 
the Sultans of Nicea, Damascus, and Aleppo 
to make the tour of the mountain, and after- 
ward reascend the Orontes, so as to place 
themselves between the Christian army and 
the city of Antioch. He at the same time 
drew up Ms army to receive the Christians 
and repulse their attack. He placed his 
troops partly on the heights, partly in the 
plain. His right wing was commanded by 
the Emir of Jerusalem, and his left/ by one of 
tJae sons of Accien. For himself, he remain- 
ed ujDon a lofty hill, to give his orders, and 
watch the movements of the two armies. 

At the moment the battle began, Kerbogha 
was seized with fear, and he sent to the 
Christian princes to propose a combat be- 
tween a given number on each side, to pre- 
vent the general carnage. But this offer, 
which he had rejected the day before, was 
not likely to be adopted by the leaders of an 
army full of ardor and confident of victory. 
The Christians did not doubt that heaven 
would declare for them, and this persuasion 
must render them invincible. In their en- 
thusiasm they looked upon the most natural 
events as prodigies which announced the tri- 
umph of their arms. A ball of fire, which 
the evening before had passed over Antioch, 
and burst over the Saracen camp, appeared 
to them a certain forerunner of victory. As 
they left Antioch, a slight rain refreshed the 
hot air of the season and the cUmate, and ap- 
peared in their eyes a fresh proof of the favor 
of heaven. A strong wind, which added 
speed to their javelins and impeded those of 
tlie enemy, was, for them, like the wind of 
celestial anger, raised to disperse the infidels. 
Animated by these persuasions, the Cliristian 
army was impatient for the fight. They 
marched toward the enemy in perfect order : 



a profound silence prevailed, broken alone by 
the voices of the commanders, the hymns of 
the priests, and the exliortations of Adhemar. 

All at once the Saracens commenced the 
attack ; they discharged a shower of arrows, 
and rushed upon the Christians, uttering bar- 
barous howhngs. In spite of their impetuous 
charge, their right wing was quickly repulsed 
and broken by the Christians. Godfrey met 
with greater resistance in their left wing : he, 
however, succeeded in shaking it, and throw- 
ing their ranks into disorder. At the mo- 
ment the troops of Kerbogha began to give 
way, the Sultan of Nicea, who had made the 
tour of the mountain and returned along the 
banks of the Orontes, fell upon the rear of the 
Christians with such impetuosity as to threat- 
en the destruction of the body of reserve un- 
der Bohemond. The Crusaders, who fought 
on foot, could not stand against the first 
charge of the Saracen cavalry. Hugh the 
Great, when warned of the danger of Bohe- 
mond, abandoned the pursuit of the fugitives 
and flew to the succor of the reserve. Then 
the fight was renewed with fresh fury. Ki- 
lidj-Arslan, who had to avenge the disgi'ace of 
several defeats, as well as the loss of his 
states, fought like a lion at the head cif his 
troops. A squadron of three thousand Sara- 
cen horsemen, all bristhng with steel, and 
armed with clubs, carried disorder and. ter- 
ror into the ranks of the Christians. The 
standard of the Count de Yermandois was 
borne off and retaken, covered with the blood 
of Crusaders and infidels. Godfrey and Tan- 
cred, who flew to the aid of Hugh and Bohe- 
mond signalized their strength and courage 
by the death of many Mussulmans. The Sul- 
tan of Nicea, whom no reverse could subdue, 
still sustained the shock of the Christians. In 
the heat of the fight he caused lighted flax to 
be cast among the heath and diied grass 
which covered the plain. A conflagration 
quickly ensued, wliich encircled the Christ- 
ians with volumes of fire and smoke. Their 
ranks were for a moment broken, and they 
paid no attention to the voice of their leaders. 
The Sultan of Nicea was about to gather the 
fruit of his stratagem, and victory was on the 
point of escaping fi-om the hand of the Chris- 
tians. 

At that moment, say the historians, a squad- 
ron was seen coming down from the mount- 
ains. It was preceded by three horsemen 
clothed in white, and covered with shining 
armor: " Behold!" shouted Bishop Adhemar, 
" behold the celestial succor that was promised 
you. Heaven declares for the Christians; 
the holy martyrs, George, Demetrius, and 
Theodore, are come to fight for us." Immedi- 
ately all eyes were turned toward the celestial 
legion. A new ardor took possession of the 
hearts of the Crusaders, who were persuaded 



40 



ANTWERP. 



that God himself was come to their succor ; 
the war-cry Dieto le veut was shouted with as 
much vigor as at the commencement of the 
battle. The women and cliildren animated 
the warriors by their acclamations from the 
battlements; and the priests continued to 
pray and sing aloud their hymns and sacred 
songs of encouragement to the host. 

Every Crusader became a hero; notlring 
could resist their impetuous shock. In a 
moment the Saracens were shaken every- 
where, and only fought in wild disorder. 
They made an effort to rally on the other 
side of a torrent, and again on an elevattd 
spot, whence their clarions and trumpets re- 
sounded ; but the Count de Vermandois at- 
tacked them in tins last uitrenchment, and 
quickly put them to the rout. There was 
shortly no safety for them but in flight. The 
banks of the Orontes, the woods, the plains, 
the mountains were covered with fugitives, 
who abandoned their arms and their bag- 
gage. 

Kerbogha, who had prematurely announced 
the defeat of the Christians to the Caliph of 
Bagdad and the Sultan of Persia, fled with 
all speed toward the Euphrates, escorted by a 
small number of his most faitliful soldiers. 
Several emirs had fled before the end of the 
battle. Tancred and some others, mounted 
upon the horses of the conquered, pursued 
till nightfall the Sultans of Aleppo and Da- 
mascus, the Emir of Jerusalem, and the dis- 
persed wreck of the Saracen army. The 
conquerors set fire to the intrenchments, be- 
liind which the enemy's infantry had taken 
refuge. A great number of Mussulmans 
perished there in the flames. 

According to many cotemporary histori- 
ans, the infidels left a hundred thousand dead 
on the field of battle. Pour thousand Cru- 
saders lost their lives on this glorious day, 
and were placed in the list of martyrs. 

The Christians found abundance in the 
tents of their enemies ; fifteen thousand camels 
and a vast number of horses fell into their 
hands. In the camp of the Saracens, where 
they passed the night, they admired at leisure 
the luxury of tlie Orientals, and examined 
with surprise the tent of the King ofMossoul, 
in all parts of which glittered gold and pre- 
cious stones, and which, divided into long 
streets, flanked by high towers, resembled a 
fortified city. They employed several days 
in carrying into Antioch the spoils of the 
conquered. The booty was immense, and 
every soldier found himself richer than when 
he left Europe. 

The Saracen army was composed of newly 
raised troops, from nations generally at feud 
one with another ; and of the twenty-(.'iglit 
emirs who accompanied Kerbogha, scarcely 
any two were disposed to act in concert, or 



acknowledge the authority of one leader. On 
the contrary, strange to say, the most perfect 
union prevailed on that day among the Clu'is- 
tians. — Rohxon. 

ANTWERP. — This great commercial city 
of Belgium, is situated on the right bank of 
the Scheldt, twenty-seven miles north of 
Brussels. It is strongly fortified, its walls 
and otlier defenses completely encompassing 
the city on the land side, from tire river on 
the north to the citadel on the south, a dis- 
tance, following tlie line of fortification, of 
about two and three fourth miles. Antwerp 
has been several times subjected to siege, of 
three of which only we think it necessary to 
ofter any details. 

First Siege, a.d. 1583. — The Netherlands, 
tired of Spanish domination, made the false 
step of getting rid of one evil by adopting 
another quite as bad, and elected as their 
sovereign Francis of France, who, known as 
the Duke d'Alen^on, had recently assumed 
the title of Duke d'Anjou. The worthy 
brother of Francis II., Charles IX., and Hen- 
ry III. — the son of Catherine de Medici — the 
Duke of Anjou, might have been thought the 
last prince to be selected for the purpose of 
reigning over a people so situated as the 
Netherlanders were ; but France was the ene- 
my of Spain ; was the most powerful neighbor 
they had, and the wily Catherine and wicked 
Henry III., were hberal in their promises. 

Very httle satisfied with the name of leader 
and a hmited authority, the Duke of Anjou 
soon made an effort to throw off the yoke of 
the States, and to reign as monarch. His 
first design was to gain possession of the citadel 
of Antwerp. On the 17th of January, 1583, he 
left liis palace early in the morning, followed 
by several Frenchmen on horseback, and 
passed out of the city, by the gate of St. James. 
He had scarcely iett the city, when those 
who accompanied him pretended to quarrel 
among themselves, and fell sword in hand 
upon the covins de garde, the soldiers of which 
they massacred, or put to flight, and, at the 
same time, seized upon that gate. All the 
citizens of that quarter hastened to the spot, 
while the French took possession of the Em- 
peror's gate, and of the curtain which was 
between those two entrances. The troops 
who had been left in the city, ran through 
the streets, exclaiming: "The city is won! 
the city is won! Vive la Messe! Vive la 
Messe!" which was their rallying cry. Fif- 
teen ensigns of foot and ten cornets of horse 
came to their assistance. The Swiss were 
approaching likewise. But an accident they 
might have prevented, disconcerted the en- 
terprise. They had Ibrgotten to take posses- 
sion of the portcuUis of the St. James gate; 
and the citizens, on perceiving this omission, 
rushed to tlie top of it, let it down, and thus 



ANTWERP. 



41 



impeded the entrance of the French. Tlie 
whole people took up arms : every man be- 
came a soldier. The enraged citizens com- 
bined instantly to drive out an enemy who 
aimed at their property and their hves. So 
much in earnest Avere they, that they took 
the money from their purses, and molded 
or cut it into bullets with their teeth, and 
loaded their gims with it. The women dis- 
puted with the men the glory of defending 
their country. The disconcerted French were 
surrounded, pursued, and comjiletely routed. 
In vain the Duke endeavored to withdraw 
them from the rage of the Flemings; they 
were all killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. 
Fifteen hundred were left on the field of bat- 
tle ; among whom were persons of the most 
illustrious houses in France; the Flemings 
did not lose a hundred men. 

Second Siege, a.d. 1585. — This is consid- 
ered one of the most remarkable sieges of 
modern times, from its cause, the parties con- 
cerned, the events, and the result. 

The Prince of Parma presented himself, in 
1585, before Antwerp, at the head of a pow- 
erful army. His operations commenced by 
the attack of the forts of Lillo and Liesten- 
stoech, constructed by the Dutch upon the 
banks of the Scheldt. The Italians conceived 
a stratagem which very much facilitated the 
capture of this last fort. They got together 
a large number of wagons, loaded with green 
hay, to which they set fire. The wind car- 
ried the smoke directly toward the fort. 
Smothered and stifled by this cloud, the gar- 
rison were constrained to draw a httle on 
one side, and the besiegers taking advantage 
of this short absence, mounted the ramparts, 
and carried the place. The prince was not 
so fortunate at Lillo. Mondragone, not hav- 
ing attacked it briskly enough, allowed a re- 
inforcement to enter, by which six weeks 
and two thousand men were lost. This en- 
terprise was abandoned, and the Spaniards 
contented themselves with masking the fort 
on the land side, and stopping the excursions 
of the troops who were shut up in it. The 
duke next undertook to close the Scheldt. In 
the month of September, he built two forts, 
opposite each other; furnished them with 
artillery, and then began the construction of 
a bridge, in appearance a clrimerical project, 
but upon which the success of the siege de- 
pended. The Spanish general dug a broad 
and deep canal, two leagues in length, to 
facilitate the transport of materials ; this was 
called the Parma Canal. To animate the 
laborers, the prince fixed his quarters in the 
village of Beversen. The Count de Mans- 
feld, lieutenant-general, commanded on the 
Brabant side, and was encamped at Stabrock. 
Mondragone was intrenched on the banks of 
the river, opposite LiUo, where he held the 



enemy in check. On all parts forts were 
built, to secure the dykes, and prevent the 
Dutch from inundating the country ; commu- 
nication between the city and the neighbor- 
ing places was completely cut ofl', as was all 
means of its receiving succor by the Scheldt. 
The Marquis de Roubais was charged with 
the construction of the bridge. He exhibited 
so much activity in tliis important work, that 
a speedy completion of it was hoped for. 

The besieged, terrified at the progress of 
the Spaniards, were a prey to the most seri- 
ous inquietudes. In tliis wealthy place, every 
one trembled for his property, and yet could 
see no means of escaping the storm which 
growled over their heads. The firmest hearts 
were shaken. It was given out that they 
would no longer sustain a siege which must 
cost so much blood and treasure. Roused by 
tliis, Sainte-Aldegonde, the mayor of Ant- 
werp, ventured, though alone, to combat this 
resolution. In speeches of fire he revived 
the fallen courage of his fellow-citizens, he 
inspired them with republican sentiments, 
and induced them to swear, with a common 
voice, an eternal renunciation of the yoke 
of Philip of Spain. An edict forbade, under 
pain of death, the least approach to accommo- 
dation with the royahsts. The greatest ardor 
was evinced for the defense of their country. 
To prolong the means of resistance, pro- 
visions were distributed very economically, 
and every preparation that could be devised 
was made to thwart the construction of the 
fatal brid^ Avhich was to reduce Antwerp. 

To prevent or retard this work, and de- 
stroy what was done, several singular vessels 
were employed, which were to be filled with 
fireworks. The redoubts the prince had built 
on the banks of the river interfered with the 
cruises of the AntAverp frigates ; a vessel of 
enormous size was constructed, provided 
with large guns, for the purpose of attacking 
them. This immense mass in some sort re- 
sembled a floating fortress. The besieged 
conceived such magnificent hopes from this 
vessel, that they named it Tlie End of the 
War ; a boastful title, of which the skill and 
activity of the Prince of Parma made the 
vanity known. 

Already the straccadoes, which formed the 
hutments of each end of the bridge, ap- 
proached completion, in spite of the efforts 
of the citizens, who gave unceasingly brave 
and sanguinary battle. In one of these con- 
flicts, Roubais took TeUgny prisoner, a cap- 
tain equally brave and skillful. The Count 
of Hohenlohe was named in his place. This 
able officer did every thing possible, both by 
land and on the Scheldt, to impede the opera- 
tions of the besiegers. But, notwithstanding 
all his efforts, they at length succeeded in 
procuring a sufficient number of vessels to 



42 



ANTWERP. 



close the river in the middle of its course ; 
and, on the 25th of February, 1585, the 
bridge was entirely finished. 

The spot for this famous bridge was chosen 
between the viUages of Ordam and Calloo, 
because the bed of the river was narrower 
there than at any other part. Its course made 
a marked elbow, which would prevent the 
vessels of the enemy from saihng full upon 
the bridge. On commencing it they had 
driven, on each side of the Scheldt, long rows 
of large piles, which were continued as far 
as the depth of the river would permit. 
They were joined together transversely, and 
in ail their length, with very strong and solid 
pieces of wood : this formed what they called 
staccadoes : that of Calloo was 200 feet long, 
and that of Ordam 900. The space left be- 
tween them was 1,250 feet. Upon each of 
these was formed a kind of place of arms, 
capable of containing a body of troops suffi- 
cient to defend it, and to protect the vessels 
which were to continue the bridge. These 
were lined by a parapet, from which the 
soldiers, protected from the shots of the en- 
emy, could annoy them with their fire. The 
two forts constructed at the two tetes dupont, 
that is to say, at the extremity of the stac- 
cadoes, on the land side, protected the two 
flanks of them ; for tliis purpose they were 
furnished with a numerous artillery. Bat- 
teries also were estabUshed in the places of 
arms. To these precautions, was added that 
of bristhng, on both sides, the staccadoes 
with large posts, terminating in sharp u-on 
points. They protruded a considerable dis- 
tance ; and great piles, driven into the bed of 
the river, held them fast just above the water. 
It was proposed by this to keep off the en- 
emy's vessels, and weaken their attacks. 
When the staccadoes were completed, the 
vessels were brought up that were intended 
to close the remainder of the Scheldt in the 
deepest and widest part. Tliirty-two barks, 
60 feet long and 12 feet wide, were selected 
for this purpose; they were placed at 22 
feet from each other; they were fixed in 
their positions by two good anchors each, 
and were fastened together by a great num- 
ber of strong chains. Each bark was manned 
by thirty soldiers and four sailors, and armed 
with two cannon at the extremities. The 
total number of cannon distributed over the 
staccadoes and the bridge amounted to 97. 
The bridge likewise was protected by an out- 
ward defense, in ordt'r to secure it from sur- 
prise. It was known that the garrison were 
preparmg fire-ships, with which they meant 
to assail the bridge. It was likewise feared 
that the armed vessels in the besieged city 
might attack it from above, at the same time 
that tlie shif)S of the confederates might at- 
tempt it fi'om below. To secure it from this 



double danger, some large rafts were made 
with a great number of masts solidly fastened 
together, wliich were set afloat in the width 
of the bridge, and presented a sort of rampart 
or large parapet to the enemy. This immense 
work, wliich was two miles four hundred 
feet in length, required for its construction 
seven months of incessant fatigue and apph- 
cation. The engineers who had the dhection 
of it were named Jean Baptiste Plato and 
Prosperce Barrocliio. It was the latter who 
formed the idea of the rafts which covered the 
bridge. The Duke of Parma, to reward them 
for their labors, made them a present of all 
the materials, after the capture of Antwerp. 

The city, however, neglected nothing that 
might impede or destroy this astonishing un- 
dertaking. It retained in its service a cele- 
brated Italian engineer, named Prederic 
Griambelh, a native of Mantua. It was he 
who invented and brought into play those 
destructive vessels since known by the name 
of infernal machines. They were built of 
very thick and sohdly-joined timbers, among 
which were constructed chambers for mines, 
proportioned to their size. These were 
formed of good bricks and mortar, and re- 
quired but one Ught to set fire to the powder 
with which they were filled. These terrible 
vessels were loaded with blocks of stone, 
bullets of different caUbres, in short, with all 
sorts of materials of great weight, heaped 
together as closely as possible, in order that 
the effect of the mine might be increased by 
the resistance opposed to it. GiambeUi em- 
ployed more than eight months in getting 
every tiling ready. Tlie large vessel of wliich 
we have before spoken was not so soon com- 
pleted. It was a sliip with two very lofly 
decks : the under one was armed with several 
large and small cannon; the upper was a 
large place of arms, whereon were a number 
of troops, who from the elevation of that 
deck could keep up a warm fire of musketry. 
This enormous vessel had but two large 
masts of equal size, placed at the two ex- 
tremities, and of nearly the same shape. To 
facilitate its approach to the redoubts con- 
structed by the royaUsts upon the banks of 
the river, it was quite flat, and only sunk 
into the water in proportion to its weight, 
being kept afloat upon a vast raft of enor- 
mous beams, supported by empty barrels. 
Such were the means to which the inhabit- 
ants of Antwerp had recourse to keep open 
the navigation of the Scheldt. They liad 
placed all their hopes in them. The confed- 
erates were expected to aid their endeavors. 
A great number of armed vessels awaited 
near Lillo the effects of the infernal machines, 
with the view of acting at the same time. 
They att(nnpted to recapture the fort of 
Liestenstoech, and succeeded. 



ANTWERP. 



43 



On the 4th of April at length appeared on 
the river tlie two redoubtable machines called 
Fortune and Uojye, followed by some smaller 
vessels. They were left to the tide ; having 
nobody on board, they floated, abandoned to 
themselves, and were carried by the reflux. 
Scarcely were they in motion, than there 
burst from them a column of fire, which, 
after having burnt for a few instants, ap- 
peared to sink and be extinguished. The 
spectators were astonished. All at once one 
of the smaller vessels blew up, when at a 
considerable distance from the bridge, and 
produced no other effect than a cloud of 
thick smoke. All that were constructed in 
the same manner proved equally abortive. 
There was nothing to be feared but from the 
two large vessels, which insensibly drew 
nearer to their object. The first, the For- 
tune, ran upon the left bank of the river, 
burst with a horrible crash, destroying the 
garrison of a neighboring redoubt and a 
number of sokhers dispersed about the envi- 
rons. However serious was the efiect of 
this, that of the Hojje promised to be more 
terrific, and, in fact, caused considerable 
damage. This vessel had been guided to 
the point of union of one of the staccadoes 
and the barks which formed the bridge. It 
was at tins spot it blew up. The air re- 
mained for a long time darkened ; the shock 
experienced by the earth extended miles 
round ; the Scheldt rushed from its bed, and 
threw its foaming waters over the neighbor- 
ing country; the bodies of the miserable 
victims to this explosion were so mutilated 
as to jareserve no resemblance to the human 
figure. The vast mass of stones and instru- 
ments of death which were hurled abroad 
by this frightful volcano, falling in all direc- 
tions, a great number of unfortunates were 
kQled, wounded, or bruised in the most cruel 
manner. Five hundred royalists perished, 
and thousands were either lamed or danger- 
ously hurt. The death of the Marquis de 
Roubais was the crowning incident of this 
fatal day. The damage sustained by the 
bridge was not so great as was at first feared ; 
but the disorder was so great, that if the en- 
emy had attacked the work at that moment, 
all would have been lost. They were quite 
ignorant of the effect of their own machine ; 
and the good face put upon the affair by the 
besiegers led them to beheve that the bridge 
had sustained but little injury. 

The citizens of Antwerp had now no hope 
but in the large vessel wliich they had named 
Tlie End of the War. It was put to work. 
Tliis vast castle drew near to one of the re- 
doubts built on the banks of the river, on the 
Brabant side. The men on board commenced 
a brisk fire : they amounted to more than a 
thousand ; they supported the effects of the 



lower cannon by a continual discharge of 
musketry; they landed for the purpose of 
attacking a redoubt ; but in this they faUed. 
The fort braved their batteries, and their as- 
saults proved useless. On the other side, 
their enormous vessel was so knocked about 
by the artillery of the redoubt, that they had 
much difficulty in repairing it, and rendering 
it capable of being employed again. A sec- 
ond attempt was as unfortunate as the first ; 
and all the efforts made afterward, either to 
carry the works or break down the bridge, 
proved equally fruitless. The most memor- 
able of the combats fought on these occasions 
was that of the counter-dyke. The field of 
battle was only seventeen feet wide. The 
townspeople were desirous of carrying it, at 
any price. Animated by the example and 
exhortatians of Sainte-Aldegonde and the 
Count of Hohenlohe, they more than once re- 
pulsed the royahsts, and beUeved themselves 
masters of the object of their generous efforts. 
But, overwhelmed by the number of their 
enemies, rather than conquered, they yielded 
their triumph, and retreated within the walls 
of their city, having lost 2500 men and tliirty 
ships. After this bloody victory, which had 
cost him more than 1000 men, the Prince 
of Parma took from the besieged all the 
neighboring posts that belonged to them, and 
shut them up closely in their city. Despair 
was then at its height ; the citizens had no 
other prospect but the horrors of starvation 
from famine, wlaich began to be not only 
dreaded but felt, or the painful necessity of 
yielding to the conqueror. The people as- 
sembled, and openly opposed the leaders who 
wished to continue the defense : and it be- 
came necessary to enter into negotiations. 
Deputies were sent to the Prince of Parma 
to arrange the articles of surrender. Sainte- 
Aldegonde, who was at their head, protracted 
for two months, under various pretexts, the 
conclusion of the treaty, believing by this 
skillful delay he should give time for the suc- 
cors he expected to come up. At length, on 
the 17th of August, 1585, the capitulation 
was signed. The conqueror then made liis 
public entrance into the city, with all the 
pomp of a triumph. Mounted on a superb 
courser, in complete armor, he marched amid 
bodies of cavalry and infantry, which opened 
and closed tliis brilliant procession. Like 
other conquerors, though he had obtained a 
sanguinary victory over a city which was in 
arms for freedom of action and opinion, he 
ended his triumph by offering up thanks to 
the God of Battles, who holds defeat and 
victory in his hands. — Rohson. 

Third Siege, 1832.— On the 30th of Octo- 
ber, 1832, Marshal Gerard, commander of 
the French army sent the following summons 
to General Chasse, commander of the Dutch 



44 



ANTWERP. 



forces who occupied tlie citadel of Ant- 
werp: 

" To General Chasse, commanding the cit- 
adel of Antwerp : 

" M. Le General — I am arrived before the 
citadel of Antwerp, at the head of the French 
army, with orders from my government to 
demand the execution of the treaty of the 
15th of November, 1831, which guaranties 
to his majesty the King of the Belgians the 
possession of that fortress, as well as the forts 
depending upon it, on both sides of the 
Scheldt. I hope to find you disposed to rec- 
ognize the justice of tliis demand. If, con- 
trary to my expectations, it prove otherwise, 
I am ordered to make Imown to you that I 
must employ the means at my disposal to 
take possession of the citadel of Antwerp. 

" The operations of the siege will be di- 
rected against the outer fronts of the citadel ; 
I have, therefore, a right to hope, conform- 
ably with the laws of war, and the usages 
constantly observed, that jon will abstain 
from every kind of hostility against the city. 
I cause a part of it to be occupied, with the 
sole view of preventing what might expose 
it to the fire of your artillery. A bombard- 
ment would be an act of useless barbarity, 
and a calamity to the commerce of aU na- 
tions. 

" If, notwithstanding these considerations, 
you fire upon the city, France and England 
will exact indemnities equivalent to the 
damages caused by the fire of the citadel, 
and of the forts, as well as by that of the 
vessels of war. It is impossible but tliatyou, 
yourself, foresee, that in tliis case you would 
be personally responsible for the violation of 
a usage respected by all civilized nations, 
and for the evils resulting therefrom. 

" I await your reply, and trust that you 
wiU find it expedient to enter immediately 
into negotiations with me, for delivering up 
the city of Antwerp, and the forts depending 
upon it. Receiving, etc." 

To this, General Chasse replied that he was 
resolved to defend himself, and the siege was 
opened. The Frencli soldiers were cheerful 
and eager ; but the inclement sca-^on of the 
year served greatly to check their ardor. 
They were compelled to dig trenches in a 
soil, naturally very moist, amid drenching 
rains, which increased their difficulties. In 
some places the soldiers sank two feet in the 
mud. Timber was brought from the city of 
Antwerp, which, with a great number of 
fascines, was intended to make the trenches 
more accessible. At length, after incredible 
exertions, all the batteries were pronounced 
ready for action, on the night of the 2d of 
September, excepting Nos. 7 and 8 upon the 
left wing. The gun^ for these last two places 
were planted the following night. At eleven 



o'clock, on the 4th of December, the besieg- 
ers opened their fire upon the citadel, witli 
eighty-two guns, which were soon increased 
to the number of 104, the half of which were 
mortars. The Dutch, who, in the mean time, 
had striven to harass the operations of the 
besiegers, now opened a brisk fire, and began 
an obstinate resistance, determined to triumph 
themselves, or compel the French to purchase 
victory at a heavy cost. To prevent General 
Chasse from fulfilling his threat of bombard- 
ing the city. Marshal Gerard felt that it was 
indispensable to isolate the citadel by closing 
the Scheldt. General Sebastiani occupied 
the embankment upon the left side of the 
river, while General Achard was stationed 
upon the right bank. The French also garri- 
soned Fort St. Marie and prepared to put 
Fort St. Phillipe in a condition to command 
the course of the river. The Dutch fleet ad- 
vanced to interrupt the operations of the 
besiegers ; and, after some useless parleys, be- 
gan a cannonade, which was without effect, 
as the French were covered by the embank- 
ments. On the 8th of December, a Dutch 
frigate and corvette, and twelve gun-boats, 
appeared off Fort Frederic, which was oc- 
cupied by a detachment of the French army. 
The captain was immediately summoned to 
evacuate the fort, and upon his refusal, the 
Dutch prepared to land under cover of a very 
brisk fire ; but these attempts were vahantly 
repulsed by the enemy. Fort Phillipe was 
then put into a state of service ; two mortars 
were placed permanently upon Fort la Croix, 
and Gerard took all proper measures to iso- 
late the citadel, and hinder the rupture of the 
embankments. The French mean while di- 
rected their attacks against the body of the 
citadel with increasing ardor. Tlie moon was 
in its fuU, and afforded so much light that the 
French could not safely carry on their worlts 
by night, for the garrison vigorously defended 
itself, pouring upon the besiegers an incessant 
hail of bullets, balls, and shells. The havoc 
committed by these missiles was terrible ; but 
the French batteries were directed with so 
much steadiness and precision, that the Dutch 
were compelled to take shelter in their case- 
ments, until at length not a man was seen 
moving about in the citadel, except those 
absolutely necessary to work the batteries. 
On the 13th of December the siege was 
already very far advanced. The progress of 
the engineering works in front of the St. 
Laurent lunette had allowed of a raft being 
formed upon the ditch on the left face, and 
of mining operations being begun by the 
besiegers upon the escarpment near the sail- 
lant. The work which had been delayed 
during the first two nights by the extreme 
hardness of the masonry, had been steadily 
resumed, and was approaching its conclusion; 



AQUILEIA. 



45 



tlie fire of the French batteries, and that of 
tJie musketry were perseveringly kept up, 
ever since morning, so as to occupy the atten- 
tion of the enemy ; and the marechal de camp, 
Georges, wlio was in the trenches with tlie 
65th regiment of infantry, received orders to 
lead the attack. The engineers had constructed 
three new rafts to be joined with the first 
one, and, in order to form a bridge, over 
wliich the Frencli soldiers should pass to the 
breach at the moment of the explosion of 
the mine, the rest of the ditch had been filled 
up with fascines loaded with stone. Upon the 
14th, at five o'clock in the morning, the mine 
exploded, opening a practicable breach for 
the French. Three picked companies of 
French infantry were put in motion, and ad- 
vanced in silence upon the rafts and ruins of 
the ramparts, while twenty-five grenadiers, 
led by Carles of the 61st, passed around the 
lunette to the right front, and proceeded with 
ladders to the gorge, to escalade or cross the 
barrier. At the same time another hght 
company, under Captain Montigny, de- 
bouched by the right, in order hkewise to at- 
tack the lunette at the gorge, and to cut off 
all retreat from the garrison. The soldiers 
marched with fixed bayonets ; they climbed 
the breach ; and rushed with the utmost in- 
trepidity upon the Dutch garrison, which, 
thus surprised and surrounded, laid down its 
arms after a short but desperate resistance. 
Many Dutch soldiers escaped; a few were 
killed or wounded, and sixty were made 
prisoners. But this first piece of ill-success did 
not dismay the besieged; they stiU poured 
forth incessant showers of shell and shot 
upon the French from the yet unimpaired 
portions of the citadel. The fire of the 
French was directed with extreme precision, 
and soon began to tell seriously upon the 
citadel. At length the moment arrived when 
the Dutch were obliged to give way. For 
several days the sufl'erings of the besieged 
had reached the highest point. The French 
had laid dry the ditches of the citadels, and 
the Dutch could no longer procure the neces- 
sary supply of water. The two remaining 
weUs were destroyed by the bombs of the 
besiegers. There was not a building un- 
injured. The casemated hospital appeared in 
danger of falling. Lastly the garrison crowded 
together in the posterns felt its strength en- 
tirely exhausted. An enormous breach had 
been made upon the left front of bastion No. 
2, which had filled up nearly half the fosse. 
The descent into the fosse was eflfected ; and 
to render it possible to storm, nothing more 
was requisite than to explode the mine. At 
this juncture General Chasse sent two supe- 
rior officers to treat with the commander of 
the French army, and after a warm alter- 
cation, on the 24th of November, 1832, a 



capitulation was agreed on for the evacuation 
of the citadel of Antwerp and the forts de- 
pending on it. 

AQUILEIA, A.D. 387.— Aquileia is situ- 
ated in Italy, near the bottom of the Adriatic. 
It is surrounded by a wall and fosse, and is 
connected by a canal with the port of Grado, 
the residence of a few fishermen. This is all 
that remains of one of the principal cities of 
ancient Italy. 

About the year 388, Maximus, Emperor 
of the Western Eoman dominions, invaded 
Italy with a large army. Justina, Empress 
of Italy, and her son Valentinian, who were 
at Milan, were first warned of the hostile ap- 
proach of strangers, by tlie gleam of armor 
and clouds of dust which arose before the 
gates of the city. Fhght was their only hope, 
Aquileia their only refuge. Tliither they im- 
mediately fled. Maximus entered Milan in 
triumph. Justina reached Aquileia in safety; 
but she distrusted the strength of the forti- 
fications. She dreaded the event of a siege, 
and she determined to implore the aid of 
Theodosius, the great Emperor of the East, 
whose power and virtue were celebrated in 
all the countries of the West. The imperial 
family accordingly were secretly placed on 
board a small vessel, in Venetia, and after a 
long but successful voyage, they arrived at 
Thessalonica. Theodosius had some unknown 
reason to fix the residence of liis royal guests 
at Thessalonica, instead of inviting them to 
the palace of Constantinojjle. But, with the 
greater p.nrt of liis court and senate, he 
visited Thessalonica, and the heart of the 
emperor was touched by the tears of the 
beautiful empress. His affections were in- 
sensibly engaged by the graces of youth and 
innocence. He wedded her, and the cele- 
bration of the royal nuptials was the signal 
of the civil war. Shortly afterward (a.d. 
388) Theodosius, at the head of a brave and 
disciplined army, advanced to encounter 
Maximus, who had fixed his camp in the 
neighborhood of Liscia, a city of Pannonia, 
strongly fortified by the broad and rapid 
stream of the Lave. Arriving within sight of 
the enemy, the army of Theodosius, notwith- 
standing the fatigue of a long march, in the 
heat of summer, spurred their foaming horses 
into the waters of the Lave, swam the river 
in presence of the enemy, and charged the 
troops who guarded the high ground on the 
opposite side, with such impetuosity, that 
they were entirely routed. Marcellus, the 
brother of Maximus, advanced to the aid of 
the defeated troops with the select cohorts, 
and obstinately contended with the enemy 
till nightfall. Both armies slept on the field 
of battle. In the morning the conflict was 
renewed, and, after a desperate resistance, 
the surviving remnant of the bravest troops 



46' 



AQUTLEIA. 



of Maximus threw down their arms at the 
feet of the conqueror. Theodosius imme- 
diately pressed forward, determined to ter- 
minate the war by the death or captivity of 
his rival, who fled before liim with the diU- 
gence of fear. On the evening of the first 
day he reached Aquileia, in which city 
Maximus had sought shelter, ilaximus had 
scarcely time to shut the gates of the city 
when he found himself encompassed on all 
sides. But the gates could not long resist 
the efforts of a victorious enemy. They were 
leveled to the ground, and Maximus was 
dragged from liis throne, rudely stripped of 
the imperial ornaments — the robe, the dia- 
dem, and the purple slippers — and conducted 
like a malefactor to the camp of Theodosius, 
who delivered liim over to the mercy of his 
soldiers. But no sooner was he removed 
from the imperial presence, than his head was 
severed from his body. His son, Augustus, 
died shortly afterward by the order, perhaps 
by the hand, of the bold Arbogastes ; all the 
military plans of Theodosius were successfully 
executed, and the war was terminated with 
much less diffieulty and bloodshed than he 
had naturally expected. 

After the death of Maximus, the Roman 
world was in the possession of Theodosius. 
He seated Valentinian on the throne of Milan, 
and restored to him the absolute dominion of 
all the provinces from which he had been 
driven by the arms of Maximus. Satisfied 
with the glory he had acquired, the emperor 
returned fi-om Milan to Constantinople, and, 
in the peaceful possession of the East, insensi- 
bly relapsed into his former habits of luxury 
and indolence. But the empire was soon 
again to be plunged into a civil war. Arbo- 
gastes, a gallant soldier of the nation of 
Franks, had joined the standard of Theodo- 
sius, and, after the death of Maximus, to 
whose destruction he harl contributed by his 
valor and skill, was appointed master-general 
of the armies of Gaul. His real merit, his 
seeming fidelity, won the confidence of both 
prince and people. His boundless hberality 
corrupted the allegiance of the troops ; and 
while he was universally esteemed as the 
pillar of the state, the crafty barbarian was 
secretly resolved to rule or to ruin the empire 
of the West. The Franks received all the un- 
portant commands of the army ; the creatures 
of Arbogastes were promoted to all the honors 
and offices of civil government ; the progress 
of the conspiracy removed every faithfid ser- 
vant from the presence of Valentinian, and the 
emperor, without power and without intelli- 
gence, was reduced to the precarious and 
dependent condition of a captive. The young 
emperor felt the danger of his position, and 
contrived to apprise Theodosius of his helpless 
situation. He declared that, unless the Em- 



peror of the East could speedily march to his 
assistance, he must attempt to escape from 
the palace, or rather the prison of Vienna, in 
Gaul, where he had imprudently fixed his 
residence, in the midst of the hostile faction. 

But the hopes of rehef were distant, and 
as every day increased his danger, the em- 
peror resolved to risk an immediate contest 
with his powerfid general. He received Ar- 
bogastes on the throne, and dehvered to him 
a paper wliich dismissed him from all his em- 
ployments. But Arbogastes announced, with 
insulting coolness, that his authority did not 
depend on the smile or frown of a monarch, 
and contemptuously threw the paper on the 
floor. The emperor was enraged to such a 
degree, that snatching a sword from one of 
the guards, he would have used the deadly 
weapon against his enemy or himself, had he 
not been prevented by the guards. A few 
days after this extraordinary quarrel, the un- 
fortunate Valentinian was found strangled in 
his apartment. The provincials now awaited 
with tame resignation the unknown master 
whom the choice of Arbogastes might place 
on the imperial throne of the West. He 
bestowed the purple on the rhetorician Eu- 
genius, for the judicious barbarian thought it 
more advisable to reign under the name of 
some dependent Roman. Upon receiving 
the news of the elevation of Eugenius, the 
Emperor of the East was aroused to the 
highest pitch of indignation. The perfidy 
of a barbarian had destroyed in a moment 
the labors and fruit of his former victory. 
He determined to revenge the fate of the un- 
happy Valentinian, and once more assert by 
arms the violated majesty of the throne. But 
as the second conquest of the West was a 
task of difficulty and danger, two years were 
consumed in the preparations for the civil 
war. At length, in the year 394, he set 
forth with a large army. The Roman, the 
Iberian, the Arab, and the Goth, all marched 
under the standard of the same prince. Ar- 
bogastes fixed his station on the confines of 
Italy; the troops of Theodosius were per- 
mitted to occupy, Avithout resistance, the prov- 
inces of Pannonia as far as the foot of the 
Juhan Alps; and even the passes of the 
mountains were negligently, or, perhaps, art- 
fully abandoned to the bold invader. He de- 
scended from the hills and surveyed with 
astonishment the formidable camp of the 
Gauls and Germans, which covered vdth 
arms and tents the open country that extends 
to the walls of Aquileia and the banks of 
the Frigidus.* The Emperor of the East im- 
mediately attacked the fortifications of his 
rivals. He assigned" the post of honorable 
danger to the Goths, and cherished a secret 
wish that the bloody conflict might dimin- 
* Now called the Vipao. 



ARADUS— ARBELA. 



47 



ish tlieir pride and number. The trooiis of 
Arbogastes fought with the utmost cour- 
age and fury, aud resisted the repeated at- 
tacks of the enemy with such success, that 
imder the cover of night the troops of Theo- 
dosius fled in cUsorder to the mountains. 
Ten thousand Goths, and Bacurius, the Ibe- 
rian general, were killed. Theodosius re- 
treated to the hills, and passed a disconsolate 
night, without sleep, without provisions, and 
without hopes. The camp of Eugenius was 
a scene of rioting and revel ; while the active 
and vigilant Arbogastes secretly detached a 
large body of troops to occupy the passes of 
the mountains, and to encompass the rear of 
the eastern army. The dawn of day revealed 
to Theodosius the extent and extremity of 
his danger ; but liis apprehensions were soon 
dispelled by a fi-iendly message from the 
leaders of those troops who expressed their 
inclination to desert the standard of Euge- 
nius. The rewards for their perfidy were 
granted without hesitation. The spirits of 
the troops were revived by this reinforce- 
ment, and they again marched, with confi- 
dence, to Surprise the camp of the tyrant. 
The battle which followed was fierce and 
bloody ; but Avhen it was at its height, a vio- 
lent tempest arose from the east, which blew 
clouds of dust in the faces of the G-auls, throw- 
ing their ranks into disorder, wresting their 
weapons from their hands, and diverting or 
repelling their ineffectual javelins. The troops 
of Theodosius, sheltered by their position 
from the impetuosity of the wind, handled 
their weapons with their usual skill, and vic- 
tory-declared itself for the Emperor of the 
East. The troops of Eugenius, dismayed by 
the storm, which their superstitious terrors 
magnified, yielded to Theodosius, whom they 
considered as aided by the powers of heaven. 
Eugenius, Avho had almost acquired the do- 
minion of the world, was reduced to implore 
the mercy of the conqueror ; but the unre- 
lenting soldiers severed his head from his 
body as he lay prostrate at the feet of the 
emperor. Arbogastes escaped, and after 
wandering several days among the mount- 
ains, the intrepid barbarian, imitating the ex- 
ample of the ancient Romans, fell upon his 
OAvn sword and expired. — Gibbon. 

ARADUS, B.C. 38.— Aradus, a small island 
on the coast of Syria, was inhabited by a 
people who refused to pay contributions to 
iMark Antony. They had burnt alive Curtius 
SallafFus, Avho had come to levy upon them, 
and as they had offended Antony too much 
to hope for favor, they persisted in rebellion, 
even after all Syria had been regained by 
the Romans. But in the year 38 B.C., they 
were attacked by the Roman army under 
Ventidius, and after a long and obstinate re- 
sistance, for they were a brave and skillful 



people, they were conquered, and punished 
for their presumption. 

ARBELA, B.C. 331.— Twice had Darius, 
King of Persia, sued for peace from Alexan- 
der of Macedon, and twice had he been de- 
nied. Again he sent his embassadors to 
Alexander ; but they were sent back to the 
Persian king, with the reply: " Tell him that 
the world will not permit two suns, nor two 
sovereigns. Let him, therefore, choose to sur- 
render to-day, or fight me to-morro-vy, and 
not flatter himself with the liopes of better 
success than he has had hitherto." Darius 
now immediately prepared for battle. He had 
pitched his camp near the village Gaugamela, 
and the river BumeUus in Assyria. He caused 
the plain, which he intended should be the 
field of battle, to be leveled, in order that his 
chariots might have full room to act, for he 
had before learned that they could not be 
made useful on rough ground. He also 
caused caltraps, an instrument of spikes, to be 
planted in positions best calculated to injure 
the feet of the enemy's horses. After hear- 
ing of these preparations on the part of Darius, 
Alexander remained four days in his camp, 
during wliich time he intrenched it, and sur- 
rounded it with paUisades, for he was deter- 
mined to leave all his captives, wounded, and 
sick soldiers, and baggage here, that his army 
might march against the enemy with no other 
equipage than the weapons they carried. At 
about nine o'clock on the evening of the 
fourth day, the Macedonians set forth, in 
order that they might commence the battle 
at daybreak. Darius, meanwhile, had drawn 
up liis men in the order of battle, and Alex- 
ander's army marched in battle array also, 
for the armies were within a few leagues of 
each other. When the Macedonians had 
arrived Avitliin sight of the Persian army, they 
halted, and Alexander consulted with his gen- 
erals as to whether they should immediately 
attack the enemy, or wait until daybreak. 
The latter plan was adopted, and after ex- 
horting his men, Alexander, as was Ms usual 
custom before a battle, consulted his sooth- 
sayers, who, with him, offered prayers to 
Jupiter, Minerva, and A'ictory. The army of 
Darius, who constantly expected an attack, 
remained under arms throughout the night. 
The Persian army consisted of at least 600,000 
foot soldiers, and 40,000 horsemen; wliile 
Alexander's army numbered only 40,000 
footmen, and 7,000 or 8,000 horsemen. 
But the Macedonians were soldiers born and 
bred, while the Persians were totally inex- 
perienced in the art of war. The two armies 
were disposed in nearly the same array. The 
forces were drawn up in two lines; the cav- 
alry on the two wings, and the infantry in 
the middle, and were under the particular 
conduct of officers of the different nations of 



48 



ARBELA. 



which they -were composed, and in general 
commanded by the principal crown-officers. 
The battle-front of the Persian army, was 
protected by two hundred chariots armed 
with formidable scythes, and by liitecn ele- 
phants. Darius took liis post in the center 
of the first line. He was surrounded by his 
body guards, the flower of his army, and by 
tlie Grecian infantry. In order to avoid the 
caltraps, of whose position he had been in- 
formed, Alexander extended his army to his 
right, and Darius, fearful that the Macedonians 
miglit tlraw his army from the level plain into 
rough ground, and thus prevent the use of his 
scythe-armed chariots, directed the cavalry of 
his left Aving to charge upon them and pre- 
vent this movement A detachment of Ma- 
cedonian cavalry immediately rushed upon 
tlie advancing Persians; but recoiled from 
the shock unable to break through the over- 
whelming mass which opposed them. Alex- 
ander quickly sent the division commanded 
by Aristos to their assistance, and after a des- 
perate struggle the Persians were put to 
flight, leaving the ground behind them strewn 
with their dead and wounded. Now Darius 
ordered his scythe-armed chariots to be driven 
against the Macedonian phalanx ; but the 
soldiers, striking their swords against their 
bucklers, created such a terrible noise, that 
many of the chariot horses, frightened by the 
clamor, and enraged to madness by the goads 
of the clouds of arrows directed against them, 
became unmanageable, and turned l)ack 
against their own troops. Others were seized 
by the bridles, and their drivers were cut 
down by the Macedonians. Notwithstand- 
ing their formidable appearance, the chariots 
did but little execution. Darius now set his 
whole army in motion, to charge upon the 
enemy, and Alexander perceiving the success 
of the cavalry charge under Aristos, advanced 
to his support, with the flower of his troops. 
He broke through the Persian line on the left, 
and then wheeled to the left in order to fall 
upon the body in which Darius had posted 
himself. And now the presence of the two 
kings inspired both armies with new vigor. 
Darius was mounted on a chariot ; Alexander 
was on horseback, and both were surroimded 
by brave officers and soldiers, whose sole en- 
deavor was to save the life of their respective 
kings, at the hazard of their own. The 
biavest men of the two armies met in close 
encounter, and the struggle was fearful and 
bloody. Alexander wounded Darius's equer- 
ry with a javelin, and the Persians as well as 
the Macedonians imagined that the king was 
dead. The Persians broke out in loud la- 
mentations, and their whole army was filled 
with consternation. The relations of Darius, 
who were at his left; hand, fled away with 
the guards ; but those at his right took hhu 



into their center. Those near their king 
fought with the desperation of death; but, 
deserted by their comrades, they slowly re- 
tired before the murderous blows of their 
conquering adversaries. It was not a battle ; 
it was a slaughter. Then Darius, turning 
about his chariot, fled with the rest, and the 
victorious Macedonians were wholly em- 
ployed in pursuing him. But while the right 
wing of Alexander's army was thus success- 
ful, the left was in great danger. A detach- 
ment of the Persian cavalry, having broken 
through the line of the Macedonian infantry 
on the left, advanced even to Alexander's 
late encampment ; the captives there confined 
were set at liberty, and arming themselves 
with whatever weapon they could find, they 
joined the Persian cavalry, and rushed upon 
the Macedonian infantry, wliich was thus 
attacked before and behind. Learning this, 
Parmenio dispatched a messenger to Alexan- 
der, who commanded him not to regard the 
baggage but to devote his energies to the 
battle. Parmenio immediately attacked the 
Persians in the rear with the infantry of the 
center of the second hue. The Persians re- 
sisted vigorously ; but were overpowered, and 
many were cut to pieces. The rest were com- 
pelled to retire ; but, as they were mounted, 
the Macedonian footmen could not follow 
them. Shortly afterward Parmenio's divis- 
ion was attacked by the Persians under Ma- 
zeus, and the Macedonians were about to be 
surrounded. In tliis strait Parmenio dis- 
patched a messenger after Alexander, de- 
claring that he could not keep his men to- 
gether unless he was immediately succored. 
Alexander was in hot pursuit after Darius, 
for he fancied that he was nearly up to him. 
But when overtaken by Parmenio's messen- 
ger, he turned back, shuddering with rage to 
see his prey and victory thus swept from 
him. On his return he met the Persian 
cavalry, which had plundered his camp, on 
their way to rejoin their array. They marched 
in good order; rather as victorious soldiers 
than defeated ones. They were marching 
in close columns ; not in order of battle, but of 
march, and it was with great difficult}^, that 
Alexander, even with his greatly superior 
force, could break through them. They did 
not amuse themselves by casting their jave- 
hns, according to their usual custom; but 
each choosing a man, engaged him in hand to 
hand combat, each endeavoring to unhorse 
his adversary. Sixty of Alexander's chosen 
men were slain in this encounter. Three of 
his generals were wounded ; yet he con- 
quered, and cut the Persians to pieces, ex- 
cept a very few who forced their way through 
his squadrons. In the mean time Alazeus had 
heard the news of Darius's defeat, and dis- 
spirited and alarmed, although he possessed 



ARCADIA — ARCIS-SIJR-AUBE. 



49 



a decided advantage, for the Macdonians 
were now in complete disorder, he ceased his 
formerly incessant charges upon the enemy. 
Parmenio could not account for this sudden 
cessation of battle ; but, Uke an able general, 
he took advantage of the apparent terror of 
the enemy, and incited his soldiers to new 
exertions. At the sight of the terror of the 
Persians, the Macedonians regained their 
courage, and, infused with new life, they gave 
rein to their horses, and dashed upon the 
enemy with such fury, that the Persians were 
thrown into disorder, and fled precipitately 
across the plain. Alexander came up at tliis 
moment, and, rejoiced at this unexpected for- 
tune, he resumed, with Parmenio, the pursuit 
of Darius. He rode as far as Arbela where 
he hoped to overtake the flying monarch, 
and all his baggage; but Darius had only 
passed by it, leaving his treasure a prey to 
the conqueror, with his bow and shield. 

Such was the success of this famous battle, 
which gave an empire to tlie conqueror. 
Arrian says that the Persians lost 300,000 
men killed, and many were taken prisoners. 
Alexander lost 1,400 men, mostly of his cav- 
alry. As G-augamela was a place of little 
note, this battle was called the battle of Ar- 
bela, that being the nearest city to the field 
of strife. 

ARCADIA.— In 1169, b.o. Arcadia was 
invaded by the Lacedemonians, and a pitched 
battle occurred between the women of Ar- 
cadia, whose husbands were absent, and the 
invaders, which resulted in the total defeat of 
the latter. 

ARCIS-SUR-AUBE, a.d. 1814.— Arcis- 
sur-Aube is a town in the south of France, in 
the Department of the Aube. On the 20th 
and 21st of March, 1814, it was the scene of 
an important action between Napoleon and 
the allies under Prince Schwartzenberg. 

The battle commenced by skirmishes at the 
outposts. Gradually, however, fresh squad- 
rons of cavalry were brought up on either 
side, together with some horse artillery ; and 
a serious cavalry action was the result. The 
cavalry of the French was led by Greneral 
Sebastiani, that of the allies by Kaisaroff. 

The French were overpowered by the 
weight and numbers of their opponents, and 
although they fought with that impetuous 
bravery which characterizes the French sol- 
diers, yet they were forced back and driven 
in confusion to the bridge of Arcis. Napo- 
leon instantly rode forward to the bridge, and 
drawing his sword, exclaimed, " Let me see 
which of you will pass before me." These 
words had an electric effect on the retreating 
squadrons. They immediately raUied and re- 
formed, and a fresh division coming to their 
assistance, they charged the allied cavalry and 
drove them, from the bridge. An obstinate 



combat had now commenced on the French 
left. Ney, with liis division, there held the 
village of Torcy, which Marshal Wrede at- 
tempted to storm with an Austrian brigade. 
They were at first successful, and the French 
were driven out ; but Ney quickly charged 
the Austrians, and they, in their turn, were 
forced from the village. Wrede again carried 
it with three battalions, but Napoleon seeing 
the importance of the village in the coming 
battle, brought up a body of his Old Guard 
who retook it, and maintained their position 
till night, notwithstanding the greatest ef- 
forts of the Austrians to dislodge them. 

The French position was now sufficiently 
strong to counterbalance the superiority of the 
allies in numbers. Their army occupied a 
semicircular position, facing outward, with 
each flank resting on the river Aube. In 
this position, their flanks were secure from 
being turned ; and in their rear was the town 
of Arcis, which would prove a secure place 
of retreat in case of disaster. 

The allied position was not so strong ; they 
formed a much larger concave semicircle fac- 
ing inward : with Marshal Wrede on the right 
wing, the Russian reserves and guards under 
Barclay de Tolly in the center, and Raieffsky 
and Gurlay on the left. As soon as the corps 
under the Prince Royal of Wirtemberg had 
come up, Schwartzenberg ordered the Rus- 
sian reserves and the guards, under Barclay 
de Tolly, to advance. The artillery was im- 
mediately hurried to the front, and a general 
attack commenced. The sun was now sink- 
ing behind the Avestern horizon. Arcis and 
Torcy were already in flames, and the sight 
which now pre^nted itself to the eye, was at 
the same time sublime and terrific. The 
Russian horse artillery on the alUed left suc- 
ceeded in silencing the French .guns, and as 
they advanced to the semicircle of heights 
commanding the town, the effect of their fire 
was truly terrible. There stood the French 
troops, riiotionless and undaunted. With the 
instinct of discipline the ranks closed to the 
center, as shot after shot plowed through 
their columns with fearful effect. During 
this terrific cannonade Napoleon was fre- 
quently in imminent danger ; almost all his 
staff" were killed or wounded. His horse was 
shot under him ; he coolly mounted another, 
and when some of his generals urged him to 
retire, he repUed, " Fear nothing, gentlemen, 
the bullet is not yet cast which is to kill me." 
The carnage ceased about ten o'clock at night, 
from mutual exhaustion. Both armies slept 
on their own position, on the field, and 
neither could claim any advantage. During 
the night, great efforts were made by the 
allies to bring up their remote detachments. 
The position which they occupied on the 
second day, differed somewhat from that on 



50 



ARCOLA. 



the first. Marshal Wrede was stationed in 
front of the blood stained-ruins of Torcy, the 
Prince Royal of Wirtemberg at the hamlet 
of Meuil, Gurlay on his left, and next Rai- 
efFsky, with liis Russians. The grenadiers 
and cuirassiers formed the second hne, in the 
rear of the center, at Meuil-la-Comtesse. 
Napoleon's troops were disposed in the same 
manner as on the previous day. 

The sun rose bright and cloudless on the 
morning of the 21st of March, and the sight 
which it revealed was at once grand and an- 
imating. 150,000 men on the two sides were 
there drawn up in battle array, trained to the 
most perfect discipline, yet at the same time 
animated by the fiercest passions. The in- 
fantry in both armies were standing at ease, 
with their muskets at their shoulders. The 
cavalry were mostly dismounted, but every 
bridle was over the horseman's arm. The 
gunners stood beside their pieces, with the 
slow matches l:)urning in the front of the lines, 
ready, at a signal, to vomit forth destruction 
and death on their enemies. But neither 
general gave the signal to commence the 
action. This state of inactivity continued for 
several hours, but meantime Napoleon had 
thrown a second bridge over the Aube, and at 
one o'clock in the afternoon, liis troops com- 
menced defiling m that direction. Schwart- 
zenberg did not think it prudent to attack the 
French till three o'clock, when his whole line 
advanced, preceded by a hundred pieces of 
cannon, which opened their fire on the re- 
treating columns. Pahlen attacked on the 
right wing, and Raiefisky in the center. 
The town of Arcis was soon in flames from 
the bombs which fell upon it from the Rus- 
sian artillery. But Macdonald, who com- 
manded the rear guard, maintained such a 
gallant resistance, that it was dark before the 
aUies could penetrate Arcis, at which, time 
the bulk of "Napoleon's army was established 
on the other bank of the river. However, 
the troops under Prince Eugene of Wirtem- 
berg succeeded in driving back Oudinot, and 
with their cavalry took possession of tlie 
bridge, thus cutting ofi" the means of retreat 
to those of the rear guard who had not yet 
crossed over. A sanguinary conflict took 
place in the streets, and numbers were 
drowned while attempting to swim across 
the river. The French artillery kept up a 
tremendous fire from the opposite bank, so 
that it was impossible for the allies to pursue. 
When the morning dawned. Napoleon was 
far advanced with the main body of his troops 
on th(> road to Vitry, leaving a powerful rear- 
guard in front of Arcis to retard the passage 
of the river. 

In this battle the French lost 4000 men, of 
whom 800 were prisoners, and 6 pieces of 
cannon ; that of the allies was equally as 



great; but its immediate result was to throw 
Napoleon upon the eccentric line of operation 
which immediately led to his fall. 

ARCOLA, A.D. 179G.— On the 15th, 16th, 
and 17th of November, 179G, a series of the 
most sanguinary engagements that occurred 
during Napoleon's campaign in Italy, took 
place near the small town of Areola, on the 
river Alpora, fifteen miles east of Verona, in 
Austrian Italy. 

Napoleon, with an army of 20,000 men, 
fatigued by fighting and surrounded by ene- 
mies, was in Verona, a city of Italy, situated 
on the river Adige. Sndilenly there appear- 
ed before the city a fresh Austrian army of 
30,000 men, and the French troops, dispirit- 
ed and discouraged by the overwhelming 
force of the enemy, murmured and seemed 
on the point of an open rebellion. But Na- 
poleon, whose genius never deserted him, de- 
termined upon a movement, the danger of 
which was only eclipsed by its brilliancy. 
On the night of the 14th of November, with- 
out communicating to any one his design, he 
conducted his army in the most profound 
silence out of the city. Sorrow now filled 
the hearts of the French soldiers; those 
brave men, who knew not what it was to re- 
treat before an enemy, were filled with in- 
dignation at the thought that their genenJ 
had abandoned the fair fields of Italy to their 
rivals. Crossing the Adige, the French army 
in three columns, marched on the road to- 
ward Milan. Suddenly an order was given 
to turn to the left, and descending the course 
of the river, the army arrived before day- 
break at Roneo. On the opposite shore of 
the river was an immense morass, and be- 
yond the morass was the Austrian army. 
Now joy reigned universally in the French 
army ; the conquest of Italy was not to be 
abandoned, and passing quickly from one ex- 
treme to another, the soldiers were ready to 
follow Napoleon into the very jaws of deatli. 
A bridge of boats being already prepared, 
the army immediately crossed the river. 
From Roneo three roads branch off across 
the morass, one following the left bank of 
the Adige, remounts that river to Verona; 
one in the center, leads directly across the 
marsh to Areola, by a stone bridge over 
the little stream of the Alpora; the third 
on the right, follows the descending course 
of the Adige to Albano. On the two first 
causeways, Napoleon determined to place his 
army. Along these narrow roads numbers 
gave no advantage. On the courage and 
firmness of the heads of the columns, every 
thing depended. At daybreak on the 15th, 
Massena at the head of his division, moved 
along the first causeway, as far as a small 
eminence, which brought him in sight of the 
steeples of Verona, and removed all anxiety 



ARCOLA. 



51 



in that quarter. Augereau led his division 
along the center causeway, as far as the 
bridge of Areola. Here his advanced guards 
were met by three battalions of Croats, who 
poured such a tremendous fire upon the head 
of the column, that, notwithstanding the pow- 
erful exertions of the soldiers they were driven 
back. Augereau seeing liis men recoil, has- 
tened to the spot, and led them back to the 
charge. But the bridge, swept by a fearful 
storm of lead and iron, was untenable. Un- 
able to withstand the fire of the enemy, the 
French troops were again driven back. In 
the meantime, Alvinzi, the Austrian general, 
whose attention was fixed on Verona, where 
he imagined the bulk of the enemy's forces to 
be, was confounded at hearing a violent fire 
in the marshes. He soon learned that the 
French were advancing in force on all the 
dykes, and threatened the flank and rear of 
his army. He immediately dispatched two 
divisions along the causeways, by wliich the 
enemy was approacliing. Mitrouski's divis- 
ion advanced to defend the village of Areola, 
while that commanded by Provera, marched 
against Massena's division. Provera's men 
soon commenced an attack on the French ; 
but Massena's grenadiers charged them with 
such impetuosity that they were driven back 
with great loss. Mitrouski, at the same time, 
passed through Areola, crossed the bridge, 
and attacked the corps of Augereau. The 
French troops met the charge with such 
boldness and courage, that they repulsed the 
Austrians and drove them back to the bridge. 
Now a desperate struggle commenced ; the 
French column advanced with the utmost in- 
trepidity ; but the Austrians received them 
with a tremendous fire from the artillery in 
front, sweeping the bridge, and committing 
frightfid havoc upon the head of the column, 
wliieh faltered and fell back. The possession 
of Areola was indispensable to Napoleon. 
The safety of liis army, the success of his 
future operations, all depended upon it. Per- 
ceiving the repeated repulses of his men at 
tlie bridge, he placed himself at the head of 
the column, and seizing a standard, he cried, 
"Follow your general," and without shrink- 
ing he advanced, closely followed by his 
troops through a hurricane of grape-shot, and 
planted the standard on the middle of the 
bridge. But now the iron tempest raged 
around Mm with apparently tenfold vigor; 
his grenadiers hesitated; then grasping their 
beloved chief in their arms, they bore him 
back amid clouds of smoke, and over heaps 
of the dead and dying. The Austrians in- 
stantly rushed over the bridge and pushed 
tlie fugitives into the marsh, where Napoleon 
lay up to the middle in water. Soon the 
French grenadiers discovered that their com- 
mander was left beliind ; the cry ran through 



their ranks, " Forward to save your general!" 
Wheeling about they returned to the charge, 
and driving back tlie Austrians, extricated 
Napoleon from his perilous position. During 
this deadly encounter, Lannes received three 
wounds. Napoleon's aid-de-camp, Muiron, 
was killed by his side, when covering him 
with his body, and almost all his personal 
staff were severely wounded. In this strife 
of the heads of columns, and successive ad- 
vances and repulses, the day wore away. 
Toward evening the Austrians abandoned 
Areola, and drew up their army, facing the 
marshes, at the foot of the heights of Caldiero. 
During the night. Napoleon on his side, drew 
back his forces to the right bank of the Adige, 
leaving only an advanced guard on the left 
bank; while the Austrians re-occupied the 
village of Areola, and all the ground which 
had been so vehemently disputed on the pre- 
cechng day. In the morning the strife was 
renewed. The Austrians, in two columns ad- 
vanced along the dykes, to within six hun- 
dred yards of the village of Ronco. The 
French met them witk such a fiirious charge 
with the bayonet, that the Austrians were 
routed with great bloodshed. The battle 
continued through the day with various suc- 
cess, and at nightfall, both parties retired, 
the Austrians over the Alpora, the French 
across the Adige. Again the morning dawned 
on the bloody field, and both parties with di- 
minished numbers, but with undiminished 
fury, advanced to the struggle. They met 
in the middle of the dykes, and fought with 
the ferocity and animosity of tigers, rather 
than men. 

The Austrian column in the center, com- 
mitted terrific slaughter on the French gren- 
adiers, who finally fell back before the irre- 
sistible fire of the enemy, so far that the 
Austrian balls fell upon the bridge of Ronco. 
There the action was restored by a regiment 
which Napoleon had planted in ambuscade 
among the willows, on the side of the road, 
which assaulted the Austrian column in flank, 
when disordered by success, with such vigor, 
that they were almost all driven into the 
marshes. Massena, on his side experienced 
similar vicissitudes, and was only enabled to 
keep his ground by placing himself at the 
head of the column, and leading the soldiers 
on with his hat on the point of his sword. 
But toward noon, Napoleon perceiving that 
the enemy was exhausted with fatigue, or- 
dered a general charge of all his forces along 
both causeways. The Austrians, unable to 
withstand the terrible shock of the French 
charge, was soon swept oiF both dykes, and 
shortly afterward evacuated Areola. Na- 
poleon now drew up his army in order of 
battle at the extremities of the causeways, 
on the firm ground, his right vnng toward 



52 



ARGENTARIA— ARGAUM. 



Porto Legnago, and his left at Areola. 
The garrison of Areola, by Napoleon's direc- 
tions, issued forth with four pieees of can- 
non, so as to take the enemy in the rear. 
The French general also sent a body of 
trumpeters into a marsh of reeds by the ex- 
treme left flank of the Austrians, with direc- 
tions to sound a charge the moment the ac- 
tion became general. He then ordered his 
generals to advance. Tlie Austrians bravely 
resisted in front, but suddenly, hearing the 
sound of trumpets and cannon on their flank 
and rear, and thinking that they were 



ed by a whole division of cavalry on their 
flank, and threatened with a cannonade in 
their rear, the Austrian commanders ordered 
a retreat, and yielded a victory which they 
had so long and so bravely contested. While 
this desperate struggle, in the marshes of Ar- 
eola, was going forward, the Austrian general, 
Davidowich, advanced with his forces to the 
neighborhood of Verona. Without losing 
time Napoleon, after his victory at Areola, 
immediately marched toward Verona, and 
fell upon the Austrian forces under Davido- 
wich. The Austrians, after an obstinate re- 
sistance, were at length compelled to retire 
into Tyrol. 

The loss of the French at the battle of Ar- 
eola, including the actions with Davidowich, 
was 15,000 men. The Austrians lost 18,000. 

ARGENTARIA, a.d. 378.— Colmar, a city 
of France, thirty-six miles north of Strasbourg, 
is generally believed to stand on the site of 
the more ancient Argentaria. In the year 
378, a battle was fought near Argentaria, in 
the plains of Alsace, between the Romans, 
commanded by Manienus and Mellobrandes, 
and the Alemanni, led by their king, Priarius. 
The undisciplined Germans, though impetu- 
ous and brave, were unable to contend a.gainst 
the missile weapons, and well practiced evo- 
lutions of the Romans. The Alemanni fought 
with the most obstinate valor, and were 
slaughtered with unrelenting fury by the 
Romans. Out of iO.OOO barbarians, 5,000 
only escaped to the woods and mountains. 
Priarius met a glorious death in the midst of 
his enemies. This signal victory secured the 
peace of the Gauls. The Germans no longer 
dared to contend against the power and per- 
severance of the Romans. 

ARGIVES, B.C. 735.— This celebrated bat- 
tle was fought between 300 scl(!Ct heroes of 
each nation, and all perished except two Ar- 
gives and one Spartan. The latter remained 
on the field, wliile the two former went to 
Argos to announce their victory. Each party 
claimed the advantage ; tlie Argives, because 
they had lost the fewest men, and the Lace- 
demonians, because they remained masters 
of the field. A second battle was fought in 
which the Argives were beaten. — Pausanias. 



ARGOS, B.C. 272.— This is one of the most 
ancient and celebrated of the Grecian cities. 
It is situated about two miles from tlie bot- 
tom of the Gulf of Argos, and about four and 
a half miles north-west of NapoU di Romania. 

The ambitious, quarrelsome Prince Pyrrhus 
fell upon Argos, at a time when it was divided 
by the factions of Aristias and Aristippus. 
The Argives at first sent to Pyrrhus to beg 
him to evacuate their territories. He prom- 
ised to do so, but that very same night 
entered their gates, aided by the treachery 
of Aristias. A great part of his tropps had 
already spread themselves throughout the 
city, when an act of imprudonce deprived 
him of his victory and his life. Whoever 
reads the hfe of Pyrrhus will observe the im- 
portance he always attached to his elephants 
— engines of war, if we may so call them, in- 
troduced for a time into Europe by the con- 
quests of Alexander. He had tried to terrify 
the Romans with these monstrous animals, 
but without success. So partial was he to 
these bulky assistants, that he insisted upon 
their being brought into Lacedemon, though 
the gates were not large enough, or the 
streets sufficiently wide to make them at all 
available. Alarmed by the noise created by 
the confusion the elephants produced, the 
Argives flew to arms, and their houses be- 
came so many citadels, from which they 
poured all sorts of missiles down upon the 
troops of the King of Epirus. The elephants 
so completely blocked up the way, as to pre- 
vent the entrance of fresh troops, and were 
of more injury to their masters than to the 
Spartans. Abandoned by his people, Pyrrhus 
maintained his character for personal valor by 
the brave manner in which he fought his way 
through the enemy. An Argive attacked 
him, and hurled his javehn at him ; but the 
point was blunted by the thickness of Ids 
cuirass. The furious prince was about to 
strike him dead, when the mother of the 
Argive, who beheld the fight from the roof 
of her house, threw a tile at Pyrrhus, which, 
striking him on the head, stretched him 
senseless on the ground. One of the soldiers 
of Antigonus coming up, was rejoiced to find 
their great enemy in such a state, and imme- 
diately cut off his head. His soldiers, de- 
prived of their leader, were soon put to the 
rout. Thus perished, by the hand of an old 
woman, a captain famous for his exploits 
against both Rome and Carthage, and whose 
vii;torious arms had made Greece tremble 
more than once. 

ARGAUM, A.D. 1803.— This village is sit- 
uated in the Deecan, presidency of Bombay, 
in British India. 

After the reduction of Asseghue, an im- 
portant fortress in the Deecan ; Scindiah, the 
leader of the Mahratta forces, made proposals 



ARNHEIM— ARRAS. 



53 



to General Wellesley, who commanded the 
British troops, for peace. An armistice on 
certain terms was agreed to by the British 
general, but the stipulations not having been 
fulfilled by the Maliratta cliiefs, he determined 
not to lose the opportunity of striking a de- 
cisive blow, and thus terminate the war. 
For this purpose, on the 28th of November, 
1803, he effected a junction with Colonel 
Stevenson, and marched to meet the enemy. 
On this occasion the British forces numbered 
fourteen battahons of infantry, and six regi- 
ments of cavalry, in aU about 14,000 men, 
besides 4,000 irregular horse. Scindiah's 
troops were discovered drawn up in battle 
array, on the plains in front of Argaum. His 
army did not exceed 40,000 men ; and, al- 
though Wellesley's troops were somewhat 
exhausted by their long march on a sultry 
day, he deemed this opportunity too favor- 
able to be lost, and accordingly made prepa- 
rations for immediate attack. The infantry, 
with the 74th and 78th regiments, were 
posted on the right, in advance of the other 
columns, so as to enter first into action ; the 
cavalry were stationed in the second line, in 
echelon, and the Mysore and Mogul horse 
thrown back on the left, more for the purpose 
of protecting the rear than taking part in the 
battle, while at the same time they opposed 
an impassable barrier to the immense mass 
of Mahratta horse wliich were stationed on 
the enemy's right wing. 

The first British Une, consisting of the in- 
fantry, with the 74th and 78th regiments at 
their liead, advanced to the attack, but the 
regiments in front were received with a tre- 
mendous fire from the enemy's batteries, 
while they were at the same time assailed 
in flank by a great body of Persians who, for 
some time, kept up a fierce hand-to-hand 
combat, but on this, as on all other occasions, 
the European bayonet maintained its supe- 
riority over the Asiatic cimeter, and, after a 
sanguinary struggle, the assailants were re- 
pulsed, and almost wholly destroyed. Three 
battahons of sepoys or native troops, who next 
came into action, disbanded and fled as soon 
as they came within cannon range of the 
enemy, although in previous engagements 
they had fought quite bravely under a much 
heavier fire than was now directed against 
them. This might have been attended with 
disastrous results to the British had not Gen- 
eral Wellesley, who was on the spot, raUied 
them, and puttmg himself at the head of 
tliem, again led them ort against the enemy, 
and restored the fortune of the day. They 
succeeded in capturing a large number of the 
enemy's guns, and in forcing them to abandon 
their position. Scindiah made another last 
effort for victory : he detached a considerable 
portion of his horse to charge the British left 



wing ; but they were quickly repulsed by the 
steadiness of a battalion of sepoys. Finding 
his position carried by the enemy, and liim- 
self unable to make any impression on their 
lines, he resolved to retreat. He was pur- 
sued by the British cavalry, who captured all 
his elephants, baggage, and ammunition, to- 
gether with such of his cannon as he had 
been able to get off the field of battle. Night 
came, and with it a cessation of the pursuit 
We have the authority of Wellington for the 
assertion, that had there been another hour 
of dayhght, or had the delay consequent on 
the break of the sepoys not occurred, the 
whole of the enemy would inevitably have 
been destroyed. 

ARNHEIM, A.D. 1795.— In 1795, Arn- 
heim, a fortified town of the Netherlands, on 
the right bank of the Rhine, was taken by 
the French, who in the month of November 
1813, were attacked and driven out of the 
place by the Prussians. / 

ARRAS, A.D. 1654. — Arras is situated in 
the middle of an extensive and fertile jjlain, 
on the rivers Scarpe and Corinchon, sixty 
miles south-east of Calais, in France. 

Two of the most illustrious generals, not 
only of France but of the Avorld, were op- 
posed to each other before Arras. The great 
Conde had allowed party feehng so far to 
prevail over his sense of duty as to lead him 
not only to deprive liis country of his serv- 
ices, but to turn them against it. It is 
rather a remarkable fact, that one of the 
generals of whom France has most to boast, 
earned his brightest laurels when in arms 
against her. Conde proposed to the Spanish 
court to besiege Arras, to avenge itself for 
the siege of Stenay. Arras contained a gar- 
rison of httle more than 2,000 men; the 
army of the Archduke Leopold consisted of 
32,000 men, Italians, Lorrains, Flemings, 
Spaniards, and discontented Frenchmen. 
Alarmed at this enterprise, Mazarin had re- 
course to Turenne, and an army of 14,000 
men Avas sent under his command to succor 
Arras. Six hundred determined Frenchmen 
broke through the enemy's hues, and threw 
themselves into the place before the Span- 
iards had completed their intrenchments. 
The army of Turenne, too weak to venture 
to contend with the superior forces of the 
enemy in an open country, awaited some 
time at Peronne for the necessary provisions. 
Turenne's first object was to starve his en- 
emy, and to occupy a position, the strength 
of wliich might render liis army respect- 
able. 

His camp was at first at Monchi-le-Preux, 
upon a height which commanded a valley, 
watered on one side by the Scarpe, and on 
the oth'er by the Cogel. From this point he 
intercepted the enemy's communication with 



54 



ARRAS. 



Douai, Bouchain, and Valenciennes ; the Mar- 
quis de Beauvais, sent to Bapaume, prevented 
their receiving any thing from Cambrau Two 
thousand men posted toward Lens, inter- 
cepted the passage of Lille, while Lilleboane, 
with 1,500 men, was to scour the country 
and block up the road of Aire and Saint- 
Omar. The Spanish army, thus inclosed, 
might have been forced by famine to raise 
the siege, if it had been possible to stop 
up the roads of Saint-Pol ; but that could 
not be accompUshed. The Spaniards opened 
their trenches on the 14tli of July; the 
besieged defended their ground so com- 
pletely, foot by foot, that they had only 
lost a single horn-work at the end of the 
month; still more, they had cost the be- 
siegers 2,000 men. Marshal d'Hocquincourt, 
having entered Stenay, came to reinforce the 
viscount before Arras. On liis route he took 
Saint-Pol, and carried off a detachment of 
500 men from the abbey of Saint Eloi. Tu- 
renne, who had been to meet him with fifteen 
squadrons, made on his return a reconnais- 
sance upon all the. enemy's lines to the north : 
they were of two toises in width, and ten 
feet in depth ; in front was a fosse, nine feet 
wide and six feet deep. Twelve rows of 
trous de hup, placed checkerwise, were be- 
tween the intrenchments and the avant-fossc ; 
Uttle pallisades of a foot and a half high were 
planted in the intervals of these, to prevent 
the approach of cavalry. Tlie Spaniards, 
commanded by the Count de Puensaldagne, 
occupied the north of these long lines, on 
the road to Lens ; the Prince de Conde was 
on the opposite side witli the French. The 
archduke, with the Germans and the Flem- 
ings, extended to the east, from the road of 
Cambrai to the Scarpe; Don Ferdinand de 
Sohs completed the investment from the 
west to the south, with ItaUans and Lorrains. 
In a second reconnaissance, the marshal went 
so close to the quarters of Fuensaldagne, 
that some of his officers represented to him 
that he would expose himself to an almost 
certain defeat if the Spaniards availed them- 
selves of the opportunity offered. "Oh! 
there is nothing to fear," said Turenne; 
"they will employ more time in consulting 
and holding council than it will take me to 
examine their lines." He was right: the 
Spaniards did not put themselves in motion 
till he was out of sight. Terrified by these 
formidable linc.'S, none of the French generals 
dared attempt to succor Arras; Tureune 
alone maintaine<l that certainly some weak 
point would be found if they were attacked 
by night ; he often conversed with his offi- 
cers on the conduct to be observed on enter- 
ing intrenchments, and upon the means of 
overcoming all tlie obstacles that art can op- 
pose to valor. The court were of the opinion 



of Turenne, and gave orders for an attack 
on the 24th of August. 

The principal eifort was to be made against 
the quarter of Don Ferdinand de Solis, and 
on the part nearest to that of Fuensaldagne : 
these points had been considered as the wo;ak- 
est or the most remote from the Prince de 
Conde, whose activity and talents they 
dreaded, and from the French, whose vi- 
vacity and vigilance were likewise formida- 
ble. 

To divert the attention of the enemy 
and divide their forces, false attacks were to 
be made at the same time : one on the 
quarter of the Prince de Conde, another 
upon the most distant part of the camp of 
Fuensaldagne, and the third upon the lines 
of the Prince of Lorraine. At simset, the 
armies crossed the Scarpe upon four bridges, 
the soldiers being provided witli hurdles and 
fascines. The march was conducted with 
good order and in profound silence; its 
precision was such, that the troops arrived 
exactly at the time appointed for forming 
a junction with Marshal d'Hocquincourt. 
Without waiting for him, Marshals Turenne 
and De la Ferte marched directly to the hues, 
from wliich they were distant half a league : 
favored by a dark night, in which the moon 
only appeared at intervals, and lighted only 
by the fires of the matches of the musketeers, 
they marched till within a hundred paces of 
their works, without the enemy's having the 
least suspicion of the enterprise. Here the 
report of three cannon gave the alarm, and 
a row of cresset-lights appeared all along the 
lines of circumvallation. The Italians were 
still preparing for fight, when the foot of 
Turenne's first line had already passed the 
avant-fosse, covered the piiits or wells and 
pulled up the pallisades. Meeting with little 
resistance, the French easily gained the second 
fosse : some troops even leaped over it before 
it was entirely filled up with the fascines. 
Fiscia, a captain of the regiment of Turenne, 
planted the color of his company upon the 
parapet; so much courage and good for- 
tune were requisite to keep up the spirits 
of the rest of the troops. In the darkness 
they were afraid to advance ; but at the cry 
of " Vive Turenne I" all were animated with 
equal ardor. Five battalions broke in at 
several points at the same time, and cleared 
the way for the cavalry. Marshal de la Ferte 
had not been so fortunate on the part of the 
Spaniards ; his soldiers, repulsed, only pene- 
trated the Unes by favor of the large gaps 
made by Turenne's troops. As for Marshal 
d'Hocquincourt, arriving toward the end of 
the night in the midst of the enemy's con- 
sternation, he easily made himself a passage. 
Forced in almost all directions, the Italians 
and the Lorrains abandoned their posts, and 



ARROYO DEL MOLINO— ASCALOK 



55 



flying into the other quarters, carried disor- 
der and terror wherever tliey went. 

At daybreak the Prince de Conde, crossing 
tlie quarter of the archduke, advised him to 
retreat. To protect this movement, Conde 
marched witli tlie cavah-y to meet tlie French, 
and clieck their victorious impetuosity. He 
at first gained a not very difficult advantage 
over those engaged in pillage, and then beat 
the Mai'shal de la Ferte, who had imprudent- 
ly descended from a height ; but he did not 
dare to pursue him. The marshal had been 
replaced upon that height by a considerable 
body of troops. At seeing this, Conde took 
possession of a neighboring elevation, to wait 
for his infantry. His intention was then to 
attack the column which appeared upon the 
height. Marshal Turenne had there fortified 
himself. Some artillery and fresh troops had 
joined him at tliis respectable post. Conde 
led his troops to the attack, but his soldiers 
were stopped by the fire of Turemio's can- 
non : in spite of all his efforts, the prince was 
obliged to fall back. A sortie of the garrison 
of Arras made him hasten his retrograde 
movement the more; Conde and Turenne, in 
face of each other, divined who their opponent 
was by his maneuvers. The prudent Tu- 
I'enne did not pursue Conde ; the Marquis do 
Bellefonds, not so wise, attacked his rear- 
guard at the passage of the Scarpe, and was 
repulsed with loss. Still formidable in the 
midst of a reverse, Conde left his intrench- 
ments, like a general quitting a camp he is 
tired of occupying, rallied his scattered troops, 
and retired to Cambrai, always presenting a 
bold and redoubtable front to his enemies. 
His fine retreat, in which he covered the 
conquered Spaniards, formed a striking con- 
trast with the shamefnl flight of the archduke 
and the Count de Fuensaldagne, who escaped 
with a few squadrons through some French 
baggage-wagons. Turenne lost but few men, 
but he was wounded ; the loss of the Span- 
iards amounted to 3,000 men, 63 cannon, 
2,000 horses, 2,000 wagons, and all the equip- 
ages of the army. — Rohson. 

ARROYO DEL MOLINO, a.d. 1811.— 
On the 28th of October, 1811, the English 
troops, under Lord Hill, surprised and de- 
feated the French, on the verge of the ridge of 
Montaches near Arroyo del Molino, in Spain. 

ARTEMISIUM, b.c. 480.— On the same 
day on which the glorious action between 
the land armies of the Persians and Spartans, 
at Thermopylae, took place, there was also an 
engagement between the fleets at sea, near 
Artemisium, a promontory of Euboea upon the 
northern coast of Greece, toward the straits. 
The Grecian fleet consisted of 271 vessels; that 
of the enemy amounted to about the same 
number. The battle was very fierce and ob- 
stinate, and the success nearly equal on both 



sides, except tliat the Persians, incommoded 
by the largeness of their vessels, sustained 
much the greater loss. Both parties, how- 
ever, retired in good order. 

ASCALON, A.D. 1099.— Ascalon, an an- 
cient seaport town of Palestine is situated 
forty-five miles east of Jerusalem. Nothing 
remains of the former magnificence of Asca- 
lon save a heap of soUtary ruins. 

A terrible battle was fought near this city 
in the year 1099, between the Christian 
forces and an army of 300,000 Saracens and 
other infidels. The Christians arrived in the 
plain of Ascalon which is bounded on the 
east by mountains and extends on the west 
to the sea. On the coast stood the city of 
Ascalon, over whose walls the banners of 
Jerusalem waved. At the extremity of the 
plain, the army of Saladin was drawn up in 
battle array, with the sea and the mountains 
behind it. The Crusaders advanced in two 
lines; the Count of Toulouse commanded 
the right wing ; the two Roberts and Tan- 
cred were placed on the left ; Godfrey com- 
manded a body of reserve, which was at the 
same time to keep the garrison of Ascalon in 
check, and fight with the army of Egypt. 

The nearer they approached the enemy, the 
more were the Christians filled with hope and 
confidence. Their drums, cymbals, hymns, and 
war-songs, animated them to fight, and they 
marched forward fearlessly and willingly. 
While the Christian army was thus marching 
in battle array, the droves of oxen and 
camels that they had met on their route, 
came to their rear and followed all their 
movements. The confused noise of these 
animals, mingled with the sound of the 
drums, trumpets, cymbals, and war-songs, 
and the clouds of dust wliich arose from 
under their feet, caused them to be taken 
for squadrons of horse; and the Saracens 
were persuaded that the Christian army was 
more numerous than their own. The infidels 
were drawn up, Ulce the Christians, in two 
lines. The Turks, from Syria and Bagdad, 
were on the right; the Moors and Egyptians 
were on the left ; the Emir Afdhal occupied 
the center with the main body of the Egyp- 
tian forces. This army covered an immense 
space of ground, and, says Foulcher de Char- 
tres, Uke a stag that projects its branching 
horns, it extended its wings to envelop the 
Christians ; but a sudden terror had made it 
motionless. In vain the emir endeavored to 
rouse the courage of his troops ; they fancied 
that millions of Crusaders had arrived from 
the West ; they forgot both their oaths and 
threats, and only remembered the flite of the 
Mussulmans immediately after the conquest 
of Jerusalem. Before engaging, all the Cru- 
saders, fully armed, fell on their knees and 
implored the protection of heaven, and, ris- 



56 



ASPERN. 



ing full of ardor and hope, marched against 
the Saracens. If the most truthful historians 
are to be believed, the Christians had nut 
more than 15,000 foot and 5,000 horse. 
When they arrived witliin bow-shot, the 
foot soldiers made several discharges of jave- 
hns; at the same time the cavalry, increasing 
their speed, precipitated themselves upon the 
enemy's ranks. At tliis charge the Duke of 
Normandy, the Count of Flanders, and Tan- 
cred broke through the center of the Egyp- 
tians. Duke Robert, followed by his bravest 
knights, penetrated to the place where Afdhal 
fought, and got possession of the great stand- 
ard of the infidels. The foot soldiers fol- 
lowed the horse into the melee, and cast 
away their bows and javelins to make use of 
the sword and lance. On all sides the Sar- 
acens were thrown into disorder. Toward 
the end of the battle, Godfrey had to contend 
with a troop of Ethiopians, who bent on one 
knee to the ground to launch their javelins, 
and then springing up, rushed forward upon 
the Christians with long flails armed with 
iron balls. This redoubtable battalion could 
not alone resist the lances of the Crusaders, 
and were soon dispersed. An invincible ter- 
ror seemed to paralyze the arms of the Mus- 
sulmans. While the King of Jerusalem was 
pursuing the Ethiopians and Moors, who fled 
toward the mountains in the vicinity of the 
field of battle, the Syrians and Arabs, who 
fought in the left wing of the infidel army, 
were broken by the Count of Toulouse. 
Hotly pressed by the conquerors, a great 
number of the fugitives precipitated them- 
selves into the sea, and perished beneath its 
waters ; others sought an asylum in the city 
of Ascalon, which they struggled so furiously 
to enter, that 2,000 were crushed to death 
upon the draw-bridge. Amid the general 
rout, Aflhal was on the point of faUing into 
the hands of the conquerors ; and, leaving his 
sword on the field of battle, had great diffi- 
culty in gaining Ascalon. Historians add, 
that, when from the walls of the city he con- 
templated the destruction of his army, he 
shed a torrent of tears. In his despair he 
cursed Jerusalem, the cause of all his evils, 
and blasphemed Mahomet, whom he accused 
of having abandoned his servants and dis- 
ciples. This was a day of terror and death 
for the Mussulmans. From the beginning of 
the battle the infidels, who had previously 
burned with a tliirst for vengeance, appeared 
to have no purpose but to escape by flight 
from an enemy who had granted no mercy 
to the vanquished. In their mortal fear they 
let fall their arms and suffered themselv(»s to 
be butchored without oflering any resistance. 
This terrified crowd stood motionless on the 
field of battle; and the sword, to use the 
expression of a cotemporary, mowed them 



down, like the grass of the field. Some cast 
themselves down on the ground and sought 
concealment beneath the heaps of the slain ; 
others plunged into caverns, or scrambled up 
rocks or trees, where they were shot down 
with arrows, like birds. Afdhal, who did not 
beheve himself safe in Ascalon, embarked on 
board a fleet wliich had arrived from Egypt. 
Toward the middle of the battle, all tiie 
Egyptian vessels which were near the shore 
spread their sails and gained the open sea. 
From that moment no hope of safety re- 
mained for tlie shattered army of the infidels, 
who were, as they had said, to deliver the 
East, and whose multitude was so great 
that, according to the expression of old his- 
torians, God alone knew their number. — 
Michaud's History of the Crusades. 

ASPERN, A.I). 1809.— Aspern, a small vil- 
age of the archdu(,'hy of Austria, is situated on 
the left bank of the Danube, on the island of 
Lobau^ about two miles below Vienna. This 
and the neighboring village of Essling, were, 
in 1809, the scene of a tremendous conflict 
between the grand French army, commanded 
by Napoleon, and the Austrians under the 
Archduke Charles. 

During the week which immediately fol- 
lowed the occupation of Vienna, by the 
French army, the Emperor Nai^oleon, around 
whose standard were gathered 80,000 efiect- 
ive men, resolved to cross the Danube witli- 
out delay, and give battle to the Archduke 
Charles of Austria, who had concentrated 
his forces, consisting of 100,000 men, in the 
immediate vicinity of Aspern and Essling. 
After mature deliberation, Napoleon resolved 
to attempt the passage of the river at Nuss- 
dorf, about half a league above Vienna, and 
at the island of Lobau, at tlie same time. 
Lannes was charged with the undertaking at 
Nussdorf, Massena at Lobau. Marslial Lan- 
nes, with 600 men, pushed forward to Nuss- 
dorf, and attempted to cross the river; but 
his advanced guard Avas met by the Austrian 
General Hiller, who fell upon it with an over- 
whelming force, and before any assistance 
could arrive, the French troops were obliged 
to surrender. Marshal ^Massena was more 
successful than Lannes. He easily dislodged 
the Austrians from the isle, and at ten o'clock, 
on the 19th of !May, his troops commenced 
crossing the river at Lobau, and by daybreak 
on the 21st, 40,000 Frenchmen already stood 
in battle array on the northern shores of the 
river Danube. In the mean time Archduke 
Cliarles, with a great body of forces, lay on 
the woody heights of the Bisermberg, and, 
from this elevated position, he could distinctly 
perceive, by the aid of telescopes, the move- 
ments of the French army on both sides of 
the river. The Archduke concluded wisely, 
to fall, with all his forces, upon that part of 



ASPERK 



57 



the French army which had crossed the 
Danube, and possibly reduce it to extremities 
before the other portion on the opposite banli 
could eflect a passage. Rtretching from the 
foot of the Bisermberg to the margin of the 
Danube, Ues the plain of Marchfield, spread 
like a carpet between the hill and the river. 
Midway between the villages of Aspern and 
Essling, each situated at the distance of half 
a mUe from the bank of the Danube, the 
bridge by which the French had crossed the 
river from the island, opened upon the plain 
of Marchfield. Napoleon's army extended 
in a line across the open space, a mile broad 
between the two villages, which, therefore, 
formed the bastions, on either flank of the 
army. The villages were buUt of stone houses, 
most of them two stories in height, and sur- 
rounded by enclosures and garden-walls, of 
the same durable materials. Both offered 
valuable poinU cCappui to the bridge, under 
cover of which it was hoped Massena and 
Bessieres would be able to maintain them- 
selves, untU the remainder of the French 
army could be brought over to their support. 
Essling had a stone granary, three stories in 
height, capable of containing several hundred 
men. Aspern, a long stragghng village, above 
two miles in length, was strengthened by a 
church-yard surrounded by a strong wall. A 
double Une of trenches, intended to draw off 
water, extended between these two natural 
bastions, and served as a wet ditch, which 
afforded perfect security to troops issuing 
liom the island of Lobau. On the right of 
the French army, the glittering pinnacles of 
Breitenlee, and the massy tower of Neusiiedel, 
were conspicuous; while on the left arose 
the woody heights of Bisermberg, resplendent 
with the watch-fires of the Austrians. In 
front the ground arose with gentle slope 
.•toward Raschdorf. The plain was covered 
with verdure, and here and there could be 
seen, scattered over its green surface, groves 
of trees, wliich partially concealed little villages 
whose whiteness afibrded a pleasant contrast 
with nature's favorite color. Tliis beautiful 
plain seemed the cherished abode of peace. 
How soon the balmy air was to be torn by 
the sharp rattle of musketry, and the rude 
sounds of warring men I The grass which 
now was dampened with the gentle dews of 
summer, would soon be drenched with the 
gore of human beings The lovely landscape 
would soon become a scene of terrific strife ; 
the tempest of war was soon to sweep its 
fair surface and blast its beauty. 

Napoleon was alarmed at the magnitude of 
the Austrian forces, and dispatched orders in 
every direction to assemble his forces on the 
north bank of the river. But it was too 
late, the narrow breadth of the bridges 
would only permit a very limited nimiber of 



soldiers to march abreast upon them. The 
cavalry and artillery alone were, with the 
greatest difficulty, enabled to cross the river. 
Mean while, the Austrian army, 80,000 strong, 
of whom 14,000 were cavalry, whh 280 
pieces of cannon, were already upon them. 
The Austrians advanced in five massy col- 
umns, preceded by a strong body of horse, 
which concealed their direction and probable 
points of attack from the enemy. The first 
column was commanded by Hiller, and 
moved along the northern bank of the Dan- 
ube direct upon Aspern. The second, under 
Bellegarde, with the generalissimo by his 
side, advanced upon Leopoldau, and also 
directed its steps toward the same village. The 
third, commanded by Hohenzollern, moved 
by Breitenberg also upon Aspern. The 
fourth, led by Rosenberg, was to advance by 
Raschdorf, toward Esshng. The fifth, also 
directed by Rosenberg, was to turn the right 
flank of the enemy, hj Enzersdorf, and co- 
operate in the attack upon Essling. The 
cavalry, all massed together, was to move 
over the open country, between Raschdorf 
and Breitenlee, so as to assist any column 
which might find itself assailed by the ene- 
my's horse. Eleven of the Austrian batteries 
were of position, and as they drew near the 
French lines, they sent a destructive storm 
of round-shot through their ranks. The Aus- 
trian forces were far superior in numbers, and 
in the weight of their artillery, to the enemy. 
The French army consisted only of 50.000 
men, 20,000 of whom were native troops. 
Massena, with two strong divisions, was 
around Aspern; Lannes, with his troops, 
was in Essling ; the intermediate space was 
occupied by the remainder of Massena's 
corps, the Imperial Guard and German 
auxiUaries, with the formidable cuirassiers 
of Bessieres gUttering in their front. Mas- 
sena had not sufficient time to throw an 
adequate garrison into Aspern, before the 
enemy was upon it. The advanced guard 
of Hiller, commanded by Gurlay, carried the 
village ; but the French marshal quickly at- 
tacked it, with the whole division of Molitor, 
and not only retook it, but pursued the Im- 
periaUsts to a considerable distance to the 
northward. Now the broad and deep columns 
of Hiller, Bellegarde, and Hohenzollern, ad- 
vanced to the support of the fugitives, and 
warned the skillful French commander of 
the necessity of withdrawing all his troops 
to the defense of the village itself The 
prospect which now presented itself was 
capable of daunting the most intrepid hearts. 
On the left, three broad and deep columns 
were seen advancing toward Aspern ; on the 
right, vast clouds of dust announced that 
other masses were threatening Esshng; 
while along the whole front a formidable 



58 



ASPERN. 



array of artillery, vomiting forth fire and 
smoke, steadily advanced, rendering more 
awful the scene, by the obscurity in which 
it involved all behind its traces. Soon, with 
loud shouts, Hiller's Austrian battaUons ad- 
vanced to the attack. But the French re- 
ceived the assault of the Austrians with a 
heroism unparalleled. Massena, stationed in 
the church-yard of Aspern, under the boughs 
of the huge trees which overshadow tlie 
church, calmly awaited the result. He heeded 
not the terrific tempest of grape-shot which 
crashed through the branches of the trees 
over his head, and clattered against the 
church steeple ; but with the coolness and pre- 
cision of an able and experienced commander, 
he directed the movements of his troops. For 
several hours the murderous conflict continued ; 
fresh troops were brought up, on both sides, 
to supply the places of those who had fallen, 
or were exhausted in the strife. Every 
street, every house, every garden of the 
village, became the theater of mortal combat. 
The shouts of transient victory ; the yells of 
despair ; the screams of the wounded, mingled 
with the terrific roar of the artillery, created 
an uproar and turmoil which stunned the senses 
and appalled the stoutest heart. The bombs 
and shells from the Austrian batteries spread 
death on all sides, among friend and foe. 
The village took fire in several places, and, by 
the ghastly light of the burning houses, tlic 
work of destruction was maintained by both 
parties, with equal obstinacy and animosity. 
At the same time a desperate conflict con- 
tinued in the marshy plain between Aspern 
and the Danube. For a long time the French 
center prevented the Austrians from attack- 
ing the village on more sides than one ; but 
at about eleven o'clock at night, in spite of 
the most heroic efibrts on the part of Mas- 
sena, Moiltor, and his officers, Aspern was 
carried amid deafening shouts. The French, 
exasperated to madness by the success of the 
Austrians, made a gallant efibrt to regain 
their ground, and succeeded in wresting some 
of the houses from the enemy. But the 
greater part of this blood-stained village, 
with the church-yard, remained through the 
night in the hands of the Austrians. 

While Massena was thus struggling to hold 
the village of Aspern, the space occupied by 
the French army, between Essling and the 
village, was exposed to the fire of Austrian 
batteries. A storm of grape-shot continually 
passed through their ranks, with such fury 
that the field was almost swept of the soldiers. 
Napoleon, galled by the incessant and sus- 
tained discharge of this tremenduous array of 
guns, ordered a grand charge of cavalry in his 
center to wrest them from the enemy. Mar- 
shal Bessieres first sent forward the hght 
horses of the Guard. They advanced at a 



furious gallop ; but were met with such ter- 
rific disharges of grape from the Austrian bat- 
teries, that, reeling beneath the iron storm, 
they turncLi and fled, leaving the field strewed 
with the mangled corses of men and horses. 
Bessieres now placed himself at the head of 
his heavy armed cuirassiers, and ordering the 
trumpets to sound, he swept across the plain 
toward the batteries. Cased in shining armor 
the gallant horsemen galloped swiftly foward 
the enemy, shaking their sabers above their 
heads, and making the air tremble with cries 
of Vive VEmpereur ! On, hke a whirlwind, 
they swept ; the earth trembled beneath their 
steady gallop, and the Austrians, fearing the 
result, hastily discharged one volley of grape, 
which tore through the advancing horsemen, 
and then withdrew their guns to the rear, 
while the infantry quickly threw themselves 
into squares to receive the shock. Enveloped 
in the smoke of the sudden discharge, the 
French horsemen charged upon the infantry. 
But when the vapor cleared away, those soUd 
squares stood unbroken and defiant. In vain 
did the French cavalry renew the charge on 
every sid3. Nothing could break the formid- 
able array of bristhng steel. The Austrian 
infantry kept up an incessant fire on every 
side, and firmly resisted every shock. At 
length, the French cuirassiers, shattered and 
defeated, were compelled to retire to their 
own lines, and both parties at this point slept 
on the field of battle. 

Rosenberg did not attack Essling until five 
o'clock in the afternoon of the first day of the 
battle. The French evacuated Enzusdorf on 
the approach of the Austrians. Lannes, at 
the head only of a single division, was thus 
threatened with an attack, by forces more 
than double his own, both in front and flanlc 
No sooner did the fourth column attack the 
village on the western side, than Bessit'res 
detached a body of French cavalry from the 
center of the line, and vigorously charged it 
in flank as it advanced. The necessity of 
forming squares to resist these attacks, re- 
tarded considerably the assault on that side. 
On the defeat of tha French cavalry in the 
center, the archduke ordered a general ad- 
vance of the whole line, at the same time 
tliat a combined attack of Rosenberg's two 
columns, now perfectly able to co-operate, 
was made on Essling. In spite of the utmost 
efforts of Napoleon, the Austrian center 
sensibly gained ground, and it Avas only by 
the most devoted gallantry, on the part of the 
French cuirassiers who again and again, 
though with diminished numbers, renewed 
the combat, that he was able to prevent that 
•part of his line from being broken through. 
Lannes's division within Esshng, however, 
poured forth such a constant and violent fire 
of musketry and grape, that the progress of 



ASPERN. 



59 



the Austrians was arrested, when they ar- 
rived abreast that village, and, although 
Rosenberg's columns frequently assaulted it, 
and it was repeatedly set on fire by the Aus- 
trian shells, yet the heroic marshal, with liis 
brave division, fought with such desperation 
that aU the assailants could do was to drive 
them entirely witliin its walls. Darkness 
alone suspended the conflict. Esshng stiU 
remained in the hands of the French. 

Kiglit rested upon the field of battle, 
shrouding in its dark mantle both the dead 
and living. In spite of their misfortunes, the 
brave Frenchmen sternly determined to con- 
quer on the morrow or die on the field of 
battle. Confident of an easy victory, the 
Austrians awaited the approach of day with 
impatience. Sleep at length closed the eyes 
of the weary soldiers. The silence of night 
was broken only by the low moans of wound- 
ed soldiers, batthng with death, as they lay 
in their own gore on the bloody field. Na- 
poleon, wrapped in his cloak, reposed on the 
sand of the Danube, within half a mile of the 
Austrian batteries. But the French generals 
slept not. During the night the rest of Lan- 
nes's corps, the infantry of the Imperial Guard, 
and the troops of Oudinot, were with much 
difficulty brought across the bridges. Early 
in the morning the two armies were again 
ready for battle. Both parties were now 
nearly equal, the French numbering full 
70,000 men, while Davoust with 30,000 more 
was just commencing the passage of the 
bridges. The archduke had also received re- 
inforcements during the night, so that each 
army now consisted of about 100,000 men. 
Morning had scarcely dawned before Rosen- 
berg's columns again assailed Essling in front 
and flank, and Massena with strong reinforce- 
ments renewed his attack on the church-yard 
of Aspern. Rosenberg was at first success- 
ful ; but St. Hillare, coming up to the assist- 
ance of Lannes, who was now driven out of 
aU parts of Essling except the great granary, 
the gallant marshal rallied, and by a sudden 
effort, the Austrians were expelled, and were 
never again able to recover their footing in 
that important village. The French division 
of Cara St. Cyr, took Aspern with the bat- 
tsilion in the church-yard and four pieces of 
cannon. The Austrians made the utmost 
efforts to retrieve their loss. Klebeck's regi- 
ment rushed with fixed bayonets into the 
burning ruins of Aspern; the French were 
expelled by the violence of the shock, but 
they returned to the charge, reinforced by 
several battalions of the Imperial Guard, and 
after a struggle of an hour's duration, the Aus- 
trians were again driven from the church- 
yard, which by this time was literally covered 
Avith the dead. Hiller again formed a column 
(jf attack, determined not to be outdone in 



this tremendous struggle. In conjunction 
with Bellegarde's corps, he hunself led on 
the charge at the head of the regiment of 
Benjossky, and by great exertion succeeded 
in driving the French, under St. Cyr, entirely 
out of the village. 

Bonaparte, weary at length, of remaining 
on the defensive, commenced preparing for a 
great and decisive movement on the center. 
For tills purpose, Massena, who had not yet 
been expelled from Aspern, was instructed 
to maintain himself in that village ; Davoust 
was to march toward Essling, wliile Lannes 
and Oudinot Avere ordered to make a united 
attack on the Austrian's center. At seven 
o'clock in the morning. Napoleon pointed 
out to Lannes, whom he had called to his 
side, the» course he wished him to take, 
Lannes hastened to liis post. Shortly after- 
ward Napoleon rode through the hues of the 
troops who were to advance, and was re- 
ceived with enthusiastic shouts of Vive TEm- 
pereur, which rose above the din of battle, 
and attracted the attention of the enemy, 
who unmediately concentrated the fire of 
their cannons in that direction, in the hopes 
of cutting down the French emperor, though 
the fog which still hung over the banks of 
the Danube, concealed him from their sight. 
General Montholon was killed by his side. In 
a few minutes the columns of Lannes were 
advancing over the plain. Two hundred can- 
non arrayed in front of their whole fine, 
poured forth destructive volleys, as they were 
rapidly moved over the ground toward the 
enemy. Behind the inflmtry was the caval- 
ry, and the Imperial Guard formed the re- 
serve. Thus arrayed and supported, the 
French columns advanced into the fire of 
the batteries and infantry, and charged upon 
the weakest part of the Austrian fine with 
such terrible force, that they soon forced 
their way through, and throwing the battal- 
ions into confusion, formed a large gap, into 
which the French cavalry rushed with ap- 
paling fury. The Austrian battalions, in the 
center of their line broken and routed, fled in 
dismay, spreading in all directions the report 
that the battle was lost. Onward moved the 
gallant French columns, piercing through 
their enemies till they reached the reserved 
grenadiers of the Austrian army. The arch- 
duke noAv exliibited the bravery and skill of 
a heroic soldier, and an experienced com- 
mander. He saw that without a powerful 
effort all was lost. Seizing the standard of. 
Zach's corps, which was already yielding be- 
fore the determined valor of the French, and 
shouting to the men, he led them back against 
the enemy. His generals, emulated the no- 
ble example. They dashed into the thickest 
of the fight, and leading on their respective 
regiments they attacked the French columns, 



60 



ASPERN. 



■with the utmost fury. The struggle which 
ensued was fierce and bloody. The Austrian 
generals were lolled almost to a man in this 
fearful conflict. But Lannes's column was 
stopped, after having penetrated into the 
checker of squares which formed the Aus- 
trian hne, by these heroic efforts. The Aus- 
trian squares poured incessant and destruct- 
ive volleys on all sides, and their batteries, 
playiiig at half musket-shot, occasioned a 
frightful carnage in the deep masses of Na- 
poleon's troops, who could neither deploy 
nor return the terrific fire with which they 
were assailed. From that moment the French 
soldiers felt that the day was lost. In vain 
cuirassiers dashed into the intervals of the 
squares ; in vain they rode round and round 
the firm squares, chargmg them repeatedly 
to the very points of the bayonets. Not one 
square broke, not one column gave way. 
Charged in turn by an overwhelming num- 
ber of Austrian cavalry, the French cuiras- 
siers were driven back upon their own in- 
fantry. At tliis moment, Hohenzollern, per- 
ceiving a considerable openiug on the right 
of the French hne, occasioned by the unequal 
advance of some of their regiments, seized 
the favorable moment to dash in with Tro- 
luk's regiment, and occupying the place. 
Here he maintained his ground until he was 
supported by the archduke with six regi- 
ments of Hungarian grenadiers. At tliis 
time the want of ammunition began to be 
sensibly felt in the French army, especially 
by the artillery. Just then, too, a report be- 
gan to circulate, and soon spread through the 
ranks that the bridges over the Danube, were 
carried away by the heavy boats which the 
Austrians had floated against them. In fact, 
the fire-ships and heavy barks whicli the 
archduke had sent down the river, had, with 
the swelling of the water, swept away a con- 
siderable part of the bridge over the main 
stream. It was a terrible moment. The 
French defeated and hemmed in by a victo- 
rious army, wliich poured incessant and ter- 
rible discharges of cannon and musketry upon 
them, were filled with terror when they 
learned that their only means of escape was 
nearly cut off. Yet the courage and coolness 
of Napoleon did not desert him. His calm- 
ness allayed the fears of those around him. 
Seeing that no time was to be lost, he ordered 
the suspension of the attacks at all points, 
and a general retreat toward the island of 
Lobau. The Austrians resumed the offensive 
at all points. Forming two fresh columns of 
attack, they made a sudden assault on Ess- 
ling, which, with the exception of the great 
granary, was carried at the very moment 
that the French center, slowly retiring, re- 
entered the narrow plain between that village 
and Aspern. 



Aspern, in spite of the most heroic efforts 
of Massena and Legrand, was in a great part 
already taken by the Austrians, and the cap- 
ture of Essling precluded almost entirely the 
possibility of a retreat to the river side. Na- 
poleon, seeing his position well-nigh despe- 
rate, made the utmost exertions therefore to 
gain the village of Esshng. General Mouton 
at the head of a brigade of the Imperial 
Guard, advanced at a run, and drove out the 
enemy at the point of the bayonet. The 
Austrians again returned, and pushing up to 
the very foot of the granary, thrust their 
bayonets tlirough the loop-holes from which 
issued the deadly fire which thinned their 
ranks. In the tumult the upper part of the 
building took fire, but still the invincible 
French soldiers maintained themselves in the 
lower stories, amid the roar of musketry, and 
the crash of burning timbers. Five times 
did the Hungarian grenadiers rush up to the 
burning walls, and five times were they re- 
pulsed by the indomitable courage of the 
Old Guard. At length Rosenberg, finding 
it impossible to dislodge the enemy, desisted 
from all further attack on the village, and 
confined himself to an incessant fire of grape 
and round-shot upon the French columns 
wliich were now in fiill retreat toward the 
island of Lobau. As they concentrated on 
the shore of the river, at the entrance of the 
bridges leading to the island, they presented 
such a mighty mass that every shot told with 
fatal effect. The archduke, determined to 
rout the French entirely, immediately ad- 
vanced with his whole army upon them. At 
the same time his entire artillery, was brought 
forward, and, arranged in a semicircle around 
the dense body of French soldiers, poured 
a constant storm of grape and round-shot 
upon the struggling masses, with terrible 
effect. To the French all seemed lost ; but 
Lanncs rallying his best troops in the rear 
of the retreating army, supported by the 
infantry and cuirassiers whom Napoleon sent 
up to his assistance, prepared to resist the 
attacks. Massena, on his side, sometimes on 
foot, sometimes on horseback, with his sword 
in his hand, and fire in his countenance, 
rushed tlirough the ranks, animating his men 
by voice and action. The French veterans 
reserving their fire, until the Austrians were 
witliin pistol-shot, poured in so close and de- 
structive a volley, that the enemy was 
checked, and a close contest with fire-arms 
commenced. Lannes, dismounting from his 
horse to avoid the tempest of cannon-balls 
which swept down every thing above the 
heads of the soldiers, was struck by a shot, 
as he touched the ground, which carried 
away both his legs. The wounded marshal 
was placed in a litter and carried over the 
bridges into the island of Lobau, where Na- 



ASSAYS. 



61 



poleon was engaged in directing the position 
of some batteries to protect tlie passage. 
Napoleon saw the appearance of the litter, 
and when it came up, he beheld the bleeding 
form of Lannes, his early companion in arms. 
The dying marshal seized his hand, and in a 
tremulous voice, said, " Adieu, Sire ! Live for 
the world ; but bestow a few thoughts on 
one of your best friends, who soon will be 
no more." Napoleon kneeling beside the 
litter, bowed himself over the form of the 
expiring hero, and wept tears of bitter grief. 
"Lannes," said he, " do you not know me ? 
It is Bonaparte, your friend : you will yet be 
preserved to us." " I would wish to live," 
replied Lannes, " to serve you, and my coun- 
try; but in an hour I shall be no more." 
Soon after, he fainted, and several days after- 
ward he died. St. Hillare was brought in 
with Lannes, also mortally wounded. The 
French cavalry were now all withdrawn into 
the island ; but still the rear guard, with un- 
conquerable firmness, maintained the com- 
bat. At length the Austrians fatigued with 
fighting, desisted from all further attacks, 
maintaining only a tremendous fire from all 
the batteries until midnight. Then the last 
of the enemy, having withdrawn from the 
field of battle into the island, the artillery- 
men, exhausted by fatigue, sunk into sleep 
beside their guns. Thus ended the famous 
battle of Aspern. It was the first great bat- 
tle which Napoleon had lost. The slaughter 
on both sides was enormous. The Austrians 
lost 87 superior officers, and 4,200 privates, 
killed, besides 16,300 wounded. The loss of 
the French is variously estimated. Mr. Ali- 
son, from whose history the account of this 
battle is taken, sets down the French loss at 
30,000 men, of whom 7,000 were bm-ied on 
the field of battle, by the Austrians. A few 
guns and some hundred prisoners were taken 
on both sides ; 5,000 wounded feU into the 
hands of the Austrians. For several days 
afi;er the battle, the Austrians were con- 
stantly engaged in burying the dead. Count- 
less numbers of corpses were found in the 
smaller channels of the Danube. Even the 
waters of that mighty river were for some 
days poisoned by the multitude of slain wliich 
encumbered its banks, and a pestilential air 
was wafted down from the theater of death. 

ASSAYS, A.D. 1803.— This viUage is sit- 
uated a few miles from the city of Aurunga- 
bad, in the presidency of Bombay, in British 
India. 

On the 23d of September, 1803, it was the 
theater of a sanguinary engagemt?nt between 
the British under General Wellesley, and the 
Mahrattas under their renowned leader Scin- 
diah. 

Afi^er the storming of Aurungabad and 
Baroach by the British, Scindiah commenced 



concentrating his forces, and those of his 
allies, who had been placed under his com- 
mand. In a short time his army exhibited 
the imposing spectacle of 50.000 admirably 
disciplined soldiers, of whom 30,000 were 
horse, with 100 pieces of well-equipped can- 
non. Almost all his infantry and artillery 
were under the command of French offi- 
cers. 

Wellesley at once resolved to take the 
field, as without striking a decisive blow at 
this formidable body, it would be impossible 
for him to maintain himself in his conquest. 
He therefore broke up from his encampment 
on the 22d of September, and on the day 
following arrived within sight of the Mahrat- 
tas. The sight which met his eye, was suf- 
ficient to daunt the bravest heart. 

His whole force did not exceed 8,000 men, 
of whom 1,600 were cavalry, with 17 pieces 
of cannon ; the effective native British were 
only 1,500, and the remainder of his army 
were composed of Sepoys, or native Indian 
troops. Such was the force with which 
Wellesley determined to give battle to Scin- 
diah and his 50,000 men. 

He very wisely resolved to attack the 
left wing of the Mahrattas, as the infantry, 
which were there crowded together, present- 
ed less formidable difficulties to surmount, 
than the great mass of cavalry which glittered 
on their right. In pursuance of this design, 
the great body of the British troops were 
moved off to their own right, this movement 
being covered by the cavalry, and fording 
the river Kaitna, formed in two lines, having 
their cavalry in reserve. Scindiah, on seeing 
these movements on the part of the British, 
immediately changed his front, and disposed 
his guns along tlie crest of his position at 
Asssaye. The British line with the 74th 
regiment and the pickets of the 85th in front, 
on the right, and the 78th on the left, ad- 
vanced with a swift and steady pace to the 
attack, but when they came within range, 
their guns were almost immediately dis- 
mounted by the superior fire of the enemy's 
artillery, but this could not arrest the steady 
advance of the pickets, and the 74th, who 
moved direct upon Assaye ; but when they 
came witliin range of the enemy's grape-shot, 
frightful chasms became visible in their ranks ; 
still on they pressed, nothing daunted, till a 
large body of Mahratta horse, who had suc- 
ceeded in getting around the village unper- 
ceived, taldng advantage of the openings 
thus made in the ranks, dashed through them, 
committing fearful havoc and penetrating 
almost to the center of the British line. At 
this critical juncture, the battle seemed lost, 
but Wellesley ordered the British and Sepoy 
cavalry, under Colonel Maxwell, to charge 
this body of horse. They obeyed and ad- 



62 



ATHENRY— ATHENS. 



vanced at the gallop. The 19th dragoons, 
headed by their gallant and heroic leader, 
bore down with irresistible force upon the 
Mahratta horse, who, being disordered with 
their success, were speedily routed, and 
driven headlong into the Juah. The pickets 
and 74th being reheved from tliis weight, 
soon rallied, and the second line coming up, 
they advanced against and captured a large 
number of those guns which had been 
spreading death and devastation around 
them. Still the enemy held Assaye with a 
large body of infantry, and in order to dis- 
lodge them it was necessary to carry those 
guns which commanded the left of that posi- 
tion. For tliis purpose Wellesley put himself 
at the head of the 78th and a regiment of 
native horse. He advanced against the 
guns, and after a clt)sely contested fight, they 
were at length carried. The enemy fought 
bravely, and resisted to the last, the artillery- 
men being in many instances bayoneted at 
their guns. After a short resistance the 
village of Assaye was stormed, and the vic- 
tory on the part of the British might now be 
Baid to be complete. In this decisive charge 
Wellesley had a horse shot under him. 

During the retreat of the enemy, a large 
body of infantry raUied, and for a short time 
showed a determined front, but they were 
speedily dispersed by a brilUant charge of 
the 19th dragoons, headed by the gallant 
Colonel Maxwell, in which that heroic officer 
lost his life. 

Now that the flight had become general, 
some of Scindiah's gunners, fearing the sabers 
of the cavalry, threw themselves on the 
ground, feigning to be dead ; and as soon as 
tlie horsemen had passed, sprung to their feet 
and poured a destructive volley upon the ad- 
vancing horsemen. The British troops, in- 
dignant at the fraud which had been practiced 
upon them, wheeled about, again stormed the 
batteries, and bayoneted the deceitful gun- 
ners at their pieces. At length, as night set 
in, they fled on all sides, leaving in the hands. 
of the British 97 pieces of artillery and al- 
most all the ammunition and stores of the 
army. The; Mahrattas lost 2,000 killed and 
6,000 wounded ; while the loss of the British 
was 1,500 killed and wounded. 

ATHENRY.— This battle was fought in 
Ireland, between the English army and the 
Irish, in the year 1599. The Irish had put 
all the inhabitants of Athenry to the sword : 
a slaughter which is described as the most 
merciless and indiscriminate that occurred in 
those barbarous times. The Irish were de- 
feated in the battle. 

ATHENS.— This city, so called from A07]vv, 
Minerva, the patroness of the city, is one of 
the most famous cities of antiquity, and the 
new capital of Greece. It is situated on tlie 



west side of Attica, about twelve miles from 
the Gulf of ^gina, and is built on the west 
side of an abrupt and rocky eminence rising 
out of an extensive plain, surrounded by 
mountains and hills. 

First Siege, b.c. 480. — During the in- 
vasion of Xerxes, all the Grecian cities in his 
passage were subdued or felt the disastrous 
effects of Ills vengeance. The Athenians, too 
proud to submit, and too weak to defend 
themselves alone by land, sent to consult the 
oracle at Delplii. The god replied: "/i! is 
only within ivalU of ivood the city will find 
safety." Themistocles persuaded the people 
that Apollo ordered them to instantly quit 
their city, and embark on board a good fleet, 
after having provided places of security for 
their wives and children. In consequence 
of this advice, they embarked, after having 
sent their aged, their women, and their chil- 
dren to Troezene, in the Peloponnesus. We 
can not imagine a more affecting spectacle 
than the departure of this fleet; the unfor- 
tunate inhabitants kept their eyes, bathed in 
tears, fixed upon their abandoned homes till 
distance or darkness rendered them invisible. 
The very animals shared the common grief, 
running along the shore, and seeming to call 
back their masters by their cries. It is said 
that a dog belonging to Xantippus, the father 
of Pericles, thew himself into the sea, and 
swam by the side of his vessel till it reached 
Salamis, where it sunk exhausted upon the 
beach and died. This imaginative people 
erected a monument to this faithful dog, 
called " The Grave of the Dog." In the mean 
time, the Persian army entered Athens, 
forced the citadel, defended to the last by a 
small number of self-devoted men, and re- 
duced the superb city to ashes. 

Second Siege, b.c. 404. — AHer the bat- 
tle of Plataga, the citizens of Athens re- 
turned to their country, and built a superb 
city upon the ruins of the ancient one. By 
recovering its splendor, it attracted the jeal- 
ousy of its rival Sparta, the capital of Lace- 
demonia. This was the commencement of 
the famous Peloponnesian war. In tlie 
twenty-ninth year of this war, Lysander, 
having conquered the Athenians at ^gos- 
potamos, marched directly against Athens. 
Though without vessels, without provisions, 
without hope, the Athenians defended them- 
selves for eight months, and then surrender- 
ed, con(]uered alone by famine. The Spar- 
tans disgraced themselves by destroying the 
walls of the first city in Greece to the sound 
of musical instruments ; and they established 
a government of thirty tyrants, in order to 
subdue the spirit of the unfortunate inhabit- 
ants. 

This servitude did not last long; Athens 
was dcUvered from tlie yoke of the thirty, 



ATHENS. 



63 



by means of 500 soldiers, raised by a simple 
Syracusan orator, named Lysius, out of ven- 
eration lor the common country of eloquence. 
The expulsion of the thirty tyrants took place 
the same year that the kings were expelled 
from Rom(!, 

After being opposed strongly to Philip, and 
submissive to Alexander, Athens was taken 
successively by his successors, Antipater, 
Demetrius, and Antigonus ; its wealth being 
a rich bait for these captains, whose vanity 
was continually wounded by the haughtiness 
of the city, which gave rise to aggressions 
often but little merited. 

Third Siege, b.c. 87. — Archelaus, a gen- 
eral of Mithridatcs, King of Pontus, entered 
Athens by means of a sophist named Aris- 
tion, to whom he gave the principal authority 
of the place. Tlie Athenians claimed the 
assistance of the Romans, and Sylla took the 
matter upon liis own hands. 

Upon Sylla's arrival in Greece, all the cities 
opened their gates to him, with the exception 
of Athens, which, subject to Aristion, was 
obliged unwillingly to oppose liim. When 
the Roman general entered Attica, he divided 
his forces into two bodies, the one of whicli 
he sent to besiege Aristion, in the city of 
Athens, and with the other he marched in 
person to the port Pirseus, which was a kind 
of second city, where Archelaus had shut 
liims(;lf up, relying upon the strength of the 
place, the walls being sixty feet high, and all 
of hewn stone. This had been the work of 
Pericles during the Peloponnesian war. 

The height of the walls did not amaze 
Sylla. He employed all kinds of engines in 
battering them, and made continual assaults. 
If he Avould have waited a little, he might 
have taken the higher city without striking a 
blow, fur it was reduced to the last extremity 
by famine ; but being in haste to return to 
Rome, where he apprehended changes might 
happen in his absence, he spared neither 
danger, attacks, nor expense, to hasten the 
conclusion of the war. Without enumerating 
the rest of the warlike stores and equipage, 
20,000 mules were perpetually employed in 
working the machines alone. Wood falling 
short, from the great consumption of it in 
the machines, which were constantly being 
broken, in consequence of the vast weight 
they carried, or burned by the enemy, he did 
not spare the sacred groves. He cut down 
the beautiful avenues of the Academy and 
the Lycasum, and caused the high walls which 
joined the port to the city to be demolished, 
for the sake of tire ruins, which were useful 
to him in the works he was carrying on. 
Having occasion for a great deal of money, 
both for the expenses of the war, and as a 
stimulus to the soldiers, he had recourse 
to tlie hitlierto inviolable treasm-es of the 



temples, and caused the finest and most 
precious gifts, consecrated at Epidamus and 
Olympia, to be brought thence. He wroto 
to the Amphyctions, assembled at Delphi, 
•' That they would act wisely in sending him 
the treasures of the god, because they would 
be more secure in his hands ; and that if he 
should be obliged to make use of them, he 
would return the value after the war." At 
the same time he sent one of his friends, 
named Caphis, a native of Phocis, to Delphi, 
to receive all those treasures by weight. 
When Caphis arrived at Delphi, he was 
afraid, through reverence for the god, to 
meddle with the consecrated gifts, and be- 
wailed with tears, in the presence of the 
Amphyctions, the necessity imposed upon 
him. Upon which some person there having 
said that he heard the sound of Apollo's lyre 
from the interior of the sanctuary, Caphis, 
whether he really believed it or not, was 
willing to take advantage of the circumstance 
to impress Sylla with a rehgious awe, and 
wrote him an account of it. Sylla, deriding 
his simpUcity, rephed, "That he was sur- 
prised he should not comprehend that singing 
was a sign of joy, and by no means of anger 
and resentment; and, therefore, he had 
nothing to do but to take the treasures 
boldly, and be assured that the god saw him 
do so with pleasure, and gave them to liim 
himself" 

Sylla was exceedingly anxious about this 
siege, and was, as we have said, in great 
want of money. He was desirous of depriv- 
ing Mithridates of the only city he held in 
Greece, which might almost be considered as 
a key to Asia, whither the Romans were 
eager to follow the King of Pontus. If he 
returned to Rome Avithout achieving this 
conquest, he would find Marius and his fac- 
tion more formidable than ever. He was 
besides sensibly galled by the keen raillery 
which Aristion vented every day against him 
and his wife MeteUa. 

It is difficult to say whether the attack or 
defense Avas conducted with the most vigor ; 
for both sides behaved with incredible courage 
and firmness. The sallies were frequent, and 
Avere, in character, almost battles, in which 
the slaughter was great, and the loss generally 
not unequal. The besieged were supported 
by several seasonable reinforcements by sea. 

What did them most damage was the 
secret treachery of two Athenian slaves, who 
were in the Pira3us. These slaves, whether out 
of affection for the Roman interest, or desirous 
of providing for their own safety in case the 
j^lace was taken, wrote upon leaden balls all 
that was going forward within, and threw 
them from slings to the Romans; so that, 
how prudent soever were the measures 
adopted by Archelaus, none of them sue- 



64 



AUERSTADT. 



ceeded. He resolved to make a general 
sally; the traitor slung a leaden ball, in- 
scribed, " To-morrow, at such an hour, the 
fort will attack your works, and the horse 
your camp." Sylla laid ambushes, and re- 
pulsed the besieged with loss. A convoy of 
provisions, sadly wanted, was to be thrown 
into the city by night ; upon advice, conveyed 
in the same way, the provisions were inter- 
cepted. 

Notwithstanding all these disappointments, 
the Athenians defended themselves bravely. 
They found means either to bum most of the 
machines erected against the walls, or, by 
undermining them, to throw them down, and 
break them to pieces. The Romans, on the 
other side, behaved with no less vigor. By 
means of mines, they made a way to the bot- 
tom of the walls, under Avhich they hollowed 
the ground ; and having propped the founda- 
tion with beams of wood, they afterward set 
fire to the props, with a great quantity of 
pitch, sulphur, and tar. "When these beams 
were burned, part of the wall fell down with 
a horrible noise, and a large breach was 
opened, through which the Romans advanced 
to the assault. This battle was contested with 
great obstinacy, but at length the Romans 
were obhged to retire. 

The next day they renewed the attack. 
The besieged had built a fresh wall during 
the night, in the form of a cresent, in the 
place of that which had been destroyed, and 
the Romans found it impossible to force it. 

SyUa, discouraged by so obstinate a de- 
fense, resolved to make no more assaults, 
but to take the place by famine. The city, 
on the other hand, was at the last extremity. 
A bushel of barley had been sold for a thous- 
and drachmas (about $125). The inhabitants 
did not only eat the grass and roots which 
they found about the citadel, but the flesh 
of horses, and the leather of their shoes, 
which they boiled soft. In the midst of the 
pubUc misery, the tyrant passed his days and 
nights in reveling. The senators and priests 
went to throw themselves at his feet, im- 
ploring him to have pity on the city, and to 
obtain a capitulation from Sjdla; he had 
them dispersed Avith a shower of arrows, 
and in that brutal manner drove them from 
liis presence. 

He did not demand a cessation of arms, or 
send a deputation to Sylla, till reduced to the 
last extremity. As those deputies made no 
proposals, and asked nothing of him to the 
purpose, but ran on in praise of Theseus, 
Eumelpus, and the exploits of the Athenians 
against the Medcs, Sylla Ayas annoyed by 
their discourse, and interrupted them by say- 
ing: "Gentlemen orators, you may go back, 
and keep your rhetorical flourishes for your- 
selves ; for my part, I was not sent to Athens 



to be made acquainted with your ancient 
prowess, but to chastise your modern revolt." 
During this audience, some spies having 
entered the city by chance, overheard some 
old men talking in the Ceramicus, and blam- 
ing the tyrant exceedingly for not guarding a 
part of the wall, which was the only place 
where the enemy might easily take the city 
by escalade. At their return to the camp, 
they related what they had heard to Sylla. 
The parley had been to no purpose. SyUa 
(lid not neglect the intelligence given him. 
The next night he went in person to take a 
view of the place, and finding the wall actu- 
ally accessible, he ordered ladders to be raised 
against it, began the attack there, and having 
made himself master of the walls, after a 
weak resistance, he entered the city. He 
would not suffer it to be set on fire, but 
abandoned it to be plundered by the soldiers, 
Avho in several houses found human flesh, 
wMch had been dressed to be eaten. A 
dreadful slaughter ensued. The following day 
all the slaves were sold by auction, and hberty 
was granted to the citizens who had escaped 
the swords of the soldiers, but their numbers 
were but few. Sylla at once besieged the 
citadel, where Aristion, and those who had 
taken refuge there, were soon so much re- 
duced by famine that they were forced to 
surrender. The tyrant, liis guards, and aU 
who had been in any office under him, were 
put to death. Some few days after, Sylla 
made liimself master of the Piraeus, and burnt 
all its fortifications, especially the arsenal, 
which had been built by Philo, the celebrated 
arcliitect, and was a wonderful fiibric. Ar- 
chelaus, by means of his fleet, had retired to 
Munichia, another port of Attica. To do this 
commamler justice, he deserved to have 
conquered, for he had failed in neither cour- 
age nor skillful exertions during the siege. 
With his own hand he set fire to one of the 
Roman galleries, and destroyed all the ma- 
chines upon it. On another occasion, his 
soldiers being repulsed, took to flight, and he 
in vain endeavored to rally them. He was 
soon left so completely alone, that he had to be 
drawn up the wall by ropes. His bravery form- 
ed a strong contrast with the cowardice and 
infamous debaucheries of Aristion. — Rohson. 
AUERSTADT, a.d. 1806.— Six miles west 
of Naumberg, in Prussian Saxony, is situated 
the village of Auerstadt, ever memorable as 
the scene of the sanguinary battle between 
the French and Prussian armies, on the 14th 
of October, 180G. 

On the morning of the 14th of October, 
the united corps of Hohenlohe, and Ruchel 
encountered the French army midcr the Em- 
peror Napoleon, at Jena, and on the same 
day the King of Prussia, and his troops, were 
attacked by the French forces under Davoust 



AUERSTADT. 



65 



on tlie plateau of Auerstadt. The Prussian 
army, commanded by the king and tlie Duke 
of Brunswick, in person, had bivouacked in 
close array around the village of Auerstadt. 
On the 12th of October, Davoust, Bernadotte, 
and Murat, had marched upon Naumberg, 
and on the 13 th had made themselves mas- 
ters 'of considerable magazines. No sooner 
was the Duke of Brunswick informed of the 
occupation of Naumberg by the enemy, than 
he directed the division of General Schmettan 
to occupy the heights of Koessen, and present 
itself in battle array before the French, whom 
he supposed to be only a few thousand strong. 
Under the cover of Schmettan's division, tlie 
remainder of the Prussian army leisurely took 
up its march toward the Elbe. Schmettan, 
however, contented himself by occupying 
the heights in the neighborhood of Auerstadt, 
and neglected to send forward detachments 
to seize the defile of Koessen. Davoust, on 
the morning of the 14th, speedily took ad- 
vantage of this omission, and seized upon the 
important pass. At six o'clock that morning, 
the French marshal received an order from 
Napoleon, dated tlu-ee o'clock a.m., from 
his bivouac on the Landgrafenberg, in wliich 
the emperor announced his intention to 
attack the Prussian army in a few hours. He 
imagined the enemy's army to be concen- 
trated in his front, and directed Davoust to 
march Avithout loss of time upon Apokla, in 
order to fall upon their rear, leaving him the 
choice of his route provided he took a part 
in the action. The dispatch added : " If the 
Prince of Ponte Corvo (Bernadotte) is with 
you, you may march together ; but the empe- 
ror hopes that he will be already in the place 
a&signcd to him at Dornbcrg." Davoust im- 
mediately repaired to the head-quarters of 
Bernadotte, who at that moment was in com- 
munication with his corps at Naumberg, and 
showed him tliis order — proposing that they 
should march together to Apolda. Berna- 
dotte, however, conceived it his duty to 
march at once to Dornberg, as the " emperor 
hoped he would be in the position assigned to 
him at Dornberg." He at once set out with 
his whole corps in the direction of that town. 

Davoust was thus left entirely to his own 
resources. Yet he at once commenced his 
march toward the spot wliich the emperor 
had designated. The French army consisted 
of 26,000 infantry, and 4,000 horse ; while the 
army commanded by the King of Prussia con- 
sisted of 50,000 intantry, and 10,000 horse. 
Neither army was aware of the corning en- 
gagement. While Davoust w^as urging for- 
ward his men in the direction assigned by 
Napoleon, eager only to arrive in season to 
serve his emperor, the King of Prussia was lei- 
surely proceeding on his march along the Elbe. 

At eight o'clock in the morning of the 14th, 

5 



the Prussian army arrived at the plateau of 
Auerstadt. A heavy mist hung over the 
plain. Suddenly the tramp of an approach- 
ing body of men was heard coming through 
the mist. The sound was produced by 
the approacliing vanguard of Davoust. Tho 
French emerged from behind a long and 
steep ascent, and drew up in battle array on 
either side of its summit. So thick was tho 
fog that neither party saw the enemy until 
they had approached within a few yards of 
each other. Upon discovering the proximity 
of enemies, both sides drew back to collect 
reinforcements, to clear their advance — tho 
Prussians to drive tlie enemy back again 
down the defile, and the French to clear their 
front and pursue their route by the cross 
road they were on to Apolda. Speedily re- 
inforced, both parties returned to the charge. 
The advanced guard of the French was sup- 
ported by the whole division of Gudin, and 
were instructed by Davoust to maintain them- 
selves to tlie last extremity on the level space 
at the upper end of the defile, in order to 
gain time for the remainder of the corps to 
debouch. On the other hand, the King of 
Prussia, impatient at the check given to tho 
march of his army, ordered Bluchcr, with 
2,500 hussars to ride over the Lonnenberg, 
and clear the plateau of the enemy. Tho 
Prussians anticipating an easy victory, hast- 
ened forward to the charge ; but they were 
received by the French with a steady and 
destructive fire of musketry, which threw 
them in disorder, and compelled them to fall 
back. For an instant the Prussian cavalry 
prevailed over the cavalry of the French, but 
Gudin quickly brought his powerfiil artillery 
to bear upon the compact mass of the Prus- 
sian horsemen; and poured upon it such 
deadly discharges of grape, that it was shat- 
tered and driven from the field in confusion. 
The King of Prussia, although surprised at 
the obstinate resistance of the enemy, never- 
theless, behoving that it was only a detached 
column which occasioned the delay, refused 
to be advised by the Duke of Brunswick, 
who strongly urged Ifim to wait until tha 
mist was dispelled, and he could ascertain 
the precise strength of the enemy before ho 
again attacked them. As fast as his divisions 
appeared successively, he ordered them for- 
ward to the attack. The divisions of War- 
tensleben, and the Prince of Orange, were 
ordered to pass the defile of Auerstadt, where 
the road runs through a winding hollow, 
skirted with copsewood or rough slopes, and 
advance to the support of the retreating cav- 
alry. The moment Wartensleben's division 
emerged from the defile to assail the flank of 
the French under Gudin, who had advanced 
on the plateau beyond the village of Hassen- 
Hausen, tlie sun came fortli in all his bril- 



66 



AUERSTADT. 



liancy. The French now for tlie first time be- 
held the imposing array of the Prussian army, 
advancing in beautiful order, but their cour- 
age quailed not; tiny awaited the approach of 
the enemy with calm deUberation. The Duke of 
Brunswick put himself at the head of the Prus- 
sian infantry, and led them to the attack. 
Smeltan pressed forward Avith liis division of 
foot; wliile Blucher, re-forming liis cavalry, 
led them back to the charge. But Gudin's 
brave men forming themselves into squares, 
resisted all their charges Avith unconquerable 
firmness. The nature of the ground pre- 
vented the Prussians from bringing all their 
overwhelming force at once upon the French. 
Yet the odds were strong against the French. 
Attacked at once in front and flank by a 
force far superior in numbers to their own, 
they struggled against hope. Placing them- 
selves behind the hedges and walls of Ilas- 
sen-Hausson, they resisted every eflbrt of the 
enemy to dislodge them, and poured forth 
an incessant and murderous fire of musketry 
upon them, while the cannon of Gudin's ar- 
tillery sent a terrific storm of iron hail into 
the midst of the Prussians, scattering death 
and destruction on every side. The Duke of 
Brunswick fell, mortally woundeil ; Smeltan 
was killed; the horse of Wartensleben was 
shot under him ; and the Prussians, terrified 
and discouraged by the carnage committed 
upon their ranks, wavered in the attack. A 
shout of joy arose from the French ranks; 
the discharges of musketry became still more 
rapid, and the thunder of the cannon rolled 
over the field with redoubled violence. At 
this moment the French were reinforced by 
Morand's division, which gradually drew up 
on the left of Gudin, toward the Sonnenberg. 
Shortly afterward the division of Friant ar- 
rived, and took up a position upon the right 
of the French, extending their fine to the 
foot of Speilberg. And now the battle be- 
came more equal, although the Pi'ussians still 
had the advantage in numbers. No sooner 
had Morand's division formed than it was 
furiously assailed by the Prussian cavalry 
under Prince William, which had crossed the 
Lonnenberg and arrived on the French left. 
But Morand's admirable troops forming tliem- 
selves into squares, received the repeated and 
impetuous charges of the Prussian cavalry, 
with rapid and destructive discharges. In 
vain did the Prussian horsemen furiously 
spur their horses to the very muzzles of the 
French muskets ; the solid squares, encircled 
by walls of living fire, and protected by 
hedges of liristling bayonets, whicli the first 
rank kneeling, presented to the advances of 
the enemy, were impregnable. At length, 
dispirited by their fruitless efforts, and by 
the loss of their commander, who was severe- 
ly •wounded, the Prussians flew in disorder, 



leaving the ground behind them strewn with 
the bodies of one half of their number, and 
sought refuge partly on the heights of the 
Sonnenberg, and partly in the inclosures of 
Neuzalza. In the mean time, the division of 
Friant on the right, extended itself on the 
ground to the right of Hassen-Haussen, and 
drove the enemy, who assailed it, to the vil- 
lage and heights of Speilberg, both of which 
it speedily carried. The Prussian left was 
thus threatened ; but their principal danger 
lay on their right. Here the French not 
only repulsed the vigorous attacks of the en- 
emy, but rapidly pressed forward toward the 
heights of Sonnenberg, whence their guns 
would command the whole field of battle, 
and render the ground occupied by the Prus- 
sian reserves, which had taken no part in tho 
action, untenable. The King of Prussia saw 
that if these heights fell into the hands of the 
enemy, the battle was lost. Placing himself 
at the head of a body of picked troops, he 
led them to the charge. The French sprang 
forward to meet the enemy. Morand him- 
self led on his regiments. Gradually beating 
back the Prussians, the French finally suc- 
ceeded in planting their guns on the heights, 
and opened such a tremendous fire of grape 
upon the enemy's columns, that they were 
driven back with terrible slaugliter, and with 
the blood-stained Sonnenberg, and the village 
of Rehausen, the whole left of the field of 
battle fell into the hands of the French. 
Davoust immediately made preparations to 
strike a decisive blow. The heights of Eck- 
hartsberg commanded the line of the enemy's 
line of retreat as those of Sonnenberg did 
the field of battle. To gain this point, Da- 
voust moved forward liis center under Gudin, 
who advanced, driving before him the broken 
remnants of Smeltan's and Wartensleben's 
divisions, which had lost more than one half 
of their numbers during the bloody struggle 
in which they had been engaged. 

The Prussians, however, made one more 
effort to repair their misfortunes. Their 
broken battalions which had retired from 
the field, were rallied under cover of the 
powerful reserve, commanded by Kalkreuth, 
and consisting of two divisions Avhich had 
hitherto taken no part in the action, and 
placed in front; while the whole cavalry 
under Bluchcr's orders, was posted in a 
second line immediately beliind the infantry 
to take advantage of any hesitation which 
might appear in the enemy's columns. The 
French soldiers, wearied by their morning's 
march, and four hours' hard fighting, had now 
to withstand the shock of 15,000 fresh troops, 
to whom they had no corresponding reserve 
to oppose. The Prussians AV(>re strongly 
posted on an eminence, and protected by 
the fire of a powerful battery; but they 



AUGHRDI. 



67 



were charged with such intrepidity by Gu- 
din's division supported by a part of Friaut's, 
that they were driven Irom tlieir advanta- 
geous position with terrible slaugliter and 
with the loss of 20 pieces of cannon. In 
the mean time the Prussians violently as- 
sailed the troops wliich Morand had stationed 
on the heights of Sonnenberg ; but the assail- 
ants were met with a fearful discharge of 
musketry, and tlieir ranks were torn by 
showers of grape from that commanding 
position, which drove them back in huddled 
disorder. The gallant Frenchmen descended 
from the heights and eagerly pursued the 
retreating enemy, carrying every thing before 
them, and dri\ang the reserves which opposed 
them through the defiles of Auerstadt. De- 
feated at all points, the Prussians left the field 
of battle to Davoust and his heroic soldiers. 
Thus closed the famous battle of Auerstadt. 
The Prussians lost 10,000 men killed and 
wounded. One hundred pieces of cannon and 
ten standards fell into the hands of the victors. 
The loss of the French was 7,500 men killed 
and wounded. The King of Prussia, who 
during the day had evinced the most signal 
coolness and intrepidity, and during the re- 
peated charges which he made at the head 
of his troops, had lost two horses killed under 
him, gave directions for liis army to retreat in 
the direction of Weimar, intending to fall 
back on the corps of Prince Hohenlohe, of 
whose disaster at Jena he was still igno- 
rant. 

But, as the troops were in extreme dejec- 
tion, and with Uttle order following the great 
road wliich leads to that place, they were 
suddenly startled in the twilight by an ex- 
tensive line of bivouacs on the heights of 
Apolda. These lights were made by the 
corps of Bernadotte, who, adhering to his 
original instructions to march to Dornberg, 
had arrived in tliis position ; ignorant of the 
combats which had taken ])lace,he was pre- 
paring to fall on the rear of the Prussian army 
on the following day. This sudden appa- 
rition of a fresh corps of unknown strength 
on the flank of their retreat at that untimely 
hour, compelled the Prussians to change their 
direction and abandon the great road. About 
the same time, obscure iiimors began to cir- 
culate through the ranks of a disaster expe- 
rienced at Jena, and soon the appearance of 
fugitives from Hohenlohe's and Ruchel's 
corps, flying in the utmost haste and con- 
fusion, across the line which the troops 
retiring with the king were following, an- 
nounced but too certainly the magnitude of 
the defeat sustained in that quarter. The 
men were now seized with a general con- 
sternation. The firmest hearts were filled 
with despair, as the cross tide of the battal- 
ions flying from Jena, mingled in greater 



proportion with the wreck which had sur- 
vived the fight at Auerstadt ; the confusion 
became inextricable, the panic universal- 
infantry, cavalry, and artillery disbanded, 
and leaving their gnns, horses, and ammuni- 
tion-wagons, fled in mingled disorder across 
the fields, without either du-ection, command, 
or rallying point. The king himself narrowly 
escaped being made prisoner during the tu- 
mults and horrors of that night ; and it was 
not tiU five in the morning that, by a long 
circuit, he arrived at Sommerda, where he 
received the oflicial news of his mourniul 
disaster at Jena. 

AUGHRIM, A.-D. 1G91.— Aughrim is a 
small town, distant about ten miles from 
Athlone, in the west of Ireland. It was the 
scene of a memorable action on the 12th of 
July 1691, between the Irish, under the 
French general St. Ruth, and the English, 
under General Ginckle. 

After the battle of the Boyne, King James, 
deeming his cause irretrievably ruined, left his 
army under the command of St. Ruth, and 
fled to the sea-coast, where he embarked for 
France. General Ginckle, who commanded 
the Enghsh, in the absence of William, 
crossed the Shannon, and carried the fortress 
of Athlone, after a severe struggle. St. Ruth 
immediately marched to Augrhim, and there 
posted his troops, determined to await the 
English army and at once decide the fate of 
Ireland. He had under his command 25,000 
men, who were planted in an advantageous 
position. Their front extended over a rising 
ground, before wliich was a large bog. Their 
right wing was covered by intrenchments, 
and their left by the castle of Aughrim. In 
this position, Ginckle, whose forces did not 
exceed 18,000 men, resolved at once to at- 
tack the enemy, made the necessary disposi- 
tions, and after a severe cannonade, at twelve 
o'clock, the English army commenced fording 
the bog, as it was of vital importance for 
them to possess the heights on the other side. 

The Irish fought with surprising valor and 
steadiness, and several times repulsed the 
EugHsh horse, tut Ginckle ordered up some 
cannon to the assistance of the right, and 
after an obstinate conflict, that position was 
carried. But the left wing could make no 
impression whatever on the enemy ; as often 
iis they -attacked them, so often were they 
repulsed, and it was not till six o'clock in 
the evening, that the Irish, after having be- 
come completely exhausted, were forced to 
abandon their position. At the same time a 
general attack was made in the center, which 
resulted in the Irish being driven from that 
part of the field. Meantime St. Ruth was 
killed by a cannon-shot, and his death so 
dispirited his troops that they gave way on 
all sides, and hastily retreated toward Lim- 



AUGUSTA— AUSTERLITZ. 



crick. Their losa on this occasion amounted 
to 7,000 men, Idlled, wounded, and prisoners. 
The Enghsh loss was 600 killed. and 960 
wounded. 

AUGUSTA, A.D. 1781.— This city is situ- 
ated on the soutla-west side of the Savanna! i 
river, in Richmond county, Georgia, 120 miles 
north-west of Savannah. In 1781, Augusta was 
occupied by the British troops under Colonel 
Brown. The Americans, under Major Eg- 
gleston, laid siege to Augusta in the latter 
part ol' May, 1781, and on the 4tli of June, 
when the besiegers were upon the point of 
making a general assault, the garrison agreed 
to a conditional surrender. The British 
troops marched out and laid down their arms, 
and Brown and his fellow-prisoners were 
paroled. In this siege the Americans lost 
twenty-three killed, and twenty-eight wound- 
ed. The British lost fifty-two killed, and 334 
including the wounded, were made prisoners. 
By this victory the Americans deprived the 
British of a very important post. They never 
again occupied the city of Augusta. 

AUSTERLITZ, a.d. 1805.— The night of 
the first of December, 1805, was a night of 
anxiety to Napoleon Bonaparte. It was the 
night before the battle of AusterUtz. He 
had decided upon a battle which he had de- 
termined should completely overthrow the 
allied forces of Austria and Russia. He hail 
rapidly concentrated his forces in a plain near 
Lake Moenitz, in the vicinity of AusterUtz, 
and now, on the evening of the first anni- 
versary of his coronation, he was awaiting a 
battle which should decide the fate of the 
campaign. The French army, which consisted 
of nearly 80,000 men, was drawn up on the 
plain ; the right wing resting on Lake Moe- 
nitz, and the left six miles distant on a hill, 
which was covered with artillery. Directly 
opposite the French army, stretched a line of 
heights. Mount Pratzen, the loftiest of these 
heights, formed the center of the allies. The 
army of the allies numbei'ed 90,000 men, and 
was commanded by the Emperors of Russia 
and Austria in person. At four o'clock, on 
the morning of the second of December, 
1805, Napoleon quited his tent, and, mount- 
ing his horse, gazed thoughtfully on the plain 
outspread before him. The morning was 
calm, and a thick fog shrouded the field. 
Nothing could be seen of the immense host 
which was gathered on the opposite heights ; 
but a sound, muffled and heavy, of marcliing 
men and rumbling artillery, was borne across 
the field by a sluggish breeze, and betokened 
that the enemy were preparing for the con- 
flict. Nearly three hours elapsed, and the 
sun slowly rose from behind the Iieights of 
Pratzen, which glowed in the light like heated 
gold, and tlie dense forms of dark columns of 
inflintry came out clear and distinct in the 



illuminated background. The allies were 
drawing their forces from tlieir center to the 
left, for the purpose of outflanking the 
French, and Napoleon's marshals, at once 
perceiving the mis-movement, turned to him 
and eagerly asked to take advantage of it. 
But Napoleon deemed it imprudent to inter- 
rupt the enemy when they were making a 
false movement, and, therefore, decided to 
wait until the enemy had so far weakened 
their center, as to be incapable of resistance 
at that point. At eight o'clock Napoleon 
gave the signal to attack, and ^lurat, Lannes, 
Bernadotte and Soult, who had been near 
him, separated from him, and gaUoped swiftly 
to their respective divisions. Soult, at the 
head of his powerful battalions, hastened up 
the hiU of Pratzen. In an instant the sum- 
mit of Pratzen belched forth a sheet of flame 
upon the French. The smoke descended 
like a curtain, enveloping the combatants; 
but the rapid and heavy discharges of artil- 
lery, the rattling and constant reports of 
musketry, and the shouts of the soldiers, 
were borne on the breeze to Napoleon's ear, 
and assured him that his men were struggling 
fearfully for mastery. For two hours the top 
of the liill was enveloped in fire and smoke ; 
for two hours the air was stunned with the 
incessant discharges of cannon ; but at length 
the smoke slowly ascended toward the 
skies, and Napoleon's quick eye saAV the 
French flag waving triumphantly on the 
height. Successful in his attack on tlie ene- 
my's center, Soult next descended on their 
left whig, but with less success. The Imperial 
Guard, under Bessi^res, were charging upon 
the enemy in the valley, and the whole field 
resounded with the thunder of the cannon. 
The French under Murat, Lannes, Davoust, 
and Augereau, incited by the desperate valor 
and brave exploits of their leaders, were 
strewing the field with dead. Soult soon re- 
ceived assistance, and finally the enemy's left 
wing was put to flight, fighting desperately 
as they fled. Seven thousand soldiers of the 
allied "army fell in this retreat beneath the 
hands of the victorious French. The sur- 
vivors attempted to escape by crossing a 
frozen lake, with their artillery and cavalry. 
The ice was weak, and could scarcely sustain 
their weight, yet they had advanced to the 
center of the lake, when Soult, suddenly ob- 
serving them, ordered his cannon to play 
upon the ice. The result was horrible ; the 
ice, broken and separated by the shower of 
iron which constantly fell upon it, yielded, 
and two thousand men, with their horses, 
were plunged into the water. Still the re- 
lentless cannon played upon the men and 
horses, struggling for their Uvcs in the icy 
water. They sank, benumbed by the cold, 
and mutilated by the shot, and tlie record of 







f 



^•WW '^^ 







■ LK Ul' AGlNCOl 



AYACUCHO— AZINCOUR. 



69 



their fate forms one of the blackest pages in 
the history of Napoleon Bonaparte. The 
bloody battle of Austerlitz was over. Tliirty 
thousand corpses strewed the plain. Eighteen 
thousand of the Russian and Austrian army 
were destroyed, whOe 12,000 Frenchmen 
met a like fate. The success of this battle 
firmly established Napoleon's seat upon the 
French throne. 

AYACUCHO, A.D. 1824.— Near this town 
in South Peru, South America, was fought a 
battle between the combined forces of Colum- 
bia and Peru, and the Spanish army, the 9th 
of December 1824, which resulted in the 
total defeat of the latter, and put an end to 
Spanish dominion on the American continent. 

AZINCOUR, A.D. 1415.— In the year 1415, 
Henry V., of England, invaded France with 
an army of 6,000 men-at-arms, and 24,000 
foot, mostly archers. He landed near Har- 
fleur, and immediately began the siege of that 
place, which was valiantly defended by 
D'EstoutviUe, and under him by De Guitri, 
De Gaucort, and others of the French nobility. 
But as the garrison was weak, and the forti- 
fications in bad repair, the governor was at 
last obliged to capitulate, and on the eight- 
eenth of September, Henry took possession 
of the town, placed a garrison in it, and ex- 
pelled the French inhabitants, with the inten- 
tion of peophng it anew with English. The 
unusual heat of the season, and the fatigues 
of the siege had so wasted the English army, 
th9,t Henry could enter on no further enter- 
prise, and was obliged to think of returning 
to England. As he had dismissed Ms trans- 
ports, which could not anchor in an open 
road upon the enemy's coasts, he was under 
the necessity of marching by land to Calais, 
before he could reach a place of safety. A 
numerous French army, of 14,000 men-at- 
arms, and 40,000 foot, had, meanwhile, as- 
sembled in Normandy, under Constable 
D'Albret ; a force, wliich, if prudently con- 
ducted, was sufficient either to trample down 
the English in open field, or to harass and re- 
duce their small army to nothing, before they 
could finish so long and difficult a march. 
Henry, therefore, offered to sacrifice his con- 
quest of Harfleur for a safe passage to Calais, 
but the French indignantly rejected his pro- 
posal, and he determined by valor to make 
his way through all the opposition of the ene- 
my. He made slow and deliberate marches 
till he reached the Somme, which he proposed 
to pass at the ford of Blanquetagne, the same 
place where Edward, in a like situation, had 
before escaped from Philip of Yalois. But 
the ford was strongly guarded by a strong 
body of French, on the opposite bank, and he 
was compelled to march higher up the river 
in order to seek for a safe passage. At length, 
after a long and painful march — ^his troops 



! constantly harassed by flying parties of the 
enemy, his passage across the river continu- 
ally cut off' by bodies of French troops on the 
opposite bank, his provisions faihng, his 
soldiers languisliing with sickness and fatigue 
— he was so fortunate as to seize, by surprise, 
a passage near St. Quentin, which had not 
been sufficiently guarded, and he safely car- 
ried over his army. Still subjected to the 
harasses of the enemy, he bent his march 
northward toward Calais, and when he had 
crossed the small river of Ternois at Blangi, 
he was surprised to observe the whole 
French army draAvn up on the plains of Azin- 
cour, and so posted that it was impossible for 
him to proceed on liis march without coming 
to an engagement. The Enghsh army was 
little more than half the number which had 
disembarked at Harfleur, while the French 
army was four times more numerous, and 
was headed by the dauphin and the princes 
of the blood. The French were plentifully 
suppHed with provisions, wliile the English 
were illy fed, and worn out with their tedious 
march. Henry drew up his army on a nar- 
row ground between two woods, which 
guarded each flank, and then patiently await- 
ed the attack of the enemy. Had the French 
constable been wise, he would have waited 
until the English Avere obliged to advance, 
and reUnquish their advantageous position. 
But the impetuous valor of the nobiUty urged 
liim on to an immediate attack. The French 
archers on horseback advanced upon the 
Enghsh archers, who, from behind palhsades 
wliich they had erected to break the impres- 
sion of the enemy, safely hurled upon them 
a shower of arrows which nothing could re- 
sist. The clay soil, moistened by a late rain, 
proved a serious obstacle to the force of the 
French cavalry; horses and men, wounded 
by the incessant clouds of arrows which 
were hurled upon them by the English, threw 
their ranks into disorder; and the whole 
army soon became a scene of confusion, ter- 
ror, and dismay. Then Henry ordered the 
English archers to charge upon them, and 
seize the moment of victory. Like bolts fii-om 
the bow, the stalwart men of England, battle- 
axe in hand, rushed from behind their de- 
fenses, and fell upon the French, hewing 
them to the earth, without resistance. The 
men-at-arms seconded their efforts ; pushing 
on against the French, until the field was 
covered with the killed, Avounded, dismounted 
and overthrown. All opposition on the part 
of the French was at an end ; and the En- 
glish had leisure to make prisoners. They 
advanced with uninterrupted success to the 
open plain, and saw the remains of the 
French rear guard, which still maintained the 
order of battle. At this moment they heard_ 
an alarm from behind. Some gentlemen of 



70 



AZOTH— BAEYLON. 



Picardy, having collected about six hundred 
peasants, had fallen upon the English bag- 
gage, and were doing execution on the un- 
armed followers of the camp, who fled before 
them. Henry, seeing the enemy on all sides 
of him, was fearful that his prisoners would 
revolt, and therefore gave generals orders 
that they should be slain; but, discovering 
the truth, he stopped the slaughter, after a 
great number of the prisoners had been put 
to death. This battle occurred on the 25th 
day of October, 1415. The French lost a 
large number of princes and nobles, slain or 
taken prisoners. The Constable D'Albret, 
the Count of Nevers, and the Duke of Bra- 
bant, brothers to the Duke of Burgundy, the 
Count of Vaudemont, the Duke of Barre, the 
Duke of Alen^on, and the Count of Marie, 
were among the slain. The French lost, 
killed, 10,000 men, and 14,000 prisoners 
taken by the English. It is doubtfully esti- 
mated tliat the English lost in tliis battle 
only forty men. The Duke of York was 
killed while fighting by the side of his king. 



AZOTH, OR AZOTUS, b.c. 670.— As the 

siege of Azoth, although the longest recorded 
in lustory, affords but httle matter for rela- 
tion, we will merely mention it. 

Azoth was anciently one of the five capital 
cities of tlie Philistines. The Egyptians hav- 
ing seized it some time before, had fortified 
it with such care that it was their strongest 
bulwark on that side. Npr could Sennache- 
rib enter Egypt till he had made himself 
master of this city, which was taken by Tar- 
tan, one of his generals. The Assyrians had 
possessed it hitherto, and it was not till after 
a siege of twenty-nine years, that the Egypt- 
ians, under Psammetichus, recovered it. The 
extraordinary length of this siege ceases to 
surprise us, when we consider that the siege 
was nothing but a badly-guarded blockade, 
where that was expected from lassitude and. 
famine which could not be obtained by either 
bodily strength, wliich necessarily failed 
against stone walls, or by military art, which 
had not yet learn how to overtlu-ow them, 
or even to scale them. 



BABYLON, B.C. 538.— Nothing now re- 
mams of the former magnificent palaces of this 
great Asiatic city, but immense and shapeless 
masses of ruins. Babylon was the capital 
of Chaldea, and of the Assyrian empire, and 
was probably one of the largest, as it is cer- 
tainly one of the most famous, cities of an- 
tiquity. The site of the city of Babylon is 
occupied by the modern and meanly built 
town of Hillah, the capital of a district, and 
the residence of a Dey, appointed by the 
Pacha of Bagdad. This town hes on the 
west bank of the river Euphrates, and occu- 
pies nearly the center of the south part of 
the old inclosures of the ancient city. It 
contains a population of 6,000 or 7,000, 
Arabs and Jews. It is surrounded by mud 
walls, and a deep ditch, and has four gates. 
It has a rude citadel, the only public building 
within the walls, except a single mosque, and 
six or seven oratories. The river Euphrates, 
at Hillah, in its medium state, is 450 feet 
wide, and seven and a half feet deep. Its 
mean velocity is about two and a half miles 
an hour. The whole surrounding country is 
intersected with canals. The undoubted 
antiquity of many of these works, is not a 
little surprising, considering the nature of the 
soil, which is wholly alluvial, and so soft, that 
the turning of the course of the river by 
Cyrus, does not appear to Mr. Rich, who 
visited Hillah, in 1811, an exploit of any 
great difficulty. Such is the present state of 



Babylon, " the glory of Idngdoms, tlie beauty 
of the Chaldee's excellency." 

The magnitude assigned by ancient writ- 
ers, to this celebrated city, is so immense, as 
to stagger belief It was a perfect square, 
and, according to Herodotus, 480 stadia (about 
fifty-four and a half statute miles,) in circum- 
ference. Strabo gives the circumference at 
380 stadia, (forty-five and three quarter 
mUes) ; Diodorus Siculus at 360 stadia (forty- 
two and a third miles), on the credit of 
Ctesias; but at 365 (forty-three mile.^) on 
that of Clitarciius, who was on the spot with 
Alexander. Quintius Curtius gives it at 368 
stadia, and Pliny at sixty Roman miles (about 
fifty-five statute miles). The population of 
Babylon has been estimated to have been at 
the time the city was taken by Cyrus, be- 
tween 1,000,000 and 1,200,000. The build- 
ings and population bore no proportion to the 
extent of the city, and in the words of Rich, 
" it Avould convey the idea rather of an en- 
closed district, than that of a regular city." 

According to Herodotus, the city was 
built on both sides of the Euphrates, the con- 
nection between its two divisions being kept 
up by means of a bridge formed of wooden 
planks, laid on stone piers. The streets are 
described as having been parallel, and the 
houses fi'om three to four stories in height. 
The city was surrounded by a deep and 
broad ditch, and by a wall of extraordinary 
dimensions, flanked with towers and pierced 



BABYLON. 



11 



by 100 gates of brass,* whose hinges and 
fiiimes were of the same metal. The wall 
was built of bricks, "formed from the earth 
taken out of the ditch, and cemented by a 
composition formed of heated bitumen and 
reeds; the former being brought from Is 
(Hit) on the Euphrates, about 128 miles 
above Babylon. The temple of Jupiter 
Belus (most probably the tower of Babel,) 
occupied a central position in one of the 
divisions of the city. Herodotus describes it 
as a square tower of the depth and height 
of one stadium (G25 feet) upon which, as a 
foundation, seven other towers rose in regular 
succession, the last tower having a large 
chapel, a magnificently adorned couch, and a 
table of solid gold. The building was ascended 
from without by means of a winding stair. 
The space in which it was built, was inclosed 
by walls, eight stadia in circumference. The 
gates to the temple, which were of brass, and 
of enormous size, were seen by Herodotus. 
In the other division of the city, stood the 
royal palace, which seems to have been a 
sort of internal fortification, and was, no 
doubt, of vast dimensions. 

God had decreed that Babylon should fall, 
and made use of Cyrus as an instrument for 
the executing of his design. We find the 
prophecies, relating to the destruction of 
Babylon, and the name of its destroyer, re- 
corded in the Holy Scriptures, full 200 years 
before Cyrus was born ; but for a detailed ac- 
count of the fulfillment of those prophecies, 
we are obliged to look to profane history. 

Cyrus,- after entirely reducing all the nations 
of Asia Minor, from the iEgean sea to the river 
Euphrates, proceeded to Syria and Arabia, 
which countries he also subjugated. He then 
entered into Assyria, and advanced toward 
Babylon, the only city of the East that stood 
out against him. He at length arrived at 
Babylon, with a mighty multitude of horse, 
and a countless host of archers, spearmen, and 
slingers. When he had reached Babylon, he 
posted his whole army around the city, and 
then rode around the city himself. Having 
thus viewed the walls and defenses, he saw 
that the taking of this important place would 
be no easy task. The walls were of prodig- 
ious height, and appeared inaccessible, with- 
out mentioning the immense number of peo- 
ple within them for their defense. After he 
had encamped with liis army around the city, 
Cyrus summoned to his tent the proper per- 
sons, and said : " Friends and allies 1 we have 
taken a view of the city round, and I can 
not discover how it is possible that one, by an 
attack, can make himself master of the walls 
that are so strong and liigh. But the greater 

* "Thus saith the Lord to his anointed Cynis: I will 
go before thee ; I will break in pieces the gates of brass." 



the number of inhabitants in the city, the 
sooner may they be taken by famine. There- 
fore, unless you can propose some better 
method, I say that the city must be taken in 
that manner." "Does not this river," said 
Chrysantas, "run through the midst of the 
city ?" " Yes," declared Godryas, " but it is 
so deep that the city is better protected by 
the river than by its walls." Then Cyrus 
said : " Chrysantas, let us lay aside tliese 
things that are above our force; it is our 
business, as soon as possible, to dig as broad 
and deep a ditch as we can, each of ug 
measuring out his proportion, that by thia 
means we may want the fewer men to keep 
watch." 

Cyrus, therefore, caused a line of circum- 
vallation to be drawn quite round the city, 
with a deep ditch, and, that his troops might 
not be over-fatigued, he divided his army into 
twelve bodies, and assigned to each of them 
its month for guarding the trenches. The 
besieged, thinking themselves out of all dan- 
ger, by reason of their ramparts and mag- 
azines, and being, withal, provided with a 
twenty years' stock of provisions, insulted 
Cyrus from the top of their walls, and laughed 
at all his attempts, and all the trouble he gave 
himself, as so much unprofitable labor. 

At length the ditch was completed, and 
Cyrus began seriously to think of putting his 
vast design into execution. Providence soon 
furnished him with as fit an opportunity for 
tliis purpose as he could desire. He was in- 
formed that a great festival was to be cele- 
brated in the city,* and that the Babylonians, 
on occasion of that solemnity, were accus- 
tomed to pass the whole night in drinking 
and debauchery. 

Belshazzar,t King of Babylon, made that 
day a great feast to a thousand of his lords, 
and drank wine with them. And while he 
was tasting the wine, he commanded the 
golden and silver vessels which his father, 
Nebuchadnezzar, had taken out of the temple, 
which was in Jerusalem, that the king and 
his princes, his wives and his concubines, 
might drink therein. Then all drank from the 
golden vessels, and praised the gods of gold, 
and of silver, of brass, of iron, of Avood, and of 
stone. And while they were thus engaged, 
the fingers of a man's hand appeared, and 
wrote, over against the candlestick, upon the 
plaster of the wall of the king's palace, and 
the king saw the part of the hand that 
wrote. 

The king was terribly frightened and sur- 
prised at this vision, and immediately sent 

* "And I -vvill make drank her princes, and her wise 
men, her captains, and her rulers, and lier mi^'hty men ; 
and they shall sleep a mighty sleep, and not wake, saith 
the King, whose name is the Lord of Hosts." —Jeremiah, 
xli. 57. 

t Daniel, v. 1, 29. 



72 



BABYLON. 



for all his wise mea, his divines, and astrol- 
ogers, that they might read the writing to 
him, and explain its meaning. But they all 
came in vain ; not one of them was able to 
expoim'l the matter, or even able to read the 
characters. The queen-mother (Nitocris, a 
princess of great merit) hearing of this great 
prodigy, entered the banquet-hall, and en- 
deavored to compose the mind of her son, 
advising him to send for Daniel, with whose 
abilities she was well acquainted, and whom 
she had always employed in the government 
of the state. Daniel, therefore, was imme- 
diately s.'nt for, and spoke to the king with a 
freedom becoming a prophet. He reminded 
him of the dreadful manner in which God 
had punished the pride of Nebuchadnezzar. 

"And thou, his sou, Belshazzar," said 
Daniel to the king, " hast not humbled thy 
heart, though thou knewest all tliis ; but hast 
lifted thyself up against the Lord of heaven ; 
and they have brought the vessels of his 
house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, 
thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk 
wine in them ; and thou hast praised the 
gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, 
and stonj, which see not, nor hear, nor 
know: and the Grod in whose hand thy 
breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast 
thou not glorified. Then was the part of the 
hand sent from him ; and this writing was 
written. And this is the writing that was 
written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHAR- 
SIN. Tins is th:3 interpretation of the thing : 
MEXE: Grod hath numbered thy kingdom 
and finished it. TEKEL: Thou art weighed 
in the balances, and art found wanting. 
PERES : Thy kingdom is divided, and given 
to the Modes and Persians." Belshazzar then 
commanded Daniel to be clothed in scarlet, 
and placing a chain about his neck, he pro- 
claimed that Daniel should be the third ruler 
ui the kingdom. But, notwithstanding the 
warning, Belshazzar continued the festival, 
and protracted his revehngs to a very late 
hour. 

In the mean time Cyrus, according to Xen- 
qphon, as soon as it grew dark, took a num- 
ber of men with him and opened the ditches 
into the river. He had posted a part of his 
troops on that side where the river entered 
into the city, and another part on that side 
where it went out; and had commanded 
them to enter the city that very night, by 
marching along the channel of the river as 
soon as ever they found it fordable. The 
water, as soon as the ditches were opened, 
rapidly ran off, leaving the bed of the river 
through the city, nearly dry. Cyrus now 
ordered his officers to attend him, and ad- 
dressed them as folloAVS : " Friends and allies I 
The river has yielded us a passage into the 
city. Let us enter boldly, and fear notliing 



within, for these are the same people whom 
we defeated when they were assisted by 
their alUes ; when they were awake, sober, 
armed, and in good order. But now we 
march against them, at a time when many 
of them are asleep, many drunk, and aU of 
them in confusion ; and when they discover 
that we are upon them, their consternation 
and affright will render them stiU more unfit 
for service. Do not appreheud that they will 
discharge their weapons down on us from 
their house-tops on every side, for we have 
Vulcan for our feUow-combatant ; their 
porches are easily set fire to ; their doors are 
made of the palm-tree, and smeared with 
bitumen, which will nourish the flame. We 
have abundance of torches ; we have plenty 
of pitch and tow, and we shaU presently 
raise such a conflagration that they wUl be 
compelled to fly from off their houses, or im- 
mediately be consumed. Come on, then, 
take to your arms, and, with the help of the 
gods, I will lead you." 

If the besieged,* says Herodotus, had either 
been aware of the designs of Cyrus, or had 
discovered the project before its actual ac- 
complishment, they might have effected the 
total destruction of the Persians who entered 
the city by means of the river. They had 
only to secure the httle gates wliich led to 
the river, %,nd to have manned the embank- 
ments on either side, and they might have 
inclosed the Persians in a net from which 
they could never have escaped. 

But God had said, through His prophets : 
" I will break in pieces the gates of brass," 
and He made the general negligence and dis- 
order of that riotous night subservient to His 
design. The gates were left open, and their 
keepers, instead of guarding them, were 
carousing with their companions, and the 
Persians, in two bodies, the one commanded 
by Gobrydas, and the other by Gadatas, en- 
tered Babylon through the channel of the 
river, both on its entrance into and its de- 
parture from the city. The two bodies of 
troops penetrated into the very heart of the 
city, without encountering any opposition. 
They met, as they had agreed, at tlie palace 
of the king, and surprised and slew the royal 
guards. Disturbed by the noise, the kmg 
commanded those that were within to ex- 
amine what was the matter. They im- 
mediately threw open the gates and ran out; 
but they were quickly met by the Persians, 
who cut them to pieces, and pressing forward 
through the gates, made themselves masters 
of the palace. The Icing, surrounded by his 
immediate friends, sword in hand, stood ready 
to contend for his hfe. But the Persians 
rushing upon liim in a body, overthrew and 
slew both him and his protectors. Cyrus 
* Clio, cxci. 



BABYLON. 



V3 



now sent a body of cavalry through the 
streets, bidding them kill all the inhabitants 
they found abroad. He also issued a proc- 
lamation in the Syrian language, conimanding 
all those who were in their houses to remain 
within, for if they were found abroad they 
should be Idlled. The next morning, those 
who guarded the castles, seeing that the city 
was taken and the king dead, gave up their 
strongholds to the conqueror. Cyrus im- 
mediately took possession of the castles and 
garrisoned them. He gave up the dead to 
be buried by their relations, and ordered 
heralds to make proclamation, that the Baby- 
lonians should all deliver up their arms, and 
that in whatsoever house any arms should 
be found, all the people in it should suffer 
death. The arms were accordingly brought 
out, and Cyrus deposited them in the castles, 
that they might be ready in case of any 
future emergency. He then distributed 
houses and palaces among such of liis men 
as had been sharers with him in all the 
actions he had performed (liaving first set 
aside certain portions of ground for sacred 
purposes), and gave to each a certain num- 
ber of Babylonians, as slaves and bondsmen. 
Thus was the great city of Babylon conquer- 
ed; its king, the proud Belshazzar, slain, 
and its vain and frivolous people subjected 
and inslaved by the Persians. — See Battle 
of Thymhra. 

BABYLON", Revolt and Reduction of, 
B.C. 516. — In the year 521, Darius ascended 
the Persian throne, and in the beginning of the 
fifth year of his reign, the Babylonians grow- 
ing impatient of the Persian yoke, revolted, 
and could not be conquered tiU after a siege 
of twenty months. The Babylonians had 
taken advantage of the troubled state of the 
affairs of Persia, and for four years had se- 
cretly made preparations for war. When 
they had stored the city with many years' 
supply of provisions, they raised the standard 
of rebellion, and Darius was obliged to be- 
siege it with all his forces. 

God had decreed that Babylon should not 
only be humbled and brought down ; but 
that it should be depopulated and laid waste 
with fire and blood. He, therefore, permit- 
ted them to rebel against Darius, and by that 
means to draw upon themselves the whole 
force of the Persian empire. 

The Babylonians, to make their provisions 
last the longer, and to enable them to hold 
out with greater vigor, took the most desperate 
and barbarous resolution that was ever heard 
of. They resolved to destroy all such of their 
own people as were unserviceable on this 
occasion. For this purpose they assembled 
together all then wives and children and 
strangled them. Only every man was al- 
lowed to keep his best beloved wife, and one 



maid-servant to do the business of the family. 
On the first intelligence of this event, Darius 
assembled his forces and marched against the 
city. On his arrival he besieged it in due 
form ; but the Babylonians assembling on the 
ramparts, amused themselves with dancing, 
and mocking, and insulting the Persians, so 
confident were they of their security in the 
strength of their fortifications, and the vast 
quantity of provisions they had laid up. For 
the space of eighteen months did Darius and 
his army lay siege to the city. They used 
every possible stratagem, and they appHed 
their most powerful engines of war. Neither 
did they forget to make use of the same 
means, by wliich Cyrus twenty-three years 
before, had happily gained entrance into the 
city. But their every attempt proved inef- 
fectual. The Babylonians were ever vigilant, 
and repelled the besiegers at every attack. 
Darius began almost to despair of taking the 
place, when a stratagem, till then unheard of, 
opened the gates of the city to him. Zopy- 
rus, one of liis noblemen, conceived the idea 
of mutilating himself, and then to pass over 
to the enemy, as if deserting from Darius on 
account of the cruelty he had received at liis 
hands. He scrupled not to wound himself 
beyond the power of being healed. He cut 
off his nose, and his ears, and clipped his hair 
close to his head. In this state, his wounds 
still fresh and bleeding, he presented himself 
before Darius. No sooner had the king be- 
held a man of Iris illustrious rank in such a 
disgraceful plight, than leaping fiom his throne 
in anger, he thundered forth, " Who, Zopy- 
rus, has dared thus inhumanely to treat you ?" 
"No man, O king," rephed Zopyrus, "save 
yourself, could thus maltreat me. I, my- 
self, have thus disfigured my body ; I could 
no longer see those Babylonians mock at and 
insult us." " Wretched man 1" said the king, 
"why do you endeavor to call a shameful 
action by an honorable name ? Will the en- 
emy surrender because you have thus muti- 
lated your person? You must, indeed, be 
mad." Zopyrus now made the king ac- 
quainted with his design, and requested him, 
as he hoped for success, to follow imphcitly 
his directions. Darius, moved by the zeal 
and confidence of the young nobleman, at 
once assured him that all he wished shoufd 
be done. " Then," said Zopyrus, " on the 
tenth day after my departure, do you detach 
to the gate of Semiramis 1,000 men of your 
army, whose loss can he of no consequence. 
After an interval of seven days more, send 
to the Ninian gates, 2,000 men, and then, 
after the lapse of twenty days send a body of 
four thousand men to the Chaldean gates. 
But let none of these detachments be armed 
with any weapons except their swords. Then 
let your whole army advance and surround 



T4 



BACTRA. 



the walls. Be careful that Persians are 
stationed at the BeUdian and Cissian gates. 
In the mean time I shall advance with the 
Babylonians and cut to pieces the troops 
which you have sent, and after they have 
witnessed my exploits in the field, they will, 
L think, intrust me with tlie keys of those 
gates. Doubt not but the Persians, with my 
aid, will then easily accomplish the rest." 

After giving these injunctions he proceeded 
toward the gates of the city, and to be con- 
sistent with the cliaracter which he assumed, 
he frequently halted and looked behind liim. 



tared. Now the city of Babylon was filled 
with rejoicings. , The citizens could not heap 
sufficient honor on the head of their brave 
defender. They gave him the entire com- 
mand of their army, and appointed him 
guardian of the walls. And now Darius 
with all liis force advanced to the walls. 
The Babylonians mounted the ramparts to 
repel the assault of the Persians ; but Zopy- 
rus now proved faithless to them. He im- 
mediately opened the Behdian and Cissian 
gates to his countrymen. The Babylonians 
seeing this fled for refuge to the temple of 



as fearful of being pursued. The sentinels on j Jupiter Belus, and the Persians without mo- 
the watch-towers, perceiving this, ran down j lestation entered the city. Thus was Baby- 



to the gates, which they opened slightly and 
inquired who he was, and what he wanted. 
He told them that his name was Zopyrus, 
and that he had deserted from the Persians. 
He was, therefore, admitted, and was at 
once conducted before the magistrates. He 
then told a piteous tale of the indignities he 
had suffered at the hands of Darius, for no 
other reason than that he had advised liim to 
withdraw his army, because he saw no hke- 
lihood of his taking the city. " And now," 
said he, ''0 ye men of Babylon, I come 



Ion taken a second time. As soon as Darius 
became master of the place he caused the 
one hundred gates to be torn from their 
fastenings, and all the walls to be leveled to 
the ground. This he did in order to prevent 
the proud Babylonians from ever again re- 
belling against the power of the Persians. 
He impaled aUve 3,000 of the most distin- 
guished inhabitants, the rest he suffered to 
remain as they were. Nay more, he ordered 
the neigliboriug nations each to send a stipu- 
lated number of females to Babylon, to sup- 



friend to you, but a bitter and fatal enemy to i ply the places of those whom the citizens 
Darius and his army. I am well acquainted ----- - 

with all his desims, and his treatment of me 



shall not pass unrevenged." 

When the Babylonians beheld a Persian 
of such high rank, deprived of his cars and 
nose, covered with wounds and blood, they 
entertained no doubts of his sincerity, or of 
the friendUness of his intentions toward them. 
They therefore acceded to all his requests. 



had slain before the commencement of the 
siege. These women in all amounted to 
50,000. 

Zopyrus was loaded with favors by the 
grateful monarch. Darius settled upon him 
during life, the whole revenue of Babylon, 
and lieaped all the honors upon him that 
a king could possibly confer on a subject 
He frequently asserted, that could he re- 



givmg him the command of as many troops store Zopyrus to the condition he was in 
as he desired. He then proceeded to the before he had so cruelly mutilated himself, 
execution of what he had concerted with he would cheerfully resign the conquest of 



Darius. On the tenth day, after his arrival, 
he made a sally from the town, at the head 
of a body of Babylonian troops, and en- 
countering the body of 1,000 Persians, whom 
Darius had stationed as had been agreed 
upon, he fell upon them, and in spite of their 
desperate resistance, put every one of them 
to death. The Babylonians, observing that 
his actions corresponded with his words, 
were full of exultation, and were ready to 
yield him the most implicit obedience. A 
second time he advanced from the city, with 



twenty Babylous. 

BACTEA, B.C. 2134.— In all arts the East 
has led tlie van, and has evidently been as 
far advanced before the western nations in 
the great one of fortifying its cities as in 
most others. The first siege we can obtain 
any account of is that of Bactra, and we are 
told it was so fortified by nature and art, 
that Ninus, at the head of 400,000 men, 
would never have been able to take it, if a 
stratagem had not been suggested to him by 
Semiramis, the wife of one of liis oflicers. 



a chosen troop of Babylonians, and falling ! Every thing in the East seems to have been 
on the 2,000 Persians, slew them to a man. | upon a gigantic scale: the cities were im- 
The joy of the citizens at this second exploit ] mense in extent, the height of the walls and 
was so great that the name of Zopyrus re- 1 towers, and the depth and width of the sur- 
sounded with praise from every tongue, j rounding moats or ditches, almost incredible. 
Again, for a third time, he saUied forth from | Ninus, King of Assyria, one of the most 
the city with his troop, and attacked fiercely [ ancient of tlie great disturbers of the peace 
the 4,000 Persians whom Darius had planted of mankind called conquerors, was desirous 
to receive him. The Persians, armed only of putting the crown to his glory by the con- 
with the sword, were unable to cope with quest of Bactriana, now Corassan. Nothing 
the Babylonians, and they too were slaugh- | in the open country could resist an army of 



BADAJOZ. 



15 



400,000 men ; but Bactra, the capital, for a 
length of time withstood all his endeavors. 
As the defense of a city consisted in its 
walls, ditch, and advantages of position only, 
so the means of attack were correspondingly 
simple ; and we are not surprised at the in- 
habitants holding out for a time which in 
modern warfare would be impossible. We 
are told that the genius of Semiramis con- 
ceived a stratagem — what, we do not learn — 
by which the city was at length taken, and 
her master, in a truly eastern manner, showed 
his gratitude by seeldng a cause for putting 
her husband to death, and making her his 
wife. Some accounts do not hesitate to say 
that the lady, at least as ambitious as Ninus, 
repaid ium by removing liim as he had re- 
moved her first husband, in order to reign 
alone. 

BADAJOZ, A.D. 1811.— This ancient city 
of Spain is situated in an extensive plain, in 
the province of Estramadura, near the fron- 
tier of Portugal, in an angle between and at 
the point of the confluence of the rivpr Rivel- 
las with the Gaudiana, 198 miles south-Avest 
of Madrid. A castle, situated on a high emi- 
nence at the confluence of the two rivers, com- 
mands them and the town, which is further 
defended by various very strong fortifica- 
tions. 

On the 2d of January, 1811, Soult, with 
an army of 20,000 French soldiers, set out 
from Seville, taking the road by Llerena, 
for Badajoz. The Spanish and Portuguese 
troops under Mendizabel and Ballasteros con- 
sisted of 12,000 combatants, and too weak 
to oppose any resistance to Soult's force, 
they retired under the cannon of Badajoz and 
Ohvenza. Four thousand men were thrown 
into the fortress of Olivenza, which, after a 
resistance of twelve days, surrendered on the 
22d of January, and then Soult, collecting all 
his forces, took up his position before Bada- 
joz. "Wellington, who was at the lines of 
Torres Vedras, no sooner heard of the danger 
which threatened that important foi'tress, than 
he resolved to dispatch Eomana with two 
Spanish divisions to co-operate in its relief 
But scarcely had this noble Spaniard set out, 
than he was seized ■with a disease in the 
heart, of which he suddenly died at Cartalo. 
His troops, however, reached Badajoz on the 
6th of February, and joined Mendizabel, 
whose forces were drawn up under the guns 
of Badajoz, with his right resting on the fort 
of St. Christoval, forming one of the outer 
walls of the city. Soult's situation was 
highly critical : the necessity of keeping up 
his communications with the main body of 
the French army, had reduced the forces un- 
der his command to sixteen thousand men, 
and the Spaniards, with a force full as great, 
occupied a strong position, resting on the can- 



non of the fortress. But he was soon relieved 
from his critical position by the negligence 
and fatuity of the Spanish general. Welling- 
ton had repeatedly advised Mendizabel to 
strengthen his position under the walls of the 
place, with intrenchments, in order that he 
might possess an impregnable station from 
which he might co-operate in its defense; 
but he deemed it enth-ely unnecessary to fol- 
low this advice. His position was separated 
from that of the French, by the river Gaudi- 
ana and Gebora, both of which were flooded 
with rains. He contented himself, therefore, 
by breaking down a bridge, which crossed 
the latter stream, and left his army in negli- 
gent security on its banks. Soult observed 
the self-confidence of the Spanish general, 
and conceived the audacious plan of crossing 
both rivers, and surprising the Spaniards 
amid their dreani of security. He forded 
the Gaudiana at the French ferry, four miles 
above the confluence of the Gebora, late in 
the evening of the 18th of February. The 
Gebora, however, was yet to be crossed ; but 
before daj'break the passage was accomplish- 
ed under cover of a thick mist. At sunrise 
the mist was dispelled, and the Spanish out- 
posts near the ruined bridge were alarmed 
hj the French skirmishers, who had already 
gained the opposite bank. The cavalry ford- 
ed the river five miles further up, and speed- 
ily threatened the Spanish flank, while Mor- 
tier, with six thousand foot, assailed their 
front. The struggle was only of a few min- 
utes' duration; horse, foot, and cannon were 
speedily driven together in frightful confusion 
into the center ; the cavalry cut its way 
through the throng, and escaped ; but the in- 
fantry were almost all cut down or taken. 
Mendizabel fled, with a thousand men, to 
Elvas, 2,000 got into Badajoz; but 8,000, 
with the whole artillery, were taken, and not 
a vestige of the Spanish army remained in 
the field. The French immediately resumed 
the siege of Badajoz. The undertaking was 
an arduous one, for the ramparts of the city 
were of great strcnglh ; the garrison was nine 
thousand strong, amply supplied with provis- 
ions. But with indomitable energy, Soult 
rapidly advanced his works. Manecho, the 
Spanish governor, prepared for a vigorous de- 
fense. A few days after the fire began, how- 
ever, this gallant Spaniard was killed, and 
was succeeded by Imaz. The French kept 
up an incessant fire, from six battering guns; 
the ramparts were soon breached, and the 
fire of the place considerably weakened. At 
length, after losing one thousand men, the 
Spanish governor surrendered the place, with 
8,000 men, and 170 guns. Thus in the space 
of one month, Soult had achieved two most 
brilliant victories. With an army of 20,000 
men, he had carried two fortresses, and had 



V6 



BADAJOZ. 



destroyed or taken an equal number of the 
enemy. 

The loss of Badajoz. the Duke of Welling- 
ton saw would constantly endanger the west 
of the Peninsula, and he considered it as by 
far the greatest calamity which had befallen 
the aUies since the taking of Madrid by Na- 
poleon. While Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz 
were in the hands of the French, Wellington 
felt that he could not undertake any serious 
enterprise either in Portugal or Spain. In 
the middle of May, 1811, Wellington having 
determined to act on the offensive against the 
French in Spain, and to endeavor in the on- 
set to recover the important fortress of Ba- 
dajoz, moved his head-quarters to Estrama- 
dura, taking with him 12,000 men to reinforce 
Beresford. 

General Beresford had previously begun 
the campaign in that province, and had, on 
the 17th of April, made himself master of 
the fortress of OHvenza, with its garrison of 
380 men. Thus re-inforced, Beresford im- 
mediately blockaded Badajoz, and, as soon as 
the Gaudiana was fordable, the town was 
invested on both banks of the river. Soult 
no sooner heard of the enterprise, than he 
began to collect troops at Seville for its re- 
lief A double attack was projected by the 
English — one on the castle, and another on 
the fort of St. Christoval. On the night of 
the 8th of May, the besiegers had broken 
ground at a distance of 400 yards from the 
latter fortress. The French garrison within 
the place, however, kept up an incessant fire 
upon the workmen, and as their aim was 
assisted by a bright moon, their fire was 
very destructive. Two days afterward, the 
besieged made a vigorojis sally, and were re- 
pulsed with loss; but, as the allies pursued 
the fugitives too far, they were torn in flank 
by a discharge of grape-shot from the ram- 
parts, which, in a few minutes, struck down 
400 men. In the mean time, the fire from 
Christoval was so effective that five of the 
guns which the besiegers had placed in the 
trenches, were speedily dismounted. On the 
12th, the besiegers had broken ground in 
front of the castles, and a battery was opened 
against the ttte-du-pont. Intelligence was 
now received by the allies that Soult, with a 
large army, was approaching. Beresford 
immediately gave orders to discontinue the 
siege and assemble all the forces in front to 
give battle. The battle was fought on the 
16th and 17th of May, near the village of 
AlbutM-a, where, on the heights in front of 
that village, Beresford's army was concen- 
trated. Soult's army consisted of 19,000 in- 
fantry, and 4,000 horse. The troops of 
Beresford numbered 30,000 men, of whom 
16,000 were English.* The battle of Albuera 
* 8eo battle of Albuora. 



resulted in the defeat of the French, and as 
soon as Soult had retired toward Seville, by 
the road he had advanced, the British re- 
sumed their position around the bastions of 
Badajoz. Wellington took command of the 
siege of Badajoz, and Beresford set out for 
Lisbon. Wellington had no sooner arrived 
than he re-commenced the siege with the 
utmost vigor. Both parties had improved to 
the uttermost the brief breatliing-time afiford- 
ed by the battle of Albuera. Both the be- 
siegers and the besieged knew that succor 
was approaching, and that, unless the place 
was carried within a fortnight, [Marmont 
and Soult would arrive from the north and 
compel the raising of the siege. During the 
absence of the allied forces, Phillippon, the 
French governor of Badajoz, had leveled the 
trenches and destroyed the approaches of the 
besiegers, and had repaired his own works 
where injured by their fire. He had also 
constructed strong intrenchments behind 
such places where breaches were expected, 
and considerably augmented his supphes of 
provisions. On the 27th of May, the place 
was Avholly invested ; two days alter, ground 
was broken against Fort Christoval, and fifty 
heavy pieces of artillery were mounted. The 
besiegers pushed their operations with vigor, 
and, on the 0th of June, the breach was de- 
clared practicable. At midnight the storming 
party advanced to the attack. They reached 
the glacis in safety, and descended unobserved 
into the ditch. But, immediately after dark, 
the French had cleared away the rubbish at 
the foot of the breach from the bottom of the 
ditch slope, so that it could not be ascended. 
The troops, however, refused to retire, and 
boldly attempted to gain admittance by esca- 
lade. But the French made a stout resist- 
ance, and poured such destructive volleys 
upon the besiegers, that they were at length 
obliged to retreat. This check taught the 
British to be more prudent in their future 
operations. They continued their fire with 
great vigor, both on Christoval and the body 
of the place, for three days in succession. A 
heavy fire was also kept up against the castle, 
but though the breaching-batteries played on 
it at the distance of only 500 yards, yet, at 
the end of nine days, they had produced no 
decided effect. The guns of Fort St. Chris- 
toval swept along the foot of the wall, and 
over the ground in its front, and thus pre- 
vented an assault on the castle, even if a 
breach had been effected. A second attempt 
was therefore made to carry Christoval. The 
garrison of this fort, which at the late attack 
consisted only of seventy-five, was now in- 
creased to 200 men. The French troops 
were in the highest degree animated and en- 
couraged by their recent success, and, mount- 
ing their bastions, they invited the British, 



BADAJOZ. 



with loud cheers, to come on. Each soldier 
oi' the garrison was provided with four 
loaded muskets, and on the top of the ram- 
parts were arrayed a formidable array of 
bombs, hand-grenades, and powder barrels, 
ready to be ignited and rolled over among 
the assailants the moment they reached the 
foot of the walls. The British storming 
party, bearing ladders, slowly advanced to 
the walls, and, notwithstanding the heroic 
exertions of the garrison, who fought valor- 
ously in the defense of their post, the assault- 
ing columns united at the bottom of the 
breach and applied their ladders to the walls. 
But only a few of those brave men reached 
the summit of the wall, and those few were 
instantly bayoneted by the French troops. 
At the same moment the garrison rolled over 
the bombs, grenades, and powder barrels, 
down among the besiegers in tlie ditch, and 
the explosion of these terrible weapons com- 
mitted fearful havoc in all directions. The 
British soldiers hastily leaped from the ditch, 
and, leaving their wounded behind them, 
fled to their intrenchments. The cries of 
the wounded Englishmen aroused the sym- 
pathy of the besieged. Desiring them • to 
raise their ladders, the generous Frenchmen 
assisted their wounded enemies into the fort, 
where they were treated with the utmost 
kindness. In these two attempts upon Chris- 
toval the British lost 400 men, and Welling- 
ton, learning that Napoleon, who also deemed 
the possession of Badajoz of the utmost im- 
portance, had sent positive orders to Mar- 
mont to collect his forces and co-operate 
with Soult in the most vigorous manner for 
its dehverance, and that those generals were 
rapidly approaching with overwhelming 
forces, on the 10th and 11th of June, raised 
the siege, and retired into Portugal. On the 
18th the junction of the armies of Soult and 
Marmont was effected, and on the 28th they 
entered Badajoz in triumph. 

The campaign of 1812 was commenced 
by the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, as Wellington 
was fully determined to reduce that place 
and Bajadoz, Avithout the possession of which 
he could not enter regularly on his intended 
operations. The investment of Ciudad Ro- 
drigo was begun on the 8th of January, and 
on the 18th of January the town was carried 
by storm after one of the bloodiest and most 
desperate struggles of the Peninsular war.* 
After putting Ciudad Rodrigo into a situation 
of defense, WelUngton resolved to attack 
Badajoz, the only remaining fortress on the 
fi-ontier. The town had been blockaded for 
some time by General Hill, and now it be- 
came necessary to reduce it as speedily as 
possible, as there was reason to apprehend 
that the French would otherwise make 
• See siege of Ciudad Rodrigo. 



an attempt for its relief. On (he 17th 
of March they had regularly and completely 
invested Badajoz, forming the first parallel 
within 200 yards of the French outworka 
called Fort Picurina. During the six months 
that had elapsed since the last attempt of 
the British on the place, Phillippon, whose 
great experience and skill had been proven 
in the last siege, had been indefatigible in im- 
proving the fortifications, and adding to the 
strength and resources of the place. He 
had 5,000 men under his command, drawn 
by equal numbers from the armies of Mar- 
mont, Soult, and Jourdan at Madrid. He 
had repaired the old breaches, and constructed 
strong additional works to retard the opera- 
tions of the besiegers in the quarters where 
the former attacks had been made. The 
ditches had been cleared out, deepened, and 
filled with water; the glacis was everywhere 
elevated, so as to cover the scarp of the 
rampart; the tetcs-du-poni, on the other side 
of the river, ruined in the former siege, had 
been thoroughly repaired, and ample pro- 
visions laid up, for the numerous garrison. 
The castle, standing on a rock, more than a 
hundred feet above the level of the Guadiana, 
and surrounded by walls, seemed perfectly 
impregnable. Alarmed by the rapid ap- 
proach of the enemy's parallels against Fort 
Picurina, Phillippon on the 19th of March, 
ordered a sortie of 1,500 men, foot and cav- 
alry against the right flank of the British 
works. The French approached under cover 
of a thick mist, and entering the enemy's 
trenches, drove the whole working parties 
from their posts, sweeping away several 
hundred intrenching tools, and spreading 
confusion as far even as the bivouacs and de- 
pots in the rear. The gallant Picton, how- 
ever, quickly called his men to arms, and 
fiercely attacked the French, who after a 
most obstinate resistance were at length 
obliged to retreat. In this encounter the 
French lost about 300 men ; the English loss 
was 150 men, among whom Avas Colonel 
Fletcher, their chief engineer. The next day 
after the sortie, the rain commenced faUing 
in torrents, filling the British trenches, and 
saturating the earth, so that it Avas impossible 
to cut it into any regular form. For fotir 
days in succession the rain descended with- 
out intermission, and both the besieged and 
besiegers remained inactive. On the 24th 
of March, however, the atmosphere cleared 
up, and the British completed their invest- 
ment on the right bank of the Guadiana. A 
fire was opened from 28 guns on the Picu- 
rina, and the British sharp-shooters kept up 
such an incessant fire from the trenches, that 
no man ventured to look over the parapet of 
that fort. The heavy discharges from the 
battery soon produced a visible effect upon 



BADAJOZ. 



the pallisades of the fort, and although the 
defenses were not breached, the British 
general determined without delay to carry- 
it by storm. General Kempt with 500 men 
made the attack. On, tlie night of the 25th, 
the British troop rushed to the assault, and 
gained the foot of the paUisades, but the 
French had so thoroughly repaired their de- 
fenses that an entrance was impossible. As 
the assaulting party hesitated and paused in 
this place of danger, a streaming fire from 
the top of the walls, cut them down on all 
sides. The French marksmen shot fast from 
the ramparts; the alarm-bells in the town 
rang violently, and the guns of tlie castle 
were opened in rear on the struggling masses 
of the assailants. Thus hemmed in by de- 
structive fires on both sides, the British sol- 
diers fell with fearful rapidity; but Kempt, 
in the midst of the tumult, Avas cool and 
courageous ; he drew the troops around to 
that part of the fort sheltered from the fire ; 
the reserves were quickly brought up, au<l 
sent headlong in to support the front. The 
shock was irresistible; the scaling-ladders 
were applied in an instant, and the besiegers, 
loudly cheering, mounted the ramparts. At 
the same time the axe-men discovered the 
gate, and hewing down the barriers, also 
entered the fort on the side next the town. 
During this assault, which lasted an^iour, the 
Britisla lost 350 men. No sooner did the 
French governor of Badajoz learn the cap- 
ture of Fort Picurina, than he opened a 
tremendous fire upon it from every gun on 
the bastions which could be brought to bear, 
and with such effect that the lodgment 
effected in it was destroyed, as the troops 
could not remain in the work. A sally was 
made to recover it ; but it was quickly re- 
pulsed. However, on the following night 
(the 27th) the British had completed their 
second parallel in front of Fort Picurina; en- 
filading and breaching batteries were erected 
in it ; and after five days' continual firing, 
the sap being pushed up close to the walls, 
the Trinidad bastion of the castle began to 
crumble beneath the British balls, and soon 
three large chasms appeared in its walls. 
On the morning of the 6th of April, they 
were all declared practicable, and an assault 
was determined to be hazarded on the fol- 
lowing day. 

The plan of the attack was as follows: 
General Picton's division, on the right, was 
to file out of the treaches, to cross the Rivil- 
las rivulet, and endeavor to scale the castle 
walls when the tumult at the breaches had 
drawn the principal attention of the enemy 
to the other side of the fortress. Leith's 
division, on tlie left, was to make a feint on 
the near Pardaleras outwork, and a real at- 
tack by escalade, on the more distant San 



Vincente bastion. The glacis at this point 
were mined; the scarp was twenty-eight 
feet high, and the ramparts were lined with 
bold and determined men. General Colvillo 
and Colonel Barnard, in the center, were to 
assault the breaches. The fight division was 
to assault the bastion of Santa Maria; the 
fourth division that of Trinidad. All the 
assaulting columns were furnished with lad- 
ders and axes, and preceded by storming 
parties of 500 men, led by tlieir forlorn hopes. 
The divisions that were to assault the breaches 
were nearly 10,000 strong. The French gov- 
ernor had chosen sixteen companies to defend 
the three breaches. These were arrayed be- 
hind the parapets which had been constructed 
on the terre pleine of the ramparts. In a re- 
trenchment which had been formed in the 
rear of the menaced bastion, immediately be- 
hind the ramparts, was placed a strong bat- 
taUon. A raft which was floated in the 
inundation which immediately adjoined the 
foot of the trenches, and flanked the assault- 
ing columns, was crowded by a company of 
sharp-shooters. At the gate of Trinidad, an- 
other battaUon was in reserve, ready to carry 
succor to any point which might require it. 
Every soldier had four loaded muskets beside 
him, to avoid the delay of charging them at 
the critical moment ; shells Avere arranged in 
abundance along the parapet, to roll down on 
the assailants the moment they filled the 
ditch; heavy logs were provided to crush 
Avhole files by then- descending weight, and • 
at the summit of each breach an immense 
l)eam of wood, sunk three feet deep into the 
earth, at either extremity, was placed, thickly 
studded with sword-blades, with the sharp 
ends turned outward. Similar preparations, 
with the exception of the sword-blades, were 
made at the castle and the bastion of San 
Vincente, wliich was menaced by escalade; 
and pits dug, in considerable numbers, at the 
foot of the great breach, to entangle or suffo- 
cate those of the enemy who might have 
descended into the fosse. The French sol- 
diers looked down from their lofty ramparts 
on the dark columns of the distant enemy, 
and waited the assault with courage and 
eagerness. Both armies longed for the 
decisive moment which was to determine 
this long-continued duel between the two 
nations. The British intended to assail the 
whole points at once. Ten o'clock at night 
was the hour assigned for the attack. A 
bomb, however, bursting close to the third 
division, destined for the assault of the castle, 
discovered their position, and Picton waa 
obliged to hasten on the assault. The ram- 
parts now strewed forth fire in every direc- 
tion; the fourth and light divisions in the 
center of the besiegers, advanced swifty to- 
ward the breaches ; while the guard in the 



BADAJOZ, 



10 



trenches, leaping out with a loud shout, en- 
veloped and carried the little outwork of San 
Roquc, by which the column attacking the 
castle might have been enfiladed in tiank. 
They were discovered, however, as they 
reached the crest of the glacis, by the ac- 
cidental explosion of a bomb, and its Ught 
showed tlie ramparts crowded witli dark 
figures and glittering arms, wliich the next 
instant were clouded in gloom. Silently the 
hay-packs were let down, the ladders placed 
to the counterscarp, and the forlorn hopers 
and storming-parties descended into the fosse. 
Five hundred were already doAvn, and ap- 
proaching the breaches, when a stream of fire 
shot upward into the heavens as if the earth 
had been rent asunder; instantly a crash, 
louder than the bursting of a volcano, was 
heard in the ditch, and the explosion of hun- 
dreds of shells and powder-barrels, blew the 
men beneath to atoms. For a moment only, 
the besiegers halted, then, with a shout, they 
leaped down into the fiery gulf. And now a 
scene ensued unparalleled even in the long and 
bloody battles of the French Revolutionary 
War. The British columns furiously rushed 
forward; the rear constantly urging on the 
front, and pushed down into the ditch. Many 
who kept too for to the right fell into the in- 
undated part of the ditch, and were drowned. 
But their dead bodies filled it up and formed 
a bloody bridge, over which their comrades 
passed. Others, inclining to tlie left, came 
to the dry part, and shunned a watery death ; 
but fell into the still more appalling terrors 
of fire. The besiegers had now descended 
into the ditch which was of very confined di- 
mensions, with the enemy's ramparts in front 
and on both flanks, so that the troops, crowded 
together in a narrow space at the bottom, 
were exposed to a cross and plunging fire 
on every side, except their rear, where stood 
a ravine filled with British soldiers, whose 
loud cheers, and incessant, but ineffectual, 
fire against the parapets, rather augmented 
than diminished the general confusion. 

The shouts of the French soldiers from tjie 
breaches and walls; the bursting of the 
shells ; the explosion of the powder-barrels ; 
the heavy crash of the descending logs ; the 
continued stream of fire from the ramparts ; 
the roaring of the guns from either flank; 
and the distant thunder of the British bat- 
teries, which still threw howitzers on the 
breaches, formed a terrible confusion of deaf- 
ening sounds, which stunned the ear and 
confounded the senses. The brave Britons 
again and again rushed up to the breaches ; 
but their attempts were all in vain ; the pon- 
derous beams, bristling with sword-blades, 
barred further progress ; the numerous spikes 
set among the ruins transfixed their feet, 
discharges of grape and musketry within pis- 



tol-shot on either flank, tore down their 
ranks, and even the desperation of the rear, 
who strove to force forward the front, in 
order to make a bridge of their writhing 
bodies, failed in shaking the steady girdle of 
steel which opposed them. Some of the be- 
siegers endeavored to make their way under 
it, but having forced their heads through, 
their brains were beaten out by the but-ends 
of the enemy's muskets. Notwitlistanding 
this terrible slaughter, the besiegers remained 
two hours in that bloody ditch, but at length 
after 2,000 had fallen, they were compelled 
to retire. While this conflict was going on 
at the breaches, a struggle of a different but 
hardly less violent kind took place at the cas- 
tle. No sooner was Picton's division discov- 
ered by the explosion of the bomb, than the 
whole moved forward at a steady pace, about 
half an hour after the fight began at the 
breaches. While crossing the stream of the 
RiviUas, in single file, they Avere exposed to 
a terrible fire from the ramparts ; for the en- 
emy brought every gun and musket to bear 
on the advancing mass, and the light of the 
discharges which spread on all sides, showed 
each man as clear as day. Gaining the op- 
posite side of the stream, they rapidly formed 
and rushed up the rugged steep to tlie palli- 
sades outside the castle wall. Kempt, who 
led the assault, was here cut down. Picton 
alone was left to conduct the column. The 
pallisades were soon broken through, and in 
ran Picton, followed by his men ; but when 
they had arrived at the foot of the wall they 
were assailed by such a terrific fire, which 
poured down almost perpendicularly from 
the ramparts, that the besiegers wavered. 
But the loud voice of their brave leader arose 
above the din, calling on them to advance; 
and they rushed in, bearing on their shoulders 
the ponderous scaling-ladders, Avhich were 
instantly raised against the walls. Now de- 
scended from the ramparts a terrific storm of 
huge logs of wood, heavy stones, shells, 
and hand-grenades, while the musketry, with 
deadly eftect, was plied from above, and the 
bursting projectiles illuminating the whole 
battlements, enabled the besieged to take aim 
with unerring accuracy. Several of the lad- 
ders were broken by the weight of the throng 
which pressed upon them ; and the men fall- 
ing from a great height were transfixed on 
the bayonets of their comrades below, and 
died miserably. StiU fresh assailants swarmed 
around the foot of the ladders ; hundreds had 
died, but hundreds remained eager for the 
fray. But the besieged defended themselves 
with equal valor and obstinacy, and soon the 
British were obliged to recoil and take shel- 
ter under a projection of the hill. Repeated- 
ly had the gallant troops attempted to scale 
the walls ; but the besieged, equally brave and 



80 



BANGALORE. 



desperate, as repeatedly drove them back. 
Picton, himself, was badly wounded, and 
several of liis officers were also severely in- 
jured. At length, however, the voice of 
Picton again summoned the besiegers to the 
attack, and he directed it a Uttle to the right 
of the former assault, where the wall was 
somewhat lower, and an embrasure promised 
some facility for entrance. Here Colonel 
Ridge, a youhg officer, sprang forward and 
mounted the hrst ladder himself. He quickly 
ascended the rounds, holding his broadsword 
in guard above liis head. The bayonets of 
his grenadiers projected from behind on either 
side. He reached the summit I Cranch, of 
the grenadiers, quickly mounted another lad- 
der, and the two gallant officers stood side 
by side on the ramparts. The troops with 
shouts and cheers presseil up after them, and 
the castle was Av.on. The French fought for 
every inch of ground; but at length were 
driven through the inner gate into the town. 
Here they were reinforced from the reserve, 
and a sharp conflict took place at the gate. 
During this struggle. Colonel Ridge was slain. 
But before succors arrived from Pliillippon 
the English had estabhshed themselves in the 
castle. During these struggles at the breaches 
and in the castle, Wallcer, with his brigade, 
was escalading the distant bastion of San 
Vincente, so that the town was Uterally 
girdled with fire. The besiegers approached 
the counterscarp undiscovered, and immedi- 
ately planting their ladders they descended 
into the ditch ; but at that moment the moon 
shone out, and a heavy fire began from the 
walls. The Portuguese in the division in- 
stantly threw down their ladders and fled, 
but the British pushed on, and soon reached 
the foot of the rampart. Their ladders, how- 
ever, were too short, for the wall was thirty 
feet high. No sooner had tliey discovered 
this unpleasant fact, than a mine was explod- 
ed under their feet, and a shower of logs of 
wood, shells, and powder-barrels, was poured 
upon them from the ramparts, crushing and 
tearing in pieces whole companies at once. 

The besiegers hastily withdrew ; but sud- 
denly discovering a part of the scarp only 
twenty feet high, they placed three ladders 
against an empty embrasure, at a favorable 
moment, when the besieged were disordered 
and alarmed by the carrying of the castle. 
The ladders, however, were yet too short; 
but the besiegers bravely mounted to the 
top round, and assisted the first man up to 
the sunnnit of the wall. He, in turn, stooped 
down and drew up his companions. Having 
mounted the embrasure, they hastened, led 
by their commander, to the ramparts. The 
French soldiers turned upon them with the 
utmost fury ; Walker, himself among the fore- 
most, was struck down, severely, but not 



mortally wounded. Strenuously fighting, 
the besiegers advanced toward the breaches, 
where the incessant roar, and awful conflag- 
ration told that the struggle was still going 
on. They had taken several bastions when 
they were alarmed by the report that a mine 
was about to be sprung beneath them ; a 
panic spread throughout their ranks, and they 
fled back to the original one they had won ; 
but a battaUon left there, by a crushing volley 
arrested the pursuers, and the troops again 
rallying, fought their way forward toward the 
breaches, while another body marched to- 
ward the great square of the town. Then 
soimding their bugles they announced their 
victory to their companions, and were an- 
swered by a simflar note from the castle. 
The breaches were soon abandoned, and the 
victors poured in from all quarters. Phillippon, 
the French governor, crossed the bridge, and 
took refuge in Fort Christoval, where he sur- 
rendered, at discretion, the next morning, 
but not till he had sent off messengers to 
Soult, to warn him of the great disaster, and 
in time to avert a greater one from himself. 
Thus ended the siege of Badajoz, and Wel- 
lington found himself in possession of one of 
the strongest foi'tresses on the frontier of 
Spain and Portugal. The French loss, out of 
a garrison of 5,000 men, during the siege, 
was 1,300 Idlled and wounded, and 3,800 
men, including the governor, Phillippon, were 
made prisoners. The Engiish lost, during 
the siege, 5,000 men and officers. And of 
these 5,000, no less than 3,500 had been 
struck down during the assault ; an unparal- 
leled loss, proving alike the skill and intrepid- 
ity of the defense, and the desperate valor of 
the attack. One hundred and seventy heavy 
guns, 5,000 muskets, and 80,000 shot,_feU 
into the hands of the conquerors. The siege 
was of nineteen days' duration; eleven of 
which were with open trenches. No sooner 
had the British secured their victory, than 
the sokhers entered into a scene of riot and 
violence of the most disgraceful hue. Wine 
shops and vaults were broken open and plun- 
dered, pillage was universal, every house 
was ransacked for spirits and wine, and for 
two days the streets were crowded with 
throngs of drunken soldiers, who committed 
the most fearful barbarities upon the citizens, 
sparing neither sex nor age. It was not un- 
til the third day that these disgraceful scenes 
were ended. Wellington, incensed at the 
continuance of tlie disorders, marched two 
fresh divisions into the town ; a galloAvs was 
erected in the great square, a few of the 
worst plunderers were executed, and thus 
order was restored. 

BANGALORE, is an inland, fortified town 
of Mysore, in South Hindoostan. The town 
is enclosed with double walls ; but the chief 



BAGDAD— BALTIMORE. 



81 



fortress, -which contained the palace of Tip- 
por Saib, is quite detached from the other, 
and is built in a solid manner, with a deep 
ditch and spacious glacis. On the 6th of 
March, 1791, the British troops, under Lord 
Cornwallis, laid siege to Bangalore, and the 
town was taken by storm on the 21st of 
March. 

BAGDAD, A.D. 1559.— This famous city 
of Asiatic Turkey, stands on the Tigris, 196 
mUes, in a direct line, from the junction of 
that river with the Euphrates. 

Bagdad has been besieged several times. 
In 1559 it was taken and sacked by Holakoo, 
grandson of Gengis Khan. It afterward 
underwent several changes, falling successive- 
ly into the hands of the Persians and Turks. 
Since it was taken in 1638 by Amurath 
IV., however, it has remained in the posses- 
sion of the Turks. Amurath IV. had twice 
besieged Bagdad — in 1625 and 1634; twice 
his generals had been compelled disgracefully 
to raise the siege, when the sultan, in 1638, 
determined to punish a city wliich had so 
roused his anger. During tliirty days his 
artillery thundered against its ramparts. Can- 
non, steel, and fire, spread desolation within 
the walls; assault upon assault was given. 
The grand seignor appeared, cimiter in 
hand, striking down such of his own men as 
even advanced slowly. He killed the vizier 
Mahommed, who appeared to him not suffi- 
ciently eager to court danger. At length the 
city was carried. Thirty thousand unarmed 
Persians were slaughtered before the eyes of 
the cruel conqueror. This savage prince was 
about to exterminate all the inhabitants of 
Bagdad, when a musician threw himself at 
liis feet, and spoke as follows : " Sublime 
emperor I will you permit so divine an art as 
that of music to perish tliis day with me, 
with Schah-Culi, your slave I All ! preserve, 
by preserving me, a divine art of which I 
have not yet discovered all the beauties." 
This speech made the sultan laugh, and cast- 
ing a lavorable look upon the artist, he per- 
mitted him to prove his talents. Schah-Culi 
immediately took up a scheydor, a Icind of 
six-stringed harp, and adapting his voice to 
the sounds of that instrument, he sang the 
tragic capture of Bagdad and the triumph of 
Amurath. The sultan at first appeared aston- 
ished ; fury was depicted in his countenance : 
hefanciedhimself amid his warriors, animating 
the combatants, and leading them to victory. 
All at once the artist touched another chord : 
by plaintive and affecting sounds he subdued 
the heart of the implacable conqueror : the 
haughty sultan melted into tears; his stem 
heart was, for the first time, accessible to 
pity ; he shudders at the barbarous orders lie 
had given to immolate so many thousand 
victims ; he revokes them and puts a stop to 



the carnage. Overcome by the charms of 
music, he restored liberty to the compatriots 
of Schah-Culi, attached the musician to his 
personal service, and loaded loim with benefits. 
— Rohson. 

BALAKLAVA.— See Sebastopol. 

BALKAN, A.D. 1829.— The Balkan was 
supposed to form almost an insurmountable 
barrier to an army invading Turkey ; but the 
passage through these mountams was efiected 
by the Eussian army under Diebitsch, in 
spite of the most strenuous exertions of the 
Turks to prevent him. The march of the 
Russians through these mountains may be 
considered a memorable achievement of the 
Russian and Turkish war. The passage was 
completed on the 26th of July, 1829. 

BALLINAHINCH, a.d. 1098.— Near this 
small town of Ireland, in Ulster county, was 
fought, in the month of June, 1698, a battle 
between the royal troops and the Irish in- 
surgents, in which the latter were defeated. 

BALTIMORE, a.d. 1814.— This city is 
situated on the north side of Patapsco river, 
fourteen mUes from its entrance into Chesa- 
peake bay, in Maryland. 

The success of the British at Washington 
induced General Ross to undertake the capture 
of Baltimore. He boasted that he would 
make that nest of privaters his winter quar- 
ters, andwith the force, which he commanded, 
he could march through Maryland in any 
direction he pleased. The Americans, how- 
ever, were not unprepared for an attack in 
this quarter. They assembled for the de- 
fense of the city a force of militia from 
^Maryland, and the neighboring States, wliich, 
with the regular troops who had been lately 
engaged at Washington, amounted to 15,000 
men. The command of these troops was 
given to General Smith, of the Maryland 
mihtia, assisted by General Winder. 

On the 6th of September, 1814, the whole 
British fleet, consisting of more than forty 
sail, moved slowly up the Chesapeake, carry- 
ing a mixed, heterogeneous land force of 
5,000 men. Six days after, it reached the 
Patapsco, and landed the troops at North 
Point. The first object of attack was Port 
M'Henry, situated about two miles from Bal- 
timore. The capture of this, it was thought, 
would open a passage to the city. Having 
put their forces in marching order. Generals 
Ross and Cochrane moved forward toward 
the intrenchments erected for the defense of 
Baltimore, while the vessels of war advanced 
against the fort. 

After marching four miles, the leading 
column of the army was checked by General 
Strieker, who with three thousand men had 
taken post near the head of Bear creek. A 
sharp skirmish ensued, in which the two 
companies of Levering and Howard, under 



82 



BALTIMORE. 



Major Heath, and Captain Aisquith's rifle 
company, fought gallantly. General Ross, 
hearing the firing, rode foi-ward, and mingled 
with the skirmisliers, to ascertain the cause 
of it, when he was pierced by the unerring 
ball of a rifleman, and fell in the road. His 
riderless horse went plunging back toward 
the main army, his "saddle and housings 
stained with blood, carrying the melancholy 
news of his master's fate to the astonished 
troops." Stretched by the road-side the 
dying general lay writhing in the agonies of 
death. He had only time to speak of his 
wife and children, before he expired. He 
was a gallant, skillful, and humane officer, and 
his part in the burning of Waslaington, must 
be laid to Ms instructions rather than to his 
character. 

The command devolved on Colonel Brooke, 
who gave the order to advance. General 
Strieker defended his position firmly, but at 
length was compelled to fall back upon his 
reserve, and finally took post within half a 
mile of the intrenchments of the city. This 
ended the combat for the day. The next 
morning Colonel Brooke recommenced his 
march, and advanced to within two miles of 
the intrenchments, where he encamped till 
the following morning, to wait the move- 
ments of the fleet. 

In the mean time, Cochrane had moved 
up to within two miles and a half of the fort, 
and forming his vessels in a semi-circle, began 
to bombard it. These works, under the com- 
mand of Major Armstead, had no guns sviffi- 
ciently heavy to reach the vessels, which all 
that day threw shells and rockets, making a 
grand commotion but doing Httle damage. 
At night, Cochrane moved his fleet further 
up, and opened again. The scene then be- 
came grand and terrific. It was dark and 
rainy, and amid the gloom, rockets and 
shells, weighing, some of them, two hundred 
and fifty pounds, rose heavenward, followed 
by a long train of light, and stooping over the 
fort burst with detonations that shook the 
shore. Singly, and in groups, these fiery 
messengers traversed the sky, lighting up the 
fort and surrounding scenery in a sudden 
glow, and then, with their sullen thunder, 
sinking all again in darkness. The deafening 
explosions broke over the American army 
and the city of Baltimore like heavy thunder- 
claps, calling forth soldiers and inhabitants to 
gaze on the illumined sky. The city was in 
a state of intense excitement. The streets 
were thronged with thi? sleepless inhabitants, 
and the tearful eyes and pallid cheeks of 
women, attested the anguish and fear that 
wild night created. As soon as Armstead 
discovered that the v(^ssels had come within 
range, he opened his fire with such precision 
that they were compelled to withdraw again, 



content with their distant bombardment 
At length a sudden and heavy cannonade 
was heard above the fort, carrying conster- 
nation into the city, for the inhabitants be- 
lieved that it had fallen. It soon ceased, 
however. Several barges, loaded with troops, 
had passed the fort unobserved, and attempt- 
ed to land and take it in the rear. Pulling 
to the shore with loud shouts, they were 
met by a well-directed fire from a battery, 
and compelled to seek shelter under theu: 
ships. 

During this tremendous bombardment, 
Francis Key lay in a httle vessel under the 
admiral's fiigate. He had visited liim for the 
purpose of obtaining an exchange of some 
prisoners of war, especially of one who was 
a personal fi-iend, and was directed to remain 
till after the action. During the day his eye 
had rested eagerly on that low fortification, 
over which the flag of liis country was flying, 
and he watched with the intensest anxiety 
the progress of each shell in its flight, rejoi- 
cing when it fell short of its aim, and filled 
with fear as he saw it stooping, without ex- 
ploding, within those silent inclosures. At 
night, when darkness shut out that object of 
so much and intense interest, around which 
every hope and desire of his hfe seemed to 
cling, he still stood straining his eyes through 
the gloom, to catch, if he could, by the light 
of tlie blazing shells, a glimpse of his coun- 
try's flag, waving proudly in the storm. The 
early dawn found him still a watcher, and 
there, to the music of bursting shells and the 
roar of cannon, he composed " The Star- 
Spangled Banner."* 

In the morning, Brooke not deeming it 

* The scene and the occasion which called forth this 
beautiful ode, have helped to make it a national one. 
It requires but little imagination to conceive the in- 
tense and thrilling; anxiety with which a true patriot 
would look for the first gray streak of morning, to see if 
the flag of his country was still flying, while the heart 
involuntarily asks the question : 

"O, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, 

Wliat so proudly wo hailed at tjie twilight's last 
gleaming? 
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the peril- 
ous fight. 
O'er the ramparts wo watched, were so gallantly 
streaming — 
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air. 
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still 
there. 
O, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave 
O'er the land of the free and the home of the 
brave ? 

" On that shore, dimly seen through the mists of the 
deep. 
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence re- 
poses. 
What is that which the breeze o'er the towering steep, 

As it fltfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? 
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam. 
In full glory reflected, now shines in the stream: 

'Tls the star-spangled banner : O, long may it 

wave 
O'er the land of the free and the home of the 
brave."— J. T. H. 



BANNOCKBURN— BARANOW. 



83 



prudent to assail those intrenchments, man- 
ned by 10,000 brave and determined men, 
while the heights around bristled with artil- 
lery, resolved to retreat. Waiting till night, 
to take advantage of the darkness, he re- 
traced his steps to the shipping. 

From the extreme apprehensions that had 
oppressed it, Baltimore passed to the most 
extravagant joy. Beaming faces once more 
filled the streets, and the military bauds, as 
they marched through, playing triumphant 
strains, were saluted with shouts. The offi- 
cers were feted, and exultation and confidence 
filled every bosom. — Headhy's Second War 
with England. 

BANNOCKBURN, a.d. 1314.— The name 
of this village is imperishably associated with 
one of the most memorable events in English 
history. In its immediate vicinity, on the 
24th of June, 1314, was fought the great 
battle, between the English, under Edward 
II., and the Scotch, under Robert Bruce, 
which secured the permanent independence 
of Scotland, and established the family of 
the conqueror on its throne. The village is 
situated in the county of Stirling, in Scot- 
land, on both sides of the small river Ban- 
nock, which, after a course of a few miles, 
falls into the Frith of Forth. 

The forces of the English king were 100,- 
000 strong. He had summoned the most 
warlike of his vassals fi-om Gascony ; he en- 
listed troops from Flanders, and other foreign 
countries ; he invited over great numbers of 
the disorderly Irish, promising them an easy 
victory and great booty, and induced also a 
body of Welsh, by the same means, to join 
him. Then assembling all the military force 
of England, he marched with this mighty 
army to the frontiers. Robert Bruce's army 
was small, when compared with that of liis 
rival. It consisted of only 30,000 men, but 
these men were all soldiers, inured by long 
service, and distinguished alike by their 
bravery and skill. The castle of Stirhng 
which, with Berwick, was the only fortress 
in Scotland that remained in the hands of the 
English, had long been besieged by Edward 
Bruce; and Philip de Mowbray, after an ob- 
stinate defense, was at length obliged to 
capitulate, and to promise, that if^ before a 
certain day, he was not relieved, 'he should 
open his gates to the enemy. 

Robert Bruce, therefore, was sensible that 
the English would hasten to the assistance of 
the governor of Stirling. He posted himself 
at Bannockburn, about two miles from Stir- 
ling, where he had a hill on his right flank, 
and a morass on his left; and not content 
with having taken these precautions to pre- 
vent his being surroundeii by the more 
numerous army of the English, he foresaw 
the superior strength of tlie enemy in caval- 



ry, and made provisions against it. Having a 
rivulet in front, he ordered deep pits to be dug 
along its banks, and sharp stakes to be planted 
in them ; and he caused the whole to be care- 
fully covered with turf. The English arrived 
in sight in the evening, and a bloody con- 
flict immediately ensued between two bodies 
of cavalry, where Robert, who was at the 
head of the Scotch, engaged in single combat 
with Henry de Bohun, a gentleman of the 
family of Hereford, and at one stroke cleft his 
adversary to the chin with a battle-ax, in 
sight of the two armies. The English horse 
precipitately fled to their main body. The 
coming of night prevented further operations ; 
both parties awaited the approach of morn- 
ing with impatience ; the English, confiding 
in their numbers, expected an easy victory ; 
the Scots, encouraged by their success, were 
equaU}^ as confident of victory on the mor- 
row. Before sunrise, Edward drew up his 
army in battle array, and advanced toward 
the Scots. The Earl of Gloucester, his nephew, 
who commanded the left wing of the cavalry, 
impelled by the ardor of youth, rashly rushed 
on to the attack, and fell among the covered 
pits which Bruce had prepared for the re- 
ception of the enemy. This body of horse 
was thrown into the most complete disorder ; 
Gloucester himself was overthi-own and slain ; 
and Sir James Douglass, who commanded the 
Scottish cavalry, gave the enemy no time to 
rally; but charging them furiously, drove 
them off the field with great loss, and pur- 
sued them in the very face of tlieir whole 
Une of infantry. The English army, alarmed 
and disheartened at this unfortunate begin- 
ning of the action, remained in a state of in- 
activity and indecision. Suddenly a large 
army appeared on the heights toward their 
left, marching toward them, apparently with 
the intention of surrounding tliem. This 
army, in truth, was simply a number of wag- 
oners, and sumpter boys, whom Robert had 
collected; and having supphed them with 
military standards, they had the appearance 
at a distance,' of a formidable body of soldiers; 
but the English were seized with such a panic 
that they threw down their arms and fled. 
With shouts of triumph the victorious Scots 
pursued the fugitives, cutting to pieces aU 
whom they overtook. Besides an inestima- 
ble booty, the Scots took many persons of 
rank prisoners. Edward liimself narrowly 
escaped by taking shelter in Dunbar, whose 
gates were opened to him by the Earl of 
March. He thence passed by sea to Ber- 
wick. The loss of the English in the battle 
and pursuit, is estimated at 30,000 men, in- 
cluding a great number of nobles and person.? 
of distmction. The Scots lost 8,000 men. 

BARANOW, A.D. 1656.— This place, sit,- 
uated on the Vistulan, in Austrian Gallicia, 42 



84 



BARCELONA— BATTLE. 



miles north of Tarnow, was, in the year 
1656, the scene of a battle between the Poles 
and the troops of Charles Gustavus of Swed- 
en, in which the former were defeated. 

BARCELONA, a.d. 801.— This Spanish 
citj' has sustained several sieges. It was 
subjugated by the Arabs, in the beginning of 
the eighth century, and was taken from them 
by the Catalonians, aided by Charlemagne 
and Ludovico Pio, in 801. In 1705, it was 
taken, after a long siege, by the Earl of Pe- 
terborough, who commanded the army of the 
Archduke Charles, competitor with Phihp V., 
of France, the grandson of Lous XIV., in 
conjunction with the Prince of Darmstadt. 
During the course of the siege the Prince of 
Darmstadt was killed. It was taken by the 
French in 1808, who kept possession of it 
during the Peninsular war. 

BARDIS, A.D. 1799— This town is in up- 
per Egypt, three miles south of Gisgeh. A 
battle was fought here on the 6th of April, 
1799, between the French and the Turks; 
the latter were defeated. 

BARNET, A.D. 1471.— The town of Bar- 
net crowns a hill on the line of the great 
north road from London, at a distance of 
eleven miles from that metropolis. On the 
14th of April, 1471, a decisive battle took 
place between the armies of Edward IV. and 
the Earl of Warwick, on Gladsmuir heath, in 
the vicinity of tliis town. The battle began 
early in the morning and lasted tUl noon, and 
never did two armies fight with greater ob- 
stinacy and bravery. They fought not alone 
for honor ; their very lives depended on the 
issue of the contest. The soldiers, in imita- 
tion of their leaders, rushed to the strife with 
a desperate bravery; and the victory long 
remained undecided between them. But an 
accident threw the l^alance on the side of the 
Yorkists. The badge of the followers of 
Edward was a sun ; that of those of War- 
wick a star, with rays ; and the mistiness of 
the morning rendering it difficult to distin- 
guish them, the Earl of Oxford, who fought 
on the side of the Lancastrians, was by mis- 
take attacked by his friends, and chased off 
the field of battle by his retainers. Warwick, 
contrary to his more usual practice, engaged 
that day on foot, resolved to show his army 
that he meant to share every fortune with 
them. Leading a chosen body of troops into 
the thickest of the slaughter, he there fell, 
covered with wounds, in the midst of his 
enemies. His brother underwent the same 
fate; and as Edward had issued orders not 
to give any quarter, a great and indiscrimin- 
ate slaughter was made in the pursuit. Ten 
thousand of the Lancastrians were slain; 
while the victors lost only about 1,500 
men. 
BARROSA, A.D. 1811.— On the 6th of 



March,, 1811, the allied armies of Spain and 
England, consisting of 16,000 men, com- 
manded by Sir Thomas Graham, encountered 
the French forces, under Victor, which were 
about 15,000 strong, on the heights of Bar- 
rosa, about four miles from the mouth of the 
Santa Petri, in Spain. The battle, although 
very obstinate and bloody, was indecisive, 
and closed with the day. The English lost 
1,200 men, while the French loss amounted 
to about 2,000 killed and wounded, and 300 
taken prisoners. 

BAR-SUR-ATJBE, a.d. 1814.— This an- 
cient town of France is twenty-eight miles 
east of Troyes, on the river Aube. A com- 
bat occurred here, on the 27th of February, 
1814, between the French troops under Mar- 
shal Oudinot, and the aUies, under Schwartz- 
enberg. The French were about 17,000 
strong ; the aUies numbered 35,000 men. 
After an obstinate conflict, the French were 
defeated, and effected their retreat with a 
loss of 2,500 men in killed and wounded, and 
500 made prisoners. The allies lost about 
2,000 in killed and wounded. Among the 
wounded were Count Wittgenstein, and 
Prince Schwartzenberg. 

BASSANO, A.D. 1796.— This city is in 
northern Italy, nineteen miles north-east of 
Venice, was, on the 9th of September, 1796, 
the scene of an engagement between the 
French, under Bonaparte, and the Austrians, 
under Wurmser, in which the former were 
victorious. 

On the 7th of September, Wurmser, the 
commander of the Austrian forces, collected 
all his troops at Bassano, in order to bar the 
passages, and throw the French army, under 
Massena, back into the defiles ; the heavy in- 
fantry and artillery were placed on a strong 
position, in front of the town, and round its 
moldering towers, wlhle six battaUons of 
hght troops occupied the opening of the 
valley into the plain. These were speedily 
overthrown, and the divisions of Massena 
and Augereau, emerging from the defiles, 
found themselves in the presence of a force 
of 20,000 men, drawn up in order of battle. 
But the Austrians, discouraged by repeated 
defeats,' made but slight resistance. Massena 
speedily routed them on the right, and 
Augereau on the left; the fugitives rushed 
in disorder into the town, where they were 
followed by their opponents, who made 4,000 
prisoners ; and captured thirty pieces of can- 
non, besides nearly all the baggage, pontoons, 
and ammunition of the army. 

BATTLE, A.n. 1.351.— After the death of 
Sir Thomas Daggerworth, Sir Walter Bentley 
was appointed commander of Brittany. The 
English being much irritated at the death of 
Daggerworth, and not being able to revenge 
themselves on those who slew him, did so on 



BAUTZEN. 



85 



tiie whole country by burning and destroying 
it. The Marshal de Beaumanoir, desirous of 
putting a stop to this, sent to Bembro, who 
commanded in Ploermel, for a passport to 
hold a conference with him. The marshal 
reprobated the conduct of the EngUsh, and 
high words passed between them, for Bem- 
bro had been the companion in arms to Dag- 
gerworth. At last one of them proposed a 
combat of thirty on each side ; the place ap- 
pointed for it was at the half-way oak be- 
tween JosseUn and Ploermel ; and the day 
was fixed for the 27th of March, the fourth 
Sunday in Lent, 1351. Beaumanoir chose 
nine knights and twenty-one squires. Bem- 
bro could not find a suflficient number of 
English in his garrison; there were but 
twenty, the remainder were Germans and 
Bretons. Bembro first entered the field of 
battle and drew up his troops. Beaumanoir 
did the same. Each made a short harangue 
to his men, exhorting them to support their 
own honor, and that of their nation. Bem- 
bro added that there was an old prophecy of 
Merton, which promised victory to the En- 
glish. As they were on the point of en- 
gaging, Bembro made a sign to Beaumanoir 
he wished to speak to him, and represented 
that he had engaged in tliis matter rather im- 
prudently, for such combats ought first to 
have the permission of their respective 
princes. Beaumanoir replied that he had 
been somewhat late in discovering tliis ; and 
the nobihty of Brittany would not return 
without proving in battle who had the fairest 
mistresses. The signal was given for the 
attack. Their arms were not similar, for 
each was to choose such as he liked. Bille- 
fort fought with a mallet twenty-five pounds 
in weight, and others with what arms they 
chose. The advantage at first was for the 
English ; as the Bretons had lost five of their 
men. Beaumanoir exhorted them not to 
mind this, as they stopped to take breath ; 
when each party had had some refresh- 
ments the combat was renewed. Bembro 
was killed. On seeing this Croquart cried 
out, " Companions, don't let us think of the 
prophecies of Merton, but depend on our 
courage and arms; keep yourselves close 
together, be firm, and fight as I do." Beau- 
manoir, being wounded, was quitting the 
field to quench his thirst, when Geoffi'ey de 
Bois cried out, "Beaumanoir, drink thy blood, 
and thy thirst will go off." This made him 
ashamed, and he returned to the battle. The 
Bretons at last gained the day, by one of 
their party breaking on horseback, the ranks 
of the English ; the greater part of whom 
were killed. Knolles, Calverly and Croquart 
were made prisoners. Tinteniac on the side 
of the Bretons, and Croquart on that of the 
Enghsh, obtained the praise of valor. Such 



was this famous battle of thirty, so glorious 
to the Bretons, but which decided nothing as 
to the possession of the duchy of Brittany. — 
Histoire de Britagne. 

BAUTZEN, A.D. 1813.— The town from 
which the famous battle of Bautzen derives 
its name, is the capital of upper Lusatia, in 
Saxony, and is situated on a height, at the 
foot of which runs the river Spree, thirty- 
three miles east of Dresden. 

During the early part of the month of 
May, 1813, the allied armies of Prussia and 
Russia, retired to the superb position which 
they had selected and fortified with care on 
the heights around Bautzen. Their entire 
army amounted to 90,000 men. Their prin- 
cipal stronghold was placed on the famous 
knolls of Klein Bautzen and Kreckwitz, 
where Frederic the Great found an asylum, 
after his disaster at Hochkirch, during the 
Seven Years' War, and where the strength of 
his position enabled him to bid defiance to 
the superior and victorious army of Count 
Daun. The ground which the allied army 
now occupied was an uneven surface, in the 
middle of a country in the hollows of which 
several small lakes were to be found ; while 
its eminences terminated, for the most part, 
in httle monticules or caves, forming so many 
citadels where artillery could most advanta- 
geously be placed, commanding the whole 
open country at their feet. The position in 
tliis uneven surface which they had chosen 
for their battle-field, was composed of a series 
of heights, running from the great frontier 
chain of Bohemia to the neighborhood of the 
Uttle lake of Molschwitz, and the village of 
Khx, behind which the right was stationed in 
a situation difiicult of access. The Spree ran 
along the whole front of the position, and it 
was difficult to approach it in that direction, 
as well on account of the broken nature of 
the ground, and the variety of ravines, with 
streamlets at their bottom, by which it was 
intersected, as of the number of villages, 
constituting so many forts, occupied by the 
allies, contained within its limits, and the 
hiUs planted with cannon, which commanded 
the whole open country. The principal of 
these villages were Klein Bautzen, Preitetz, 
Khx, and Krechwitz. This was the first 
line of defense ; but behind it at the distance 
of three miles in the rear, was a second Une, 
strengthened by intrenchments more con- 
tracted than the former, and still more capa- 
ble of a protracted defense. Tliis position 
commenced at the village of Hochkirch, on 
the one flank, and extended through Bautzen 
and the three villages of Boswitz, Inckowitz 
and Kubchitz, and then fell back behind the 
marshy stream of the Kayna, terminated at 
the heights of Krechwitz which overhang 
the Spree. 



BAUTZEN. 



The French army consisted of 150,000 men, 1 
of wliom 10,000 were cavalry, and all were 
under the immediate command ol' Napoleon. 
But the strength of the position of the alhes, 
more than counterbalanced the superiority of 
the forces of Napoleon. At eight o'clock on 
the evening of the 15th of May, Napoleon 
advanced to the village of Klein Wilke, al- 
most within musket-shot of the outposts of 
the enemy, and then his plan of attack was 
formed. Sometime before, he had dispatched 
orders to Ney, who had passed the Elbe at 
Torgau with liis own force and that of Vic- 
tor and Lauriston, to incline to the right, and, 
instead of moving on Berlin, as originally in- 
tended, to cut across the country and come 
up so as to form the extreme left of the 
army in the great battle wliich was expected 
near Bautzen. Ney received these orders on 
the 17th, and on the evening of the 19fch he 
had already arrived in the neighborhood of 
the army. As Ney approached, marching in 
echelons^ Napoleon detached Bertrand's corps 
toward the left, to open up the communica- 
tion with him. The alhes having received 
intelligence of the approach of tliis double 
body of the enemy, detached Kleist with his 
Prussians to meet Ney, and Barclay de Tolly 
with the Russian veterans to encounter Ber- 
trand. De Tolly surprised Bcrtrand while 
his Italian troops were leisurely reposing 
after dinner, and in disorder, and after a sharp 
conflict, defeated him with a loss of 2,000 
men. The Prussians encountered Lauriston 
near Weissig, but were, in turn, defeated, 
with a loss of about 2,000. The success was 
thus equally divided. 

On the morning of the 20th, the aUied 
army occupied the following positions. On 
the left. Berg and D'York were stationed 
from Jenkowitz to Baichutz with ten thou- 
sand Prussians. The plain thence to Ivreck- 
witz was protected by the regiments of 
Prussian cuirassiers which were stationed 
at its upper extremity in the second line, and 
by the heights of Kreclcwitz, crowned with 
Blucher's guns, which commanded its whole 
extent. Bhu'her's infantry 18,000 strong, ex- 
tended fiom Kreckwitz, and further on, beyond 
the Uttle lakes, Barclay de Tolly was stationed 
with 14,000 Russians near Gleina. Milar- 
odowitch, with 10,000 Russians, was placed 
in front of the whole in Bautzen and its en- 
virons, with Kleist and 5,000 Prussians near 
him on the heights of Berg. The second line 
consisted of the Russian Guards and reserve, 
16,000 strong, who were about a mile in the 
rear, behind the left and center; and near 
them were the Russian cuirassiers, 8,000 in 
number. Drawn up in a semicircle on the 
heights, the lines of the allied army stretched 
across the country full six miles. At their 
feet ran the river Spree, whose banks were 



dotted with the fortified villages, and before 
them spread out the plain thickly studded 
with rocky cones, wiiose suaunits were 
crowded with cannon, and alive with men. 

On the morning of the 20th, Napoleon 
made his disposition for the attack at all 
points. Wisely judging that the right wing 
of the aUies was the vulnerable point, he ac- 
cumulated force in that direction so as to put 
at Ney's disposal nearly eighty thousand 
men. Lam-iston, who commanded the army 
on the right, received orders to pass the Spree, 
and move upon Klix, and thence to press on 
around the right flank of the enemy toward 
Wurschen and Weisenberg, so as to appear in 
their rear when the engagement in front was 
hottest. On the right, the aUied positions, in 
the mountains were to be assailed by Oudi- 
not, near Sinkowitz; to his left Macdonald 
was to throw a raft over the Spree, and as- 
sault Bautzen ; half a league to his left, Mar- 
mont was directed to throw another bridge 
over the same river, and advance to the 
attack in the center ; the whole of the corps 
there were put under the direction of Soult, 
wliHe the reserves and the Guards were in 
the rear, on the great roads leading to Bis- 
chofiswerda, behind Bautzen, ready to suc- 
cor any point that might require assistance. 
At nine o'clock in the morning. Napoleon 
was on liorseback ; but such was the distance 
which the greater part of the columns had to 
march, before they reached their destined 
point of attack, that it was nearly eleven 
o'clock before the passage of the Spree com- 
menced. A powerful array of cannon was, 
in the first instance, brought up by the em- 
peror, and disposed along every projection 
which commanded the opposite bank, and the 
fire, as far as the eye could reach, looking 
from the heiglits near Bautzen, botli to the 
right and left, grew hot and furious; for the 
enemy's batteries answered with great spirit, 
and the vast extent of the line of smoke, as 
well as the faint sound of the distant guna, 
gave an awful impression of the magnitude of 
the forces engaged on both sides. Under 
cover of tliis cannonade, the bridges in the 
center were soon estabhshed, and then a still 
more animating spectacle presented itselil 
The emperor mounted a commanding emi- 
nence, on the banks of the Spree, near the 
point where Marmont's bridge was estab- 
lished, whence he could see the whole. field 
of battle, direct the movements of the troops, 
and enjoy the splendid spectacle which pre- 
sented itself Never liad war appeared in a 
more imposing form. The plain, as far as the 
eye could reach, was one mass of moving 
men. 

On all sides the troops, in long ghttermg 
lines, preceded by their artillery, ^ t^liich con- 
tinually vomited I'orth flames and smoke, ad- 



BAUTZEN. 



87 



vanced toward the river. At first the plain 
seemed covered with a confused multitude 
of liorses, cannon, chariots and men ; but as 
they approached, tlie throng gradually as- 
sumed the appearance of order. Like an 
experienced chess-player, Napoleon stood 
watching the movements of his army on the 
plain, which extended out beneath him Hke 
an immense chess-board, and his eye kindled 
with satisfaction and pride, as he saw the 
cavalry, infantry, and artillery, separate and 
defile each to their respective points of pas- 
sage, and the marvels of military precision 
appear in their highest luster. The passage 
of the river was effected with scarcely any 
opposition, and by five o'clock the river was 
passed at all points. The allies evacuated 
Bautzen, and the French troops rapidly moved 
toward the eminences occupied by the ene- 
my ; but it was now so late that no serious 
conflict could take place tUl next day. On 
the French right, however, the action soon 
became hot and bloody. Oudinot pressed 
vigorously up the Bohemian mountains, and 
fiercely fell on the left wing of the allies. 
Slowly creeping up the hills, in a hne of 
flame, the incessant fire of his artillery con- 
sumed every thing before it. The woods re- 
sounded with the roar of liis cannon, while 
the echoes from the Bohemian mountains 
roUed back upon Mm. Tempests of contend- 
ing grape-shot crashed through the trees, and 
the vivid and incessant discharges of musket- 
ry gleamed through the shadows of the 
woods, now darkened by approaclung night. 
Upward, upward, mounted that sheet of de- 
structive fire, while far above blazed an 
equally as destructive line of flame. Fire 
seemed to fight fire. The French line was 
rapidly approaching the enemy, threatening 
to overwhelm the entire left wing of the allied 
army, when Prince Wirtemberg and St. 
Priest's divisions of Milarodowitch, corps, ar- 
rived to its aid, and for a time arrested the 
progress of the ascending flame. The French 
troops, however, redoubling their exertions 
again advanced, and the enemy began to fall 
back. At this critical moment, the Emperor 
Alexander, who commanded the Eussians in 
person, re-inforced them by three brigades of 
infantry, and one of cavalry, under Greneral 
Diebitch, and with their aid the Russians 
were able to maintain themselves for the 
night in the villages of Prehtz, Mehlthener 
and Falkenberg, still keeping the command- 
ing points of the mountains. Wiiile this 
obstinate conflict was going on among the 
hUls, on the alhed left, a stiU more serious at- 
tack was made on Kleist's Prussians on the 
heights of Burg, and the remainder of Milar- 
odowitch's corps, commanded by himself 
in person, on the eminences in the rear of 
Bautzen, to which the Russians had retired 



after the evacuation of that town. At noon, 
General Milarodowitch was violently as- 
sailed by Campan's division, followed by the 
whole of Jklarmont's corps, while Bonnet ad- 
vanced toward Nieder Kayna, and com- 
menced an attack on Kleist. The resistance, 
however, was as obstinate as the attack ; and 
Napoleon deeming it essential to his plan to 
make a great impression m that quarter, in 
order to withdraw attention from tlie grand 
movement he was preparing on his left, 
brought forward the whole of Bertrand's 
corps, still about 24,000 strong, notwithstand- 
ing its losses, with Latour Mauborg's formid- 
able cuirassiers, to support Marmont and 
Macdonald. About 50,000 combatants were 
thus accumulated in the center, supported by 
a powerful artillery; and the alhes were 
compefled to retire. This was done, however, 
in good order ; the troops halting and facing 
about, by alternate companies, to fire, as they 
slowly withdrew toward the intrenched 
camp, their artillery keeping up an incessant 
fire on the pursuing columns. The French 
center, meanwliile, steadily advanced, and, 
as soon as they reached it, assaulted Kleist's 
troops on the heights of Burg with great 
gallantry. Despite all their eflbrts, liowever, 
the brave Prussians maintained their ground 
with undaunted resolution. Seeing that they 
could not carry the position by an attack in 
front, the assailants attacked the village of 
Nieder Gurkan on its right, in order to 
threaten it in flank. There, however, they 
experienced such a vigorous resistance, from 
Rudiger's men of Blucher's corps, some regi- 
ments of which had been detached, under 
Ziethen, to occupy that important post, and 
the fire from Blucher's guns, on his command- 
ing heights, immediately behind, was so vio- 
lent that, after sustaining heavy losses, they 
were obhged to desist from the attempt. At 
length, at seven o'clock in the evening, bring- 
ing up the celebrated 10th regiment of Hght 
infantry, the French carried the village. The 
whole alhed center now slowly retreated over 
the plateau of Nadelwitz to their intrenched 
camp in their rear. Blucher, however, still 
retained his advanced positions on the heights 
of Kreckwitz, from the summit of which his 
artillery never ceased to thunder, as from a 
fiery volcano, in all directions, till utter dark- 
ness drew a vail over the field of battle. 
That night the French bivouacked in squares 
on the bloody ground they had won. The 
aUied army also sunk to rest, and nothing 
disturbed the silence of night save the low 
moans of the wounded soldiers who were 
lying scattered over the plain. The stars 
shone tranquilly upon the gory field, and the 
flames of the burning villages gleamed in the 
distance, casting a flickering and sickening 
light upon the white faces of the slain. 



88 



BAUTZEN. 



At five o'clock on the morning of the 21st, 
the fire began with unwearied vigor in the 
wooded recesses of the Bohemian mountains. 
But the Emperor Alexander had sent such 
large reinforcements during the night to that 
quarter, that Milarodowitch was enabled to re- 
pulse the attacks of the French on his position 
on the heights of Melthener. Napoleon, per- 
ceiving the superiority of the enemy in num- 
bers in that quarter, immediately ordered up 
Macdonald's corps to the support of Oudinot. 
At the same time, immense masses, above 
40,000 strong, were deployed in front of 
Bautzen, to arrest the attention of the 
enemy. Before Macdonald, however, could 
get up to his assistance, Oudinot was so hard 
pressed by the enemy that he was unable to 
maintain his ground : step by step, the Rus- 
sian tiralleurs gained upon the Bavarian 
sharp-shooters in the woods, and at length 
he was fairly driven out of the hills and 
forced to assume a defensive position in the 
plain at their feet, where the arrival of Mac- 
donald enabled him to stop the progress of 
die enemy. 

In the mean time, Marmont and Bertrand's 
battalions thundered in the center, and the 
battle raged furiously along the whole lines. 
Napoleon anxiously listened for the sound of 
Ney's guns on the left. He felt assured that 
ere long that gallant marshal would turn the 
right wing of the enemy's army. In effect, 
Ney, at the head of his own corps and those 
of Lauriston, had advanced early in the morn- 
ing against the position of Barclay, near 
Gleina, while Victor's corps, and Regnier's 
Saxons were directed, by a wider circuit, to 
turn his extreme right, by the wood and 
heights of Baruth, and get entirely into the 
rear of the allies. Barclay's veterans were 
advantageously placed on the heights of 
Windmuhlenberg, near Gleina ; and the 
strength of their position, joined to the ad- 
mirable fire of the artillery on its summit, 
long enabled those iron veterans of the Mos- 
cow campaign to make head against the 
French. At length, however, the approach 
of Regnier and Victor's corps turned the 
position in flank, and Barclay was obUged to 
fall back, fighting all the way, to the heights 
of Baruth. Here Kleist was detatched to his 
support ; but his corps, reduced to little more 
than 3,000 men by the losses of the preced- 
ing day, could not restore the action in that 
quarter ; and at eleven o'clock, Southan, with 
the leading divisions of Ney and Lauriston's 
corps, made hirnsplf master of Prelitz, near 
Klein Bautz n, behind Blucher's right, and 
between him and Barclay. Napoleon was 
lying on the ground in the center, under the 
shelter of a height, a little in front of Bautzen, 
at breakfast, when the sound of Ney's guns 
in that direction was heard. At the same 



time a bomb burst over his head. Without 
paying any attention to the latter circum- 
stance, he immediately wrote to Marie Louise, 
to announce that the victory was gained ; 
and, instantly mounting Ids horse, set ofl" at a 
gallop with his staff, to the left, and ascend- 
ing a height near Neider Kayna, whence he 
could descry the whole field of battle, in the 
center, directed Soult, with the four corps 
under his orders, to assault with the bayonet 
the numerous conical knolls crowned with 
artillery, which formed the strength of the 
alUes in that quarter, in order to distract their 
attention, and prevent them from sending 
succors to Blucher, on their right. Blucher 
was fully alive to the importance of the vil- 
lage of Prelitz, and immediately made a great 
effort to regain it. Kleist was detached with 
the remains of his corps, and several Russian 
regiments of infantry, with two regiments of 
Prussian cuirassiers, were sent in the same 
direction. The arrival of these fresh troops, 
who vied with each other in the ardor of 
their attack, enabled the allies to drive out 
Southan, who was routed with great slaughter, 
and thrown back on the remainder of his 
corps in a state of utter confusion; while 
twenty of Blucher's guns playing on the flank 
of Ney's dense columns, did dreadful execu- 
tion, and caused liini to establish himself on 
some heights behind Klein Bautzen, whence 
his artillery could reply on equal terms to 
that of the enemy. At one o'clock, how- 
ever, Ney again resumed the offensive, and 
succeeded in completely turning the right 
wing of the enemy. Napoleon, in the mean 
time, made a combined attack on the center 
and left of the enemy. Eighty thousand 
men, in admirable order, moved against the 
heights of Krechwitz, the guns from which 
had so long carried death through the French 
ranks. A hundred pieces of cannon, which 
the French disposed on the highest points of 
the ground they traversed, kept up a vehe- 
ment fire on the enemy's batteries. This 
grand attack gave the victoiy to Napoleon. 
Blucher, assailed in front by Marmont, in 
flank by Bertrand, and in rear by Ney, was 
soon obliged to recall Kleist and the other 
reinforcements which he had sent to the 
assistance of Barclay de ToUy ; and, in con- 
sequence, Ney, whose reserves had at length 
come up, was enabled, not only to take PreHtz 
without difficulty, but to spread out his Ught 
troops over the Whole level ground as far as 
Warschen. The allied right was thus entirely 
turned. And now the allied army was forced 
to retreat. Orders were at once given to 
both Barclay and Blucher to retreat, and the 
whole army, in two massy columns, began to 
retreat, the Russians by the road of Hoch- 
kirch and Lobau, the Prussians by Wurschen 
and Weissenberg. Napoleon, standing on a 



BAUTZEN. 



commanding eminence, surveyed the battle- 
field, which now presented a spectacle more 
thrilling and magnificent than that he had 
viewed the day before. How great must 
have been the pride of the conqueror when 
he viewed and directed the motions of the 
host which his voice alone had called to- 
gether. He ordered liis troops to advance, 
and, Uke a mighty wave, the whole French 
army swept across the plain. Before it, re- 
treated the alhed army in two black columns, 
around whose extremities hovered clouds of 
cavalry, in protection. Onward poured the 
French army into the valley of the Neider 
Kayna, and the beams of the setting sun 
gilded the forests of bayonets, and were re- 
flected in the dazzling hues of helmets, sabers, 
and cuirasses with which the plain at the 
bottom of the valley was filled. From the 
heights of Krechwitz, yet in the hands of the 
enemy, poured forth a constantly-increasing 
fire on all sides. A hundred and twenty 
cannon in front of the advancing French 
army, continually thundered against the re- 
treating columns. Night alone put an end 
to this tremendous cannonade, and the two 
armies lay down to rest. 

This night the slain of the previous day 
received new companions ; many, who in 
the morning had gazed with sorrow upon 
the corpses of beloved comrades were now 
stretched upon the same bloody bed of death. 
During the two days the allies lost 15,000 
men, killed and wounded, and the French 
took 1,500 prisoners. The French lost about 
the same number. As night advanced, men, 
women, and cliildren were to be seen issuing 
forth from the villages, carrying fitters, push- 
ing wheelbarrows, or drawing Uttle carts. 
They hastened to the field of battle ; not to 
plunder the dead, but to rescue the wounded. 
Russians, French, Prussians, and ItaUans, 
were all alike carefully attended and provided 
with all the comforts and necessaries which 
the humble cottages of the kind-hearted 
peasantry could afford. Wliat a sublime 
spectacle ! At the close of one of the blood- 
iest battles of modern times. Christian charity 
was to be seen healing the wounds and alle- 
viating the sufferings equally of the victors 
and the vanquished. The next morning at 
daybreak Napoleon renewed the pursuit. 
Soon the French army came up with the 
rear guard of the enemy, who now stood firm 
on the heights behind Reichenbach, in order 
to gain time for the immense- files of chariots, 
cannon, and wounded men to defile by the 
roads in their rear. Milarodowitch had the 
command, and the veterans of the Moscow 
campaign were prepared to defend the posi- 
tion to the last extremity, while forty pieces 
of cannon were placed on the summit, and a 
large body of cuirassiers stood on the slopes. 



The position was admirable. Napoleon caused 
a furious cannonade to be opened against it, 
and awaited the arrival of the cavalry of the 
Guard. The French, after a desperate strug- 
gle, carried Reichenbach itself, which was in 
front of the alhed position. But no sooner 
did the French column show themselves on 
the opposite side, than they were torn by the 
point-blank discharge of the enemy's bat- 
teries from the heights behind. Upon tliis, 
Napoleon brought up Latour Mauborg, with 
the whole cavalry of the Guard, 6,000 strong, 
and at the same time made dispositions for 
outflanking and turning the enemy. These 
measures were attended with the most bril- 
liant success; the allies were driven fi-om 
their position, and retreated to Gorlatz. Na- 
poleon hastened to the advanced posts, and 
himself pressed on the movements of liis 
troops. And so promptly were his orders 
obeyed, that the setting sun shone on the 
sabers and bayonets of 50,000 men accumu- 
lated in a front of a mile and a half in breadth, 
and closely advancing in pursuit. The enemy, 
as they retreated, poured upon the advancing 
fine an incessant fire of cannon and musketry. 
As the balls were flying thick around him, 
one of Napoleon's escort fell dead at his feet. 
He turned to Duroc, and said : " Duroc, for- 
tune is determined to have one of us to-day." 
The melancholy anticipation was soon real- 
ized. The enemy retired to a fresh position 
behind the ravine of Makersdorf ; and Napo- 
leon, who was anxious to push on before 
night to Gorlatz, himself hurried to the front 
to urge on the troops who were to dislodge 
the enemy from the groimd which they had 
occupied to bar the approach to it. His suite 
followed hun, four abreast, at a rapid trot, in 
such a cloud of dust that hardly one of the 
riders could see his neighbor. Suddenly a 
cannon-ball glanced from a tree near the em- 
peror, and struck a file behind, consisting of 
Duroc, Caulaincourt, Kirgener, and Mortier. 
In the confusion and dust, it was not at first 
perceived who was hurt; but a page soon 
came up and whispered in Napoleon's ear 
that Kirgener, was killed and Duroc severely 
wounded. Duroc's entrails were torn out by 
the ball, and the dying man was carried into 
a cottage near Makersdorf Napoleon dis- 
mounted, and casting a stern and long glance 
on the battery whence the fatal shot had 
issued, he entered the cottage, and ascer- 
tained with tears in his eyes, that there was 
no hope. "Duroc," said he, pressing the 
hand of the dying hero, "there is another 
world, where we shall meet again." The 
next morning, a httle before sunrise, Duroc 
died. When Napoleon received the sorrow- 
ful intelligence, without uttering a word, he 
placed into the hands of Berthier a paper, 
ordering the erection of a monument on the 



90 



BATONNE. 



spot where he fell, with this inscription: 
" Here, General Duroc, Duke of Friuli, grand 
marshal of the palace of the Emperor Napo- 
leon, gloriously fell, struck by a cannon-ball, 
in the arms of the emperor, his friend." He 
placed two hundred Napoleons in the hands 
of the owner of the house, and the clergyman 
of the parish, to defray the expenses.* 

On the 23d, the allied army continued to re- 
treat, in two columns, and the French in three 
columns pressed on in pursuit. During the re- 
treat and pursuit sharp conflicts frequently 
took place between the cavalry on both sides. 
At length, on the 27th of May, the allied army 
returned by Leignitz, to the neighborhood of 
Schweidnitz, where they had constructed an 
intrenched camp, and where it was intended 
that a strand should be made. The progress 
of the French arms, as well as the position 
of their forces, excited just disquietude in the 
breasts of the allied sovereigns, and measures 
were at once taken to arrange an armistice 
with Napoleon. 

BAYONNE, A.D. 1813.— At the conflu- 
ence of the river Neve with the Adorn, 
stands Bayonne, one of the most noted 
towns of France. Bayonne is divided into 
three equal parts, which communicate by 
bridges. On the left bank of the Neve is tlie 
great Bayonne. On the right bank of that 
river and the left bank of the Adorn is the 
little Bayonne, and on the right bank of the 
Adom is the suburb of St. Esprit, joined by a 
long wooden draw-bridge to the rest of the 
town. Although often besieged, Bayonne 
has never been taken ; hence it derives its 
motto: Nunquam poUuta. The military 
weapon called the bayonet, takes its name 
from tliis city, where it is said to have been 
first invented, and brought into use during 
the siege of 1523. 

On the 11th of November, 1813, the French 
army retired before the victorious armies of 
England, Spain, and Portugal, to the in- 
trenched camp in front of Bayonne. The 
intrenchments extended semicircularly on the 
south side of the Adom, above and below 
the junction of the river Neve. While Wel- 
lington remained with his army on the side 
of the Neve toward the Pyrenees, supphes 
of all kinds were brought down the Adom to 
Bayonne ; and as the intrenched camp of the 
French was uncommonly strong, the British 
general could not expect to drive the enemy 
from it by main force ; it therefore became 

• But thfi monument was never erected, for after the 
defeats, which soon followed, the allies claimed this 
money as a part of the spoils of war. For the paltry 
Bum of eight hundred dollars, they could prevent a mon- 
ument from being raised to genius and true worth, and 
insult a noble heart by denying it this last tribute of af- 
fection to a dear friend. What a contrast does this pre- 
sent to Marshal Soult at Coruniia, who ordered a monu- 
ment to be reared to Sir John Moore, on the spot where 
he m.-J. T. Headley. 



necessary to cross the Neve in order to in- 
tercept the supplies that were brought down 
the Adom to Bayonne. The army of the 
British commander consisted of 88,600 men, 
of whom 8,600 were cavalry, and his power- 
ful artillery numbered 100 pieces. The 
French army consisted of 76,000 men, and 
was commanded by the able general, Mar- 
shal Soult. Soult's position was most ad- 
mirable. Bayonne, situated at the confluence 
of the rivers Adom and Neve, commanded 
the passage of both. The camp being de- 
fended by the guns of the fortress of Bay- 
onne, immediately in its rear, could not be 
attacked in front. The French general, 
therefore, stationed only liis center there, 
composed of six divisions under D'Erlon. 
The right wing, consisting of Reille's two 
divisions, and Villatte's reserves, was sta- 
tioned to the westward of the fortress, on 
the Lower Adom, where there was a flotilla 
of gun-boats; and the approach to it was 
covered by a swamp and artificial inundation. 
The left wing, under Clausel, posted to the 
westward of Bayonne, stretched from its 
right to the Neve, and was protected partly 
by a large fortified house, wliich had been 
converted into an advanced work. The 
country in front consisted of a deep clay, much 
inclosed and intersected with woods and 
hedge-rows, and four divisions of D'Erlon's 
men occupied it beyond the Neve, in front 
of the Ustaritz, and as far as Cambo ; the re- 
mainder being in reserve, occupying a strong 
range of heights in front of MousseroUes, 
stretching from YUlefranque, on the Neve, 
almost to the Old Moguerre, on the Adom. 
The great advantage of this position was, that 
the troops, in case of disaster, might securely 
find refuge under the cannon of Bayonne, 
while the general-in-claief, having an interior 
and protected line of communication through 
that fortress, could, at pleasure, throw the 
weight of his forces from one flank to anoth- 
er, when unforeseen and unguarded against, 
upon the enemy. Wellington, having taken 
his resolution to force his adversary's posi- 
tion in front of Bayonne, collected ma- 
terials for throwing bridges over the Neve, 
and, on the 8th bf December, he gave orders 
for the right wing of his army, under General 
Hill, to pass the river at day break on the 
9th, by the fords of Cambo, and advance 
by the great road from St. Pied-de-port, to- 
ward Bayonne. At the same time Beres- 
ford, in the center, with the third and sixth 
divisions was to cross the Neve, by bridges 
to be thrown over it during the night. Sir 
John Hope, and General Charles Allen, with 
24,000 men, horse and foot, and 12 pieces 
of cannon, were to drive back the French 
advanced posts, along the whole front of the 
intrenched camp, from the Nivelle to the sea. 



BAYONNE. 



91 



The necessary preparations having been 
made, a huge fire was lighted on the height 
behind Cambo, at daybreak, on the 9th of 
December, as a signal of attack. Notwith- 
standing the destruction of the bridges during 
the nigiit, the British troops forced the pas- 
sage of the Neye in the center, under cover 
of a heavy fire of artillery, and the French 
immediately opposite were driven back. At 
the same time. Hill forced the passage on the 
right, above and below Cambo, and drove the 
French left wing back on the road from St. 
Jean Pied-de-port to Bayonne. 

In consequence of Wellington's having suc- 
ceeded in crossing the Neve, he nearly in- 
closed the French camp. He commanded 
the navigation of the Adom, and always had 
it in his power to throw detachments across 
the river above the city, either to intercept 
convoys, or even to bombard the town, or to 
storm the works to the north of Bayonne. 
Soult saw that he could not safely remain in 
his intrenched camp, after the passage of the 
Neve by the British, and he resolved to at- 
tempt to drive back the allies to their original 
position. For this purpose he assembled his 
troops in great force on a range of heights 
that run parallel with the Adom, keeping the 
village of Villefranque on their right. This 
village, Wellington ordered to be attacked, 
and, after an obstinate struggle, it was carried 
by a Portuguese brigade, and the British light 
infantry battalions of the sixth division. No 
sooner had they gained possession of the vil- 
lage, than they proceeded to the attack of 
the heights, which they also carried. Neither 
of these advantages was obtained without 
great difficulty. The French furiously con- 
tested every inch of ground, and it was not 
until overpowered by numbers, that shortly 
after noon, they slowly retired through a 
heavy rain, toward Bayonne. Soult now de- 
termined to make a grand effort to drive 
back the enemy. On the morning of the 10th, 
he moved out of his intrenched camp with 
his whole army, with the exception of that 
division which was opposite Sir Rowland 
Hill, and made a most desperate attack on 
the posts of the light division, and on the 
advanced posts of Sir John Hope's corps, on 
the high road from Bayonne to St. Jean de 
Luz. The brunt of this attack fell principally 
on the first Portuguese brigade, and on a 
brigade of the fifth division which advanced 
to their support; but in spite of the most 
strenuous efforts on the part of the French, 
they were repulsed, with considerable loss. 
After this action was over, two regiments, 
one Dutch and the other German, abandoned 
tlie French, and came over to the British. 
The French, although repulsed, still continued 
in considerable force in front of the British 
posts, on the ground from which they had 



driven the pickets. In the course of the 
night, however, most of them retired, except 
those who occupied the ridge on which the 
pickets of the light division had stood. But 
though they had changed their position, they 
were still in front of the left of the British 
army. 

On the 12th nothing but a severe cannon 
ade, which consumed fruitlessly four hundred 
men on each side, took place. During the 
night, Soult marched 35,000 men through 
Bayonne, and succeeded, before daylight on 
the 13th, in placing them on the right of the 
Neve at St. Pierre, in front of the British 
General Hill's position, while with seven thou- 
sand more he menaced his rear. Hill's force 
was stationed on both sides of the road, from 
Bayonne to St. Pied-dc-port, and occupied a 
line about two miles in length. The center con- 
sisted of AshAvorth's Portuguese and Barnes's 
British brigade, and was strongly posted on a 
rugged conical height, one side of which was 
broken with rocks and brushwood, while the 
other was closed in by high and thick hedges, 
with twelve guns pointing directly down the 
great road by which the French were to ad- 
vance. The left, under Pringle, occupied a 
wooded and broken ridge, in the middle of 
which was the old chateau of Villefranque ; 
the right, under Byng, was posted on the 
ridge of Old Moguerre, nearly parallel to the 
Adom. Between the two armies was a 
wide valley or basin, open, and commanded 
by the guns in every part. As the bridge of 
boats across the Neve was destroyed. Hill's 
corps was, during the early part of the action, 
entirely separated from the remainder of the 
alhed army. On the morning of the 13th, a 
heavy fog settled on the plain, and Soult, un- 
der cover of the mist, was enabled to form 
his columns of attack unperceived by his an- 
tagonist. In front, on the great road, came 
D'Erlon, leading on D'Armagnac's, Abbe's, 
and Daricaus's infantry, with a large body of 
cavalry, and twenty-two g-uns. Next came 
Foy's and Maransin's men, and behind, the 
two other divisions in reserve. At half-past 
eight o'clock the sun broke forth, and the for- 
midable array of the approaching enemy be- 
came visible to the allies. Soult immediately 
pushed forward his hght troops, and drove in 
the allied pickets in the center, which fell 
back toward St. Pierre. Abbe attacked them 
in the center with great vigor ; D'Armagnac, 
standing off to the left, directed his troops 
against Old Moguerre, and Byng's men ; the 
flaming Hne gradually crept up the slopes on 
either side of the basin, and the roar of forty 
guns re-echoed over the plain. The Portu- 
guese brigade soon gave way before the im- 
petuous attack of Abbe's men, and the British, 
who were sent to their aid, were also forced 
back. But receiving additional aid, the 



92 



BAYONNE. 



French, in their turn, were repulsed. The 
French now opened a vigorous cannonade 
upon the British center, with terrible effect. 
Abbe, seeing the center of the enemy weak- 
ened pushed forward a strong and massy 
column, wliich advanced with such gallantry, 
that in spite of the tremendous volleys from 
the British batteries, which tore its front and 
flanks, it drove back the Portuguese and Brit- 
ish, and won the crest of the hill in the cen- 
ter. Barnes now brought up his Highlanders, 
who were in reserve Ijehind St. Pierre, and 
determined to regain the liiU, he charged 
down the highway, soon clearing away the 
skirmishers on either side, and, driving home, 
met the shock of two French regiments, 
which were advancing up the causeway. 
The struggle which ensued was terrible ; but, 
at length, the French wavered, broke and 
fled in disorder, closely followed by the hardy 
mountaineers. Soult immediately advanced 
his guns on either side, and opened a destruc- 
tive fire upon the flanks of the pursuing mass. 
The Highlanders were arrested in their pur- 
suit, and in turn retreated in disorder. The 
French corps in front steadily advanced for- 
ward, with admirable resolution, and the 92d 
British regiment, were borne back, in disorder, 
to their old ground, behind St. Pierre. The 
Portuguese hastily withdrew their guns, and 
took up a post in the rear. The French skir- 
mishers every where crowded forward to the 
summit. Barnes fell, seriously wounded. 
The French directed their fire upon the Por- 
tuguese gunners with such fatal accuracy, 
that they fell so fast beside their pieces that 
their fire was almost extinguished. The 
British were driven back in every quarter, 
and the cries of victory resounded through 
the French ranks. 

Hill, who had stationed himself on a hill in 
the rear, whence he could survey the whole 
battle field, saw the critical position of the 
right and left, and hastily descending from 
the eminence, he led on, in person, one 
brigade of Le Cor's Portuguese infantry, to 
support Barnes's men in the center, and dis- 
patched the other brigade to aid the right on 
Old Moguerre, against D'Armagnac. The 
Highlanders re-formed, and Cameron, then 
commander, again led them with colors fly- 
ing, and music playing, down the road. The 
skirmishers on the flank again rushed forward. 
The French skirmishing parties in front were 
driven back in their turn, and the Highland- 
ers, charging rapidly down the highway, 
met the solid column of French infantry, 
which, in all the pride of victory, was march- 
ing up. For a moment the two masses stood 
firm, with fixed bayonets; the soldiers on 
either side eyed their enemies with resolute 
bravery ; but the French suddenly wheeled 
about and retired to their original position. 



The Highlanders were too much exhausted 
with fatigue, by their desperate encounter, to 
follow them. The right center of the French 
was also forced back by Le Cor's Portuguese, 
after a desperate conflict, in which Le Cor 
himself fell seriously wounded. In the mean 
time D'Armagnac's corps on the French left, 
with the aid of six pieces of horse artillery, 
had attacked Byng's men with such vigor 
that he had nearly carried the ridge of Old 
Moguerre. But at the very moment when 
the French troops had reached the summit 
of the liill, and when about to fall upon the 
right of the British center, the brigade of 
Portuguese, detached by Hill, arrived in double 
quick time, and ascending the reverse slope 
of the ridge, under a raldng fire from the 
French guns, now estabhshed on the summit, 
and uniting with the former defenders of the 
ridge, charged up the hill, with loud shouts, 
and after a sharp conflict won the top. The 
French in turn were driven back from the 
heights at all points, and were obliged to fall 
back to their original position on the other 
side of the basin. Here they were attacked 
by the other divisions of the allied army, 
which had crossed the re-constructed bridge. 
And now the battle raged with the utmost 
fury. Wellington commanded liis army in 
person, and urged forward his men in all 
quarters of the field. The French, dismayed 
at the overwhelming force of the enemy, 
fought with the courage of despair; but 
slowly recoiling before the British, they fell 
back to the ground they had occupied before 
the commencement of the action. The bat- 
tle now died away, the discharges of musketry 
gradually ceased on either side, and the sound 
of distant cannon became less frequent. At 
length, despairing of success, Soult Avithdrew 
his troops into the intrenched camp in fi-ont 
of Bayonne, and the battle was at an end. 
During this bloody battle, 6,000 men were 
killed or wounded. The loss on both sides 
was nearly equal. The British generals Hope, 
Robinson, Barnes, Le Cor, and Ashworth, 
were severely wounded. After the bloody 
operations of WeUington and Soult near 
Bayonne, a considerable rest was allowed to 
both armies. Wellington fixed his winter 
quarters at St. Jean de Luz, and Soult re- 
mained in his intrenched camp near the town. 
It was not until the middle of February, 
1814, that the British general re-commenced 
active hostilities against the French. Soult's 
army had been materially reduced during the 
two months of idleness by large draughts 
which Napoleon had been compelled to make 
from the army at the south. Soult's force 
now barely amounted to 40,000 men. Wel- 
lington on the contrary had greatly increased 
the number of his army. He had received 
reinforcements from England, Spain, and 



BAYONKB. 



93 



Portugal, until his whole army swelled to the 
immense number of 100,000 men, and a 
hundred pieces of cannon. The Anglo- 
Portuguese army alone amounted to 70,000 
men, of whom 10,000 were cavahy, and the 
Spaniards were 30,000 more. Soult's army, 
therefore, was less than one half the number 
of that of his antagonist, yet he occupied a 
most advantageous position. His right wing 
was protected by the now powerful and 
folly armed fortress of Bayonne. Deeming 
his right sufficiently secured by the fortress, 
Soult, during the month of January, draught- 
ed oft" the bulk of his forces to his left, in the 
mountains toward St. Jean de Pied-de-port, 
and there strengthened his position by field- 
woi'ks. On the 14th of March, Wellington 
put his army in motion. Plill marched with 
22,000 men against Harispe, who lay at 
Hellette with 5,000 men, while another column 
marched against the enemy's pickets on the 
Joyeuse streamlet. The French made a 
most obstinate resistance, but, overwhelmed 
with numbers, they were forced back to St. 
Martin, and the fortress of St. Jean de Picd- 
de-port was immediately invested by Mina's 
battalions. At the same time the allied cen- 
ter, under Beresford, advanced against the 
French center, under Clauzel, who, in obe- 
dience to his orders, fell back successively 
across the Joyeuse, the Bidouse, and the 
Gaue de Maulcon, behind which the French 
finally toolv up a position. In the mean 
time Harispe, who had taken up a strong 
position on the Garris mountain, was assault- 
ed by the 2Sth and 30th British regiments, 
who, after losing 160 men, gained the hill. 
The French lost 300 Idlled and wounded, and 
200 prisoners. On the 17th the French on 
the left were driven across the Gaue de 
Mauleon, and in the night retired across the 
Gaue de Oleon, and took up a strong position 
near Launeterre. Hill pushed forward his 
advanced post, and was next morning on 
tliat river, but as the bridges were all broken 
down it could not be passed until the pon- 
toon-train arrived. Soult now concentrated 
his forces on the ridge of Launeterre on his 
left, to defend the passage of the Gaue de 
Oleon. 

On the evening of the 23d, the pontoons 
arrived, and the allied army immediately 
made preparations to force the passage of j 
the river. On the morning of the 24th, Hill ' 
effected his passage at the head of three di- I 
visions, while Beresford, passed near Monfort 
with the whole center. Soult, not deeming 
the position of Launeterre tenable against : 
the superior forces which by these move- 
ments threatened its front, drew back his i 
whole force, leaving Bayonne, garrisoned by ! 
6,000 men, to its own resources, and took 
post a little way forther back at Orthes, be- I 



hind the Gaue de Pau. On the 26th and the 
following day, the British army havmg passed 
the Gaue de Pau, found the enemy in a 
strong position near Orthes, with his right on 
j the heights along the high-road to Dax, and 
I occupying the village of St. Baes. Beresford, 
; after, an obstinate resistance, carried the vil- 
I lage of St. Baes ; the victors, pursuing the 
beaten columns of the enemy, began to move 
along the narrow elevated ridge which ex- 
tended from the village to the center of the 
French army, where they were arrested. 
The French troops, slowly retiring, kept up 
an incessant and rolling fire upon the pur- 
suers; whUe Reille's batteries skillfully planted 
against them, committed such fearful havoc 
upon their ranks, that they were obUged to 
turn back. At the same time a detachment 
which Picton sent forward to endeavor to 
gain a footing on a tongue of land jutting 
out from the lofty ridge on which the ene- 
my's center was posted, was repulsed with 
loss. Shouts of joy now rang through the 
ranks of the French. Both extremities of 
their Une were victorious, and Soult hoped 
for final victory. But now Wellington or- 
dered a simultaneous attack on the right of 
the center of the French Hne, and the left 
of their right wing. Three divisions, under 
Generals Picton and Clinton, and Lieutenant- 
colonel Colburn, advanced against the enemy 
at the point designated. The strife was brief 
and bloody. Borne back by the superior 
numbers of the enemy, the French aban- 
doned that important part of their posi- 
tion. Meanwhile Hill, having forced the 
passage of the Gaue above Orthes, moved 
forward upon the left of the enemy, who 
retired in good order. Soult now ordered a 
general retreat, and the French troops with 
admirable discipline retired in the finest ar- 
ray, the rear guard constantly facing about, 
and obstinately resisting whenever the inter- 
vention of a ridge affordeil a favorable op- 
portunity for making a stand. The victorious 
army eagerly pursued, and as soon as the 
French had gained the level plain, which was 
utterly void of rock or bush, the}'- closed with 
them so rapidly, and poured such constant 
and deadly volleys of musketry and cannon 
upon the fugitives, that the French troops 
fell into confusion and the field was covered 
with scattered bands. The pursuit was con- 
tinued till dark ; the French suffered severely; 
the whole country was covered with their 
dead, and the victors took six pieces of can- 
non and a great number of prisoners. At 
length the scattered bands, after crossing the 
stream of the Luy de Beam, five miles from 
the field of battle, reassembled on the oppo- 
site bank, with that readiness for which the 
French troops have ever been distinguished ; 
and the wearied British soldiers formed their 



BAZA— BEAUVAIS. 



bivouacs on the southern shore of the same 
stream. The French lost on tliis occasion 
3 900 killed and wounded, and prisoners on 
the field; the British lost 2,300.* 

During these operations on the right of 
the army, Sir John Hope availed himself of 
an opportunity which offered itself on the 
23d to cross the Adom below Bayonne, by 
means of rafts made of pontoons, and to take 
possession of the river at its mouth. The 
vessels destined to form the bridge could not 
arrive till the 24th, when they were safely 
brought into the river. The citadel of Bay- 
onne was invested on the 25th; and on 
the 26th, the bridge being completed, Sir 
John Hope attacked and carried the village of , 
St. Etienne, and estabUshed his posts witliin 
900 yards of the outworks of Bayonne. 
Hope now exerted himself with the utmost 
zeal and diligence to forward the siege of 
Bayonne. On the 7 th of April, the works 
were in such a state of forwardness that he 
was ready to attack the citadel, when ru- 
mors of the overthrow of Napoleon, and the 
restoration of the Bourbons reached him. 
Having afterward received official intelli- 
gence that peace had been restored, he for- 
warded the papers to Thouvenot the governor 
of the fortress of Bayonne, who returned 
for answer, "that you shall hear from me 
on the subject before long." He had deter- 
mined upon a brilliant exploit which he 
hoped would terminpte the siege. On the 
morning of the 14th of April, the French 
commencing with a false attack on the left 
of the Adom, as a bUnd, suddenly poured 
o.it of the citadel to the number of 3,000 
min. They broke through the hne of pickets, 
and with loud shouts they rushed into St. 
Etienne, and drove the enemy out of every 
quarter of that village, except one house, 
which was occupied l)y a picket, commanded 
by Captain Forster, which maintained its 
ground till General Hinuber came up with 
some of the German legion. A battalion 
of Portuguese arrived also, and after a tre- 
mendous struggle at the point of the bayo- 
nst, the village was retaken, and the French 
driven back toward the works. Meanwhile 
the guns of the citadel, guided 1 ly the flashes 
of musketry, fired incessantly on the scene 
of combat; the British giui-boat", which had 
dropped down the stream, opened upon the 
flanks of the fighting columns, without being 
able to distinguish friend from foe ; and amid 
the incessant clang of small arms, and alter- 
nate cheers of the combatants, tlic booming 
of a hundred guns added to the horror of 
this awful nocturnal combat. On the right 
the conflict was still more terrible. The 
French rushing with the fury of rage and 
hate upon the pickets and reserves, broke 
• See battle of Toulouse. 



through ; and the troops, broken into small 
bodies by the inclosures, fought in the dark- 
ness, bayonet to bayonet, sword to sword, 
and man to man, -with desperation and 
bravery. Hand to hand, unable scarcely to 
see their antagonists, the soldiers fought with 
the ferocity of beasts. Sir John Hope spur- 
ring his horse to the front, was met by a 
point-blank discharge from the French, and 
fell severely wounded. He was immediately 
captured by the enemy, who hastily conveyed 
liim into their works. At day-break the 
French troops retired within their walls. In 
this melancholy battle, fought after the peace 
had been concluded, 2,000 gallant men were 
slain, or cruelly wounded. The loss on both 
sides was equal. 

BAZA, A.D. 1489. — This Spanish city was, 
in the year 1489, taken from the Moors by 
the Spaniards, after a siege of nearly seven 
months. In the year 1810, a battle was 
fought near Baza, between the Spaniards, 
under Generals Blake and Freire, and the 
French, under Marshal Soult. The Span- 
iards were defeated with gi-eat loss. 

BEAUVAIS, A.D. 1472.— Beauvais is sit- 
uated at the confluence of the river Avelon 
with the Therian, in France. 

Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, in 
1472, was engaged in an inveterate war with 
Louis XI. Learning there was but a weak 
garrison in Beauvais, he marched toward that 
city, with the expectation of entering it with- 
out opposition ; and so it proved with the 
faubourgs, and the Burgundians thought them- 
selves masters of the place ; but the citizen's, 
the moment they were aware of their dan- 
ger, closed then- gates, and took their posts 
on the Avails lilve men. Not only these : tlie 
women and maidens insisted upon taking 
part in tliis honorable defense. Led by Joan 
Hachette, they ranged themselves on the 
parts of the walls the least protected ; and 
one of these heroines even obtained an ene- 
my's standard, and bore it in triumph into 
! the city. The principal attack of the besieg- 
I ers was directed against the gate of Bresle : 
j the cannon had already beaten it in ; the 
! breach was open, and the city would have 
been taken, if the inhabitants had not heaped 
; together on the spot an immense mass of 
' fagots and combustible matters. The flames 
j of this pile proved an efficient check to the 
Burgundians. The assault began at eight 
o'clock in the morning, and was still raging, 
j when, toward the decline of day, a noble 
; body of troops was seen entering by the 
I Paris gate. These brave fellows, having 
! marched fourteen leagues without halting, 
I gave their horses and equipments to the care 
j of the women and girls, and flew to those 
I parts of the; walls Avhere the fight was hottest. 
1 The besiegers, though numbering 80,000, 



BEAVERDAMS— BELGEADE. 



95 



could not resist the united valor of the gcur- 
rison and the new comers ; they soon wav- 
ered, and at length fled to their camp in dis- 
order. More defenders arrived by daybreak ; 
the citizens received them as liberators; they 
spread tables for them in the streets and 
public places, cheered them with refresh- 
ments, and afterward accompanied them to 
the walls. The Duke of Burgundy then per- 
ceived, but too late, a great error he had 
committed. Instead of investing Beauvais 
with a numerous army, he had attacked it 
on one side only : succors and convoys ar- 
rived from all parts. The duke himself began 
to experience the horrors of famine; the 
French, scouring the country, intercepted his 
convoys. Every thing announced a fruitless 
enterprise; but he resolved, before raising 
the siege, to attempt a general assault. The 
besieged, under the orders of Marshal De 
Ronault, prepared to receive him. The 
marshal wanted to relieve La Eoche-Tesson 
and Fontenailles ; but as they had arrived first, 
and had estabUshed themselves at the gate 
of Bresle, which was the post of danger, they 
complained of removal as an affront, and ob- 
tained permission to retain a post they had 
kept night and day. The trumpets sounded, 
the cannon roared, the Burgundians advanced, 
fire and sword in hand ; they planted their 
ladders, mounted the breaches, and attacked 
the besieged : the latter received them with 
firmness; they precipitated them, they crush- 
ed them, or beat them back from their walls. 
Eaging like a wild bull, Charles rallied his 
soldiers and led them back to the assault; 
but they were again repulsed with greater 
loss than before. How willingly we may- 
suppose, Charles sounded a retreat. Had it 
not been for the excessive precaution of some 
of the burgesses, his army must have been 
entirely destroyed : they had walled up the 
gates on the side next the Burgundians, 
which impeded the sortie. Charles raised 
the siege on the 10th of July. Louis XI. 
rewarded the valor and fidelity of the inhab- 
itants by an exemption from imposts. As 
the women had exliibited most ardor in de- 
fense of Beauvais, he ordered that they 
should take precedence of the men in the fete 
which was celebrated every year, on the 
10th of July, in honor of their deliverance 
from the power of a man known to be a san- 
guinary conqueror. — Rohson. 

BEAVERDAMS, 1813.— Colonel Boest- 
ler, with six hundred Americans, in 1813, 
was attacked at Beaverdams, in Canada, a 
few miles fi-om Queenstown, by a body of 
British and Indians, and after a brief conflict, 
surrendered his whole detachment prisoners 
of war. The British force consisted only of 
about three hundred men ; but they were 
maneuvered in a manner which led tlie 



Americans to beheve that they were the 
light troops of a very superior army which 
was in fact approaching; but had not yet 
come up. 

BEDLIS, A.D. 1554.— In the year 1554, the 
army of Solyman the Magnificent encount- 
ered the Persians near Bedlis, a town of 
Asiatic Turkey, and, after a bloody battle, 
Solyman's army was defeated and put to 
rout, with great slaughter. 

BELGRADE, a.d" 1717.— This celebrated 
town of European Turkey is the capital of 
Servia, and is situated on the side of a hill, 
fit the conflux of the Save and the Danube. 
It was formerly a very strong place, but it is 
now destitute of fortifications. The possession 
of Belgrade has been repeatedly disputed be- 
tween the Turks and the Austrians. In 
1521, it was taken by the Turks, after having 
been attacked in vain by Amurath II. in the 
preceding century. It was retaken by the 
imperial army, under the Elector of Bavaria, 
in 1688, but restored to the Turks two years 
afterward, with whom it remained till August, 
1717, when it surrendered to Prince Eugene, 
and was secured to Austria by the peace of 
Passarowitz. Belgrade is chiefly famous in 
miUtary history on account of the battle 
fought in its vicinity, in the year 1717, the 
result of which was the last victory obtained 
under the auspices of the celebrated Prince 
Eugene, and which decided the event of the 
war then depending between the German 
and Ottoman empires. Notwithstanding the 
heavy losses they had sustained during the 
campaign of 1716, the Turks were deter- 
mined to make the most vigorous efforts for 
the preservation of their Hungarian acquisi- 
tions. The Austrians were equally desirous 
of terminating the war by some important 
action. Prince Eugene leaving concentrated 
the Austrian forces in the bannot, on the 15th 
of June effected a passage of the Danube, in 
boats, with 30,000 of his troops, without the 
loss of a man, in presence of some Turkish 
corps, stationed on the southern bank, who, 
without attempting to obstruct his passage, 
threw themselves into Belgrade. Having 
constructed a bridge of boats, the rest of the 
army — the cavalry and artillcij- — were passed 
over; and by the 19th of the same month, 
Belgrade was completely invested. Eugene 
carefully fortified his camp, for he foresaw 
that the Turks would hazard a battle to re- 
lieve the place. He accordingly began to 
cast up hues of circumvallation and contra- 
vallation, strengthening them with redoubts, 
intrenchments, and other necessary field- 
works. Within these lines the army in- 
camped to the south of Belgrade , its front 
toward the open country, its left resting on 
the Danube, and its right extending toward 
the Save. A bridge of boats was thrown 



96 



BELGRADE. 



across the Save, and, as -well as that akeady 
constructed across the Danube, secured by- 
strong tites-du-pont. The Kne of contraval- 
lation, looking toward Semedria, consisted of 
a ditch sixteen feet wide, of proportionable 
depth, and defended by a strong parapet. 
The proper openings were left for the troops 
to issue and form in order of battle, without 
confusion, covered in front by ravehns and 
redans; upon the right, a large redoubt 
was erected, for the purpose of commanding 
a hollow ground which the Tiu-ks might 
otherwise have found serviceable in their ap- 
proaches. The field-pieces of all the different 
battalions, planted at regular distances along 
the front of the contravallation, secured it 
from any sudden assault. As, however, the 
army was not sufficiently numerous to oc- 
cupy the whole extent of ground between the 
two rivers, cross intrenchments Avere formed, 
connecting the principal lines on the right 
and left, and stiU preserving a communication 
with the different bridges. 

As the Turkish garrison consisted of be- 
tween twenty and thirty thousand regular 
troops, and had also a strong flotilla on the 
Danube, Prince Eugene found it absolutely 
necessary to maintam two flying camps, one 
of several thousand men at Senilin, to keep 
up a communication with Peterwarodin, 
whence the imperialists derived their sup- 
plies of provisions, under Count de Hauben ; 
and another of five battaUons and some 
cavalry, to cover the head of the bridge over 
the Danube. Fc^ur ships of war protected 
the navigation of that river, and watched the 
motions of the Turkish flotilla. But a violent 
storm, which happened on the 13th of July, 
had rendered nearly abortive the projects of 
the besiegers. The bridges of the Danube 
and Save were broken by the violence of the 
tempest. Several vessels, detached from the 
rest, were carried floating at random down 
the stream, and the Turks, taking advantage 
of this accident, made a sally across the Save, 
and attacked the redoubt which covered the 
head of the bridge. The gallant defense of a 
captain and sixty-four men, who alone gar- 
risoned the post, preserved it, together with 
that part of the bridge which remained on 
the north side of the river from falling into 
the hands of the enemy. To prevent such 
sorties in future, the camp of Scmlin was 
strongly reinforced, and the command in- 
trusted to Count Martigny. More serious 
operations commenced ; and during the night 
of the 18th, trenches were opened against 
Belgrade, to the north of the Save, by 1,200 
pioneers, covered by a large detachment 
under General Massigli. The Turks, how- 
ever, on the following morning, opened a 
terrible fire upon them from all tlie batteries 
of the place, the flotilla on the Danube, and 



the islands in that river, and, making a sortie 
with 4,000 men in boats, assaulted so fu- 
riously the guard of the trenches, that, if 
Prince Eugene had not animated the troops 
by his personal presence and bravery, in re- 
pulsing the attack, a total defeat must have 
ensued. As it Avas, General Massigli, with 
twenty other officers of note, and 400 sol- 
diers perished in this affair. It became 
necessary to augment the guard of the 
trenches to nine battahons, and to construct 
new hues. In six days a complete chain of 
works was established from the bridge along 
the Save to its influx with the Danube, and 
tlience, ascending the course of the latter 
river, to the camp of Semlin, defended with 
redoubts, and well provided with artillery. 
From the moment of the completion of these 
formidable works the garrison attempted no 
further sallies. 

On the 23d of July, the cannonade and 
bombardment commenced from all the Aus- 
trian batteries, with such terrible effect that, 
in seven days, the lower part of the town 
was reduced to a heap of ruins. But the 
excellent state of their fortifications on the 
side of the besieging camp, and the expecta- 
tion of speedy aid, animated the besieged to 
maintain a most vigorous resistance. And 
their expectations were not delusive. The 
grand vizier, having drained the Turkish 
provinces of soldiers to complete liis army, 
liad already commenced liis march ; and on 
the 28th his advanced guard appeared in 
sight, and began to skirmish with the Aus- 
trian outposts. The number of these troops 
daily increased, and on the last of July, the 
vizier, with his whole army, arrived in the 
presence of the imperialists. Instead of at- 
tacking the Austriuns immediately, as Eugene 
had expected, the Turkish commander en- 
camped upon the heights above the Austrian 
camp with all his forces, with his right flank 
resting on the Danube, and his left stretching 
toward the Save. He next proceeded to 
fortify his position by throwing up intrench- 
ments, to erect batteries, and to make ap- 
proaches against the Austrian works, as if 
they had literally been a town besieged. 
This mode of attack compelled Eugene to 
adopt new dispositions. He mounted ad- 
ditional artillery in his own Hues ; defended 
all the avenues with chevaux-de-frize ; mined 
the groimd in front of the great redoubt, 
and collected in part of his troops from the 
opposite bank of the Save. The Turks 
pushed forward their works with the utmost 
vigor, in spite of the dreadful havoc inces- 
santly made among them by the Austrian 
bombs and bullets, until they had approached 
to within musket-shot of the contravallation. 
The Turkish army consisted of 200,000 men ; 
and their works were mounted with 140 



BELGRADE. 



01 



pieces of cannon and mortaxs. The garrison, 
who now sustained some respite from the 
fire of the Austrian batteries, directed their 
own upon the tents of the besieged ; and 
thus situated between two armies, who from 
their situation, commanded the greater part 
his position, Eugene found himself infiladed 
by the fire of upward of 250 pieces of artil- 
lery. His situation became more precarious 
every day. The dysentery, whicla for the 
last two months had done great mischief in 
liis camp, now raged to such a degi'ee that 
hundreds were buried daily. A mortahty 
prevailed among the horses, in consequence 
of which half the cavalry were dismounted ; 
and an army which, at the opening of the 
campaign, amounted to 80,000 men, could 
not now muster 60,000 effective soldiers. 
Though no immediate scarcity of provisions 
or ammunition was experienced, yet the 
disappointment of the expectations Prince 
Eugene had conceived, that the Turks would 
be compelled to retire for want of provisions, 
obhged him to determine without delay on 
some decisive measure ; especially as the 
vizier had occupied an eminence adjoining 
the Save, with a considerable body of troops, 
and might, by sending 20,000 or 30,000 men 
across the river, have rendered a retreat, in 
case of defeat, impracticable to the Austrians. 
Under these circumstances it was resolved, 
in a general council of war, held on the 15th 
of August, to anticipate the movements of 
the enemy, by making a decisive attack on 
their camp. The detachments beyond the 
Save were immediately called in, except 
about 1,400 foot and 300 horse. Seven regi- 
ments of cavalry, and ten battahons, with all 
the dismounted horse and dragoons, were 
left in the hues to observe the garrison. 
Eleven regiments of cavalry, commanded by 
Field Marshal Palfi and General Merci, com- 
posed two lines on the right, and marched 
out before midnight. The left wing, con- 
sisting of twelve reghnents, marched out at 
the same time, commanded by Generals 
Montecueuti and Martigny. The infantry, 
under Prince Alexander of Wirtemberg, in 
chief, was drawn up in the center ; the first 
line of twenty-two battalions, under the 
direction of Count Maximilian of Starem- 
burg, and Count Harrach ; the second of 
eighteen battahons, under the command of 
the Prince of Bevern. The reserve corps, 
consisting of eighteen battalions, under Mar- 
shal Seclandorf, remained in the works, ready 
to act as occasion should require. The effect- 
ive force of the two lines, on whom the suc- 
cess of the day in a great measure depended, 
did not amount to more than 40,000 men. 
The morning of the 16th was dark and foggy. 
At one o'clock in the morning, the Austrians, 
under cover of the fog, marched out of their 

1 



trenches; the right advancing toward the 
redoubt, which was assigned as its post of 
formation, and the left over the open ground 
adjoining the Danube. Two hours were 
spent in making the necessary preparatory 
movements, but the fog, which had hitherto 
favored the Austrians, increased to such a 
degree as to become productive of serious 
inconvenience. The right wing, missing its 
way, stumbled upon one of the Turkish ad- 
vanced works, instead of the redoubt. The 
surprise was equal on both sides ; but a dis- 
charge which immediately opened upon the 
Austrian cavalry, from the guard of the 
Turkish trenches, spread the alarm through- 
out the whole of the grand vizier's army. 
His troops hastily rushed from every part of 
the camp toward the scene of action, and in 
a few minutes Count Palfi became hotly en- 
gaged. The Austrians forming in haste, and 
their battahons, through fear of losing the 
support of the cavalry, inclining successively 
to the right flank, a wide vacancy was left in 
the center, and afforded the Turks an ad- 
vantage of which they did not fail to profit. 
In the mean time the conflict, now faiily en- 
gaged on the right, commenced on the op- 
posite flank. Prince Eugene had intended to 
begin the attack with both wings at the same 
time ; but convinced by the heavy firing he 
heard toward the Save, that Palfi had 
already begun the battle, he was himself 
obliged to come to blows before the battahons 
of liis left wing were completely formed. It 
was now between four and five o'clock in the 
morning, The fog continued so thick, that 
the combatants could not discern each other, 
until they had arrived almost close to the muz- 
zles of their antagonists' pieces. In the midst 
of this obscurity, several small detachments of 
the Austrians, carried away by their desire to 
distinguish themselves, rushed into the thick- 
est of the enemy, and were almost instantly 
cut to pieces. The Austrians, however, 
rapidly gained ground. The darkness com- 
pelled tliem to march with their muskets 
constantly presented, and the moment they 
perceived their enemies, they poured in such 
a close and well chrected fire, that the Turk- 
ish battalions, as they advanced in succession 
were broken, dismayed, and precipitated 
headlong into their trenches, where the 
bayonet and saber made terrible havoc among 
them. The Austrian cavalry were not equally 
successful ; the broken nature of the ground, 
compelled them to perform frequent evolu- 
tions in order to find some passages of easier 
access, and the Turks who lined the trenches 
galled them with severe and incessant firing. 
The center of the Turkish camp also, finding 
nothing to oppose them, threw several bat- 
talions into the void space between the flanks 
of the Austrian army, and completely inter- 



98 



BELCHITE. 



cepting all communication, opened a heavy 
fire from right to left upon the divided forces. 
Victory seemed about to declare for the 
Turks; but at this critical moment the fog 
was suddenly dispelled, and Prince Eugene 
at a glance discovered the disposition of both 
armies and his own perilous situation. The 
advance of his second hne prevented his total 
defeat. The Prince of Bevern, who com- 
manded it, advanced upon the Turks, thrown 
into disorder by their own success, and 
charged them with such fury that the infidels, 
unable to sustain the shock, fled in disorder, 
and were pursued up to their very trenches, 
leaving the space beliind them strewn with 
their dead. 

This success changed the state of affairs. 
No time was lost in filhng up the interval 
that had been so unwarily left, and in form- 
ing the two wings of the Austrians, for a 
new attack. The right wing commenced 
the attack. Advancing toward the Turkish 
worivs with the utmost rapidity', they carried 
with invincible impetuositjr the batteries, 
whose fii-e they had so long sustained, and 
turned the cannon against tlio intrenchments 
which protected the Turkish camp. The left 
wing encountered a stronger resistance. The 
principal forces of the enemy were concen- 
trated on that Aving ; and their number far 
exceeding that of the Austrians, was con- 
stantly increased by the arrival of troops, 
whom the success of PalS. had driven from 
the right. The Austrians advanced bravely 
to assail the enemy's works, but were driven 
back by the janizaries, who defended them- 
selves with the utmost courage. But return- 
ing to the charge, the Austrians beat the 
Turks from their furthest advanced intrench- 
ment, and pusliing their advantage, advanced 
regularly up to the second intrenched hne, 
without firing a musket tiU they came 
within ten paces of the enemy. This work 
was carried in less time than the first; the 
Turkish intrenchments were forced one after 
another, as well as several coupures with 
which the camp was defended ; and notwith- 
standing resistance was attenupted at each of 
them, ami the Austrians were constantly ex- 
posed to a most terrible fire, yet the courage 
and skill of Prince Eugene, surmounted every 
obstacle, and obliged victory, after a struggle 
of six hours, to declare in his favor. The la~:t 
serious stand made by the infidels, was at a 
grand battery, mounted with 18 pieces of 
cannon, and defended by 20,000 janizaries, 
sustained by 10,000 spohis, tlie bravest troops 
in the Turkish army. It was necessary to 
halt and form the Austrian troops an(!W, f )r 
this perilous attempt; but when the word 
was given, they rushed forward with an im- 
petuosity wliich overthrew every thing before 
them. The Austrian grenadiers, in defiance 



of the fire from the battery, bore down all 
opposition, mounted through the embrasures, 
and drove the Turks from their guns, while 
the rest of the army made sucli slaughter 
that the bodies of the slain rose in heaps 
around the redoubt. The routed forces driven 
on aU sides from their intrenchments, retired 
into the plains, as if to form once more for 
the defense of their camp ; but observing that 
the Austrians had gained tlie heights, and were 
advancing toward them in good order, they 
scattered and fled in every direction, leaving 
their camp, baggage, and ammunition at the 
mercy of the conquerors. The victory was 
complete by nine o'clock in the morning. 
The plunder of the infidels' camp, which re- 
sembled a large city, was given to the soldiers. 
Tliis battle, which was fought on the 16th 
of August, 1717, cost the Turks 10,000 of 
their best troops, killed in the action, and 
3,000 in the pm-suit. About 5,000 were 
Avounded, and nearly the same number were 
made prisoners. Within the Turkish camp 
and lines, were found 131 pieces of brass, 
cannon, 30 mortars, and an immense quanti- 
ty of powder, bullets, bombs, and gi-enades. 
Fifty-two colors, nine horse-tails, and other 
military trophies feU into the hands of the 
victors. The Austrians lost 3,000 men killed, 
among whom were Generals Haubim and 
Dalbery, and 4,500 wounded. But the Turk- 
ish troops had used their weapons to such 
purpose, that only 2.000 of the wounded 
Austrians recovered. In consequence of this 
great victory, Belgrade surrendered on the 
19th, the garrison still consisting of more than 
25,000, being allowed to walk out with all 
their effects. The fortifications of the town, 
toward the land, were in a most excellent 
state, and more than 400 pieces of cannon 
and mortars were found on the works, in 
the arsenals, and on board the flotilla on the 
Danube. . 

Belgrade remained twenty-two years in 
the hands of the Austrians. In 1739, it was 
given up to the Turks on condition that they 
would demolish its fortifications. But so im- 
portant did the Austrians consider the place, 
that they again invested it in 1789, under 
Field Marshal Lundohn, Avho, in his ap- 
proaches, availed himself of the old hne of 
circumvallation, conducted by Prince Eugene, 
which the Turks had carelessly neglected to 
fill up. Tlie suburbs were soon carried, sword 
in hand, and the garrison surrendered on 
honorable terms. About 300 pieces of artil- 
lery and vast military stores were found in 
the fortress on it^j capture. 

In 1791, Belgrade was again restored to 
the Turks by the peace of Lestovi, and has 
since remained under their authority. 

BELCHITE, A.D. 1809.— This town is in 
Spain, 22 miles south of Saragossa. On the 



BELZTER— BENNINGTON HEIGHTS. 



18th of June, 1809, an engagement took 
place near Belchite, between the French un- 
der Suchet, and Spaniards under General 
Blake, in which the French were victorious. 

BELZYER.— See Warsaw. 

BEMUS'S HEIGHTS.— See Stillwater. 

BENDER, 1770-1809.— Bender in Russia, 
in the environs of which is Vamitza, the re- 
treat of Charles XII. after the battle of Pol- 
towa, was taken by the Russians in 1770 ; and 
was also stormed, and taken by the Russian 
troops in 1809. 

BENEVENTO, a.d. 126G.— In the year 
12GG, a battle was fought near Benevento, 
in southern Italy, 32 miles N. E. of Naples, 
betwen the troops of Charles of Anjou, and 
those of Manfred, King of Naples. The army 
of the king was defeated witli great loss, and 
Manfred was slain during the engagement. 

BENNINGTON HEIGHTS, 1777.— Ben- 
nington in Vermont, is 117 miles south-west 
of Montpelier, the capital of that State, and 
is famous in the history of our country, as the 
spot near which a battle was fought on the 
16th of August, 1777, between a detachment 
of Burgoyne's army, and that of the Ameri- 
cans. 

The British army, in the month of August, 
1777, was on its way from Skenesborough to- 
ward Fort Edward on the Hudson river, and 
Burgoyne found it highly diflScult to obtain 
provisions for his soldiers. He knew that the 
Americans had accumulated a considerable 
quantity of provisions at Bennington, about 
twenty miles north-east of the Hudson, 
whence they were accustomed to send sup- 
plies to their army as occasion required, and 
he resolved to send a detachment thither for 
the purpose of surpising the place, and bring- 
ing off the provisions of the enemy. Accord- 
ingly he detached Lieutenant-colonel Baum, 
a German officer of great bravery, with about 
500 troops, consisting of Hessians, Canadians, 
Tories, and Indians. Two hundred were ad- 
mirable cavalry. Baum was ordered to 
scour the country from Rockingham to Otter 
creek; to descend the Connecticut river as 
far as Brattleborough ; he was not to allow 
his regular troops to scatter, but to keep 
them always in a compact body ; the front 
and rear of his column were to be protected 
against ambuscade, by light troops, and he 
was to return by the road to Albany, where 
he was to rejoin Burgoyne. He was also in- 
structed to make prisoners of all officers, civil 
or mihtary, acting under the Congress, and to 
tax the towns where they halted, with such 
articles as they wanted, and to seize on all 
such horses as were suitable for cavalry use, 
with as many saddles and bridles as could be 
found. The British general insisted that 
Baum should Return with thirteen hundred 
3, at least, and ordered that they should 



be " tied in strings of ten each, in order that 
one man might lead ten horses." " Tliis re- 
doubtable commander," says Dr. Thatcher, in 
his military journal, " must have been one of 
the happiest men of the age, to imagine such 
prodigious achievements were at his com- 
mand ; that such invaluable resources were 
witliin his grasp. But, alas ! the wisest of 
men are liable to disappointments in their 
sanguine calculations, and to have their favor- 
ite projects frustrated by the causalties of 
war." This is remarkably verified in the 
present instance. In order to facilitate the 
movements of this detachment, Burgoyne 
moved lais whole army down the river and 
encamped at a place nearly opposite Sara- 
toga. 

He thus held the American troops, under 
General Schuyler, who had intrenched them- 
selves at StiUwater, in check, and prevented 
them from sending succor to Bennington. 
Burgoyne also sent Lieuteuant-colonel Brey- 
man, with a regiment of Brunswick grena- 
chers and light infantry, toward Bennington, 
with directions to post himself at Batton Kill, 
in order, if necessary, to support Baum. On 
the 13th of August, Baum set forward on his 
march, advancing rapidly ; but with the ut- 
most caution. Bennington, at this time, was 
occupied by General Stark, with a small body 
of New Hampshire militia. On the evening 
of the 13th, Baum reached Cambridge, and 
near this place, an advanced body of Indians 
and Tories feU. in with a party of Americans, 
who were escorting some cattle. The Ameri- 
cans received the attack of the enemy with 
a well-direqted fire ; but were forced to fly 
before superior numbers, leaving five prison- 
ers and the cattle in the hands of the enemy. 
Toward evening the fugitives arrived at Ben- 
nington, and informed Stark that a large 
body of British and Indians were advancing 
directly toward the town. He immediately 
sent to Colonel "Warner, who was stationed 
with his regiment at Manchester, to march to 
his assistance at once; and detached Lieu- ' 
tenant-colonel Gregg to oppose the advance 
of the enemy. He also called on the militia 
in the neighborhood, and the inhabitants 
flocked to his standard from all sides. After 
the arrival of Colonel Warner, at Bennington, 
the whole American army, including the 
mihtia, consisted of about 2,000 men. Gen- 
eral Baum, perceiving that the Americans 
were too strong to be attacked by liis pres- 
ent force, sent to Colonel Breyman, urging 
him to advance speedUy to his succor. Mean- 
while he posted his army on a height near a 
bend in the Walloomsloick river, about four 
miles from Bennington, where he commenced 
intrenching. Stark, learning of the strength 
of the British army, raUied his brigade, and on 
the morning of the 14th set forward with his 



100 



BENNINGTON HEIGHTS. 



■whole army, for the purpose of supporting 
Colonel Gregg. As the Americans advanced 
to within a mile of the enemy's position, they 
met Colonel Gregg retreating. Stark fell 
back about a mile, and prepared to give bat- 
tle to the enemy the next day. The 15th of 
August was exceedingly rainy, and both 
armies remained inactive with the exception 
of an occasional skirmish between detached 
parties. During the night Stark was re- 
inforced by a body of Berkshire militia under 
Colonel Syraonds. Among these troops was 
the Rev . Mr. Allen, of Pittsfield, who was 
impatient to a degree to be led against the 
enemy. Early in the morning of the 16th, 
before daybreak, the belligerent parson ap- 
proached Stark, and exclaimed, " General, 
the people of Berkshire have often been sum- 
moned out to fight, but have never had a 
chance yet, and if you do not allow them to 
fight now, they say they will never turn out 
again." '"Well," replied Stark, "do you 
wish to march out now, while it is dark and 
rainy." " No ; not just this moment," an- 
swered the warlike parson. " Then," re- 
turned Stark, " if the Lord shall once more 
give us sunshine, and I do not give you fight- 
ing enough, I '11 never ask you to come out 
again." 

The morning broke brightly and beauti- | 
fully ; the sun bathing tlie fresh landscape in I 
a sea of golden light. Stark advanced within 
half a mile of the enemy, and carefully re- i 
connoitered their position. He then pro- ! 
ceeded to act upon the plan of attack, which 
he had formed during the night. Two hun- 
dred men, under Colonel Nichols, were de- i 
tached with orders to follow a circuitous 
route, and attack the left wing of the enemy 
in the rear ; 300 men under Colonel Herrick 
were sent to attack the rear of their right, i 
and both officers were ordered to join their i 
forces before making a general assault. 
Colonel Nichols marched up along the banks 
of a Uttle stream that empties into the Wal- 
loomscoick, a short distance above the bridge, 
on the Bennington road, and gaining the 
rear of the enemy's left, at three o'clock in 
the afternoon furiously assailed the Hes- 
sians in their intrenchnicnts. Simultaneous 
with this attack, Herrick IcU upon the rear 
of the right wing of the enemy, and the 
battle at the two wings of the British army 
raged furiously. At the sound of the mus- 
ketry, Stark advanced with the main body 
of his army. He reached the base of the 
lull on which the Hessians were intrenched, 
and saw the enemy on the slope of the 
heights and in the plain rapidly forming in 
battle array, while the intrenchments on the 
hiU were covered with smoke, and the sharp 
rattle of musketry proved that the fight in 
that quarter was raging fiercely. "See, 



men, see I" shouted Stark, pointing to the 
enemy, " there are the red coats. Before 
night they are ours, or Molly Stark will be a 
widow I" Tliis laconic speech was received 
by his soldiers with a shout which sent ter- 
ror into the ranks of the loyahsts, and the 
Americans rushing with the utmost impetu- 
osity on the troops of the enemy which 
guarded the bridge, quickly drove them across 
the creek back on their very intrenclunents. 
The Americans pursued eagerly, and ascend- 
ing the steep acchvity, attacked the Hessians 
in their works. The Hessians, after a short 
resistance fled, and the Indians having aban- 
doned the allies at the commencement of the 
aflair, the whole weight of the battle fell on 
the gallant troops of Reidesel, who were 
under the direct command of Colonel Baum. 
In vain did the Americans endeavor to break 
their unyielding columns ; they stood firm, 
and replied to tlie incessant volleys of the 
enemy with vigor, and finally having ex- 
pended all their ammunition, they charged 
down upon the patriots with their swords. 
But received by a well directed volley, and 
; an answering charge, wliich shattered their 
' columns, and threw them into the utmost 
confusion, Baum vainly endeavored to rally 
his men ; they turned their horses and fled 
in chsorder across the plain, leaving their ar- 
tillery and baggage behind. The Americans 
not caring to pursue, dispersed to gather the 
plunder. 

At this moment Colonel Breyman with re- 
inforcements for Baum, arrived. He had been 
detained on the road by the heavy rain, and, 
although he had urged his men forwanl with 
all possible speed, he did not arrive to take 
part in the action. He met the flying party 
of dragoons, who rallying, joined him, and 
A^'ith the whole force, he advanced toward 
the abandoned intrenchments on the height. 
Stark saw the danger at once. Galloping 
across the plain in various directions he 
strove to rally his men, but they were so 
much scattered that he could only collect a 
few of liis forces before the enemy was upon 
him, and for the time being, the tide of vic- 
tory seemed to have changed. But at tliis 
critical moment. Colonel Warner, who with 
his regiment, had left Bennington in the 
morning, arrived and vigorously attacked the 
rear of the British and Germans. The mili- 
tia, that were scattered in quest of plunder, 
on hearing the report of the artillery, imme- 
diately rallied, and Stark thus reinforced, 
charged luriously into the faces of the ene- 
my. The British, overpowered by numbers, 
fell back, fighting fiercely as they retreated, 
toward the Hoosick. Tha Americans pur- 
sued until darkness prevented them from 
distinguishing friend from foe, and then Stark 
reluctantly withdrew his troops. Seven huu- 



BERESINA. 



101 



dred of the royalists were made prisoners. 
" Another hour of dayhght," said Stark, in 
his official report, "and I would have cap- 
tured the whole of them." The royahsts lost, 
in both engagements, 200 killed and 34 
wounded, besides the prisoners. Among the 
prisoners was Colonel Baum, who was mor- 
tally wounded. He died shortly afterward. 
The total loss of the British was 934 men. 
The Americans lost in killed and wounded 
about 200. Four pieces of cannon, nearly 
1,000 muskets, and 250 sabers fell into the 
hands of the victors. Stark for liis bravery 
and skill evinced in this battle, was promoted 
to the rank of brigadier-general; and the 
thanks of Congress were tendered to General 
Stark, and the officers and troops under liis 
command, for their brave and successful at- 
tack upon and signal victory over the enemy 
on tliis occasion. The victory was of the ut- 
most importance. It prevented Burgoyne 
from securing supplies for his troops, and 
was one of the causes which compelled him 
to make that disastrous movement that final- 
ly led to the surrender of his whole army 
at Saratoga. 

BERESINA, A.D. 1812.— The Beresina, a 
river of Russia in Europe, rises in the dis- 
trict of Dessna, which it traverses from north 
to south, and falls into the Dnieper, a Uttle 
below Ritchitza. 

The broken remnants of Napoleon's once 
magnificent army, on their retreat from 
Moscow, appi'oached the river Beresina. 
They were surrounded on all sides by the 
Russian troops, who, exasperated to madness 
by the invasion of their country, seemed de- 
termined to exterminate the army of the 



French emperor. Napoleon sent Oudinot beginning to acquire consistency. Tehaplitz, 



the opposite shore. Napoleon gazed anx- 
iously across the river. An army of 30,000 
men, were drawn up to dispute his passage, 
and thirty pieces of cannon frowned from the 
broken parapets of the destroyed bridge. 
The river full of broken ice presented ap- 
parently an insurmountable barrier to his 
progress. But Napoleon was not disheart- 
ened. To conceal his real intentions he en- 
deavored to deceive the enemy as to his real 
point of passage. lie even went so far as to 
make considerable preparations for a bridge 
lower down the river, as if he designed to 
efiect a passage there. In the mean time he 
collected his Ibrces on the heights of Borris- 
sou, and finding that the enemy were attract- 
ed by his demonstrations further down the 
river, under the cover of a battery of forty 
pieces he began, on the night of the 25th, to 
throw two bridges over the river, nearly op- 
posite Studienka. The task was arduous, 
surrounded by every difficulty. But nothing 
could arrest the French engineers. All night 
they toiled in the cold water ; wliile the 
cavalry of General Carbineau swam across 
the river to drive back the Russian detach- 
ments which were beginning to collect on the 
opposite shore. The enemy were defeated ; 
and the bridge for infantry, by the incredible 
exertions of the French engineers, was com- 
pleted by daybreak, and a brigade of infantry 
was soon transported in safety to the opposite 
shore. 

In tlie morning of the 26th, the French, 
who had passed a sleepless night, watcliing 
the Russian forces, beheld with astonishment, 
their bivouacs deserted, and their batteries 
in retreat, at the very time the bridge 



forward to defend the bridge of Borrissou, 
the only passage over the river, and confi- 
dently expecting that his orders had been 
fulfilled, he continued to advance. But on 
the 23d of November, 1812, the advanced 
guard of the Russian army was met by the 
van-guard of Oudinot. The Russians were 
defeated with a loss of above 1000 men; but 
in their flight across the river they destroyed 
the bridge of Borrissou. Napoleon's situation 
was now indeed critical. Before him, on the 
further bank of a wide and deep river, stood 
a powerful enemy, with heavy artillery, 
awaiting liis arrival to dispute his passage, 
while behind him threatened an immense 
host, hastening onward to his destruction. 
On the 24th of November the army ap- 
proached the Beresina. And now were 
drawn up on either side of that river, two 
armies of difierent aspects. The French 
soldiers, squalid, unshorn, without uniforms, 
wrapped in blankets, female garments, and 
rags, presented a striking contrast to the 
weU-clothed, and well-fed Russian troops on 



who commanded the Russian troops on the 
western side of the river, had been ordered, 
that very night, to march further down the 
river, to resist the attack which was antici- 
pated in that quarter. Soon, however, Te- 
haplitz was informed of the real movements 
of the French. He made all haste to return j 
but he found the French advance guard so 
firmly estabUshed, that it was impossible to 
dislodge them from their position. The 
French soon completed a second bridge, for 
the passage of the carriages and aiiiUery : 
fifty pieces of cannon, besides the artillery of 
the whole corps, defiled in a short time to 
the western bank. Oudinot's corps was 
transported across, and the Russians were 
driven back to the thickets at a distance from 
the river. Now Napoleon found himself 
master of the important defiles that lead to 
Zembia ; and the passage of the Beresina 
was secured to his army. After repeated 
advices from TehapUtz, Tchichagoff", the Rus- 
sian general, who during these critical opera- 
tions was lying with the main body of his 



102 



BERESINA. 



forces at Cliabocliwiezi, at length became 
convinced that the passage was in reaUty 
commenced at Studienka ; and made all 
haste to march his army in that direction. 
In the meantime, Wittgenstein, commander 
of the Eussian forces in the rear of Napo- 
leon's army, attempted to march directly to 
Studienka, in order to destroy the rear guard 
on the left bank ; but the state of the roads 
compelled him to reUnquish that project, and 
he marched toward Staroi-Burissou, in the 
hope either to cut off Victor, if he had not 
yet passed that place," or to follow liim up in 
the direction of Studienka. Victor's coi-ps was 
extended along the left bank of the river as 
far as Borrissou, which was occupied by 
General Partonneaux, with a strong division. 
Napoleon's whole army consisted of 70,000 
men; and his united artillery amounted to 
250 pieces. But of his men 40,000 only were 
perfectly armed and in good fighting condi- 
tion. During the whole of the 27th, the 
French army continued to pass over the 
river. Victor's corps gradually approached 
the bridge ; but the division of Partonneaux, 
which formed liis rear guard, remained in 
Borissou, and was commanded not to move 
along the Staroi-Borissou till six m the even- 
ing. But before that hour, Wittgenstein's 
force firmly established themselves across the 
great road, completely cutting off aU com- 
munication between the French and the 
river. Partonneaux, fitnding his progress in- 
terrupted by so formidable a force, determin- 
ed to cut his way through. The French ad- 
vanced gallantly to the charge; but the 
overwhelming number of the enemy, over- 
powered them, and they were driven back 
with great loss. At that moment Platoff 
came up with his Cossacks, and cut off the 
retreat of the French to Borrissou. Sur- 
rounded on all sides by enemies, Partonneaux 
at length was obhged to capitulate. On 
the morning of the 28th, the Russians be- 
gan a general attack on the French, on both 
sides of the river. Marshal Oudinot's corps, 
which had crossed the river the previous 
day, was fiercely assailed by the army of 
Tehaplitz. The French, however, fighting 
with the courage of despair, drove back the 
enemy at all quarters, and fully protected the 
bridge on that bank of the river. In the 
meantime, Wittgenstein, with 40,000 men, 
commenced a vigorous attack on the corps 
of Victor, which numbered about 25,000. 
An obstinate and bloody struggle ensued. 
At length tht; Russian general, Diebitch, es- 
tablished a battery of 12 pieces, so far in ad- 
vance as to command the bridge, and the 
confused masses of soldiers, chariots, and 
baggage wagons, whicli wt^re assembled in its 
vicinity. Soon he opened upon them a 
furious and incessant discharge which told 



with terrible effect upon the masses of Uving 
flesh. Then came a spectacle unparalleled in 
the history of war. The whole crowd of 
French soldiers, rushed toward the bridges, 
crusliing each other, and blockading the pas- 
sage in their efforts to get over. The loud 
rattle of the musketry of Victor's gallant 
corps, as they strove to cover the retreat of 
the bleeding army, and the roar of the Rus- 
sian guns, which, steadily advancing, and 
forming in a semicircle, pouring death and 
destruction upon the struggling masses on 
the bridge, mingled with the fierce shouts of 
the Russians, who were burning with an 
ardent desire to aniuliilate their enemies, and 
the hoarse screams of the retreating French, 
created a chaos of sounds which added to 
the terrors of the day. In the midst of all 
this confusion the artillery bridge broke, and 
the crowd upon it, hurled forward by those 
behind, were precipitated into the water, and 
died miserably. Cavalry, artUlery, and in- 
fantry now rushed promiscuously to the 
other bridge. Soon this was also choked up 
by the struggling masses. The Russian bat- 
teries vomited forth upon them a pitiless and 
incessant storm of iron. Thousands died 
upon the bridge, beneath tliis withering 
tempest; thousands were crushed beneath 
the feet of their companions, and thousands 
were hurled Irom the bridge, and perished 
miserably amid the masses of ice wliich were 
floating on the surface of the river. Yet on- 
ward struggled that frantic throng of men, 
women, and clnldren; and in that struggle 
was exhibited every passion of our nature. 
Fear, rage, cruelty, selfishness, generosity, 
love, and pity, were mingled together. The 
coward, made brave by liis fears, drew his 
own sword upon his comrades, and en- 
deavored to hew a path for himself through 
the mass, until he was seized and precipitated 
into the water by those whom he assailed. 
The strong crushing along, heedless of the 
weak, trampled them down. 

But in brigl:^ and glorious contrast to such 
baseness, stand the heroism and unselfishness 
of thousands of noble men, who, casting aside 
all thoughts of their own peril, endeavored to 
preserve the young and tender. Soldieis, 
seizing infants from dying mothers, vowed, 
with scalding tears, to cherish them as their 
own. Privates sacrificed their fives to pre- 
serve their ofiicers, while officers harnessed 
themselves to sledges to extricate their wound- 
ed soldiers. During the whole of this fearful 
day, Victor, with his rear guard, had nobly 
sustained the arduous duty of protecting the 
passage. Toward evening, when nearly the 
whole French army were over, he gave orders 
to retreat, for the time had arrived when he 
should save his army, if ever. When he ar- 
rived at the entrance of the bridge, masses 



BERGEN— BERGEN-OP-ZOOM. 



103 



were still struggling upon it. Stern necessity 
compelled his troops to open a passage for 
themselves through the helpless multitude. In 
vain did he endeavor to persuade them to pass 
over to the opposite shore. Despair and misery- 
had rendered them incapable of the exer- 
tion. At length tlie morning dav4^ned. The 
Russian troops approached the bridge. Vic- 
tor's troops passed over to the oj)posite shore. 
Again did he entreat the multitude on the 
opposite shore to follow liim. They heeded 
him not. Reluctantly the French marshal 
commanded the bridge to be set on fire. 
And now, when the flames arose, a frightflil 
cry came up from those who had remained 
behind. Too late were they awakened to 
the horrors of their situation. Multitudes 
rushed across the burning bridge ; but to 
avoid a horrible death by fire, they chose one 
almost as terrible, by leaping into the river. 
The others watched the receding lines of 
their countrymen, and when they disappeared, 
remained sitting on the shore in hopeless 
despondency, until death ended their miseries. 
In the spring, when the ice dissolved, 12,000 
dead bodies were found along the banks of 
the river Beresina. After crossing the river, 
the French army, now reduced to 50,000 
men, marched in disorderly and detached 
groups along the road to Wilna. 

BERGEN, .\.D. 1759.— Bergen is a town 
in the electorate of Hesse, three miles north- 
east of Frankfort. A bloody battle was 
fought here on the 13th of April, 1759, in 
the Seven Years' War, between the French 
and the allies, in wliich the latter were de- 
feated. On the 19th of September, 1799, the 
aUies were again defeated by the French, near 
Bergen, and in another battle, fought October 
2d, 1799, the alhes were again defeated by 
the French, before Alkmser. — See Alkmcer. 

BERGEN-OP-ZOOM, a.d. 1585.— Tliis 
strongly-fortified town of Holland is situated 
on the left bank of the E. Schelder. It is 
not only strongly fortified, but is surrounded 
by marshes which render access to it very 
difficult. 

Tliis celebrated fortified place has been 
several times besieged. The Spaniards at- 
tacked it in 1585, when it was defended by 
Morgan, an intelligent and brave English 
captain. The Duke of Parma, knowing all 
the difficulties of the undertaking, thought to 
abridge them by attempting to win over two 
English officers, who passed for being not 
very delicate. These two soldiers discovered 
the duke's proposals to their commander, who 
ordered them to carry on the negotiations. 
They went into the enemy's camp ; and a 
detachment of 4,000 men Avas intrusted to 
their guidance, to take possession of the 
place. They marched at the head of them, 
between two soldiers, who had orders to 



poniard them if they were treacherous, or if 
they did not introduce them into the citadel 
They did, in fact, introduce them ; but scarcely 
had forty men passed through the gate, when 
the portcullis was let down. The Spaniards 
who were within Bergen-op-Zoom did not 
dare to kill their guides, while the artillery of 
the place opened its thunders upon the de- 
tachment under the walls. The dishonor and 
defeat of tliis day both fell to the Spaniards, 
who, degenerating from CastiUan valor, were 
taken in their own snare. 

Second Siege, a.d. 1622. — The court of 
Madrid had placed at the head of G0,000 
men the famous Spinola. This general, to 
carry out the intentions of his master, entered 
the territories of Holland, and presented him- 
self before Bergen-op-Zoom. The Spaniards 
took their posts, erected their batteries, thun- 
dered against the ramparts, gave many 
assaults, and caused tlie timid among the 
besieged to tremble; but the Prince of 
Orange having thrown in succors, the. be- 
siegers retired on the 2d of October, with the 
loss of 10,000 men, after two months of 
useless effi)rts, leaving Bergen-op-Zoom her 
glorious title of a Maiden City. 

Third Siege, a.d. 1747. — During more 
than a century this Maiden remained intact, 
but in October, 1747, she was deprived of the 
proud title by the illustrious and impetuous 
Lowendahl. In order not to lose the fruits 
of the memorable day of Lanfeld, Louis XV. 
commanded the siege of tliis important place. 
In describing it, wo will avail ourselves of 
the words of Voltaire : — 

" Siege was laid to Bergen-op-Zoom, a 
place esteemed impregnable, less because the 
celebrated and ingenious Cohorn had there 
displayed all his art, than from its being con- 
stantly supplied with all it could want by the 
Scheld, which forms an arm of the sea behind 
it. In addition to these defenses and a 
numerous garrison, there were lines near the 
fortifications, and in those lines a body of 
troops, which might at any moment assist the 
city. Of all the sieges ever undertaken, this 
was, perhaps, the most difficult. The Count 
de Lowendahl, who had already taken a part 
of Dutch Brabant, was charged with this en- 
terprise. The allies and the French, the 
besieged and the besiegers, were all equally 
of opinion that the undertaking would fail ; 
Lowendhal was almost the only person who 
reckoned upon success. The allies neglected 
nothing : the garrison was reinforced ; suc- 
cors, provisions, and munitions, were thrown 
in from the Scheld; the artillery was well 
served ; the besieged made frequent sorties; 
the troops from the lines were constant in 
their attacks, and mines were sprung in 
several places. The diseases to which the 
besiegers were subjected, from being en- 



104 



BEEWICK— BLACK ROCK. 



camped in an unhealthy spot, materially 
seconded the resistance of the city. These 
contagious maladies placed more than 20,000 
men hors de combat ; but that deficiency was 
soon filled up. 

" At length, after three weeks of open 
trenches, the Count de Loweudahl made it 
apparent that there are occasions on wliich 
the rules of art may be exceeded. The 
breaches were not yet practicable. There 
were three works scarcely commenced — the 
ravelin of Edem and two bastions, one of 
which was called the Cohorn, and the other 
the Pucelle. The general determined to give 
the assault at all these three points at the 
same time, and to carry the city. 

" The French, in pitched battles, often meet 
with their equals, and sometimes with their 
masters in military discipUne ; but they have 
none in those bold strokes and rapid enter- 
prises, in which impetuosity, agiUty, and 
ardor, overcome all obstacles. The troops 
were ordered to assemble in profound silence, 
toward the middle of the night; the be- 
sieged imagined themselves in perfect safety. 
The French descend into the fosses, and go 
straight to the three breaches ; twelve gren- 
adiers only render themselves masters of the 
Fort of Edem, kill all who attempt to defend 
themselves, and compel the terrified remainder 
to lay down their arms. The bastions of La 
Pucelle and Cohorn are assailed and carried 
with the same spirit. The troops mount in 
crowds. Every thing is carried ; they push 
on to the ramparts, and there form: they 
then enter the city with fixed bayonets. The 
Marquis de Luzeac seizes the port gate ; the 
commander of the fortress of this port sur- 
renders to him at discretion: all the other 
forts do the same. The aged Baron de 
Cromstron, who commanded in the city, flies 
away toward the Unes. The Prince of Hesse 
Philipstadt endeavors to make some resist- 
ance in the streets with two regiments, one 
Scotch and the other Swiss; but they are 
cut to pieces. Tiie remainder of the garrison 
flies toward the Unes, and carries terror to 
the body to which they look for protection. 
All fly ; arms, provisions, and baggage, every- 
thing 13 abandoned : the city is given up as 
legitimate plunder to the conquering sol- 
diers. 

_ " A seizure was made, in the name of the 
king, of seventeen large vessels lying in the 
port, laden with munitions of all kinds, and 
provisions, wliich the cities of Ilolland had 
sent to the besieged. Upon the chests which 
contained them there was printed in large 
characters, To the invikciisle garrison of 
Bergen-op-Zoom. LouisXV., on learning the 
news of this event, made the Count de Low- 
endahl a marshal of France. The surprise of 
London was great, but the consternation of 



the United Provinces was extreme. The 
army of the aUies was discouraged." 

The Count de Lowendahl, in the letter he 
wrote the clay after the capture to Marshal 
de Saxe, estimated his loss at 400 men only, 
and that of the enemy at 5,000. 

In 1794 Bergen-op-Zoom was again be- 
sieged by the French and taken. On the 
8th of March, 1814, the British under Gra- 
ham, endeavored to carry tlie fortress by 
storm ; but they were defeated. After forc- 
ing an entrance their retreat was cut off, and 
a dreadful slaughter ensued, nearly all of the 
storming party being cut to pieces or made 
prisoners. 

BERWICK, A.D. 1296. — This strongly 
fortified town and seaport of England, is 
situated on the north-east extremity of the 
kingdom on the north bank of the Tweed, 
and close to its mouth, 300 miles north of 
London. It was the theater of many bloody 
contests between the English and Scots ; and 
while England and Scotland remained two 
kingdoms was always claimed by the Scots 
as belonging to them, because it stood on their 
side of the river. In the year 1296 it was 
taken by the English by assault, and the gar- 
rison, 7,000 strong, was put to the sword. 
After being taken and retaken several tunes, 
it was finally ceded to England in 1502. In 
1648 the town surrendered to Cromwell, 
and afterward to General Monk. Since the 
union of the crowns (1603), the fortifications, 
which were formerly very strong, have been 
much neglected. 

BILBOA, A.D. 1836.— This seaport town 
of Spain, was in 1836 invested by the chart- 
ists under Villanoe, and was in considerable 
danger, when it was delivered by the defeat 
of the besiegers, by Espartero, assisted by 
several British ships of war. On the 25th 
of December, the day after the defeat of the 
besiegers, Espartero entered Bilboa in tri- 
umph. The chartist general, Don Thomas 
Zumalacarregui, was wounded here, June 10th, 
1835, and died eight days after at Ce>?ama. 

BLACKIIEATH, a.d. 1497. -" On the 
plains of Blacklieath, in the vicinity of Lon- 
don, on the 22d of June, 1497, the Cornish 
rebels, 16,000 strong, were defeated by Dan- 
burey, commander of the king's forces. The 
rebels made but shght resistance. Lord 
Audley, Flammoe, and Joseph, their leaders, 
were taken and all three executed. The 
rebels being surrounded on all sides by the 
king's troops, were almost all made prisoners, 
and immediately dismissed without punish- 
ment. Al)ont 3,000 perished on the field. 

BLACK ROCK, a.d. 1813.— On the 11th 
of July, 1813, a detachment of the British 
army, under Colonel Bishop, 250 strong, 
suddenly erossed the Niagara river from Fort 
Erie, to Black Rock, a small village about 



BLADENSBURG— BLUE LICKS. 



105 



two miles from Buffalo, N. Y., and driving 
out the American militia at that place, de- 
stroyed the stores. Tlie news of the arrival 
of Bishop reached Buffalo, and a few Amer- 
ican regulars, with some friendly Indians, 
hastened to Black Rock and attacked the 
invaders, who were forced to retreat, with 
the loss of their commander, who was slain 
in the skirmish. 

BLADENSBURG, a.d. 1814.— The village 
of Bladensburg, in Prince George county, 
Maryland, was, in the year 1814, the scene 
of a shameful defeat of the Americans by the 
British. Commodore Barney, with a few 
marines, made an obstinate resistance to the 
British ; but, deserted by the miUtia, and 
surrounded by superior numbers, he was 
overpowered and obliged to surrender. See 
Washington. 

BLENHEIM, a.d. 1704.— Blenheim is a 
small yUlage of Bavaria, on the Danube. It 
has been rendered famous in history by the 
gi-eat and decisive battle which was fought 
in its vicinity on August 2d, 1704, between 
the English and Dutch on the one side, and 
the French and Bavarians on the other. 

The English and Dutch army, commanded 
by the Duke of Marlborough and the Prince 
Eugene, consisted of 52,000 men. The 
French and Bavarians under Marshal Tal- 
lard numbered 60,000 men. Their right 
Aving, which was covered by the Danube 
and the village of Blenheim, was commanded 
by Marshal Tallard in person. Their left, 
defended by the village of Lutzengen, was 
commanded by the Duke of Bavaria, and as 
his second in command. General Marsin an 
experienced Frenchman. In the front of 
their position, there ran a rivulet, which 
served in a great measure to defend them 
from attack in that quarter. Thus strongly 
posted the French general awaited Marl- 
borough's attack. A severe cannonade com- 
menced in the morning about 9 o'clock, 
and continued for three hours. Then the 
troops marched to the attack, the right wing 
commanded by Eugene, and the left, which 
was opposed to ilarshal Tallard, headed by 
Marlborough. As soon as he had crossed 
the rivulet he attacked the French cavalry 
with great vehemence, and as Tallard was 
at that time inspecting the position of his 
troops on the left, his cavalry fought for 
some time without a commander ; but when 
he learned that they had been attacked by 
Marlborough, he hastened to put himself at 
their head. They had already been twice 
repulsed, but as often rallied. At this mo- 
ment he endeavored to bring a large body 
of the troops stationed in Blenheim to the 
charge, but they were attacked with such 
force by a detachment of British troops, that 
all their efforts to render any assistance to 



the main body were unavailing, and they 
were forced to retire from the position which 
they occupied. Marlborough now ordered 
his troops to attack the French cavalry in 
flank, and with such effect was his brilliant 
charge executed that they were totally 
routed. The EngHsh troops continued to 
penetrate tln-ough the French line, over- 
throwing every obstacle, till they had com- 
pletely separated Marshal Tallard from his 
left wing. He, seeing the desperate state of 
affairs, proceeded to rally some of his troops, 
but being near-sighted, he mistook a detach- 
ment of Hessian troops in English pay, for 
his own, and was taken prisoner by them. 
On the right, Eugene had for a long time 
been endeavoring to force the Duke of Ba- 
varia's position; he had already charged it 
three times, and as often had been repulsed. 
He renewed his charge with increased vigor, 
and so irresistible was it, that the enemy 
broke and fled in confusion. The officers 
lost all control of their men, and there was 
no general to preserve an orderly retreat. 
Itlarlborough and Eugene now surrounded 
the village of Blenheim, where were posted 
1.3,000 men, who had maintained their ground 
during the action. These troops, seeing all 
means of retreat cut off, and the oveiwhelm- 
ing numbers opposed to them, laid down 
their arms and surrendered as jDrisoners of 
war. The victory was now complete. The 
French and Bavarians lost 12,000 killed, and 
13,000 prisoners, with their general, Tallard. 
The loss of the allies was about 5,000 killed, 
and 8,000 wounded or taken prisoners. 

BLOREHEATH, a.d. 1459.— On the 23d 
of Septe.mber, 1459, the second battle be- 
tween the forces of York and Lancaster was 
fought at Bloreheath in the county of Stafibrd, 
England. The Lancasterian army consisted 
of about 10,000 men, and was commanded 
by Lord Audley. The Yorkists, not so nu- 
merous, were under the command of the 
Earl of Salisbury. Sahsbury, at the advance 
of the enemy, caused his men to fall back as 
if in full retreat. The roj^alists pursued in 
confusion, and as soon as one half of them 
had crossed a rapid torrent, the fugitives 
turned, and fell on the pursuers with such 
fury that they were soon put to flight with 
great slaughter. Audley, with over 2,000 
men, was slain; and Lord Dudley, with 
many knights and esquires, was made a 
prisoner. 

BLUE LICKS, 1782.— The battle at the 
Blue Licks in Nicholas county, Kentucky, 
took place on the 19th of August, 1782. A 
strong body of Indians, commanded by the 
notorious Simon Girty, having committed 
various depredations in the neighborhoods, 
the inhabitants finally resolved to pursue and 
punish them. Daniel Boone, with a number 



IOC 



BOADIOEA— BOMMEL. 



of men from Boonesborough ; Trigg with a 
party from Harrodsburg, and Todd with a 
compan}' from Lexington, united their forces 
at Bry;mt's Station, about five miles north- 
east of Lexington. The whole army con- 
sisted of 132 men, and on the 18th, they 
advanced in pursuit of the enemy. Tlie 
number of the Indians was more than two 
hundred ; but the little band of white men 
determined to rid the country of the Indians, 
and expecting to receive reinforcements from 
General Logan at Lincoln, witliin twenty 
four hours, marched all night, and on the fol- 
lowing morning came within sight of the 
enemy at the lower Blue Licks. The In- 
dians were ascending the opposite bank of 
the river; and the Kentuckians, hokUng a 
council of war, determined, with a few ex- 
ceptions, to await the arrival of Logan before 
making an attack. Major McGarry, how- 
ever, impatient and impetuous, urged his 
horse into the water, and waving his hat, 
cried out, " Let all who are not cowards fol- 
low me !" The Kentuckians, stimulated by 
this example, madly dashed, both horse and 
foot, into the water, and pushed, in disorder, 
through a deep ford to the opposite shore. 
Ascending the bank, they rushed forward in 
pursuit of tlie enemy, and — as Boone had 
suggested at the council — fell into an am- 
buscade which the Indians had prepared for 
them. As they advanced at a rapid pace, 
suddenly, as if by magic, they were surrounded 
by Indians, who sprang up from behind bush 
and tree, and poured deadly volleys into tlio 
Kentuckians who were standing upon a bar- 
ren and elevated spot of ground between two 
bushy ravines. The Kentuckians fought with 
the ferocity of tigers ; but the Indians, greatly 
superior in numbers, closed around them, 
and finally fell into their midst with toma- 
hawk and knife, striking to right and left until 
the ground was strewn with the slain, and 
reeking with blood. Most of the Kentucky 
leaders, including a son of Daniel Boone, were 
slain. The Indians, extending their hne, en- 
deavored to cut off the retreat of the survivors. 
But the horsemen, turning, dashed througli 
the enemy, and made good their escape ; the 
footmen were slain almost to a man. A 
great number of the fugitives on foot were 
killed at the ford, and the water of the river 
was crimsoned with their gore. Those who 
succeeded in gaining the opposite shore, 
dived into the thickets, and by various paths 
escaped to Bryant's Station. 

BOADICEA, A.D. 61.— Notwithstanding 
the defeat of the Britons at the battle of 
Shropshire, they were not totally subdued by 
the Romans. They resolved, by a general 
insurrection, to free themselves from that 
state of abject servitude to which they were 
reduced by the Romans. They had many 



motives to aggravate their resentment ; the 
greatness of their taxes, which were levied 
with unremitting severity; the cruel inso- 
lence of their conquerors, who reproached 
that very poverty which they had caused; 
but particularly the cruel treatment of Boa- 
dicea, Queen of the Iceni, drove them at last 
to open rebellion. Prastagus, King of the 
Iceni, at his death, had bequeathed one half 
of his dominions to the Romans and the 
other to his daughters; thus hoping by a 
sacrifice of a part to secure the rest in liis 
family. But it had a different eflect ; for the 
Roman procurator immechately took possess- 
ion of the whole, and when Boadicea, the 
widow of the deceased, attempted to remon- 
strate, he ordered her to be scourged like a 
slave, and violated the chastity of her daugli- 
ters. These outrages were sufficient to pro- 
duce a revolt throughout the whole island. 
The Iceni, being the most deeply inter- 
ested in the quarrel, were the first to take 
arms ; all the other states soon followed the 
example, and Boadicea, a woman of great 
beauty and masculine spirit, was appointed 
to head the common forces, wliich amounted 
to 230,000 fighting men. These, exasperated 
by their wrongs, attacked several of the 
Roman settlements and colonies with suc- 
cess. Paulinus, the Roman general, hastened 
to relieve London, which was already a flour- 
ishing settlement; but found on liis arrival 
that it would be requisite for the general 
safety to abandon that place to the merciless 
fury of the enemy. London, therefore, was 
soon reduced to ashes ; such of the inhabit- 
ants as remained in it, were massacred ; and 
the Romans, ^vith aU other strangers, to the 
number of 70,000, were cruelly put to the 
sword. Flushed with these successes, the 
Britons no longer sought to avoid the ene- 
my, but boldly came to the place where 
Pauhnus awaited their arrival, posted in a 
very advantageous position with a body of 
10,000 men. The battle was very obstinate 
and bloody, Boadicea herself appeared in a 
chariot, with her two daughters, and ha- 
rangued her troops with masculine firmness , 
but the irregular and undisciplined bravery 
of her soldiers was unable to resist the cool 
intrepidity of the Romans. Her army was 
routed with great slaughter ; 80,000 perished 
in the field, and an infinite number were 
made prisoners. Boadicea, herself, fearing to 
foil into 'le hands of the enraged victor, put 
an end to her own life, by poison. — Gold- 
smith. 

BOMMEL, A.D. 1599. — Bommel is sit- 
uated on the Wahal, in the Netherlands, and 
withstood a siege in 1599, which is interest- 
ing, both on account of its forming part of 
the noble struggle which rescued the Nether- 
lands from the dominion of the Spaniards, 



BORODINO. 



107 



and from the fact that at this siege one of the 
great scientific operations of war was first 
brought into use. 

The Spaniards having penetrated, in 1599, 
into the island of Bommel, formed by the 
Wahal, in the duchy of Grueldres, hastened to 
lay siege to the capital city of that island. 
Prince Maurice came to its succor, with the 
greater part of his army. He encamped on 
the opposite bank of the Wahal, reinibrced 
the garrison with 1000 men, and, with 
great rapidity, threw two bridges over the 
river, above and below the besieged city ; the 
first, destined for the infantry, was but a col- 
lection of httle barks ; but the second, for the 
cavalry, was composed of large pontoons, 
and was wide enough for the passage of two 
chariots abreast. Having completed this 
operation he ordered 3,000 infantry and 400 
horse, whom he charged most particularly 
with the defense of IBommel, to cross over 
into the island. Tliis place being too small 
for such a numerous garrison, it was lodged 
without, and immediately covered itself with 
a good intrenchment, well flanked with re- 
doubts, and defended by a wide ditch. Tliis 
intrenchment furnished the first model of 
what has since been called the covered way. 
Tills happy invention contributed much to the 
failure of the Spanish expedition. They had 
not yet perfected their intrenchments, when 
the Dutch artillery, established on the banks 
of the Wahal, the fii'e of the armed barks, 
and that of the place, thundered all at once 
against their ramparts. The Spaniards, how- 
ever, after many eiforts, succeeded in shelter- 
ing themselves from tliis multiphed tempest; 
they raised good intrenchments, they placed 
cannon in battery, and began to assail in 
earnest both the city and the intrenched 
camp. The besieged did not oppose a less 
number of works or less courage to the 
Spanish attacks. Toward the end of May, 
the garrison of Bommel fell aU at once upon 
every one of the enemy's quarters ; it might 
have been supposed that they came to fight a 
regular battle, and not to clear out trenches 
or overthrow works. Both sides fought with 
the greatest resolution ; but at length the 
reHstance of the Spaniards disheartened the 
Dutch, and they retreated after a contest of 
three hours. They returned to the charge 
the following night, persuaded that they 
should surprise the besiegers. They suc- 
ceeded in the first moments ; but the Span- 
iards having recovered themselves, the Dutch 
were obhged to abandon their attack. Three 
days after, they perseveringly made fresh 
eflxjrts, which proved likewise unfortunate. 
Fatigued with their endeavors to overcome 
so many obstacles and such obstinate enemies, 
the Spaniards, finding they made no con- 
siderable progress, determined to raise the 



siege toward the end of June, after having 
lost 2,000 men.— Bobson. 

BORODINO, A.D. 1812.— Borodino is a 
small village of Russia in Europe, on the 
Kolatza, ten miles west from Mojaisk. 

Napoleon, with an immense army, was 
marcliing through a barren and almost un- 
inhabited country toward Moscow. As he 
approached that city he saw that a battle 
with the enemy was at hand, and he gave 
three days' rest to his army. He ordered 
a general muster-roU to be called of his troops 
along the whole hne, and warned his detach- 
ments that, if they did not join their respect- 
ive corps, they would lose the honor of the 
approaching conflict. At tlie same time, 
orders were dispatched to the parks of re- 
serve ammunition to advance; to the artil- 
lery to have their pieces in the best order ; to 
the cavalry to refresh their horses, and to the 
soldiers to sharpen their sabers and examine 
the locks of their muskets. Mean while the 
Russians took post at Borodino. The Uttle 
stream of the Kolatza, floAving in a rocky 
dell, covered the right of the line as far as 
the village of Borodino, which stood in the 
center of the position on an elevated ridge. 
On the left, the army extended to the village 
of Semenowskoie, and the approach to it, 
though of easier access, was intersected by 
broken ravines, which promised to embarrass 
the movements of the enemy. To aid the 
advantages of nature, intrenchments were 
hastily thrown up by the Russian army on 
some parts of their line ; a wood on the right 
was strengthened by some field-works ; and 
in the center, on the sloping banks of the 
Kolatza, two heavy batteries were placed; 
while between the center and the left, where 
the position was most accessible, a great re- 
doubt was erected on a height which com- 
manded the whole plain in front of the army. 
On the extreme left three other batteries 
were placed, to aid by ■ their cross fire the 
great redoubt ; while, at the distance of 900 
toises in front of the Hne, another redoubt 
was erected on an eminence to retard the 
advances of the attacking army. On the 5th 
of September, 1812, the French army, in 
three great columns, passed the vast and 
gloomy convent of Kolotskoi, without meet- 
ing an enemy ; but as it approached the 
destined field, clouds of Cossacks were seen 
traversing the plain, and behind them the 
Russian army drawn up in battle array, pre- 
senting a brilliant and formidable appearance. 
At this sight the advanced guard halted, and 
Napoleon, instantly coming forward to an 
eminence in the front, surveyed the position 
of the enemy with the eye of a conqueror, 
and fixed, with the rapidity of lightning, on 
the points of attack. The first object was to 
seize the redoubt in front of the position, 



108 



BORODINO. 



where Prince Gorczakoff commanded 10,000 
men, supported by twelve pieces of heavy 
artillery. 

An attack was immediately ordered, and 
Murat, with a large body of cavalry, the di- 
visions of Campans, and the corps of Prince 
Poniatowsky advanced toward the redoubt 
The French infantry boldly approached 
to within twenty yards of the redoubt; 
the cannon on both sides vomited forth grape- 
shot on their opponents, and the fearless 
combatants stood firmly at that short distance 
discharging musketry at each other. At 
length the 57th French infantry fiercely as- 
saulted the redoubt, and after a bloody strug- 
gle carried it; but the Russians obstinately 
returned to the charge, and during the even- 
ing it was taken and retaken three times. 
At length, however, the French firmly es- 
tablished themselves in the important position. 
Both armies now took up their positions, and 
the fires of the bivouacs were lighted. The 
French fires scattered here and there upon 
the field gleamed through the darkness of 
the night, and presented an animated ap- 
pearance; while the Russian camp-fires, ar- 
ranged in a huge semicircle, blazed up as it 
were in one immense flame, illuminating the 
half of the heavens with an unearthly luster. 
Nearly the whole night Napoleon labored 
incessantly, dispatching orders and asking 
questions. At length, toward morning, the 
French emperor, after assuring himself by 
the moving shadow, wlaich surrounded the 
Russian watch-fires, that the enemy re- 
mained firm on the ground they had chosen, 
was prevailed upon to take a few hours of 
necessary repose. During the whole night 
the French camp presented a scene of busy 
activity; the soldiers repaired their arms, 
and the officers, sleepless from anxiety, 
walked hastily through the cold air, watching 
the Russian position to see whether a retreat 
was commencing. The Russian camp was 
silent; their watch-fires burned steadily 
throughout the night : morning alone extin- 
guished their bivouacs. 

At dawn the Russian army was discovered 
in their original position, and as it became 
evident that a gen^jral battle was to take 
place, a universal feeling of joy pervaded 
the French troops. Both officers and sol- 
diers were animated to the highest pitch, 
and the impatience of the men to begin the 
battle, evinced itself in a general murmur 
throughout their lines. The emperor quitted 
his tent at day-break, and advancing into 
the midst of the circle of officers, who 
awaited his approach, mounted on horselsack, 
and, riding to the heights in front, he sur- 
veyed the whole of the Russian position. 
The weakness of the left, made him resolve 
to make the principal efibrt at that point, 



and against the redoubt in the center. 
While he was gazing, the sun, breaking 
through a fog, appeared in cloudless splendor. 
"It is the sun of Austerlitz!" exclaimed 
Napoleon, and immediately the trumpets 
sounded, the drums beat, and the shouts of 
the soldiers echoed through the plain. The 
following proclamation was read to the 
troops: "Soldiers, the battle is at hand 
which you have so long desired : henceforth 
the victory depends on yourselves. It has 
become necessary, and will give you abun- 
dance, good winter-quarters, and a speedy 
return to your homes I Conduct yourselves 
as you did at Austerlitz, Friedland, Witepsk 
and Smolensko, and let the remotest pos- 
terity recount your actions on this day ; let 
your countrymen say of you all, ' He was in 
that great battle under the walls of Mos- 
cow.' " The enthusiasm of the troops knew 
no bounds ; a universal shout of joyful ap- 
probation filled the air, and penetrated even 
to the Russian camp. The Russian com- 
manders employed the most powerful means 
to animate the courage of their troops. On 
the evening of the 6th, a procession of clergy, 
arrayed in rehgious robes, and bearing an 
image, to which miraculous powers were 
supposed to belong, passed through the whole 
fines of the army. The soldiers knelt as 
it passed, and mingled their voices with the 
chants of the priests, in prayers for victory. 
The priests bestowed their blessings on the 
prostrate army, and all, officers and men, 
felt penetrated by the resolution to conquer 
in the defense of their countr}^, or to die in 
the attempt. Shortly afterward the Russian 
general, Kutusofi", preceded by an adored 
image, and accompanied by his entire staff, 
rode along the front of the line, and imme- 
diately afterward the following proclamation 
was read to the troops : " Brothers in arms ! 
Before you, in that image, the object of your 
pious regard, you see an appeal addressed to 
heaven to join its aid to that of men against 
the tyrant who disturbs the universe. Not 
content with destroying milUons of human 
beings, the images of God, that arch rebel 
against all laws, human and divine, has pene- 
trated with an armed force into our sanciu- 
aries, defiled them with blood, overturned 
our altars, and exposed the^ ark of the Lord, 
consecrated in that holy image of our church, 
to the desolation of the elements, and the 
profanation of impious hands. Fear not, 
therefore, that the Almighty, who has called 
the reptile from the dust by his power, should 
not be with you. Fear not that he will re- 
fuse to extend the buckler over your ranks, 
and to combat his enemy with the sword of 
St. Michael. It is in that being that I set 
out to combat, to conquer — if needs be, to 
die; assured that my eyes shall behold vie- 



BORODINO. 



109 



tory. Soldiers ! perform your duties : think of 
your cities in flames; of your children, who im- 
plore your protection ; think of your emperor, 
who considers you as the strength of liis arm ; 
and to-morrow, before the sun has set, you will 
have traced your fidelity and faith on the soil of 
your country, with the blood of the aggressors." 
The Russian force was 132,000 men, with 
640 pieces of artillery. The French army 
consisted of 133,000 men, of whom 30,000 
were cavalry, and they brought into the field 
590 pieces of cannon. Napoleon resolved to 
attack from the right by echelon, and dis- 
posed his masses to act accordingly. On the 
extreme right Poniatowsky was placed on 
the old road to Smolensko ; next to him, 
three divisions of Davoust, 30,000 strong, 
stood near the redoubt, carried on the even- 
ing of the 5th ; and on his left, Ney's corps 
was stationed, with Junot's directly in his 
rear, between the redoubt and the stream 
of the Kolatza; the heavy cavalry of the 
reserve was behind the wood on one side 
of the captured redoubt, while the whole Im- 
perial Guard, also in reserve, was on the other. 
Morland and Gerard's divisions of Davoust's 
corps were placed on the left of Ney and 
Junot, under the orders of Eugene, whose 
corps, with the heavy cavalry of Grouchy, 
formed the extreme left of the line. Thus 
the great bulk of the French army was con- 
centrated around the captured redoubt, with- 
in cannon-shot of whose batteries 80,000 
veterans and 300 guns were accumulated, 
and it was easy to see that there the prin- 
cipal efforts of Napoleon were to be made. 
While these vast preparations were going on, 
in the French lines, the Russians, on their 
part, were making every thing ready to op- 
pose to them a most vigorous resistance. 
The great road from Smolensko to Moscow 
ran perpendicularly through the center of 
their position: on its right, Bugawouth and 
Ostcrmann occupied the plateau which bor- 
dered the Kolatza ; the second next the 
road, the first on the extreme right. On the 
lefl of Ostermann, and on the left also of the 
road, the massy columns of Doctoroff extend- 
ed as far as the great redoubt, with the de- 
fense of which liis left was charged. Beyond 
the redoubt, Rajewskoi lay with his right 
resting on that bulwark, and his lefl on the 
village of Semenowskoie ; while the corps 
of Borosdin and division of Newerofskoie, on 
an eminence, stretched beyond it to the 
woods occupied by skirmishing parties ; be- 
yond which, on the extreme lefl, opposite to 
Foniatowsky, Touczkoif had taken a position 
at the village of Uliza, on the old road to 
Smolensko, with his own corps, and the 
militia of Moscow, wliich were placed under 
his orders. The Imperial Guard was in re- 
serve, behind the center. The whole of the 



cavalry was drawn up in a third line in rear of 
the infantry, with the exception of one corps, 
which was on the extreme right near the 
Moskwa, while the formidable artillery lined 
the whole front of the position. 

At six o'clock on the morning of the 7th 
of September, a cannon fired from one of the 
batteries of General Sorbier, announced the 
commencement of the battle. The French 
columns advanced in echelon, with the right, 
under Davoust, in front. Steadily onward 
moved their masses, under cover of their 
artillery, without firing, notwithstanding the 
incessant discharge of all arms upon them 
from the Russian position. On through a 
tempest of grape-shot and round shell, march- 
ed those gallant troops. The slaughter com- 
mitted on their ranks was terrible. Several 
generals, as they hurried over the plain or 
toiled at the foot of the intrenchments, were 
slain, and Davoust had a horse killed under 
him. Yet onward rolled the moving masses, 
toward the flaming hue wliich marked the 
position of the enemy's batteries. General 
Campans was severely wounded, at the head 
of liis division ; Rapp, who succeeded him in 
command, soon shared the same fate ; Des- 
saix, who si'jceeded Rapp, also was struck 
down, and Davoust himself injured by a con- 
tusion, received in the fall of his horse, was, 
for a short time, disabled. At length the re- 
doubts on the left were carried; but the 
second line of Russians, hastening furiously 
to the charge, immediately retook them. The 
combat which ensued was fearful, and the 
slaughter on either side terrible. KutusoiF, 
soon perceived that his left wing could not 
long withstand the repeated attacks which 
Napoleon directed against it. He therefore 
moved the corps of Bugawouth from the 
right of the army, to its support. 

During this fierce conflict, Ney, impatient 
for the fight, was still inactive in the 
center. At length the moment arived for 
him to support the left of Davoust ; the or- 
ders to attack the redoubts were given ; the 
drums beat, and Ney's three divisions pre- 
cipitated themselves to the charge, preceded 
by 70 pieces of cannon, and Murat prepared 
to aid them with 10,000 of lois redoubtable 
cavalry. The heads of the columns soon 
arrived in the awful tempest of grape-shot, 
but nothing could restrain their impetuosity. 
Gallantly facing the storm, they pushed on, 
tin they reached the foot of the intrench- 
ments, and then breaking off to the right and ■ 
left, passed between them, and entered the 
redoubts by the gorge. Immediately after- 
ward, Bagawouth's corps came up from the 
extreme Russian right, where it lay unen- 
gaged, and Bagrathion, putting himself at its 
head, not only expelled the enemy from their 
intrenchments, but pursued them for some 



110 



BORODINO. 



distance into the plain. On the extreme 
right, Poniatowsky, in the first instance, 
carried Uliza, by u rapid charge, but he was 
soon after arrested by TouczkofF, in the 
Avoody marshes -which lay around that vil- 
lage, where the nature of the ground would 
only permit skirniisliing parties to be em- 
ployed. Eugene, however, on the left, car- 
ried the village of Borodino, on the right bank 
of the Kolatza, and immediately crossing his 
divisions over the bridges of that stream, pre- 
pared to assaU the great redoubt in the center 
of the Russian line, where Barclay lay with 
the flower of the Russian infantry. Thus 
far, however, these contests were subordinate. 
It was in the right center where Davoust 
and Ney were striving for the heights of 
Semenowskoie, that the decisive blows were 
to be struck. 

These important heights soon became the 
principal objects of contention ; both parties 
strove by accumulating forces upon that im- 
portant ridge, to gain possession of an emi- 
nence which promised to render them masters 
of the field. After four hours' hard fighting, 
Ney, finding himself overmatched by superior 
forces, anxiously demanded succor ; and Na- 
poleon, perceiving that these heights were 
still in the hands of the Russians, made prep- 
arations for a grand attack. The Young 
Guard, and a great part of the cavalry m re- 
serve, werg sent to the support of Davoust ; 
400 pieces of cannon were brought to bear 
upon the redoubts; while, under cover of 
this tremendous fire, immense columns of in- 
fantry advanced to the assault. As th:'y 
marched over the plain, the grape-shot from 
the Russian batteries swept through them, de- 
molishing entire battalions as they approach- 
ed; but the survivors, hastily closing their 
ranks, marched over the corpses of their 
slain companions, and steadily and firmly ad- 
vanced with an unbroken front against the 
rampart of death. The Russian general, 
Bagrathion, perceiving that the French were 
gradually gaining ground, ordered the whole 
left wing to issue from their intrenchments, 
leaving only the reserves to guard the works. 
And now a terrible scene occurred in the 
plain. Eighty thousand men, and seven 
hundred pieces of cannon, accumulated in a 
small space, strove with unparalleled fury, for 
above an hour. Whole ranks of men were 
swept away before the murderous discharges 
of grape, like grass before the mower's scythe. 
Neither party seemed vrilling to relinquish the 
strife ; French courage and Russian obstinacy 
raged against each other with terrible efi^ect. 
The ground trembled beneath the thunder of 
the cannon ; and the screams of the wounded, 
and the groans of the dying, mingled Avith 
the sullen roar of artillery, the incessant 
rattle of the musketry, and the savage cries 



of the infuriated combatants, produced such a 
confusion of terrible sounds, that it seemed 
almost as if the demons of darkness had been 
let loose from their prison, and were engaged 
in a fearful carnival on the earth. And above 
this theater of bloodshed, hung the sable cur- 
tain of war, as if endeavoring to shroud the 
awful spectacle from the fair face of heaven. 
At length, the Russians, assailed in flank by 
Friant's division of Davoust's corps, and having 
lost their commander, Bagrathion, who, with 
St. Priest, the cliief of his staff", was severely 
wounded, began to give ground. General Ko- 
nownitsyn immediately assumed the command 
and drew back his troops, with their whole ar- 
tillery, from the disputed ridge, and estabUshed 
them in a strong position in the rear, behind the 
ravine Semenowskoie. The victorious French 
endeavored to pursue their advantage, and 
the cavalry, under Nansouty, fell with the 
utmost fury upon the extreme left of the new 
Russian position; but the Russian guard, 
forming themselves into squares, under the 
tremendous fire from their abandoned works, 
now lined by French cannon, defeated all the 
efforts of the French, and, for the remainder 
of the day, maintained their ground alike 
against the impetuous charges of the horse 
and the fatal ravages of the artillery. In the 
mean time an obstinate conflict was raging in 
the center. Barclay, after losing the village 
of Borodino, still resolutely defended the great 
redoubt. The viceroy, after having crossed 
the Kolatza, advanced with the utmost in- 
trepidity through the broken ground which 
lay in the front, overthrew the division of 
General Paskiewitch, and, aided by General 
Bonami, with liis brave brigade, in the midst 
of the fire of eighty pieces of cannon, carried 
that formidable intrenchment. Ivutusoff, sen- 
sible of the necessity of repairing tliis disas- 
ter, instantly brought forward his best troops, 
and, after an arduous conflict, not only re- 
took the redoubt, but made Bonami and 
part of his troops prisoners. Napoleon was 
anxiously solicited to support that point by 
the Imperial Guard ; but he deemed it im- 
prudent to risk that last reserve at so great 
a distance from support. After much hesi- 
tation he refused the succor, and Eugene was 
l(>ft for two hours to support unaided the ter- 
rible fire of the great redoubt, and the re- 
peated charges of the Russian cavalry. Sud- 
denly the attention of the emperor was 
arrested by a violent outcry and confusion 
on the loft. Kutusoff had ordered Ouvaroff", 
with eight regiments of Cossacks, to cover 
the divisions of Ostermann and Bagawoutli, 
while they were traversing the field of battle, 
from the Russian right to their left, by an at- 
tack on the left flank of the French, under 
Eugene. This irruption was attended with 
the most signal success. A brigade of cav- 



BORODINO, 



111 



airy, under Ornano was speedily overtlirown ; 
the Cossacks soon passed Borouino ; Delzoii's 
Italian division avoided destruction only by 
throwing themselves into squares ; the vice- 
roy himself escaped being made prisoner 
only by throwing himself into one of the 
squares of infantry; the baggage and artil- 
lery drivers fled in confusion, and Napoleon 
himself deemed the attack so serious that he 
hastily galloped to the spot, accompanied 
by the cavalry and artillery of the guard. It 
turned out, however, to be a false alarm, as 
OuvarofF, vinsupported by infmtry, retired 
across the Kolatza, when he found himself 
threatened by large bodies of the enemy; 
but the diversion produced the desired effect, 
and, by withdrawing a portion of the reserve 
destined for the attack of the great redoubt, 
sensibly retarded the success of the day. 
But after the Russian intrenchments on the 
.left were carried. Napoleon resolved to make 
a desperate effort to regain his advantages in 
the center. For this purpose more than 200 
pieces of cannon were directed against the 
great redoubt; and, while the viceroy re- 
formed his divisions for the assault, Caulain- 
court, in command of Montbrun's division of 
cuirassiers, which he had assumed as that gen- 
eral had just been struck do^A•n by a cannon- 
shot, was directed to penetrate through the 
Russian line, and, wheeling around, to enter 
the iutrenchment by its gorge. " You will 
see me there immediately, dead or alive," cried 
the gallant young general, and, setting off at 
a gallop, he led his men against the redoulDt. 
Soon the glittering mass was lost in the 
volumes of smoke which arose from every 
part of the intrenchment ; the vivid dis- 
charges of the cannon gleamed through the 
vapor, and the hissing, death-dealing missales 
swept Hke an iron tempest tlirough the ranks 
of the brave Frenchmen. 

The Russians hastened to support the in- 
trenchment; the corps of Ostermann was 
placed in front, and the regiments of the 
guards, Preobazinski and Semenowskoie, 
were stationed as a reserve in their rear. 
Caulaincourt's division, advancing with the 
utmost, rapidity, threw itself with such 
fury upon the regiments of Russian horse 
whom Kutusoff had opposed to it, that, 
crushed and overthrown, the Russians fled in 
disorder. The great redoubt continued to 
vomit forth an incessant fire upon its assail- 
ants. Eugene, with his infantry, was ad- 
vancing to the attack; already were the 
bayonets of his troops gleaming on its slopes, 
when the columns of the cuirassiers were 
seen ascending through the clouds of smoke 
which enveloped the intrenchments; its 
sides seemed clothed in glittering steel ; and 
the fire ft-om its summit, after redoubling its 
fury for a few seconds, suddenly ceased. 



The flames of the volcano were extinguished 
in blood ; and the resplendent casques of the 
French cuirassiers appeared, when the smoke 
cleared away, above the highest embrasures 
of the intrenchment. The brave Caulaincourt 
met a glorious death at the entrance of the 
redoubt; but his fall did not prevent the 
French from establishing themselves in their 
important conquest. The Russian soldiers, 
charged with its defense, refusing quarter, 
had almost all perished in the assault, and the 
interior presented a frightful assemblage of 
dismounted cannon, d^j'ing men, broken 
arms, and wounded horses. Marshal Grouchy 
hoping to profit by the consternation which 
its capture had occasioned, advanced at the 
head of his cavalry, against the corps of 
Ostermann, drawn up on the heights in the 
rear ; but they were met by the chasseurs of 
the Russian guards, who, vastly superior in 
numbers, drove back the French with severe 
loss. Encouraged by tliis success, the Rus- 
sian general resolved to make a forward 
movement in order to re-occupy the ground 
on wliich his army had stood in the center at 
the commencement of the battle. Oster- 
mann's corps, with a great part of the guard, 
and a large body of cavalry, advanced on 
tliis perilous mission. The batteries which 
the French had now established on the 
heights, won from the Russians, opened with 
terrible effect upon the advancing columns ; 
but still the Russians firmly marched onward, 
and even reached the foot of the intrench- 
ment, when eighty pieces of cannon thun- 
dered on their close ranks, with a severity of 
fire unexampled in war. Notwithstanding 
the terrible storm of iron, which thinned 
their ranks, the Russian cavalry even car- 
ried some of the redoubts, by several gaEant 
charges, and erected the Russian standards 
on their old strongholds. But all their efforts 
were in vain; they were speedily retaken, 
and the Muscovite battalions, unable to ad- 
vance, unwilUng to retire, toiled and died at 
the foot of the field-works which they had 
lost. At length Kutusoff drew off, covered 
by liis immense artillery, and the Russians 
were again re-established along the whole 
line on the heights, immediately in rear of 
their original position. The Russian batteries 
were planted on the heights behind the re- 
doubts, and from this second line the artillery 
opened upon the French who were in posses- 
sion of the intrenchments. In the evening, 
Poniatowsky advanced against the corps of 
the Russian general Bagawouth, which then 
occupied the great road to Smolcnsko, on tht; 
left of the Russian line. After an obstinate 
struggle the French carried the position, and 
the Russians retired to the heights in the 
rear. Thus the Russians at all points, at the 
close of day, had lost their original position. 



112 



BOSSUT-LES-WALCOUR— BOSTON. 



and on the succeeding day they retreated on 
the great real to Moscow. 

Tlie dreadful loss on both sides demon- 
strated the unparalleled obstinacy of the bat- 
tle. The Russians lost one of their bravest 
and ablest generals, Prince Bagrathion, Avho 
fell severely wounded while defending the 
redoubts on the left, and subsequently died 
of his wounds; Generals Kaitaisoff and 
TouckofF killed, and tliirty generals of an 
inferior rank wounded. Fifteen thousand 
killeii, 30,000 wounded, and 2,000 prisoners, 
presente I a total loss of nearly 50,000 men. 
On the French side, beside Generals Mon- 
bum, Caulaincourt, and many others killed, 
thirty generals were wounded ; and the total 
loss was 12,000 Idlled, and 38,000 wounded. 
The trophies of victory were nearly equally 
diviiled. The French took ten pieces of can- 
non from tlioir enemy, who captured thirteen 
pieces from them. 

BOSSUT-LES-WALCOUR, a.d. 1792.— 
An engagement took place near this village 
in Belgium, fourteen miles south of Charleroi, 
between tlie Austrians and French, in 1792, 
in which th^' former were defeated. 

BO.STON, A.D. 1775.— The siege of Bos- | 
ton includes the battle of Bunker's Hill, for j 
which reason we have given the description 
of that battle under this head. 

The Americans followed up their victory at 
Laxington, by laying siege to the British | 
garrison in Boston. The left wing of the 
American army rested upon the river Med- [ 
ford, thus intercepting the communication of | 
the besieged with Charlestown neck ; the 
right wing was posted at Roxbury to repress 
the sallies of the British in that quarter, and 
the center occupied Cambridge. The Ameri- 
can army was greatly superior in number to 
that of the English, it being stated that at 
one time, it consisted of 30,000 men; but 
the ninnber was variable, for as yet the army 
was wanting in that discipline without which 
neither order nor stability can be maintained, 
and many of the soldiers, weary of life in the 
camp, returned to their homes, while other 
fresh volunteers were constantly arrivmg to 
take their places. The Americans were well 
provided with food, but their arms were far 1 
from perfect Their artillery consisted of 
sixteen pieces, of which six only were in a 
serviceable condition, and these, with two or 
three exceptions, were of the smallest cali- 
ber. I 

Of powder they had only eighty-two h.alf 
barrels; and they were provided witli but a 
scanty supply of bombs and caimon balls. The 
infantry was armed with pieces of various 
siz(}s and caliber, each man having brought 
his own gun to the field ; many of them 
being mere fowling-pieces, while none of 
them were provided with the bayonet. The 



principal head-quarters of the besiegers were 
at Roxbury and Cambridge. 

The British army presented a strong con- 
trast to that of the Americans. Their ar- 
senals were filled with cannon of all sizes, 
muskets, swords, powder and ammunition of 
every description. The soldiers were well 
disciplined and practiced in the art of war ; 
having fought many a battle in countries of 
the old world. Inured to fatigue and dan- 
ger, they panted to engage with the " rebels," 
as they considered the Americans, and wipe 
out the disgrace they had experienced at 
Lexington. The British garrison was com- 
manded by General Gage. 

The Americans besieged the city so sti'ictly, 
that a great scarcity of provisions began to 
be felt both by the soldiery and by the citi- 
zens ; and soon they were reduced entirely 
to salted food. The inhabitants on several 
occasions had made earnest application to 
the British governor to be permitted to leave 
the city ; but General Gage, notwithstanding 
that there was not a sufficiency of provisions 
for his own men, refused his consent, i He 
wished apparently to hold the citizens as 
hostages for the safety of the town and his 
troops. At length however perceiving no 
immediate relief from England, whence he 
awaited reinforcements before commencing 
active operations against the enemy, he con- 
sented to the departure of as many of the 
citizens as should choose to go, provithng 
they would give up all weapons in their pos- 
session to be deposited in Fanueil Hall. But 
no sooner had the citizens given up their 
arms, than the British commander, after 
allowing a few to depart, refused to grant 
passes, and the greater part of the inhab- 
itants were obliged to remain. He after- 
ward allowed a lew others to depart; but 
they were not permitted to take their effects 
with them. 

On the 25th of May, the British man-of- 
war Cerberus arrived at Boston, bringing 
from England three experienced officers, 
Burgoyne, Howe, and Clinton. The garrison, 
meanwhile, had been i-einforced by acces- 
sions from England and Ireland, until it 
numbered 10,000 men. The besieging army 
at the commencement of June, consisted of 
about 16,000 men, and these were all fired 
with the one desire to drive the invaders 
from their soil. The army was composed of 
soldiers furnished by the several colonies, 
and each colony held supreme control over 
tlie movements of its own corps. But the 
colonics, by common consent, appointed 
General Ward, commander-in-chief of the 
besieging army. The Americans exerted 
their every power to intercept from the 
English all supplies of provisions. Hog's 
and Noddle's Islands in Boston harbor. 




'I 



;/^' ,'{. 



BOSTON. 



113 



abounded in corn and cattle, and the English 
frequently visited these islands in search of 
provisions. The Americans determined to 
put an end to this by destroying all the corn 
and removing the cattle. Accordingly a de- 
tachment was sent to Hog's Island. They 
effected a landing and were engaged in de- 
stroying the provender when they were 
fiercely attacked by a British foraging party 
and a severe skirmish ensued. 

The British troops were aided by one or 
two armed vessels in the harbor. The fight 
raged until late at night, and a number of 
Americans were killed. They succeeded, 
however, in expelling the English from the 
island, and completed their work of destruc- 
tion. Early on the following morning the 
provincials discovered that one of the en- 
emy's vessels had grounded during the night, 
and was abandoned by its crew. They im- 
mediately boarded her, and having divested 
her of every thing of value, they returned 
with the cattle in triumph to their camp. 
The Americans made similar descents on 
Noddle's, Patrick's, and Deer Islands, with 
like success. Meanwhile the British generals 
were meditating on the most expedient 
method of extricating themselves from the 
unpleasant position in which they were 
placed; and, after a long deliberation, they 
resolved to commence operations by taking 
possession of Bunker's Hill, and Dorchester 
Heights. The American generals were im- 
mediately informed of the intended move- 
ments of the enemy, and the most strenuous 
efforts were made to defeat them. Colonel 
William Prescott was ordered to occupy Bun- 
ker's Hill, with a detachment of 1,000 men, 
and two pieces of artillery. There he was to 
throw up intrenchments, and await the com- 
ing of the enemy. On the night of the 16th 
of June, Prescott, with liis forces, set forth 
from Cambridge for Charlestown. In the 
deepest silence the Americans continued 
their march until they had arrived at Charles- 
town neck, where they were joined by G-en- 
eral Putnam and Major Brooks. JSaving 
placed a guard of ten men in Charlestown, 
Prescott advanced to Bunker's Hill. But 
with the advice and consent of his officers, 
he abandoned the original plan of fortifying 
Bunker's Hill, and marched to Breed's Hill,* 
which being nearer Boston, he considered 
better adapted for his purpose. He therefore 
directed his troops to throw up intrenchments 

* The original name of the height on which -was 
fonght the famous battle of Bunker's Hill, is Breed's Hill. 
Breed's Hill is in Charlestown, Mass., and stands a short 
distance. In a southerly direction, from Bunker's Hill. 
It has an extreme elevation of about sixty-two feet above 
the level of the sea, and its south side descends in a 
gradual slope, toward the Charles River. Breeds Hill is 
about a mile directly north of Boston, which is con- 
nected with Charlestown by bridges across the Charles 
river. 

8 



on this height, at the same time causing them 
to fortify Bunker's Hill, in order to cover his 
retreat across the peninsula, in the event of a 
defeat. The Americans advanced rapidly 
with their work. Officers ami men, with 
shovel and pick, labored with equal zeal, and 
before the break of day, they had constructed 
a strong redoubt, eight rods square. The 
east and west sides of the redoubt were 
protected by fences six feet in height, com- 
posed of rails and stone. The redoubt was 
defended by two cannon in embrasure. The 
Americans, at about four o'clock on the 
morning of the 17th of June, were busily 
engaged in completing the breastwork on the 
eastern side of the redoubt, when they were 
discovered by the watch on board the British 
vessel of war, Lively. The sailors were 
called to arms, and the captain of the Lively, 
without awaiting General Gage's orders, 
opened a brisk cannonade on the American 
works. Aroused by the sound of the cannon, 
the people of Boston flocked to the shores in 
crowds ; and soon every house top and height 
in the city was black with spectators. The 
English generals gazed at the American 
position with astonishment, and bitterly did 
General Gage regret that he had not occupied 
Breed's Hill when it was in his power to do 
so. The Americans, protected by their in- 
trenchments, worked incessantly, in spite of 
the shots from the Lively. The firing, by or- 
der of the naval commander of Boston, was 
discontinued ; but soon afterward it was re- 
newed from the vessel, and a battery on 
Copp's Hill, directly opposite the American 
position, also opened its thunders on the pro- 
vincials. 

The British generals at once saw the im- 
portance of dislodging the Americans before 
their fortifications were completed, for Breed's 
Hill commanded the city, and if the, Amer- 
icans planted a battery on this height, Boston 
would be no longer tenable. A council of 
war was called, and it was immediately de- 
cided that a force should be sent out to drive 
the Americans from tlie peninsula, and de- 
stroy their fortifications on Breed's and Bun- 
ker's Hills. A general fire, therefore, was 
opened on Breed's Hill from the artillery of 
the city, of the floating batteries in the har- 
bor, and of the fleet. Bombs and balls fell like 
hail in the American lines. The battery on 
Copp's Hill, which was nearly on an equal ele- 
vation with the American position, especially 
annoyed the provincials. But amid this storm 
of missiles, the Americans worked on ; both 
officers and men, encouraged by the voice and 
example of their patriotic and energetic com- 
mander. Prescott seemed everywhere, direct- 
ing and encouraging, and with his own hand 
giving the finishing touches to the works. 
His courage and presence of mind are worthy 



114 



BOSTOK 



of the highest praise. One incident deserves 
particular mention. A soldier recklessly ex- 
posed his person outside of the redoubt, and 
was instantly struck down by a cannon ball. 
A few of the Americans were so alarmed by 
this accident that they left the hill. Prescott, 
pierceiving this, walked around the fortifica- 
tions upon the parapet, in full view of the 
British. The balls whistled around him in a 
whirlwind of iron ; but he was untouched. 
General Ward had been urged early in the 
morning to send fresh troops to relieve those 
on duty ; but only a portion of Stark's regi- 
ment was allowed to go, as Ward apprehend- 
ed that Cambridge would be the principal 
point of attack. Convinced otherwise, how- 
ever, by certain intelligence, the remainder 
of Stark's regiment, and the whole of Reed's 
corps were ordered to reinforce Prescott. 
General Gage made immediate preparation 
to storm the American works. 

It was nearly noon when two or three 
thousanil British soldiers, commanded by Gen- 
eral Sir William Howe, and General Pigot, em- 
barked in twenty-eight barges, from Boston. 
They landed at Morton's Point, a little north 
of the eastern foot of Breed's Hill, under the 
guns of the Falcon, and the other vessels of 
war. The British force consisted of four bat- 
talions of heavy infantry, tAvo of liglit mfantrj'-, 
and two of genadiers. The music of their 
martial bands reached the ears of the little 
band of Americans, as they deployed, the 
grenadiers on the right, and the infantry on 
the left, in a long line of gorgeous scarlet and 
glittering steel. General Howe, however, 
observing the strength of the American posi- 
tion, ordered a halt, and sent to Boston for 
reinforcements. Meanwhile, the American 
forces on the peninsula of Charlestown, were 
in a state of the greatest excitement. When 
the news of the landing of tlie British reached 
Cambridge, two miles distant, the bells W|re 
rung, and the military and the people made 
the most active preparations to defend the 
town. The regiments of Generals Ward, 
Paterson, and Gardner, and a portion of 
Bridge's regiment were stationed at Cam- 
bridge, while the soldiers of J^Iassachusetts 
and Connecticut were marched to Charles- 
town. The Americans on Breed's Hill ceased 
working at twelve o'clock; their tools were 
sent to Bunker's Hill, and having partaken 
of some refreshments, the New England flag 
was hoisted, and the soldiers prepared to re- 
ceive the enemy. In spite of the terrific fire 
of the British, they had completed a breast- 
work from the redoubt nearly to the foot of 
the hill, toward the Mystic river, and had 
lost but one man I At two o'clock, Howe 
was reinforced by a large body of British 
troops from Boston, so that his whole force 
♦ Losslng. 



now consisted of nearly 4,000 men. The dis- 
positions of both armies for the approaching 
battle were as follows : 

The center and left wing of the Americans 
formed themselves behind the trench which 
extended down the side of the hill, nearly to 
the Mystic river, and the right wing rested 
on Charlestown, occupying many of the 
houses. The extremity of the left wing was 
the weakest part of the line, for an open and 
level space of ground was left between the 
end of the breastwork ami the river. To 
strengthen this spot, and obstruct the passage 
of the eneni}', the Americans, while the British 
were forming, hastily constructed a barricade, 
consisting of two parallel rail fences, the in- 
terval between which being filled with fresh 
cut grass. 

The British army was formed in two 
columns. The left wing, under General 
Pigot, was to assail the redoubt on Breed's 
Hill, and the center and right, under General 
Howe, was to attack the American lefl, near 
the Mystic river. 

The Americans watched the movements 
of the enemy with breathless interest. They 
saw before them a magnificent array of the 
best discipUned soldiers of Europe ; and they 
could not but feel their own inferiority when 
compared to the matchless force Avhich they 
were about to engage. They saw, too, con- 
stant accessions made to the British army by 
troops from Boston, while they on their side 
had received only feeble reinforcements. But, 
with hearts animated by patriotism, they 
sternly awaited the approach of the enemy, 
determined to sell the victory at the highest 
price. The arrival of Dr. Warren and Gen- 
eral Pomeroy, at a timely moment, filled the 
Americans with joy. Colonel Prescott offer- 
ed to resign his command to Warren, but the 
latter refused to accept it, saying, "I am 
come to fight as a volunteer, and feel honored 
in being allowed to serve under so brave an 
officer." 

Having completed his dispositions for the 
attack, the British general put his forces in 
motion. A signal-fiag was displayed, and 
the battery upon Copp's hill, and the floating 
batteries and the fleet in the harbor, opened 
a terrible cannonade against the redoubt. 
Roxbury, the head-quarters of General 
Thomas, was also assailed by a furious can- 
nonade, in order to prevent reinforcements 
being sent to Charlestown. The American 
artillery responded feebly to the guns of the 
enemy, and were soon silenced. Under 
cover of their guns the British slowly ad- 
vanced toward the American Une. As"^they 
moved up the acclivity their artillery poured 
forth its thunders ; but finding the discharges 
ineffectual the cannon were abandoned, and 
they resolved to continue the fight with 



BOSTON. 



115 



Bmall arms alone. The day was intensely- 
hot, and burdened by knapsacks and bearing 
muskets, the British soldiers toiled up the 
hill toward the enemy. A deep silence 
pervaded the American lines. The sun shone 
placidly on the rude intrenchments of the 
Americans, and his rays were reflected back 
a hundred times by the brilliant arms and 
gorgeous uniforms of the ascending host; 
while strains of martial music enlivened the 
air. It was the calm before a tempest. Fif- 
teen hundred resolute men were behind those 
earthen walls, and the British troops were 
marching blindfold, as it were, to certain 
death. Prescott, aware that his men were 
but scantily supplied with ammunition, had 
directed them to spare their powder, and, in 
the language of that gallant officer, not to fire 
on the enemy until they could see the whites 
of their eyes. " Then," said he, " aim at their 
waistbands ; and pick off the officers, known 
by their handsome coats !" When the British 
arrived witliin gun-shot of the American 
works, they opened a desultory fire. A few 
of the Americans, unable to restrain their 
impatience, returned the fire. Putnam, per- 
ceiving the importance of strict obedience to 
Prescott's command, hastened to the spot, 
and threatened to cut down the first man 
who should again be guilty of disobedience. 
On came the assailing column ; they advanced 
to witliin a few yards of the breastworks. 
"Fire!" shouted Prescott, and the Ameri- 
cans opened a volley of musketry on the 
enemy which mowed down the British by 
scores. VoUey succeeded volley with the 
same deadly effect. The ground streamed 
with British blood, and the corpses of the 
slain lay piled in gory heaps. The English 
wavered, they broke, they fled. Down to 
the water's edge in an affrighted mass fled 
those troops which had a moment before so 
proudly marched to the assault. Again the 
American lines were wrapt in silence. The 
smoke of battle arose from the field, and the 
sun again shone placidly upon the American 
intrenchments ; but now his rays were feebly 
reflected in the tarnished accoutrements of 
the British slain. The Americans were eager 
to pursue the flying enemy; and it was with 
considerable difficulty that they were held in 
check by their officers. Putnam hastened to 
Bunker's Hill for reinforcements, but only a 
few troops could be brought to Breed's Hill 
before the British made a second attack. 

The British re-formed at the foot of the 
hill, and reinforced by four hundred marines 
from Boston, commanded by Major Small, 
they again moved up the hill in the same 
order as before, General Howe marching 
in the rear. They had moved their artillery 
toward the rail-fence, and having pushed it 
within a hundred paces of the breast-work. 



opened a furious fire on the Americans with 
considerable effect. During these move- 
ments the battery on Copp's Hill was di- 
rected against Charlestown; a carcass and 
some hot-shot were thrown into the village, 
and several of the buildings were set on fire. 
The fire spread rapidly, and soon the greater 
portion of the town was wrapped in flames. 
The English hoped under cover of the smoke 
of the burning village to approach the breast- 
works unperceived by the enemy; but a 
breeze sprung up fi-om the west, and drove 
the smoke in a contrary direction, exposing 
to full view the advancing columns. The 
assailants who had reserved their fire, now 
opened a brisk discharge of musketry on the 
Americans. Three men were wounded and 
Major Moore was killed by this volley, which 
oiherwise was ineffectual. But the Americana 
did not respond. Silently, with their gun-bar- 
rels grimly resting across the breast-works, 
they awaited the nearer approach of the 
enemy. At length the signal was given, a 
sheet of flame illuminated the verge of the 
parapet, and a leaden tempest swept through 
the British ranks, with terrible effect. Offi- 
cers and men went down before that fearfnl 
storm like grass before the mower's scythe. 
The dead df the former engagement re- 
ceived new companions; and British blood 
again gushed in crimson rivulets down the 
sides of the hill. The officers of General 
Howe's staff fell around him, until he stood 
alone among the dead. His troops faltered. 
Vainly he shouted for them to advance, a 
second withering discharge from the Amer- 
icans sent them rushing in disorder toward 
the water. Here they came to a halt, and 
their officers made preparations for the third 
assault. General Clinton, who, from Copp's 
Hill, had observed aU the movements of the 
day, hastened across the river, and joined 
till shattered army as a volunteer. Howe 
had discovered the weakness of the American 
line of defense, between the trench and the 
rail fence, and resolved to lead his left wing, 
with the artillery, against that point, while a 
feigned attack on the rail-fence, should divert 
the attention of the enemy from the real object 
of the assault. The soldiers were directed 
to stand the fire of the enemy, and then to 
carry the works at the point of the bayonet 
The ammunition of the Americans was nearly 
expended ; but with the firmness of men 
fighting for their liberty, they resolved to club 
their muskets, and sell their fives as dearly as 
possible. They endeavored to procure am- 
munition and reinforcements from the main 
body of the army ; but the enemy's artillery, 
commanding all the approaches to Breed's 
Hill, effectually prevented them from doing 
so. Having completed their preparations for 
a final assault, the British troops advanced 



116 



BOSTON. 



Their artillery swept the interior of the 
American line, from one extremity to the 
other, and many of the patriots were slain 
by its incessant cUscharges. The British car- 
ried the breasiwork at a single charge, and 
the Americans retreated to the redoubt. 
From this work they maintained, with ter- 
rible effect, a vigorous discharge on the en- 
emy. The British officers were the especial 
aim of the enemy, and many of them were 
slain, among whom were Colonel Abercrom- 
bie, and Majors WiUiams, and Speedlove. 
Howe was wounded in the foot; but with 
bravery kept his place at the head of his men. 
The fire from the redoubt gradually weak- 
ened, for the Americans had loaded their 
pieces with their last charges. The British 
neared the wall : " Forward, for the glory of 
the marines !" shouted Major Pitcairn, and 
sprang upon the parapet. A ball struck hira, 
and he fell back upon his soldiers. The En- 
glish pressed forward, and mounting the 
wall, leaped down among the enemy. A 
furious hand-to-hand combat ensued ; but 
the bayonts of the British were more power- 
ful than the clubbed weapons of the Amer- 
icans. They gradually drove back the 
defenders of the redoubt; their countrymen 
followed them, and Prescott, perceiving the 
folly of resisting a force so greatly superior, 
ordered his men to retreat. The little band 
of Americans was fairly surrounded by en- 
emies; but with sturdy blows they fought 
their way through the mass, and retreated 
toward Bunker's HQl. Prescott and Warren 
were among the last to quit the redoubt. 
Prescott escaped unharmed, though his 
clothes were pierced in many places by 
thrusts of the sword and bayonet. Warren, 
when at a short distance from the redoubt, 
was shot through tlie head, and killed in- 
stantly. The British pursued the flying en- 
emy, bayonetting all that came in their path. 
The Americans on Bunker's Hill, pressed 
forward, and poured a deadly volley on the 
enemy, and covered the retreat of their 
countrymen with the utmost bravery. Those 
at the rail-fence, had maintained their ground, 
and had effectually checked the enemy at 
that point, thus saving the defenders of the 
redoubt from being entirely cut off. When 
they saw the defeat of the main body, how- 
ever, they abandoned their works, and fled 
also. Putnam endeavored vainly to rally 
them. He pleaded, cursed, and commanded; 
but so great was the panic that his efforts 
were fruitless. The whole army retreated to 
Prospect Hill, where they encamped for the 
night. The British toolc possession of Bun- 
ker's Hill, where they prepared to spend the 
night. Neither party was willing to hazard 
a new movement, and hostilities ceased. 
The Americans lost in this battle 450 men, 



of whom 115 were killed and missing, 305 
were wounded, and 30 were made prisoners. 
The British lost, according to General Gage's 
official statement, 226 killed, and 828 wound- 
ed, making a total of 1054. Five pieces of 
cannon, and all the intreucliing tools, Avhich 
tlie Americans left at Bunlcer's Hill, fell into 
the hands of the British. Thus ended this 
famous battle. The British no longer rid- 
iculed the valor of the provincials, for it was 
sufficiently tested in tliis hard fought field, to 
prove that they were foes to be feared. 

Breed's Hdl is now crowned by a stately 
monument, erected by the descendants of 
those noble men, whose valor and patriot- 
ism it witnessed on that memorable day. 

George Wasliington, two days before the 
battle of Bunker's Hill, had been elected by 
the Continental Congress, commander-in- 
chief of all the patriot forces raised, or to be 
raised, for the defense of American hberty. 
The commander-in-chief immediately set out 
from Philadelphia to the scene of hostilities, 
and arrived at the American camp in Cam- 
bridge on the 2d of July. On the 9th, 
Washington called a council of war, to con- 
sult upon future operations, and it was 
unanimously decided to maintain the siege of 
Boston with the utmost vigor. On the 10th 
of July, the relative positions of the two 
armies were as follows: the British were 
strongly intrenched on Bunker's Hill, about 
a mile from Charlestown, and advanced about 
half a mile from the place of the late action, 
with their sentries extended about 150 yards 
on the Cambridge side of the narrowest part 
of the neck leading from Cambridge to Bos- 
ton. Three floating batteries lay in the Mys- 
tic river near the British camp, and one 
twenty-gun ship below the ferry-place be- 
tween Boston and Charlestown. They had 
also a battery on Copp's Hill, on the Boston 
side, and upon Roxbury neck they were also 
deeply intrenched and strongly fortified. The 
bulk of the British army occupied Bunker's 
Hill, and the remainder were posted on Box- 
bury neck, except the hght horse, and a few 
troops in Boston. 

The Americans had thrown up intench- 
ments on Winter and Prospect Hills, in full 
view of the enemy's camp at the distance of 
a little more than a mile. At Roxbury, Gen- 
eral Thomas had thrown up a strong work on 
the hill, about 200 yards above the meeting- 
house. The troops from New Hampshire, 
with a regiment of Rhode Islanders, occu- 
pied Winter Hill; and General Putnam, 
with some Connecticut troops, was posted 
on Prospect Hill. Cambridge was occupied 
by Massachusetts troops ; and the remainder 
of the Rhode Island men were posted at 
Sewall's Farm. The residue of the army, to 
the number of 700 men, were posted in sev- 



BOSTON. 



117 



eral small towns along the coast to prevent the 
depredations of the British. The following let- 
ter, written by the Rev. William Emerson, a 
chaplain of the army, a few days after Wash- 
ington's arrival at Cambridge, gives a life pic- 
ture of the American camp : " New lords, new 
laws. The generals, Washington and Lee, 
are upon the lines every day. New orders 
from liis excellency are read to the respective 
regiments every morning after prayers. The 
strictest government is taking place, and 
great distinction is made between officers 
and soldiers. Every one is made to know his 
place and keep it, or to be tied up and receive 
tliirty or forty lashes, according to liis crime. 
Thousands are at work every day from four 
till eleven o'clock in the morning. It is sur- 
prising how much work has been done. The 
lines are extended almost from Cambridge to 
the Mystic river ; so that very soon it will be 
nearly impossible for the enemy to get be- 
tween the works, except at one place which 
is supposed to be left purposely unfortified, 
to entice the enemy out of their fortresses. 
Who would have thought, twelve months 
past, that all Cambridge and Charlestown 
would be covered over with American camps, 
and cut up into forts and intrenchments, and 
aU the lands, fields, and orchards, laid com- 
mon — horses and cattle feeding in the choicest 
mowing-land, whole fields of corn eaten 
down to the ground, and large parks of well- 
regulated locusts cut down for fire-wood and 
other public uses. This, I must say, looks a 
little melancholy. My quarters are at the 
foot of the famous Prospect Hill, where such 
preparations are made for the reception of the 
enemy. It is very diverting to walk among 
tlie camps. They are as different in form as 
the owners are in their dress, and every tent 
is a portraiture of the temper and taste of the 
persons who encamp in it. Some are made 
of boards, and some of sail-cloth, some partly 
of one and partly of the other. Again others 
are made of stone, or turf, brick or brush. 
Some are thrown up in a hurry ; others are 
curiously wrought with doors and windows, 
done with wreaths and withes, in the man- 
ner of a basket. Some are proper tents and 
marquees, looking Uke the regular camp of the 
enemy. In these are the Rhode Islanders, 
who are furnished with tent equipage, in 
every thing the most exact English style. 

The British strength, on the 27th of July, 
was computed by Washington, to be about 
12,000 men, including their marine forces; 
the American, including sick and absent, was 
about 16,000; but then the latter had to 
guard a semicircle of eight or nine miles, to 
every part of which they were obliged to be 
equally attentive, while the British, situated 
as it were in the center of the semicircle, 
and having the entire command of the water, 



could bend their whole force against any part 
of it with equal facihty. The American army 
was formed into three grand divisions, under 
the command of Generals Ward, Lee, and 
Putnam. 

On the night of the 26th of August the 
Americans took possession of a hill in ad- 
vance of their hues, and within point-blank 
shot of the enemy on Bunker's Hill. The 
men worked incessantly the whole night, and 
before morning they had tlirown up an in- 
trenchment wloich bade defiance to the 
enemy's cannon. At about nine o'clock on 
Sunday morning, the British opened their 
guns on the American intrenchment, and 
maintained a heavy cannonade during the 
Avhole day. The works, however, were not 
injured; two men were killed and two 
wounded. The Americans did not return 
the enemy's fire, owing to the scarcity of 
ammunition, except with one nine pounder, 
with which they sunk one of the British 
floating batteries. The close investment of 
Boston soon caused much suftering among 
the troops and citizens in the town. They 
suffered greatly for want of fresh provisions ; 
and being unaccustomed to the use of salt 
food, of which they had an abundance, many 
fell sick. The American Unes were advanced 
so close to those of the enemy, that they 
could see every thing that passed in the 
British camps on the two peninsulas of Bos- 
ton and Charlestown ; but the patriots could 
make no assault, as both of the peninsulas 
were surrounded by British ships-of-war and 
floating batteries, and the narrow necks of 
land leading to them were fortified in such a 
manner as to be impracticable. The two 
armies remained in close proximity, but al- 
most entirely inactive, during the remainder 
of the year. On the 1st of January, 1776, 
the Union Flag was, for the first time, un- 
furled over the American camp, at Cam- 
bridge. Washington's army had dwindled 
to about 10,000 effective men. Meanwhile, 
the British Parliament had made active prep- 
arations to crush the rebelhon. A land and 
naval force of 55,000 men was voted for the 
American service, and 17,000 mercenary 
troops were hired by the government of 
Great Britain from the Landgrave of Hesse 
Cassel and other petty German rulers. On 
receiving intelligence of these proceedings, 
the American Congress saw the necessity of 
immediate and energetic action. Washing- 
ton was urged to attack the British in Boston 
at once, and, by strenuous efforts, his army 
was increased to 14,000 efficient men. On 
the evening of the 2nd of March, a heavy 
cannonade was opened on Boston from all 
the American batteries, with considerable 
effect. The fire was returned with spirit, 
and the cannonade on both sides was con- 



118 



BOSWORTH. 



tinued, with brief intermissions, until the 
4th. At seven o'clock on the evening of the 
3d, General Thomas, with 2,000 men, jiro- 
ceeded to take possession of Dorchester 
Heights, and, by their great activity and 
industry, tlii-ew up intrenclunents of sufficient 
strength to resist the shot of the enemy, and 
armed them with heavy cannon which com- 
pletely commanded the city and harbor. 
The position of the British was now critical 
in the extreme. Howe was assured that tlie 
American guns would immecUately destroy 
the British fleet in the harbor ; and the situ- 
ation of the troops in the city was no less 
dangerous. The British general resolved to 
drive the Americans fuom their advantageous 
position, at all hazards; but a storm arose 
which, rendering tlie passage of the harbor 
impracticable, gave the Americans time to 
strengthen their works, vmtil they were al- 
most impregnable, and Howe saw that he 
must either surrender or evacuate the city. 
On the 17th of March, 1776, Washington 
wrote to Governor Cooke as follows : " Sir : 
I have the pleasure to inform you that the 
mmisterial troops evacuated the town of Bos- 
ton without destroying it, and that we are 
now in full possession." Seven thousand sol- 
diers, four thousand seamen, and fifteen hun- 
dred famiUes of loyalists on that day saUed 
for Halifax, and the Americans, embarking in 
boats, proceeded down the river to Boston, 
wliich they entered in triumph, with beating 
drums and flying colors. The American 
commander-in-chief was ignorant of the des- 
tination of Lord Howe ; but supposing he 
would proceed to New York, Wasliington, 
as soon as he had placed Boston in a state 
of security, advanced with his army toward 
New York, where he arrived on the 14th of 
April. 

BOSWORTH, A.D. 1485.— The decisive 
battle between Richard III. and the Earl of 
Richmond, in which the foi'mer lost his life 
and crown, and the latter gained the throne 
of England, was fought on a plain near Bos- 
worth in the county of Leicester, in England. 
The town is situated on an eminence, in the 
center of a fertile district, and is one of the 
pleasantest and neatest villages of England. 
In the battle-field is a well, named from 
Richard III., with an inscription by the late 
Dr. Parr; and an elevation called Crown 
Hill, where Lord Stanley is said to have 
placed Richard's crown on the Earl of Rich- 
mond's head. 

In the year 1485, the Earl of Richmond 
set sail from Ilarfleur in Normandy, with a 
smaU army of about 2,000 men, and after a 
voyage of six days, arrived at Milford-haven 
in Wales, where he landed without oppo- 
sition. Sir Rice ap Thomas and Sir Walter 
Herbert, were intrusted by Richard to op 



pose the Earl of Richmond ; but the former 
immediately deserted to tlie earl, and the 
second made but a feeble opposition to him. 
As the earl advanced toward Shrewsbury, 
he received every day some reinforcement 
from liis partizans. Sir Gilbert Talbot joined 
him with all the vassals and retainers of the 
family of Shrewsbury. Sir Thomas Bour- 
cher and Sir Walter Hungerford brought 
tlieir friends to share his fortunes, and the 
appearance of men of distinction in his 
camp already made liis cause wear a favora- 
ble aspect. But the danger to which Richai-d 
was chiefly exposed, proceeded not so much 
from the zeal of his open enemies, as from 
the infidehty of his pretended friends. Scarce 
any nobleman of distinction was sincerely 
attached to his cause, except the Duke of 
Norfolk ; and all those who feigned the most 
loyalty, were only watching for an oppor- 
tunity to betray and desert him. But the 
persons whom he most suspected were Lord 
Stanley, and his brother Sir William, whose 
connections with the family of Richmond, 
notwithstanding their professions of attach- 
ment to his person, were never entirely for- 
gotten or overlooked by him. When he 
empowered Lord Stanley to levy forces, he 
still retained his eldest son, Lord Strange, as 
a pledge of his fideUty ; and that nobleman 
Avas, on this account, obliged to employ great 
caution and reserve in his proceedings. He 
raised a powerful body of his friends and re- 
tainers in Cheshire and Lancashire, but with- 
out, openly declaring himself; and though 
the Earl of Richmond had received secret 
assurances of his friendly intentions, the ar- 
mies on both sides knew not what to infer 
from his equivocal behavior. The two rivals 
at length approached each other atBosworth- 
field in Leicestershire ; the Earl of Richmond 
at the head of 6,000 men, Richard with an 
army of about 13,000 men, and a decisive 
action between them was hourly expected. 
Notwithstanding the magnitude of the ene- 
my's army, the Earl of Richmond did not 
despair; his chief confidence lay in the 
friendship and secret assurances of Stanley, 
who with a body of 7,000 men hovered 
near the field of battle, and declined engag- 
ing on either side. As soon as he had ar- 
rived within sight of the enemy, Richard 
drew up liis army in order of battle. He 
gave the command of the vanguard to the 
Duke of Norfolk, while he led the main body 
himself, with the crown on his bead, design- 
ing by tliis, either to inspire the enemy with 
awe, or to render liim conspicuous to liis 
own army. The van of Richmond's army, 
consisting of archers, was commanded by 
John, Earl of Oxford ; Sir Gilbert Talbot led 
the right wing. Sir John Savage the left, 
while the earl himself, accompanied by hia 



BOTHWELL BEIDGE. 



119 



uncle, the Earl of Pembroke, placed liimself 
in the main body. Lord Stanley in the 
meantime, posted himself on one flank be- 
tween the two armies, while his brother took 
his station opposite him on the other. Rich- 
ard seeing him thus in a situation equally 
convenient for joining either army, imme- 
diately sent him orders to unite himself 
to the main body. This order Lord Stanley 
refused to obey, and Richard gave instant 
commands for beheading Lord Strange, 
whom he still kept as a hostage. He was 
persuaded, however, to postpone the execu- 
tion till after the fight, and, attending to the 
more important transactions of the day, he 
directed the trumpets to sound to battle. 
The two armies approaching each other, the 
battle began with a shower of arrows, and 
soon the two adverse fronts closed in a deadly 
hand-to-hand struggle. This was what Lord 
Stanley had for some time anticipated. Im- 
mediately profiting by the occasion, he joined 
the hne of Richmond and thus turned the 
fortune of the day. This measure, so unex- 
pected to the soldiers, though not to their 
leaders, had a proportioned effect on both 
armies. Richmond's soldiers were inspired 
with new valor, while Richard's men were 
dispirited and soon fell into disorder. The 
intrepid tyrant, perceiving the danger of his 
situation, spurred his horse into the thickest 
of the fight. Richmond also quitted his 
station behind the army, and rode to the 
front to encourage his troops by his presence. 
Richard, mad with rage, no sooner saw his 
detested rival, than he rushed toward him 
with the fury of a tiger springing on his 
prey, resolved that either Richmond's death 
or his own should decide the victory between 
them. He slew Sir William Brandon, the 
earl's standard bearer, who attempted to 
stop his career, and hurling Sir John Cheyne, 
who took Brandon's place, to the ground, he 
arrived within reach of Richmond himself 
The earl, in the meantime, firmly awaited his 
approach; but an interposing crowd sepa- 
rated them. Thus disappointed, Richard 
went to inspire his troops, by liis presence, 
in another quarter of the field. At length 
perceiving his army every where yielding or 
flying, and finding that all hopes of victory 
were gone, with a loud yell of defiance and 
hate, he rushed into the midst of his enemies, 
cutting down aU who opposed his path, until 
overwhelmed by the crowd, and pierced by 
a thousand weapons, he died on the field of 
battle, a better fate than his cruelties and 
crimes deserved. His men every where sought 
safety in flight. After the battle Richard's 
body was found stiffened among a heap of 
slain, mangled with ghastly wounds, and the 
eyes open and frightfully staring. In this 
manner it was thi-own across a horse, the 



head hanging down on one side, the heels on 
the other and thus carried to Leicester. It 
laid there two days exposed to public view, 
and then, without further ceremony, it was 
hastily buried. Richard's crown being found 
by one of Richmond's soldiers on the field of 
battle, it was immediately placed on the 
head of the conqueror ; while the whole 
army, as if inspired with one voice, cried 
out, "Long five King Henry!" 

The battle of Bosworth, was fought on the 
22d of August, 1485. There feU in this 
battle about 4,000 of the vanquished, among 
whom were the Duke of Norfolk, Lord Fer- 
rars of Chartley, Sir Richard Ratclifie, Sir 
Robert Piercy, and Sir Robert Brockenbury. 
On the side of the victors, the loss was in- 
considerable. With this battle ended the 
contests between the houses of York and 
Lancaster. 

BOTHWELL BRIDGE, a.d. 1679.— The 
village of Bothwell, in Scotland, is situated 
on the north side of the river Clyde, on the 
road from Glasgow to Hamilton, eight miles 
east of the former, and three miles north- 
Avest of the latter. About one mile further 
on toward the south-east, the road to Hamil- 
ton is carried over the Clyde, by Bothwell 
Bridge, the scene of one of the most memor- 
able events in Scottish history. Near the 
village is the magnificent ruin of Bothwell 
castle, once an impoitant Scotch fortress. 
The battle of Bothwell Bridge was fought in 
the year 1679, between the Covenanters and 
the royal forces, under the Duke of Mon^ 
mouth. The army of the Covenanters, which 
numbered, in all, about 8,000 men, had taken 
post near Bothwell castle, between Hamilton 
and Glasgow, where there was no access to 
them but over a bridge, which a small body 
would be able to defend against a much 
greater force. They showed judgment in 
the choice of their post, but discovered 
neither judgment nor valor in any other 
step of their conduct. No nobility, and few 
gentry had joined them. The clergy were in 
reality the generals. Monmouth, with a 
small body of English soldiers, attacked the 
bridge, which was defended by about 5,000 
of the Covenanters, who maintained then- 
post as long as their ammunition lasted. When 
they sent for more, they received orders to 
quit their ground, and to retire backward. 
This imprudent measure occasioned their 
immediate defeat. Monmouth passed the 
bridge, without opposition, and drew up his 
forces opposite the enemy. His cannon 
alone put them to rout. About 700 fell in 
the dispute ; for, properly speaking, there 
was no action. 1,200 were taken prisoners; 
and were treated by Monmouth with a hu- 
manity which they had never experienced 
from their own countrymen. Such of them 



120 



BOULOGNE— BOYNE. 



as promised to live peaceably were dismissed. 
About 300, who were so obstinate as to re- 
fuse this easy condition, were sliipped for 
Barbadoes; but unfortunately perished on 
the voyage. Two of their clergy were 
hanged. 

BOULOGNE.— The city of Boulogne is 
situated on the English Channel, in the De- 
partment of Pas du Calais, in France, 139 
miles north of Paris. In the year 882, Bou- 
logne was taken by the Nortlunun, wlio mas- 
sacred the inhabitants. On the 25th of July, 
1544, Henry VIII. of England, laid siege to 
the city of Boulogne, with an army of 30,000 
men, and, after an obstinate resistance, the 
Erench garrison capitulated on the 13th of 
September, and Henry., having garrisoned 
the city, returned to England. The English 
remained in possession of Boulogne until 
1550, when Edward VI. restored it to the 
French, upon payment of 400,000 crowns. 

BO U VINES, A.D. 1214.— This is a village 
of France, Department of Nord, six miles 
south-east of Lille. On Sunday, the 2Tth of 
July, 12 14, the armies of Pliilip I., of France, 
anl Otho, Emperor of Germany, who was in 
alliance with John of England, met at Bouvi- 
nes, and a bloody battle ensued. After a des- 
perate struggle, the Germans were defeated. 
Philip, at one time, was in imminent personal 
danger. Trusting to the temper of his armor, 
he had furiously rushed into the midst of the 
combatants. A German, on foot, who espied 
an opening between his visor and cuirass, 
made a desperate push at his throat with a 
barbed lance. He missed his aim ; but the 
hook caught the strap of the helmet, and the 
king was dragged from his horse. The sol- 
dier kept his hold; Philip rose to his feet; 
Otho hastened to overpower his enemy; 
while the French knights rushed forward to 
rescue their sovereign. After a desperate 
conflict, he was disengaged, remounted his 
horse and continued the battle. The soldiers 
fought with increased animosity and fury; 
contending showers of arrows constantly 
filled the air, and with loud yells the com- 
batants rushed together, striking at each 
other with sword, lance, and battle-ax. Tlie 
Emperor Otho fought with the utmost brav- 
ery. He wielded an immense one-edged 
sword, and at each stroke, stunned or un- 
horsed an opponent. During the battle, he 
had three chargers Icilled under him. On 
one of these occasions, Du Barre, an athletic 
knight, seizing him round the waist, en- 
deavored to carry him off; nor was it with- 
out difficulty that he was Uberated by the 
efforts of his guards. On another, he re- 
ceived, on his breast, a stroke from a battle- 
ax, which was repelled by the strength of 
his cuirass. A second stroke wounded his 
horse on the head; and the animal, furious 



with pain, wheeled round and carried him 
out of the combat. The Earl of SaUsbury, 
chancing to meet the Bishop of Beauvais, a 
single-handed combat took place between 
them. The bishop's profession did not seem 
to interfere with liis passion for fighting; but 
his only weapon was a club, that he might 
not, as he pretended, shed blood in violation 
of liis vows. The earl, however, was no 
match for the bishop, for with one tremen- 
dous blow from his bludgeon, the bishop 
brought his adversary to the ground, and 
made him his prisoner. The Earl of Boulogne, 
who, out of respect for the Sunday, had pro- 
posed to postpone the battle, and had been 
called a coward and a traitor for liis ad- 
vice, fought after his companions had fled, 
and refused to accompany them. At length 
liis horse was killed beneath him, and un- 
able to rise, he surrendered to De Guerin, 
bishop elect of Senlis. The Earl of Flanders 
was wounded and taken prisoner by the 
Frencli. The forces of Otho were utterly 
defeated and put to rout, and this defeat 
broke all the measures of John of England, 
who soUcited, and obtained, from Philip, a 
truce of five years. 

BOVINO, A.D. 1734.— In the year 1734, a 
battle took place near Bovino, a town of Na- 
ples, between the Spaniards and Imperialists, 
in wliich the former were defeated with great 
loss. 

BOXTEL, A.D. 1794.— Boxtel is a small 
village of the kingdom of Holland, and is sit- 
iiated on the Dommel, seven miles south of 
Bois-le-duc. On the 14th of August, 1794, 
an obstinate action was fought near tliis vil- 
lage, between the French, on the one side, 
and the British and Dutch troops, under the 
Duke of York, on the other. The latter were 
defeated, with considerable loss, and com- 
pelled to retire behind the Maese. 

BOYNE, A.D. 1690.— The Boyne, a river 
of Ireland, has its source in the bog of Allen, 
near Carberry, in Kildare, 225 feet above the 
level of the sea. It flows north-east by Trim, 
Navan, and Slane to Tullogballen, whence it 
follows an east course to Drogheda, empty- 
ing into the sea about two miles lower down. 
On the 1st of July, 1690, the forces of Wil- 
liam III., of England, gained an important 
victory over those of James II., on the banks 
of the river Boyne, about three miles above 
Drogheda. 

On the 7th of May, 1689, James embarked 
at Brest, in France, and on the 22d arrived 
at Kinsale. Shortly afterward he made liis 
public entry into Dublin, amid the accla- 
mations of the inhabitants. England and 
Scotland had acknowledged William, Prince 
of Orange, as king; Ireland alone remained 
faitliful to James. He found the appearance 
of things in that country equal to his most 



BOYNE. 



121 



sanguine expectations. Tyconnel, the lord- 
lieutenant, was devoted to liis interests;' his 
whole army was steady, and a new one 
raised amounting to 40,000 men. The Prot- 
estants over the greater part of Ireland were 
disarmed ; the Prince of Ulster alone denied 
liis authority; while the papists, confident of 
success, received Mm with shouts of joy. 
Louis XIV., of France, had granted him a 
fleet and some troops, and he felt confident 
of again firmly establishing himself on the 
throne of England. The Protestants of Ire- 
land underwent, in this state of aflairs, the 
most oppressive and cruel indignities. Most 
of those who were attached to the revolution 
were obliged to retire into Scotland and En- 
gland, or hide themselves, or accepted written 
protections from their enemies. The bravest 
of them, however, to the number of 10,000 
men, gathered round Londonderry, resolved 
to make their last stand at that place, for 
their rehgion and liberty. Early in the spring, 
James laid siege to Londonderry. Colonel 
Lundie had been appointed governor of the 
town by WilUam ; but he was secretly at- 
tached to King James ; and at a council of 
war prevailed upon the officers and towns- 
men to send messengers to the besiegers 
with an offer to surrender the day following. 
But the inhabitants, being apprised of liis in- 
tention, rose in a fury against the governor 
and council, and shooting one of the officers 
whom they suspected, they boldly resolved 
to maintain the town, though destitute of 
leaders. The town was weak in its fortifica- 
tions, having only a waU eight or nine feet 
thick, and weaker still in its artillery, there 
not being above twenty serviceable guns 
upon the works. The new-made garri- 
son, however, made up every deficiency by 
courage. Walker, a dissenting minister, and 
Major Baker put themselves at the head of 
these resolute men, who made every prepar- 
ation for a resolute defense. The batteries 
of the besiegers soon began to play upon the 
town with great fury ; and several attacks 
were made, but always repulsed with resolu- 
tion. At length, however, the besieged be- 
gan to be reduced to the greatest extremities 
for want of provisions. To add to their mis- 
eries a contagious distemper broke out in the 
city, and at length greatly tliinned in num- 
bers by the ravages of disease, and compelled 
to subsist upon horses, dogs, and all kinds of 
loathsome vermin, they sent proposals of 
capitulation to the besieging army. But at 
this crisis, Kirke, who had been sent to their 
assistance, hearing of their distress, resolved 
upon an attempt to throw provisions into the 
place, by means of three victuallers, and a 
frigate to cover them. As soon as these 
vessels sailed up the river, the eyes of all 
were fixed upon them ; the besiegers ready 



to destroy, and the garrison as resolute for 
their defense. The besiegers had blocked up 
the channel with a boom ; but the foremost 
of the victuallers at the first shock broke the 
impediment. The violence of her own stroke, 
however, stranded her. Upon this a shout 
burst from the besiegers, and they advanced 
with fury against a prize which they consid- 
ered as inevitable. The smoke of the can- 
non on both sides wrapped the whole scene 
in darkness ; but to the astonishment of all, 
in a little time the victualler was seen emerg- 
ing from imminent danger, having got ofi" by 
the rebound of her own guns, while she led 
up her little squadron to the very walls of 
the town. The joy of the inhabitants at this 
unexpected relief was only equalled by the 
rage and disappointment of the besiegers. 
The troops of James were so dispirited by 
the success of this enterprise, that they 
abandoned the siege in the night, and rethed 
with precipitation, after having lost about 
9,000 men before the place. 

King Wilham at length determined to spare 
no efibrts to drive King James from Ireland. 
He therefore ordered 23 new regiments to 
be raised, for he was afraid to send the late 
king's army to fight agianst him. These, 
with two Dutch battaUons, and four of French 
refugees, together with those Protestants who 
had rallied at Inniskillen, were appointed for 
the reduction of Ireland. Schomberg, a 
Dutchman, who had long been the faithful 
servant of Wilham, and who had now passed a 
life of nearly eighty years, almost continually 
in the field, was appointed commander of 
this army. But the method of carrying on 
the war in Ireland, was a mode of operation 
with which he was entirely unacquainted. 
The forces he had to combat were incursive, 
liarbarous, and shy; those whom he com- 
manded Avere tumultuary, ungovernable, and 
brave. He considered not the dangers wliich 
threatened his troops by being confined to 
one place, and he kept them in a low, moist, 
camp, near Dundalk, without fuel almost of 
any kind ; so that the men fell into fevers, 
and died in great abundance. The enemy 
also were afflicted with several disorders. 
Both camps remained for some time in sight 
of each other, and at last the rainy season 
approaching, both armies, as if by mutual 
consent, quitted their camps at the same 
time, and retired into winter quarters, with- 
out attempting to take any advantage of each 
other's retreat. The bad success of the cam- 
paign, and the miserable situation of the 
Protestants of Ireland, at length induced 
King WiUiam to attempt their relief in per- 
son, at the opening of the spring of 1690. Ac- 
cordingly he landed at Carrickfergus, where 
he found himself at the head of an army of 
36,000 men, which was more than a match 



122 



BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT. 



for the forces of James, although they num- 
bered about 46,000 men. The army of James 
was stationed at Ardee and Dundalk, and 
William having received intelligence that the 
French fleet had sailed for the coast of En- 
gland, resolved to attack the enemy at once, 
in order to prevent the impression which that 
circumstance might make upon the minds of 
liis soldiers. As William advanced, the ene- 
my fell back, first from Dundalk, and then 
from Ardee, and at last, upon the 29 th of 
June, they fixed their camp in a strong 
situatiou on the east side of the Boyne. It 
was upon the opposite banks of the river that 
the two armies came in sight of each other, 
inflamed with all the animosities, arising from 
religion, hatred, and revenge. The river 
Boyne at this place was not so deep but that 
men might wade over on foot ; however, the 
banks were rugged, and rendered dangerous 
by old houses and ditches, which served to 
defend the latent enemy. WilHam had no 
sooner arrived than he rode along the side of 
the river to make proper observations upon 
the plan of battle ; but in the mean time, be- 
ing perceived by the enemy, a cannon was 
privately brought out and planted against 
him, where he was sitting. The shot killed 
several of his followers, and he himself was 
wounded in the shoulder. The news of his 
bemg slain was instantly propagated through 
the Irish camp, and even sent off to Paris, 
but William, as soon as his wound was 
dressed, rode through the camp and quickly 
undeceived his army. Upon retiring to his 
tent, after the danger of the day, he con- 
tinued in meditation till nine o'clock at night, 
when, for form sake, he summoned a council 
of war, in which, witiiout asking advice, he 
declared his resolution to force a passage over 
the river the next morning. The Duke of 
Schomberg attempted at first to expostulate 
with him upon the danger of the undertak- 
ing, but finding his master inflexible, he re- 
turned to his tent with a discontented aspect, 
as if he had a prescience of his own misfor- 
tune. 

Early in the morning, at six o'clock, King 
William gave orders to force a passage over 
the river. Tliis the army undertook in three 
different places ; and, after a furious cannon- 
ading, the battle began with unusual vigor. 
The Irish troops fought with desperation; 
but, after an obstinate resistance, they fled 
with precipitation, leaving the French and 
Swiss allies to make the best retreat they 
could. William led his cavalry in person, 
and contriljuted by his activity and vigilance 
to secure the victory. James was not in the 
battle, but stood aloof during the action, on 
the hill of Dunuiore, surrounded by some 
squadrons of horse; and at intervals was 
lieard to exclaim, when he saw his own 



troops repulsing thosfe of the enemy, "0, 
spare my Enghsh subjects!" The Irish lost 
in this battle 1,500 men, while the Protest- 
ants lost only about 500. The victory was 
splendid, and almost decisive ; but the death 
of the Duke of Schomberg, who was shot as 
he was crossing the liver, seemed to out- 
weigh the whole loss sustained by the enemy. 
He was killed by a discharge from his own 
troops, who, not knowing that he had been 
accidentally hurried into the midst of the 
enemy, fired upon the body of men by whom 
he was surrounded, and mortally wounded 
him. James, while his troops were yet 
fighting, quitted his station, and leaving 
orders to defend the pass of Duleek, he 
lAade the best of his way to Dublin, despair- 
ing of future success. Afler arriving at this 
city, he advised the magistrates to obtain the 
best terms they could from tlie victor, and 
then set out for Waterford, whence he em- 
barked for France, in a vessel fitted for his 
reception. O'Regan, an old Irish captain, 
was heard to say, immediately after the 
retreat of the fallen monarch, that if the 
English would exchange generals, the con- 
quered army would fight the battle over 
again. 

BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT, a.d. 1755.— 
On the 8th of July, General I3raddock, with 
his troops, arrived at the fork of the Monon- 
gahela and Youghiogeny rivers, in Pennsyl- 
vania, with 1,200 men, on liis way to attack 
Fort du Quesue, wliich was strongly occu- 
pied by the French. The distance from the 
fork to Fort du Quesne was twelve miles, 
and early on the morning of the 9th of July, 
1755, Braddock set his troops in motion. 
They forded the Monongahela, a Uttle below 
the Youghiogeny, and marched along the 
southern bank of that river till noon, when 
they again forded the Monongahela, and 
stood between the rivers that form the Oliio, 
only seven mUes distant from their junction. 
A detachment of 350 men, under Lieutenant- 
Colonel Gage, and closely attended by a 
worlcing-party of 250, under St. Clair, ad- 
vanced cautiously, with guides and flanking- 
parties, along a path twelve feet wide, to- 
ward the uneven woody country that was 
between them and Fort du Quesne. The 
general followed with the columns of artillery, 
baggage, and the main body of the army, 
when a heavy and quick fire was heard in 
the front. The French scouts had reported 
the progress of the British troops, and the 
commandant at Fort du Quesne resolved on 
an ambuscade. At an early hour he detached 
De Beaujeu, Dumas, and De Ligney with 
about 230 French and Canadians, and 637 
Indians, under orders to repair to a favorable 
spot, selected the previous evening. Before 
reaching it they found tliemselves in the 



BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT. 



123 



presence of the English, who were advancing 
in the best possible order, and De Beaujeu, 
instantly began an attack with the utmost 
vivacity.* Gage should, on the moment, 
and without waiting for orders, have sent 
support to his flanking-parties. His inde- 
cision lost the day. The onset was met 
courageously ; but the flanking-parties were 
driven in, and the advanced-party, leaving 
tlieir two six-pounders in the hands of the 
enemy, were thrown back upon the van- 
guard, wliich the general had sent as a re- 
inforcement, and which was attempting to 
form in face of a rising ground on the right. 
Thus the men of both regiments were heaped 
together in promiscuous confusion, among 
the' dense forest-trees and thick-set under- 
wood. The general himself hurried forward 
to share the clanger and animate the troops ; 
and his artillery, tliough it could do little 
harm, as it played against an enemy whom 
the forest concealed, yet terrified the savages 
and made them waver. At this time De 
Beaujeu fell, when the brave and humane 
Dumas taking the command, gave new Ufe to 
his party ; sending the savages to attack the 
English in flank, while he, with the French 
and Canadians, continued the combat in front. 
Already the British regulars were raising 
shouts of victory, when the battle was re- 
newed, and the Indians, posting themselves 
most advantageously behind large trees " in 
the front of the troops, and on the hills which 
overhung the right flank," invisiljle, yet 
making the woods re-echo their war-whoop, 
fired irregularly, but with deadly aim, at the 
fair mark offered by the compact body of 
men beneath them. None of the Enghsh 
that were engaged would say they saw a 
hundred of the enemy, and many of the 
officers who were in the heat of the action 
the whole time, would not assert that they 
saw one. The combat was obstinate, and 
continued for two hours, with scarcely any 
change in the disposition on either side. 
Had the British regulars shown courage, the 
issue would not have been doubtful; but 
terrified by the yells of the Indians, and 
dispirited by a manner of fighting such as 
they had never imagined, they would not 
long obey the voice of their officers, but 
fired in platoons almost as fast as they could 
load, aiming among the trees, or firing in the 
air. In the midst of the strange scene, 
nothing was so sublime as the persevering 
gallantry of the officers. They used the ut- 
most art to encourage the men to move 
upon the enemy, they told them off into 
small parties of which they took the lead ; 
they bravely formed the front; they ad- 
• The field in which General Braddock was attacked 
by the French and Indians, is on the right bank of the 
Monongahela river, eleven miles above Pittsburg, Penn- 
sylvania. 



vanced sometimes at the head of small bodies, 
sometimes separately, to recover the cannon, 
or to get possession of the hill, but were sac- 
rificed by the soldiers, who declined to foUow 
them, and even fired upon them in the rear. 
Of 86 officers, 2G were killed — among them, 
Sir Peter Halket — and 37 were wounded, 
including Gage, and other field-officers. Of 
the men, one half were killed or wounded. 
Braddock braved every danger. His secre- 
tary was shot dead, both his English aids 
were disabled early in the engagement, leav- 
ing the Americans to distribute liis orders. 
" I expect, every moment," said one, whose 
eye was on Washington, " to see him falL 
Nothing but the superintending care of Prov- 
idence could have saved him. An Indian 
chief — I suppose a Shawnee — singled him 
out with his rifle, and bade others of his 
warriors to do the same. Two horses were 
killed under Mm, four balls penetrated his 
coat." "Some potent manitou guards his 
life," exclaimed the savage. " Death," wrote 
Wasliington, " was levehng my companions 
on every side of me ; but, by the all-power- 
ful dispensation of Providence, I have been 
protected." " To the public," said Davies, a 
learned divine, in the following month, "I 
point out that heroic youth. Colonel Wash- 
ington, whom I cannot but hope Providence 
has preserved in so signal a manner for some 
important service to his country." " Who is 
Mr. Washington ?" asked Lord Halifax, a few 
months later. " I know nothing of him," he 
added, " but that they say he behaved in 
Braddock's action as bravely as though he 
really loved the whistle of bullets." The 
Virginia troops showed great valor, and were 
nearly all massacred. Of three companies, 
scarcely thirty men were left alive. Captain 
Peyronney and all his officers, down to a 
corporal, were killed; of Poison's, whose 
bravery was honored by the Legislature of 
the Old Dominion, only one was left. But 
those they call regulars, having wasted their 
ammunition, broke and ran, as sheep before 
hounds, leaving the artillery, provisions, bag- 
gage, and even the private papers of the 
general, a prey to the enemy. The attempt 
to rally them was as vain as to attempt to 
stop the wild bears of the mountain. Thus 
were the English most scandalously beaten. 
Of privates, 714 were IdUed or wounded; 
while of the French and Indians, only three 
officers and thirty men fell, and but as many 
more were wounded. Braddock had five 
horses disabled under him ; at last a bullet 
entered his right side, and he fell, mortally 
wounded. He was with difficulty brouglit off 
the field, and borne in the train of the fugitives. 
All the first day he was silent ; but at night 
he aroused himself to say, " Who would have 
thought it ?" Shortly afterward, the British 



124 



BRAND YWINE. 



evacuated Fort Cumberland, in tlie western 
part of Virginia, and hastened to Ptiiladel- 
phia. A few days after the battle, Braddock 
died. His grave may still be seen, near the 
national road, about a mile west of Fort Ne- 
cessity. The forest field of battle was left 
thickly strewn with the wounded and the 
dead. Never had there been so great a har- 
vest of scalps and spoils. As evening ap- 
proached, the woods around Fort du Quesne 
rang with the halloos of the red men ; the 
constant firing of small arms mingled with a 
peal of cannon from the fort. The next day 
the British artillery was brought in, and the 
Indian warriors, painting their skins a shining 
Vermillion, with patches of black, and brown, 
and blue, gloried in the laced hats and bright 
apparel of the English officers. — Bancroft. 

BRAND YWINE, a.d. 1777,— Brandy wine 
creek rises in Chester county, Pennsylvania, 
and, in a south-easterly direction, flows 
through the State of Delaware. It forms 
a junction with Christiana creek, at Wil- 
mington, and the united streams empty into 
the Delaware river, 35 miles below Philadel- 
phia. The battle of the Brandywine was 
fought near the banks of this creek, at Chad's 
Ford, in Birmingham townsliip, Chester co., 
Pennsylvania. 

In the month of July, 1777, the British 
fleet, under Lord Howe, bearing 18,000 
troops, under Sir William Howe, arrived at 
the mouth of the Chesapeake, from New 
York. Washington, for the purpose of pro- 
tecting Philadelpliia from the long threatened 
attacks of the enemy, had concentrated his 
forces in that city to oppose him. The British 
fleet sailed up the Chesapeake, as far as Tur- 
key Point, on the west side of the river Elk, 
about eleven miles from Elkton; where, on 
the 25th of August, the troops were dis- 
embarked, preparatory to their advancing 
against the city of Philadelphia. , 

The whole army was stationed behind 
Christiana creek, having Newark on the 
right anfl Pcncada on the left. A division 
of the British army, under Lord Cornwallis 
and Knyphausen, fell in with Maxwell's rifle- 
men, at Pencada, and an engagement ensued 
in which the patriots were defeated with a 
loss of 40 in killed and wounded. The Brit- 
ish loss was somewhat less. Meanwhile the 
American army marched out of Philadelphia, 
and, advancing toward the enemy, encamped 
behind White Clay creek. 

Sliortly afterward, Washington, leaving 
only the riflemen in the camp, retired with 
the main body, behind Red Clay creek, 
about half way between Wilmington and 
Delaware. The left wing of the army rested 
on the Christiana creek, and the right ex- 
tended toward Chad's Ford, on the Brandy- 
wine. The whole American army consisted 



of about 11,000 men. On the 8th of Sep- 
tember, the British army, reinforced by the 
rear guard, under General Grant, moved 
forward by way of Newark, and encamped 
within four miles of tlie American position. 
A strong detachment made a feint of attack- 
ing the center of the Americans ; and at the 
same time the British general extended his 
left wing as if with the intention of turning the 
right flankof the enemy. Washington perceiv- 
ing the danger, broke up his encampment, and 
at about two o'clock on the morning of the 
9th, crossed the Brandywine at Chad's Ford. 
Tlie enemy took up its encampment on the 
rising grounds, which extend toward the 
north-west and north-east fi-om Chad's Ford. 
Maxwell's riflemen scoured the right bank 
of the Brandywine, in order to harass and 
retard the enemy, and the militia, under 
General Armstrong, protected a passage be- 
low Wasliington's principal encampment. 
The right wing of the army lined the banks 
of the river further up, where the passage 
was more difficult, and the passage of Chad's 
Ford, which was the most impracticable of 
all, was guarded by the main body. On the 
morning of the 9th, the British army ad- 
vanced in two columns. Cornwallis, who 
commanded the right, which consisted of 
13,000 men, British and Hessians, halted at 
Hocldiesson ; and Knyphausen, with the 
left, which consisted of about 5,000 men, 
moved forward to Kennet Square and New 
Garden. On the 10th both bodies met at 
Kennet Square; and at daybreak the fol- 
lowing morning, Cornwallis advanced along 
the Lancaster road, which for several miles 
runs parallel to the Brandywine, toward the 
American army. The left wing, under Knyp- 
hausen, moved forward at nine o'clock. The 
American militia in the vicinity of Kennet 
Square, from behind the walls of the grave 
yard, of the house, trees, bushes, and fences, 
annoyed the British by constant discharges 
of musketry. Knyphausen's column, however, 
pushed forward toward Chad's Ford. The 
British plan of attack was, that while Knyp- 
hausen should make repeated feints to attempt 
the passage at this point, Cornwallis should 
take a longer circuit to the upper part of the 
river, and cross the Brandywine, at Trimble's 
Ford, where the stream is divided into two 
branches. Knyphausen sent forward a strong 
party to dislodge Maxwell's troops. At ten 
o'clock the two parties met, and a severe en- 
gagement ensued. The British charging with 
the utmost vigor drove back the Americans to 
the verge of the river. At this moment Max- 
well received reinforcements from the main 
body of the army, and Uke a wolf at bay, turned 
furiously on his pursuers. The Americans, 
following the example of their gallant com- 
mander, rushed furiously upon the enemy, 



BRANDYWmE. 



125 



and, with one vigorous charge, threw them 
into complete disorder, and forced them back 
on Knyphausen's main column. Knyphausen 
now sent a detachment through the woods 
to attack Maxwell's men in flank, and the 
Americans, perceiving tliis movement, re- 
treated to the opposite shore, leaving the 
British in the entii-e possession of the west 
bank of the Brandy wine. Meanwhile Knyp- 
hausen advanced with his column, and opened 
a tremendous cannonade upon the passage 
of Chad's Ford, as if with the intention of 
crossing at that point. 

The Americans returned his fire with the 
utmost spirit, and even passed over to the 
other side several detachments of hght troops, 
in order to annoy the enemy's flanks. These 
troops assailed the British with gallantry, and 
it was not untU overwhelmed by numbers 
that they retreated to the eastern shore. 
Knyphausen now renewed his cannonade 
with tenfold power ; and the Americans, sup- 
posing that Chad's Ford was the threatened 
point, exerted their every effort to dispute 
the passage. Meanwhile, Cornwallis, at the 
head of his column, unperceived by the 
Americans, reached the forks of the river, 
and by a rapid movement, at about 2 o'clock 
passed both branches of the river at Trimble's 
and Jeffrey's Fords, unmolested by the ene- 
my, and then turning short to the right, 
advanced along the east bank of the Brandy- 
wine toward the American army. Washing- 
ton soon received intelligence of this move- 
ment, and, therefore, decided upon crossing 
the river with the center and left wing of 
his army, and by one furious attack over- 
whelm the troops of KnyiDhausen. Tliis 
movement, although bold, was judicious, and 
had it been carried into effect the result of 
the battle might have been different, for the 
advantage the Americans would obtain on 
tlie enemy's right would more than compen- 
sate the loss they might sustain in the right 
wing of their own army ; but no sooner had 
the American general made his dispositions 
for the attack, than a second report arrived, 
contradicting the first. Washington, de- 
ceived by tliis false intelligence, abandoned 
the idea of crossing the river ; and re-caUed 
Greene, who had already passed over with 
the vanguard. The Americans, however, did 
not long remain in suspense. Washington 
soon received positive information that the 
English had not only crossed both branches 
of the river ; but that they were advancing 
in full force against his right wing. This part 
of the American army consisted of the bri- 
gades of Stephens, Stirhng, and Sullivan ; the 
first occupying the extreme right, the second 
the center, and the third the left of the right 
wing. The entire wing was under the com- 
mand of General Sullivan. Washington per- 



ceiving the danger which threatened his 
right, approached that portion of the army 
with two divisions under General Greene, 
leaving a strong body of troops under Gen- 
eral Wayne, to oppose the passage of Knyp- 
hausen ; and took a position between the lefl 
wing and the troops under Wayne, ready to 
advance to the support of either as circum- 
stances should dictate. The troops of Corn- 
wallis soon arrived within sight of the Amer- 
icans. Sulhvan drew up liis men on the 
elevated grounds near the Birmingham meet- 
ing-house, with his left extending toward the 
Brandywine. Both flanks of his line were 
covered with thick woods, and his artillery 
was advantageously planted on the neighbor- 
ing heights. His own brigade, however, had 
not joined those of Stirling and Stephens, 
when the action commenced, having taken a 
long circuit over rough and broken ground. 
The Enghsh advanced impetuously to the 
attack. At about four o'clock in the after- 
noon the battle raged furiously on both sides. 
The Americans fought with the utmost gal- 
lantry, and the carnage was fearful. The 
artillery of both parties was plied constantly 
with terrible efiect. The Hessians and En- 
ghsh seemed determined to outdo each other 
in the conflict. But in spite of the efforts of 
the English the mercenary troops of the 
British army led the van, and pushed on 
fi'om behind by their impetuous friends, they 
rushed madly into the very midst of the 
enemy. 

The Americans strove in vain against the 
overwhelming tide of the enemy ; their right 
wing first gave way, and the left soon fol- 
lowed. Sullivan flew frantically over the 
plain endeavoring to rally his flying troops, 
but without effect. In the utmost confusion 
they fled towards Chad's Ford. The center, 
however, which consisted of 800 men, under 
General Conway, stood firm against the re- 
peated attacks of the enemy. SulUvan, aban- 
doned by his men, hastily joined this gallant 
band, where, side by side with the noble 
Lafayette and General Stirling, he engaged 
personally in the hottest of the strife. Corn- 
walhs concentrated all his energies against 
this point. His artillery was brought to bear 
upon this quarter of the field, and made fear- 
ful havoc among the dense masses of the 
Americans. Unable to cope with superior 
numbers, the Americans faltered. Lafayette, 
leaping from his horse, sword in hand, en- 
deavored to rally, and lead the wavering 
troops against the enemy ; but struck by a 
musket-ball in the leg, he fell to the ground, 
and was borne off the field by his aid. Two 
of SuUivan's aids were slain ; and the troops, 
filled with dismay, turned and fled precipi- 
tately. The British pursued eagerly. At a 
short distance from Dilworth some of the 



126 



BRECHIN— BROWNSTOWN. 



fugitives made a stand, and a sharp engage- 
ment ensued ; but the Americans were again 
obliged to fly. At the first sound of the can- 
non, Washington had pushed forward with 
Greene's division, to the support of Sullivan, 
but as they approached the field of action, 
these troops met the flying soldiers of SuUi- 
van, and General Greene, perceiving that the 
day was lost, by a skillful movement opened 
his ranks to receive the fugitives. After 
they had passed, he closed again, and covered 
their retreat, keeping the pursuit of the ene- 
my in check by an incessant fire of the artil- 
lery which sustained his rear. He thus re- 
treated in good order for about a mile, when 
having arrived at a narrow defile, flanked on 
either side by woods, he faced about, and 
kept the enemy at bay, while the fugitives 
re-formed in his rear. The enemy vainly 
endeavored to drive him from tliis strong 
position ; but their every attack was repulsed 
by his troops with the utmost gallantry until 
dusk, when the British encamped for the 
night. In this heroic stand, the tenth Vir- 
ginian regiment, under Colonel Stephens, and 
a Peunsylvanian regiment, under Colonel 
Steward, were especially conspicuous. Mean- 
while, Knyphausen, warned by the sound of 
the artillery that the right wing of the Amer- 
icans was fully engaged, and perceiving that 
the corps under General Wayne, at Chad's 
Ford, were weakened by the troops that had 
been detached to the support of SuUivan, 
immediately made dispositions for crossing 
the river. The passage was protected by 
batteries and an intrenchment. The moment 
Knyphausen advanced, the Americans open- 
ed a heavy fire of artillery from their in- 
trenchmeuts and batteries. But the troops 
of Knyphausen steadUy advanced through 
the storm of deadly missiles, and reaching 
the opposite bank, prepared to assail the in- 
trenchments. At this moment, Wayne heard 
of the defeat of the right wing and center at 
Birmingliam meeting-house, and seeing that 
some of the British troops had penetrated the 
woods, and were preparing to fall on his 
right flank, ordered a retreat. This was 
made in great disorder, the Americans aban- 
doning their artillery and ammunition to the 
enemy. In their retreat, they passed the 
position of General Greene, where the Amer- 
icans were still defending themselves gallant- 
ly. This brave general was the last to quit 
the field. Taking advantage of the darkness, 
he withdrew his forces, and the whole army 
retreated to Chester, where they rendez- 
vouzed, and the following morning marched 
toward Piiiladelphia, and encamped near 
Germantown. 

Thus ended the disastrous battle of Bran- 
dywine. The Americans lost 300 killed, 
600 wounded, and 400 taken prisoners. The 



British loss in killed and wounded was about 
500. Eleven pieces of cannon, and a consid- 
erable quantity of ammunition fell into the 
hands of the victors. 

BRECHIN, A.D. 1403.— In the year 1403, 
the castle of Brechin, a royal burgh of Scot- 
land, withstood a siege of twenty days by the 
Enghsh under Edward I., and surrendered 
only when Sir Thomas Maule, its brave com- 
mander, was killed. 

BRESLAU, A.D. 1757.— A battle was 
fought on the 22d of November, 1757, be- 
tween the Austrians and Prussians, at Breslau, 
in Prussia. The Prussians were commanded 
by Prince Bevens, who was defeated after a 
most bloody struggle. The city of Breslau 
fell into the hands of the conquerors ; but 
in the year 1806 it was re-taken by the 
Prussians. On the 8th of January, 1807, 
the city was besieged and taken by the 
French. In 1813 it was again taken by the 
French. 

BREEDS'S HILL. See Boston. 

BREST, A.D. 1694.— Brest is the strongest 
military port of France. In the year 1694, 
an Enghsh fleet under Admiral Berkley ap- 
peared before Brest, to attack the place; 
900 men were landed, but the tide having 
receded, their boats were stranded, and being 
attacked by the French, the men Avho had 
landed were cut to pieces, and the fleet set 
sail without accomplishing its purpose. 

BRIHUEGA, A.D. 1710.— In 1710, a battle 
was fought near Brihuega, in Spain, between 
the French army under the Duke de Ven- 
dome, and the allies under Lord Stanhope, 
in which the latter were defeated with con- 
siderable loss. 

BRIAR CREEK, a.d. 1779.— In the year 
1779, an action took place between the 
Americans and British, at Briar Creek in 
Georgia. The American force, consisting of 
1,500 North Carolina miUtia, and a few regu- 
lar troops under General Ash, had taken up 
a position on Briar Creek, when they were 
suddenly surprised by Lieutenant-Colonel 
Prevost, who attacked them in rear with 
900 veterans. The militia were thrown into 
confusion at once, flying at the first fire of 
the enemy. One hundred and fifty Amer- 
icans were killed ; 162 were made prisoners, 
and many were drowned in the river and 
swamps. Only 450 escaped to General Lin- 
coln's camp, near Savannah ; and almost all 
the arms fell into the hands of the conquerors. 

BROMPTON, A.D. 1138.— Near this place, 
in York co., England, was fought the " Bat- 
tle of the Standard." See Standard. 

BROWNSTOWN, a.d. 1812.— On the 8th 
of August, 1812, a sharp engagement took 
place between an American detachment, 600 
strong, and a large body of British and In- 
dians, near Brownstown, in Canada, in which 



BROOKLYN. 



127 



the latter were defeated with considerable 
loss. 

BROOKLYN, a.d. 1776.— This beautiful 
city stands at the western extremity of Long 
Island, and is in King's county in the State 
of New York. 

Immediately after the British evacuated 
Boston, Washington proceeded to New York, 
fearing that Howe would sail against that 
city ; and upon his arrival made every prep- 
aration for its defense. On the 8th of July, 
Howe arrived at Staten Island with a fleet 
bearing 9,000 British and Hessian soldiers. 
These troops were disembarked at this place, 
and the British general there awaited the 
arrival of his brother. Admiral Howe, with 
other troops. These soon arrived, and being 
joined by the troops of Clinton and Parker, 
the whole British army numbered 30,000 
men. Meanwliile the Americans were ex- 
erting themselves to the utmost to dispute 
the entrance of Howe into New York. On 
the first of August the American army in 
New York and vicinity, consisted of about 
27,000 men. Of these troops about 15,000, 
imder Generals Greene and SuUivan, occupied 
the city of Brooklyn. A small detachment 
was stationed on Governor's Island ; another 
occupied Paulus's Hook, where Jersey City 
now stands; a body of New York militia 
under General George Chnton was detached 
to Westchester co., in order to oppose the 
landing of the British on the shores of Long 
Island, and Parson's brigade was posted at 
Kip's Bay on the East river. 

But t^e American army was in a poor 
condition to repel the attacks of their vigor- 
ous foe. The soldiers were poorly armed, 
and, wasted by diseases, at least one fourth 
of them were unfitted for active duty. 
About the middle of August, General Greene 
was prostrated by sickness, and the whole 
command of the army at Brooldyn fell on 
General SulUvan. The possession of Long 
Island was very desirable to the British; 
being separated from New York by the East 
river, and being abundant in corn and cattle, 
it presented the means of subsistence for the 
most numerous army. Aside from tliis, its 
inhabitants were believed to favor the cause 
of the king. Wishing, therefore, to secure a 
post so important, Howe decided to attack 
Long Island. Accordingly, having made all 
his dispositions, on Thursday morning, the 
22d of August, 1776, the British fleet ap- 
proached the west shore of tlie Island, near 
the Narrows, a strait which separates it 
from Staten Island, and, without molestation, 
10,000 troops, with 40 cannon, were dis- 
embarked near New Utrecht. The chief 
commanders of the British were Generals 
Clinton, Cornwallis, Percy, Grant, De Heis- 
ter, and Erskine. The intelligence of this 



movement on the part of the British, created 
the utmost alarm and confiision. General Put- 
nam, with reinforcements, was sent thither, 
with orders from Washington to take the 
entire command of the army on Long Island. 
The greater part of the American army oc- 
cupied the city of Brooklyn, their left wing 
resting upon Wallabout Bay, and their right 
covered by a marsh adjoining GoAvanus Cove. 
The entrance to the city was strongly forti- 
fied with moats and intrenchments. Behind 
the American army was Governor's Island, 
and the East river, wliich gave it direct com- 
munication with New York, where Wash- 
ington, with the other part of the army, was 
stationed. Having effected their landing, 
the British marched rapidly forward. The 
two armies were separated by a chain of 
heights extending from the Narrows to the 
Jamaica road, which were practicable only at 
four points — at Martensis Lane, near the 
Narrows ; the Flatbush pass, at the junction 
of the present Brooklyn and Flatbush turn- 
pike, and the Coney Island plank road ; the 
Bedford pass, about half a mile east of the 
junction of the Flatbush and Bedford roads, 
and the Jamaica pass, a short distance from 
East New York, now called, on the road to 
Williamsburgh. These ways were inter- 
rupted by precipices, and by excessively diffi- 
cult and narrow defiles. With the exception 
of the Jamaica pass, they were all defended 
by bodies of American troops, and were for- 
tified with breastworks. General Sullivan, 
assisted by Brigadier-General Stirhng, was 
intrusted with the command of the troops 
without the fines. Colonel Miles, with his 
battaUon, was to guard the road of Flat- 
lands, and to scour it, as well as that of 
Jamaica, continuafiy with his scouts, in order 
to observe the movements of the enemy. 
]\IeanwhOe, the British army gradually ad- 
vanced, its left; wing being to the north, its 
right to the south. The center consisted of 
Hessians, under General de Heister ; the left 
wing was composed of English troops, under 
General Grant, and rested on New York bay, 
and the right wing, on wliich the British 
generals placed their principal hope of suc- 
cess, was composed of picked troops, under 
the command of Cornwallis, Clinton, and 
Percy, accompanied by General Howe, in 
person. The British plan of attack was, that 
while the troops of Generals Grant, and De 
Heister should annoy the Americans on the 
left and center, the right, taking a circuit, 
should march through Flatlands and en- 
deavor to secure the roads and passes be- 
tween Jamaica and that village; and then 
hastily descending to the plain which ex- 
tended from the foot of the hills, should fall 
upon the flank and rear of the left wing of 
the enemy. As this post was the most dis- 



128 



BROOKLYN. 



tant from the center of the army, the British 
generals hoped that the advanced parties of 
the Americans would be weaker, and less 
careful; and at all events, they supposed 
that the enemy would be unable to defend it 
against the assault of such a superior force. 
On the evening of the 26th, the division was 
put in motion. The vanguard, consisting of 
hght infantry, was commanded by General 
Clinton; the center, composed of the gren- 
adiers, the cavalry, and the artillery, was 
under Lord Percy, and the vanguard was 
commanded by Lord CornwaUis. In admir- 
able order this body of the British army 
marched in the deepest silence, though New 
Lots, followed by the baggage, the heavy ar- 
tillery, and some regiments of infantry. At 
about two o'clock in the morning, they ar- 
rived at the heights within half a mile of 
the road to Jamaica, unobserved by any of 
Colonel Miles's troops except some patrols 
whom they met and captured. General 
Clinton halted on these heights and made 
preparations for the attack. 

The American conamander did not expect 
an attack on his left, and had turned all his 
attention toward his right. General Clinton 
being informed by his prisoners that the Ja- 
maica road was not guarded, determined to 
secure that important pass. With a rapid 
movement he bore his left toward Bedford, 
and seized the Bedford pass before General 
Sullivan was aware of his departure from 
Flatlands. To this unfortunate oversight on 
the part of the Americans, the British may 
attribute their success of the day. Lord 
Percy and Cornwalhs followed with their 
troops, and the whole column passed through 
the village of Bedford into the plain which 
lay between the hills and the American posi- 
tion. Meanwhile, General Grant, with the 
left wing of the British army, advanced to- 
ward Brooklyn, in order to divert the atten- 
tion of the enemy from the events that were 
transpiring on the right. As they approached 
the heights they were discovered by the 
guard at the lower pass, and the alarm was 
immediately given. General Putnam de- 
tached Stirling with Atlee, Haslet, and Small- 
wood's regiments to oppose the troops of 
Grant. The British drove back the miUtia- 
guard from the pass of Martenses Lane, but 
they were soon rallied by Colonel Parsons, 
on an eminence,* where they maintained 
their ground until the arrival of StirUng at 
early dawn, with 1,500 men. Stirling took 
a position on the neighboring slopes, and the 
action became exceedingly warm. The en- 
gagement continued without either party 
gaining a decided advantage, until eleven 
o'clock in the forenoon, when the aspect of 

* This height ia in Greenwood Cemetery, a little north 
of Sylvan water. 



affairs was suddenly changed by the move- 
ments of the British on the American left. 

During the time that Stirling and Grant were 
thus engaged the Hessians under De Heister, 
advanced from Flatbush, and opened a can- 
nonade on the American works at the Flat- 
bush pass, at which point the regiments 
of Colonels Williams and Mile's were posted, 
under the command of General Sullivan. 
At the same time the English slaips, having 
taken an advantageous position, opened a 
brisk fire upon an American battery at Red 
Hook Point. These operations were all made 
with the intention of diverting the attention 
of the Americans from what was passing in 
their center and on their left. At all these 
points tlie Americans defended themselves 
with the utmost gallantry; but their ex- 
ertions were fruitless, for the rapid and un- 
expected movements of Clinton on their left 
soon placed victory in the hands of the in- 
vaders. Having gained the plain between 
the American line and Bedford, CUnton furi- 
ously attacked the left wing of the enemy. 
At the first sound of Clinton's cannon, De 
Heister ordered the Hessians, under Count 
Donop, to charge the troops of Sulhvan. 
The conflict which followed was terrible. 
The Americans bore up gallantly against the 
fierce attack of the enemy ; but Sullivan per- 
ceiving that his httle band was unable to 
cope with the superior numbers of the Hes- 
sians, and that Clinton was rapidly gaining 
ground in his rear, ordered a retreat. But 
the order came too late. The retreating 
Americans were met by Clinton's dragoons 
and light infantry, who, charging down upon 
them, drove them back on the bayonets of 
the Ilessians. The entrapped Americans 
fought furiously with the foe ; hand to hand, 
and breast to breast they struggled desperately, 
swaying backward and forward between the 
opposing ranks of the enemy. Some with the 
courage of despair hewed their way through 
the walls of bayonets and swords which en- 
compassed them, and escaped to Putnam's 
camp, the others were slain to a man. The 
Hessians slaughtered the patriots with the 
fury of fiends, giving no quarter. " It was a 
fine sight," wrote a British officer, "to see 
with what alacrity they dispatched the rebels 
with their bayonets, after we had surroufided 
them and they could 7iot resist." The left wing 
and center of the American army being thus 
discomfited, the English, under CornwaUis, 
made a quick movement against the rear of 
the right wing. Here General Stirhng was 
engaged with Grant. Attacked thus in front 
and rear, Sthhng saw no means of escape, 
except across Gowanus Creek. This could 
only be efiected by keeping Cornwall's at 
bay with a few troops, while the others should 
make their escape. He at once change^ his 




I! \ I T I h Ol )1 \ -^ i I \ 



BRIENNE. 



129 



front, and placing himself at the head of a 
body of men (whose names should be written 
in letters of gold for their noble sacrifice on 
this day,) commanded by Major Grist, he led 
them against the troops of Cornwallis. Fight- 
ing for the lives of their countrymen the 
Americans fell upon the British with the 
utmost fury. The carnage was terrible. For 
twenty minutes that gallant Uttle band held 
the British in check, and even drove them 
back, and thus afforded the remainder of his 
corps an opportunity to cross the creek ; but 
the bed of the stream was miry, and many 
of them sank into the quicksand beneath its 
turbid waters, in death. But at length, when 
nearly all his brave men were slain, Stirling 
was overwhelmed, and was himself taken 
prisoner. The battle ended with Stirling's 
defeat. The loss of the Americans in this 
battle has been variously stated. It is thought, 
however, to have been about 2,000 in killed, 
wounded, and prisoners. This number is 
large considering that only about 5,000 were 
engaged. Among the prisoners were Lord 
Stirhng, General Sullivan, and Colonel Atlee. 
The British lost about 400 in killed, wounded, 
and prisoners. The British encamped in front 
of the American lines in Brooklyn, and on 
the morning of the 28th, broke ground within 
six hundred yards of Fort Putnam. TJicy 
cast up a redoubt and cannonaded the Amer- 
ican works. Washington was there. He 
had witnessed the disastrous defeat of his 
army with intense sorrow, and exerted him- 
self to the utmost to secure the shattered 
remnant. Finding that all hopes of success 
were useless, it was finally decided to evacu- 
ate Long Island, and on the night of the 
29th of August, favored by a thick fog, the 
entire army, with all the artillery, baggage, 
camp equipage, in fact, every thing was 
safely transported to New York. 

BRIENNE, A.D. 1814.— The chateau of 
Brienne, the scene of the boyish adventures 
of Napoleon Bonaparte, afterwards was the 
theater of two bloody engagements between 
the forces of the French emperor and the 
united army of the Russians and Prussians. 
There the great captain received the first 
rudiments of his military education, and here 
in 1814, after he had startled all Europe by 
the magnitude and brilliancy of liis warlike 
exploits, he was in imminent danger. The 
town is situated on the great road from Paris 
to Chaumont, and has a fine castle, which, 
erected on an artificial plateau, commands an 
extensive view. 

On the 29th of January, 1814, the French 
troops approached Brienne, wliich was occu- 
pied by Blucher with 26,000 Prussians. The 
French army consisted of about 70,000 men, 
of whom 15,000 were cavalry ; but a part of 
these were at a considerable distance from the 



center of action. As the French approached 
Brienne they discovered the Prussians drawn 
up in successive hues in front of its buildings. 
The beautiful terraces which he along the 
higher parts of the town, were strongly 
occupied by their powerful artillery. The 
great road between Brienne and Mazieres, 
was occupied by Olsoofief's guns and 
Palilen's dragoons, as an advanced guard; 
but at two o'clock, the French attacked this 
position with such vigor, that the Prussians 
gradually retired toward the lov^er part of 
the town. Napoleon, encouraged by the 
reti-eat ofthe enemy's rear guard, noAV pressed 
on vigorously with all the forces he could 
command. He constantly received accessions 
of fresh troops, while the action was going 
on in front of the town. He hurried for- 
ward his numerous guns to the front, and 
opening a concentric fire on the town, dis- 
charged a shower of bombs and shells, which 
soon set it on fire and reduced a considerable 
part to ashes. A column of infimtry charg- 
ing amid the spreading conflagration, through 
the streets, took twelve Russian guns. Soon, 
however, the French troops advancing to 
support this vigorous onset, were checked by 
a battery which commanded their left wing ; 
and being charged in rear by the Russian 
dragoons, they lost the guns they had taken, 
and were driven out of the town with a loss 
of eight pieces of their own. Until night- 
fall the fire on both sides was continued with 
great vigor; but as darkness covered the 
earth, it slackened. The town still remained 
in the hands of the Russians ; and Blucher, 
deeming the battle at an end, retired to tha 
chateau, to survey, from its elevated summit, 
the position of the vast semicircle of watch- 
fires, which marked the camp of the enemy 
on the west side of the town. While he 
was gazing upon the French hue, he heard 
loud cries in the avenue which led to the 
castle. They were speedily followed by the 
discharge of musketry, and vehement shouts 
at the foot of the buUding itself He hastened 
down stairs, accompanied by a few of hia 
suit, and he had hardly time to reach the 
road, when the castle was carried by a body 
of French grenadiers who had stole unper- 
ceived into the grounds of the chateau.- 
Mounting his horse, the old marshal hastily 
rode toward the town, when he was met by 
a Cossack who told him that the French had 
again burst into Brienne. By the hght of 
the burning houses he distinctly perceived a 
large body of the enemy advancing toward 
him at a rapid trot. Drawing himseh' into 
the shadow of a house in the street, the 
French dragoons passed him like a whirl- 
wind, httle thinking that they had lost the 
opportunity of capturing him, who two 
months afterward was governor of Paris ! 



130 



BRIENNE. 



Blucher now ordered the town to be cleared 
of the enemy ; but though his men advanced 
vigorously to the attack of the castle, they 
Avere always repulsed with great loss. At 
two o'clock the Prussian field marshal with- 
drew his whole army, and took up a strong 
position at Trannes, on the road to Bar-sur- 
Aube, and Brienne remained entirely in the 
hands of the French. In this bloody affair, 
the Prussians only were engaged. Both 
parties fought with the most determined 
resolution, and each sustained a loss of about 
3,000 men. At the very time that Blucher 
so narrowly escaped being made prisoner. 
Napoleon, himself, was still nearer destruc- 
tion. The emperor, after having inspected 
the position of the bulk of his army, which 
was lying in the plain between Maizieres 
and Brienne, was riding back, accompanied 
by his suite, to the former town, when a party 
of Cossacks suddenly dashed across the road. 
The foremost Cossack, with his lance in rest, 
rode at full speed against the horseman with 
the cocked-hat and gray" riding coat, who 
role in front. A cry of horror arose in the 
emperor's suite ; Corbineau threw himself 
across the lancer's path, while Grourgand 
drew his pistol and shot him dead, and he 
f.'ll headlong at the feet of the emperor. The 
Cossacks immediately turned an 1 lied, ignor- 
ant of the inestimable prize almost within 
their grasp. On the 30th of January, Na- 
poleon transferred his head-quarters to the 
ciiateau of Brienne. The alhed generals now 
m lie the most vigorous efforts to concentrate 
their forces. 

One hundred thousand men, under the 
co:nraand of the Emperor Alexander and 
the King of Prussia, were collected together, 
and disposed for a general attack on the 
French army. The center, consisting chiefly 
of Bluchers Prussians, was posted on the 
elevated ridge of Trannes, with Barclay de 
Tolly's reserve behind it ; the right wing was 
formed of the hereditary prince of Wirtem- 
berg's corps, which was stationed at G-etanie, 
and the left wing consisted of the AUstrians 
under Griulay, with CoUoredo's corps in re- 
serve. The command of the whole army 
was given to Blucher. The French hne was 
drawn up directly opposite to that of the 
allies. It extended from DionviUe on the 
right, through La Rothiere and La Giberie in 
the center, to Chaumenio on the extreme 
left ; forming the two sides of a riglit-angled 
triangle, facing outward, of which La 
Giberie was the turning point. The morn- 
ing of the 1st of February was dark and 
gloomy. A cold wind swept across the plain, 
and the air was filled with driving sleet and 
snow, which rendered ev(!ry thing invisible. 
At one o'clock the sky cleared, and as the 
mist dissolved the two armies discovered each 



other. On the one side stood 100,000 Prus- 
sians, Russians, and Austrians, ready for the 
fight, while on the other, in battle array, 
stood only 50,000 Frenchmen, calmly await- 
ing the attack of the enemy. Some distance 
behind the French army stood the chateau 
of Brienne, whose summit commanded a 
view of the whole field of battle. The right 
wing of the French army was commanded 
by Marshal Gerard ; tlu; left by Marmont, 
and the center was under the immediate di- 
rection of Napoleon himself, while Mortier, 
Ney, and Oudinot were in reserve behind. 
To distinguish the soldiers of the alUed army, 
who belonged to six different nations, and 
were clothed in every variety of uniform, 
from the enemy, orders were given that they 
should all, from the general to the private 
soldier, wear a white band around the left 
arm. The allied monarchs now gave the 
orders to attack. Giulay, who commanded 
the left wing of the allied army, advanced 
against the right wing of the French under Ge- 
rard ; the Prince of Wirtemberg and Sacken, 
who directed the allied center, marched against 
the French center, at La Giberie, and La 
Rothiere, and Wrede advanced on Monvilliers. 
The ground was so heavy that Niketir, who 
commanded Sacken's artillery, was obliged 
to leave half of his guns in position on the 
ridge of Trannes, and harness the horses 
belonging to them to the other half, thirty- 
six in number, with which he advanced to 
the attack. To each of the heavy guns were 
attached ten horses ; six to the light, and five 
to the caissons. As they were slowly drag- 
ged through the deep clay, the French artil- 
lery maintained a heavy and incessant dis- 
charge upon them ; but at length they were 
formiid in a line, ready to open on the French 
center at La Rothiere. The infantry destined 
for their protection was still far in the rear, 
toiling through the miry fields. Napoleon 
now caused a large body of cavalry to charge 
the guns; but the Russian cuirassiers, re- 
served their fire till the enemy's horse was 
within 600 yards, when they opened a sud- 
den drscharge upon the advancing troop, 
which caused them to recoil, and finally re- 
treat. Snow now commenced falling witli 
such thickness, that the nearest objects 
were no longer visible. During the obscu- 
rity the thirty-six pieces left behind at Tran- 
nes, were brought to the front. 

In the mean time, the cavalry of Sacken's 
corps approacheiJ, and the action became 
general. The French troops posted in a 
wood in front of La Giberie, were driven 
back by the Prince of Wirtemberg, who, 
threading his devious way through a narrow 
path between fish-ponds, at last reached the 
open country, and commenced an attack on 
the village of La Giberie and Chaumenie, 



BUENA VISTA. 



131 



which, after a bloody struggle, he carried. 
Napoleon immediately ordered his guards 
and reserves to regain these important posts, 
and supported their attack by the concentric 
fire of a large part of his artillery. These 
gallant soldiers attacked the village with such 
vigor, that the enemy was driven out, and 
the posts regained. Again the Austrians, 
supported by Wrede, advanced to the charge. 
Attacked at once in front and flank, the 
French, after an obstinate resistance, were 
dislodged, and the villages were regained, 
and permanently held by the alhes. Mean- 
while, Sacken, in the center, led his troops 
against La Rothiere and the French batteries 
adjacent. The vanguard pushed the attack 
vigorously, and at length reached the church 
of La Rothiere, around which a bloody con- 
flict arose. The snow descended in thick 
and heavy flakes, and the combatants fight- 
ing in obscurity, were frequently obhged to 
suspend their fire, being unable to see each 
other. At this moment the Russian dragoons 
advanced upon the French cavalry, and 
charged and captured a battery of twenty- 
eight guns in the French center. At the 
same time, the Prince of Wirtemberg made 
himself master of a battery of nine guns, be- 
tween La Giberie and La Rotliiere; then 
turning about to his left, he attacked the vil- 
lage in flank, and expelled the French from 
every part of it, while Wrede carried Chau- 
menie and twelve guns on the extreme left 
of the hne. The French center and left wing 
were thus entirely broken and defeated. 
The -right wing, however, still stood firm at 
Dionville, and had repulsed all the attacks 
of Giulay's Austrians. Napoleon, deter- 
mined to regain La Rothiere, placed himself 
at the head of the dragoons of Colbert and 
Piri, and bringing up every disposable gun 
he had, directed a general attack on that vil- 
lage. Oudinot, with two fresh divisions, 
came up to his aid, and the French soldiers 
enthusiastically advanced to the charge. 
Blucher, perceiving the concentration of the 
French forces at this decisive point, put him- 
self at the head of his reserves, and advanced 
to sustain the encounter. The evening was 
far advanced when these two formidable an- 
tagonists met in arms. The falling snow 
rapidly covered the bodies of the slain with 
its white mantle, and the moon shining 
through a misty atmosphere, faintly illumined 
the field. The first attack of the French was 
irresistible. Amid loud cheers the village 
was carried ; but the Emperor of Russia im- 
mediately brought up the grenadier regi- 
ments, and the French, far inferior in point 
of numbers, were driven out at the point of 
the bayonet, fiercely contesting every inch 
of soil. In vain did the brave Frenchmen 
battle with the enemy ; their ranks dissolved 



before the murderous fire of the Russians, 
like grass before the scythe. Such was the 
indomitable resolution with which they 
fought, that the division of Duhesme was 
almost entirely destroyed. Napoleon and 
Blucher directed the attacks in person. At 
length the French were driven from the vil- 
lage. At the same time, Giulay, on the 
extreme right, after the sixth assault, carried 
Dionville. The whole ground, and every vil- 
lage occupied by the French at the com- 
mencement of the battle, were now in the 
hands of the alUes. Napoleon saw that the 
day was lost, and gave orders to burn La 
Rothiere, and drew off his troops to Brienne, 
under cover of the night. The French lost in 
this battle 6000 men, Idlled, wounded, and 
made prisoners, and seventy-three pieces of 
cannon fell into the hands of the victors. 
The allies lost 5000 killed and wounded. 
The great loss of the French on this occasion 
testifies to their valor and resolution. For 
nearly twelve hours had they contested 
against the combined armies of Europe ; and 
the overwhelming number of the enemy 
aione, finally compelled them to retreat. 

BUENA VISTA, a.d., 1847.— This cele- 
brated battle-field, in Mexico, is situated 
about ninety miles south-west of Monterey, 
and ten miles from Saltillo. It consists 
mostly of mountain ridges, impassable ra- 
vines, and narrow defiles. 

At noon, on the 21st of February, 1847, 
the American army, commanded by General 
Taylor, broke up its camp at Agua Nueva, 
and encamped at a new position a little ia 
front of the hacienda of Buena Vista. Tay- 
lor had learned that the Mexicans had con- 
centrated a heavy force in his fi'ont, and that 
Santa Anna, the Mexican general, meditated 
a forward movement and attack upon his 
position at Agua Nueva. As the camp of 
Agua Nueva could be turned on either flank, 
and as the enemy's forces were greatly supe- 
rior to his own, especially in cavalry, he de- 
termined to take up a position at Buena 
Vista, about eleven miles in rear, and there 
await the attack of the enemy. With a 
small force the American general proceeded 
to Saltillo, to make some necessary arrange- 
ments for the defense of that town, leaving 
Brigadier General Wool in the immediate 
command of his troops. Before he had com- 
pleted his arrangements, on the morning of 
the 22 d, he was advised that the enemy was 
in sight advancing. LTpon reaching the 
ground, he found that the Mexican advance 
cavalry was in his front, having marched 
from Encarnacion the day before, and driving 
in a mounted force, left at Agua Nueva to 
cover the removal of public stores. The 
American troops were in a position occupy- 
ing a line of remarkable strength. At this 



132 



BUENA VISTA. 



point the roaa becomes a narrow defile, tlie 
valley on its right being rendered quite im- 
practicable for artillery, by a system of deep 
and impassable gulleys, while on the left a 
succession of rugged ridges and precipitous 
ravines extended far back toward the mount- 
ain which bounds the valley. The features 
of the ground were such as nearly to paralyze 
the artillery and cavalry of the enemy, while 
liis infantry could not derive all the advan- 
tages of his numerical superiority. The 
American army consisted of about 4,000 
men. Of this number two squadrons of 
cavalry, and three batteries of light artillery, 
making not more than 453 men, composed 
the only force of regular troops. The balance 
Avere volunteers. The Americans were 
drawn up in the following order to receive 
the attack of the enemy. Captain Washing- 
ton's battery (4th Artillery) was posted to 
(command the road, while the 1st and 2d 
Illinois regiments, under Colonels Hardin and 
Bissil, each eight companies (to the latter of 
wlrich was attached Captain Conners's com- 
pany of Texas volunteers), and the 2d Ken- 
tucky, under Colonel McKee, occupied the 
crest of the ridges on the left and in rear. 

The Arkansas and Kentucky regiments of 
cavalry, commanded by Colonel Yell and II. 
Marshall, occupied the extreme left near the 
base of the mountain, while the Indiana bri- 
gade under Brigadier General Lane (com- 
posed of the 2d and 3d regiments, under 
Colonels Bowles and Lane), the Mississippi 
riflemen, under Colonel Davis, the squadrons 
of the 1st and 2d dragoons, under Captain 
Steen, and Lieutenant Colonel May, and the 
light batteries of Captains Sherman and 
Bragg, 3d Artillery, were held in reserve. At 
eleven o'clock, the American commander 
received the following summons from Gen- 
era Santa Anna, to surrender at discretion : 
" You are surrounded by 20,000 men, and 
can not in any human probability, avoid suf- 
fering a rout, and being cut to pieces with 
your troops ; but as you deserve considera- 
tion and particular esteem, I wish to save 
you from a catastrophe, and for that purpose 
give you this notice, in order that you may 
surrender at discretion, under the assurance 
that you will be treated with the considera- 
tion belonging to the Mexican character, to 
which end you will be granted an hour's 
time to make up your mind, to commence 
from the moment when my (lag of truce 
arrives in your camp. With this view I as- 
sure you of my particular consideration.. 

" God and Liberty. Camp at Encantada, 
February 22d, 1847. 

" Antonio Lopkz de Santa Anna." 

To this summons General Taylor replied as 
follows : 

" Sir — In reply to your note of this date, 



summoning me to surrender my forces at 
discretion, I beg leave to say that I decline 
acceding to your request. 

" With lugh respect, I am, sir, 

" Your obedient servant, 

"Z. Taylor, 
" Major General U. S. A., Commanding." 
The Mexican general still forbore his at- 
tack, waiting for the arrival of his rear col- 
umns, which could be distinctly seen by the 
American look-out, approaching the field. 
Perceiving a demonstration on the enemy's 
left, the American general detached the 2d 
Kentucky regiment, and a section of artillery 
to the right, in wliich position they bi- 
vouacked for the night. In the mean time 
the Mexican light troops had engaged the 
Americans on the extreme left, which was 
composed of parts of the Kentucky and Ar- 
kansas cavalry, dismounted, and a rifle bat- 
talion from the Indiana brigade, under Ma- 
jor Gorman ; the whole being commanded 
by Colonel Marshall. The Mexicans kept up 
a sharp fire, climbing up the mountain side, 
Avith the endeavor to gain the American 
flank. Three pieces of Captain Washington's 
battery had been detached to the left of the 
American army, and were supported by the 
2d Indiana regiment. The Mexicans occa- 
sionally threw shells into tliis part of the Amer- 
ican line, but without effect. The sku-mish- 
ing of the light troops was kept up, with 
trifling loss to the Americans, until dark, 
when Taylor, convinced that no serious at- 
tack would be made before morning, returned 
with the Mississippi regiment and a squadron 
of the 2d dragoons, to Saltillo. The troops 
bivouacked without fires, and laid upon their 
arms. A body of the enemy's cavalry, about 
1,500 strong, had been visible all day, in 
rear of the town, having entered the valley 
through a narrow pass east of the city. 
This cavalry, commanded by General Minon, 
had been thrown into the rear of the Amer- 
icans, to break up and harass their retreat, 
and perhaps make some attempt against the 
town if practicable. Saltillo was occupied by 
four excellent companies of IlUnois volunteers, 
under Major AVarren of the 1st regiment. 
A field-work, which commanded most of the 
approaches, was garrisoned by Captain Web- 
ster's company, 1st Artillery, and armed with 
two 24 pound howitzers, while the train and 
head-quartd- camp were guarded by two 
companies of Mississippi riflemen, under 
Captain Rogers, and a field-piece commanded 
by Captain Shover, 3d Artillery. Having 
made these dispositions, General Taylor pro- 
ceeded on the morning of the 23d to Buena 
Vista, ordering forward all the other available 
troops. The action had commenced before 
his arrival on the field. At an early hour on 
the 23d, the action commenced, on the 



BUENA VISTA. 



133 



mountain side, where the Mexicans during 
the evening and night of the 22d had thrown 
a body of liglit troops with the purpose of 
outflanking the left of the American hne. 
The American riflemen, under Colonel Mar- 
shall, who had been reinforced by three 
companies under Major Trail, 2d Illinois vol- 
unteers, maintained their ground gallantly 
against a greatly superior force, holding them- 
selves under cover, and using their weapons 
with deadly effect. At eight o'clock the 
Mexicans made a strong demonstration 
against the center of the American position. 
The Mexicans in a heavy column, moving 
along the road, rapidly approached; but a 
few well directed and rapid shots from Cap- 
tain Washington's battery, soon dispersed 
them. In the mean time the Mexican gen- 
eral was concentrating a large force of in- 
fantry and cavalry under cover of the ridges, 
with the intention of forcing the enemy's 
left, which was posted on an extensive pla- 
teau. The 2d Indiana and 2d Illinois regi- 
ments formed this part of the American line, 
the former covering three pieces of light 
artillery, under the order of Captain O'Brien, 
Brigadier General Lane being in the imme- 
diate command. In order to bring his men 
within efifective range, G-eneral Lane ordered 
the artillery and 2d Indiana regiment for- 
ward. The artillery advanced within musket 
range of a heavy body of Mexican infantry, 
and was opened against it with great effect ; 
but without being able to check its advance. 
The infantry ordered to its support, were 
exposed to such a severe fire of small arms 
in front, and such a murderous cross-fire of 
grape and canister from a ^Mexican battery 
on the left, that they had fallen back in dis- 
order. Captain O'Brien found it impossible 
to rettiin his position without support. He 
therefore withdrew; taking with him only 
two of his pieces, all the horses and cannon- 
eers of the third piece being killed or dis- 
abled. 

The 2d Indiana regiment, which had fallen 
back, could not be rallied, and took no fur- 
ther part in the action, except a handful of 
men, who, under its gallant colonel, Bowles, 
joined the Mississippi regiment, and did good 
service ; and those fugitives who, at a later 
period in the day, assisted in defending the 
train and depot at Buena Vista. This portion 
of the American line having given way, the 
Mexicans attacked the left flank with an 
overwhelming force, and the light troops on 
the mountain were compelled to withdraw, 
which they did, for the most part, in good 
order. Many, however, were not rallied un- 
til they reached the depot at Buena Vista, to 
the defense of which they afterward con- 
tributed. Colonel Bissil's regiment (2d Illi- 
nois), which had been joined by a section of 



Captain Sherman's battery, had become com- 
pletely outflanked, and was compelled to 
fall back, being entirely unsupported. The 
Mexicans were now pouring masses of in- 
fantry and cavalry along the base of the 
mountain, on the left of the American posi- 
tion, and were gaining their rear in great 
force. At this moment General Taylor ar- 
rived upon the field. The Mississippi regi- 
ment had been dhected to the left before 
reaching the position, and immediately came 
into action against the Mexican infantry 
which had turned the American flank. The 
2d Kentucky regiment, and a section of 
artillery, under Captain Bragg, had previously 
been ordered from the right, to reinforce the 
left wing of the American army, and arrived 
at a most opportune moment. That regi- 
ment, and a portion of the 1st Illinois, under 
Colonel Hardin, gallantly drove the enemy, 
and recovered a portion of the ground the 
Americans had lost. The batteries of Cap- 
tains Sherman and Bragg were in position on 
the plateau and did much execution, not only 
in front, but particularly upon the masses 
which had gained their rear. Discovering 
that the enemy was heavily pressing upon 
the ilississippi regiment, General Taylor dis- 
patched the 3d Indiana regiment, under 
Colonel Lane, to strengthen that part of the 
American line, which farmed a crotchet 
perpendicular to the first line of battle. 
At the same time Lieutenant Kilburn, with a 
piece of Captain Bragg's battery, was direct- 
ed to support the infantry there engaged. 
The action was for a long time warmly sus- 
tained at that point — the Mexicans making 
several exertions, both with infantry and 
cavalry, against the American line, and being 
always repulsed with heavy loss. The 
American conunander had placed all the 
regular cavalry, and Captain Pike's squadron 
of Arkansas horse, under the orders of Brevet 
Lieutenant Colonel May, with directions 
to hold in check the enemy's column, still 
advancing along the base of the mountain, 
which was done in conjunction with the 
Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry, under Colo- 
nels Marshall and Yell. In the mean time the 
left, which was strongly threatened by su- 
perior Mexican forces, was further strength- 
ened by the detachment of Captain Bragg's 
and a portion of Colonel Sherman's batteries 
to that quarter. The concentration of artil- 
lery fire upon the masses of the enemy along 
the base of the mountain, and the determined 
resistance offered to them by the two regi- 
ments 'opposed to them, had created confusion 
in their ranks, and some of the corps at- 
tempted to retreat upon their main line of 
battle. The squadron of the 1st dragoons, 
under Lieutenant Bucker, was now ordered 
up the deep ravine, which these retreating 



134 



BUENA VISTA. 



corps were endeavoring to cross, in order to 
charge and disperse them. The squatlron 
proceeded to the point indicated, but could 
not accomphsh the object, being exposed to 
a heavy fire from a battery estabhshed to 
cover the retreat of those corps. While the 
squadron was detacheH on this service, the 
Mexican general concentrated a large body 
on the extreme left of the American line, 
with the view of making a descent upon the 
hacienda of Buena Vista, where the train and 
baggage of the Americans were deposited. 
General Taylor immediately ordered Lieuten- 
ant Colonel May to the support of that 
point, with two pieces of Captain Sherman's 
battery, under Lieutenant Reynolds. In the 
mean time the scattered American forces, 
near the hacienda, composed in part of 
Majors Trail and Gorman's commands, had 
been to some extent organized under the ad- 
vice of Major Monroe, chief of artillery, with 
the assistance of Major Morrison, volunteer 
staff, and were posted to defend the position. 
Before the American cavalry had reached the 
hacienda, that of the Mexicans had made the 
attack; having been gallantly met by the 
Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry, under Colo- 
nels Marshall and Yell. The Mexican column 
immediately divided, one portion sweeping 
by the depot, where it received a destructive 
fire from the force*, which had been collected 
there, and then gaining the mountain op- 
posite, under a fire from Lieutenant Reynolds's 
section, the remaining portion regaining the 
base of the mountain, on the left. In the 
charge at Buena Vista, Colonel Yell fell 
gallantly at the head of his regiment. Adju- 
tant Vaughan, of the Kentucky cavalry, was 
also slain. Lieutenant Colonel May, who 
had been rejoined by the squadron of the 1st 
dragoons, and by portions of the Arkansas 
and Indiana troops, under Lieutenant Colo- 
nel Roane and Major Gorman, now ap- 
proached the base of the mountain, holding 
in check the right flank of the Mexican army, 
upon whose masses, crowded in the narrow 
gorges and ravines, the American artillery 
was doing fearful execution. The position 
of that portion of the Mexican army which 
had gained the rear of the American Hne, 
was now very critical, and it seemeii 
doubtful whether it could regain the main 
body.* 

At this moment, while General Taylor was 
sitting quietly on his white charger, watching 
the movements of the cnimy, a Mexican 
officer was presented, bearing a white flag, 
who stated that he had been sent by his ex- 
cellency, General Santa Anna, to inquire 
what General Taylor was waiting for? 
"For Gene7\il Santa Anna to surrender,"! 

* General Taylor's official report 
t General Coffee's account. 



was the response of the American com- 
mander, who immediately dispatched Brig- 
adier General Wool to the Mexican general- 
in-chief, and sent orders to cease firing. 

Upon reacliing the Mexican Unes, General 
Wool could not cause the enemy to cease 
their fire, and accordingly returned without 
having an interview. Taking advantage of 
the momentary cessation of the American 
fire, the extreme right of the Mexican army 
at length effected a junction with the main 
body of their army. During the day, the 
cavalry of General Menon had ascended the 
elevated plain above Saltillo, and occupied 
the road from the city to the field of battle, 
where they intercepted several American 
soldiers. Approaching the town, they were 
fired upon, by Captain Webster, from the re- 
doubt occupied by his company, and then 
moved off toward the eastern side of the 
valley, and obhquely toward Buena Vista. 

At this time Captain Shover moved rapidly 
forward with his piece, supported by a mis- 
cellaneous command of mounted volunteers, 
and fired several shots at the Mexican cavalry, 
with great eflect. They were driven into the 
ravines wliich lead to the lower valley, closely 
pursued by Captain Shover, who was fur- 
ther supported by a piece of Captain Web- 
ster's battery, under Lieutenant Donaldson, 
which had advanced from the redoubt, sup- 
ported by Captain Wheeler's company of 
IlHnois volunteers. The Mexicans made one 
or two efforts to charge the artillery, but was 
driven back in a confused mass, and did not 
again appear upon the plain. In the mean 
time, the firing had partially ceased upon the 
principal field. Santa Anna confined his 
efforts to the protection of his artillery. 
General Taylor had left the plateau for a 
moment, when he was recalled thither by 
a heavy musketry fire. On regaining that 
position, he discovered that the infantry of 
the Illinois and Kentucky regiments had en- 
gaged a greatly superior force of the enemy 
— evidently his reserve — and that they had 
been overwhelmed by numbers. The crisis 
appeared most imminent. Captain O'Brien, 
with two pieces of cannon, had sustained 
tliis heavy charge to the last, and was finally 
obliged to leave his guns on the field — his in- 
fantry support being entirely routed. Cap- 
tain Bragg, who had just arrived, was or- 
dered at once into battery, without any in- 
fantry to support him ; and at the imminent 
risk of losing his guns, this officer came 
rapidly into action, the Mexican line being 
but a kw yards from the muzzles of liis 
pieces.* 

At this critical moment, Generel Taylor 
rode up behind the gallant men, who were 
working their pieces with desperate energy. 
• General Taylor's official report. 



BUENOS AYRES. 



135 



"A little more grape, Captain Bragg!" said 
the general, calmly, and the cannoneers, in- 
spired to renewed exertions by the cool 
bravery of their commander, worked their 
guns with a rapidity and accuracy which 
told with fearful effect upon the Mexican 
columns. 

The first discharge of canister caused the 
Mexicans to hesitate ; the second and third 
drove them back in disorder ; and the victory 
belonged to the Americans. The 2d Ken- 
tucky regiment, which had advanced beyond 
supporting distance in this affair, was driven 
back, and closely pressed by the Mexican 
cavalry. Taking a ravine which led in the 
direction of Captain Washington's battery, 
their pursuers were exposed to liis fire, 
wliich soon checked them, and finally drove 
tliem back with loss. In the mean time, the 
rest of the American artillery had taken 
position on the plateau, covered by the 
Mississippi and 3d Indiana regiments, the 
former of which had reached the ground 
in time to pour a fire into the right flank of 
the enemy, and thus contribute to his re- 
pulse. In this conflict the Americans sus- 
tained a very heavy loss. Colonel Hardin, 
Colonel McKee, and Lieutenant Colonel Clay, 
2d Kentucky regiment, fell at this time, while 
gallantly leading their commands. No fur- 
ther attempt was made by the Mexicans to 
force the American position, and the approach 
cf night gave an opportunity to pay proper 
iittention to the wounded, and also to refresh 
tlie soldiers, who had been exhausted by in- 
cessant watchfulness and combat.* Though 
the night was extremely cold, the troops 
were compelled to bivouac without fires, ex- 
pecting that morning would renew the com- 
bat. During the night the Mexicans aban- 
doned their position, and fell back upon Agua 
Nueva. The great disparity of numbers, 
and the fatigue of liis troops, prevented the 
American general from pursuing them. The 
next day a staff ofiicer was dispatched to 
General Santa Anna, to negotiate an ex- 
change of prisoners, which was satisfactorily 
completed on the following day. Thus 
ended the battle of Buena Vista. The 
Americans lost 267 killed, 456 wounded, and 
23 missing. The Mexicans lost, in killed 
and wounded, about 2,000, beside a great 
number of deserters and others who dispersed 
from their ranks. The following extract from 
a letter written by a distinguished American 
ofiicer, will make a fitting close to this de- 
scription of the battle of Buena Vista : 

" At a time when the fortune of the day 
seemed extremely problematical — when many 
on our side despaired of success — old Rough- 
and-Ready, as he is not inaptly styled, whom 
you must know, by-the-by, is short, fat, and 
• General Taylor's official report. 



dumpy in person, with remarkably short 
legs, took his position on a conmianding 
height overlooking the two armies. This 
was about three or, perhaps, four o'clock in 
the afternoon. The enemy, who had suc- 
ceeded in gaining an advantageous position, 
made a fierce charge upon our column, and 
fought with a desperation that seemed for a 
time to insure success to their arms. The 
struggle lasted for some time. All the whilo 
General Taylor was a silent spectator, his 
countenance exhibiting the most anxious 
solicitude, alternating between hope and 
despondency. His staff perceiving his peril- 
ous situation — for he was exposed to the fire 
of the enemy — approached him and implored 
him to retire. He heeded them not. His 
thoughts were intent upon victory or defeat. 
He knew not at this moment what the result 
would be. He felt that engagement was to 
decide his fate. Pie had given all his orders, 
and selected his position. If the day went 
against him, he was irretrievabl}^ lost ; if for 
him, he could rejoice, in common with Ins 
countrymen, at the triumphant success of our 
arms. Such seemed to be his thoughts, his 
determination ; and when he saw the enemy 
give way, and retreat in the utmost confu- 
sion, he gave free vent to liis pent-up feelings. 
His right leg was quickly disengaged from 
the pommel of the saddle, where it had re- 
mained during the whole of the fierce en- 
counter ; his arms, which were calmly folded 
over his breast, relaxed their hold, his feet 
fairly danced in the stirrups, and his whole 
body was in motion. It was a moment of 
the most exciting and intense interest. His 
face was suffused with tears. The day was 
won, the victory complete, his Httle army 
saved from defeat and disgrace, and he could 
not refrain from weeping for joy at what had 
seemed to so many but a moment before, as 
an impossible result." 

BUENOS AYRES, a.d. 1806.— Buenos 
Ayres is a maritime city of South America, 
and is the capital of the republic of La Plata. 
On the 24th of June, 1806, Buenos Ayres 
was attacked by the British land forces under 
General Beresford, while the naval forces 
distracted the attention of the defenders of 
the city by threatening Montevideo, where 
the principal regular forces of the vice- 
royalty of La Plata were collecting. Buenos 
Ayres, chiefly defended by militia, was un- 
able to withstand the energetic attack of the 
invaders, and a capitulation was soon con- 
cluded, which guarantied private property. 
Public stores, however, of great amount, fell 
into the hands of the victors. But the city 
did not long remain in the hands of the 
British. The Spaniards, ashamed of their 
defeat by a handful of foreigners, began to 
entertain serious intentions of expelling the 



136 



BUNKEirS HILL— BURGOS. 



intruders. An insurrection was secretly 
organized in the city of Buenos Ayres, almost 
under the eyes of the British commanders ; 
the militia of the surrounding districts were 
assembled ; Linieres, a French officer in the 
Spanisli service, succeeded in crossing over 
from Montevideo, with 1,000 regular soldiers, 
and, on the 4th of August, the small English 
garrison, assailed by several thousand men 
from without, found itself menaced with in- 
surrection in the interior of the city. The 
weather prevented embarkation; and the 
English troops were fiercely assailed by a 
greatly superior force in the town. After 
maintaining an unequal conflict with the 
enemy in the streets, for several hours, and 
harassed on every side by unseen enemies 
in the windows and on the roofs of houses, 
they were obliged to capitulate. The Span- 
iards violated the terms of surrender, and the 
whole remaining British troops were made 
prisoners of war, after losing nearly 2U0 
men, killed and wounded. Sir Home Pop- 
ham, the British commander, succeeded in 
making his escape with the squadron, and 
cast anchor off the mouth of the .river, where 
he maintained a blockade till reinforcements 
enabled the British to resume the offensive. 
On the 9th of May, 1807, General White- 
lock, with 9,000 British soldiers, arrived at 
Montevideo (which town had been taken by 
the British the preceding year), and immedi- 
ately made preparations for the reduction of 
Buenos Ayres. With 7,800 men, and eight- 
een pieces of artillery, he set out for that 
city. After several fatiguing marches the 
British troops reached Reduction, a village 
about nine miles from Buenos Ayres, and, 
having maneuvered, so as to deceive the 
enemy as to the real point of passage, suc- 
ceeded in crossing the river La Plata, with 
very Uttle loss, at the ford of Passo Chico. 
No sooner was the army assembled on the 
south banlc of the river, than orders were 
given lor a general attack on the town. The 
inhabitants had made great preparations for 
defense. Twy hundred pieces of cannon 
were disposed, in advantageous positions, in 
the principal streets, and 15,000 armed men 
were stationed on the flat roofs of the houses 
to pour their destructive volleys on the 
columns that might advance to the attack. 
Tiie British columns of attack were to ad- 
vance by the principal streets to the great 
square near the river ; but by an inconceiv- 
able oversight, they were not allowed to load 
tlieir pieces, and they were forbidden to fire 
imtil they had reached the final place of their 
destination. As they advanced through the 
long streets, leading to the great square, they 
were exposed, without the possibility of re- 
turning it, to a destructive shower of musket- 
ry, hand-grenades, and stones, from the tops 



of the houses, wliich were crowded with 
armed and enthusiastic inhabitants; while 
strong barricades were drawn at intervals 
across the streets, mounted by powerful 
artillery. Sir Samuel Auclimuty, on the 
riglit, however, by a vigorous attack, made 
himself master of the Plaza de Toros, and 
took eighty-two pieces of cannon, an im- 
mense quantity of ammunition, and 600 
prisoners. General Whitelock, himself, had 
gained possession of an advanced post in the 
center, and the Residencia, a commanding 
station on the left, had also fallen into the 
hands of the British. But these advantages 
were dearly purchased, and in other quarters 
of the town, the plunging fire to which the 
troops had been exposed, witliout the possi- 
bility of returning it, had proved so destruct- 
ive, that three regiments mere compelled to 
lay down their arms, and the attacking force 
was weakened by the loss of 2,500 men. 
The next morning Linieres, the Spanish gen- 
eral, offered to restore all the prisoners he 
had taken, on condition that the British forces 
should withdraw altogether from Montevideo 
and all the settlements which they held on 
the Rio de la Plata. The British generals, 
fearful of a repetition of the disaster of the 
preceding day, agreed to these terms, and a 
capitulation, in virtue of which the whole 
British troops were withdrawn from the 
River Plata, was signed on the 7th of July, 
the second day after the action. And thus 
the expedition of the British to South Amer- 
ica, was brought to an end. 

BUNKER'S HILL. See Boston. 

BURGOS, THE Castle of, a.d. 1812.— This 
is a small fortress, but an important siege, 
filled with incident and instruction. 

On the morning of the 18tli of September, 
1812, the alUed army was in front of Burgos, 
and may be said to have commenced a siege, 
in which each claim the victory. The town 
was as bravely defended as it was bravely 
assailed. 

Burgos is the capital of Old Castile. It is 
memorable for the noble stand which it re- 
peatedly made against the Saracens. After 
the retreat of Massena, it was considered a 
critical and dangerous point, and its fortifica- 
tions were repaired. The ruins of the castle 
were very strong, being stone, and of deep 
foundation, situated, besides, on the brow of 
a hill, commanding the river Arlanzon, on 
which the town stands, and the roads on 
both sides of it. These ruins were repaired, 
and strengthened by additional earth-works. 
Beyond the hill on which the castle is situated 
is another eminence, called St. Michael's 
Hill, on which a hornwork was erected. Ad- 
joining the castle was a church, which was 
converted into a fort. The above works were 
included within three distinct lines of circum- 



BURGOS. 



137 



vallation, which were so carried and con 
nected as to form an oblong square, and each 
to defend and support without endangering 
(in the event of being itself lost) the others. 
The garrison consisted of more than 2,000 
men. 

As Burgos is on the north side of the Ar- 
lanzon, while the allied army was on the 
south, and as the castle commanded both the 
river and the roads, Wellington had some 
difficulty in preparing the passage, and the 
remainder of the day of the 18th was em- 
ployed in making the necessary arrange- 
ments. On the following day this operation 
was effected. The outworks of the hill of 
St. Michael were immediately seized, and 
troops posted close to the hornwork. At 
night the hornwork was itself attacked and 
carried, and thus the whole of St. Michael's 
Hill was obtained. This hill was, however, 
a mere outwork to the main fortress, inas- 
much as the possession of it only brought the 
allies in front of the outermost of the three 
lines, behind which were the castle and body 
of the work. 

The possession of this eminence afforded 
the allies a better knowledge of the defenses 
of the fort, with a commanding view of some 
of the works. The besieged evinced neither 
tardiness nor want of skill ; they had demol- 
ished, in an incredibly short time, the houses 
which interfered with their Hnc of defense. 
They had raised ramparts of earth and biscuit- 
barrels, and constructed fleches and redans 
to cover the batteries and sally-gates. These 
works, considering the materials and the 
pressure of the time, were so solid and accu- 
rate as to command the general praise of the 
British engineers, while the Portuguese re- 
garded them with astonishment. 

Prom the 19th to the 22d of September, 
the allies were employed in raising their own 
works upon St. Michael's Hill, in front of the 
exterior line of the enemy, and more partic- 
ularly in fortifying and completing the horn- 
work, of which they had possessed them- 
selves. Every thing being ready on the 
evening of the 22d, it was resolved to give 
the first regular assault. Accordingly, at the 
hour of eleven at night, the storming body 
was moved forward in two columns : the one, 
consisting of Portuguese, to the south-west 
flank of the castle ; and the other of British, 
under Major Laurie, to the front. The plan 
of the attack was, that the Portuguese should 
engage and occupy the eminence on the 
above-mentioned flank, while Major Laurie's 
party should escalade the parapet in front. 

The Portuguese, who were to begin the 
attack, commenced with much spirit. They 
were opposed to a deep ditch and a lofty 
parapet on the opposite side, and therefore, 
had to descend into the one and fight their 



way up the other. They were stopped at 
the very edge of the descent into this ditch; 
their attack, therefore, as a diversion, became 
nugatory, and failed in the first instance. 

In the mean while, the party in fiont, un- 
der Major Laurie, having seen the Portu- 
guese commence, advanced to the escalade, 
and having the same works in opposition to 
them as the Portuguese, in an instant reached 
the head of the counterscarp, and in another 
instant descended it, cleared the pallisades at 
the bottom, and planted their ladders to the 
parapet. The first assailants penetrated to 
the top of the parapet, and a fierce contest 
took place both there and in the bottom of 
the ditch. The assault was repelled with as 
much spirit as it was made, and the ditch 
and scarp were covered with dead of both 
parties. Among these was Major Laurie. But 
after much severe fighting, and a consequent 
loss, the party was withdrawn. The total 
British and Portuguese loss on this occasion 
was not short of 4"00 killed and wounded. 

It would be of httle general interest to 
follow the details of an irregular, and there- 
fore, inartificial siege from day to day ; we 
shall, therefore, confine ourselves to the at- 
tacks. Of those, during the whole siege, 
there were five ; two we have already de- 
scribed. 

After the failure of the storm on the 22d, 
a mine was directed under the same exterior 
line. It was exploded at midnight on the 29th, 
and a breach, erroneously deemed practica- 
ble, effected in the parapet. A storming 
party was immediately advanced, and at the 
same moment, for the purpose of diversion, 
a strong column was directed in front of the 
town. The storming party, however, missed 
its way, and thereby the affair failed. 

Between the following day and the 4th of 
October, another mine was conducted near 
the same point, and the former breach was 
improved by fire from the batteries. This 
mine was exploded in the afternoon of the 
4th, and the result was a second practicable 
breach. These two breaches were immedi- 
ately stormed by the 2d battalion of the 24th, 
divided into two parties, under Captain Hed- 
derwick and Lieutenants Holmes and Fraser. 
This assault was completely successful, and 
the alUes were thus established within the 
exterior line of the castle. 

The besieged, however, did not leave the 
allies in tranquil possession of this position : 
they made two vigorous salHes to inteiTupt 
the works against the second line, and con- 
tinued their operations for the same purpose 
with very httle intermission. A breach was 
effected, and a mine was in progress; but 
from want of siege-materials, particularly of 
a battering-train, the advances were slow, 
and it became obvious that success was 



138 



BUSACO. 



doubtful. There were only three eighteen- 
pouiiders, and uo materials or instruments 
but what were made upon the spot. 

On tlie morning of the ISth of October, a 
breach having been effected and a mine hav- 
ing been prepared under the church of St. 
Roman, it was resolved that the mine should 
be exploded the same evening, and that upon 
such explosion, the breach should be stormed 
and the line (the second line) escaladed. 
Accordingly, at the appointed time in the 
evening the attacking party was divided into 
three columns: the one under Lieutenant 
Colonel Browne, composed of Spanish and 
Portuguese, were to attack the church ; the 
second party, composed of a detachment of the 
German legion, under Major Wurmb, were 
to storm the breach ; while the third party, 
composed of the guards, were to escalade 
the line. At this moment the mine blew up, 
and, being the appointed signal, the parties at 
once rushed forward to their assigned points. 

The explosion of the mine carried away 
the whole of the wall which defended that 
point, and Lieutenant Colonel Browne suc- 
ceeded in lodging his party on the ruins and 
outworks. The besieged retreated to a 
second parapet behind the church, over the 
heads of the advancing assailants. This oc- 
casioned much loss and confusion; and a 
flank fire of the enemy coming in aid, com- 
pelled the lieutenant colonel to suffer the re- 
treat of his men, and to content liimself with 
saving them from disorder. 

In the mean time. Major Wurmb had 
directed his party against the breach. The 
breach was carried in an instant, and a con- 
siderable number of the party in the same 
moment got into the body of the place. But 
here began the conflict. The besieged opened 
upon them such a destructive fire, both from 
the third line and the body of the castle, 
that, after the loss of their leader and a great 
proportion of their force, they were com- 
pelled to retire. 

The third party, the guards, experienced a 
similar success in the commencement, and a 
similar disappointment in the result. They 
succeeded in escalading the line, but were 
compelled to retire before the superiority of 
numbers and the fire of the enemy. 

The army of Portugal and the army of 
the North, for they were so near each other 
as to constitute one army, had not suffered 
this siege to go on without some attempts to 
interrupt it ; they had now, however, attained 
a strength and importance that demand our 
attention. 

These two armies were stationed on the 
high road from Burgos to Miranda on the 
Ebro, a continuance of the great French road 
from Madrid, through Burgos to Bayonne. 
From Burgos to Miranda on the Ebro is 



forty English miles. Above the village of 
Monasterio, on that side of it furthest from 
Burgos, was a range of liills, which Avas the 
position of the British outposts. The army 
of Portugal was in the neighborhood of 
Bribiesca ; and the army of the North, under 
General CafferilU, had its head-quarters at 
Pancorvo. 

The principal attempts of these armies 
were on the 13th and 18th of October. On 
the former of these days. General Macune, 
who was in command of the French at Bri- 
bifesca, moved forward a considerable body 
of infantry and cavalry against the posts of 
the alhes at Monasterio, but was repulsed as 
well by the posts themselves as by a detach- 
ment of the German legion. 

On the 18th, the army of Portugal, having 
been previously strongly reinforced by the 
arrival of levies from France, re-advanced 
against the said posts, and possessed them- 
selves of the hills and town. It now, there- 
fore, became necessary to lead the army 
against them, and accordingly, with the ex- 
ception of that portion of it required for the 
siege, the marquis assembled the troops, and 
placed the allied army on some heights be- 
tween Burgos and Quentana. Tliis move- 
ment was made on the 19th of October. 
The enemy assembled their army at Monas- 
terio on the same day. On the following 
evening, the 20th, they moved a force of 
nearly 10,000 men to drive in the outposts 
at Quentana, and which, according to order, 
withdrew as they approached. The marquis 
had now recourse to a flanlc movement ; the 
result gave him an advantage ; upon seeing 
which, the enemy again fell back upon Mo- 
nasterio. 

And tliis maneuver, was the last operation 
of the siege of Burgos, for on the following 
day, the 21st, a letter from Sir R. Hill re- 
ported such a state of affairs upon the Tagus, 
that the marquis found it to be an act of ne- 
cessity immediately to raise the siege, and to 
fall back upon the Douro. Accordingly, the 
siege was raised the same night, and the 
army was in march on the following morning. 
— Robson. 

BUSACO, A.D. 1810.— The Sierra Busaco 
is a range of mountains in Portugal, which 
runs from the northern shores of the Mondego 
about eight miles in a northerly direction, 
where it unites with the ridge which sepa- 
rates the valley of the Mondego from that of 
the Douro. It was on the summit of this 
ridge, that the Duke of Wellington resolved 
to post his troops, and there await an attack 
from the French marshal, Massena. On the 
evening of the 26th September, 1810, Welling- 
ton had made his dispositions, and with a force 
not exceeding 60,000 men, prepared to dis- 
pute the passage of this ridge with Massena, 



BYBLOS. 



139 



who had 72,000 men under his command. 
Next morning Massena commenced the at- 
tack at sunrise. Ney, at the head of tliree 
divisions, comprising 25,000 men, advanced 
against the British left, by the road -which 
leads to the convent of Busaco ; while, at 
the same time, Regnier with 16,000 men 
advanced to attack their right, about three 
mUes distant. Ney's troops rapidly ad- 
vanced up the wooded hollows, driving the 
British sharp-shooters before them. Crawford 
had his artillery so placed as to command the 
slope by which the French troops ascended ; 
but, although the gunners worked their 
pieces with the greatest precision and rapidity 
possible, j^et nothing could daunt the ascend- 
ing troops. On they marched, till they 
emerged from the woods. Shouts of victory 
were now heard in the French hnes, when 
Crawford with his 43d and 52d regiments, 
springing out of a hollow behind the highest 
part of the ridge, speedily charged the head 
of the French column, which, being fatigued 
by a toilsome march up the slope, was speed- 
ily broken and drove headlong, with dread- 
ful loss, to the bottom of the hollow. Eeg- 
nier's attack on the British right met with no 
better success. The ground there was easier 
to ascend than on the left, and notwithstand- 
ing the fire of twenty pieces of cannon, 
which continued to pour destructive volleys 
on the ascending column, they continued to 
press oh, till they had gained the summit of 
the position. A Portuguese regiment at- 
tempted to oppose their further progress, but 
these were speedily routed, and the French 
troops estabhshing themselves on the summit 
commenced to deploy, in order to attack the 
British at the same time in front and on both 
flanks. At this moment the position ap- 
peared to be almost carried ; when Generals 
Leith and Picton brought up their divisions 
and charged the enemy with such impetu- 
osity, that, after a desperate struggle, they 
were forced from the ridge and hurled down 
the hill in disorder, the British firing on them 
but not pursuing, lest the ranks should be 
broken and the ridge again carried. , The 
other division of Regnier's corps, which 
advanced up the slope, to the left of his main 
column, was promptly repulsed by the left of 
Picton's division before they reached the 
summit. This was the last attempt made by 
the French to carry tliis ridge. Though 
Loison and Marechand for a long time main- 
tained an obstinate and bloody conflict in the 
hoUows below, they were, however, effectu- 
ally held in check by the united brigades of 
Peck and Spencer. Toward evening, Mas- 
sena finding it impossible to carry the English 
position, and weary of this fruitless carnage, 
gave orders for his troops to withdraw. In 
this engagement the French general sus- 



tained a loss of 1,800 killed and 3,000 
wounded, among whom were Generals Foy 
and Merie, who liad received their wounds in 
ascending the slope. The loss of the allies 
was not so great. 

BYBLOS, E.c. 454. — Inarus, a prince of 
Libya, favored by the Athenians, proclaimed 
himself king of Egypt, at the time that coun- 
try was under the subjection of Artaxerxes 
Longimanus, King of Persia. Irritated at 
the revolt, Artaxerxes sent three hundred 
thousand men to quell it. He gave the 
command of this army to Megabyzus. Ina- 
rus could not resist such an inundation, and 
he at once abandoned Egypt and shut him- 
self up, with a few of his countrymen and 
6,000 Athenians, in Byblos, a city of the 
isle of Prosopitis. This city, surrounded by 
the waters of the Nile, was constantly re- 
victualled by the Athenians, and for a year 
and a half the Persians made useless efforts 
to gain possession of it. Tired of such pro- 
tracted labors, the Persians formed the plan 
of turning, by numerous cuttings, the arm of 
the Nile in which the Athenian fleet lay. 
They succeeded; and Inarus, terrified at the 
probable consequences, surrendered upon 
composition ; but the bold bearing of the 
Athenians, their admirable discipline, and 
the order of their battaUons, made the host 
of Persians afraid to attack them. They 
were offered an honorable capitulation ; they 
accepted it, gave up Byblos, and returned to 
Greece, proud of having been thought in- 
vincible by a multitude of barbarians. 

BYZANTIUM, b.c. 408.— Byzantium is 
the former name of the city of Constantinople. 

The first memorable siege of Byzantium 
was undertaken by Alcibiades, in the year 
408, B.C., when the ungrateful Athenians had 
recalled him to the head of their armies. 
His triumphs were as rapid as his wishes : 
he prevailed in the Peloponnesus, subdued 
the revolting cities, and laid siege to Byzan- 
tium. Alcibiades is another of the com- 
manders we can scarcely fancy at a siege : 
an eager, sanguine, impetuous man, with am- 
bitious views boiling in his brain, is not at 
home in such enterprises, whatever may be 
his talents. Tired of the length of tlie siege, 
and despairing of taking Byzantium by force, 
he had recourse to stratagem. He gave it 
out that the Athenians recalled him, embarked 
his army, and set sail. During the night he 
returned, landed a great part of his soldiers 
at a distance from the city, and himself ap- 
peared, in a menacing position, with his fleet 
before the port of Byzantium. The Byzan- 
tines rushed to the shore to drive off the fleet, 
wliich Alcibiades, by his maneuvers, made 
them believe was their most imminent dan- 
ger. In the mean time, the troops landed 
during the night drew near the walls on the 



140 



BYZANTIUM. 



other side, and took possession of the city 
before the inhabitants were aware even of 
their approach. 

Second Siege, b.c. 341. — The Byzantines 
were in great peril when Philip, the father 
of Alexander the Great, besieged Perinthus. 
Byzantium having granted some succors to 
that city, Philip divided liis army, and laid 
siege to it hkewise. The Byzantines were 
reduced to the last extremity when Phocion 
came to their assistance. The grateful Pe- 
rintliians and Byzantines decreed a crown of 
gold to the people of Athens. 

Third Siege, a.d. 196. — The Emperor Sev- 
erus, enraged with the Byzantines, laid 
siege to their city. They defended them- 
selves with great resolution and firmness, 
and employed all kinds of stratagems to 
drive off their enemy, but they could not 
prevent the attacks of famine. Decimated 
by this horrible calamity, they were con- 
strained to open the gates to the Romans. 
The conquerors exercised the rights of war 
in all their rigor; the city was plundered, 
and most of the citizens were slaughtered. 

Fourth Siege, a.d. 323. — Immediately 
after the battle of Adrianople, Constantme 
undertook the siege of Byzantium, which 
was attended with great labor and uncer- 
tainty. In the late civil wars, the fortifica- 
tions of that place, so, justly considered as 
the key of Europe and Asia, had been re- 
paired and strengthened; and as long as 
Licinius remained master of the sea, the 
garrison was much less exposed to the dan- 
ger of famine, than the army of the besiegei'S, 
which consisted of 120,000 men, Constantino 
immediately summoned his naval command- 
ers to his camp, and directed them positively 
to force the passage of the Hellespont, as 
the fleet of Licinius was lying in those 
narrow straits. Licinius's fleet consisted of 
350 large galleys of three banks of oars, while 
that of his enemy numbered only about 200 
galleys, mucli inferior in size and strength to 
his own. Crispus, Constantine's eldest son, 
was intrusted with the execution of the 
daring enterprise, which he performed with 
so much courage and success that he deserved 
the esteem, and most probably excited the 
jealousy of his father. The engagement 
lasted two days ; and in the evening of the 
first, the contending fleets, after a considera- 
ble and mutual loss, retired into their re- 



spective harbors of Europe and Asia. The 
second day, about noon, a strong south wind 
sprung up, which carried the vessel of Cris- 
pus against the enemy; and as the casual 
advantage Avas improved, by this skillful 
intrepidity, he soon obtained a complete 
victory. A hundred and thirty vessels were 
destroyed, 5,000 men were slain, and Aman- 
dus, the admiral of the Asiatic fleet, escaped 
with the utmost difiiculty to the shores of 
Chalcedon. As soon as the Hellespont was 
open, a plentiful convoy of provisions flowed 
into the camp of Constantino, who had al- 
ready advanced the operations of the siege. 
He constructed artificial mounds of earth of 
an equal height with the ramparts of By- 
zantium, and erected lofty towers upon them. 
From these towers the besieged were galled 
with large stones and darts from military en- 
gines, and the battering-rams had shaken the 
walls in several places. Licinius perceived 
that if he remained much longer in the de- 
fense he exposed himself to be involved in 
the ruin of the place, and, therefore, before 
he was surrounded he prudently removed his 
person and treasures to Chalcedon in Asia. 
Such were still the resources, and such the 
abihties of Licinius, that after so many suc- 
cessive defeats he collected in Bithynia a 
new army of 50,000 or 60,000 men, while the 
activity of Constautine was employed in the 
siege of Byzantium. The vigilant emperor, 
however, did not neglect the last struggle of 
his antagonist. A considerable part of his 
victorious army was transported over the 
Bosphorus in small vessels, and the decisive 
engagement was fought soon after their land- 
ing on the heights of Chrysopolis, or, as it 
is now called, Scutari. The troops of Licin- 
ius, though they were lately raised, ill armed, 
and worse disciplined, made head against 
their conquerors with fruitless but desperate 
valor, tin a total defeat, and a slaughter of 
25,000 men, irretrievably determined the 
fate of their leader, who, sohciting and ac- 
cepting pardon from Constantino, for his 
offenses, laid himself and his purple at the 
feet of his lord and master, and was raised 
from the ground with insulting pity. The 
same day he was admitted to the imperial 
banquet, and soon afterward he was sent 
away to Thessalonica, where he was placed 
in confinement, which was soon terminated 
by his death. — Gibbon. See Adkianople. 



CADIZ— CAEN. 



141 



CADIZ, A.D. 159G. — Cadiz, a city and sea- 
port of Spain, is situated on the island of 
Leon, off the south-west coast of Andalusia. 
On the 12th of June, 159G, an English fleet, 
consisting of 170 vessels, 17 of which were 
sliips of war, the rest transports and small 
vessels, and a fleet of 20 ships from Holland, 
bearing a force of 6,360 soldiers, 1,000 vol- 
unteers, 772 seamen, beside the Dutch allies, 
set sail from Plymouth for Cadiz. The land 
forces were commanded by the Earl of" Essex ; 
the navy, by Lord Effmgham, high admiral. 
Lord Thomas Howard, Sir Walter Ealeigh, 
Sir Francis Vere, Sir George Carew, and Sir 
Convers Clifford had commands in this ex- 
pediton, and were appointed council to the 
general and admiral. Before the fleet were 
sent some armed vessels, which intercepted 
every ship that could carry intelligence to 
the enemy ; and when they came near Cadiz, 
they took an Irish vessel, by which they 
learned that the port was full of merchant 
ships of great value, and that the Spaniards 
imagined themselves in perfect security, 
without any apprehension of an enemy. 
After a fruitless attempt to land at St. 
Sebastian's, on the western side of the island, 
it was, upon deliberation, resolved, by coun- 
cil of war, to attack the ships and galleys in 
the bay. Essex was so much delighted at 
this determination, that he threw his hat into 
the sea, and gave other symptoms of the 
most extravagant joy. His ardor, however, 
was abated, when Effmgham informed him 
that Queen Elizabeth, dreading the effect of 
his youthful enthusiasm, had recently given 
orders that he should not be permitted to 
command the van in the attack. That duty 
was assigned to Sir Walter Raleigh and Lord 
Thomas Howard ; but Essex no sooner came 
within reach of the enemy, than he forgot 
the promise which the admiral had exacted 
from him, to keep in the midst of the fleet ; 
he broke through and pressed forward into 
the thickest of the fire. Emulation for glory, 
avidity of plunder, animosity against the 
Spaniards proved incentives to every one; 
and the enemy was soon obliged to ship 
anchor, and retreat further into the bay, 
where they ran many of their ships aground. 
Essex then landed his men at the fort of 
Puntal, and immediately marched to the 
attack of Cadiz, which the English soon 
carried, sword in hand. The gentjrosity of 
Essex, not inferior to his valor, made him 
stop the slaugliter, and treat his prisoners 
with the greatest humanity, and even affa- 
bility and kindness. The English made rich 
plunder in the city; but missed of a much 
richer, by the resolution of the Duke of 



Medino, the Spanish admiral, who caused his 
ships to be set on fire, to prevent their falling 
into the hands of the victors. It was com- 
puted that the loss which the Spanish 
sustained in this enterprise amounted to 
20,000,000 ducats. 

CADORE, A.D. 1797.— In the year 1797, 
an action took place near Cadore, on the 
Piave, in northern Italy, betwen the Aus- 
trians and French armies, in which the for- 
mer were defeated. 

CAEN, A.D. 1346.— Tliis city is situated 
between two meadows, at the confluence of 
the Orne Avith the Odon, in France. 

In 1346, France was invaded by Edward 
III., of England, with an army consisting of 
4,000 men at arms, 10,000 archers, 10,000 
Welsh infantry, and 6,000 Irish. The intel- 
ligence of this unexpected invasion soon 
reached Paris, and threw Pliilip IV. into 
great perplexity. He issued orders, how- 
ever, for levying forces in all quarters, and 
dispatched the Count of Eu, Constable of 
France, and the Count of Taucarville, with a 
body of troops, to the defense of Caen, a 
large and prosperous city, which lay in the 
neighborhood of the English army. The 
temptation of so rich a prize soon allured 
Edward to approach it ; and the inhabitants, 
encouraged by their numbers, and by the re- 
inforcements which they daily received from 
the country, ventured to meet him in the 
field. 

But their courage failed them on the 
first shock ; they fled with precipitation : the 
Counts of Eu and Taucarville were taken 
prisoners ; the victors entered the city along 
with the vanquished and a furious massacre 
commenced without distinction of age, sex, 
or condition. The citizens, in despair, barri- 
caded their houses, and assailed the English 
with stones, bricks, and every missile weapon ; 
the English made way by fire to the de- 
struction of the citizens, till Edward, anxious 
to save both his spoil and his soldiers, stopped 
the massacre; and, having obliged the in- 
habitants to lay down their arms, gave his 
troops license to begin a more regular and 
less hazardous plunder of the city. 

The plunder continued for three days ; the 
king reserved for his own share the jewels, 
plate, silks, fine cloths, and fine linen ; and 
he bestowed all the remainder of the spoil on 
his army. The whole was embarked on 
board the ships, and sent over to England, 
together with three hundred of the richest 
citizens of Caen, whose ransom was an ad- 
ditional profit, which he expected afterward 
to levy. This dismal scene passed in the 
presence of two cardinal legates, who had 



142 



CAER CARADOC— CAHORS. 



come to negotiate a peace between the two 
Idngdoms. 

In 1417, Caen was again taken by the 
Eno-lish; and was rescued from them in 
1540, by Dimois, who captured the Duke of 
Somerset and 4,000 En^Ush troops, who had 
retreated to the castle. 

CAER CARADOC, or CRADOK HILL, 
A.D. 51. — In Shropsliire, England, at the con- 
fluence of the Coin and Teme, stands a lofty 
hUl, called Caen Caradoc, still retaining the 
vestiges of the camp which the celebrated 
Caractacus, in the year 50, so gallantly de- 
fended against the Romans. The bank of 
the river was lined with soldiers, and the 
ascent of the hill was fortified with ramparts 
of loose stones. At the approach of the 
Romans, the Britons bound themselves by 
an oath to conquer or die, and defied, with 
loud exclamations, the attack of the enemy. 
Ostorius, the Roman general, hesitated at the 
sight ; but at the demand of the legions, the 
signal of battle was given, and the Romans, 
under showers of darts, mounted the hill, 
burst over the ramparts, and drove the 
Britons from the summit. The wife and 
daughter of Caractacus fell into the hands of 
the victors; his brothers soon after sur- 
rendered ; and the king himself was dehvered 
in chains to Ostorius, by his step-mother, 
Cartismandua, Queen of the Brigantes, under 
whose protiction he had hoped to elude the 
vigilance of his pursuers. Caractacus was 
carried to Italy, where his fame had preceded 
him, and all were anxious to behold the man 
who, for nine years, had braved the power 
of Rome. As he passed through the imperial 
city, he expressed his surprise that men who 
possessed such palaces at home should envy 
the wretched hovels of his subjects, in Brit- 
ain. The Emperor Claudius received the 
defeated monarch graciously, restored him 
to liberty, and, it is plausibly surmised, in- 
vested him with princely authority over a 
portion of conquered Britain. 

CAHORS, A.D. 1580.— Of the numerous 
sieges on both sides wliich marked the 
struggle of Henry IV. of France for his 
crown, that of Caliors best displays the char- 
acter f)f that hero and the men and times he 
lived in. 

Henry IV., while King of Navarre, resolved 
to gain possession of Cahors. That city is 
surrounded on aU sides by the Lot, which 
serves it as a fosse. It had a garrison of 
2,000 men, and Vesins, its governor, was a 
poldier of acknowledged valor and great ex- 
perience. Its citizens, always armed, were 
never off their guard. Henry assembled his 
council of war, composed of valiant and tried 
captains, and all pronounced the enterprise 
hazardous. Their representations were use- 
less. " Every tiling is possible to me," said 



he, " with men as brave as those I consult." 
On the 5th of May, he set out from ilantau- 
ban, in excessively hot weather, and arrived 
in the middle of the night within a quarter 
of a league of Cahors. His troops there 
quenched their tliirst at a fountain which 
flowed under a nursery of young walnut- 
trees. Twelve soldiers marched forward for 
the purpose of fastening a petard to the gates 
of the city. Fifty men, commanded by Cap- 
tain St. Martin, followed them closely; Ro- 
quilaure came next, with forty gentlemen 
and sixty soMiers ; and after them, Henry of 
Navarre, with nine hundred men. Twelve 
hundred arquebusiers, in six platoons, closed 
the march. There were three gates to be 
forced. The petard attached to the first 
made so small an opening, that it was neces- 
sary to enlarge it with axes. The first passed 
through with difficulty ; but the soldiers who 
followed them had time to file through in 
sufficiently great numbers. A furious storm 
which raged at the time did not permit the 
inhabitants to distinguish between the noise 
of the thunder and tlie report of the petards, 
which had broken down their gates. Henry's 
soldiers, on first entering the city, met with 
forty men and two hundred arquebusiers, al- 
most naked. The Baron de Salignac cut 
them to pieces, and advanced into Cahors; 
but he was stopped in his march by the in- 
habitants, who, from the tops of the houses, 
hurled stones, tiles, pieces of wood, and other 
missiles upon the heads of his soldiers. In 
the mean time, the King of Navarre entered 
Cahors by another gate, with which the 
petard had succeeded better. At length day 
appeared, persons and objects were distin- 
guishable, and all either rushed to the attack 
or stood firm in defense of the place. In all 
the streets it became necessary to force bar- 
ricades and repulse a garrison much more 
numerous than the besiegers. Henry com- 
manded and fought everywhere at the same 
time; his valor shrunk from no danger, 
though the blows of all the enemies seemed 
to be directed against him. He broke two 
partisans, and his armor was pierced in 
twenty places. This terrible combat lasted 
five days and five nights. The besieged, in 
full expectation of assistance, said not a word 
about surrendering. The assailants, fatigued 
with the weight of their armor and the ex- 
cessive heat, maintained their f)Osts with the 
intrepid courage their leader knew how to 
inspire. On the fourth day they learned that 
the succors promised to the ctiy were draw- 
ing near. At this news, his captains assem- 
bled around Henry, and conjured him to 
secure a retreat before the enemy could reach 
Cahors. Henry, too courageous to know 
what fear meant, and heedless of the pain 
caused by his wounds, replied, with that 



CALAHORRA— CALAIS. 



143 



coolness which inspires confidence : " It is 
decreed above what is to become of me on 
this occasion. Remember that my retreat 
fi'om tliis city without having taken it, will 
be the retreat of my life from my body." 
Reanimated by these words, his soldiers 
made fresh efforts; and fortune seconded 
the efforts of the brave Bearnais. He re- 
ceived a reinforcement of a hundred horse 
and five hundred arquebusiers ; he secured 
his posts in the interior, and marched out to 
meet the approaching enemy. He repulsed 
them ; and on his return to the city, the in- 
habitants having lost all hope, laid down 
their arms. There were but few killed in 
Henry's army, but many wounded. — Rohson. 
CALAHORRA, b.c. 72.— This place, known 
in ancient history as Calagurris, is situated on 
the ritrlit bank of the Ero, in Spain. In the 
year 72 b.c, it was besieged by the army of 
Pompey the Great. The inhabitants made a 
desperate resistance ; but after enduring the 
most dreadful sufferings from famine, they 
were obliged to yield, and the city fell into 
the hands of the conqueror. 

CALAIS, A.D. 1346.— This celebrated city 
is situated on the Straits of Dover, 29 miles 
north of Boulogne. The town is of a square 
form, and is well fortified ; being surrounded 
by walls and bastions. On the west side it 
is protected by a strong citadel, commanding 
the town and harbor, and toward the sea by 
several forts. The country round, may also, 
in case of necessity, be laid under water by 
means of sluices. 

In the year 1346, Edward IIL, of England, 
laid siege to the city of Calais, which was 
defended by John de Vienne, an experienced 
commander, who Avas supplied with every 
tiling necessary for the defense. Edward, 
however, knowing the diflficulty of taking so 
strong a town by force, resolved to reduce it 
by famine. He ordered a large castle to be 
constructed of strong timbers, in order to cut 
off all communication with the sea. This 
castle he built and embattled in such a man- 
ner, that it could not be destroyed ; -and gar- 
risoned it with 40 men-at-arms, and 200 
archers, who were provided with springalles, 
bombardes, bows, and other artillery. These 
men guarded the port of Calais so closely, 
that no vessels could go out or come in with- 
out being sunk or taken. These operations, 
though slow, were successful. The inhabit- 
ants were soon reduced to the utmost ex- 
tremities by the want of provisions. King 
Philip, of France, who felt that his subjects 
in Calais must be 'severely oppressed, deter- 
mined to march to their relief; and he ap- 
proached the English with an army, whieh 
the writers of that age make amount to 
200,000 men. With this immense body of 
troops, the French king marched toward 



Calais. They approached Calais in the even- 
ing. The moon was shining brilliantly, and 
the polished arms and fluttering banners 
of the French host, presented a gorgeous ap- 
pearance as they glistened and waved in the 
soft moonlight. Edward's army, however, was 
so surrounded by morasses, and secured by in- 
trenchments, that, without running on inevi- 
table, destruction Philip concluded it impossible 
to make an attempt on the English camp. His 
only resource then was to send his rival a 
challenge to meet him in the open field ; but 
this was refused, and he was obliged to de- 
camp with his army, and disperse them into 
their various provinces, The siege had now 
lasted nearly twelve months, and John de 
Vienne, governor of Calais, now saw the ne- 
cessity of surrendering his fortress, which 
was reduced to the last extremity by famine, 
and the fatigues of the inhabitants. Mount- 
ing the walls, he made a signal- to the En- 
glish sentinels that he desired a parley. Upon 
learning this, the King of England sent to 
him Sir Walter Manny, and Lord Bas,set. 
"Brave knight!" cried the governor, as they 
approached him, "I have been intrusted by 
my sovereign with the command of this 
town. It is almost a year since you besieged 
me ; and I have endeavored, as well as those 
under me, to do my duty. But you are ac- 
quainted with our present condition ; wq are 
perishing with hunger, and we have no hopes 
of relief. I am willing, therefore, to surren- 
der ; and desire, as the sole condition, to in- 
sure the Hves and Uberties of those brave men 
who have so long shared with me every 
hardship and danger." To this Sir Walter 
Manny replied, " John, we are aware of the 
intentions of the king, our master. Know 
then, that it is not his pleasure to allow you 
to escape thus. He is determined that you 
shall surrender solely to his will; and that he 
will liberate or put to death such persons as 
he may think proper. You have done him 
so much mischief, and have by your obstinate 
resistance cost him so many lives, and so 
much money, that he is mightily enraged." 
"But consider," replied Vienne, "that this is 
not the treatment to which brave men are 
entitled ; if any English knight had been in 
my position, your king would have expected 
the same conduct from him. The inhabitants 
of Calais have done for their sovereign what 
merits the esteem of every prince; much 
more of so gallant a prince as Edward. But 
I inform you, that if Ave must perish, we 
shall not perish unavenged ; and that we are 
not yet so reduced but we can sell our lives 
at a high price to the victors. It is the in- 
terest of both sides to prevent these des- 
perate extremities ; and I expect that you, 
yourselves, gentlemen, will interpose your 
good offices, with your prince, in our behalf." 



144 



CALAIS. 



Struck with the justice of these sentiments, 
Manny represented to Edward the danger of 
retaliation, in case he should thus treat the 
inhabitants of Calais. Many barons who 
were present, supported this opinion, and at 
length the king was persuaded to mitigate 
the conditions demanded. " Gentlemen," said 
he, " I am not so obstinate as to hold my 
opinion alone against you all. Sir Walter, in- 
form the governor of Calais, that the only 
grace he must expect from me is, that six of 
the principal citizens of Calais march out of 
the town, with bare heads and feet, with 
ropes around their necks, and the keys of the 
town and castle in their hands. These six 
persons shall be at my absolute disposal, 
and the remainder of the inhabitants par- 
doned." When this intelligence was con- 
veyed to Calais the inhabitants Avere filled 
with consternation. To sacrifice six of their 
fellow-citizens to certain destruction, for the 
signalizing their valor in a common cause, 
appeared to them even more severe than 
that general punishment with which they 
were before threatened; and thoy found 
themselves incapable of coming to any reso- 
lution. They had been called together in 
the market-place to consult upon the condi- 
tions offered them by the English king; but 
the alternative was so cruel, that unable to 
come to a decision, they filled the air with 
lamentable groans and cries. Even the lion- 
hearted Vienne, wept bitterly, as he gazed 
upon the melancholy spectacle. At length, 
one of the principal citizens, Eustace de St. 
Pierre, whose name deserves to be recorded, 
arose and said : " Citizens ! it would, indeed, 
be mournful to allow so many people to die 
tlirough famine, if any means could be found 
to prevent it; and in the eyes of our Saviour, 
it would be highly meritorious to avert such 
an evil. I have such trust and faith in find- 
ing grace before God, if I die, to save my 
fellow townsmen, that I name myself as first 
of the six." When Eustace had ceased speak- 
ing, the people all arose, and almost wor- 
shiped him; many cast themselves at his 
feet with tears and groans. Another wealthy 
citizen, animated by the noble example of 
Eustace, made a like generous offer ; a third 
an.l fourth presented themselves to the same 
fate, and the whole number was soon com- 
pleted. These six heroic citizens appeared 
before Edward, clad in the guise of malefac- 
tors, and laid at his feet the keys of the city. 
Edward gazed angi'ily at them for a moment, 
and then ordered that their heads should be 
struck off. But the entreaties of his queen 
saved his memory from the infamy of this 
barbarous deed. Casting herself at his feet, 
with streaming eyes, she entreated that their 
lives might be spared. The king looked at 
her for some moments in silence, and then 



said: "Ah, lady, I wish you had been any- 
where else than here ; I can not deny your 
entreaties. Take the men and do with them 
as you please." The queen conducted the 
six citizens to her apartment; the halters 
were taken from their necks, and they were 
presented with new clothing, and after hav- 
ing served them with a splendid repast, she 
caused them to be escorted out of tiie camp 
in safety. 

Edward immediately took possession of 
the town ; knowing that, notwithstanding his 
pretended title to the crown of France, he 
was regarded as a mortal enemy by every 
Frenchman, he ordered all the inhabitants of 
Calais to evacuate the town, and he peopled 
it anew with Enghsh; a policy which prob- 
ably preserved it so long to his successors the 
dominion of that important fortress. Tlirough 
the mediation of the Pope's legates, Edward 
concluded a truce with France ; biit even 
during the cessation of arms in 1349, he 
very nearly lost Calais, the sole fruit of aU 
his boasted victories. The king had intrusted 
the place to Aimeny de Pavie, an Italian, 
who was a brave but treacherous man. This 
man agreed to deliver up Calais for the sum 
of 20,000 crowns; and Geoffrey de Charni, 
who commanded the French forces in that 
quarter, and who knew that if he succeeded 
in this enterprise, he would not be dis- 
avowed, ventured, without consulting his 
master, to conclude thQ^bargain witli liim. 
Edward, informed of this treachery by 
means of Aimery's secretary, summoned the 
governor to London on other pretenses ; and, 
having charged liim with the guilt, promised 
him liis hfe, on condition that he would turn 
the contrivance to the destruction of the 
enemy. The Itahan easily agreed to tliis 
double treachery. A day was appointed for 
the admission of the French ; and Edward, 
with 300 men at arms, and GOO archers, un- 
der the command of Sir Walter Manny, 
carrying the Prince of Wales with him, 
secretly departed from London, and ar- 
rived in the evening at Calais Avithout being 
suspected. He placed his men in ambuscade 
in the rooms and towers of the castle, and 
gave the entire command of the enterprise 
to Sir Walter Manny. "You," said he to 
that gallant knight, " shall be chief; I, and 
my son, will fight under your banner." On 
the appearance of Charni, a chosen band of 
French troops were admitted at the postern, 
and Aimery, receiving the stipulated sum, 
promised that, with their assistance, he 
would immediately open the great gate to 
the troops, who were awaiting with impa- 
tience for the fulfilling of his engagement. 
The French who entered were immediately 
slain or taken prisoners : the great gate was 
opened, and Edward, followed by his men, 



CALAIS. 



145 



rushed forth with cries of battle and of vic- 
tory. Though astonished at the event, the 
Prencli behaved valorously, and a fierce and 
bloody engagement ensued. At daybreak 
the king, who was not distinguished by his 
arms, and who fought as a pi'ivate man under 
the standard of Sir Walter Manny, observed 
a French gentleman. Sir Eustace de Ribeau- 
mont, who exerted himself with singular 
bravery and vigor ; and he was seized with a 
desire to try a single combat with him. Step- 
ping forth from the troop he challenged 
Ribeaumont by name. The hardy knight 
instantly sprang forward to the struggle. 
Twice was the English monarch beaten to the 
ground by the vigorous strokes of the French- 
man, and twice he recovered himself. In 
the confusion of battle, the two combatants 
were separated from the others; the blows 
were redoubled with equal force on both 
sides, till the French knight perceiving him- 
self almost alone, cried out to his antagonist, 
" Sir knight, I surrender myself your pris- 
oner ; the glory of the day must fall to the 
English," and at the same time he delivered 
up his sword to the king. The French, be- 
ing overpowered by numbers, and intercepted 
in their retreat, were nearly all either slain 
or made prisoners. The French officers who 
had fallen into the hands of the English were 
conducted into Calais; where Edward dis- 
covered to them the antagonist with whom 
they had had the honor to be engaged, and 
treated them with great regard and courtesy. 
They were even entertained in the evening, 
with a grand supper in the castle, at which 
both the king and his son were present. 
After supper the king remained in the hall, 
and went about conversing famiharly with 
his guests. Approaching Sir Eustace de Ri- 
beaumont, he said smilingly, '• Sir Eustace, 
you are the most vahant knight in Christen- 
dom that I ever saw attack his enemy or 
defend himself I never yet met any one in 
battle, who, body to body, has given me so 
much to do, as you have done to-day. I 
adjudge to you the prize of valor in token of 
my esteem for your bravery." Then taking 
a string of peai-ls, which he wore about his 
own neck, he cast it over the head of Ri- 
beaumont, and continued, " Sir Eustace, I 
present this chaplet to you, as being the best 
combatant of the day, and I beg of you to 
wear it this year, for love of me. I know 
tliat you are lively and amorous, and love 
the company of ladies and damsels ; there- 
fore say, wherever you go, that I gave it to 
you. You are no longer a prisoner ; I acquit 
you of your ransom ; and you may set out 
to-morrow if you please, to go whither you 
will." 

In the year 1436, the Duke of Burgundy, 
laid siege to the city of Calais, for the pur- 

10 



pose of wresting it from the hands of the 
Enghsh ; but terrified at the large force which 
the Duke of Gloucester was about to bring 
against him, he raised the siege, and made 
good his retreat before the arrival of the 
enemy. 

For more than 200 years Calais remained 
in the possession of the English, who made 
it the chief market for British commodities, 
and who strongly fortified it at diflerent 
times. In the year 1557, during the reign 
of Mary of England, war was declared 
against France, which country at that time 
was engaged in a war with Spain. 

In England, preparations were made 
everywhere for attacking the French with 
vigor. An army of 10,000 men was raised, 
and sent into Flanders. A battle gained by 
the Spaniards at St. Quintin seemed to prom- 
ise great success to the alUed arms ; but soon 
the Duke of Guise performed a deed, in the 
midst of the winter of 1558, wliich turned 
the scale in favor of the French, and strongly 
affected the interests of England, and touched 
its honor to the quick. This action was the 
taking of Calais. The English deemed this 
place impregnable ; but all the fortifications 
which were raised before the invention of 
gunpowder were ill able to resist the attack 
of a regular battery from cannon. Cohg- 
ny, the French general, had remarked to the 
Duke of Guise, that as the town of Calais 
was surrounded by marshes, which, during 
winter, were impassable, except over a dyke, 
guarded by two castles, St. Agatha and 
NevTman Bridge, the Enghsh were of late, 
accustomed to some expense, to dismiss a 
great part of the garrison during that season 
of the year, and recall them in the spring. 
Upon this circumstance he had founded the 
design of making a sudden attack on Calais. 
He had caused the place to be secretly 
viewed by some engineers, and a plan of the 
whole enterprise being found among his 
papers, it served, though he himself was 
made prisoner at the battle of St. Quintin, to 
direct the measures of the Duke of Guise. 
The duke, on various pretenses, caused sev- 
eral bodies of troops to defile toward the 
frontiers; and the whole army suddenly 
assembled, formed an army, with which he 
made an unexpected march toward Calais. 
At the same time, a great number of French 
ships, being ordered into the channel under 
cover of cruising against the English, com- 
posed a fleet which made an attack by sea 
on the fortifications. The French assaulted 
St. Agatha Castle with 3,000 arquebusiers ; 
and the garrison, after a gallant defense, 
were obliged to abandon the place, and re- 
treat to the castle of Newman Bridge. The 
siege of the latter place was immediately 
undertaken, and at the same time, the fleet 



CALCUTTA. 



battered the risbank which guarded the en- 
trance of the harbor, and both of these posts 
were in imniincnt danger. The Governor of 
Calais Lord Wentworth, finding that the 
greater part of his weak garrison was in- 
closed in the castle of Newman Bridge, and 
tlie risbank, he ordered them to capitulate, ; 
and to join liim at Calais, which, Avithout 1 
their assistance, he was utterly unable to de- 
fend. 

The garrison of Newman Bridge hap- 
pily effected this purpose; but that of the 
risbank could not obtain such favorable con- 
ditions, and were obliged to surrender at dis- 
cretion. Calais was now completely block- 
aded by sea and land, and the Duke of 
Guise determined to attack the place at 
once. He planted his batteries against the 
castle, where he made a large breach. Hav- 
ing ordered Andelot, Coligny's brother, to 
drain the fosse, he commanded an assault. 
The French troops gallantly advanced to the 
breach, where they were met by its brave 
defenders. After a sharp struggle, in which 
both parties fought with gi-eat valor, the 
French drove back the Enghsh, and effected 
a lodgment in the castle. The following 
night, Wentworth attempted to recover this 
post, but having lost 200 men in a furious 
attack which he made upon it. he found liis 
garrison so weak that he was obhged to 
capitulate. Thus, in less than eight days, 
the Duke of Guise recovered a city that had 
been in the possession of the English since 
the time of Edward the Third, and which 
had cost that monarch a siege of twelve 
months, at the head of a numerous army, 
which had that very year been victorious in 
the battle of Crecy. While the people of 
France gave way to the most extravagant 
joy at this victory, and loaded the Duke of 
Guise with every honor a grateful nation 
could bestow, the British kingdom was filled 
with murmurs, and the queen with despair. 
" When I am dead," she was heard to ex- 
claim, " the name of Calais will be found 
engraven on my heart." Mary did not long 
survive the loss of Calais. 

CALCUTTA, A.D. 1756.— Calcutta, the 
capital of the British dominions in the East, 
stands in a level plain, on the east side of 
Hooghly river, an arm of the Ganges, in 
Hindoostan. 

In the year 1756, Suraja-ul-Dowlah, the 
soubah lar of Bengal, declared war against the 
British settlement at Calcutta, and levying a 
numerous army, laid siege to that place. 
But it was not in a state of strength to de- 
fend itself against the attack even of barl)a- 
rians. The fort was taken, having been 
deserted by the commander; and tlie gar- 
rison, to the number of 146 persons, were 
made prisoners. They expected the usual 



treatment of war, and were therefore less 
vigorous in their defense; but they soon 
found what mercy was to be expected from 
a savage conqueror. They were all crowded 
together into a narrow prison called the 
Black-Hole, about eighteen feet square, and 
receiving air only by two small iron windows 
to the west, wliich by no means afforded a 
sufficient cnculation of air. It is terrible to 
reflect on the situation of these unfortunate 
men, shut up in this narrow place in the 
burning climate of the East, and suffocating 
each other. Their first efforts, upon perceiv- 
ing the effects of this horrible confinement 
were to break open the door of the prison ; 
but as it was large and heavy, and opened 
inward, they soon found the task impossible. 
They next endeavored to excite the compas- 
sion or the cupidity of their guard, by offer- 
ing him large sums of money, for his assist- 
ance in removing them to separate prisons ; 
but with tliis he was unable to comply, as 
the viceroy was asleep, and no person dared 
to disturb him. They were now left to die 
without hopes of relief; and the whole prison 
was filled with groans, shrieks, contest, and 
despair. Soon, however, this turmoil sunk 
into a silence still more terrible ; their efforts 
of strength and courage were over, and an 
expiring languor succeeded. In the morning, 
when the keepers came to visit the prison, 
all was horror, silence, and desolation. Of 
140, who entered aUve, 23 only survived, 
and of these the greater part died of putrid 
fever upon being released. 

Six months afterward. Colonel Clive, and 
Admiral Wilson arrived before Calcutta with 
two British ships. The barbarians seemed 
determined to stand a regular siege. The 
English ships received a furious fire from all 
the batteries of the town, which they imme- 
diatety returned with great effect, and in less 
than two hours the natives were obliged to 
abandon their fortifications. The English 
were again in possession of Calcutta. In 
order to repair his loss, the native prince as- 
sembled an army of 10,000 horse and 15,000 
foot, and professed a firm resolution of ex- 
pelling the English from all their settlements 
in that part of the world. Upon the first 
intelligence of his march, Clive obtained a 
reinforcement from the admiral's ships, and 
advanced with his little army to fight tlicsc 
numerous forces. He attacked the enemy 
in three columns, and though the numbers 
were so disproportionate, victory soon de- 
clared in favor of the English. The whole 
Indian army was put to flight and routed 
with tcrriljle slaughter. Shortly afterward, 
Dowlah was again defeated by the British 
troops, and Ah Khan, his prime minister, 
was proclaimed by Colonel Clive, viceroy of 
Bengal, Bahar, and Arixa, in the room of 



CALDIERO— CAMDEN. 



147 



the nabob, who was solemnly deposed, and 
soon after put to death by his successor. 

CALDIERO, A.D. 1796.— In 1796, the 
Austrian army under Alvinzi, occupied Cal- 
diero, a village of northern Italy, nine miles 
east of Verona, and twenty-four miles east 
of Areola. Napoleon, with his army, was 
at the same time in Verona, and although 
the enemy occupied an almost impregnable 
position, by a series of brilliant maneuvers 
he drew them from their post, and gained 
one of his most famous victories. See 
Areola. 

In 1805, an action took place near Caldiero, 
between the French, under Massena, and the 
^rmy of the Archduke Charles of Austria, 
which resulted in the defeat of the former. 

CALVI, A.D. 1794— The citadel of Calvi, 
in Corsica, was taken by the British, in 1794, 
after a siege of 51 days. 

CAMDEN, A.D. 1780.— On the east bank 
of the river Wateree, in South Carolina, is 
situated the village of Camden, famous in 
American history as the scene of two san- 
guinary engagements between the Britbh 
troops and the Americans. 

On the night of the 15th of August, 1780, 
the American army, 4,500 strong, under 
General Gates, marched from their encamp- 
ment at Clermont, toward Camden, which 
was occupied by Lord Cornwallis, with 
2,000 men. The British general, resolving 
to attack the enemy in their camp, was on 
his way from Camden to Clermont. At half 
past two in the morning of the 16th, he en- 
countered the advanced parties of the Amer- 
ican army, at a place called Sander's creek, 
about half way between Clermont and Cam- 
den. A sharp skirmish ensued, in which the 
Americans were worsted. The militia, dis- 
pirited by the result of the encounter, re- 
treated to the main body of their army. At 
day-break, both parties prepared for a gen- 
eral battle. In the center of the American 
army, the corps of General Caswell, the 
North Carolina division, and the artillery 
were posted. The second Maryland brigade 
formed the right wing, which Avas covered 
in flank by a morass; while the left wing 
was composed of the Virginia miUtia, and the 
Noith Carolina infantry, and was also flanked 
by some boggy ground. A body of men, 
under General Smallwood, was posted about 
300 yards in the rear of the American line, 
as a reserve. The 23d and 33d regiments 
of foot, under Lieutenant Colonel Webster, 
formed the right wing of the British line ; 
the left was guarded by some Irish volun- 
teers, the infantry of the legion, and part of 
Hamilton's regiment, under the command of 
Lord Rawdon. In the rear, the cavalry, 300 
strong, was stationed, with the 71st regi- 
ment, as a hne of reserve. The battle began 



by the advance of 200 British troops in front 
of the American artillery. They were re- 
ceived by a steady fire ; and Gates ordered 
the Virginia militia, under Colonel Stevens, 
to charge them with the bayonet. The 
gallant colonel vainly endeavorgd to lead his 
troops to the charge ; but the militia, panic- 
struck by the stern demeanor of the troops 
of Colonel Webster, who were advancing, 
with loud cheers, to attack them, threw away 
their weapons, and fled from the field, in the 
utmost disorder. The continental troops, 
which formed the right wing of the Ameri- 
can army, and were commanded by the 
Baron de Kalb, bravely maintained their 
position, although deserted by the center and 
left wing. Lord Rawdon charged them with 
the utmost vigor; both parties resorted to 
the bayonet, and a bloody conflict raged for 
nearly an hour. In the mean time, the Brit- 
ish on the left of the second Maryland bri- 
gade, rapidly gained ground, taking many 
prisoners. 

At this moment the American reserve was 
attacked by the left wing of the enemy with 
such vigor that it was thrown into disorder ; 
but the soldiers soon rallied, and renewed the 
action with unimpaired energy. Again did 
they yield to the overwhelming force of the 
enemy, and again they ralUed, and covered 
the flank of the Maryland brigade, which was 
still gallantly striving for the victory. The 
whole British fire was now directed upon 
these two brigades. Still they did not yield 
an inch. Cornwallis, observing that the 
enemy had no cavalry, now pushed bis 
dragoons forward, and ordered a general 
charge with the bayonet. Onward, with ter- 
rible force, dashed that bright array of brist- 
hng steel against the gallant band, while the 
heavy cavalry, at the same instant, charged 
upon them at full speed. Unable to resist 
this combined attack, the American line was 
broken, and the combatants were mingled on 
the field, in confusion. The struggle which 
ensued was fearful ; hand-to-hand they fought 
until at length the Americans, overwhelmed 
by numbers, fled in every direction. During 
this fearful conflict, the Baron de Kalb, who 
fought on foot with his soldiers, fell, covered 
with wounds. Lieutenant du Buysson his 
aid-de-camp, received him in his arms, and 
announcing the rank and nation of the 
wounded man to the surrounding foe, en- 
treated them to spare his life. While thus 
nobly endeavoring to save the life of his 
friend, Du Buysson received several severe 
wounds, and was taken prisoner with his 
general. Shortly afterward, De Kalb ex- 
pired. His latest moments were spent in 
dictating a letter, expressing the warmest 
affection for the ofiicers and men of his divis- 
ion, and the most exalted admiration of 



148 



CANNiE. 



their courage and good conduct. All the 
baggage and artillery of the Americans fell 
into the hands of the victors ; and the British 
cavalry pursued the fugitives many miles 
from the original scene of action. — See Hob- 
hirlcs Hill. 

CANN^, B.C. 216.— The site of the an- 
cient city of CanniB is adjacent to an incon- 
siderable place bearing the same name, on 
the river Ofanto (the ancient Aufidus) in 
Naples, eight miles -west-south-west of JBar- 
letta. The battle was fought on the right 
bank of the river, near its entrance into the 
Adriatic. 

In the year 217, B.C., C. Terentius Varro 
and L. JSmiUus were chosen consuls at 
Eoni.\ lu this campaign, wliich was the 
third year of the second Punic war, the Ro- 
mans did what had never been practiced be- 
fore, that is, they composed the army of eight 
legions, eacii consisting of 5,000 men, exclu- 
sive of the allies. The Roman army, under 
command of the two consuls, set out from 
Rome with the determination to fall upon 
HauniljaVs forces at the very first oppor- 
tunity. At length both armies came in sight 
of each other near Cannae. The two forces 
were very unequal. The Roman army, in- 
cluding the allies, consisted of 80,000 foot, 
and a little more than 6,000 horse, while 
the Carthaginians numbered only 40,000 
foot, and 10,000 horse. ^miUus commanded 
the right wing of the Romans, Varro the left, 
and Servilius, one of the consuls of the last 
year, was posted in the center. Hannibal, 
who had the art of turning every incident to 
advantage, had so posted himself that the 
Sirocco, or hot wind, which rises at stated 
times, should blow directly in the faces of 
the Romans during the fight, and cover them 
with dust ; thus keeping the river Aufidus 
on his left, and posting his cavalry on his 
wings, he formed his main body of the Span- 
ish and Gaulish infantry, which he posted in 
the center, with half of the Africau heavy- 
armed foot on the right, and half on the left, 
on the same line with the cavalry. His army 
being thus drawn up, ho i)ut himself at the 
head of the Spanish and Gaulish infantry, 
and, having drawn them out of the fine, 
advanced to give battle, rounding his front as 
he drew nearer the enemy, and extending 
his flanks in the form of a half moon, in order 
that he might have no interval between his 
main body and the rest of the line, which 
consisted of the heavy-armed infantry, who 
had not moved from their posts. And now 
the fight began; the Roman legions that 
were in the wings, seeing their center warmly 
attacked, advanced to charge the enemy in 
flank. Hannibal's main body being fiiriously 
attacked on all sides by an overwhelming 
force, gave way, after a brave resistance, and 



retired through the interval they had left in 
the center of the fines. The Romans pur- 
sued them hotly, when suddenly the two 
wings of the African infantry, which were 
fresh, weU armed, and in good order, wheeled 
about toward" the void space in which the 
Romans, already fatigued and in disorder, 
had thrown themselves, and attacked them 
vigorously on both sides. In the mean time, 
the two wings of the cavalry had defeated 
those of the Romans, which were much in- 
ferior to them. They then left in the pur- 
suit of the broken and scattered squadrons of 
the enemy, only as many forces as were 
necessary to keep them from rallying, and 
advanced and charged upon the rear of the 
Roman infantry who were contending against 
the Africans. Thus the Romans were ex- 
posed to the attacks of the Carthaginians on 
all sides. A fearful slaughter ensued. The 
Romans fought with the desperate valor of 
despair; but, fairly surrounded by the enemy's 
horse and foot, they were all cut to pieces. 
JEmilius, covered with darts which stuck in 
his wounds, sat down in anguish and despair, 
waiting for the enemy to dispatch him. Ilia 
head and face were so disfigured with bruises, 
and stained with blood, that it was not easy 
to recognize him. He was afterward slain 
by a body of the enemy to whom he was not 
known. Among the Roman leaders slain, 
were two qusestors ; twenty-one military 
tribunes; many who had been consuls or 
prgetors ; Servifius, one of the last year's con- 
suls ; Minucius, a late general of horse, and 
eighty senators. Seventy thousand men of 
the Roman army were slain, and so great 
was the fury of the Carthaginians, that they 
did not give over the slaughter till Hannibal, 
in the very heat of it, called out to them 
several times, " Stop, soldiers, spare the van- 
quished." Ten thousand men who had been 
left to guard the camp, surrendered them- 
selves prisoners of war, after the battle, 
Varro, the consul, retired to Venusia, with 
only seventy horse ; and about 4,000 men es- 
caped into the neighboring cities. Hannibal 
lost 4,000 Gauls, 1,500 Spaniards and Afric- 
ans, and 200 horse. As an evidence of the 
implacable hatred of the Romans for the Car- 
thaginians, it is said that when the Cartha- 
ginians were stripping the dead, among other 
moving objects, they found a Numidian, yet 
alive, lying under the dead body of a Roman, 
who had thrown himself headlong upon Ids 
enemy, and beat him down ; but being un- 
able to make use of his weapons, because he 
had lost his hands, had torn off" the nose and 
ears of the Numidian with his teeth, and 
in that fit of rage expired. Soon after the 
battle of Cannae, Hannibal dispatched his 
brother Mago to Carthage, with the news of 
his victory, and to demand succors, in order 



CANNSTADT— CARTHAGE. 



149 



that he might put an end to the war. Upon 
his arrival, Mago made, in full senate, a lofty 
speech, in which he extolled his brother's ex- 
ploits. To add to the effect of his words, he 
poured out, in the middle of the senate- 
chamber, a bushel of gold rings wliich had 
been taken from the fingers of such of the 
Roman nobihty as had fallen in the battle 
of Cannae. — See hattles of Ticinus, Trebia, 
Thrasymeyms, Nero and Asdruhalj and Zama. 

CANNSTADT, a.d. 1796.— In 1796 a bat- 
tle was fought near Cannstadt, a town of 
Wirtemberg, between the French under 
General Moreau and the Austrians under the 
Archduke Charles. 

CANTON, A.D. 1840.— This city, caUed 
Sang-Ching by the Chinese, is situated on 
the north bank of the Chookiang, or Pearl 
river, and the east bank of its affluent, the 
Pe-kiang. The city is inclosed by a wall, 
partly of brick and partly of sandstone, 
about twenty or twenty-five feet thick and 
from twenty-five to forty feet high. A line 
of battlements, with embrasures at intervals 
of a few feet raised on the top of the walls 
all round, are in some places mounted with 
cannon. The city is further defended by 
three forts on the land side, and two on 
Pearl river. 

The former city of Canton was utterly 
destroyed in 1650, by the Tartars, after a 
siege of eleven months, in wliich vast num- 
bers of persons are said to have been slain. 

On the 28th of June, 1840, Canton was 
blockaded by a British fleet of fifteen sail 
and several war vessels, having 4,000 troops 
on board, by orders from Sir Gordon Bre- 
mer. On the 26th of February, 1841, a bat- 
tle took place between the English forces 
under Sir Gordon Bremer, and the Chinese, 
in which the latter were defeated. Admiral 
Kwan was killed, and the Bogue forts with 
459 gims were captured. On the 25th of 
May, 1841, the British troops under Sir 
Hugh Gough, stormed the heights behind 
Canton and captured ninety-four guns. 

CARTHAGE, b.c. 252.— Carthage was 
situated on the north shore of Africa in the 
immediate neighborhood of Tunis. Although 
Carthage was long the rival of Rome, with 
whom she waged a long, desperate, and 
doubtful contest for the empire of the world, 
still her precise position has been matter of 
dispute among the learned. 

The Roman army, consisting of 15,000 
foot and 300 horse, commanded by Regulus, 
having taken possession of Tunis which 
brought them near Carthage, encamped 
there. The Carthaginians were in the utmost 
alarm. Upward of 200 of their principal 
towns had surrendered to the Romans, and 
they expected every moment to see their 
capital besieged. Reduced to the last ex- 



tremity, and having happily received a rein- 
forcement out of Greece, the Carthaginians 
determined to give battle to the enemy. 
Xanthippus, the Lacedemonian leader of the 
Greeks, was appointed commander of the 
Carthaginian army, which, with its new 
addition, was composed of 12,000 foot, 4,000 
horse, and about 160 elephants. At an ap- 
pointed time Xanthippus conducted his army 
out of Carthage against the enemy. When 
he had arrived witliin a httle more than 1200 
paces of the Roman army, which was drawn 
up in battle array near Tunis, he consulted 
with the Carthaginian generals, and they 
unanimously deferred to his opinion to give 
battle to the enemy the next day. The 
Carthaginians spent the night in anxiety, 
for the success of this battle, however in- 
considerable it may appear from the small 
number of the combatants was, nevertheless, 
to decide the fate of Carthage. The dis- 
position of both armies was as follows: 
Xantliippus drew up all his elephants in 
front. Behind these, at some distance, he 
placed the Carthaginian infantry, in one body 
or phalanx. The foreign troops in the 
Carthaginian service were posted one part of 
them on the right, between the phalanx and 
the horse, and the other, composed of light 
armed soldiers, in platoons, at the head of 
the two wings of the cavalry. On the side 
of the Romans, as they apprehended the 
elephants most, Regulus, to provide against 
them, posted his light-armed soldiers on a 
Hne, in the front of the legions. In the rear 
of these he placed the cohorts, one behind 
another, and the horse on the wings. Now 
the two armies eagerly awaited the signal of 
battle. The signal was given. The Cartha- 
ginian elephants dashed forward to break 
the ranks of the enemy while the two wings 
of the cavalry charged the Romans vehe- 
mently in flank. The Romans with loud 
shouts, while they clashed their weapons 
together, advanced rapidly upon the coming 
enemy. But the heavy Carthaginian cavahy 
fell upon the Roman horse with such power 
that the latter, unable to stand against them, 
turned and fled. The infantry of the left 
wing, to avoid the attack of the elephants, 
and to show how little they feared the 
mercenaries who formed the left wing of the 
enemy, attacked it, and put it to flight, 
fiercely pursuing the fugitives back into their 
camp. The first rank wliich was opposed to 
the elephants was broken and trodden under 
foot. The balance of the main bodj', by 
reason of its great depth, stood firm for some 
time. But when the rear, being attacked by 
the Carthaginian cavalry, was obliged to face 
about to receive the charge, and those who 
had broken tlu-ough the elephants met the 
phalanx of the Carthaginians, which had not 



150 



CARTHAGE. 



yet been engaged, anrl which received them 
in good order, the Ronuins were routed 
on all sides, and totally defeated. The greater 
part of them were crushed to death by the 
enormous weight of the elephants, while the 
remainder, scorning to fly or to yield, stood 
in their ranks and were shot through and 
through with arrows from the enemy's horse. 
Only a few fled, and of these the most were 
killed either by the elephants or the cavalry 
which pursued and overtook them. About 
500 were taken prisoners, with Regulus their 
commander. The Carthaginians lost in this 
battle 800 mercenaries, who were opposed to 
the left wing of the Romans. Of those 
Romans, who by pursuing the right wing of 
the enemy, had drawn themselves out of the ! 
engagement, only 2,000 escaped. AR the { 
rest, Regulus and those who were taken ex- , 
cepted, were left dead on the field of battle. 
The 2,000 who had escaped the slaughter, 
retired to Clypea, and were saved in an 
almost miraculous manner. The Carthagin- j 
ians, after stripping the dead, entered Car- { 
thage in triumph, dragging after them the 
unfortunate Regulus, and 500 prisoners. ! 

CARTHAGE, 148, e.g.— Carthage, the 
envy of Rome and the second city in point , 
of size, magnificence, and population, m the j 
world, was about to fall. The Romans, 
jealous of the power of their rivals, com- | 
menced the third Punic war with the deter- . 
mination that it should end only with the ' 
total ruin and destruction of their beautiful 
city. In vain had the Carthaginians sued for 
peace ; in vain had they humbled themselves i 
before their enemies ; the hatred of the Ro- | 
mans was implacable, and nothing but the 
fall of Carthage would appease it. The Ro- 
mans, with a large fleet, on board of which 
were 80,000 foot, and about 4,000 horse, : 



M. Manlius, and L. Marcius Censorin'usj 
were on their way toward the doomed city. 
As soon as they had arrived at Utica, in 
Africa, the Carthaginian deputies repaired to 
their camp, and assured the Romans that 
they were sent from Carthage, in order to 
receive their commands, which they were 
ready to obey. The consuls, after praising 
their good disposition and compliance, com- 
manded them to deUver, without fraud or 
delay, all the arms stored in Carthage. This 
severe mandate was immediately obeyed, i 
and all the weapons and warUke preparations 
that were in Carthage were sent to the Ro- i 
man camp. The arms consisted of 200,000 
complete sets of armor, a numberless multi- 
tude of darts and javehns, and 2,000 cata- 
pults, iuige engines for shooting stones and 
darts. The immense train of wagons which 
conveyed these arms, was accompanied by 
the Carthaginian deputies and many of the 



I most venerable senators and priests, who 
went to the Roman camp for the purpose of 
endeavormg to move their enemies to com- 
passion. Theu- countenances were clouded 
by anxiety, for the safety of their beloved 
city was in jeopardy ; the moment had ar- 
rived when its fate, for good or evil, should 
be decided forever. They were received 
kindly by the Roman consuls, and were com- 
plimented for the expedition they had used 
in obeying their commands. But finally 
they were assured that it was the will and 
pleasure of the Romans that all the inhabit- 
ants of Carthage should depart out of the 
city, and remove into any other portions of 
their dominions which they should deem 
I proper, providing it should be at the distance 
I of twelve miles from the sea. As for Car- 
, thage, that city the Romans had resolved to 
destroy, and nothing could move them from 
this determination. The Carthaginians heard 
tliis decree with despair. They wept aloud ; 
j they prayed first to the gods and then to the 
{ Romans, but both the gods and men were 
deaf to their entreaties. They tore their 
! hair, and prostrated themselves in the dust, 
and rent the air with their shrieks and 
, lamentations. Even the hearts of the stern 
I RoDian warriors were touched by this dis- 
play of grief, and many an eye among them 
I was moistened with tears. But their reso- 
lution was stronger than their sympathy, and 
the Carthaginians were obUged to return in 
despair. No words can express the terror 
and dismay which filled the hearts of the 
people of Carthage, when they learned the 
immovable determination of the Romans to 
destroy their city. Carthage was fiUed with 
bowlings, shrieks, madness and fury. But at 
length they banished terror, and resolved to 
contest the entrance of the Romans, with 
the energy of despair. As they had delivered 
uj) all their weapons to the Romans they 
now applied themselves to the making of 
arms with incredible dexterity and expedi- 
tion. Palaces, temples, markets, and squares 
were all turned into so many arsenals. One 
hundred and forty sliields, 300 swords, 500 
javelins, 1000 arrows, and a great number of 
engines to discharge them, were made every 
day. Men and women, all engaged in the 
work. Being in want of material to make 
ropes, the women cut off their hair, which 
furnished an abundant supply^ 

Carthage at this time contained 700,000 
inliabitants. It stood at the bottom of a 
gulf, surrounded by the sea, and in the form 
of a peninsula, whose neck, that is, the isthmus 
which joined it to the continent, was a league 
and a quarter in breadth. The peninsula 
was eighteen leagues in circumference. On 
the west side there projected from it a long 
neck of land, twelve fathoms broad, which, 



CARTHAGE. 



161 



advancing into tlie sea, divided it from a 
morass, and was fenced on all sides with 
rocks and a single wall. On the south side, 
toward the continent where stood the citadel 
called Byrsa, the city was surrounded with a 
triple Avail, thirty cubits high, exclusive of 
the parapets and towers, with which it was 
flanked all round at equal distances, each in- 
terval being eighty fathoms. Every tower 
was four stories high; and the walls only 
two. The walls were arched, and in the 
lower story were stalls to hold 300 elephants 
with their fodder, and over these were stables 
for 4,000 horses, and lofts for their proven- 
der. There likewise was room enough to 
lodge 20,000 foot, and 4,000 horse. In one 
place only the walls were weak and low, and 
that was a neglected angle, which begun at 
the neck of land above-mentioned, and ex- 
tended as far as the harbors, which were on 
the west side of the city. The harbors, of 
which there were two, communicated with 
each other ; but had only one entrance for 
both, which was seventy feet broad, and was 
closed with chains. The first was appropri- 
ated for the merchants, and had several dis- 
tiiu;t habitations for the seamen. The second 
or inner harbor, was for the sliips of war. In 
the center was an island called Cothon, hneil, 
as the harbor was, with quays, in which 
were distinct receptacles for sheltering from 
the weather 220 ships ; over these were mag- 
azines or storehouses, wherein was lodged 
whatever is necessary for arming and equip- 
ping fleets. The entrance into each of these 
receptacles was adorned with two marble 
pillars of the Ionic order. So that both the 
harbor and island represented on each side 
two magnificent galleries. In this island was 
the admiral's palace, and, as it stood opposite 
to the mouth of the harbor, he could thence 
discover whatever was doing at sea, although 
no one thence could see what was transact- 
ing in the inward part of tlie harbor. Car- 
thage, therefore, may be divided into three 
parts: the harbor, which was double, and 
sometimes called Cothon, from the little 
island of that name; the citadel, named 
Byrsa ; the city properly so called, where the 
inhabitants dwelt, which lay around the cita- 
del and was called Megara. 

The Romans at length advanced toward 
the city in order to besiege it. Censorinus 
attacked it on one side, and Manhus on 
the other. The Carthaginians met the as- 
saults of the Romans with the utmost vigor. 
They made frequent and bold sallies on the 
besiegers, endeavoring to burn their engines 
and to harass their foragers. The Roman tri- 
bune Scipio, afterward surnamed Africanus, 
distinguished himself above all the rest of the 
Roman officers, both by his prudence and 
bravery. He extricated the troops on sev- 



eral occasions from imminent danger, into 
which their leaders had plunged them. The 
bravest of the Carthaginian officers feared 
him, and one of great renown, Phamaeas by 
name, who was commander of the cavalry, 
and continually harassed the foragers, did not 
dare even to keep the field when it was 
Scipio's turn to support them, so capable was 
he of keeping his troops in good order and 
posting himself to advantage. His gr6at 
ability won him such a lofty reputation that 
many officers his equal in rank, were at first 
jealous of his achievements ; but his modesty 
and reserve at length changed their envy into 
esteem and respect, so that when deputies 
were sent from Rome to inquire into the 
state of the siege, the whole army unani- 
mously commended him. The soldiers, offi- 
cers, generals, all united in praising and ex- 
tolling the abilites and boldness of the youth- 
ful tribune. Phamaeas, the Carthaginian, 
esteemed Scipio so liighly, that lie finally 
forsook the cause of his countrymen, and 
joined the Roman army with 2,000 horse. 
He afterward was of great service during the 
siege. In the spring of the following year 
ri47 B.C.), Calpurnius Piso, the consul, and 
L. Mancinus, his lieutenant, arrived in Africa. 
Nothing remarkable was transacted during 
this campaign. The Romans were even de- 
feated on several occasions, and carried on 
the siege slowly. The Carthaginians, on the 
contrary, had recovered their spirits. Their 
troops had considerably increased, and were 
lietter armed. Allies also arrived to their aid 
every day. They even sent a messenger to 
Philip, the Pretender, of Macedon, who was 
at that time engaged in a war with the Ro- 
mans, to exhort him 'to carry it on with 
vigor, and promising to furnish him with 
men, money, and ships. All this occasioned 
great uneasiness at Rome. The people be- 
gan to doubt the success of the war, wliich 
grew daily more uncertain, and was more 
important than they had at first imagined. 
They condemned aU the generals for their 
dilatoriness, and were loud in their murmurs 
against the manner in which the siege of 
Carthage was conducted. Scipio alone they 
applauded. His praise was on every lip, and 
they could not sufficiently extol his rare vir- 
tues and abilities. 

Scipio was in Rome, where he had gone 
for the purpose of standing candidate for the 
edileship. The instant he appeared in the 
assembly, his name, his countenance, his 
reputation, induced a general belief that the 
gods had designed him to end the third 
Punic war, as the first Scipio, his grandfather 
by adoption, had ended the second. The 
people were so strongly impressed by these 
several circumstances, that, though contrary 
to the law, they, instead of the edileship 



152 



CARTnAGE. 



which he sued for, at once conferred the con- 
sulship upon liim, in spite of the opposition 
of the ancient men, who looked with horror 
on this utter disregard of the law. Africa 
was assigned him for his province, without 
casting lots for the provinces, as usual, and 
as Drusus, his colleague, demanded. As soon 
as Scipio had completed his recruits, he set 
out, in the year 146, B.C., for Africa, and ar- 
rived, soon after, in Utica. His arrival 
proved most timely, for Mancinus, Piso's 
lieutenant, had rashly planted himself in a 
position where he was surrounded by the 
enemy, and his troops undoubtedly would 
have been cut to pieces that very day, had 
not the new consul immediately hastened to 
liis assistance. 

Scipio's first care, after his arrival, was to 
revive discipline among the troops. The 
officers had lost all command over the troops. 
The Roman camp was a complete picture of 
insubordination, confusion, and disobediance. 
The soldiers thought of nothing but rapine, 
feasting, and revelry. Scipio soon put an 
end to all tliis. He drove all useless persons 
from the camp, banished all dainties and lux- 
uries, and ordered the sutlers to provide the 
men only with plain food. Having made all 
these regulations, which he strictly observed 
himself, he prepared to carry on the siege 
with vigor. Having ordered his troops to 
provide themselves with axes, levers, and 
scaling-ladders, he led them, in the dead of 
the night, to the district of the city called 
Megara. He had given strict orders that Ms 
soldiers should make no noise during the 
marcli, and they arrived at the walls of 
Megara, without alarming the inhabitants. 
Obeying his commands, his troops now gave 
a genera! shout, and began the assault. The 
Carthaginians, surprised at this sudden attack, 
at first ma'le but feeble resistance, but soon 
recovering from their, terror, they defended 
themselves so vigorously, that the Romans 
were unable to scale the walls. Scipio, at 
this juncture, perceived a tower that had 
been abaniloned, and which stood without 
the city, very near the walls. He immediate- 
ly detach(!d thither a party of bold and dar- 
ing soldiers. These men quickly entered the 
tower, and by means of Ught wooden bridges, 
they gained the walls, whence they easily en- 
tered the city. They then hastened to the 
gates ami broke them down. Scipio and his 
troops instantly entered, and drove the Car- 
thaginians from that quarter of the city. Imag- 
ining that the whole city was taken, the Car- 
thaginians fled to the citadel, Byrsa, whither 
they were followed by all their forces that 
were encamped without the city, who, aban- 
doning their camp to the Romans, thought 
only of flying to a place of security. These 
troops were uuder the command of Asdrubal. 



Asdrubal, in his heart, hated his country- 
men, for the humiliation they had heaped 
upon him, when they entreated peace from 
the Romans before the commencement of the 
war. He had commanded the Carthaginian 
ai-my during the war between Numidia and 
Carthage. This war the Romans had seized 
upon as a favorable pretext for declaring war 
with the Carthaginians, for Massinissa, King 
of Numidia, was a friend and ally of the 
Romans. In their eagerness to avoid a 
quarrel with the Romans, the Carthaginians 
had not only abruptly terminated the war 
with ilassinissa, but they had also impeached 
Asdrubal, as guUty of liigh treason for being 
one of the authors of the war against the 
King of the Numidians. Tliis insult Asdru- 
bal had never forgiven ; his honor had been 
tarnished forever, and he meditated a revenge 
most terrible. His mahce against his country- 
men was equaled only by liis implacable 
hatred for the Romans. He considered both 
as the authors of his disgrace. 

The sun rose the next morning, after the 
Romans had gained an entrance into Megara, 
upon a spectacle wliich appalled the hearts 
of the Carthaginians, and inflained the rage 
of the Romans to ungovernable fury. As- 
drubal, stung to madness, by his late defeat, 
and wishing to revenge himself both upon 
the Romans and the Carthaginians, placed 
all the Roman prisoners he had taken upon 
the walls of the citadel, in sight of the whole 
army, and then commanded his minions to 
torture them. This he thought would exas- 
perate the Romans to such a pitch, that they 
would give the inhabitants no quarter, Avhen 
they made themselves masters of the city. 
The prisoners were put to the most exquisite 
torture; their eyes were forced from their 
sockets ; their noses were cut off; the skin 
was torn from their bodies with iron rakes 
and harrows, and their tormenters did not 
cease the cruel work until death had relieved 
them from their agonies, and then their life- 
less bodies were thrown headlong from the 
battlements, to the very feet of their friends 
and countrymen. The Carthaginians them- 
selves witnessed these barbarities with 
horror and dismay. Several senators ven- 
tured even to oppose Asdrubal's tyranny; 
but in his rage he murdered them also. 

Scipio, finding himself absolute master of 
the isthmus, burned the camp which the en- 
emy had deserted, and built a new one for his 
troops. It was of a square shape, surrounded 
with large and deep intrenchments, and 
fenced with strong pallisades. On the side 
which faced the Carthaginians, he built a 
wall twelve feet high, flanked at proper dis- 
tances with towers and redoubts. On the 
middle tower he erected a very high wooden 
fort, whence could be seen whatever was 



CARTHAaE. 



153 



doing in the city. Tliis wall extended the 
entire breadtla of the isthmus, that is a league 
and a quarter. During the whole time that the 
Romans were engaged in making this wall, the 
Carthaginians, who were within bow-shot, em- 
ployed their every effort to put a stop to the 
work ; but as the whole Roman army was 
incessantly employed upon it, working night 
and day, the wall was finished in twenty- 
four days. Scipio reaped a double advantage 
from this : first, his forces were lodged more 
safely and commodiously than before ; sec- 
ondly, he cut off all provisions from the be- 
sieged, to whom none could be brought but 
by sea ; wliich was attended by many diffi- 
culties, both because the sea is frequently 
very tempestuous in that place, and because 
the Roman fleet kept a strict guard. This 
proved one of the chief causes of the famine 
which raged, soon after, in the city. Besides, 
Asdrubal distributed the corn that was 
brought only among the 30,000 men who 
served under him, caring very little what 
became of the rest of the inhabitants. Scipio, 
in order to distress them still more by the 
want of provisions, attempted to stop up the 
mouth of the haven, by a mole, beginning at 
the isthmus, which was near the harbor. 

The besieged at first looked at this at- 
tempt as ridiculous, and accordingly greeted 
the workmen Avith all manner of insults. 
But the Romans made such rapid progress 
every day, that at length the Carthaginians 
began to fear that they would succeed. Ac- 
cordingly, they took proper measures to 
prevent the success of the attempt. Every 
man, woman, and child among them imme- 
diately commenced working ; but so private- 
ly, that Scipio could learn nothing of tlieir 
proceedings. At length, however, the Car- 
thaginians having completed their operations, 
he was suddenly informed of the nature of 
their employment, by the appearance, at sea, 
of a numerous fleet, which they had just 
then built with the old materials found in 
their magazines, and for wliich they had con- 
structed a new outlet on the other side of 
the haven. Instead of attacking the Roman 
fleet at once, in which case they must have 
certainly taken it, they only offered a kind 
of insult or bravado to the Romans, and 
then returned into the harbor. Two days 
afterward, they brought out their ships with 
a resolution to fight in good earnest, and 
found the enemy ready for them. The 
battle was to decide the fate of both parties. 
The conflict was long and obstinate. The 
Romans fought with the valor of conquerors, 
whUe the Carthaginians, fighting for home 
and country, were inspired with the desper- 
ate courage of despair. The galleys of the 
Carthaginians were far superior in speed and 
lightness to those of the Romans, and were 



managed with greater ability. They ran tlieir 
small ships along under the enormous but 
awkward hulks of the Roman galleys, and 
broke to pieces sometimes their sterns, and 
at other times their rudders and oars. In 
vain did the Romans endeavor to crush the 
apparently fragile vessels of the enemy ; no 
sooner were they fiercely attacked at one 
point, than they retreated with surprising 
swiftness, returning immediately to renew 
the charge at another. In this manner, the 
fight was continued until sunset, neither 
party having gained a decided advantage. 
At length tlie Carthaginians saw fit to retire, 
not because they thought themselves over- 
come, but in order to refresh themselves, and 
to make preparations to renew the conflict 
on the morrow. A portion of their ships, 
however, were not able to enter the harbor 
with sufficient rapidity, because the mouth 
of it was too narrow. They therefore took 
shelter under a large terrace, which had been 
thrown up against the walls to unload goods. 
On the side of this terrace a small rampart 
had been raised during the siege, to prevent 
the enemy from possessing themselves of it 
The Roman fleet, wdiich had closely pursued 
the Carthaginians, fiercely attacked the ships 
which had drawn under the cover of the ter- 
race, and a battle ensued which continued till 
late at night. Many of the Carthaginian ves- 
sels were taken, and the few which escaped 
sailed to the city for refuge. Early the next 
morning, Scipio attacked the terrace, which 
was vigorously defended by the Carthaginian 
forces stationed there for its protection. But 
at length they were driven back into the city, 
and Scipio made a lodgment and fortified 
himself on the terrace. He now built a wall 
of brick on the terrace, close to the wall of 
the city, and of the same height. Upon the 
completion of the wall, he stationed 4,000 
men on its summit, with orders to discharge 
from it an incessant shower of arrows and 
javelins upon the enemy. These weapons 
did great execution ; the two walls being of 
equal height, almost every dart took effect. 
Thus ended the summer campaign. 

During the winter, Scipio endeavored to 
overpower the enemy's troops without the 
city. These forces had caused him much 
trouble and annoyance by harassing his for- 
ages and convoys. They also served as a 
protection to such convoys of provisions as 
were sent to the besieged. He accordingly 
attacked a neighboring fort called Nepheris, 
where they used to shelter themselves. 
After sustaining a siege for twenty-four days 
the fort was carried, with great bloodshed on 
both sides. In the last action, 70,000 of the 
enemy, soldiers and peasantry, were cut to 
pieces. The seizure of this fort was followed 
by the surrender of almost all the strongholds 



154 



CARTHAGENA. 



of Africa, and contributed greatly to the 
taking ol' Cartilage itself, as alter that time it 
was almost impossible to convey provisions 
into the city. Early in the spring, Scipio 
attacked, at one and the same time, the har- 
bor called Cothon and the citadel. The 
liomans, after gaining the walls which sur- 
rounded this port, threw themselves into the 
great square of the city that was over it. 
From the city was an ascent to the citadel, 
up three streets. The streets were lined on 
either side with houses, from tha tops of 
which the Carthaginians hurled javelins and 
arrows down upon the Romans. The 
Romans thus assailed, were obHged to force 
the houses they came first to, and post them- 
selves in them, in order to dislodge thence 
the enemy Avho fought from the neighboring 
houses. The Carthaginians fought for their 
firesides with a fury unparalleled. For six 
days the combat was carried on in every 
part of the houses, from tojj to bottom. The 
slaughter which occurred during those six 
days was most terrible. Men, women, and 
children were massacred by the Roman sol- 
diers, and while still quivering with hfe, and 
gasping for breath, the carcasses were thrown 
headlong from the houses into the streets. 
So encumbered were the streets with the 
slain, that the Romans were compelled to 
drag aside the bodies with hooks, and cast 
them into pits, in order to make a passage 
for their troops. In this bloody toil, which 
was continued without intermission, day and 
night, the soldiers were reheved from time 
to time by fresh ones, without which their 
strength would have been wholly exhausted. 
Scipio alone did not sleep during the whole 
time. He seemed to be present everywhere, 
giving orders and directions, scarcely without 
allowing himself leisure to take the least re- 
freshment. At length, the Carthaginians, 
appalled by the sight of tliis bloodshed, de- 
termined to surrender. On the morning of 
the seventh day, a company of men in the 
posture of suppliants approached Scipio, and 
entreated him to spare the lives of all tliose 
who should be wiUing to leave the citadel. 
Scipio granted this request, excepting, how- 
ever, the deserters, whom he resolved to 
punish with death. Accordingly, 50,000 
men and women departed from the citadel, 
and under a strong guard were sent into the 
fields. The deserters, who numbered about 
900, finding they would be shown no mercy, 
fortified themselves in the temple of ^scula- 
pius, with Asdrubal, his wife, and two cliil- 
dren. 

The temple stood on a high hill upon 
rocks, the ascent to which was by sixty 
steps. Asdrubal abandoning his wife and 
cliildren to their fate, left the temple secretly, 
and bearing an oUve-branch in his hand, he 



approached Scipio, and, throwing himself at 
his feet, entreated the conqueror to spare his 
life. Scipio immediately conducted him to 
a place whence he could be seen by the de- 
serters. Transported with rage and fury at 
this sight, they vented a million of impreca- 
tions against liim, and set fire to the temple. 
Asdrubal's wife dressing herself as splendidly 
as possible, placed herself in sight of Scipio, 
and her base husband, and addressed liim in 
a loud voice. " I shall not curse thee, 0, 
Roman," said she, "for the fortune of war 
is with thee. But may the gods of Carthage, 
and thou in concert with them, punish, ac- 
cording to his deserts, the false wretch who 
has betrayed his country, his gods, his wife, 
his children. And thou, perfidious Asdrubal, 
thou basest of men ! thou shalt see this fire 
presently consume thy wife and children. 
Then go, most unworthy general of Car- 
thage, and adorn the gay triumphs of thy 
conqueror, and in the sight of all Rome, 
sufier the tortures thou so justly deservest." 
At the conclusion of these words she seized 
her children, cut their throats, hurled them 
into the flames, and sprang after them into 
the burning mass. The fire spread rapidly, 
and the temple was entirely consumed with 
all tlie deserters. Carthage had fallen. The 
Roman soldiers eager for plunder, and heated 
with victory, pillaged the city, and laid it in 
ruins. The gold, silver statues, and other 
offerings wliich they found in the temples, 
were collected together, and sent to Rome. 
When the news of the fall of Carthage 
reached Rome, the whole city rejoiced. 
Rome now stood without a rival. All the 
cities in Africa, wliich during this war had 
joined the Carthagmians, were by the or- 
ders of the Roman senate, raised to the 
ground. To the citizens of Utica was made 
a grant of the whole country lying between 
Carthage and Hippo. AH the rest Avas re- 
duced into a Roman province to wliich a 
praetor was sent annually. Matters being 
thus settled, Scipio returned to Rome, where 
he made his entry in the most magnificent 
triumphal procession that had ever been 
witnessed before. 

CARTHAGENA, b.c. 21G.— This city is 
called by ancient writers Carthago Nova 
(New Carthage), it having been a principal 
colony of the Carthaginians. It stands in 
Spain, on a bay of the Mediterranean, 27 
miles south of Murcia. 

The younger Scipio, charged with the 
prosecution of the war in Spain, after the 
death of his father and his uncle, evinced 
from the early age of twenty-four, the wis- 
dom and prudence of a consummate captain. 
Anxious to weaken Carthage, he undertook 
the siege of Carthagena, one of its most im- 
portant colonies. This strong city served 



CASSANO— CASSEL. 



155 



tlie Carthageiiians at once as a magazine, ar- 
senal, and entrepot; they kept within its 
walls the hostages wliich answered for the 
fidelity of Spain. Scipio made all his prep- 
arations during the winter; in the spring, 
(216, B.C.) he blockaded Carthagena with his 
fleet, at the same time that he invested it by 
land. On the day following, the armies, 
both by land and sea, commenced hostiUties. 
Scipio ordered his soldiers to mount to the 
assault ; and they executed his orders with 
ardor and celerity. Mago, the brother of 
Hannibal, who commanded in the place, had 
but a thousand soldiers, and thought himself 
lost. He armed the citizens, picked out 2,000 
of the best, and made a sortie. Victory was 
for a long time doubtful; but the Cartha- 
ginians were driven back within their walls. 
This first defeat would have produced the 
most complete discouragement in Cartha- 
gena, if the Eomans had not been forced, 
by the height of the walls, to abandon the 
escalade and sound a retreat. This untoward 
circumstance restored hopes of succor to the 
besieged; but they were not unacquainted 
with the activity of Scipio. While the sea 
was at ebb, he placed 500 men with ladders 
along the lake where the walls of Carthagena 
were lowest ; he surrounded these walls with 
fresh troops, and exliorted them to fight like 
Romans. The ladders were apphed, and the 
soldiers shortly filled the whole extent of the 
walls. The besieged, although astonished, 
kept a good face everywhere, and defended 
themselves with courage. The sea retired, 
and left the lake everywhere fordable. This 
phenomenon seemed a marvel to the Ro- 
mans ; they hastened to climb the Avails of 
Carthagena, destitute on that point of de- 
fenders, and penetrated into the city without 
meeting an obstacle. The confused Cartha- 
genians rushed to the citadel, and the Ro- 
mans entered with them. Mago and his 
troops surrendered to Scipio, and the city 
was given up to pillage. 

CASSANO, A.D. 1160.— In the year 1160, 
a battle was fought near Cassano, in Italy, 
between the forces of Frederic I., Barba- 
rossa, the German emperor, and the Milanese. 
The Milanese drawn up in battle array awaited 
the attack of the enemy ; in their center 
stood the sacred car, or carrocdo. Tliis car- 
roccio, consisted of a four-wheeled car, painted 
red, and drawn by eight oxen with red ca- 
parisons. A lofty flag-staS^ terminated by a 
gilt ball, rose from the center of the car, 
and bore the standard of the city of Milan, 
between two white banners. Half way down 
the staff was a crucifix ; and upon the plat- 
form stood a number of sentinels, chosen es- 
pecially for their valor, a band of trumpeters 
and a priest. The army of Frederic com- 
menced the attack. Like a thunder-storm 



they swept across the plain upon the enemy, 
and driving them back, attacked the sentinels 
in the car with such vigor that they aban- 
doned it precipitately ; and the standard of 
the city feU into the hands of the Germans, 
with the golden crucifix which decorated its 
staff, and the oxen were slain. The Milanese 
considered the defense of this car a most sa- 
cred military duty, and stung to fury by the 
intolerable shame of losing it, they rallied 
and charged the enemy with such over- 
whelming impetuosity that they were broken ; 
the car was recaptured, and the soldiers of 
the emperor fled in wild disorder, leaving the 
Milanese complete masters of the field. 

In the year 1715 a battle was fought near 
Cassano, between the French under Ven- 
dome, and the forces of Prince Eugene. The 
battle was long and bloody ; but was inde- 
cisive, both parties claiming the victory. 

CASSEL, A.D. 1528.— PhiUp, of Valois, 
scarcely seated on his own throne, turned his 
arms toward Flanders, to assist the coimt in 
subduing his rebelUous subjects. His noble 
army consisted of 30,000 men, among whom 
were 14,000 gendarmes. Phihp mached 
straight toward the city of Cassel, and laid 
siege to it. The rebel army, much less nu- 
merous than the French, was composed en- 
tirely of infantry : they were fishermen, 
peasants, and artisans. A small dealer in 
fish, named Cohn Zannequin, was at their 
head, a bold, daring man, in whom audacity 
and cunning made up for deficiency in mili- 
tary experience. Such was the singular 
champion opposed so the King of France ; 
such were the troops destined to contend 
with the proudest nobihty of Europe; and 
this ignoble assemblage was very near de- 
stroying the haughty battalions wliich held 
them in rather too much contempt. Never 
was any army more determined or more in- 
solent in its bearing than these newly-made 
soldiers, encamped and intrenched within 
sight of Cassel, upon an eminence very difiB- 
cult of access. They had the audacity to 
hoist upon one of the towers of the city a 
kind of standard, upon which was painted a 
cock, with this inscription : 

" Quanfl ce coq chant6 aura, 
Le roi Cassel conquerera."* 

Zannequin conceived a project which might, 
if successful, have proved of great import- 
ance. In his character of a dealer in fish, 
he went every day, with reckless confidence, 
to exercise his trade in the royal camp. He 
sold his fish at a moderate price, in order to 
get a footing, and afford him an opportunity 
of seeing what was going on. He found 
that they sat a long time at table, that they 
* When this cock shall have crowed, the king shall 
conquer Cassel, 



15( 



CASSOYIA— CASTALLA. 



gambled a great deal, that they danced, and 
Siey slept in the afternoon. In short, such 
negligent guard appeared to be kept, that 
the audacious Fleming conceived the design 
of carrying off the king and all his quarter. 
On the 23d of August, 1528, about two 
o'clock in the afternoon, at the time when he 
knew the French were taking their daily 
nap, he divided Ms troops into tliree bodies, 
ordered one to march quietly to the quarter 
of the King of Bohemia, the second to ad- 
vance in silence against the hattle commanded 
by the Count of Hainault, while he placed 
himself at the head of the third. He entered 
the camp without shouting the war-cry, 
wliich was at that time always done before 
commencing a battle, and penetrated nearly 
to the king's tent, where too good a watch 
was not kept. When they appeared, they 
were supposed to be a reinforcement just 
arrived, and Renaud Delor, a noble cavalier, 
came toward them with a smile, saying it 
was not polite to disturb their friends' slum- 
bers. He was answered by a javeUn tlirough 
his heart. Tliis proved the signal for fight. 
The Flemings drew their swords and slaught- 
ered all they met. The alarm was soon 
spread through the French camp ; loud cries 
announced the danger, and all flew to arms. 
The king was roused by a Dominican, his 
confessor. He laughed at the worthy father, 
telling him that fear disturbed his imagina- 
tion ; but Miles de Noyer, who bore the ori- 
flamme, soon rushed in, confirming the news, 
and entreating the king to arm. But there 
was neither squire nor knight to assist his 
majesty, and the duty was performed by the 
clerks of his chapel. He sprang upon his 
war-horse, and marched straight against the 
assailants. Miles de Noyer stopped him, ad- 
vising him to wait till his troops should be 
sufficiently increased to turn the Flemings, 
and afterward to take them in flank. This 
brave and prudent knight then raised the 
royal standard on a point from wliich it could 
be seen at a great distance. At this signal, 
the cavalry drew up around their prince. 
The Flemings were surrounded, broken, and 
then cut to pieces. Of 16,000 men, who 
composed this army, not one gave ground, 
but not one escaped. The French lost but 
few in the action : armor was then very com- 
plete, and the ill-protected Flemings had but 
little chance against the French chivalry. 
The other rebel battalions dispersed immedi- 
ately. Cassel was taken, razed to the ground, 
and reduced to ashes. After having restored 
peace, Philip returned to his own dominions, 
saying to the Count of Flanders : " Be more 
prudent and more humane, and you wiU have 
fewer rebels." This was certainly a well- 
merited reproof; but it came very ill from 
such a man as Phihp of Valois. — Robson. 



CASSOVIA, A.D. 1389.— The city of Cas- 
sovia, in Lower Hungary, was often the 
theater of the exploits of the Germans and 
the Turks, after the entrance of the latter 
into Europe. In 1389, Amurath I., conquered 
in these plains the Hungarians, the WaUa- 
chians, the Dalmatians, and the TribaUian 
confederates. After a long and sanguinary 
battle, the sultan went to survey the dead, 
and walked over the field of carnage. When 
he had for some time contemplated these sad 
trophies of his success — " I am astonished," 
said he to his grand vizier who accompanied 
him, "to see only young beardless men 
among these dead, and not one old man." 

" It is that that has given us the victory," 
rephed the vizier ; " youth only hstens to tlie 
wild fire which animates it, and comes to 
perish at your feet ; old age is more tranquil 
and prudent." 

" But that which still more surprises me," 
said the grand seignor, " is, that I have tri- 
umphed. I dreamed last night that an un- 
known enemy's hand pierced my side. Nev- 
ertheless, thanks to God! thanks to His 
prophet ! I triumph, and I live !" 

He had scarcely pronounced these words 
when a TribaUian soldier, concealed among 
the dead, sprang up in a rage and plunged 
his dagger into the sultan's bowels. The 
murderer was instantly cut to pieces. The 
proud sultan saw his dream accompUshed : a 
conqueror in thirty battles. He expired two 
hours after, from the stroke of this assassin. 

CASTALLA, a.d. 1813.— On the 13th of 
April, 1813, an action took place between 
the French on the one side, and the English 
and Spanish on the other, at the town of 
Castalla, in Spain. The French army, con- 
sisting of 16,000 infantry, and 2,000 horse, 
with 30 guns, was commanded by Marshal 
Suchet. The alUed army, consisting of 27,000 
infantry, 3,000 horse, with 37 guns, was 
commanded by General Murray. The left 
wing was formed of the Spaniards under 
Wittingham, who were posted on the rugged 
side of Castalla ; the right consisted of Clin- 
ton's British division and Eoche's Spaniards, 
and was planted on the low ground, with 
the bed of a torrent in their front ; while the 
center, consisting of Mackenzie's British divis- 
ion, occupied the town and old castle of Cas- 
talla on a conical hill in the center, and all its 
approaches being strongly guarded by artil- 
lery. Suchet determined to attack the British 
in their position. For this purpose he re- 
solved to force the pass of Brai, which led 
to the British position. The allied advance- 
guards stationed at that pass, were assailed 
by superior numbers of the French, and re- 
treated, bravely fighting up the rugged de- 
file. The French pursued with great ^ager, 
their skirmishers swarming up the rocky ac- 



CASTIGLIONE— CASTILLON. 



157 



clivitios on either side of the pass with ex- 
traordinary agility and determination. 

The ascent on the left, however, where 
Whittingham's Spaniards were posted, was 
so steep and rugged, that the assaihng party 
gained the summit with great difficulty. But 
Siey succeeded in reaching the top, and were 
proceeding along it, when they were met 
suddenly by the 27th regiment, who, lying 
down concealed among the rocks, sprang up, 
and gave the French such a volley, within 
pistol-shot, as sent them headlong, with 
frightful loss, down the side of the ridge. 
An event happened during this struggle 
which recalls the heroic ages of the Iliad, or 
Amadis de Graul. As the French were de- 
ploying their columns, a grenadier officer, ad- 
vancing alone, in a loud voice cliallenged any 
EngUsh officer to single combat. The offer 
was immediately accepted by Captain Wal- 
dron of the 27th, who sprang out of the com- 
pany to meet him. The hostile hnes looked 
on witliout firing a shot; and at the first 
encounter the Frenchman's head was cleft 
asunder. The British, with a loud shout, 
brought down their arms, and gave the vol- 
ley which hurled the French down the steep. 
The attack on the other points was likewise 
repulsed by the allies, and at length Suchet, 
despairing of success, drew off his men through 
the pass of Brai. The British general, satis- 
fied with having repulsed the enemy, drew 
off liis forces, and allowed the French to make 
tlicir way unmolested through the defile. In 
this action the French lost 1,800 men killed 
or wounded. The loss of the allies was 
trifling. 

CASTIGLIONE, a.d 1796.— On a liill, 
twenty-two miles north-west of the city of 
Mantua, in Italy, is situated the town of Cas- 
tiglione-delle-Stiviere. It is surrounded by a 
low wall, and contains several churches, the 
ruins of a castle, and a conventual seminary ; 
but is chiefly noted for a decisive victory gain- 
ed here by the French over the Austrians on 
the 5tli of August, 1796, from which Marshal 
Augereau derived Ms title of Duke der Cas- 
tiglione. 

The battle was fought in the plain of Cas- 
tiglione. A series of heights, formed by the 
last range of hills belonging to the Alps, ex- 
tend from Cliiesa to the Mincio, by Lonato, 
Castiglione, and Solferino. At the foot of 
these heights Ues the plain which served for 
the field of battle. The Austrians, under 
Wurmser, were 30,000 strong; the French 
22,000. Both parties were drawn up in the 
plain at right angles to the mountains, on 
which each rested a wing. The left wing of 
the Austrians was covered by the miU of 
Medola; while the French right was un- 
covered. Augereau commanded the center, 
Massena the left, and Verdier the right ; but 



the principal hopes of Napoleon were rested 
on the division of Serrurier, which had orders 
to march aU night, and fall, when the action 
was at its height, on the rear of the enemy. 
The battle commenced at day-break. Wurm- 
ser, impatient to attack, moved his right 
along the heights; Bonaparte, to favor this 
movement, drew back his left, formed by 
Massena's division, while he kept his center 
immovable, in the plain. Soon he heard Ser- 
rurier's fire in the rear of the enemy. Then, 
while he continued to draw back his left, and 
Wurmser to prolong his right, he ordered the 
redoubt of Medola to be attacked. At first he 
directed twenty pieces of light artillery upon 
that redoubt, and, after briskly cannonading 
it, he detached General Verdier, with three 
battalions of grenadiers, to storm it. That 
brave general advanced, supported by a regi- 
ment of cavalry, and took the redoubt. The 
left flank of the Austi'ians was thus uncovered, 
at the very moment when Serrurier, arriving 
at Cauriana, excited an alarm upon the rear 
of the enemy. Wurmser immediately moved 
part of his second line upon the right, de- 
prived of support, and placed it en potence, to 
make head against the French, who were 
debouching from Jtledola. The rest of his 
second fine he moved back to cover Cauri- 
ana, and thus contrived to make head against 
the enemy. But Napoleon, seizing the mo- 
ment with his wonted promptness, imme- 
diately ceased to refuse his left and his 
center ; and he gave Massena and Augereau 
the signal which they were impatiently 
awaiting. Massena, with the left, and Au- 
gereau with the center, rushed upon the 
weakened line of the Austrians, and charged 
it with impetuosity. Attacked so briskly on 
its whole front, and threatened on its left and 
its rear, it began to give way. The ardor of 
the French redoubled. The Austrians, pressed 
in front by Augereau and Massena, threatened 
in rear by the division of Serrurier, and 
turned on their left by Verdier, fell back at 
all points, and the French remained masters 
of the field. The Austrians lost on this oc- 
casion 2,000 killed and wounded, 1,000 pris- 
oners, and twenty pieces of cannon. 

CASTILLON, A.D. 1452.— This siege was 
the scene of the " last fight" of one of the 
bravest and most esteemed heroes that do 
honor to English annals. 

The army of Charles VII. of France, on 
the 13th of July, 1452, laid siege to Castillon, 
a little city of Perigord, on the Dordogne, ten 
leagues from Bordeaux, then in the occupa- 
tion of the English. Marshals Loheac and 
Jalognes had the conducting of it; Jean 
Biereau, grand master of the artillery, com- 
manded 700 cannoneers. The place, sur- 
rounded by Hnes of circumvallation and an 
intrenched camp, was brought to bay, when 



15S 



CASTLEBAR 



the brave English general, Talbot, came to 
its aid. He at once put to flight a body of 
free archers. Seduced by this easy success, 
he marched straight to the intrenchments of 
the French camp. Its fortifications astonished 
him, without abating his courage: he gave 
the assault. During two hours, he braved 
all the eflorts and the murderous fire of the 
French — at eiglity years of age, lie fought 
with the ardor of youth : the English gave 
way; twice he brought tliem back to the 
charge, and twice he was repulsed ; and the 
French, lalhng upon the rear-guard of tlie 
EngUsh, with the utmost fury, overwhehned 
it. 

In rain Talbot, sword in hand, covered 
with blood and dust, rode through tlie ranks, 
animating his men by his words and his ex- 
ample. His war-horse, struck down by a cul- 
verin, encumbered him in his foil, fie was 
on the point of expiring, when his son flew 
to his assistance. " Retire 1" cried the gen- 
erous old man, " reserve your young days for 
a more useful occasion. I die fighting for my 
country ; live, my son, to serve it." 

After uttering these words, he expired. 
His son, the young Lord Lisle, fell a few 
minutes after, wliile endeavoring to avenge 
his death. The EngUsh fled ; and Castillon 
surrendered the next day. 

" Thus perished Talbot," writes a French 
historian, " whom the English of tlaat day 
called their Achilles. He had, it is true, the 
valor of one : he was not only brave, but an 
excellent negotiator, a faithful subject, a sin- 
cere friend, and a generous enemy." 

This defeat put a period to the English 
dominion in France. 

CASTLEBAR, a.d. 1798.— At the north- 
ern extremity of Lake Castlebar in Ireland, 
is situated a town bearing the same name, 
which, in the year 1798, was tlie scfene of a 
struggle between the royal forces of England 
and the French who landed in Ireland to the 
aid of the Irish insurgents. On the 22d of 
August, 1798, 1,100 French soldiers, under 
command of General Humbert, setting sail 
from Rochefort, landed at Killala, in Ireland ; 
and with the aid of Napper Tandy, the Irish 
revolutionist, speedily commenced the organ- 
ization of a provisional government, and" tlie 
enrollment of revolutionary legions in the 
province of Connaught. The landing of the 
French troops was announced by two procla- 
mations, one from the French general, the 
other from Napper Tandy to his countrymen. 
The first bore : " United Irish ! The soldiers 
of the great nation have landed on your 
shores, amply provided with arms, artiUery, 
and munitions of all sorts, to aid you in 
breaking your fetters a';d recovering your 
liberties. Napper Tandy is at their head ; he 
has sworn to break your fetters, or perish in 



the attempt. To arms! freemen, to arms! 
the trumpet calls you ; do not let your 
brethren perish unavenged ; if it is their 
lestiny to fall, may their blood cement the 
^dorious fabric of Ireedom." That from Nap- 
per Tandy was still more vehement : " What 
do I hear ? The British government talks of 
concessions 1 Will you accept them ? Can 
you for a moment entertain the thought of 
entering into terms with a government which 
leaves you at the mercy of the English 
soldiery, which massacres inhumanly your 
citizens — witli a ministry which is the pest of 
society and a scourge to the human race ! 
They hold out in one hand the oUve-branch ; 
look well to the other, you will see in it the 
liidden dagger. No, Irishmen, you will not 
be the dupe of such base intrigues : feeling its 
inability to subdue your courage, it seeks 
only to seduce you. But you will frustrate 
all its efforts. Barbarous crimes have been 
committed in your country; your friends 
have fallen victims to their devotion to your 
cause ; their shades surround you ; tliey cry 
aloud for vengeance. It is your duty to 
avenge their death ; it is your duty to strike 
the assassins of your friends on tlieir bloody 
thrones. Irishmen ! declare a war of exter- 
mination against your oppressors ; the eternal 
war of liberty against tyranny." Immedi- 
ately after the landing of the French at 
Killala, they marched to Castlebar, in the 
expectation of a rising of the people. Lake, 
the British general in Ireland, marched to 
oppose them with an army of 4,000 men, 
consisting in part of yeomary and militia. 
The two armies came in collision at Castle- 
bar on the 28th of August, and in spite of 
the superior nmnbers of the enemy, the 
French troops attacked them with such im- 
petuous valor that they were entirely routed 
and defeated, with the loss of GOO prisoners, 
and seven pieces of cannon. Enthusiastic at 
this success the French troops continued 
their march through the country toward 
Tuam. In the mean time Lord Cornwallis, 
commander of tlie British forces in Ireland, 
collected a large army, and marching against 
the enemy he attacked them with liis over- 
whelming force. The French soldiers fought 
with the utmost valor ; but Humbert, finding 
it useless to contend against such prodigious 
numbers, at length surrendered. On the 8tli 
of September, a French force, consisting of 
the Uoche of seventy-four guns, and eight 
frigates, having on board 3,000 men, eluded 
the vigilance of the British fleet in the chan- 
nel, and arrived on the coast of Ireland ; but 
there they were attacked by the British 
squadron under the command of Sir John 
Borlase Warren, and, after a brief and bloody 
action, the French fleet was defeated, and all 
their ships were taken with the exception o. 



CAVERYPAUK— CAXAMALCA. 



150 



two frigates which effected their escape and 
reached the shores of France. On board the 
Hoche, the victors found the celebrated Irish 
leader Wolfe Tone, who, after having, with 
f^reat firmness, undergone a trial for liigh 
treason, was condemned, and being refused 
a military death, prevented a pubhc execu- 
tion by suicide. 

^CAVERYPAUK, a.d. 1754.— In tlie year 
1754 a battle was fought near Caverypauk 
between the French, and their alhes, and the 
English, in which the former Avere defeated 
with considerable loss. 

CAXAMALCA, A.D. 1532.— At the time 
the Spaniards, under Pizarro, invaded Peru, 
that country was the scene of a civil war. 
Atahuallpa, the reigning inca, had just van- 
quished his brother, with whom, hy the de- 
sire of his father, he should have divided the 
empire, and now he was passing through the 
country with an immense army, compelling 
his brother's subjects to acknowledge his own 
authority. Pizarro, some time alter liis easy 
victory over the islanders, at Puna,* passed 
over to the main land, and entered Tumbez, 
on the confines of the Peruvian empire. 
This city he found deserted and in ruins. 
Thence, leaving a portion of his army in the 
city, he set out on a reconnoitering expedi- 
tion, and, having selected a suitable site, 
founded a settlement, in the fertile vally of 
Tangarala, ninety miles south of Tumbez. 
This place he called San Miguel, which name 
it still bears. Pizarro then removed his army 
from Tumbez to San Miguel. He now de- 
termined to enter upon his work of conquest 
in earnest. Leaving a garrison of fifty men 
at the new town, he struck off boldly toward 
the interior of the country. As he proceeded 
on his march toward the east, he was met by 
an embassy from the Peruvian monarch, in- 
viting the strangers to visit him in his camp 
on the mountains. Pizarro dismissed the 
messengers with presents, telling them to 
say to their monarch, that hearing of the 
fame of his victories, they had come from 
tlieir country, across the waters, to visit him 
and aid him against his enemies. As Pizarro 
advanced into the interior, the country pre- 
sented e\'idences of civilization far superior 
to any thing he had seen nearer the coast. 
At length the Spanish army arrived at the 
base of the mountain barrier wliich separated 
tliem from the camp of the Peruvian mon- 
arch. Pizarro's force, all told, consisted of 
one hundred infantry and sixty-seven horse, 
arid he was provided with two small pieces 
of artillery; and with this small army, he 
was marching into the very teeth of a pow- 
erful prince, whose mighty armies, already 
occupied in active warfare, were as countless 
as the sands of the sea-shore. But, nothing 
* See Puna. 



daunted, the bold adventurers commenced 
the ascent of the Andes, and after incredible 
toil and many hair-breadth escapes, the van, 
led by Pizarro himself, reached the crest of 
the Cordillera. Here they were visited by 
an embassy, bearing greetings from the inca, 
who desired to know when the Spaniards 
would arrive at his encampment, at Caxa- 
malca, that he might make preparations for 
their entertainment. The messenger was 
dismissed with the reply, that the Spaniards 
would speedily present themselves before the 
inca. As they advanced through the defiles 
of the Cordilleras, the Spaniards encountered 
a third embassy from Atahuallpa, bearing a 
message of like import. The messenger was 
dismissed with the same reply, and the Spf.n- 
iards commenced the descent of the sierra 
on the eastern side of the mountains. They 
had now occupied seven days in crossing the 
mountains, and it was with no httle satisfac- 
tion, that, on the seventh, they saw opened 
out before them the vally of Caxamalca, alive 
with verdure and teeming with all the glories 
of ciiltivation. The valley is about fifteen 
miles in length by nine in breadth, and is of 
an oval form. It was inhabited by a people 
greatly superior to those which Pizarro had 
hitherto encountered, and its extreme length 
and breadth Everywhere exhibited evidences 
of a high civiUzation. But a portion of this 
beautiful landscape was less pleasing to the 
eyes of the Spaniards. The slope of the hills 
on the opposite side of the valley, was white 
with the tents of an inmiense army. But it 
was now too late to retreat, and Pizarro, di- 
viding his army into tliree bodies, marched 
down the slopes toward the city of Caxamal- 
ca. On entering he found it deserted. Pi- 
zarro at once sent an embassy to the encamp- 
ment of the inca, informing him of his arrival. 
On the arrival of the messengers, they were 
led into the presence of the inca, who re- 
ceived them graciously, and assured them 
that he would visit their general on the fol- 
lowing morning. The embassy returned to 
Pizarro with a dismal account of the magni- 
tude and strength of the inca's army; and 
the Spanish general saw that the most des- 
perate measures alone would avail against 
such a miglity force. He determined on 
nothing less than to secure the person of the 
Peruvian monarch, at all hazards, and leave 
the rest to fate. The possession of the inca's 
person would be an invaluable guaranty 
of safety from the attacks of the Peruvians ; 
and, once a prisoner, the Indian monarch 
would be compelled to make such terms as 
the Spaniards should dictate. He called a 
council of his ofiicers, and submitted the plan 
to their consideration, and, after some de- 
Uberation, it was adopted. 

At day-break the next morning (it was 



160 



CAXAMALCA. 



the 16th of November), the Spanish army 
wa3 under arms. Pizarro in a few words in- 
formed liis soldiers of his intentions, and dis- 
posed his army for the assault, which was to 
be made immediately on the entrance of the 
inca. The great square of the city was 
Hanked on three sides by low ranges of 
buildings. These buildings consisted of 
roomy halls, whose doors, of considerable 
width, opened into the square. Pizarro sta- 
tioned his cavalry in two of these halls, under 
the command of his brother Hernando de 
Soto. He placed the greater part of the in- 
fantry in another of the buildings and sta- 
tioned De Canilia, with a few troops and the 
two pieces of artillery, in a fort which stood 
at the opposite side of the square at its en- 
trance. Twenty picked men were to act 
with himself, ready for any emergency. It 
was not until noon that the inca emerged 
from his encampment, and commenced his 
march toward the Spanish quarters. He 
was borne in a gorgeous litter on the 
shoulders of his principal nobles, and was 
followed by a long train of warriors, dressed 
in their most magnificent array. The greater 
bulk of his army, however, occupied the fields 
which lined the road, and were spread over 
the surrounding plain until they were lost 
to sight in the distance. Upon arriving 
within a short distance of the city the 
Indian procession halted, and commenced 
making preparations. Soo^ after, a mes- 
senger was sent to Pizarro informing him 
that the inca would not enter the city until 
the following morning. Pizarro heard this 
with vexation, and the impatience of his 
soldiers at the tardiness of the Peruvians 
found vent in words of rage and disappoint- 
ment. The Spanish general determined to 
make one more effort to induce the inca to 
visit him while he was prepared to receive 
liim. Accordingly he returned an answer 
to Atahuallpa by the messenger, that he had 
provided every thing for liis entertainment, 
and he expected him to sup with him that 
night. The Peruvian monarch was induced 
by this message to change his intentions, and 
striking his tents he resumed liis march. 
Having arrived at the gates of the city, the 
inca ordered the greater part of his warriors 
to remain outside, and then entered the city 
accompanied by a few only, whom by his 
directions were unarmed. The leading files 
of the procession entered the great square, 
and dividing to the right and left, allowed 
the royal retinue to pass between. The inca 
advanced into the square followed by his 
l)eople until several thousand had entered. 
Atahuallpa glanced around in search of the 
Spaniards; but they did not appear in the 
Si^uare; and turning to his attendants, the 
monarch inquired where the strangers were. 



I At this moment a priest advanced from one 
of the buildings bearing a Bible in one hand 
and a crucifijx in the other, and, accompanied 
j by an interpreter, approached the inca. He 
j told Atahuallpa that he was instructed by 
Pizarro to expound to liim the doctrines of 
I the true faith. This he did to his own if not 
I to the Peruvian monarch's satisfaction, and 
concluded by stating that Atahuallpa must 
I acknowledge himself a vassal of the Emperor 
j of Spain. The eyes of the inca flashed fire 
I at this insult, and snatchhig the book from 
the hands of the priest, he dashed it violently 
to the ground. The priest returned to Pizar- 
ro and abjured liim to revenge the insult 
offered the sacred volume. Pizarro gave the 
signal, and shouting his battle-cry " St. Jago 
to the rescue I" he sprang through the door- 
way of the hall followed by his soldiers and 
rushed into the midst of the crowd of In- 
dians. The other divisions of the Spanish 
army poured from the various halls in wliich 
they were concealed, horse and foot, and 
charged upon the defenseless Indians with 
the utmost fury. The cannon from tlie fort 
played with incessant energy upon the Peru- 
vians; the cavalry dashed through their 
midst trampling them under foot, and cutting 
them down right and left, and the infantry 
poured rapid and well-directed volleys of 
musketry on them, or with their lances at 
rest charged furiously into the thickest of 
the crowd, dealing rapid and deadly thrusts 
till the pavement was strewn with corpses, 
and running with gore. In vain did the af- 
frighted throng endeavor to escape; the 
entrance of the square was blocked up with 
dead bodies, forming an eflectual barrier in 
that direction, and gathering in one body 
against the wall in their frantic exertions to 
escape, they burst through the wall leaving 
a breach of more than a hundred paces wida 
The inca was the principal object of the 
Spaniards' desire. His nobles forming a liv- 
ing wall around his sacred person, were 
struck down by scores, before the strokes of 
the enemy, who gradually hewed their way 
through the mass. Yet cUnging to the legs 
of the horsemen, and grasping the Spanish 
soldiers in a desperate embrace they wrestled 
with them with an energy which for a time 
baffled their efforts, and several of the cava- 
hers, fearing that the royal prize might escape 
after all, were preparing to end the affray by 
taking the inca's life, when Pizarro in a loud 
voice commanded them to spare him. A 
Spanish cavaher, however, rushing at full 
speed at the inca, would have slain him with 
his lance had not Pizarro interposed and re- 
ceived the blow on his own arm. Now the 
struggle raged furiously around the inca. His 
fitter swaying to-and-fro above the crowd, 
seemed every moment ready, to fall. At 



CEMPOALLA. 



161 



length the bearers, bleeding from hundreds 
of wounds, tottered, and the Utter fell to the 
ground. But the Spaniards preserved the 
monarch uninjured, by catching him in their 
arms. In an instant the imperial insignia 
was torn from his brow, and borne on the 
shoulders of his captors, the unfortunate 
monarch was hurried to a neighboring build- 
ing and closely confined. The Indians now 
fled in wild confusion, and the Spaniards 
eager for blood, pursued, striking down the 
fugitives with relentless fury. The Peruvian 
army encamped in the neighboring plains, 
hearing the dismal tidings, scattered and fled 
in all directions. The Spaniards kept up the 
bloody pursuit, until the shades of evening, 
when they rallied once more at the sound of 
the bugle in the fortress of Caxamalca. On 
this occasion 10,000 Peruvians are said to 
have been slain. Of the Spaniards not one 
even was wounded, with the exception of 
Pizarro, who received a sHght wound while 
warding otF a blow intended for Atahuallpa. 
That night the inca supped with Pizarro. 
He offered for his ransom a chamber filled 
with gold as high as he could reach. For 
tliis purpose he collected gold from all parts 
of his empire, and had nearly paid his ran- 
som, when he was executed by order of the 
Spanish commander. — Prescott's Conquest of 
Peru. 

CEMPOALLA, a.d. 1520.— From the city 
of Cholula, Cortez and liis army continued 
their march toward the city of Mexico, which 
he reached without molestation. Here he 
conducted liimself with so much energy that 
soon the proud Montezuma was his complete 
tool. Cortez in fact governed the whole 
empire : Montezuma was only the semblance 
of a monarch. The unfortunate emperor 
submitted entirely to the will of the Span- 
iards. It was orily when Cortez requested 
liiui to relinquish his religion, and accept the 
Christian faith, that he refused. But, wliile 
the Spanish general was endeavoring to se- 
cure a permanent control over the govern- 
ment and religion of the Mexicans, he was 
menaced by a danger which seemed to fore- 
bode his destruction. He learned that Va- 
lasquez, the governor of Cuba, had sent 
Narvaez, witli an army of 880 men, of whom 
80 were cavalry, with 12 pieces of cannon 
from Cuba, for the purpose of seizing him, 
and carrying him to Cuba as a rebel. And 
this army was on its way from Vera Cruz. 
Cortez immediately adopted the most vigor- 
ous measures. Calling his men together, he 
informed them of the new danger; and gave 
them directions how to act in the emer- 
gency. He seriously felt his deficiency in 
cavalry, and strove to counterbalance the 
great superiority of liis enemies in this re- 
spect. He armed his spearmen with lances, 

11 



with copper heads of such great length, that 
a footman could readily use it against a 
mounted enemy. Having informed Monte- 
zuma, who had been made acquainted with 
the arrival of the strangers, that the new- 
comers, although his countrymen, were rebels 
to liis monarch ; and that he was about to 
set forth to punish them for their rebellion, 
Cortez set forth to meet the enemy, leaving 
150 Spanish soldiers, and 10,000 Tlascalan 
warriors in the city for the purpose of watch- 
ing the movements of the emperor. 

Arriving at Cholula, Cortez there found 
Valasquez de Leon, with 120 men who had 
been left behind for the purpose of founding 
a colony. With this reinforcement, Cortez 
proceeded on his march, and shortly after- 
ward encountered a body of about sixty sol- 
diers, who had left the garrison at Vera 
Cruz, for the purpose of joining him. They 
were accompanied by several deserters from 
Narvaez's army. This unexpected reinforce- 
ment was most opportune, and Cortez's 
hopes revived as he surveyed his band of 
warriors. His force consisted of 266 men, 
of whom only five were cavalry. The most 
of them were armed with the long copper- 
headed lances, a few only being provided 
with muskets and crossbows. Narvacz, with 
his army, marched immediately from Vera 
Cruz to Cempoalla, where he established his 
head-quarters. Cortez had sent embassies to 
Narvaez, stating Ms wilhngness to greet him 
as a brother soldier, and to share equally 
Avith him the fruits of his enterprise. Nar- 
vaez, however, refused his offers with con- 
tempt; but upon liis soldiers the reports 
which the agents of Cortez industriously cir- 
culated among them, created an entirely 
different feehng. They secretly sympathized 
with the general who had so boldly and 
bravely marched into the very heart of a 
country teeming with enemies, and who di- 
vided his spoils so lavishly with Ms compan- 
ions. Narvaez dismissed the embassy of 
Cortez with the answer that he should be 
treated as a rebel deserved. But when the 
army of Cortez had arrived within about fif- 
teen miles of Cempoalla, he was met by an 
embassy from Narvaez, whiqli offered Cortez 
more lenient terms. Narvaez demanded that 
Cortez should acknowledge Ms supreme 
authority, and offered to convey all who 
might desire, into Cuba, with their property, 
unmolested. Cortez, however, refused to 
accept these terms, and dismissed the envoys, 
who returned to their camp, and spread 
highly-colored reports of the magnanimity 
and generosity of Cortez, and the wealth of 
his soldiers. 

The army resumed its march, and at length 
reached a river about two miles from Cem- 
poalla. During the whole day, the rain had 



162 



CEMPOALLA. 



poured in torrents, and this stream, which 
was usually small, was now swollen to a 
river. Night came on. The storm thick- 
ened, and the black clouds shading the moon, 
filled the air with darkness. Cortez now de- 
termined to assault the enemy's camp that 
very night. Accordingly, after allowing his 
troops a brief period for rest and refresh- 
ment, he announced to them in a brief and 
fiery harangue, his intention to make an 
immediate attack. His soldiers replied to his 
words with acclamations of joy. He then 
made his dispositions for the attack. Select- 
ing sixty of his most experienced soldiers, he 
intrusted them to the command of Gonzale 
de Sandoval, with orders to take Narvaez, 
dead or alive. The balance of the army, 
with the exception of twenty men, he placed 
under the command of Christoval de Olid, 
and he reserved for himself the twenty men, 
to act in any sudden emergency. Then giv- 
ing the watchword. "Espiritu Santo," to 
each of his men, he sought a fordable point 
on the river. 

The prt^parations that Narvaez had made 
to resist the assault were few and feeble. 
True, by the advice of tlie old cacique of the 
city, he put himself at the head of his sol- 
diers, and sallied forth on the same day on 
which Cortez reached the river to meet liim. 
When he arrived at the river, however, see- 
ing nothing of the enemy, and moved by the 
murmuring of his men who were drenched 
to the skin by the soaking rain, he returned to 
the city ; but not without the precaution of 
posting two sentinels at a short distance 
from the stream, to warn him of the coming 
of the enemy. 

Having found a fordable part of the 
stream, Cortez, at the head of his troops, 
crossed to the opposite side. They did not 
cross without difficulty, for the current was 
rapid, the bottom uneven and stony, and the 
night was dark and tempestuous. Two of 
the Spaniards were swept from their footing 
by the velocity of the torrent, and were 
carried into deep water, where they perished. 
After gaining the shore, the army immedi- 
ately marched toward the city. As they 
proceeded they suddenly fell in with the 
two sentinels whom Narvaez had stationed to 
give warning of their coming. One of them 
was seized, bound, and conveyed to Cortez ; 
the other broke from the grasp of his captors 
and made good his escape. He returned to 
the city to warn Narvaez of his danger : but 
no heed was paid to his words; and Cortez, 
after vainly endeavoring to gain some infor- 
mation from the other sentinel, continued to 
advance toward Cempoalla without molesta- 
tion. Arriving near the city, the Spanish 
general saw a light gleaming in one of the 
lofty towers. He pointed it out to Sandoval, 



saying, ' ' There are the quarters of Narvaez, 
let that light be your guide." Silently and 
unperceived the Spaniards entered the city ; 
but as they were marching through the prin- 
cipal streets, they were suddenly discovered, 
and soon the city was in a state of uproar 
and confusion. Narvaez amid the sound of 
trumpets, the shouting of men, the neighing 
of horses, and the din of preparation, budded 
on his armor, calling his men around him, 
and demanding aid from tlie chief men of 
the city. The next moment the Spaniards 
appeared marching toward the towers. In 
an instant the gims of Narvaez opened upon 
them ; but the pieces were elevated to such 
a degree that the shot passed harmlessly over 
the heads of the assailants. Before the ene- 
my had time to reload their pieces, Cortez 
shouted the watchwortl, " Espiritu Santo," 
and Christoval, at the head of his men, 
charged upon the guns, and knocking do-mi 
or piercing the artillerymen, with their 
lances, captured the cannon. Meanwlule, the 
cavalry of Narvaez emerged from their quar- 
ters; but they were instantly attacked by 
another division of Christoval's men, who 
kept them engaged while Sandoval with his 
brave men hastily ascended the stairway of 
the tower. But as they neared the summit 
they were assailed by a cloud of arrows and 
volleys of musketry, which for a moment 
stopped their further progress. But it was 
only for a moment ; the next moment and 
they stood upon the platform at the head of 
the stairway, battling with their eneinies, 
hand-to-hand. In the midst of his soldiers 
stood Narvaez, fighting bravely. Around 
him the combat raged furiously ; he was the 
main object of the enemy's hate : they pushed 
toward him, fighting fiercely at every step 
with his men, who stood with equal ardor to 
force back the assailants. But the long 
spears of Cortez's men were superior to tlie 
swords of tlieir enemies. Narvaez, himself, 
was wounded severely several times, and his 
standard bearer, pierced by a lance, fell dead 
at his feet. At lengtli a soldier, thrusting his 
spear with cruel aim, struck out his left eye. 
" I am killed," he shouted, and fell. In an 
instant the cry was taken up and the shouts 
of victory arose from the ranks of the assail- 
ants. The men of Narvaez, crowding around 
their fallen commander, shielded him from 
the blows of the enemy, with their bodies, 
and after a furious conflict, succeeded in bear- 
ing him into the interior of the tower. 

Enraged to madness at thus seeingi their 
prey wrested from their very grasp, the as- 
sailants endeavored, with furious energy, to 
force the entrance; but the assailed, with the 
utmost courage and obstinacy, maintained 
their post, and prevented their entrance. 
Finally, however, a soldier, seizing a lighted 



CERESOLE— CERRO GORDO. 



163 



torch, cast it upon the thatched roof, and in 
an instant it was wrapped in flames. The 
troops of Narvaez, suffocated by the dense 
smoke which filled the room, rushed through 
the entrance. At this moment, a soldier 
j^rasped Narvaez, and instantly he was seized 
by a dozen hands, and dragged down the 
stairs, where he was loaded with f'tters. 
Upon the capture of their commander, liis 
troops immediately surrendered. 

During this conflict, Cortez, with tlie troops 
of Christoval, were engaged with the enemy's 
cavalry. After a short but obstinate struggle, 
the cavalry were worsted, afler several of 
them had been slain by the long pikes of the 
soldiers of Cortez. Cortez now turned his 
attention to the other towers of the city, 
which were all strongly garrisoned by the 
troops of the enemy. They each refused to 
surrender; upon which Cortez brought the 
artillery which he had captured to bear upon 
the towers, and, after one volley, they ca- 
pitulated. Having secured his victory, Cortez 
required each of the soldiers of the conquered 
army to swear fealty to him, as Captain-gen- 
eral of the colony. His commands were 
obeyed the more readily, as the greater num- 
ber of the troops of Narvaez were both 
anxious and wiUiug to share the fortunes of 
their magnanimous conqueror. In this strug- 
gle, Cortez lost only six men killed ; Narvaez 
lost twelve killed, and a great number wound- 
ed. Narvaez, under the escort of a strong 
body of men, was sent to Vera Cruz ; and, 
on the following day, Cortez, having adopted 
every possible measure to tranquillize and 
subsidize the various elements which now 
composed his army, he turned his attention 
to further plans of conquest and discovery. — 
Prescotis Conquest of Mexico. 

CERESOLE, A.D. 1544.— On the 14th of 
April, 1544, a battle occurred near Ceresole, 
a village of Piedmont, between the Austrians 
and the French, in which the former were 
defeated with great loss. 

CERRO GORDO, a.d. 1847.— Cerro Gordo 
is an immense hill, of a conical form, rising to 
the height of about 1,000 feet, in Mexico, 
nineteen miles from Puente Nationel, on the 
main road from Vera Cruz to the city of 
Mexico. Thirteen miles from Puente Na- 
tionel is Plan del Rio, crossing the great 
highway to the city. The road runs through 
a ravine for some distance, descending toward 
the river, which it passes on a strong bridge 
of stone. Immediately after passing the 
stream, a small plain is formed by the re- 
ceding mountains on either side of the road. 
From this plain the river derives its name. 
The pass of Cerro Gordo is four miles from 
Plan del Rio. The road from the river, 
gradually ascending, winds its way through 
a narrow defile of the mountains. On the 



right the road is alternately shut in by heights, 
and skirted by a dense chapparal ; and on the 
left it is guarded for two miles before reach- 
ing the hill of Cerro Gordo, by a rugged and 
almost inaccessible ridge, eight hundred feet 
in height. 

On the 16th of April, 1847, the whole 
American army, consisting of 8,000 men, 
under the command of General Scott, was 
encamped at Plan del Rio ; being on its way 
from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico. The 
Mexicans, in great force, had concentrated in 
the vicinity of the height and pass of Cerro 
Gordo, to cUspute the passage of the Amer- 
ican army. Santa Anna, the ^lexican gen- 
eral, had fortified himself on the ridge on the 
left of the pass of Cerro Gordo, and on the 
hill of Cerro Gordo. He had also established 
two batteries across the road — one at the 
head of the pass, near the base of Cerro 
Gordo ; and the other farther up the road, 
toward Jalapa. The Mexican works on 
the height on the left, consisted of a scries 
of breast-works, armed with cannon. These 
breast-works were so arranged that they not 
only commanded the road, but served as a 
protection to each other, so that should the 
first line be taken, the second might be 
opened against it: and so on to the end. 
Timber and other obstructions were thrown 
along the slope of the heights and the front of 
the batteries, to impede the progress of the 
storming-parties. The left of this position 
was covered by the river of the Plan, which 
ran along the base of the ridge in that direc- 
tion. It was necessary, therefore, that the 
American army should pass up the road — 
between which and the river, the ridge, 
formed, as it were, a tongue — or flank posi- 
tion by the right. The extreme left of the 
Mexican position rested on the height of 
Cerro Gordo. This hill was surrounded by 
two breast-works, one near the base, the 
other near the summit. It was defended by 
eight pieces of cannon, and a numerous body 
of infantry. By its superior elevation, it 
commanded all the rest of the Mexican 
works, and might be regarded as a key to 
their whole position. 

On the evening of the 16th, General Scott 
ordered General Twiggs to storm the ridge, 
on the right of the road. Accordingly, the 
next morning, the division of General Twiggs 
was put in motion. At about eleven o'clock, 
the column, having arrived within seven hun- 
dred yards of the Mexicans' main works, a 
company of the 7th infantry, commanded by 
Lieutenant Gardner, was detached to occupy 
the crest of a hill, to the left, to observe the 
enemy's movements. During the extecution 
of this order, he was attacked by a picket of 
the enemy, against which, although much his 
superior in numbers, he maintained himself, 



164 



CERRO GORDO. 



untif he was reinforced and relieved by the 
regiment of riflemen — now dismounted — un- 
der Major Sumner, and Lieutenant Colonel 
Childs. In the mean time, the Mexicans re- 
ceived reinforcements, and a bloody struggle 
ensued. At length the Americans succeeded 
in driving the enemy from the first position. 
The Mexicans took possession of a second 
hUl, within cannon-range of the batteries of 
Cerro Grordo. Here they made a stand ; but 
the Americans, boldly mounting to the as- 
sault, through a storm of grape and canister 
from Cerro G-ordo, carried the enemy's new 
position, and held it in spite of all their ef- 
forts to dislodge them. In the height of their 
enthusiasm, about sixty Americans, of the 1st 
Artillery, under Captains Capron, Naumon 
and Burke, rushed down the hill, on the op- 
posite side, and gaining the foot of Cerro 
Gordo, they effected a lodgment there, 
and maintained a fire of musketry upon the 
Mexican lines, until they were recalled. The 
main attack was not to be made till the next 
day. The victorious Americans slept on the 
second hill which they had gained. During 
the night, a heavy twenty-four pounder and 
two twenty-four pound howitzers were 
brought to this point. This was effected not 
without great labor and difficulty. Tlie 
heavy pieces were to be lifted up the almost 
perpendicular sides of the eminence, huu- 
(.Ireds of feet high. Five hundred men were 
attached to each gun ; and it was not until 
three o'clock in the morning, after eight 
hours of unremitting labor, that the three 
pieces were planted on the summit. An 
eight-inch howitzer was also placed in posi- 
tion, on t!ie other side of the river, opposite 
to the advanced batteries of the Mexicans, 
on the right. The same evening, General 
Scott, having been informed of General 
Twiggs's operations, drew up his orders of 
battle, for the next day, dated at his head- 
quarters, at Plan del Rio. He ordered 
Twiggs " to move forward before dayliglit, 
to-morrow, and take a position across the 
national road, in the enemy's rear, so as to 
cut off his retreat toward Jalapa." General 
Pillow was to " march at six o'clock, to- 
morrow morning, along the route he has 
carefully reconnoitered, and stand ready, as 
soon as he hears the report of arms on our 
right — or sooner, if circumstances should 
favor him — to pierce tlie enemy's line of 
batteries, at such point — the nearer the river 
the better — as he may select. Once in the 
rear of that line, he will turn to the left or 
right, or both, and attack the batteries in re- 
verse; or, if abandoned, he will pursue the 
enemy with vigor till further orders." Thus 
General Twiggs was to attack the enemy on 
their right flank ; and General Pillow on the 
left, the other details being left to the dis- 



cretion of the generals. Twiggs's division 
consisted of two brigades : the 1st brigade 
commanded by Colonel Harney, and the sec- 
ond by Colonel Riley. On the night of the 
17th, this division was reinforced by the bri- 
gade of General Shields. General Twiggs 
adopted the following order of battle. Shields 
and Riley were to flank the enemy's right, 
and place themselves in the road to Jalapa, 
a short distance in the rear of the hill of 
Cerro Gordo. Colonel Harney was to storm 
the height of Cerro Gordo itself General 
PiUow's brigade consisted of four regiments 
of infantry, a company of Kentucky volun- 
teers, and a detachment of cavalry. This 
force he divided into two storming parties, 
each of Avhich was supported by a strong re- 
serve. These parties were commanded re- 
spectively by Colonels Haskell and Wynkoop; 
and they were to storm, simiUtaneously, the 
angles of the enemy's batteries, numbers 1 
and 2, near his extreme left. Colonel Has- 
kell was supported by Colonel Campbell, and 
Colonel Wynkoop by Colonel Roberts. In 
brief, the Mexicans were fortified in a mount- 
ain pass, two miles in length — their batteries 
were perched on a height, extending, in a 
curve, more or less regular, to the head of 
the pass, Avhere the road debouches between 
tliis height, which here terminates, and the 
opposite height of Cerro Gordo. Santa 
Anna's forces amounted to 7,000 men. 
General Twiggs had possession of a hill near 
Cerro Gordo, on wlaich he had planted some 
cannon, and held his division in hand for a 
forward movement ; and General Pillow, on 
the extreme right of the enemy, was pre- 
paring for the assault. At the foot of the 
pass, was posted a body in reserve; and 
General Worth held himself ready to support 
Twiggs, if necessary. On the morning of the 
18 th, the Mexicans discovering the American 
batteries on the hiU, opened a plunging fire 
upon it. Twiggs, in turn, poured destructive 
volleys upon the intrenchments below. Colo- 
nel Harney pushed forward. Major Loring, 
with the rifles, along the ravines, to the left 
of his position, to engage the enemy in that 
quarter, and hold them in check, in case they 
should attempt to reinforce Cerro Gordo, 
moved forward, with the remainder of his 
command, to the assault of the latter. In 
taking up their position, the rifles were ex- 
posed to a murderous fire of grape and can- 
ister, but Major Loring executed his orders 
with steadiness and courage. Before reaching 
the base of Cerro Gordo, Colonel Harney's col- 
umn was also frequently under fire. The road 
was exceedingly rough, through a growth of 
tangled shrubbery and over rocks and chasms. 
As tlie column approached the foot of the 
mountain, it was torn by a rapid and well 
directed fire of grape and canister. Dividing 



CEUTLA. 



165 



into two columns, Colonel Harney's men 
gradually ascended the steep acclivity, amid 
constant and terrible discharges of musketry 
and cannon from the enemy. Slowly but 
steadily the American soldiers approached 
the first breastwork, which was filled with 
infantry, who poured incessant and destruc- 
tive volleys upon the advancing columns. 
Soon the Americans reached the work, for a 
moment the contending parties struggled 
with crossed bayonets ; when the Mexicans, 
flying to their second line, abandoned the 
breastwork to the Americans. Although 
deprived of their first line of defense, the 
Mexicans continued to deluge the Americans 
with missiles of destruction, and seemed as 
active in their resistance as before. But up- 
ward marched the assailing columns ; they 
neared the second breastwork, and clubbing 
their muskets, with loud shouts, they leaped 
into the works, and soon made themselves 
masters of the entire hill. Meanwhile, the 
brigade of Shields and Riley had been dis- 
patched to continue Twiggs's liank movement, 
and thus turning the enemy's whole position, 
to gain liis rear in the Jalapa road. This 
movement was executed with success, under 
guidance of Captain Lee, of the engineers. 
As General Shields was about to debouch 
upon the main road, a battery of five guns, 
hitherto undiscovered, supported by a body 
of lancers, opened a volley of grape-shot upon 
him. Shields immediately ordered a charge. 
At the head of his men the gallant general 
dashed forward, and attacked the enemy so 
fiercely that they were obliged to abandon 
their guns, and fly in disorder. 

In tliis charge Shields was shot through the 
lungs ; the wound, however, was not mortal. 
A large body of the (naemy had withdrawn to 
this point, Santa Anna, among the rest, with 
the view of making their escape, in the con- 
tingency which had occurred. They imme- 
diately took to flight, and were pursued by 
Worth's and Twiggs's division within sight of 
Jalapa. While these operations were going 
on on the Mexican left, General Pillow was 
operating on the right. PiUow, as soon as 
he was aware that Twiggs was engaged, 
moved up a storming party under Colonels 
Haskell and Wynkoop, to assail the batteries 
on the ridge. The Mexicans discovered 
Haskell's men before he could place them in 
position, and opened such a destructive fire 
upon him, that it became necessary for him 
either to fall back under cover, without 
executing his orders, or to rush forward un- 
supported and unorganized. He gallantly, 
but unwisely, chose tlie latter alternative, and 
dashed forward at the head of his men, into 
the open space in front of the batteries. For 
300 yards this interval was covered with the 
brush of a chapparel, wliich had been cut 



down, and suffered to remain, rendering it 
very difficult to advance. In addition to this, 
a battery of six or seven guns, which had 
been previously masked, suddenly blew a 
cloud of brush in the air, as the battery 
opened upon liim, and began to cut down liis 
men by scores. So fierce and destructive 
was the fire that the Americans were obliged 
to recoil, and fell back in good order under 
shelter, leaving the ground behind them 
strewn with the slain. While General Pil- 
low was organizing his attack, and bringing 
up his column, he was wounded. At length 
he heard the enemy's fire slacken on the 
American right, and correctly judging that 
the battle was over, he suspended further 
operations. The Mexicans in fact were de- 
feated, and shortly afterward surrendered at 
discretion. Five Mexican generals, and 
nearly 6,000 men, were made prisoners of 
war. The loss in killed and wounded on both 
sides was about 500 men. A large quantity 
of ammunition, thirty pieces of cannon, to- 
gether with the private baggage and money- 
chest of Santa Anna fell into the hands of 
the victors. 

CEUTLA, A.D. 1519.— The battle of Tabas- 
co gave the Spaniards a firm foothold on the 
soil of Yucatan ; but in an enemy's country, 
and in the midst of enemies whose recent 
conduct proved not only their courage but 
their military experience, the position of the 
invaders was any tiling but enviable. 

On the morning following the battle, Cortez 
detached Alvarado and his men to reconnoiter. 
Francisco, with another detachment, was 
ordered out on a similar errand. Francisco 
had gone but a short distance when he 
was fiercely attacked by an overwhelming 
body of Indians. In vain did his men en- 
deavor to check the furious charges of the 
enemy. 

Overpowered by^ numbers, they were 
driven back, and obliged to take shelter 
in a large stone building near the road. Here 
he was closely besieged by the natives, who, 
shouting vehemently, repeatedly assaulted 
the house. No longer fearing the roar of the 
fire-arms, they would have soon carried the 
place, had not their loud shouts reached the 
ears of Alvarado and his men, who hastened 
to the relief of their companions, and en- 
abled them to force a passage through their 
enemies. The Spaniards then hastily re- 
treated toward the town eagerly pursued by 
the natives. Upon hearing the uproar of the 
chase, Cortez advanced from the town to 
their support, and compelled the enemy to 
retire. From the prisoners taken in this 
skirmish Cortez learned that the whole 
country was in arms. A body of natives 
many thousand strong, was concentrated, 
from the neighboring provinces, in the vicin- 



166 



CEUTLA. 



ity of the town, and had determined upon 
a general assault the next day. 

Cortez immediately called his officers to- 
gether, and declared that it was liis intention 
to march out of the place, and give battle to 
the enemy on the following morning. All 
such as were disabled by their wounds, he 
sent back to the ships, and the remainder of 
his forces were ordered to join him at Tabas- 
co. All the horses and six of the large guns 
were also brought off from the ship. CtMtez 
gave the commaml of the artillery to Mosa, 
an experienced soldier who had seen service 
in the Italian wars. Diego de Ordaz com- 
manded the infantry; :ind Cortez himself 
took the command of the cavalry. The 
cavalry consisted only of sixteen men ; but 
they were the flower of his httle band. 

The little army was mustered at day-break. 
Cortez had learned that the Indians were en- 
camped on a level piece of ground, called 
the plain of Ceutla, a few miles distant from 
the city. The Spanish commander now 
made his preparations for the battle. Ordaz 
was to advance with the infantry and artil- 
lery across the country and attack the enemy 
in front, while Cortez was to make a circuit 
with the cavahy, and fall upon their flank or 
rear. 

It was the 25th of March ; the morning 
air was fresh and invigorating ; but as the 
day wore on, the heat increased and the 
troops advancing through plantations of 
maize and cocoa, cut up by numerous canals 
and reservoirs of water, used for irrigating 
the soil, proceeded on their weary way with 
painful toil. Fortunately the country was 
intersected by a narrow causeway, over 
which the cannon were dragged. 

At length they came upon the margin of 
the plain of Ceutla, expanding out before 
them like a lake of verdure. Along the dis- 
tant verge of the plain extended the dark 
lines of the Indian army, occupying a most 
advantageous position. The Indians did not 
wait for the attack, but rushing forward in a 
body, with louil shouts, they hurled clouds of 
arrows, stonos, -and spears upon the ap- 
proaching enemy, wounding them to right 
and left Floundering in the mud of a 
morass, the Spaniards could not reply; but 
finally gaining the firm ground, they planted 
their cannon in a favorable position, and 
opened a lujt fire upon the dense masses of 
the enemy with terrible effect. Huge gaps 
appeared in the Indian ranks, as the deadly 
messengers of death plowed their way 
through them. But the brave savages were 
not dismayed. With the sound of trumpets, 
and with shouts and yells of defiance, they 
again discharged their weapons upon tlieir 
foe. Onward, Uke a huge billow, they rolled 
toward the brave httle band of Spaniards; 



they were repulsed. With renewed energy 
they again pressed forward, and hand to 
hand the foemen fought with an animosity 
and fierceness rarely paralleled. The Span- 
iards, almost overwhelmed by the numbers 
of their enemy, were cramped in their move- 
ments; they could not work their guns 
eflectually, and they seemed on tlie very 
verge of defeat. 

But for a whole hour they stood then- 
ground, contesting, with the energy of de- 
spair, against an enemy whose voice was 
already raised in shouts of anticipated vic- 
tory. Clad in tlieir thickly-padded cotton 
armor, which resisted the pricks of the ar- 
rows, and the thrusts of the lances of the 
Indians, the Spaniards suffered more from 
fatigue than from the blows of the enemy. 
Human endurance, however, could not long 
hold out against a force capable of crushing 
them by its very weight. Vainly did they 
look for the arrival of the cavalry. It came 
not. Anxiety and care clouded the counte- 
nances of the soldiers ; the officers ran from 
man to man, and urged them on to battle ; 
they fought sternly with the determination 
to conquer or to die. Ah! the enemy 
wavers; a cry resounds above the din of 
battle. The weary Spaniards renew their 
efforts. " San Jago and San Pedro 1" shouts 
a Christian voice from the very midst of the 
enemy. " San Jago and San Pedro 1" cry 
the now re-inspirited soldiers, and rush for- 
ward upon the Indian army, wliich, assaulted 
in the rear by the Spanish cavalry, sways 
and heaves hke an uneasy ocean. The 
bright swords of the cavalry flash above the 
dark cloud of the enemy, gleaming in the air, 
and striking in the cloud to right and left, 
dealing death on every side. Cortez and his 
men had come in time. Ten minutes later, 
and his gallant httle army would have been 
crushed. Retarded by the uneven nature of 
the country, Cortez had been delayed, and 
when he arrived, the Indians were so hotly 
engaged that he was upon them before they 
were aware of his approach. With lances 
leveled at the heads of their foemen, the 
Spanish cavalry rushed into the rear of the 
strugghng mass. Terrified and bewildered 
by the unexpected attack, the Indians were 
seized with a panic, and were thrown into 
complete disorder. Ordaz now ordered a 
general charge. The Spanish infantry obey- 
ed with such alacrity that the Indians were 
forced back with great slaughter. The na- 
tives made but a feeble resistance ; the sud- 
den appearance of the enemy's horse had 
dispirited and terrified them to such a de- 
gree, that they fled in the utmost confusion 
across the plains, many of them throwing 
away their weapons in their flight. Cortez, 
content with his victory, did not pursue ; but 



CH^RONEA. 



167 



assembling his soldiers beneath a grove of 
palm-trees, offered up thanks to Grod for 
having given victory to his arms. 

In this battle, the Spanish lost, according 
to their own report, two men killed, and one 
hundred wounded. The Indians, whose 
army was at least 40,000 strong, suffered 
enormously. The actual number of the 
kiUed and wounded is uncertain; but they 
must have been counted by thousands. The 
battle-field was made the site of a town 
named Santa Maria de la Vitoria, which 
afterward was the capital of the province. — 
Prescott. 

CH^RONEA, B.C. 447.— Ch^ronea, an 
ancient city in Bceotia, in Greece, has been 
rendered famous by three battles which were 
fought in its vicinity. In the year 447, e.g. 
an Athenian army, commanded by Tolmidas, 
marched against the Boeotian exiles who 
had seized Orchomenus and Chteronea, and 
some other cities of Boeotia. Having taken 
and inslaved Chseronea, they placed a gar- 
rison in it, and withdrew. But upon their 
march, they were attacked by a body of men 
consisting of Boeotian exiles from Orcho- 
menus, and their partisans, and a bloody bat- 
tle ensued. The Athenians, after a desperate 
resistance, were finally defeated with great 
loss. Their general was slain, and many 
were taken prisoners. The Athenians now 
evacuated Boeotia, and to get the prisoners 
released consented to a peace.,/ 

In the year 338, B.C., Plrilip of Macedon 
entered Boeotia with all his forces. lie had 
threatened to march against Athens; the 
Athenians applied to the Boeotians for suc- 
cor, and a league was established between the 
two nations. The troops of the confederate 
army, after the league was formed, assem- 
bled at Chaeronea. Philip immediately sent 
ambassadors to the council of Boeotia, the 
chief of whom was Python, one of the ablest 
orators of his time. Python, in a most elo- 
quent speech, endeavored to persuade the 
Tliebans not to assist the Athenians. He 
was answered, however, by Demosthenes 
with such powerful appeals and arguments, 
that the souls of the Thebans were inspired 
with a renewed zeal for their country ; the 
love of liberty rose within their hearts, and 
they resolved to aid their countrymen at all 
hazards. The Athenian army set out imme- 
diately, and marched to Eleusis, where they 
were joined by the Thebans. The confeder- 
ate army then encamped near Chaeronea, 
and waited the approach of the enemy. 
Philip's army consisted of 30,000 foot, and 
2,000 horse. The confederate aimy was not 
quite so numerous. The Macedonians en- 
camped near the city of Chjeronea, within 
sight of the enemy. Philip gave the com- 
mand of his left wing to his son Alexander, 



who was then only sixteen or seventeen 
years old, and having posted his ablest offi- 
cers near the youthful general, he himself 
took the command of the right wing. In 
the confederate army, the Thebans formed 
the right, and the Athenians the left wing. 
At sunrise, the signal for battle was given on 
both sides. The struggle which ensued w"as 
obstinate and bloody. Alexander was ani- 
mated with a noble ardor for glory, and en- 
deavored to signahze himself in this, his first 
essay as a commander. Although so young, 
yet his bravery knew no bounds; at the 
head of his troops, he dashed into the midst 
of the enemy, and fought with all the cour- 
age and capacity of a veteran. The flower 
of the Theban army, the sacred battahon, 
after a desperate struggle, was scattered and 
dispersed by the troops of the gallant prince. 
On the right wing, Pliilip, determined not to 
be outdone by his son, charged the Athenians 
with a vigor which compelled them to give 
way. But, stung to the quick by their dis- 
comfiture, the Athenians rallied and fought 
with such valor that they recovered their 
original position. Lysicles, the Athenian 
general, charged upon the center of the 
Macedonians, and having forced his way 
through them, imagined himself already vic- 
torious. " Come on, my lads," cried he, en- 
thusiastically, " let us drive them back into 
Macedon." But Philip quickly perceived 
that instead of profiting by the advantage 
they had gained, to take his phalanx in flank, 
pursued his troops too vigorously, said coolly, 
" The Athenians do not know how to con- 
quer." He immediately commanded his 
phalanx to wheel about to a little eminence. 
The Athenians, in the utmost disorder, were 
in hot pursuit of the troops they had broken, 
vrholly unconscious of Philip's movements. 
KoAV Philip charged them with his phalanx, 
and attacking them both in flank and rear, 
made such havoc upon their troops, that they 
were entirely routed and put to flight. De- 
mosthenes, more an orator than warrior, 
threw away his arms, and fled with the rest. 
It is said, that in his flight, a bramble having 
caught his robe, and he, imagining that an 
enemy had seized him, cried out in accents 
of terror, " Spare my life !" Over 1,000 
Athenians were left dead upon the field of 
battle, and 2,000 were taken prisoners. The 
loss was equally as great on the Theban side. 
Immediately after the victory, Philip, in the 
elation of his heart, committed a thousand 
excesses. He drank to intoxication, and 
dancing over the gory field, insulted the dead 
with songs and ribaldry. 

In the year 86 B.C., a terrible battle was 
fought near Cheeronea, by the Roman army 
under Sylla, and the forces of Mithridates, 
King of Pontus, commanded by Archelaus. 



168 



CH^RONEA. 



Tuxiles, one of Mithridates's generals, hav- 
ing arrived in Greece with an army of 100,- 
Odb foot, and 10,000 horse, with 90 chariots, 
whose vvlieels were armed with scythes, was 
joined by the forces of his brother Archelaus, 
who had been sent into Greece with an army 
of 120,000 men, two years before. To Ar- 
chelaus was given the command of this 
mighty army. Urged on by the solicitations 
of his generals, Archelaus commenced his 
march toward the Romans who were in- 
camped on a fertile hill in the middle of 
the plains of Elateia. He was followed by 
an army, which, when it arrived within sight 
of the enemy, filled the whole plain with 
horses, chariots, bucklers, and targets. The 
clamor and hideous roar of so many nations 
seemed to rend the very sky ; and the pomp 
and splendor of their magnificent array, struck 
terror to the hearts of the Romans. The 
arms of the warriors were richly adorned 
with gold and silver, and the colors of their 
Median and Scythian vests, intermixed with 
polished brass and steel, glistened as they 
moved, like brilliant, waving lines of flame. 
The Romans numbered only 15,000 foot, and 
1,500 horse, and stricken with terror at the 
overwhelming army which was approaching 
them, they shut themselves up within their 
intrenchments, and Sylla could not with all 
his arguments remove their fears, and, as he 
did not choose to force them into the field in 
this dispirited condition, he sat still, and bore 
with great reluctance the boasts and jeers of 
the barbarians. Archelaus passed on in tri- 
umph, destroying and sacking cities before 
the very eyes of the Romans. Sylla now be- 
thought himself of a stratagem. He com- 
pelled his soldiers to dig ditches, to draw the 
river Cophisus from its channel, and made 
them work at it without intermission ; stand- 
ing inspector himself, and severely punishing 
all whom he found remiss. At length, as he 
had expected, his soldiers became weary of 
their work, and, on the third day of their 
drudgery, as Sylla passed by they called out 
to him to lead them against the enemy. Sylla 
at first refused ; but when he saw the ardor 
of his soldi(ir3 increase at his opposition, he 
made them stand to their arms, and marched 
against the enemy. The b;irbarians, in the 
mean time, had possessed themselves, with a 
great body of troops, of a very advantageous 
post, called Thurium, near Ch^ronea. It 
was the ridge of a steep mountain, which ex- 
tended itself upon the left flank of the Ro- 
mans an'l was well calculated to check their 
motions. 

Archelaus with the main body of his army 
had strongly intrenched himself on a spot of 
ground, near by, between Mount Edylium 
ami Acontium. When Sylla had arrived at 
Chaeronea, two citizens of that place came to i 



him and promised to drive the enemy from 
their post on Mount Thurium, if he would 
give them a small number of chosen troops. 
Sylla did as they requested. In the mean 
time he drew up his army in order of battle. 
The cavalry he placed in the wings. He 
gave the command of the left wing to Mu- 
rsena, reserving the right wing for himself 
Gallus and Hortensius, liis lieutenants, com- 
manded the second hne. Hortensius on the 
left, supported Mursena, while Gallus on the 
right did the same for Sylla. Archelaus now 
commenced making preparations, by extend- 
ing his wings, which consisted of an infinite 
number of horse, and all his hght-armed foot 
troops which could move with great agility, 
into a circle, to encompass the second hne 
and charge it in the rear. The two Chsero- 
neans, having, meanwhile, gained the sum- 
mit of Thurium, without being perceived by 
the enemy, suddenly showed themselves. 
The barbarians, struck with consternation 
and dismay, sought refuge in flight. They 
rushed down the steep declivity in such con- 
fusion and haste that many were slain. Un- 
able to find a secure footing as they precipi- 
tated themselves headlong down the hill, a 
great number fell upon the uplifted points of 
the spears of those before them, and many 
falUng, were trampled to death. All this 
time the Romans were slaughtering them 
behind. Three thousand were killed before 
they reached tlie foot of the mountain. Some 
who reached the plain in safety were at- 
tacked by Murtena and cut to pieces, while 
others who escaped, fled to the main body, 
under Archelaus, where the news of their 
defeat caused such terror and dismay, tliat 
the whole army was thrown into confusion 
and disorder. Sylla, taking advantage of this 
state of aSairs, advanced upon the barbarians 
and charged them with such vigor, that he 
prevented the effect of their armed chariots. 
The chief strength of these chariots consisted 
in the length of the course, and the rapidity 
of their movements. But here the course 
was so short, that the chariots moved at first 
so slow, and their attacks were so impotent, 
that the Romans clapped their hands and re- 
ceived them with the utmost ridicule. They 
even called for fresh ones as they used to do 
in the Hippodrome, at Rome. The chariots 
were now removed, and the two main bodies 
engaged in the conflict. The barbarians pre-^ 
sented their long pikes, and locking their 
shields close together, endeavored to keep 
themselves in good order. But the Romans, 
after using their lances to no eff'ect, cast 
them away, and drawing their swords, pre- 
cipitated themselves into the midst of their 
enemies. Their fury was increased by the 
sight of 15,000 slaves whom the barbarians 
had stolen from them, and had placed among 



CHALONS. 



169 



the heavy-armed infantry, with the promise 
of Uberty if they would figlit for it. 

These slaves were thus inspired with such 
determination and courage, that tliey witl> 
stood the charge of the Romans without 
giving ground, and they were not repulsed 
and put in disorder, until the archers and 
slingers of tlie second hne of the Roman 
army discharged all their fury upon them. 
Archelaus now extended his right wing, in 
order to surround the Romans, and Horten- 
sius, with the cohorts under his command, 
pushed down to take him in flank. But Ar- 
chelaus, suddenly turned against him, with 
2,000 horse, and gradually drove him toward 
the mountains. Hortensius, thus separated 
from the main body, was in danger of being 
entirely hemmed in by the enemy. Sylla, 
hearing this, immediately hastened with his 
right wing, which had not yet engaged, to 
the assistance of Hortensius. Upon this Ar- 
chelaus left Hortensius and hastened back to 
the right of the Roman army from whence 
Sylla had advanced, hoping to find it without 
a commander. At the same moment Tux- 
iles led on his foot, armed with brazen shields, 
against Muraena. And now both sides set 
up a shout, which echoed throughout the 
valley. Sylla immediately dispatched Hor- 
tensius with four cohorts to the assistance of 
Muraena, and with the fifth he hastened to 
the support of his right wing. He there 
found that his troops, without Mm, had with- 
stood the assault of the enerrfy without giv- 
ing ground, but his sudden appearance among 
them, animated them to such a degree, that 
they rushed forward against their foes, and 
di'ove them with great slaughter from the 
field. This success did not cause Sylla to 
forget the danger of Muraena. With a re- 
inforcement he hastened to that quarter ; but 
upon his arrival he found them already vic- 
torious, and therefore nothing remained for 
him to do, but to join in the pursuit. One 
hundred and ten thousand of the barbarian 
army were slain, while Sylla says that he 
missed only fourteen of his men, and two of 
them returned the same evening. For this 
reason, he inscribed his trophies to Mars, to 
Victory and Venus, to show that he was no 
less indebted to good fortune, than to capacity 
and valor, for the advantages he had gained. 
Of the barbarian army only 10,000 men, out 
of so m.any myriads, reached a place of safety. 
CHALONS, A.D. 451.— Around the city 
of Chalons-sur-Marne in France, extends a 
broad expanse of plains called by the ancients 
Campi Catalaunici, through which the river 
Marne winds its way. About five miles from 
Chalons, near the little villages of Chape and 
Cuperly, the plain is diversified by ranges of 
grassy mounds and trenches, which prove to 
the experienced eye, that tliis quiet spot has 



once been the fortified position of a large 
mihtary host. These ancient earthworks, 
are known in local tradition as Attila's Camp. 
Attila, the most powerful heathen king that 
ever ruled in Europe, was retreating before 
his victorious enemies. It was during this 
retreat, it is said, that he assumed the title of 
" The scourge of God for the chastisement 
of the Christians." On the appearance of the 
Romans, he had abandoned the siege of Or- 
leans, and re-crossing the Seine, encamped in 
the plains of Chalons, whose level surface 
was adapted to the operations of his Scythian 
cavalry. But his retreat was not undisturbed ; 
the Romans and their alUes continually pressed 
on and sometimes engaged his rear-guard, 
and the bloody conflict of the Gepidse and 
the Franks, in which 15,000 barbarians were 
slain, was a prelude to a more general and 
decisive battle. A height which commanded 
the camp of Attila, was the first object of 
dispute. The young and valiant Torismond 
first occupied the summit; the Goths rushed 
Avith irresistible weight on the Huns, who 
labored to ascend from the opposite side: 
and the possession of this advantageous post 
inspired both the troops and their leaders 
with hopes of victory. This defeat increased 
the anxiety of Attila ; and he consulted his 
priests and haruspices. They foretold his 
own defeat, with the death of his principal 
adversary. But, instead of desponding, the 
Hunnish king endeavored by every means 
in his power to arouse the courage of liis 
followers. "I myself," said he "will hurl 
the first javalin, and the Avretch who refuses 
to imitate the example of his king, shall 
surely die." His words were received with 
enthusiastic shouts, and the Huns impatiently 
clamored to be led against the foe. Attila 
immediately formed his order of battle. He 
placed liimself in the center of his hne, at 
the head of his brave and faithful Huns, 
wliile the nations subject to his empire were 
extended on either hand over the ample 
space of the Catalaunian plains. The right 
wing was commanded by Ardaric, king of 
the Gepidge, and the three brothers Avho 
reigned over the Ostrogoths were posted on 
the left to oppose the kindred tribes of the 
Visigoths, ^tius, the Roman general, also 
prepared for battle. Langiban, the faithless 
king of the Alauni, was placed in the center 
where his motions might be closely watched. 
JStius assumed the command of the left, and 
Theodoric of the right wing; while Toris- 
mond still continued to occupy the heights 
which he had won. After the mutual and 
i-epeated discharges of missile weajjons, in 
wliich the archers of Scythia might signahze 
their superior dexterity, the cavalry and in- 
fantry of the two armies furiously mingled 
in close combat. 



170 



CHALONS-SUR-SAONE— CHAPULTEPEC. 



The Huns, who fought under the eye of 
their king, pierced through the feeble and 
doubtful center of the alUes, separated their 
wings from each other, and wheehng, with a 
rapid effort, to the left, directed their whole 
force against the Visigoths. As Theodoric 
rode along the ranks, to reanimate his troops, 
he received a mortal stroke from the javelin 
of Andages, a noble Ostrogoth, and immedi- 
ately fell from liis horse. The wounded king 
was oppressed in the general disorder and 
trampled under the feet of his own cavalry ; 
and this important death served to explain 
the ambiguous prophecy of the haruspices. 
Attila aheady exulted in the confidence of 
victory, when the valiant Torismond de- 
scended from the hiUs, and verified the re- 
mainder of the prediction. The Visigoths, 
who had been thrown into confusion by the 
flight or defection of the Alauni, gradually re- 
stored their order of battle; and the Huns 
were undoubtedly vanquished, since Attila 
was compelled to retreat. He had exposed 
his person with the rashness of a private 
soldier ; but the intrepid troops of the center 
had pushed forward beyond the rest of the 
line; thair attack was faintly supported; 
their flanks were unguarded ; and the con- 
querors of Scythia and Germany were saved 
by the approach of night from a total defeat. 
They retired within the circle of wagons 
that fortified their camp ; and the dismounted 
squadrons prepared themselves for a defense, 
to which neither their arms nor their temper 
were adapted. The event was doubtful, but 
AttUa had secured a last and honorable re- 
source. The saddles and rich furniture of 
the cavalry were collected by his order into a 
funeral pile ; and the magnanimous barbarian 
had resolved, if his intrenchments should be 
forced, to rush headlong into the flames, and 
to deprive his enemies of the glory which 
they might have acquired by the death or 
captivity of Attila. 

But his enemies had passed the night iij 
equal disorder and anxiety. Torismond 
pressed forward in the pursuit with an ardor 
which drew him unexpectedly in the midst 
of the Scythian wagons, with only a few 
followers, and the young prince, in the con- 
fusion of a nocturnal encounter, must have 
perished like his father, had he not been res- 
cued by the intrepid zeal of his companions. 
^tius on the left, also passed the night in 
ignorance of the victory of his allies. But 
the imperial general was soon satisfied of the 
defeat of Attila, who stiU remained within 
his intrenchments. The body of Theodoric 
was discovered under a heap of the slain, 
and his funeral rites were performed with 
tears and groans. The Goths declared Tor- 
ismond his successor ; and the new king ac- 
cepted the obligation of revenge as a sacred 



portion of his paternal inlieritance. Mean- 
while Attila maintained an undaunted front. 
It was determined, in a general council, to 
besiege the Hunnish king in liis camp ; but 
the impatience of the barbarians, and the 
caution of the Eoman general, who feared 
tliat, after the extirpation of the Huns, the 
republic would be opposed by the pride and 
power of the Gotliic nation, prevailed, and it 
was finally concluded to separate and molest 
Attila no further. After the departure of the 
Goths and the separation of the allied army, 
AttUa was surprised at the vast silence that 
reigned over the plains of Chalon ; the sus- 
picion of some hostile stratagem detained 
him several days within the circle of his 
wagons, and at length his retreat beyond the 
Rhine confessed the last victory of the West- 
ern empire. The Franks, observing a pru- 
dent distance, and magnifying the opinion of 
their strength, by the numerous fires which 
they kindled every night, contrived to follow 
the rear of the Huns until they reached the 
confines of Thuringia. The Thuringians 
served in the army of Attila ; they traversed, 
both in their march and their return, the ter- 
ritories of the Franks ; and it was perhaps, 
in this war that they exercised the cruelties 
which, above fourscore years after, were re- 
venged by the son of Clovis. They mas- 
sacred their hostages as well as captives; 
two hundred young maidens were tortured 
with exquisite and unrelenting rage ; their 
bodies were torn asunder by wild horses, or 
their bones were crushed under the weight 
of rolling wagons ; and their unburied limbs 
were abandoned on the pubHc roads, as a 
prey to dogs and vultures. Such were those 
savage ancestors, whose imaginary virtues 
have sometimes excited the praise and envy 
of civilized ages ! — Gibbon. 

CHALONS-SUR-SAONE,A.D. 1274.— On 
the 1st of May, 1274, Edward I. of England, 
on liis return from Palestine, received a chal- 
lenge from the Count of Chalons to a friendly 
tournament at Chalons on the Saone in 
France. On the appointed day, Edward en- 
tered the fists with 1,000 champions, partly 
on foot, and partly on horseback, and was 
met by his antagdnist with a retinue nearly 
double in number. But the image of war 
was soon turned into stern reality. Edward 
and his retinue were so successful in the 
jousts that the French knights, provoked at 
their superiority, made a serious attack upon 
them ; but Edward's archers drove their op- 
ponents out of the field, killed a great number 
of them, and left the tilting-ground strewn 
witli dead. 

CHAPULTEPEC, a.d. 1847.— This strong 
fortress is situated about two miles south- 
west of tlie city of Mexico. It consists of a 
rock rising to the height of 150 feet, and 



CHAPULTEPEC. 



171 



crowned by a castle. The entire length of 
the fortification is 900 feet, that of the main 
building and the terre pleine, 600 feet. By a 
series of masterly movements, General Scott 
succeeded in blinding the eyes of the Mex- 
ican general as to the real point of his in- 
tended attack on the capital ; and while the 
enemy were awaiting him in anxiety and 
bewilderment, he suddenly appeared before 
the castle of Chapultepec, which was oc- 
cupied by a Mexican garrison under General 
Bravo, and which guarded the approach to 
the city by a causeway bearing the same 
name. In order to carry this fortress with 
the least loss, Scott determined to batter it 
with heavy ordnance, before making the as- 
sault. Accordingly, on the evening of the 
11th of September, 1847, four batteries were 
erectfid on a ridge of land in front of the 
fortress, directing toward Molino-del-Rey, 
at the foot of Chapultepec. These batteries 
were placed in position by the engineer offi- 
cers, Huger and Lee, and were commanded 
respectively by Captains Drum, Hagner, and 
Brooks, and Lieutenant Stone. On the 
morning of the 12th the batteries on both 
sides commenced their fire, which was main- 
tained furiously during the entire day. On 
the 13 th, all arrangements were made for 
the assault. General Smith's brigade, which 
on the afternoon of the 12th, had moved up 
to Piedad, had now arrived on the ground. 
The attack was to be made in two columns : 
one on the west side, under the command 
of Pillow ; and one on the south-east, under 
the command of Quitman. Each was to be 
preceded by a storming party : that of Pillow, 
by 250 men, volunteers from Worth's di- 
vision ; under Captain McKenzie, of the 2d 
Artillery ; that of Quitman, by the same 
number of men, under Captain Carey, of the 
2d Infantry. Each of the storming-parties 
was furnished with scaling-ladders. The sig- 
nal for the attack Avas given by a momentary 
cessation of fire, on the part of the American 
batteries. This was at eight o'clock on the 
morning of the 13 th. The divisions of Pil- 
low and Quitman moved forward, while the 
American batteries, when they had oppor- 
tunity, tlirew shot and shells over the heads 
of the assailants, to deter the enemy from re- 
inforcing the castle. While tliis was going 
on, the reserve, under Worth, was to turn 
Chapultepec, and gaining the north side, either 
to assist in the attack or cut off the enemy's 
retreat. The assaulting column, under Gen- 
eral Pillow, advanced on the west, through 
an open grove filled with Mexican sharp- 
shooters, which were speedily dislodged, and 
rapidly gained the foot of the rocky acclivity.' 
Here Pillow was wounded by a shot in the 
ankle ; and the command devolved on Gen- 
eral Cadwallader. At this point the main 



i battle occurred. The broken acclivity was 
; still to be ascended, and a strong redoubt, 
: midway, to be carried before reaching the 
I castle on the heights. The advance of our 
j brave men, led by brave officers, though nec- 
I essarily slow, was unwavering, over rocks, 
I chasms, and mines, and under the hottest 
^ fire of cannon and musketry. The redoubt 
now yielded to resistless valor, and the shouts' 
that ibllowed announced to the castle the fate 
that impended. The enemy was steadily 
driven from shelter to shelter. The retreat 
\ allowed not time to fire a single mine, with- 
out the certainty of blowing up friend and 
foe. Those who, at a distance, attempted to 
apply matches to the long trains, were shot 
down by our men. There was death below, 
as well as above ground. At length the ditch 
and wall of the main work were reached ; 
the scahng-ladders were brought up and 
planted by the storming-parties; some of 
; the daring spirits first in the assault were 
cast down, killed or wounded ; but a lodg- 
I ment was soon made ; streams of blood fol- 
lowed ; all opposition was overcome, and 
I several of our regimental colors flung out 
I from the upper walls, amid long continued 
j shouts and cheers, which sent dismay into 
] the capital. No scene could be more ani- 
mating or glorious. While this was going on 
to the west of Chapultepec, the column of 
Quitman was performing a similar part on 
the east. Having to advance on a causeway, 
flanked by deep ditches, he had little room 
for maneuvering. In front was a strong 
body of the enemy and two batteries. These 
were soon carried; and the volunteers of 
New York, South Carolina, and Pennsylva- 
nia, with the gallant Rifles, under General 
Smith, ai'rived in time to join the storming- 
party of Pillow's division and capture to- 
gether this formidable fortress. The enemy 
was chased in every direction, many killed 
and many more captured. In the castle 
were crowds of prisoners of every rank and 
color ; among whom were fifty general officers 
and about 100 cadets of the Mexican Mili- 
tary Academy. The latter were pretty little 
fellows from 10 to 16 years of age. Several 
of them were killed Avhile fighting Uke de- 
mons; and, indeed, they showed an example 
of courage worthy of imitation by some of 
their superiors in rank. The American loss 
in killed and wounded was not great ; but 
among the slain were included the gallant 
officers Major Twiggs and Lieutenant Ran- 
som. Generals Shields and Pillow were 
wounded. The fall of CJiapultepec removed 
the last obstacle Avliich lay between the 
American army and the Mexican capital; 
General Scott immediately attacked the city 
itself, and the capture of Mexico followed 
speedily. 



172 



CHARLEROI. 



the French under Luxembourg, and the army 
of the Prince of Waldreck, consisting of Ger- 
man, Dutch, Spanish, and English troops. 
After a protracted and bloody struggle, the 
alhes were signally defeated, with great loss. 
On the 26th of May, 1794, the French 
army crossed the river Sambre, and on the 
29th succeeded in investing Charleroi, after a 
'desperate engagement with the allied English 
and Austrian army. But, on the 3d of June, 
an attack was made upon the French with 
such vigor that they were compelled to raise 
the siege and retire across the Sambre, with 
the loss of 2,000 men. On the 4th, however, 
Jourdan arrived with 40,000 men, and in a 
few days the French army, now increased to 
60,000 men, recrossed the river and resumed 
the siege of Charleroi. The imminent danger 
to which the city was exposed by this attack, 
induced the alhes to make the utmost efforts 
to raise the siege. The alhed army consisted 
of 35,000 men, who attacked the French by 
detached columns. The French were again 
defeated, and driven over the Sambre, with 
the loss of 3,000 men. Again the French 
army, on the 18th of Jime, crossed the river 
and commenced the bombardment of Charle- 
roi, for the third time. The Prince of Coburg, 
who commanded the alhed army, now saw 
that the decisive battle was to be fought 
under the walls of Charleroi. Accordingly, 
the major part of the allied forces were moved 
in that direction. But, though liis force 
amounted to 100,000 men, Coburg delayed 
till the 26 th of June to attack the French 
army. Jourdan, who was fully aware of the 
importance of acquiring the fortress of Char- 
leroi, took advantage of the respite which this 
delay afforded liim to prosecute the siege with 
the utmost activity. He pushed the opera- 
tions so briskly, that in a week the guns of 
the fortress were silenced, and every prepara- 
tion was made for the assault. On the 25th 
of June, the commandant of the fortress sent 
an officer, with a letter, to treat. St. Just, 
who still ruled in the French camp, refused 
to open the letter, and sent back the officers, 
saying, " It is not a piece of paper, but the 
fortress we want." On the very evening that 
Coburg's army came in sight of the French 
lines, the fortress capitulated, and the garrison 
marched out. The Austrians remained ig- 
norant of the surrender of Charleroi. The 
possession of this place rendered the position 
of the French army more secure, and the bat- 
tle, that was about to be fought on the plains 
of Fleurus, less dangerous to them. Tlie 
French army, which now amounted to 89,000 
men, was posted in a semicircle around Char- 
leroi. The Imperiahsts, adhering to their sys- 
tem of attacking the enemy at all points, 
divided their forces into five columns, intend- 
ing to assail, at the same time, all parts of 



the French position. The battle commenced 
at day-break on the 26th of June, and raged 
with great vigor throughout the whole day. 
The first column, under the command of the 
Prince of Orange, attacked the left of the 
French, under General Montaign, and drove 
them back to the village of Fontaine I'Eveque. 
There, however, the French were reinforced 
by fresh troops, and, meeting the repeated 
charges of the enemj'-, succeeded in maintain- 
ing their ground and repulsing each attack. 
During a successful charge, however, the 
French horse were themselves assailed by the 
Austrian cuirassiers and driven back in con- 
fusion upon the infantry, who gradually lost 
ground, and at length were compelled to faU 
back to the heights in front of Charleroi. The 
moment was critical, for the Austrians were 
on the point of carrying the village of *Mar- 
chiennes-au-pont, which would have inter- 
cepted the whole communications of the 
French army. Jourdan, however, who was 
alarmed at the advance of the enemy in this 
quarter, moved up Kleber to support his lefl. 
That intrepid general erected several batteries 
on the heights, and sent Bernadotte, at the 
head of several battalions, to the support of 
Montaign. The alhes were thus assailed both 
in front and flank, and, in spite of their every 
effort to maintain theb position, they were 
gradually driven back, and before four in the 
afternoon, all the ground they had gained in 
that quarter was abandoned. 

During these operations on the French 
left, the center, where the village of Fleurus 
was occupied by 16,500 troops, and strongly 
strengthened by intrenchments, was the scene 
of an obstinate conflict. The village was 
vigorously attacked in front and flank by the 
allies, and the great redoubt was upon the 
point of being taken, when Jourdan hastened 
to the scene of danger with six battalions, 
who were formed in close columns, and 
checked the advance of the enemy. The 
French cavalry, under Dubois, made a furious 
charge upon the Austrian infantry. With 
the utmost rapidity they dashed across the 
plain, and plunging into the midst of the ene- 
my, deahng death on all sides, they over- 
threw every thing before them. The Aus- 
trians fled in chsorder, leaving in the hands 
of the French fifty pieces of cannon. The 
French cavalry, however, disordered by the 
impetuosity of their advance, were suddenly 
attacked by the Austrian cuirassiers, and were 
not only defeated in turn, but lost the whole 
artillery they had taken, and recreated back 
to their own lines. In the mean time the 
battle was raging still more violently on the 
left of the allies, under Beaulieu, nearer to 
the ^Sambre, at Wagne and Lambusart. Af- 
ter various attacks the Austrians carried the 
vUlage of Lambusart, and the French troops, 



CHARLESTON. 



173 



for the most part, were driven across the 
Sambre. But several French battahons un- 
der Marceau, threw themselves into Lambu- 
sart, resolved rather to perish than to aban- 
don that post contiguous to the men ; and 
which was an indispensable support to the 
extreme right of the French army. Lefebvrei 
threw troops into Lambusart to support 
Marceau's efforts ; and this spot became the 
decisive point of the battle. Beauheu, per- 
ceiving this, directed thither a third column. 
Jourdan immediately dispatched the rest of 
Ids reserve to the point of danger, and the 
action was maintained on both sides with 
the greatest vigor. So brisk was the firing 
that the volleys could no longer be distin- 
guished. The corn and huts of the camp 
took fire, and the combatants were soon 
fighting amid a conflagration. At length the 
French expelled the enemy ft-om the village ; 
and Lambusart remained in the hands of the 
Republicans. At this moment the French, 
at first repulsed, had succeeded in restoring 
the battle at all points. Kleber on the leit 
had covered the Sambre, Morlot in the cen- 
ter, having fallen back to Gomlies, maintained 
himself there; Championnet had retaken the 
redoubt at Fleurus, and Lambusart remained 
in the hands of Lefebvre. Coburg, now for 
the first time, learned that Charleroi was in 
the possession of the French ; and daring no 
longer to persist, ordered a general retreat. 
Thus terminated the battle of Fleurus, in 
which the alUes lost about 8,000 in killed, 
wounded, and prisoners. The French lost 
between four and five thousand killed and 
wounded. In this memorable battle the 
French made use of a balloon to reconnoiter 
the enemy's army, an experiment which, it 
is said, contributed to the success of the day. 
The battle was fought along a semicircle of 
ten leagues; and was called the battle of 
Fleurus, though that viUage acted but a sec- 
ondary part, because the Duke of Luxemborg 
had already shed a luster on that name in 
the time of Louis XIV. 

CHARLESTON, a.d. 1776.— Charleston 
is the largest city of South Carolina, and is 
situated on a tongue of land between the 
rivers Ashley and Cooper, which unite im- 
mediately below the town, forming a spacious 
harbor, and communicating with the Atlantic 
at Suhivan's Island seven miles below. 

The British ministers had resolved that in 
the campaign of 1776, a vigorous blow should 
be struck against the southern colonies, be- 
cause they were satisfied that the friends of 
tlie Enghsh were more nimierous there than 
at the North. The British fleet designed to 
act against the southern provinces, was com- 
manded by Admiral Sir Peter Parker, and 
arrived at Cape Fear during the first of May, 
bearing many land troops, with CornwaUis, 



Yaughan, and several other generals. Here 
Parker was joined by General Chnton from 
New York, who, from seniority, took the 
supreme command. The approach of the 
fleet had been discovered in time to allow 
the Carohnians to prepare for defense, and 
Wasliington perceiving their danger, sent 
G-enerals Lee and Armstrong to aid them. 
The British generals, thinking that the reduc- 
tion of Charleston would secure the conquest 
of the whole of South Carolina, resolved at 
once to advance against that city. But the 
patriots had neglected nothing to secure the 
means of defending South Carolina. Charles- 
ton, especially, was strongly fortified. They 
had constructed a strong fort on SuUivan's 
island ; and had armed it with 36 pieces of 
heavy cannon, and 26 of smaller caliber. 
Tliis fort so commands the channel which 
leads to the port, that all vessels which enter 
it must pass imder its cannon. It was con- 
structed of palmetto logs in sections and 
filled in with sand. On the 4th of June the 
British fleet appeared off Charleston Bar, and 
several hundred troops were landed on Long 
Island, which lies to the east of SuUivan's 
Island, being separated from it bj^ a narrow 
creek only. The people of South Carolina 
were now in a state of the greatest activity. 
The militia of all the province were called in 
haste to the defense of the city ; and soon an 
army of 6,000 men, consisting of the militia 
and regulars of South Carohna, and the 
troops of the northern colonies, under Lee 
and Armstrong, was concentrated in the vi- 
cinity of Charleston. 

The first regiment of the South Carohna 
regulars, was stationed at fort Johnson, situ- 
ated on James Island, three miles from 
Charleston, under command of Brigadier 
Gadsden ; and the second and third regi- 
ments occupied SuUivan's Island. Colonel 
WUham Moultrie, who commanded the sec- 
ond regiment, was intrusted with the de- 
fence of the fort* Colonel Thomson com- 
manded the third regiment, which consisted 
cliiefly of riflemen, and was stationed at the 
eastern extremity of Sulhvan's Island. There 
Avas also a strong force at HaddreU's Point, un- 
der the immediate command of General Lee. 
The garrison in the city was under the com- 
mand of Governor Rutledge, who made 
vigorous efforts to secure its defense, should 
the British fleet pass the forts and land their 
troops in the city. The most rigorous 
course of martial law was pursued. Valuable 
warehouses on the wharves were demol- 
ished, and a fine of defenses was made in their 
places ; the streets near the water were bar- 
ricaded. The command of the entire army 
was intrusted to General Lee, to whom the 

• This fort was afterward called Fort Moultrie, from 
its gallant defense hy its commander. 



174 



CHARLESTON. 



troops and the people looked -with confidence. 
Meauwlule Sir Henry Clinton was actively- 
employed in making preparations for a com- 
bined attack by sea and land. He caused 
two batteries to be constructed on Long Isl- 
and, opposite to those of Thompson, on Sul- 
livan's Island. The fleet was anchored to the 
north of Sullivan's Island. It consisted of 
two ships of war, the Bristol and Experiment, 
of fifty guns; four frigates, t\\Q Active the Ac- 
teon, tlie Soleboy, of twenty-eight ; the Sphinx 
of twenty, the Friendship of twenty-two; two 
smaller vessels, and a bomb-ketch called the 
Thunder. The English generals had ar- 
ranged their plan of attack as follows : The 
ships were to cannonade Fort Moultrie in 
front, while the body of troops on Long Isl- 
and, should cross the narrow arm of the sea 
which separates it from Sullivan's Island, 
under the cover of the British batteries, 
and assail the rear of the fort, at which point 
it was weaker than at ony other. At about 
half-past ten o'clock, on the morning of the 
28th of June, Sir Peter Parker made the 
signal for attack on board his flag-ship, the 
Bristol The ketch Thunder, protected by 
another vessel, took its station in front of the 
fort, and began to throw bombs into it, while 
the rest of the fleet advanced. About eleven 
o'clock, the Bristol, the Experiment, the Ac- 
tive, and the Solehoy arrived in front of the 
fort. At the moment they anchored, the 
cannon of the fort opened a burning fire 
upon them ; and each vessel responded with 
a broadside. The Sphinx, the Acteon, and 
the Syren advanced to take a position to the 
west between the point of Sullivan's Island 
and the city, in order to sweep the interior 
of the fort, and to intercept all communica- 
tion between the island and the main land ; ■■ 
but by the unskillfulness of the pilots, the | 
three vessels struck upon a shoal called the 
Middle Ground, where they were exposed to \ 
the fire from the fort. The Sphinx finally ' 
was set afloat, but not until after losing her ; 
bowsprit; and the Syren after receiving 
considerable injury was also got off. These 
vessels withdrew to another part of the har- 
bor ; but the Acteon was totally stranded, 
and could not be moved. Meanwhile, Clin- 
ton's batteries on Long Island, and some ! 
floating batteries in the creek, opened upon ' 
Thompson's battery on Sullivan's Island; ' 
and a number of British troops, under cover ' 
of their artillery, embarked in boats, to force ' 
their way tlu-ough Thompson's men, and assail 
the fort on the west. Thompson allowed the 
British boats to approach within musket shot, 
when he ordered his men to fire. The Amer- j 
icans poured forth volley after volley fi-om j 
their rifles and artillery with such terrible 
effect that Clinton, perceiving that his troops i 
could not land in the face of the enemy's : 



fire, ordered them to return. During this 
time the vessels in front of the fort had kept 
up a furious bombardment. The Americans 
responded warmly, and the air fairly shook 
with the thunder of the cannon. In the 
city of Charleston the most intense anxiety 
prevailed; the house-tops and the steeples 
were crowded with spectators, and many 
were the prayers which were sent up for the 
safety and success of the noble little garrison 
in Fort Moultrie, who were defending them- 
selves against such an overwhelming force. 
Lee saw the retreat of the British land forces 
with joy : in it he beheld an omen of victory. 
At about two o'clock the garrison ceased fir- 
ing, having exhausted their ammunition. The 
deficiency was immediately supplied by Leo 
from Haddrell's Point, and the firing fi-om 
the fort was renewed with greater ardor. 
The fire from the British ships was incessant, 
yet that little band in the fort (they numbered 
only about 350 men) remained firm, replying 
to the enemy's fire with an accuracy which 
told with fearful effect. The Thunder, after 
having discharged sixty bombs, was so much 
disabled, that she discontinued her fire; but 
the others maintained it with increased fury. 
For ten long hours the Americans main- 
tained the fight with the utmost bravery. 
Amid the tempest of balls which was hailed 
upon them from the fleet, they preserved 
their coolness, aiming with such precision 
that the British ships were shaken at every 
discharge. "While the continued thimdcr 
from the ships," says a British historian, 
" seemed suflicient to shake the firmness of 
the bravest enemy, and daunt the courage of 
the most veteran soldier, the return made by 
the fort could not fail of calling for the re- 
spect, as well as of highly incommoding the 
brave seamen of Britain. In the midst of 
the dreadful war of artillery, tliey stuck with 
the greatest firmness and constancy to their 
guns, fired deliberately and slowly, and took 
a cool and effective aim. The ships suffered 
accordingly; they were torn to pieces, and 
the slaughter was dreadful. Never did Brit- 
ish valor shine more conspicuous, and never 
did our marines, in an engagement of the 
same kind, with any foreign enemy, expe- 
rience as rude an encounter. The springs of 
the Bristol's cable being struck by the shot, 
she lay exposed in such a manner to the ene- 
my's fire, as to be most dreadfully raked. The 
brave Captain Morris, after receiving a num- 
ber of wounds, which would have justified a 
gallant man in retiring from his station, stUl, 
with a noble obstinacy, disdained to quit his 
duty, until his arm being at lengtli shot off, he 
was carried away in a condition which did not 
afford a possibility of recovery. It is said 
that the quarter-deck of the Bristol was at 
one tune cleared of every person but the 



CHARLESTON. 



175 



commodore, who stood alone, a spectacle of 
intrepidity and firmness, which have seldom 
been equaled, never excelled. The others 
on that deck were either killed or carried 
down to have their wounds dressed. Nor 
did Captain ' Scott, of the Experiment, miss 
his share of the danger and glory, who, be- 
side the loss of an arm, received so many 
other wounds, that his life was at first de- 
spaired of." But if an EngHsh writer can thus 
speak of the performance of tlie British fleet on 
this occasion, in what terms should an Amer- 
ican depict the gallantry of the garrison of 
Fort Moultrie? Almost entirely without 
practice in the art of war, they held at bay 
the most experienced seamen of Great Brit- 
ain, returning fire for fire with the coolness 
of tried soldiers, and displaying a courage 
wliich called forth the applause of even their 
enemies. Even when their ammunition was 
expended they preserved their firmness, and 
awaited the arrival of a fresh supply with 
calmness ; and when it did arrive, returned 
to their guns with an ardor which finally 
compelled the hostile fleet to withdraw. 
Colonel Moultrie was the soul of the garrison, 
animating his men by words and action ; and 
many were the daring feats of personal valor 
performed on that day. Sergeant Jasper 
especially distinguished himself by a deed of 
heroism which has rendered liis name im- 
mortal. At the commencement of the action 
the staff of the American standard was cut 
away by a ball, and fell outside upon the 
beach. Jasper sprang after it to tlie ground, 
and amid a terrific tempest of iron, walked 
coolly the whole length of the fortress, and 
remounting the parapet, fastened the flag to 
a sponge-staff, and fixed it firmly upon the 
rampart in full view of the enemy. A cheer 
arose as he rejoined his companions within 
the bastion wliich reached the ears of the 
British seamen, who were themselves filled 
with admiration at the daring conduct of the 
American hero. Finally, the British perceiv- 
ing the futility of their attack, and the dis- 
abled condition of their vessels, and finding 
that the troops which were to have come up 
from Long Island, did not make their appear- 
ance, resolved to abandon the enterprise. 
Parker ordered the crew of the Adeon to 
set fire to her and abandon her. The order 
was obeyed; and the seamen quitted the 
ship leaving her colors flying and guns loaded. 
The Americans immediately took possession 
of the deserted vessel, and secured her colors 
and three boat loads of stores, and then, hav- 
ing fired her guns at the British, abandoned 
her to the flames. In a short time the mag- 
azine exploded, shattering the vessel to frag- 
ments. Thus ended the battle. The entire loss 
of the British in killed and wounded, was 225. 
The Americans lost only ten killed and twenty- 



two wounded. Among the slain was the gal- 
lant Sergeant Macdonald, who, with his latest 
breath, exhorted his companions to fight on 
for the cause of liberty and their country. 

During the night the British fleet retired, 
and the following morning their ships were 
under way two miles from the island. A 
few days afterward the troops on Long 
Island were re-embarked and the fleet set 
sail for New York. 

SIEGE OF CHARLESTON, a.d. 1779. 
— In the month of September, 1778, General 
Lincoln was appointed commander-in-chief 
of the American army in the South. At the 
close of 1778 the belligerent forces occupied 
almost the same relative position that they 
did in the fall of 1776. The British army for 
two years had accomplished but little in the 
way of conquest. On the 3d of November, 
1778, the French fleet under D'Estaing sailed 
for the West Indies, in order to attack the 
British colonics there. 

The Enghsh were well aware of the weak- 
ness of the garrisons in these islands ; and on 
the same day. Commodore Hotham, with six 
British ships of war, set sail from New York 
for the West Indies, followed shortly after- 
ward by the whole fleet. As this movement 
prevented the British army and nav}^ from 
uniting in any operation against the patriots 
at the North, it was decided that an army 
should be sent to the southern provinces, 
against which both the fleet and the army 
might operate. Accordingly, on the 27th of 
November, Sir Henry Clinton sent Colonel 
Campbell, from New York, with about 2,500 
English and Hessian troops, upon an expedi- 
tion against Georgia. Campbell was con- 
veyed by Commodore Hyde Parker, with a 
squadron of five ships. At the same time 
Clinton sent orders to General Prevost, who 
commanded in the Floridas, to collect all the 
troops that could be spared from the defense 
of those provinces, and to march also against 
Georgia. At the close of December, Colonel 
Campbell arrived at the isle of Tybee, situated 
near the mouth of the Savannah ; and on the 
morning of the 29th landed at Savannah. 
Savannah, at that time, was occupied by 1,000 
American troops, under General Howe. The 
British at once attacked Savannah ;* and the 
Americans defended It with the utmost valor; 
but, overwhelmed by numbers, they were 
compelled to retire. They fled in confusion, 
and sought refijge in South Carolina. Once 
securing a foothold in Georgia, the British 
troops soon overran the whole province. 

On the 26th of December, Lincoln marched 
from Charleston, with about 1,200 men, for 
the Georgia frontier ; but on their way he 
met the Americans flying from Savannah. 
He accordingly came to a halt, and estabhsh- 
* See Savannah. 



ITG 



CHARLESTON. 



ed his head-quarters at Purysburg, on the 
northern bagk of the Savannah. At the 
close of January, 1779, he was joined by 
General Ashe, with 1,100 North Carolinians; 
and he set at once about recruiting and or- 
ganizing an army, in the vicinity of Purys- 
burg. Meanwliile, General Prevost joined 
Campbell, at Savannah, with 700 British 
regulars. Learning that Lincoln, witli the 
main body of hi? army, was far up the river, 
near Augusta, Prevost resolved to attempt 
the capture of Charleston. Early in April, 
with about 2,000 British and Hessians, and a 
strong body of Tories and Indians, he crossed 
the Savannah, at PurysViurg, and advanced 
along the coast toward Charleston. Lincoln, 
to guard against any such movement on the 
part of the enemy, had stationed General 
Moultrie, with 1,500 men, in front of Prevost, 
in order to dispute his passage across the 
Savannah; but the mihtia, under Moultrie, 
surprised and dismayed at the number of 
the enemy, fell back, on the approach of 
Prevost, toward Charleston. As soon as 
Lincoln was convinced of the reality of 
Provost's designs, he detached Colonel Harris, 
with 300 cavalry, to reinforce Moultrie ; and 
marched, with the balance of his army, in 
pursuit of Prevost. At the same time, Gov- 
ernor Rutledge, who had been at Orange- 
burg, on a recruiting expedition, advanced, 
from that place, with 600 men. Tiuis four 
different forces were pressing toward Charles- 
ton. Rutledge, with his recruits; Moultrie, 
pursued by Prevost; Prevost, pursued by 
Lincoln, and the 300 cavalry, under Colonel 
Harris. On learning of the threatened dan- 
ger, the people of Charleston made all the 
preparations for defense which the shortness 
of the time allowed. All the houses 
in the suburbs were burned, and a hne 
of fortifications was thrown up across the 
neck, armed with several cannon. The 
garrison of Fort Moultrie, under Colonel 
Marion, was strengthened, and the battery 
on Haddrell's Point was duly manned. All 
these preparations consumed three days, and 
it was fortunate for the people of Charleston 
that Prevost, in his hesitancy, halted a suffi- 
cient length of time to allow them to complete 
them. As Prevost advanced tln-ough the 
country, his soldiers applied the torch, and 
plundered the Wliigs, witliout mercy. On 
the evening of the 9th of May, he arrived on 
the soutli side of the river Ashley ; and on 
that anl the day fallowing, Rutledge, Harris, 
and Moultrie reached Charleston, with their 
respective forces. The Count Pulaski, with 
the dragoons of his legion, was at Haddrell's 
Point, and the presence of all these troops 
filled the inhabitants of the city with joy. 
The Americans passed the whole night under 
arms; and the whole city was illuminated. 



On the morning of the 11th of May, Prevost 
with 900 regulars, crossed the Ashley, and 
advanced toward the fortifications on Charles- 
ton neck. 

Approaching within cannon-shot, the Brit- 
ish general summoned the town to surrender. 
He at first received no response. Count Pu- 
lasld, in the course of the forenoon, entered 
the town with his legion. At about twelve 
o'clock, he salhed forth at the head of his 
infantry, and fell upon the advanced guard o 
the British. But the British I'eceived him 
with so much firmness that he was repulsed, 
and a great number of his men were Icilled, 
wounded, or made prisoners. Pulaski, him- 
self, barely escaped to the American hnes. 
The British now advanced toward the ene- 
my's works ; but when within a mile of the 
American hnes, their progress was checked 
by a brisk cannonade. The British general re- 
newed Iris demand for a surrender ; and 
proposals were made on both sides which 
were not accepted. The negotiation was con- 
tinued throughout the who day; neither 
party accepting the proposals of the other ; and 
finally Prevost, finding that the Americana 
would not submit to his conditions, and 
momentarily expecting the approach of Lin- 
coln, withdreAV during the niglit and re- 
treated toward Georgia. And thus termi- 
nated the second attempt of the British to 
gain possession of the city of Charleston. 
The battle of Stono Ferry soon followed; 
but although a victory to the invaders, it did 
not, nevertheless, aid them in their operations 
against the capital of South Carohna. 

Second Siege of Charleston, a.d. 1780. — 
On the 25th of December, 1779, Sir Henry 
Clinton, with a land army of 5,000 men, set 
sail from New York for the South, leaving 
the Hessian general, Knyj:)hausen, in com- 
mand in that city. The British fleet was 
under Admiral Arbuthnot, and Avas manned 
by 2,000 seamen. The fleet encountered 
many heavy storms on its passage, in one of 
which a transport vessel, carrying heavy 
seige pieces and horses, was lost. The fleet 
finally arrived on the coast of Georgia in 
January, 1780, and on the 10th of February 
advanced against Charleston, S. C. On the 
11th Chnton's troops were disembarked upon 
the islands, on the shores of the Editco inlet, 
thirty miles below the city ; and the British 
general commenced making preparations to 
besiege the place. He performed his opera- 
tions with so much tardiness, however, that 
the Americans had time to put Charleston in 
a state of defense. General Lincoln, with 
about 1,400 men was in Charleston ; and 
upon receiving intelligence of the arrival 
of the British fleet he was about to evacuate 
the place, and retreat with his feeble army 
into the interior. But the tardiness of 



CHARLESTON. 



Ill 



the enemy caused him to change his pur- 
pose ; and, aided by Governor Rutledge, 
at once set about making preparations for a 
rigorous defense. He first strengthened the 
works upon Charleston neck by planting new 
cannon and mortars, and throwing up a 
trench across the neck from the Asliley to 
the Cooper. The works when completed, 
on the land side, consisted of a chain of re- 
doubts, lines, and batteries, extending across 
the neck, from the Ashley to the Cooper, 
and covered by an artillery of eighty cannons 
and mortars. A trench filled with water 
was also constructed from river to river. 
The works were also protected by two rows 
of abhaUs, the trees being buried slanting in 
the earth, so that their heads faced outward, 
forming a sort of frieze-work against the 
assailants. These works protected only the 
land side of the city. On the two sides 
which front the rivers, the Americans erected 
ruimerous batteries, constructed of palmetto 
wood and earth. Fort Moultrie, on Sulli- 
van's Island, and the redoubts at Haddrell's 
Point, were strengthened and well manned. 
The garrison of Fort Moultrie was intrusted 
to the command of Captain Pinckney. All 
parts of the shore where it was possible to 
land, were secured by strong pallisades. The 
defenses on shore were supported by a con- 
siderable fleet in the harbor, consisting of 
eight American, ami one French, frigate, 
besides several smaUer vessels, chiefly galleys. 
These were stationed at a narrow pass be- 
tween Sullivan's Island and the Middle 
Ground. The citizens of Charleston were 
greatly alarmed at the approaohing storm; 
and wishing to save the little army of Lin- 
coln, earnestly advised him to evacuate the 
place ; but the American general, expecting 
reinforcements, and confident in the strength 
of his fortifications, resolved to maintain a 
siege in the hope that he might keep the 
enemy at bay until succor should arrive. 

When Admiral Arbuthnot advanced with 
his ships to Charleston bar, the American 
flotilla, abandoning its station, and leav- 
ing Fort Moultrie to its own fortune, retired 
to Charleston ; where most of the ships, with 
a number of merchant vessels, being fitted 
with chevaux-de-frize on their decks, were 
sunk to obstruct the channel of Cooper's 
river, where it flows between the left part of 
the town and a low sand-bank called Shute's 
Folly. 

Thus, with the exception of Fort Moultrie, 
there remained nothing to prevent the Brit- 
ish fleet from entering the harbor, to co- 
operate with the land forces. In this man- 
ner, the inhabitants prepared to defend 
tliemselves valiantly against the attack of 
tlie enemy ; but they still founded their hope 
on the succor of their neighbors of North 

12 



Carolina and Virginia. As soon as Lincoln 
had completed aO his preparations, the 29th 
of March, having left a detachment to guard 
his magazines at Wappoo Cut, he passed the 
AsUey river without opposition, twelve 
miles above Charleston. Immediately after 
his debarkation, he sent a body of infantry 
and cavalry to occupy the great road, and 
scour the country to within cannon-shot from 
that place. The army then followed, and 
took post across the isthmus, behind the city 
at the distance of a mile and a half From 
tins moment, the garrison lost all communi- 
cation with the land ; the enemy being mas- 
ters of both sides of the Ashley, there re- 
mained no way open for succors of men and 
provisions but across the Cooper on the left. 
The royalists had soon transferred to their 
camp, through the assistance of Captain 
Elpliinstone, with his boats and armed gal- 
leys, all the heavy artillery, stores, and bag- 
gage. On the night of the 1st of April, they 
broke ground within eight hundred yards of 
the American works; and in a week, their 
guns were mounted in battery. In the 
mean time. Admiral Arbuthnot had made his 
dispositions for passing the bar, in order to 
gain the entrance of Charleston harbor. The 
frigates, as drawing less water, passed with- 
out any difficulty ; but the ships of the line 
could not be got over till after having been 
lightened of their artillery, munitions, and 
even their water; the whole squadron 
passed over on the 20th of March. Arbuth- 
not came to anchor at Five Fathom Hole ; 
he had still, however, to surmount, before he 
could take an active part in the siege of 
Charleston, the obstacle of Fort Moultrie, oc- 
cupied by Pinckney. The British admiral, 
taking advantage of a southerly wind and 
flood tide, weighed anchor on the 9th of 
April, and passing it under full sail, took his 
station within cannon-shot of the city near 
James Island. Pinckney had opened" all his 
artillery on the British fleet at the moment 
of its passage ; but such was the rapidity of 
the vessels, that the fire did them l-int iittla 
damage. The British lost about thirty in 
killed and wounded, and set fire to and aban- 
doned a transport. The place was thus 
already invested by sea and land, and the 
batteries being ready to be opened, Clinton 
and Arbuthnot sent a joint summons to Lin- 
coln, representing the fatal consequences of a 
cannonade and storm, and, stating the present 
as the only favorable opportunity for pre- 
serving the lives and property of the inhab- 
itants. The American general answered 
spiritedly that he was resolved to defend 
himself. The English immediately com- 
menced their fire ; tlie Americans replied 
warmly from the town and fortifications, 
and a terrible cannonade from both parties 



1T8 



CHARLESTON. 



was maiiitainod from that time until the 
20th. But the British had the advantage of 
a more numerous artillery, particularly in 
mortars, which made great ravages. The 
pioneers and miners, under the direction of 
Moncriefife, pushed forward the works with 
great rapidity. The second parallel was 
already completed, and furnished with its 
batteries, and every thing promised the En- 
glish an approaching victory ; but the Amer- 
icans had assembled a corps on the upper 
part of the Cooper river, at a place called 
Monk's Corner. They were under the com- 
mand of General Huger ; and from that posi- 
tion, they could invest the besiegers on their 
rear, revictual Chaileston, and in case of ex- 
tremity, enable the garrison to evacuate the 
place, and retreat with safety into the coun- 
try. Clinton, therefore, detached 1,400 men, 
under Lieutenant Colonel Webster, to dis- 
perse this body of republicans. Colonel 
Webster was accompanied by Tarleton and 
Ferguson. The American camp was estab- 
lished on the left bank of the Cooper ; their 
cavalry was stationed on the right bank, 
having passed the river on Biggin's bridge. 
This position was strong, the bridge being 
accessible only by a causeway, through an 
impracticable morass; but the Americans 
were off their guard, having neglected to 
post videttes, and to reconnoiter the envi- 
rons. Moreover, their dispositions were de- 
fective : they had placed the cavalry in front, 
and the infantry in rear. The English ar- 
rived unexpectedly at three in the morning ; 
their attack was impetuous; it routed the 
Americans in a few instants; all perished 
save those who sought safety by flight. 
General linger and the Colonels Washington 
and Jamieson, threw themselves into the 
morass, and were fortunate enough to escape 
under cover of the darkness. Four hundred 
horses fell into the hands of the victors, with 
many carriages loaded with arms, clothing, 
and stores. The royalists took possession of 
the bridg(!, and soon after secured another 
passage further down, and overrun the coun- 
try on the left side of the river, particularly 
the district of St. Thomas. 

In this manner, the besieged were deprived 
also of the Cooper river, and Charleston 
found itself completely inclosed. The gar- 
rison was not judged sufficiently strong to 
warrant any opposition to this enterprise. 
Tlie American^! attempted only to fortify a 
point on tlie left bank, called Point Lamprey ; 
but Webster's corps being considerably rein- 
forced, and Lord Cornwallis having taken the 
coram ml on that sid(> of the river, they found 
themselves constrained to abandon this last 
post. The British foraged without obstacle, 
prevented the assembling of the militia, antl 
cut off every species of succor. A few days 



after, Tarleton, having advanced with incredi- 
ble celerity upon the banks of the San tee 
river, attacked and routed another body of 
republican cavalry, commanded by Colonel 
Buford. Adverse fortune continued to pursue 
the republicans. Admiral Arbuthnot landed 
on Sullivan's Island a body of seamen and 
marines, and began to inclose Fort Moultrie. 
The garrison, seeing the impossibility of re- 
Uef, surrendered on the 7th of May. Thus 
Fort Moultrie, which four years before had re- 
pulsed all the forces of Admiral Parker, fell, 
without firing a shot, into the hands of the 
royalists. Meanwhile, the besiegers had com- 
pleted their third parallel, which they carried 
close to the wet trench, and by a sap pushed 
to the dam, which supplied it with water on 
the right, they had drained it in several 
places to the bottom. They hastened to arm 
this parallel with its batteries, and to com- 
plete the traverses and other mines of com- 
munication. Now, fully prepared to storm 
the place by land and sea, CHnton again sum- 
moned Lincoln to surrender. A negotia- 
tion was opened, but the American com- 
mander required not only that the citizens 
and militia should be free with respect to their 
persons, but that they should also be per- 
mitted to sell their property, and retire wiUi 
the proceeds wherever they might see fit; 
the English general refused these conditions. 
He insisted that the whole garrison should 
surrender at discretion, and as to property, 
he would agree to nothing further than that 
it should be given up to pillage. The con- 
ferences were broken off, and hostihties re- 
newed. The fortifications were battered with 
violence by the heavy artillery ; bombs and 
carcasses overwhelmed the town, and hghted 
frequent conflagrations ; the Hessian marks- 
men felled all that showed themselves at the 
embrasures or on the ramparts. Neither 
shelter nor retreat remained to the besieged ; 
every thing indicated that the moment of 
surrender must soon arrive. The fire of- the 
place was already become languid ; its artil- 
lery was in part dismounted, and its best can- 
noneers either killed or out of service ; and the 
English had pushed on their works till they 
issued in the ditch of the place. The city 
was menaced with an assault, discord began 
to break out within; the timid, and those 
attached to the royal party, murmured aloud ; 
they conjured Lincoln not to expose to inev- 
itable destruction so rich, so important a city. 
They represented that the stock of provision 
was nearly exhausted; that the engineers 
considered it impossible to sustain a storm; 
in a word, that there was not the least waj"^ 
of safety left open. In so terrible an ex- 
tremity, Lincoln divested himself of his nat- 
ural inflexibility, and on the 12th of May tlie 
1 capitulation was signed. The garrison was 



CHAMP ANBERT— CHERRY VALLEY. 



1T9 



allowed some of the honors of war, but they 
were not to uncase their colors, nor their 
drums to beat a British march. The conti- 
nental troops and seamen were to keep their 
baggage, and to remain prisoners of war until 
they were exchanged. The militia were to 
be permitted to return to their respective 
homes, as prisoners on parole, and while they 
adhered to their parole, were not to be mo- 
lested by British troops in person or property. 
The citizens of all sorts to be considered as 
prisoners on parole, and to hold their prop- 
erty on the same terms with the militia. The 
officers of the navy and army to retain their 
servants, swords, pistols, and their baggage 
unsearched. As to General Lincoln, he was 
to have liberty to send a ship to Philadelphia 
with his dispatches* 

At noon, on the 12th of May, the Amer- 
icans marched out with the Turk's march and 
piled their arms. General Leslie immediately 
marched in and took possession of the town. 
For forty days they had maintained a gallant 
and desperate defense, but, unable to cope 
with the superior arms and numbers of the 
enemy, they finally were forced to surrender. 
Although the utmost valor and skill was dis- 
played on both sides during this siege, yet 
it was not a bloody one. Both parties suf- 
fered nearly equally. The Americans lost, 
exclusive of the inhabitants of the town, not 
bearing arms, 92 killed, and 148 wounded. 
The British lost 76 killed, and 189 wounded. 
About 5,000 prisoners fell into the hands of 
the victors, together with 400 cannon, and a 
considerable quantity of ammunition. Two 
American frigates, and two French vessels, 
were also taken possession of by the English. 
The victory of Charleston was of the utmost 
importance to the British; it paralyzed the 
efforts of the patriots at the South, and it 
was confidently believed that the war was 
now decided in favor of the royalists; but 
subsequent events proved that the spark of 
liberty, although dimmed, was still alive and 
ready to burst forth into an unextinguishable 
flame. 

CHAMPAUBERT, a.d. 1814.— This village 
is in the department of Marne, in France, 27 
miles west of Chalons. Here, February 10th, 
1814, the advanced guard of the Russians and 
Prusians, received a check in their advance 
against Paris, from the troops of Napoleon. 
The allies were totally defeated with a loss of 
3,000 men, killed, wounded, and prisoners, 
besides 12 guns and 17 caissons. The French 
lost GOO men in killed and wounded. 

CHATEAU GOUTHIER, a.d. 1793.— The 
French republican army were greatly aston- 
ished to find, after the signal defeat of the 

• This account is taken almost entirely from Mr. 
George Alexander Otis' B admirable translation of Botta's 
valuable history. 



Vendean army at Cholet, that they had again 
crossed the Loire and were making prepara- 
tions for another battle. General Lechelle, 
after much hesitation, concluded to divide his 
army into two columns, cross the river at 
different points, and then unite for the pur- 
suit of the royalists. Lechelle found them 
occupying the town of Laval, and immedi- 
ately commenced an attack. Larochejaquelin 
flew through the ranks of his army encour- 
aging them in every possible manner, and 
assuring them of success. Leseure, one of 
the wounded commanders, insisted upon be- 
ing carried in a htter through the ranks, and 
sharing their dangers. Animated by these 
circumstances, the royalists advanced to the 
combat in close columns. Stofflet, by a vig- 
orous charge with a small body of cavalry, 
took some pieces of cannon, which were in- 
stantly turned against the enemy ; Laroche- 
jaquehn pressed on in front, while another 
column attacked them in the rear. The Ven- 
deans were again brought in conflict with 
the famous garrison of Mayence, but despair 
gave them courage, and never had they fought 
with such enthusiastic valor. After a des- 
perate struggle the republicans began to give 
way, the royalists were close upon them and 
drove them into the town of Chiiteau Gon- 
thier. Here their progress was arrested for 
a moment by the cannon of the enemy, but 
Larochejaquelin captured the guns and pur- 
sued the enemy through the town with great 
slaughter. In this battle the garrison of 
Mayence, which had inflicted such losses on 
the Vendeans, was almost entirelj' destroyed ; 
the total loss of the republicans was 12,000 
men, and 19 pieces of cannon, and of their 
whole army, hardly 7,000 could be ralhed 
after the action. General Lechelle was so 
affected by his great discomfiture, that he 
relinquished his command and retired to 
Tours, where he afterward died of anxiety 
and chagrin. 

CHERRY YALLEY, a.d. 1778.— Cherry 
Yalley, in Otsego county, N. Y., witnessed, 
on the 10th of November, 1778, a scene of 
bloodshed and cruelty, the very contempla- 
tion of which causes the soul to shrink with 
horror. Led on by the notorious Walter 
Butler, 700 Tories and Indians fell furiously 
upon the peaceful and flourishing settlement, 
and ruthlessly murdered its inhabitants. Wo- 
men, children, old men, and invalids, all fell 
under the murderous stroke of the cruel tom- 
ahawk of the Indian, or the no less cruel 
bayonet of bloodthirsty white men. Of 48 
who were slain, 32 were women and children. 
The soul sickens at the recital of the horrors 
of that day. Volumes have been written of 
the sufferings of the inhabitants of Tryon 
county, as that part of the country was called 
during the revolutionary war, but the hmits 



180 



CHERUBTISCO. 



of the present volume forbid our dwelling 
upon them.* After the massacre, the village 
was plundered and set on fire ; and the suc- 
cessful marauders marched away in triumph, 
bearing with them 40 prisoners. 

CHERUBUSCO, a.d. 1847.— The viUage 
of Cherubusco, in Mexico, is situated on the 
main road from San Augustine to the city of 
Mexico. The distance from San Augustine 
to the city is nine miles. The Mexicans, in 
their endeavor to stop the progress of the 
American army toward their capital on that 
road, had placed their first fortification in a 
village called San Antonio, about two miles 
and a half from San Augustine. Two miles 
and a quarter further on toward the city, 
they had placed a second in the village of 
Cherubusco, from which village the road was 
opened free of obstructions to the city gates. 
On the 18th of August, 1847, the American 
troops, under General Scott, established 
themselves in and near the village of San 
Augustine. From this village two roads con- 
ducted to Mexico ; the first on the right, led 
through the villages of San Antonio and 
Cherubusco ; the second diverging to the left, 
toward Contreras,t passed through the vil- 
lages of San Angel and Coyocan. The Mex- 
icans had strongly fortified these roads ; and 
the American general determined to force 
his way over both. While the left wing of 
the American army was assaulting the Mexi- 
can position at Contreras, the riglit, under 
General Worth, was to open the main road 
to Mexico, by carrying the position at San 
Antonio with the bayonet, and then pushing 
forward, to assail the enemy at Cherubusco, 
at which place they were to be joined by the 
left wing, as it was General Scott's intention 
to move forward to the assault of Cherubusco 
with his whole army. The division of Gen- 
eral Worth, on the 20th, advanced to San 
Antonio. The Mexicans made but a shght 
resistance; they had heard of the fall of Con- 
treras, and affrighted, they speedily retreated 
along th(! causeway toward Cherubusco. The 
Americans closely pursued the fugitives. 

In the mean time the left wing of the 
American army, having carried the Mexican 
position at Contreras, advanced toward Clier- 
ubusco. The route taken by General Scott 
from Contreras, was along the road from that 
village through the village of San Angel, and 
thence to Coyocan, which was one mile dis- 
tant from Cherubusco. Thus, Worth's di- 
vision approached Cherubusco, by the great 
causeway of San Antonio leading to Mexico, 
while Scott's advanced against the same vil- 
lage by the road from San Angel. The 
Mexicans had strongly defended both these 

• Campbell's Annals ofTyron county. Simms's His- 
tory of Schoharie county. Stone's Life of Brant 
, t See battle of Contreras, 



approaches. In the rear of the village of 
Cherubusco is a wide and deep canal, cutting 
the San Antonio causeway, and continuing 
over the plain perpendicularly to the road, a 
long distance to the right. The causeway 
crossed the canal by a bridge, at the head of 
which was constructed a field-work, which 
commanded the main approach by the cause- 
way, and that also by its left flank. The works 
were defended by four guns, two being in 
front, and two being on its left flank. Along 
the banks of the canal extend dyke.-^, which 
were constructed in ages gone by to guard 
against inundation, and which were now for 
the distance of a mile and a half to the left 
of the ttte-du-pontj at the bridge, converted 
into ramparts, and occupied by dense mass- 
es of Mexican infantry. The ground in 
front of these dykes was level, affording no 
protection to the assailants. To the right of 
the Ute-du-pont, about three hundred yards 
from it, and somewhat in advance of it, on 
the road deboucloing into the causeway from 
Coyocan, the Mexicans had established an- 
other fortified position, commanding the ap- 
proach from that direction. This Avork — the 
fortification of San Pablo — consisted of a 
stone church that served as a sort of citadel, 
and two walls one witliin the other. This 
work was open on the rear and on the right 
flank, that portion of it not having been 
completed. The flat roof of the church and 
the steeple afforded excellent positions for 
marksmen, who could see every one who 
approached, while they themselves were 
covered by parapets and walls. The nature 
of the ground on the Mexican right, was 
such as it has been described on the left. 
Tliis position was to be assailed by General 
Scott. The Mexicans had, besides the seven 
pieces of artillery in the two fortified posi- 
tions, various other batteries of movable pieces 
on the ground. Santa Anna's troops, all told, 
numbered about 25,000 men: long lines of 
infantry and cavalry being drawn up on the 
causeways, and many detachments occupying 
houses — every house in itself being a fortifi- 
cation — on both sides of the road, and the 
cross dykes that cut up the fields. Both di- 
visions of the American army, numbered, 
togethei-, about 8,000 men. Scott, after 
arriving at Coyocan — one mile from Clier- 
ubusco — hailed to make a hasty reconnois- 
sance. He then despatched General Twiggs, 
with Smith's brigade, less the Rifles, and 
Captain Taylor's field baftery to attack the 
fortified position of San Pablo ; following 
the movement soon afterward liimself He 
then directed General Pierce, with his l;rigade 
to follow anotlier road, to the left, vrith a 
view to attack the enemy's right and rear, 
and at the same time favor Twiggs's move- 
ment. He subsequently reinforced tlris bri- 



CHIPPEWA. 



181 



gade with that of Shields's, composed of the 
South Carolina and New York regiments. 
Shields, being Pierce's senior, assumed the 
command of the whole. Before the close of 
the action Sliields, Avas further reinforced by 
the Rifles, and by Captain Sibley's company 
of dragoons. Twiggs was soon hotly en- 
gaged, and Taylor's battery which had im- 
prudently been placed in an exposed position, 
was disabled by the enemy's heavier metal, 
and compelled to retire. Shields advancing 
about a mile toward the right and re'ar of 
the enemy, on the road leading in that di- 
rection, left the road, at this point, and bent 
his course more toward the causeway, passing 
through a heavy cornfield, and i-eacliing a 
position in a swampy meadow, in the rear 
of the enemy. His object was to penetrate 
the causeway, if possible, and attack the 
enemy in rear, or intercept their retreat when 
they should be driven from their position in 
front by Worth and Twiggs. 4,000 of the 
enemy's infantry were drawn up on the 
causeway, covered by some 3,000 cavalry 
extending to the right. Shields attacked the 
Mexican hne in front. The American line 
advanced steadily, opening their fire as they 
approached the enemy. The Mexicans dis- 
charged incessant and destructive volleys upon 
the approaching line ; but the Americans, al- 
though forced by greatly superior numbers, 
maintained the battle with the utmost vigor. 

In the mean time Worth approached Cher- 
ubusco by the San Antonio road. As he 
reached the Ute-du-pont at the bridge, the 
enemy opened first the artillery and then the 
musketry upon the advancing columns. And 
now a tremendous roar of artillery and mus- 
ketry was heard from one end of the Mexican 
hne to the other, extending more than a mile. 
Worth attacked the Ute-du-pont and the Mex- 
ican infantry along the dykes simultaneously. 

After an obstinate and bloody conflict with 
greatly superior forces, the Americans drove 
the enemy from their favorable position upon 
the dykes; and carried the tttes-du-pont at 
the point of the bayonet; men and officers 
rushing pell-mell, into the embrasures and 
over the walls, without the help of ladders. 
No sooner had they gained the works, than 
they seized upon the enemy's artillery, and 
turned it upon San Pablo, where Twiggs was 
still held in check. At the same time Dun- 
can's battery, which had been kept in reserve, 
was hurriedly brought up to the front, and 
opened also upon San Pablo. The effect 
was speedy and decisive. The devoted fort- 
ress, which up to this moment had not in the 
least slacked its fire, having now its artillerists 
driven from their guns, and their sharp- 
shooters from the church-top and steeple, 
succumbed at once, and hung out a white 
flag ; upon which Worth ordered the fii-e to 



be discontinued, and dispatched an officer to 
accept the surrender. In the mean time, 
Shields, with his men, was bravely contend- 
ing against the enemy ; but thus far without 
success. But hearing the shouts of Worth's 
victorious troops, the Mexicans on the cause- 
way wavered, and Shields, with the remnants 
of his gallant regiment, rushed forward, and 
gained the causeway, just as Worth's column, 
in hot pursuit of the flying enemy, came up. 
He fell into their ranks, and joined in the 
pursuit. The Mexicans, at all points, were 
now flying toward the city of Mexico. The 
pursuit was continued for about two miles, 
when General Scott caused it to be discon- 
tinued. The Americans lost in this bloody 
battle, 700 men, killed and wounded The 
Mexican loss was but httle, if any, superior to 
that of the Americans, owing to their having 
fought behind defenses, and to their wonder- 
ful speed of foot, when routed. A large 
number of prisoners were taken in San 
Pablo — the Mexicans having retreated from 
the ieie-du-pont into that work. Among 
others, were captured some 27 deserters from 
the American army ; most of whom had de- 
serted during the war, and entered volun- 
tarily into the enemy's ranks. The penalty 
of death awaited them. " These wretches," 
says General Worth, in spealdng of these 
miscreants, "served the guns — the use of 
which they had been taught in our own 
service — and with fatal effect upon the per- 
sons of their former comrades." — Semmes. 

CHIPPEWA.— The village of Chippewa, in 
Canada, is situated on the Chippewa, near the 
confluence of that river with the Niagara river, 
about two miles above the Falls of Niagara. 

On the third day of July, 1814, the Amer- 
ican forces, destined for the invasion of Upper 
Canada, having been concentrated at Buffalo 
during the winter, for that purpose, crossed 
the Niagara river. The army was com- 
manded by Brigadier General Brown, and 
consisted of two regular brigades, command- 
ed by Scott and Ripley, and a brigade of 
volunteers and mihtia, with a few Indians, 
under General Porter. The army effected a 
landing on the Canada shore without opposi- 
tion, and made themselves masters of Fort 
Erie, a strong fortification on the banks of 
the river, nearly opposite Buffalo, without 
firing a shot. The main British army, under 
General Riall, lay at Chippewa, about twenty 
miles fiirther down the river. Scott, heading 
the advance, with his brigade, chasing before 
him, for sixteen miles, a detachment of the 
enemy, commanded by the Marquis of 
Tweedsdale, pressed on toward the British 
position at Chippewa. At dark, the marquis 
crossed the Chippewa, behind which lay the 
British army. This river enters the Niagara 
neariy at right angles. Two miles further 



182 



CHIPPEWA. 



up, Steed's creek joins the Niagara also, and 
behind it General Brown drew up the Amer- 
ican forces. The two miles of space between 
the streams is an open plain, skirted on one 
side by the Niagara river, and on the other by 
a forest On the morning of the 5th, General 
Brown resolved to advance and attack the 
British in their position. The latter had de- 
termined un a similar movement, against the 
Americans, and unbeknown to each otlier, 
the one prepared to cross the bridge of Chip- 
pewa, and the other that of Steed's creek. 
Tho battle commenced in the woods on the 
left, and an irregular fight was kept up for a 
long time, between Porter's brigade, and the 
Canadian militia stationed there. The latter 
were at length driven back to the Chippewa, 
when General Riall advanced to their sup- 
port. Before this formidable array, the 
American militia, notwithstanding the noble 
efforts of General Porter to steady their 
courage, broke and fled. General Brown 
immediately hastened to the scene, saying 
to Scott, as he passed on, " The enemy is 
advancing, you will have a fight." The 
latter, ignorant of the forward movement of 
Riall, had just put his brigade in marching 
order, to cross the creek Ibr a drill on the 
level plain beyond. But as the head of the 
column reached the bank, he saw the British 
army drawn up in beautiful array, in the 
open field, on the further side, while a bat- 
tery of nine pieces stood in point-blank range 
of the bridge over which he was to cross. 
Swiftly yet beautifully the corps of Scott 
swept over the bridge and deployed under 
the steady fire of the battery, The first and 
second battalions, under Majors Leavenworth 
and McNeil, took position in front of the left 
and center of the enemy, while the third, 
under Jessup, obliqued to the left, to attack 
their right, stationed in the woods, and which 
threateneil to outflank the American line. It 
was a bright, hot July afternoon, the dusty 
plain presented no obstacle beliind which 
either party cuuld find shelter, and the march 
of the steady l^attalions over its surface, led 
on by bands of music, playing national airs, 
presented one of those stirring scenes which 
make man forget the carnage that is to follow. 
The heavy monotonous thunder of Niagara 
rolled on over the discharges of artillery, 
while its clouds of spray, rising from the 
strife of waters, and glittering in the sun- 
beams, contrasted strangely with the sul- 
phurous clouds that heaved heavenward from 
the coullict of men beneath. 

Both armies halting, firing, and advancing 
in turn, continued to approach until they 
stood within eighty yards of each other. 
Scott, who had been maneuvering to get the 
two battalions of Leavenworth and McNeil 
in an obUquc position to the British line, at 



length succeeded, the two farthest extrem- 
ities being nearest the enemy. Thus the 
American army stood like an obtuse tri- 

i angle of which tlie British line formed the 

i base. 

While in tliis position, Scott, wishing to 
pass from one extremity to the other, and 
being in too great a hurry to go back of the 
fines around the triangle, cut directly across, 
taking the cross fire of both armies, as he 
spurred in a fierce gallop through the smoke. 
A loud cheer rolled along the American line 
as they saw this daring act of their com- 
mander. Riding up to Towson's battery, he 
cried out, " A little more to the left, captain, 
the enemy is there." This gallant officer 
was standing amid his guns enveloped in 
smoke, and had not observed that the British 
had advanced so far that his fire fell behind 
them. Instantly discovering his mistake, he 
changed the direction of his two remaining 
pieces, and poured a raking, destructive fire 
through the enemy's ranks, blowing up an 
ammunition wagon, which spread destruction 
on every side. At this critical moment, 
Scott rode up to McNeil's battahon, his face 
blazing with excitement, and shouted, " The 
enemy say that we are good at long shot, 
but cannot stand the cold iron. I call upon 
the Eleventh instantly to give the lie to that 
slander — Charged 

Just as the order "charge" escaped his 
lips, came that destructive fire from Towson's 
battery. The thunder of those guns at that 
critical moment, was to Scott's young and 
excited heart like the shout of victory, and 
rising in his stirrups, and swinging his sword 
aloft, he cried. Charge — charge the ras- 
cals 1" With a high and ringing cheer, the 
gallant battalion moved with leveled bayon- 
ets on the foe. Taking the close and deadly 
volleys without shrinking — never for a mo- 
ment losing its firm formation — it struck the 
British Une obhquely, crumbling it to pieces, 
as it swept on, and making awful havoc in 
its passage. 

Leavenworth did the same on the right 
with hke success, wliile Jessup in the woods, 
ignorant how the battle was going in the 
plain, but finding himself outflanked, ordered 
his troops "to support arms and advance." 
They cheerfully obeyed, and in the face of a 
most deadly fire, charged home on the en- 
emy, and obtaining a better position poured 
in their volleys with tremendous effect. 
From the moment these charges commenced 
till the enemy fled, the field presented a 
frightful spectacle. The two armies were in 
such close proximity, and the volleys were 
so incessant and destructive, and the uproar 
so terrific, that orders could no longer be 
heard. But through his two aids. Lieutenants 
Worth and Watts, who galloped to and fro, 



CI-IOLET— CHRYSTLER'S FIELD. 



183 



and by their presence and gestures, trans- 
mitted his orders in the midst of the hottest 
fire, Scott caused every movement to be 
executed vv'ith precision, and not an error 
was committed from first to last. 

The British fled over tlie Chippewa, tore 
up the bridge, and retired to their encamp- 
ment. 

In this battle, the American troops actual- 
ly engaged numbered 1,900. The British 
were '2,100 strong. The British lost 138 
killed, and 3G5 wounded and missing. The 
Americans lost 68 killed, and 267 wounded 
and missing. 

General Brovra, when he found that Scott 
had the whole British army on his hands, 
hurried back to bring up Ripley's brigade, 
but Scott's evolutions and advance had been 
so rapid, and his blow so sudden and deadly, 
that the field was swept before he could 
arrive. The Americans rested but two days 
after the battle, and then advanced over the 
Chippewa, Scott's brigade leading. The 
British retreated to Burlington Heights, near 
the head of Lake Ontario. — Headley's Second 
War with England. 

CHOLET, 1793.— On the 15th of October, 
the republican army of France entered tlie 
city of Cholet, on the Moine, unmolested. 
The Yendeans, determined to repel the in- 
vaders, finally resolved to make one desperate 
effort to crush all the republican forces in the 
vicinity of Cholet. Two days after tliis res- 
olution, the action took place, and was con- 
tested in a terrible manner on both sides. 
The forces were nearly equal, the royalists 
having 40,000 men, and the republicans 
41,000. The latter had also thirty pieces of 
artillery; and their infantry was composed 
of some of the best troops in France. On 
the 17th of October, at three o'clock in the 
morning, the army was awakened by the 
booming of cannon, and hastened to head- 
quarters to hear grand mass from the curate 
of the village, before the battle. The service 
was performed by torchliglit ; the priest, with 
great eloquence, beseeched them to fight 
bravely for their God, their king, and their 
children, and concluded by giving absolution 
to the armed multitude. The black dark- 
ness, the roaring of cannon which often in- 
terrupted the discourse, and the thoughts of 
what was soon to occur, filled all hearts with 
gloomy forebodings. The action commenced 
at ten o'clock in the morning. The repub- 
licans, under General Lechelle, were drawn 
up in three divisions; the garrison of 
Mayence, with the cavalry, forming the 
reserve. Stofflet commanded the left of the 
royalists, D'Elbee and Bonchamps the center, 
and Larochejaquelin the right. The Yen- 
deans were destitute of artillery, and marched 
in a hne in close coluum for the first time. 



Stofflet and Henri de Larochejaquelin attack- 
ed the center of the enemy, routed it by the 
fury of the onset, and drove them in confu- 
sion back into the town of Cholet, where the 
artillery was captured. The battle seemed 
to be lost, and the republicans, panic-stricken 
by the furious attack of the royalists, were 
flying on all sides, when Lechelle, as a last 
resource, ordered the cavalry to charge, and 
his reserve garrison to advance. 

Again the battle was commenced with 
renewed vigor, the cavalry charged from 
right to left through the center of the Yen- 
deans, and at the same time the iron bands 
of Mayence stopped the pursuit of the vic- 
tors. In a moment the aspect of the action 
was changed; the royalists, seized with a 
sudden panic, fled in all directions, and the 
joy of victory was soon followed by the ter- 
rors of defeat. At this point Larochejaquelin, 
D'Elbee, and Bonchamps, collected 200 of the 
bravest troops, and by their heroic resistance 
drove back the victorious squadrons of the 
enemy, and gave time to many of the royal- 
ists to escape. D'Elbee and Bonchamps were 
mortally wounded in the middle of th(i 
charge. Larochejaquelin succeeded with 
much difficulty in collecting 5,000 men, and 
also removed the remains of his gallant com- 
panions to Beaupreau, wlrile the rest of the 
army fled toward the Loire. 

This defeat proved highly injurious to the 
Yendean cause. The republicans followed 
up their victory with the most energetic 
measures; the towns of Cholet and Beau- 
preau were burned to the ground, the inhab- 
itants were indiscriminately butchered by the 
infuriated soldiery, and the trophies of vic- 
tory were raised upon the smoking and blood- 
stained ruins. The retreat of the Yendean 
army was marked with horrors ranjly paral- 
leled. No less than 80,000 men, the half of 
whom were unarmed, hastened, with flying 
footsteps to the little valley which extends 
from the heights of St. Florent to the margin 
of the Loire. All, eager to put the river be- 
tween themselves and the dreaded enemy, 
men, women, and children, crowded together 
on the shore of the river, whose broad bosom 
bore only twenty-five boats with which the 
frantic multitude might cross; but with these 
feeble means, by the coolness and intrepidity 
of the commander, the whole assemblage 
were ferried over the river before the repub- 
licans could reach the Loire. The entire 
baggage, however, being abandoned, fell into 
the hands of the enemy. See Chateau 
Goihier. 

CHRYSTLER'S FIELD, a.d. 1813.— On 
the 11th of November, 1813, 1,500 American 
troops, under General Boyd, were attacked 
by about 1,000 British regulars under Colonel 
Morrison, at a place called Chrystler's Field, 



184 



CITATE— CIUDAD RODRIGO. 



near Chrystler's Point, on the river St. 
Lawrence, about twenty miles above Corn- 
wall. Tlie conflict was obstinate and bloody. 
At length the British retired to their camp, 
and the Americans were contented to remain 
in their original position. The Americans 
lost about 200 in killed and wounded. Gen- 
eral Corington was shot through the body 
while leading his men to the cliarge. The 
British loss was much less. 

CITATE, A.D. 1854.— The town of Citate 
in European Turkey, was, on the 16th of 
January, 1854, the scene of a battle between 
the Turkish army under the Pachas Achmet 
and Ismail, and the Russians under General 
Fishback. The Turkish army consisted of 
10,000 regular infantry, under Achmet and 
Ismail in person ; 4,000 cavalry under Mus- 
tapha Boy ; and 1,000 Bashi-Bazouks under 
Colonel Skender Bey. At nine o'clock on 
the morning of the 6th of June, these troops 
attacked the Russians in Citate, and gained a 
complete victory. They lost in the battle 
900 men in killed and wounded. The Rus- 
sians lost about 2,500 killed and a proportion- 
ate number wounded. 

CIUDAD RODRIGO, a.d. 1810.— Ciudad 
Rodrigo is a city in Spain in the province of 
Salamanca. It is built on an eminence on 
the right bank of the river Agueda, which 
is here crossed by a stupendous bridge of 
seven arches. 

The possession of the fortress of Ciudad 
Rodrigo has always been considered of par- 
amount importance by an army carrying on 
hostilities on the Spanish and Portuguese 
frontiers. 

Marshal Massena arrived to take the com- 
mand of the French army on the 1st June, 
1810, and finding himself at the head of 
86,000 effective men, he at once resolved on 
active operations, and determined to besiege 
Ciudad Rodrigo, which was garrisoned by 
4,000 Spaniards. Accordingly he invested 
the place with 20,000 men, and on the 25th 
June, the investment being complete, the 
breaching batteries opened tlieir fire upon 
the place. 

Lord Wellington having received informa- 
tion of these events, immediately hastened 
to the relief of the Spaniards, and took post 
on the Agueda. But finding the siege 
operations were covered by an army exceed- 
ing 60,000 men, and as ho had only half that 
number of troops under his command, he 
did not feel justified in attacking the French 
under such disadvantageous circumstances. 
He, accordingly, slowly retired toward the 
frontier of Portugal, leaving this city to its 
inevitable fate. 

The French, finding themselves unmolested 
in their operations, determined to press the 
siege with vigor. Such was the effect of 



their fire that on the 10th of July several 
large breaches in the walls were practicable. 
On the next day the governor, after having 
exhausted his means of defense, surrendered 
with 4,000 men and 125 guns. 

In the month of December, 1811, "Welling- 
ton conceived the design of besieging this 
fortress, which was garrisoned by French 
troops. In order the more eflectually to de- 
ceive the enemy, as to liis real intentions, he 
sent orders to General HiU to resume the 
offensive in Estremadura. Soult, imagining 
that he was about to attack Badajoz, as- 
sembled his troops for the protection of 
that fortress, thus lea\nng Wellington un- 
disturbed in his operations against Ciudad 
Rodrigo. 

The British troops, having previously con- 
structed a portable bridge, laid it across the 
Agueda, and made preparations for crossing 
over on the evening of the 6th of January, 
1812, but a heavy fall of snow prevented the 
troops from moving tiU the 8th, wdien the 
light division crossed, and immediately com- 
menced the investment of the fortress. In 
the evening, an advanced redoubt situated 
on the Tcsan, was carried by assault. 

The first parallel was established the next 
day, and, a few days after, the convent of 
Santa Cruz was stormed. The garrison now 
became alarmed at the progress of the be- 
siegers, and on the evening of the 14th, made 
a vigorous sortie, which was repulsed with 
considerable difliculty. However, the prog- 
ress of the works was by no means inter- 
rupted by it. After the repulse of this sortie, 
the fortified convent of San Francesco was 
carried by escalade by the 46th regiment, 
and about half past four o'clock, just as night 
had thrown its shady mantle over all things 
terrestrial, the breaching batteries opened a 
terrific fire upon the fortress, and 30 heavy 
guns vomited forth their destructive missiles 
against the walls. The scene was at the 
same time terrible and magnificent. It is 
thus described in the eloquent words of an 
eye-witness (Colonel Napier) : " Then was 
beheld a spectacle at once fearful and subhme. 
The enemy replicil to the assailants' fire with 
more than 50 pieces; the bellowing of 80 
large guns shook the ground far and wide ; 
the smoke rested in heavy volumes on the 
battlements of the place, or curled in light 
wreaths about the numerous spires; the 
shells, hissing through the air, seemed fiery 
serpents leaping from the darkness; the walls 
crashed to the stroke of the bullets, and the 
distant mountains, returning the sound, ap- 
peared to moan over the falling city." 

During the three succeeding days, the 
firing continued with unabated vigor and 
fury on both sides; and notwithstanding the 
terrific cannonade to which the besiegers 



CIUDAD RODRIGO. 



185 



were exposed, they made a sensible impres- 
sion on the defenses of the place ; the walls 
came down in large masses, and by continued 
perseverance, two large breaches were prac- 
ticable, on the morning of the 19th. As yet, 
none of the parapets had been injured, and 
this augmented other difficulties in storming 
the fortress; but two large armies were on 
their way to reUeve the garrison, and this, 
added to the immense military stores in the 
city, confirmed WeUington in his resolve no 
longer to delay the assault. The place was 
immediately summoned, and the governor 
having returned a gallant answer, that he 
should not surrender, preparations were ac- 
cordingly made for the attack. 

To the light and 3d divisions, Avas com- 
mitted this perilous honor, as on that day it 
was their turn to be on duty in the trenches, 
(ji-eneral McKinnon at the head of the 3d di- 
vision, preceded by the light companies un- 
der Major Manners, was to attack the main 
breach. The Portuguese of the division 
were in reserve in the trenches, ready to ad- 
vance if their services should be required. 
The latter, under Greneral Vandeleur and Col- 
onel Barnard, received orders to assault the 
lesser breach, and after having gained the 
summit, turn to the right, in order to take 
the defenders of the main breach in flank ; 
and then assail in rear, the interior retrench- 
ments, by which the enemy hoped to be able 
to stop the progress of the assailants, even 
should they carry the ramparts. After they 
had accomplished this, and effected a com- 
munication between the two columns, they 
were to make an effort to burst open the 
Salamanca gate, and admit the rest of the di- 
vision. Pack, with liis Portuguese brigade, 
was directed to make a false attack, by es- 
calade, on the outwork of St. Jago, on the 
opposite side of the town, which he was at 
liberty to convert into a real attack, should a 
favorable opportunity present itself for pene- 
trating. 

The preparations of the besieged, however, 
were very formidable ; innumerable quantities 
of bombs and hand-grenades hned the top of 
the breaches, ready to roll down on the heads 
of the advancing columns. Bags of powder 
were strewn among the ruins, which the 
bursting of the shells and grenades would 
cause to explode, as the assailants were as- 
cending the slopes. Two heavy guns loaded 
with grape, flanked the summit of the larger 
breach, and a large mine was run under it to 
explode, if all other means of defense should 
fail. 

But all these obstacles did not suffice to 
daunt the British troops, so well aware were 
they of the importance of the trust commit- 
ted to them ; and the last words of Welling- 
ton's instructions breathed the spirit of the 



whole army, as well as his own : " Ciudad 
Rodrigo must be carried by assault this even- 
uig at seven o'clock." 

Tlie evening was calm and delightful ; the 
moon was in her first quarter, and threw a 
rather uncertain light over the scene, which 
rendered rude outUnes distinctly visible, with- 
out disclosing particular objects. The bas- 
tions were distinctly visible from the British 
lines, projecting in the dark gloom, while 
with the yawning gulfs, half choked up with 
ruins which they surrounded, they presented 
a truly terrific appearance. 

The British trenches were filled with sol- 
diers, among whom not a whisper was heard, 
nor a movement perceptible, while the prep- 
arations of the French on the ramparts told 
plainly that they were not unprepared for 
their reception. As the great clock of the 
cathedral tolled seven, the order to advance 
was quietly passed along the ranks, and, 
leaping from the trenches, the men quickly 
pressed forward toward the breaches, headed 
by their respective forlorn hopes. Ensign 
Mackie, leading that of the 3d division, and 
General McKinnon, the storming party, while 
Mr. Greenwood led that of the light division, 
followed by Major Napier at the head of the 
storming party. 

In crossing the open space between the 
trenches and the ramparts, McKinnon's di- 
vision sustained a heavy and concentrated 
fire from the walls, of grape and musketry, 
but in a few minutes reached the counter- 
scarp, which was discovered to be eleven 
feet deep. By the aid of the sappers, how- 
ever, who immediately threw down their 
bags of hay, the distance was diminished 
one half, by which means the men were en- 
abled to jump over, and soon reached the 
foot of the breach ; but here, much greater 
difficulties awaited them. The shells and 
grenades, which the French were raining 
down on them, burst in their ranks, commit- 
ting frightful devastation. At length they 
reached the summit ; but no sooner had they 
gained it, than they were torn in pieces by 
a terrific discharge of grape shot from the 
guns which flanked them on either side, at a 
few yards' distance. 

Before these could be reloaded, those im- 
mediately behind pushed forward, and rush- , 
ing over the dead and mangled bodies of their 
comrades, gained the summit of the breach, 
from wliich they drove its brave and gallant 
defenders. But as they were endeavoring 
to penetrate the interior retrenchments, the 
mine beneath their feet suddenly exploded, 
and blew those who were farthest advanced, 
including the gallant McKinnon, into the air. 
Still the column held the ground which 
they had won, and seeing it was impossible 
to penetrate fui-ther, estabhshed themselves 



186 



CLONTARF— CONSTANTINOPLE. 



among the ruins, resolving to await the re- 
sults of the other attacks. 

Crawford and Pack's divisions were still 
more successful; they reached the lesser breach 
under a very heavy fire of grape and mus- 
ketry, and from the steepness of the works, 
found it very difficult to ascend, but by inde- 
fatigable perseverance they succeeded. The 
resistance which they encountered was very 
great. Wlien two tliirds of the ascent had 
been won, so violent was the struggle that 
the troops paused, and every man snapped 
liis musket at the enemy, as if by instinct, 
although not one was loaded. Major Napier, 
who was now struck down, wounded by a 
grape-shot, called to liis men to trust to their 
bayonets. The officers sprang to the front, 
and in a few minutes the summit was won. 
Not forgetting their instructions, they turned 
to the right, and with the aid of the 3d divis- 
ion, which had assaulted the main breach, 
succeeded in forcing the interior retrench- 
ments, which had been constructed by the 
French, in order to oppose their entrance into 
the town. They now rushed in, and some 
irregular fighting occurred in the streets, but 
all regular resistance was at an end. The 
governor delivered up his sword at the gate 
of the castle to Mr. Greenwood, who, though 
wounded, still kept his post at the head of 
the 3d division. Immediately, a frightful 
scene of violence, intoxication, and plunder, 
ensued. The churches were ransacked for 
valuables, and the wine and spirit cellars 
plundered for their Uquors ; soon the flames 
were seen breaking out in several parts of the 
city, and a number of houses were reduced 
to ashes; but, by the aid of fresh troops 
which WeUington immediately marched into 
the town, a great many buildings were res- 
cued from destruction, and before morning, 
comparative order and quiet were restored in 
Ciudad Rodrigo. 

The consequences of the capture of this 
fortress were immense. Of the garrison, 
which consisted, at the commencement, of 
1,800 men, 1,500 were made prisoners; 150 
gun:^, with immense mihtary stores of every 
kind, fell into the hands of the victors, Avho 
lost in the assault 1,300 men, including Geu- 
eruis Crawford and McKinnon. 

Throughout the whole siege, and at the 
assault, the French defended the ramparts 
with that constancy and heroism wlaich, 
during the course of the war, they so often 
evinced, and succeeded in inflicting a heavy 
loss on the victors. So great were the trans- 
ports of joy at this event throughout Spain, 
Portugal, and England, that the Spanish 
Cortes at once created Wellington Duke of 
Ciudad Rodrigo, and the Portuguese govern- 
ment conferred upon him the title of Marshal 
of Torres Vedas, while the British Parlia- 



ment voted their thanks to the army, and 
settled on the earldom of WeUington a pen- 
sion of £2,000 a year. 

CLONTARF, a.d. 1039.— The battle of 
Clontarf was iought in the year 1039, be- 
tween the Irish and Danes. The Irish were 
commanded by Bryan Boiroimhe, monarch 
of Ireland, who entirely defeated the invad- 
ers after an obstinate and bloody engage- 
inont. Bryan's son was slain, and the king 
himself was so severely wounded that he died 
shortly after the battle. Many of the Irish 
nobility were slain; but they were amply 
revenged, for 11,000 Danes perished on the 
field of battle. 

COBLENTZ, A.D. 1794.— Coblentz stands 
on the Rhiue, at the influx of the Moselle, in 
Prussia. It was taken by the French, after 
an obstinate resistance, in 1794. 

CONCORD.— See Lexington. 

CONST ANTINA, a.d. 1837.— On the 13th 
of October, 1837, a battle Avas fought between 
the French and Arabs at Constantino, the 
former capital of Numidia. The French car- 
ried the town by assault, after a long siege ; 
but their general, Daremont, was slain. Ach- 
met Bey retired with 12,000 troops as the 
French soldiers entered Constantina as vic- 
tors. 

CONSTANTINOPLE, a.d. 559.— The 
majesty of the Roman people no longer com- 
manded the respect of the universe, the valor 
of its legions no longer spread terror among 
the barbarians, in the time of Justinian. A 
king of the Huns, named Zabergan, ven- 
tured to advance, in 559, to the very walls 
of Constantinople, and to threaten the impe- 
rial city with pillage. There was but a feeble 
garrison within its ramparts, but in the mo- 
ment of terror it was remembered that they 
possessed Belisarius. That great man was 
instantly dragged from the obscurity in 
which he languished. Called upon to drive 
from the walls of the capital the dangers by 
which it was surrounded, he resumed his ge- 
nius, his activity, and his valor ; no one could 
perceive that years had cooled his ardor. 
His first care was to surround the camp with 
a wide ditch, to protect it from the insults of 
the Huns, and to deceive them with regard 
to the number of his troops by hghting fires 
in all parts of the plain. There was only 
one passage by which the Huns could reach 
Constantinople, and that was through a hol- 
low way, bordered on each side by a thick 
forest. Belisarius began by lining the two 
sides of this defile with 200 archers ; he then 
advanced at the head of 300 soldiers, trained 
to conquer under his orders. He Avas fol- 
lowed by the rest of his troops, who were 
ordered to utter loud cries, and to drag along 
the ground large branches of trees, so as to 
raise vast clouds of dust round them. Every 



CONSTANTINOPLE. 



187 



tiling succeeded ; the barbarians, charged in 
flank, bhnded by the dust which the wind 
blew in their eyes, terrified by the cries of 
the Romans, and the noise of their arms, 
and attacked in front with vigor by Beli- 
sarius and his chosen band, took to flight 
without striking a blow. This horde of bar- 
barians hastily departed, to carry the evils of 
plunder, fire, and death elsewhere. 

Second Siege, a.d. G70. — Whilst Heraclius 
was absent, combatting the Persians, the 
Khan of the Abares appeared before Constan- 
tinople. For once the inliabitants of that 
magnificent city evinced bravery, and ren- 
dered the eflbrts of tlie khan useless. He 
regained his deserts, after having witnessed 
the destruction of the greater part of his 
ti'oops. 

Third Siege, a.d. 672. — Tezid, son of the 
Caliph Moavias, proved no less unfortunate 
in his expedition against Constantinople. 
His naval force was entirely destroyed, and 
that loss compelled him to raise the siege. 
Among the Mussulmans who signalized their 
courage in this expedition, was the captain 
Aboux Aioub, one of the companions of Ma- 
homet in the battles of Bedra and Ohod. 
He was buried at the foot of the walls of the 
city. His tomb is the place at which the 
Ottoman emperors are girded with the 
sword. 

Fourth Siege, a.d. 1203.— The great siege 
of Constantinople by the Latin Crusaders, is 
one of the most tempting subjects to dilate 
upon that history affords. But to relate all 
the particulars of this siege would require a 
volume, and we can only afibrd a few pages 
to it. Li this predicament we turn from 
Michaud, to the more brief account of Gib- 
bon, to whose words, or nearly so, we shall 
confine ourselves. 

Europe had taken up the cross for the fifth 
time : the forces destined to act against the 
infidels were upon the point of embarking 
for the Holy Land, when young Alexius, son 
of Lsaac Angelus, the Emperor of Constanti- 
nople, came to implore the succor of the 
Christian princes in favor of liis fatlier. An 
ambitious brother had dethroned him, de- 
prived him of sight, and then confined liim 
in a loathsome prison. Touched by his 
prayers, but still more hy the advantages he 
offered, the Crusaders set sail for Constanti- 
nople. 

"Li relating the invasion of a great em- 
pire, it may seem strange that I have not 
described the obstacles which should have 
checked the progress of the strangers. The 
Greeks, in truth, were an unwarhke people ; 
but they were rich, industrious, and subject 
to the will of a single man, — had that man 
been capable of fear when his enemies were 
at a distance, or of courage when they ap- 



proached his person. The first rumors of 
his nephew's alliance with the French and 
Venetians were despised by the usurper; 
his flatterers persuaded him that in this con- 
tempt he was bold and sincere, and each 
evening, on the close of the banquet, he 
thrice discomfited the barbarians of the 
West. These barbarians had been justly 
terrified by the report of his naval power ; 
and the 1,000 fishing boats of Constantinople 
could have manned a fleet to sink them in 
the Adriatic, or stop their entrance in the 
mouth of the Hellespont. But all force may 
be annihilated by the neghgence of a prince 
or the venality of liis ministers. The great 
duke, or admiral, made a scandalous, almost 
a public, auction of the sails, the masts, and 
the rigging ; the royal forests were reserved 
for the more important purposes of the chase ; 
and the trees, says Nicetas, were guarded by 
the eunuchs, hke the groves of religious 
Avorship. From his dream of pride Alexius 
was awakened by the siege of Zara, and the 
rapid advances of the Latins ; as soon as he 
saw the danger was real, he thought it in- 
evitable, and his vain presumption was lost in 
abject despondency and despair. He suffered 
these contemptible barbarians to pitch their 
tents within sight of his palace, and his ap- 
prehensions were thinly disguised by the 
pomp and menace of a suppliant embassy. 
The sovereign of the Romans was astonished 
(liis embassadors were instructed to say) at 
the hostile appearance of the strangers. If 
these pilgrims were sincere in their views 
for the deliverance of Jerusalem, his voice 
must applaud and his treasures should assist 
their pious design ; but should they dare to 
invade the sanctuary of empire, their num- 
bers, were they ten times more considerable, 
should not protect them from his just resent- 
ment. The answer of the doge and barons 
was simple and magnanimous. ' In the cause 
of honor and justice,' they said, ' we despise 
the usurper of Greece, his threats, and his 
offers. Owr friendship and his allegiance are 
due to the lawful heir, to the young prince 
Avho is seated among us, and to his father, 
the emperor Isaac, who has been deprived 
of his scepter, his freedom, and his eyes, by 
the crime of an ungrateful brother. Let 
that brother confess his guilt and implore 
forgiveness, and we ourselves will intercede, 
that he may be permitted to Hve in affluence 
and security. But let him not insult us by a 
second message : our reply will be made in 
arms, in the palace of Constantinople.' 

" On the tenth day of their encampment at 
Scutari, the Crusaders prepared themselves 
as soldiers and as Catholics for the passage of 
the Bosphorus. Perilous indeed was the 
adventure ; the stream was broad and rapid; 
in a calm, the current of the Euxine might 



188 



CONSTANTINOPLE. 



drive down the liquid and unextinguishable 
fire of the Greeks ; and the opposite shores 
of Europe were defended by 70,000 horse 
and foot in formidable arra}"-. On this mem- 
orable day, which happened to be bright and 
pleasant, the Latins were distributed in six 
battles or divisions: the first, or vanguard, 
was led by the Count of Flanders, one of the 
most powerful of the Christian princes in the 
sldll and numbers of his cross-bows. The 
four successive battles of the French were 
commanded by his brother Henry, the Counts 
of St. Pol and Blois, and Matthew of Iilont- 
morency, the last of whom was honored by 
the voluntary service of the marshals and 
nobles of Champagne. The sixth division, 
the rear-guard and reserve of the army, was 
conducted by the Llarquis of ^lontferrat, at 
the head of the Glermans and Lombards. 
The chargers, saddled, with their long capar- 
isons dragging on the ground, were embarked 
in the flat planders, and the knights stood by 
the side of their horses in complete armor, 
their helmets laced and their lances in their 
hands. Th^ir numerous train of Serjeants 
and archers occupied the transports, and each 
transport was towed by the strength and 
swiftness of a galley. The six divisions tra- 
versed the Bosphorus without encountering 
an enemy or an obstacle ; to land the fore- 
most, was the wish ; to conquer or die was 
the resolution of every division and of eveiy 
soldier. Jealous of the pre-eminence of 
danger, the knights in their heavy armor 
leaped into the sea when it rose as liigh as 
their girdle ; the' Serjeants and archers were 
animated by their valor ; and the squires 
letting down the drawbridges of the 
palanders, led the horses to the shore. Be- 
fore the squadrons could mount, and form, 
and couch their lances, the 70,000 Greeks 
had vanished from their sight; the timid 
Alexius gave the example to his troops ; and 
it was only by the plunder of the rich pavil- 
ions that the Latins were informed they 
fought against an emperor. In the first con- 
sternation of the flying enemy, they resolved 
by a double attack to open the entrance of 
the harbor. The tower of Galata, in the 
suburb of Pera, was attacked and stormed 
by the French, while the Venetians assumed 
the more difficult task of forcing the boom, 
or cham, that was stretched from that tower 
to the Byzantine shores. After some fruit- 
less attempts, their intrepid perseverance pre- 
vailed ; twenty ships of war, the relics of the 
Grecian navy, were either sunk or taken ; 
the enormous and massy links of iron were 
cut asunder by the shears or broken by the 
weight of the galleys; and the Venetian 
fleet, safe and triumphant, rode at anchor in 
the port of Constantinople. By these daring 
achievements, a remnant of 20,000 Latins 



preluded the astounding attempt of besieging 
a capital containing above 400,000 inhabit- 
ants, able, though not wilhng, to bear arms 
in defense of their country. Such an account 
would, indeed, suppose a population of near 
two milhons; but whatever abatement may 
be required in the nmnbers of the Greeks, 
the belief of these numbers will equally exalt 
the fearless spirit of their assailants. 

" In the choice of attack, the French and 
Venetians were divided by their habits of 
life and warfare. The latter affirmed with 
truth, that Constantinople was most accessi- 
ble on the side of the sea and harbor ; the 
former might assert with honor, that they 
had long enough trusted their hves and for- 
tunes to a frail bark and a precarious ele- 
ment, and loudly demanded a trial of knight- 
hood, a firm ground, and a close onset, either 
on foot or on horseback. After a prudent 
compromise of employing the two nations by 
sea and land in the service best suited to their 
character, the fleet covering the army, they 
both proceeded from the entrance to the ex- 
tremity of the harbor. The stone bridge of 
the river was hastily repaired ; and the six 
battles of the French formed their encamp- 
ment against the front of the capital, the basis 
of the triangle which runs about four miles 
from the port to the Propontis. On the edge 
of a broad ditch at the foot of a lofty ram- 
part, they had leisure to contemplate the 
difficulties of their enterprise. The gates to 
the right and left of their narrow camp 
poured forth frequent sallies of cavalry and 
light infantry, which cut oS" their stragglers, 
swept the country of provisions, sounded the 
alarm five or six times in the course of each 
day, and compelled them to plant a palhsade 
and sink an intrenchment for their immediate 
safety. In the supphes and convoys, the 
Venetians had been too sparing, or tlie Franks 
too voracious ; the usual complaints of hun- 
ger and scarcity were heard, and perhaps 
felt ; their stock of flour would be exhausted 
in three weeks; and their disgust of salt 
meat tempted them to taste the flesh of their 
horses. The trembling usurper was sup- 
ported by Theodore Lascaris, his son-in-law, 
a valiant youth, who aspired to save and rule 
his country. The Greeks, regardless of that 
country, were awakened to the defense of 
their religion ; but their firmest hope was in 
the strength and spirit of the Varengian 
guards of Danes and English, as they are 
named by the writers of the times. After 
ten days' incessant labor, the ground was 
leveled, the ditch filled, the approaches of 
the besiegers were regularly made, and 250 
engines of assault exercised their various 
powers to clear the ramparts, to batter the 
walls, and to sap the foundations. On the 
first appearance of a breach, the scaling- 



CONSTANTINOPLE. 



189 



ladders were applied ; the numbers that de- 
fended the vantage-ground repulsed and 
oppressed the venturous Latins ; but they 
admired the resolution of fifteen knights and 
Serjeants, who, having gained tlie ascent, 
maintained their position till they were 
hurled down or made prisoners by the im- 
perial guards. On the side of the harbor, 
the naval attack was more successfully con- 
ducted by the Venetians ; and that industri- 
ous people employed every resource that was 
known and practiced before the invention of 
gunpowder. A double line, three bowshots 
in i'ront, was formed by the galleys and ships ; 
and the swift motion of the former was sup- 
ported by the weight and loftiness of the 
latter, whose decks, and poops, and turrets 
were the platforms of military engines, that 
discharged their shot over the heads of the 
first line. The soldiers who leaped from the 
galleys on shore, immediately planted and 
ascended their scaling-ladders, while the 
large ships, advancing more slowly into the 
intervals and lowering a drawbridge, opened 
a way through the air from the masts to the 
rampart. In the midst of the conflict, the 
doge, a venerable and conspicuous form, stood 
aloit in complete armor, on the prow of his 
galley. The great standard of St. J»Iark was 
displayed before him; liis threats, promises, 
and exhortations urged the diligence of the 
rowers ; his vessel Avas the first that struck, 
and Dandolo was the first warrior on the 
shore. The nations admired the magnanimity 
of the blind old man, without reflecting that 
his age and infirmities diminished the price 
of life and enhanced the value of immortal 
glory. On a sudden, by an invisible hand 
(for the standard-bearer was probably slain), 
the banner of the republic was fixed on the 
rampart; twenty-five towers were rapidly 
occupied ; and, by the cruel expedient of fire, 
the Grreeks were driven from the adjacent 
quarter. The doge had dispatched the intel- 
ligence of his success, when he was checked 
by the danger of his confederates. Nobly 
declaring that he would rather die with the 
pilgrims than gain a victory by their destruc- 
tion, Dandolo reUnquished his advantage, re- 
called his troops, and hastened to the scene 
of action. He found the six weary battles of 
the Franks encompassed by sixty squadrons 
of the Greek cavalry, the least of Avhich was 
more numerous than the largest of their 
divisions. Shame and despair had provoked 
Alexius to the last effort of a general sally ; 
but he was awed by the firm order and manly 
aspect of the Latins; and after skirmishing 
at a distance, withdrew his troops in the 
close of the evening. The silence or tumult 
of the night exasperated his fears ; and the 
timid usurper, collecting a treasure of 10,000 
pounds of gold, basely deserted his wife, liis 



people, and his fortune ; threw himself into 
a bai-k, stole through the Bosphorus, and 
landed in shameful safety in an obscure har- 
bor of Thrace. As soon as they were ap- 
prised of his flight, the Greek nobles sought 
pardon and peace in the dungeon where the 
blind Isaac expected each hour the visit of 
the executioner. Again saved and exalted 
by the vicissitudes of fortune, the captive, in 
his imperial robes, was replaced on the throne 
and surrounded with prostrate slaves, whose 
real terror and affected joy he was incapable 
of discerning. At the dawn of day, hostili- 
ties were suspended ; and the Latin chiefs 
were surprised by a message from the lawful 
and reigning emperor, who was impatient to 
embrace his son and reward his generous 
dehverers. 

" But these generous deliverers were un- 
willing to release their hostage tiU they had 
obtained from his father the payment, or, at 
least, the promise of their recompense. They 
chose four embassadors — Montmorency, our 
historian Villehardouin, and two Venetians, 
to congratulate the emperor. The gates 
were thrown open on their approach, the 
streets, on both sides, were lined with the 
battle-axes of the Danish and English guard ; 
the presence-cliamber glittered with gold and 
jewels — the false substitutes of virtue and 
power. By the side of the blind Isaac was 
seated his wife, the sister of the King of 
Hungary ; and by her appearance the noble 
matrons of Greece were drawn from their 
domestic retirement, and mingled with the 
circle of senators and soldiers. The Latins, 
by the mouth of Villehardouin, spoke like 
men conscious of their merits, but who re- 
spected the work of their own hand ; and 
the emperor clearly understood that liis son's 
engagements with Venice and the pilgrims 
must be ratified without hesitation or delay. 
Withdrawing into a private chamber, with 
the empress, a chamberlain, an interpreter, 
and the four embassadors, the father of young 
Alexius inquired, with some anxiety, into 
the nature of his stipulations. The submis- 
sion of the eastern empire to the pope ; the 
succor of the Holy Land; and a pres- 
ent contribution of two hundred thousand 
marks of silver. 'These conditions are 
weighty,' was his prudent reply : ' they are 
hard to accept and difficult to perform. But 
no conditions can exceed the measure of 
your services and deserts.' After this satis- 
factory assurance, the barons mounted on 
horseback and introduced the heir of Con- 
stantinople to the city and palace. His 
youth and marvelous adventures engaged 
every heart in his favor ; and Alexius was 
solemnly crowned, with his father, in the 
dome of St. Sophia. In the first days of his 
reign, the people, already blessed with the 



190 



CONSTANTINOPLE. 



restoration of plenty and peace, were de- 
lighted by the joyful catastrophe of the 
trag'?dy; and the discontent of the nobles, 
their regrets and their fears, were covered 
by the polished surface of pleasure and loy- 
alty. The mixture of two discordant nations 
in one capital might have been pregnant 
with miscliief and danger; and the suburb 
of Galata, or Pera, was assigned for the 
quarters of the Franks and the Venetians. 
But the liberty of trade and familiar inter- 
course was allowed between the friendly 
nations; and each day the pilgrims were 
tempted by devotion or curiosity to visit the 
churches and palaces of Constantinople. 
Their nide minds, insensible perhaps of the 
finer arts, were astonished by the magnificent 
scenery; and the poverty of their native 
towns enhanced the populousness and riches 
of the first metropolis of Christendom. De- 
scending from his state, young Alexius was 
prompted, by interest and gratitude, to re- 
peat his frequent and familiar visits to his 
Latin allies ; and in the freedom of the table, 
the gay petulance of the French sometimes 
forgot the emperor of the East. In their 
most serious conferences, it was agreed that 
the reunion of the two churches must be the 
result of patience and time ; but avarice Avas 
less tractable than zeal ; and a large sum was 
instantly disbursed to appease the wants and 
silence the importunity of the Crusaders. 
Alexius was alarmed by the approaching 
hour of their departure; their absence might 
have reheved him from the engagement he 
was yet incapable of performing; but his 
friends would have left him naked and alone, 
to the caprice and prejudice of a perfidious 
nation. He wished to bribe their stay, the 
delay of a year, by undertaking to defray 
their expense, and to satisfy, in their name, 
the freight of the Venetian vessels. The 
oflfer was agitated in the council of the 
barons, and after a repetition of their debates 
and scruples, a majority of votes again acqui- 
esced in the advice of the doge and the prayer 
of the young emperor. At the price of six- 
teen hundred pounds of gold, he prevailed on 
the Marquis of Montferrat to lead him with 
an army round the provinces of Europe, to 
establish his authority and pursue his uncle, 
while Constantinople was awed by the pres- 
ence of Baldwin and his confederates of 
France and Flanders. The expedition was 
successful ; the blind emperor exulted in the 
success of his arms, and hstened to the pre- 
dictions of his flatterers that the same Provi- 
dence which had raised him from the dun- 
geon to the throne would heal his gout, 
restore his sight, and watch over the long 
prosperity of his reign. Yet the mind of the 
suspicious old man was tormented by the 
rising glories of his son ; nor could his pride 



conceal from his envy, that while his own 
name was pronounced in faint and reluctant 
acclamations, the royal youth was the theme 
of spontaneous and universal praise. 

"By the recent invasion, the Greeks were 
awakened from a dream of nine centuries, 
from the vain presumption that the capital 
of the Eoman empire was impregnable to 
foreign arms. The strangers of the West 
had violated the cit}^, and bestowed the 
scepter of Constantino ; their imperial clients 
soon became as unpopular as themselves; 
the well-known vices of Isaac were rendered 
stiU more contemptible by his infirmities, 
and the young Alexius was hated as an 
apostate, who had renounced the manners 
and religion of his country. His secret cov- 
enant with the Latins was divulged or sus- 
pected ; the people, and especially the clergy, 
were devoutly attached to their faith and 
superstition; and every convent and every 
shop resounded with the danger of the 
church and the tyranny of the pope. An 
empty treasury could ill supply the demands 
of regal luxury and foreign extortion ; tlie 
Greeks refused to avert, by a general tax, 
the impending evils of servitude and pillage ; 
the oppression of the rich excited a more 
dangerous and personal resentment ; and if 
the emperor melted the plate, and despoiled 
the images of the sanctuary, he seemed to 
justify the complaints of heresy and sac- 
rilege. 

" During the absence of Marquis Boniface 
and his imperial pupil, Constantinople was 
visited with a calamity which might be justly 
imputed to the zeal and indiscretion of tlio 
Flemish pilgrims. In one of their visits to 
the city, they were scandahzed by the aspect 
of a mosch, or synagogue, in which one God 
was worshiped without a partner or a son. 
Their effectual mode of controversy was to 
attack the infidels with the sword, and their 
habitations with fire; but the infidels, and 
some Christian neighbors, presumed to defend 
their hves and properties; and the flames 
which bigotry had kindled, consumed the 
most orthodox and innocent structures. 
During eight days and nights, the conflagra- 
tion spread above a league in front, from the 
harbor to the Propontis, over the tliickest 
and most populous regions of the city. It is 
not easy to count the stately palaces and 
churches that were reduced to a smoking 
ruin, to value the merchandise that perished 
in the trading streets, or to number the fam- 
ilies that were involved in the common 
destruction. By this outrage, which the 
doge and barons in vain affected to disclaim, 
the name of the Latins became still more un- 
popular, and tlie colony of that nation, above 
15,000 persons, consulted their safety in a 
hasty retreat from the city to tlie protectioa 



CONSTANTINOPLE. 



191 



of their standard in the suburb of Pera. 
The emperor returned in triumph; but the 
firmest and most dexterous policy would 
have been insufficient to steer him through 
the tempest which overwhelmed the person 
and government of that unhappy youth. 
His own inclinations and his father's advice 
attached him to his benefactors ; but Alexius 
hesitated between gratitude and patriotism, 
between the fear of his subjects and of his 
alUes. By his feeble and fluctuating conduct, 
he lost the esteem and confidence of both ; 
and while he invited the Marquis of Mont- 
ferrat to occupy the palace, he suffered the 
nobles to conspire, and the people to arm, 
for the deliverance of their country. Re- 
gardless of his painful situation, the Latin 
chiefs repeated their demands, resented his 
delays, suspected his intentions, and exacted 
a decisive answer of peace or war. The 
haughty summons was delivered by three 
French knights, and three Venetian deputies, 
who girded on their swords, mounted their 
horses, pierced through the angry multitude, 
and entered with a fearless countenance the 
palace and presence of the Greek emperor. 
In a peremptory tone, they recapitulated 
their services and his engagements, and 
boldly declared that unless their just claims 
were fully and immediately satisfied, they 
should no longer hold him either as a sover- 
eign or a friend. After this defiance, the 
first that had ever wounded an imperial ear, 
they departed, without betra3ang any symp- 
toms of fear; but their escape from a servile 
palace and a furious city astonished the em- 
bassadors themselves, and their return to the 
camp was the signal of mutual hostility. 

"Among the Greeks, all authority and 
wisdom were overborne by the impetuous 
multitude, who mistook their rage for valor, 
tlieir numbers for strength, and their fanati- 
cism for the support and inspiration of 
Heaven. In the eyes of both nations, 
Alexius was false and contemptible: the 
base and spurious race of the Angeli was 
rejected with clamorous disdain; and the 
people of Constantinople encompassed the 
senate, to demand at their hands a more 
worthy emperor. To every senator, con- 
spicuous by his birth or dignity, they suc- 
cessively presented the purple; by each 
senator the deadly garment was repulsed. 
The contest lasted three days, and we may 
learn from the historian Nicetas, one of the 
members of the assembly, that fear and 
weakness were the guardians of their loy- 
alty. A phantom who vanished in oblivion, 
was forcibly proclaimed by the crowd ; but 
the author of the tumult and the leader of 
the war was a prince of the house of Ducas, 
and his comuion aj)pellation of Alexius must 
be discriminated by the epithet of Mour- 



zoufle, which, in the vulgar idiom, expressed 
the close junction of his black and shaggy 
eyebrows. At once a patriot and a courtier, 
the perfidious Mourzoufle, who was not des- 
titute of cunning and courage, opposed the 
Latins both in speech and action, inflamed 
the passions and prejudices of the Greeks, 
and insinuated himself into the confidence 
and favor of Alexius, who trusted him with 
the office of great chamberlain, and tinged 
his buskins with the colors of royalty. At 
the dead of night, he rushed into the bed- 
chamber with an affi-ighted aspect, exclaiming 
that the palace was attacked by the people, 
and betrayed by the guards. Starting from 
his couch, the unsuspecting prince threw 
himself into the arms of his enemy, who had 
contrived his escape by a private staircase. 
But that staircase terminated in a prison. 
Alexius was seized, stripped, and loaded 
with chains, and after tasting some days the 
bitterness of death, he was poisoned, or 
strangled, or beaten with clubs, at the com- 
mand or in the presence of the tyrant. The 
emperor Isaac Angelus soon followed his son 
to the grave, and Mourzoufle, perhaps, might 
spare the superfluous crime of hastening the 
extinction of impotence and blindness. 

"The death of the emperors, and the 
usurpation of Mourzoufle, had changed the 
nature of the quarrel. It was no longer the 
disagreement of allies Avho overvalued their 
services, or neglected their obligations; the 
French and Venetians forgot their complaints 
against Alexius, dropped a tear on the un- 
timely fate of their companion, and swore 
revenge against the perfidious nation which 
had crowned his assassin. Yet the prudent 
doge was still inclined to negotiate ; he de- 
manded as a debt, a subsidy, or a fine, fifty 
thousand pounds of gold, about two millions 
sterling; nor would the conference have 
been abruptly broken, if the zeal or policy of 
Mourzoufle had not refused to saciifice the 
Greek church to the safety of the state. 
Amid the invectives of his foreign and do- 
mestic enemies, we may discover that he was 
not unworthy of the character wliich he had 
assumed, of the public champion. The sec- 
ond siege of Constantinople was far more 
laborious than the first; the treasury was 
replenished, and discipUne was restored by a 
severe inquisition into the abuses of the 
former reign ; and Mourzoufle, an iron mace 
in his hand, visiting the posts, and affecting 
the port and aspect of a warrior, was an ob- 
ject of terror to his soldiers, at least, and to 
his kinsmen. Before and after the death of 
Alexius, the Greeks made two vigorous and 
well-conducted attempts to burn the navy in 
the harbor ; but the skill and courage of the 
Venetians repulsed the fire-ships, and the 
vajn-ant flames wasted themselves, without 



1C2 



CONSTANTINOPLE 



injury, in the sea. In a nocturnal sally, the 
Greek emperor was vanquished by Henry, 
brother of the Count of Flanders; the ad- 
vantages of number and surprise aggravated 
the siiame of his defeat; his buckler was 
found on t!ie field of battle ; and the imperial 
standard, a divine image of the Virgin, was 
presented as a trophy and a relic to the Cis- 
tercian monks, the disciples of St. Bernard. 

" Near three months, without excepting the 
holy season of Lent, were consumed in skirm- 
ishes and preparations, before the Latins were 
ready or resolved for a general attack. The 
land Ibrtifications had been found impregna- 
ble ; and the Venetian pilots represented that 
on the shore of the Propontis the anchorage 
was unsafe, and the ships must be driven by 
the current far away to the straits of the Hel- 
lespont; a prospect not unpleasing to the re- 
luctant pilgrims, who sought every opportu- 
nity of breaking the army. From the harbor, 
therefore, the assault was determined by the 
assailants, and expected b}'' the besieged, and 
the emperor had placed his scarlet pavilions 
on a neighboring height, to direct and ani- 
mate the efforts of his troops. A fearless 
spectator, whose mind could entertain the 
idea of pomp and pleasure, might have ad- 
mired the long array of two embattled ar- 
mies, which extended above half a league, 
the one on the ships and galleys, the other 
on the walls and towers raised above the 
ordinary level by several stages of wooden 
turrets. Their first fury was spent in the dis- 
charge of darts, stones, and fire from the en- 
gines ; but the water was deep ; the French 
were bold; the Venetians were skillful; they 
approached the walls, and a desperate conflict 
of swords spears, and battle-axes was fought 
on the trembling bridges that grappled the 
floating to the stable batteries. In more than 
a hundred places the assault was urged, and 
the deftjnse was sustained, till the superiority 
of ground and numbers finally prevailed, and 
the Latin trumpets sounded a retreat. On 
the ensuing days the attack was renewed 
with equal vigor, and a similar event; and in 
the night the doge and the barons held a 
council, apprehensive only for the public dan- 
ger; not a voice pronounced tlie words of 
escape or treaty ; and each warrior, according 
to his temper, embraced the hope of victory, 
or the assurance of a glorious death. By the 
experience of the former siege, the Greeks 
were instructed, but the Latins were animat- 
ed; and the knowledge that Constantinople 
raiglit be taken was of more avail than the 
local precautions which that knowledge had 
inspired for its defense. In the third assault, 
two ships were linked together, to double 
their strength ; a strong north wind drove 
tiiem on tlie shore; the bisliops of Troyes 
and Soi.ssons led the van ; and the auspicious 



names of the Pilgrim and the Paradise re- 
sounded along the hne. The episcopal ban- 
ners were displayed on the walls ; a hundred 
marks of silver had been promised to the first 
adventurers ; and if their reward was inter- 
cepted by death, their names have been 
immortaUzed by fame. Four towers were 
scaled, three gates were burst open, and the 
French knights, who might tremble on the 
waves, felt themselves invincible on horse- 
back, on the solid ground. Shall I relate that 
the thousands who guarded the emperor's 
person fled on the approach, and before the 
lance of a single warrior ? Their ignomin- 
ious fliglit is attested by their countryman, 
Nicetas : an army of phantoms marched with 
the French hero, and he was magnified to a 
giant in the eyes of the Greeks. While the 
fugitives deserted their posts and cast away 
their arms, the Latins entered the city under 
the banners of their leaders ; the streets and 
gates opened for their passage, and either de- 
sign or accident kindled a third conflagration, 
which consumed in a few hours the measure 
of three of the largest cities of France. In 
the close of the evening, the barons checked 
their troops and fortified their stations ; they 
were awed by the extent and populousness 
of the capital, v,diich might yet require the 
labor of a month, if the churches and palaces 
were conscious of their internal strength. 
But in the morning a suppliant procession, 
with crosses and images, announced the sub- 
mission of the Greeks, and deprecated the 
wrath of the conquerors; the usurper es- 
caped through the Golden gate : the palaces 
of Blachernse and Boucoleon were occupied 
by the Count of Flanders and the Marquis of 
Montferrat ; and tlie empire, which still bore 
the name of Constantine, and the title of 
Roman, was subverted oy the arms of the 
Latin pilgrims. 

" Constantinople, when taken by the Franks 
and the Venetians, was the most glorious 
emporium of objects of high art and fine taste 
the world has ever seen. With the conquer- 
ors nothing was valuable but money, and to 
obtain this all was sacrified: precious works 
of art were melted for the sake of the metals 
they were made of; others were mutilated 
to flicilitate division, and numberless others 
were destroyed in hopes of finding treasures 
concealed within them. No building was 
held sacred that would pay for the demo- 
lition ; no object remained in the place with 
which it was naturally associated, if it wa3 
of the smallest value elsewhere. 

" Tired, rather tlian satisfied with plunder, 
the conquerors proceeded to the elei'tion of 
an emperor : Baldwin I. was crowned in the 
yi-ar 1204. Tiiis new domination only lasted 
fhty-seven years, under the name of the em- 
pire of the Latins, Under Baldwin IL, 



CONSTANTmOPLE. 



193 



brother of Robert de Courtenay, the Greeks 
revolted, drove out the Franks in 1261, and 
gnve themselves and the throne to Michael 
Palaeologus whose posterity reigned up to 
the taking of Constantinople by Mahomet 

Fifth Siege, a.d. 1453. — Constantinople no 
longer preserved any thing but the proud re- 
membrance of its ancient splendor. In that 
capital, once so flourishing and so respected, 
there still breathed an immense population ; 
but that multitude, without force or without 
courage, seemed only to be waiting to crouch 
willingly under the strong hand that might be 
held forth to enchain them. Frivolous acquire- 
ments, agreeable arts, preferred by indolence 
and effeminacy, to the exercise of essential 
duties or useful labors, had annihilated love 
of country, and dried up the springs of hfe 
of this unfortunate empire. They wrote and 
they disputed : questions of philosophy and 
theological quarrels were the sole concerns of 
the lazy citizens, who had never stood in such 
pressing need of providing for their own 
safety. Instead of being the heart of an em- 
pire, the walls of Constantinople had become 
frontiers ; it had no dominions beyond them. 
The enemy appeared at their gates: during 
the eight hundred years that Mahometanism 
had progressed, the city had often been 
threatened, and in vain; but the harvest was 
now ripe, the time was come, and the sickle, 
in the hands of Mahomet II., was employed 
in earnest workmanhke fashion. He began 
by constructing the castle of the Dardanelles, 
on the Bosphorus. Constantino Palreologus, 
who then reigned, in vain was anxious to 
prevent this : his own subjects thwarted his 
correct views; their presumption equaled 
their blindness ; they boasted that they could 
destroy that fortress the moment it was any 
annoyance to them. 

Five or six thousand men, taken from the 
very dregs of the people, composed the na- 
tional force, which was augmented by a 
few European troops, under Justinian, a 
Genoese. These were the only resources of 
a city inhabited by men incapable of defend- 
ing themselves, and who trusted entirely to a 
few mercenary strangers, who still deigned to 
protect them. All the Greeks individually 
boasted of their country and its fame ; and j 
yet not one of them would have sacrificed to 
its welfare his pleasures, his luxuries, his com- ' 
forts, or his opinions. The emperor tried to ' 
induce them to contribute a portion of their ! 
riches to the defense of the state : but he ! 
could obtain nothing. I 

In this case the solitary virtue of Constan- ' 
tine was powerless — the corruption was deep 
and universal. Pateologus and his courtiers 
favored, at least in appearance, the union of 
the two churches q£ the East and West. The i 



holy father promised to send some galleys 
and troops. The Greeks still further flattered 
themselves that the exhortations of the pon- 
tiff would prevail upon the Christian princes 
to undertake a crusade: that was their last 
hope. Cardinal Isidore came to Constanti- 
nople as legate from the Holy See. He cele- 
brated divine service in the church of St. 
Sophia, according to the hturgy of Rome. 
This threw the whole city into a state of 
alarm. The people flocked in crowds to the 
retreat of the monk Gennadius, to consult 
with him what was to be done. The sohtary 
affixed his reply to the door of his cell. He 
declared in this document that the agreement 
drawn up at Florence was not orthodox. He 
at the same time announced the greatest 
misfortunes to those who should adopt the 
imjnous reconciliation of the Greeks with the 
Latins. Immediately the devotees, the nuns 
who were under the direction of Gennadius, 
the abbots, the priests, the citizens, the sol- 
diers — for the contagion spread to aU orders 
— joined in one unanimous anathema ! The 
church of St. Sophia was considered a de- 
filed place. Communication with the Latins 
ceased : they would prefer, they said, to see 
the turban of ^Mahomet displayed, to the ap- 
pearance of the Roman purple, or the car- 
dinal's hat. 

But now the sultan, having employed two 
years in preparations, marched toward Con- 
stantinople at the head of an army of 400,000 
men. This fearful multitude was composed, 
for the most part, of newly-conquered na- 
tions, which he dragged after him. Out of 
all these he had not more than 30,000 horse 
and G0,000 foot of disciphned troops. The 
rest were nothing but a collection of slaves, 
torn by force from the places of their birth, 
without arms and almost naked, who were 
obliged to be driven to the combat by strokes 
of the whip or the cimeter. In all battles 
they were placed in front, in order to fatigue 
the enemy with the shedding of blood : the 
regular reserved troops were then to take 
advantage of their exhaustion ; in sieges they 
served as fascines, to fill up ditches. Such 
was the manner of fighting with the Turks, 
so that when they came in contact with the 
Christians, it was generally remarked they 
had the disadvantage at the commencement 
of a battle, but won it at last. 

While Mahomet was investing Constanti- 
nople by land, liis fleet, consisting of 250 
sail, advanced to the Dardanelles. This pro- 
digious number of vessels could not, however, 
prevent four ships from the isle of Chio, after 
having fought for a whole day against the 
united strength of the OttoTnan, and killed 
1,000 of their men, from entering the port of 
Constantinople, and there landing a few troops 
and some provisions. Enormous iron chains 



194 



CONSTANTmOPLE. 



barred the entrance of the Turkish ships. It 
is affirmed that Mahomet, to surmount this 
obstacle, had recourse to an expedient till 
that time unheard of:* he transported by 
land eighty galleys in the course of one night, 
and at daybreak launched them into the in- 
terior of the basin of the port, before the 
eyes of the besieged, terrified and astonished 
at this extraordinary spectacle. The vessels 
were drawn, by means of machines and hu- 
man arms, along planks thoroughly greased, 
which covered a space of road two leagues 
in length. The sultan had at his command 
the most skillful engineers of Europe and 
Asia. The progress of these vessels oflfered 
a most curious exhibition. They were com- 
manded by pilots, had their sails unfurled as 
if upon the sea, and advanced over a hilly 
piece of ground, by the light of torches and 
flambeaux, and to the sound of trumpets and 
clarions, without the Genoese, who inhabited 
Galata, daring to offer any opposition to the 
passage. The Greeks, fully occupied in 
guarding their ramparts, had no suspicion of 
the design of the enemy. They could not 
comprehenl what could be the object or the 
cause of all the tumult that was heard during 
the whole night from the sea-shore, till at 
dawn they beheld the Mussulman standards 
flying in their port. 

A Hungarian, who had not been able to 
procure employment among the Greeks, 
founded for Mahomet some pieces of artillery 
that would carry balls weighing 200 pounds. 
A modern author judiciously observes that 
each of these balls would have required 
nearly 100 pounds of powder, of which only 
a fift ,'enth part would have taken fire at the 
moment of the explosion. With a true 
East'Tn imagination, Mahomet II. wished to 
have the largest and most powerful cannon 
that had ever been made, and a foundery was 
established at Adrianople. An enormous 
piece of ordnance was produced within three 
months; its bore was twelve palms, and it 
was capable of throwing a ball or stone 
weighing GOO pounds. It was tried in a va- 
cant place before the new palace of Adrian- 
ople ; but notice of its being fired was obliged 
to be published on the preceding day, to pre- 
vent the effects of astonishment and fear. 
The explosion is said to have been heard 
over a circuit of a hundred furlongs ; the ball 
was cast l^y the gunpowder above a mile, 
an 1 when it fell it buried itself a fathom deep 
in the ground. To convey this cannon, 30 
wagons were linked together, and it was 
drawn by a team of 60 horses : 200 men 
walked by the sides of it, to poise it and 
keep it steady ; 250 men went before, to 
level the way and repair the brides ; and it 

• Corfcz repeated this expedient during his expedition 
into Mtixiuu. See Mexico. 



required two montlis to draw it a distance of 
150 miles. 

The Turks, masters of the port, established 
batteries on the side next the sea, while the 
army pressed the city on the land side. 
They employed trenches, mines, and counter- 
mines. The besieged, who defended them- 
selves with some spirit at first, repaired the 
breaches with incredible diligence. They 
even made some successful sorties. The 
hopes of being succoured by Huniades sup- 
ported them for some time. Mahomet began 
to relax in his efibrts ; it is even said that he 
had thoughts of raising the siege. At length, 
however, he resolved to make one more at- 
tempt. Before he proceeded to the general 
assault, he proposed to Constantine to leave 
him the Peloponnesus, upon condition of liis 
giving up the imperial city. He was anx- 
ious, he said, to prevent the destruction of 
Constantinople. The emperor replied he 
would rather be buried beneath the ruins of 
his capital. Both Christians and Mahomet- 
ans prepared themselves, by fast and prayer, 
for the action of that morrow which was to 
decide the fate of the two empires. It was 
the 29th of May. On the evening before, 
Mahomet gave notice that he should abandon 
the plunder of the city to his soldiers, only 
strictly commanding that they should not set 
fire to any of the edifices. 

The besieged, from their walls, contem- 
plated with terror, the numbers of the enemy 
about to assail them. The disproportion was 
so great, that every Christian calculated ht; 
should have to combat fifty or sixty Turks. 
The sultan commenced the attack about three 
o'clock in the morning, by sending to the as- 
sault 30,000 of his worst troops, in order to 
fatigue the besieged, and that the heap'ed up 
bodies of this multitude might fill the ditches, 
and render access to the parapets the more 
easy. The stick and the cimeter were nec- 
essary to compel this forlorn hope to march: 
they all perished. At sunrise, Mahomet or- 
dered the trumpets to sound a fresh signal ; 
the artillery thundered from all quarters, and 
quickly drove away all who had appeared on 
the walls. The janizaries rushed to the 
breach, uttering horrible cries. Mahomet 
rode behind his troops upon a superb charger, 
in order to make them march forward with 
the greater celerity. Never was greater 
courage exhibited: the first janizary who 
mounted the walls of Constantinople was to 
be made a pacha, and be loaded with wealth. 
Some climbed over the ruins of the walls, 
through a shower of arrows,, darts, stones, 
and fire-balls. Standing on the tops of their 
ladders, others fought with the besieged, who 
repulsed them with their pikes, while others 
raised themselves upon the shoulders of their 
comrades to get to the breach. The whole 



CORINTH. 



196 



r-ity was busied in succoring its brave de- 
tenders; women, children, and old men 
brought them stones, joists, and bars of red- 
hot iron to launch at the Turks. The can- 
nons, directed to the point where the Turks 
were tliickest, all at once opened their ranks, 
and the Ottomans, who already touched the 
summit of the walls, were hurled into the 
ditches. For two hours they fought thus, 
with a fury equal to the danger of the be- 
sieged and the value of the city to be con- 
quered ; a cloud of arrows, dust, and smoke 
shrouded the combatants. Thirty janizaries 
at length succeeded in mounting the walls, 
and killed and overthrew all who came in 
their way : they were soon followed by a 
crowd of daring comrades, animated by their 
example. In an instant the air resounded 
with cries of victory : the Turks had pene- 
trated to the port. Zagan Pacha, who com- 
manded the attack there, reproached the 
sailors with being less brave than the land 
troops. Encouraged by the success of the 
janizaries, they made one more furious 
charge upon the Greeks. The latter wav- 
ered in their resistance; the sailors gained 
possession of a tower, and hoisted the stand- 
ard of the crescent, while other Turks hewed 
an opening, with their axes, at several of the 
city gates, through which the rest of the 
army poured in crowds. Constantine, ac- 
companied by a few of his guards and some 
faitMul servants, threw himself, sword in 
hand, into the thickest of the Ottoman bat- 
talions. Less afflicted by the loss of his 
crown than by the terror of being loaded 
with irons and led in triumph through Asia, 
he continued fighting bravely, when a Turk 
cut off the half of his face, with a stroke of 
his cimeter, and gave him the death he was 
seeking. With him fell the empire of the 
East, which had existed eleven hundred and 
forty-three years. One Constantine had 
founded it : another of the same name, not 
less brave but less fortunate, saw it perish. 
Mahomet caused his body to be sought for, 
and rendered it all the honors due to the 
sovereign of a great empire. More than 
40,000 men were killed in this day's con- 
flict, and more than 60,000 loaded with 
chains. Neither age nor sex, nor oly'ect 
ever so holy, was respected, during three 
days, in tliis unfortunate city; palaces, 
cloisters, sacred edifices, and private houses 
were stained with the blood of their wretch- 
ed inhabitants, and disgraced by all tlie 
crimes that barbarism, cruelty, and lust could 
devise. At the end of three days order and 
discipline succeeded to carnage. Mahomet 
T-estored liberty to many of his captives, sent 
them back to their houses, promised them 
his protection, and engaged them to continue 
to cultivate the arts and commerce in a city 



he had chosen as the capital of his empire. 
This great event happened in the year 768 
of the Hegira, and in the year of Christ 
1453. 

A.D. 1807.— The English expedition, un- 
der Admiral Duckworth, which, after passing 
the Dardanelles, made a useless and unsuc- 
cessful attack upon Constantinople, is not 
worthy of being ranked as a siege. — Eobson. 

CORINTH, B.C. 242.— This famous city 
of Greece is situated near the isthmus of the 
same name, between the gulfs of Lcpanto on 
the west, and Egina on the east. 

Antigonus Deson, King of Macedon, had 
taken possession of the isthmus and citadel 
of Corinth, which were called the fetters of 
Greece, because he who was the master of 
them dominated over that country. Aratus, 
cliief of the Achaeans, formed the project of 
depriving him of this important place ; and 
the following is the manner in which he had 
the good fortune to succeed. Erginus, an 
inhabitant of Corinth, having come to Sicyon, 
formed an intimacy with a well-known 
banker, a friend of Aratus. In the course 
of conversation, they happened to speak of 
the citadel of Corinth, and Erginus said that, 
going to see his brother Diodes, who was in 
garrison there, he had remarked, on the 
steepest side, a little path, cut cross-wise in 
the rock, which led to a place where the 
wall was very low. The banker asked him, 
with a laugh, if he and his brother had a 
mind to make their fortunes? Erginus 
guessed what he meant, and promised to 
sound his brother upon the subject. A few 
days after he returned, and undertook to 
conduct Aratus to the spot where the wall 
was not more than fifteen feet high, and, 
with his brother, to aid him in the rest of 
the enterprise. Aratus promised to give 
them sixty thousand crowns if the affair suc- 
ceeded ; but the money must be deposited 
with the banker, for the security of the two 
brothers, and as Aratus had it not, and would 
not borrow it for fear of betraying his se- 
cret, the generous Achaean took the greater 
part of his gold and silver plate, with his 
wife's jewels, and placed them in pledge with 
the banker, for the whole sum. Several ac- 
cidents delayed this noble enterprise; but 
notliing daunted the intrepid defenders of 
liberty. When all was ready, Aratus ordered 
his troops to pass the night under arms, and 
taking with him 400 picked men, the most 
part of whom were ignorant of what they 
were going to do, and who carried ladders 
with them, ^e led them straight to the gates 
of the city, by the side of the walls of the 
Temple of Juno. It was a beautiful moon- 
light night, which made them justly fear that 
they should be discovered. Fortunately, 
there arose on the side toward the sea a 



196 



CORINTH. 



thick mist, which covered all the environs 
of the city, and created a complete dark- 
ness. There all the troops sat down, and 
took off their shoes, in order that they 
might make less noise in marching, and 
might ascend the ladders better. In the 
mean time, Aratus, with seven brave, de- 
termined young men, equipped as travelers, 
slipped into tlie city without being perceived, 
and in the iirst place killed the sentinel and 
the guards on duty. They then apphed their 
ladders to the walls, and Aratus made a 
hundred of the most resolute ascend with 
him, desiring the others to follow as best 
they could. He drew up the ladders, de- 
scended into the city, and, at the liead of his 
troops, marched, full of joy, straight toward 
the citadel, without being perceived. As 
they advanced, they met a guard of four 
men, who carried a hght. The shade con- 
cealed the adventurers, and, crouching against 
some walls, they waited for these soldiers, 
who, on passing before the Achjeans, were 
attacked all at once. Three of them lost 
their lives ; the fourth, wounded by a sword 
in the head, fled away crying that the enemy 
was in the city. A moment after, all the 
tmmpets sounded the alarm, and the whole 
city was roused by the noise. The streets 
were soon filled with people, who ran hither 
and thither; and were illuminated by a 
multitude of flambeaux, Avhich were lighted 
every wlierc, both down in the city, and upon 
the walls, the ramparts, and the citadel. 
Aratus, without being dismayed, held on his 
way, climbing, with difficulty, the steep sides 
of the rocks, i'rom having missed the path, 
which led to the wall in a winding, circuitous 
manner. But, as if by a miracle, the clouds 
passed from before the moon, and revealed 
to him the whole labyrinth, till he had gained 
the bottom of the fortifications. Then, by a 
similar fortunate chance, the clouds gathered 
again, and the moon being concealed, re- 
plunged both besieged and besiegers into 
profound darknnss. The 3,000 soldiers whom 
Aratus had left without, near the Temple of 
Juno, having obtained entrance into the city, 
which they fouml filled with confusion and 
tumult, and not being able to find the path 
their leader had taken, clung close to the 
foot of a precipice, under the shadow of a 
great rock which concealed them, and waited 
in tliat retired place to see how fortune should 
dispose of their fate. The general of the 
Acliasans in the mean time was fighting vali- 
antly on the ramparts of the citadel. They 
heard tlie noise of this combat, but could not 
tell whence it came, from the cries of the war- 
riors being repeated a thousand times by the 
surrounding eclioes. The Macedonians de- 
fended themselves with vigor: Archelaus, 
who commanded for King Antigonus, thought 



to overwhelm the Achseans by charging them 
in the rear. He placed himseli' at the head 
of a good body of troops, and, with sound 
of trumpet, marched against Aratus, filing 
before the three hundred concealed soldiers, 
without seeing them. The Achaeans allowed 
him to pass on ; then, rising all at once, as 
from an ambuscade in which they had been 
placed on purpose, they fell upon his party, 
killed many of them, put the rest to flight, 
and came to the succor of their general, ut- 
tering loud cries of victory. The moon once 
again shone forth in its splendor, and by fa- 
vor of its light, the soldiers of Aratus united, 
and made so vigorous a charge that they 
drove tho enemy from the walls, and when 
the first rays of the sun gleamed upon the 
citadel, it was as if to shed glory upon their 
victory. The Corinthians flocked to the 
standard of Aratus, who refused to sheath 
the sword until he had taken prisoners all 
the soldiers of the King of Maccdon, and 
thus secured both his conquest and the Ub- 
erty of Corinth. 

Second Siege, b.c. l-iG. — When the Achae- 
ans became involved in a war with the Ro- 
mans, Corinth was one of their principal 
strongholds. The Roman senate resolved 
upon the destruction of the city, and in spite 
of the efforts of Metellus, who, anxious to 
avert the catastrophe, had sent deputies to 
Corinth to bring about a reconciliation, the 
resolution of the senate was carried into 
effect. The Corinthians had contemptuously 
rejected the offers of Metellus, and his depu- 
ties were thrown into prison. The Consul 
Metellus was succeeded by Mummius, who 
appeared before the walls of Corinth with a 
powerful army, with the determination of 
subduing the Corinthians by one great efibrt. 
This city, in addition to its advantageous 
situation and its natural strength, was de- 
fended by a numerous garrison, composed of 
experienced and determined soldiers. These 
troop.s, perceiving that a corps-de-garde was 
negligently kept, made a sudden sortie, at- 
tacked it vigorously, killed a great many, and 
pursued the rest to their camp. This trifling 
sviccess singularly inflamed the courage of 
these warriors, but it became fatal to them; 
for Dieseus, their leader, having rashly given 
battle to the Romans, who feigned to dread 
his forces, fell into an ambush laid by the 
consul, was beaten, took to flight, and lost 
the greater part of his men. Alter this rout, 
the inhabitants lost all hope of defending 
themselves. Without counsel, without a 
leader, without courage, without concert, no 
citizen put himself forward to rally the 
wrecks of the defeat, to make a show of re- 
sistance, and oblige the conqueror, who 
wished to terminate the war quickly, to grant 
them tolerable conditions. All the Achseans, 



CORIOLI— COMPIEGNE. 



197 



and most of the Corinthians, abandoned, 
during the night, their unfortunate country, 
and sought reftige in other lands. Mummius 
entered the city without resistance, and gave 
it up to pillage. The furious and greedy 
soldiery immolated all who stood in the way 
of the sword, and bore away every thing 
that could feed their avarice. Women and 
children were sold by auction, like flocks 
of sheep. Statues, pictures, valuable furni- 
ture, all the superb ornaments of this opulent 
city, were sent to adorn the proud capital of 
the universe. The towers and walls were 
leveled with the ground; all the houses 
were set fire to, and during several days the 
whole city was nothing but one vast confla- 
gration. It is pretended, but perhaps with- 
out foundation, that the gold, silver, and brass 
melted together in this fire, formed a new 
and precious metal, whose name became 
proverbial as Corinthian brass. It was in 
obedience to his masters, and not for his pri- 
vate interest, that the conqueror acted in this 
manner. Mummius was as disinterested a 
man as he was a great captain. To his vir- 
tues he joined that warlike simplicity so 
common among the Romans of his time, who 
made it their glory to be ignorant of the arts 
of refinement, or, indeed, of any thing which 
did not relate to the great arts of defending 
their country or fighting to promote its glory. 
He employed trustworthy persons to trans- 
port several pictures and statues of the most 
excellent masters to Rome. Had they been 
lost or injured, nothing could have replaced 
them ; and yet the consul, while recommend- 
ing care to be taken of them, said very seri- 
ously that if these things were damaged, others 
must be found in their place, and atthe expense 
of those who undertook to convey them ! 

The Achtean league was buried under the 
ruins of Corinth ; and Rome, alwa>3^s inexor- 
able toward obstinate courage, which pre- 
ferred dangerous liberty to tranquil servitude, 
reduced the whole of Achaia to a province. 

CORIOLI, B.C. 492.— Although we can not 
undertake to record every battle or siege by 
which the Roman power made regular but 
rapid rise in Italy, we shall endeavor not to 
omit such as have any interesting associations 
connected with them. 

The Volscians tormented the Romans by 
continual attacks. In order to punish them, 
the siege of Corioli was resolved upon. It 
was one of their strongest places. In a 
sortie, the besiegers repulsed the Romans, and 
drove them back to their own camp. Furious 
at such a defeat, Marcius, a young patrician, 
with a handful of brave companibns, returned 
to the charge, made the Volscians give way 
in their turn, penetrated with them into the 
city, and gave it up to pillage. That was the 
age when military talents were sure of their 



reward. After the taking of the city, the 
consul Cominius, before the whole army, 
ordered Caius Marcius to take a tenth of the 
booty, before any division was made of the 
rest, besides presenting him with a fine horse 
and noble trappings as a reward for his val- 
or. The army expressed their approval of 
this by their acclamations ; but Marcius, 
stepping forward, said, " That he accepted 
of the horse, and was happy in the consul's 
approbation ; but as for the rest he considered 
it rather as a pecuniary reward than as a mark 
of honor, and therefore desired to be excused 
receiving it, as he was quite satisfied with his 
proper share of the booty. One favor only in 
j^articular I desire," continued he, " and I begl 
may be indulged in it. I have a friend among 
the Volscians, bound with me in the sacred 
rites of hospitality, who is a man of virtue 
and honor. He is now among the prisoners, 
and from easy and opulent circumstances is 
reduced to servitude. Of the many misfor- 
tunes under which he labors, I should be glad 
to rescue him from one, which is that of being 
sold for a slave." This request of course was 
granted, and his friend was liberated. 

COMPIEGNE, A.D. 1430.— Compiegne is 
situated on the Oise, in France, thirty-three 
miles east of Beauvais. 

In the month of May, 1430, the Duke of 
Burgundy, with an army of English and Bur- 
gundians, undertook to reduce the city of 
Compiegne, which favored the cause of 
Charles VII. of France, against the Burgun- 
dians. The heroine Joan d' Arc marched to 
its reUef. On her way thither, she met a 
body of Burgundians, and, after a bloody 
struggle, defeated them. She endeavored to 
exchange their commander, Franquet, for De 
Louis, who had fallen a prisoner into the 
hands of the enemy; but the judges of 
Languay condemned him to death. The 
garrison of Compiegne, on the arrival of the 
heroine with her troops, believed themselves 
invincible ; but their joy wa^ of brief dura- 
tion. The besiegers, receiving reinforcements 
from every quarter, fell upon the French 
with such impetuosity that they turned their 
backs. Joan d' Arc immediately assumed 
the command of the rear guard, and repeat- 
edly facing about, repulsed every attack of 
the pursuers. At length, however, the rear 
guard was broken ; the Burgundians rushed 
upon the maid with loud shouts, and dragging 
her from her horse, felled her to the ground, 
Avhen she surrendered. The garrison was 
grieved at the loss of their heroic defender, 
yet they maintained a resistance which defied 
every attempt of the assailants, until they 
were compelled to raise the siege on the ap- 
pearance of the French army, under the 
Marshal de Boussac. The unibrtunate Joan 
d' Arc was treated with neglect by her 



198 



CONTRERAS. 



friends, with cruelty by her enemies "If 
ever prince had been indebted to a subject," 
says an Englisli liistorian, " Charles VII. was 
indebted to Joan d' Arc. She had dispelled 
the terror with which success had invested the 
Eno-lish arms, had reanimated the courage of 
the French soldiery, and had firmly estab- 
lished the king on the throne of liis ancestors, 
Tet, from the moment of her captivity, she 
seems to h;ive been forgotten. We read not 
of any sum offered for her ransom, or at- 
tempt made to alleviate her sufferings, or 
notice taken of her trial and execution. The 
bishop of Boauvais, a man wholly devoted to 
the English interests, presented a petition 
against Joan, on pretense that she was taken 
within the bounds of his diocese, and he 
desired to have her tried by an ecclesiastical 
court for sorcery, impiety, idolatry, and 
magic. The university of Paris was so 
mean as to join in the same request; the 
petition was granted, and several prelates 
were appointed her judges. The inquiry was 
opened at Rouen, on the 13th of February, 
1431, and the maid, clothed in her former 
military apparel, but loaded with irons, was 
produced before the tribunal. On sixteen 
different days she was 'brought to the bar, 
and throughout the trial she endured the 
taunts and repUed to the questions of her 
accusers with an undaunted spirit, proudly 
maintaining that she had been the inspired 
minister of the Almighty. But when tlie 
fatal day arrived, and the judge was about to 
pronounce sentence, she yielded to a sudden 
impulse of terror, and declared herself willing 
to recant, and promised upon oath never 
again to wear male attire ; but the barbarous 
vengeance of her enemies was not satisfied 
with this victory. Suspecting that the 
female dress which she had now consented 
to wear was disagreeable to her, they pur- 
posely placed in her apartment a suit of 
man's apparel, and watched for the effect of 
that temptation upon her. On the sight of 
the dress in which she had acquired so much 
renown, her enthusiasm revived, her cell was 
again in her imagination p(>opled with celes- 
tial visitants calling her out to new scenes of 
military glory. She, in the solitude of her 
cell, again clothed herself in the forbidden 
garments ; her insidious enemies caught hor 
in that situation ; she was dragged before the 
judges, who now were convinced of her con- 
firmed heresy, and would hear of no recanta- 
tion. She was sentenced, and no pardon could 
be granied. Sobbing and struggling she was 
led to the stake ; the hope of heavenly de- 
hverance filled her heart until she saw the 
flames kimlled at her feet; but then she 
filled the air with her protestations of inno- 
cence, and cries of angviish. Slie died in the 
flames embracing a crucifix, and caUing on 



Christ for mercy. Mercy on earth there 
was none for her. 

CONTRERAS, a.d. 1847.— This celebrated 
battle-field is about fourteen miles south of 
the capital city of the republic of Mexico. 
The Pedregal, which the Americans crossed 
before the battle is an ahnost impassable field 
of lava. 

Although gradually driven back toward 
the city of Mexico by the army of General 
Scott, stLU Santa Anna determined to throw 
every impediment possible in the road of the 
American army on their way to that capital. 
About the middle of the month of August, 
1847, the American army had penetrated the 
country as far as San Augustin. This city, 
the head-quarters of the army, stands on a 
causeway bearing the same name, which leads 
into the great Acapulco highway to the Pa- 
cific ocean. This road is a raised, broad, 
well beaten track, leading in a straight line to 
the city of Mexico, wliich is nine miles dis- 
tant from San Augustin. About two miles 
and a half from San Augustin, Santa Anna 
had placed his first fortifications, in a village 
called San Antonio ; two miles and a quarter 
further on, he had placed a second in the vil- 
lage of Cherubusco, from which village the 
road was free and open to the gates of the city 
of Mexico. Diverging from San Augustin 
to the left, another road, leading over broken 
ground, in the dhection of the village of Con- 
treras, turned into a well-beaten track near 
that village, which aflbrded an open passage 
through the villages of San Angel and Coyo- 
can, to the city of Mexico. On a height 
called Perdierna, near the village of Contre- 
ras, the Mexicans had established an in- 
trenched camp to obstruct the passage of the 
A-mericans into this road. These were the 
only roads leading from the American posi- 
tion, and the question was, which to choose. 
At eight o'clock, on the morning of the 18th 
of August, General Worth's division was 
moved a couple of miles on the causeway of 
San Augustin, and took up a position in front 
of San Antonio. Scott established his head- 
quarters at a hacienda called Coupa, a few 
hundred yards to the right; and he now 
pushed forward reconnoitering parties on both 
roads. Judging from the reports of these 
parties, Scott determined first to carry the 
heights of Perdierna, near Contreras, and then 
to turn the position of the enemy at San An- 
tonio. The distance from San Augustin to 
Contreras was about three miles, over a road 
exceedingly rough, leading through a vast 
field of volcanic rocks and lava, and broken 
eminences, intersected by ditches and cov- 
en-d with prickly pear. But, with some la- 
bor, the road might be made practicable for 
artillery, and Scott at once resolved to cut a 
road to the enemy's position near Contreras, 



CONTEERAS. 



199 



and carry it with the bayonet. He accord- 
ingly dispatched Pillow's division, supported 
by General Twiggs, under the direction of 
Lee, the chief engineer, to open the road to- 
ward Contreras. When the American troops 
had proceeded about one and a half miles, 
they encountered the advance corps of the 
enemy. A slight skirmish ensued, in wliich 
the Mexicans were defeated, and fell back to 
their intrenchments. Between the Mexican 
intrenchments and the advancing American 
column, was a field of lava, which had been 
poured down upon the plain by volcanoes 
long since extinct. The field sloped down 
toward a ravine, which ran along the base 
and in front of the Mexican works. The 
Mexican position was strong and advanta- 
geous in the highest degree. They had 
twenty-two pieces of heavy artillery in bat- 
tery, behind breast-works, and in embrasure, 
while tlie Americans had only light field- 
pieces and howitzers, which were entirely 
uncovered. Slowly the Americans forced 
their way toward the intrenchments. The 
ground, rough and rocky, and creased with 
ditches in all directions, impeded their prog- 
ress, so that long before they could get into 
position, they were torn by constant dis- 
charges of grape, canister, and round-shot 
from the intrenchments. At length, after the 
utmost endeavors, three pieces only Avere got 
into battery. These three, comparatively 
light guns, responded but feebly to the heavy 
guns of the enemy. Yet for two hours the 
American infantry and artillerymen bravely 
stood their ground. At every discharge of 
the Mexican batteries the Americans would 
fall flat to the ground and let the iron tem- 
pest pass over them ; then rising, they would 
serve their guns with the utmost vigor. The 
fire of the Mexican batteries was so well sus- 
tained and directed, that two of the American 
guns were dismounted, and most of the can- 
noneers killed or wounded. The Americans, 
thus baffled in their attempt, withdrew to- 
ward evening Why they made tliis attempt, 
no one can conceive. They had formed no 
plan of attack; indeed, they had not recon- 
noitered the ground for that puipose. In the 
mean time. General Persifer F. Smith, com- 
manding the 2d brigade of Twiggs's division, 
was sent forward to support the American 
batteries in front of the Mexican position, 
near Contreras. He at once determined to 
attack the enemy on the left flank. On the 
evening of the 15th, the Americans entered 
Contreras and took possession of that import- 
ant village. The positions of the two armies 
on the day before the battle were as follows. 
The village of Contreras was occupied by the 
brigades of Generals Smith, Cadwallader, 
Riley, and Shields. Smith's brigade, for the 
time being was under the command of Ma- 



jor Dimick. The whole army consisted of 
3,300 men, afl infantry, and without artillery. 
On the hill of Perdierna was planted the Mex- 
ican army, under General Valencia. The first 
line of the Mexican army consisted of about 
6,000 men; the second, within supporting 
distance, numbered 10,000 more. At threo 
o'clock, on the morning of the 20th, Ihe 
American troops were put in motion. The 
path was exceedinly rocky and narrow; the 
rain had fallen during the whole night ; the 
men were fatigued and wet, having slept on 
their arms, in the mud, and without fire ; and 
the morning was so dark, for it was still 
raining violently, that General Smith, in or- 
der to prevent his rear files fi-om going astray, 
was obliged to order his men to keep within 
touch of each other. The order of the march 
was as follows : 

First, Colonel Riley's brigade ; next, Gen- 
eral CadwaUader's, and lastly, General Smith's 
own brigade under Major Dimick. So tedious 
was the march that it was not until day- 
hght that the head of CadwaUader's column 
emerged from the village, and entered the 
path leading to the ravine in fiont of the 
enemy's position. Having followed up the 
ravine, to a point whence it seemed possible 
to approach the work. Smith halted his 
column, and closed up the rear ranks. Riley, 
to whom was given die honor of the first as- 
sault, here caused his soldiers to examine 
their arms, and ordered such of them as were 
wet to be re-loaded. Then moving on, he 
turned to the left, in the direction of the rear 
of the enemy's camp, and leaving the ravine, 
he ascended a hill, on which the camp was 
planted. His soldiers, however, were shel- 
tered from the enemy's fire by a slight swell 
in the ground. Having halted for a few mo- 
ments to reform his ranks, Riley moved for- 
ward upon the swell and j^resented himself 
in fuU view of the enemy. No sooner did 
the Mexicans perceive the ghttering bayonets 
of the American soldiers arising from behind 
the mound, than they opened a terrific fire of 
artillery and musketry upon Ihcm, not only 
from their intrenchments, but from a bcdy 
of troops posted on Riley's right flank. The 
American general immediately threw out his 
first tAvo divisions as skirmishers, to protect 
his flanks, and then, at the head of liis men, 
rushed headlong into the enemy's works, 
which he soon cleared with the baj'ouet and 
clubbed musket. The engineer company, 
under Lieutenant Smith, and the rifles, hav- 
ing in the mean time, been thrown across a 
ravine, under the brow of the slope, swept it, 
from tliis position in front ; and then inclin- 
ing to the left, joined in the attack on the 
troops outside the left flank of the fort. Ran- 
som, who had been detached by General 
Scott, to cause a diversion in fa^or of the 



200 



COEUNNA. 



main attack of the Americans, came up at 
this moment and poured a deadly fire into 
the works and upon the fugitives. Cadwal- 
lader moved on to the support of Riley, fol- 
lowing the same route that had been taken 
by the latter. Greneral Smith had ordered 
Dimick to follow Cadwallader, in turn; but 
when Dimick had come abreast of the enemy's 
work, a large body of Mexicans threatened 
his flank, and Smith immediately ordered 
him to attack in that direction. The Amer- 
icans in line rushed forward upon the enemy 
with the greatest fury. The Mexicans made 
but a feeble resistance, and were soon put to 
rout. Their cavalry at first made a stand ; 
but being put to flight by the bayonet, the 
horsemen urged back their horses in their re- 
treat, over the infantry; tramphng down 
under f 30t their own comrades and compan- 
ions. The brigade of G-eneral Shields pro- 
tected in a great measure the movement of 
General Smith, and intercepted great num- 
bers of fugitives, who were either cut down 
under the deadly fire of the South Carolina 
Rifles, or were made prisoners. The victori- 
ous Americans pursued the flying enemy in 
every direction for a considerable distance, 
cutting them down by sword and musket- 
ball; and taking great numbers prisoners. 
Thus enled the battle of Contreras. The 
Mexicans lost 1,700 killed and wounded, and 
800 prisoners. Twenty-two pieces of can- 
non ; a large quantity of small arms, ammu- 
nition, stores, etc., and 500 pack mules fell 
into the haads of the victors. — Semmes. 

CORUNNTA, A.D. 1809.— Corunna is a city 
and seaport, situated in the province of Ga- 
licia, at the north-western extremity of Spain. 
It has acquired a celebrity in history, from 
being the point to which Sir John Moore di- 
rected his retreat, and from the fierce battle 
of which it was the theater on the 16th of 
January, 1809, between the British, under 
Sir John Moore, and the French, under Mar- 
shal Soult. 

On the 14th of January, 1809, Sir John 
Moore, after a wearisome and disheartening 
retreat of 15 days' duration, reached Corunna, 
at the head of 14,000 men, followed by the 
French army, consisting of 20,000 men, un- 
der Marshal Soult, who had determined to 
prevent the embarkation of the British troops. 
Under these circumstances, Moore's only al- 
ternative was to risk a battle. Accordingly 
he made his dispositions and awaited the 
attack of the enemy. lie drew up his army 
on a range of heights, which formed a sort 
of amphitheater around the village of Elvina, 
which is rather more than a mile distant 
from Corunna. General Hope, with his di- 
vision, was stationed on the left; his flank 
being covered by the muddy stream of the 
Mero, which commanded the road to Lugo. 



Sir David Baird's division came next, im- 
mediately behind Elvina. General Fraser's 
division, with the Rifles, watched the coast 
road to St. Jago, and were to support any 
menaced point. General Paget, Avith the re- 
serve, occupied the village of Airis, half a 
mile in tlie rear. 

The French troops were advantageously 
posted on a semicircular ridge, which was 
higher than that occupied by the British. 
Laborde's division occupied the right. Merle's 
the center, and Mermet's the left. The light 
field-pieces were distributed along the front 
of this line. The dragoons, under Lahous- 
saye, Lorge, and Franceschi, to which the 
British had no cavalry to oppose, were sta- 
tioned on the left of the infantry, and men- 
aced the British right flank ; while a battery 
of 12 heavy guns, situated on a steep emi- 
nence, between the infantry and cavalry, not 
1,200 yards from Baird's division, were pre- 
pared to carry death and devastation through- 
out the British lines. 

Soult remained inactive during the 14th 
and 15th, and, on the morning of the 16th, 
Moore, conceiving that the enemy did not 
intend disturbing his retreat, gave orders to 
his men to retire into the town, and proceed 
with the embarkation, as soon as night should 
permit them to leave their position without 
being discovered by the enemy. However, 
about two o'clock in the afternoon, four massy 
columns were observed descending from the 
heights which they occupied, and advancing, 
with a swift pace, toward the British line. 
Sir John Moore instantly rode to the front, 
his troops immediately stood to arms, and 
deployed into line, and thus awaited the 
attack of the French troops, who steadily ad- 
vanced in long, deep columns, preceded by 
a body of light troops, as skirmishers. These 
drove in the British advanced posts, with 
great vigor, and made themselves masters of 
Elvina, in the confusion consequent on the 
retreat of the outposts. As they neared the 
center of the British position, they deployed 
into line, and it at once became evident, that 
they extended greatly beyond its extreme 
right; but the 4th regiment, which was 
stationed at that part of the line, by no 
means discouraged by tliis alarming circum- 
stance, immediately threw back its right 
wing and presenting a front in two direc- 
tions, advanced, and was soon warmly en- 
gaged with the enemy. Meantime Mermet's 
troops, after having carried Elvina, were 
bursting through tlie inclosures which lay 
between its houses and the British, with loud 
cheers and all the exultation of victory. At 
this time the action became very warm along 
the whole line. The French and English 
centers had now advanced within pistol-shot 
of each other, and exchanged a few volleys; 



COWAN'S FORD— COWPENS. 



20\ 



when the 50th and 42d regiments were or- 
dered to charge Mermet's division. They 
advanced, and, at tlie point of the bayonet, 
forced them back, and drove them througli 
Elvina, and a considerable distance up the 
slope on the other side. But the ardor and 
impetuosity of these brave troops carried 
them too far, and being disordered by their 
success, were assailed by a fresh body of 
French troops, who drove them back through 
the streets of the village, with considerable 
loss. 

Sir John Moore, however, rallied the 
broken regiments and brought up a battalion 
of guards to support them, then animating 
the men with the remembrance of their past 
glories, he again led them forward to the 
charge. The shock was irresistible, the en- 
emy were driven back to the village of 
Elvina, and there maintained a gallant and 
glorious resistance. However, after a san- 
guinary struggle, they were driven out, with 
great slaughter. 

It was while leading on this decisive 
charge, that the gallant Sir John Moore re- 
ceived his death wound ; he was struck by a 
cannon-shot in the breast, which shattered 
his shoulder to pieces, and laid open his 
breast and lungs. He died the same even- 
ing, and was interred on the ramparts of 
Corunna, where a monument has been 
erected over his uncoffined remains, by 
the generosity and magnanmity of Marshal 
Ney. 

Sir David Baird was also severely wound- 
ed in tliis charge. 

Soult, seeing it were vain to think any 
longer of forcing the British center, deter- 
mined to renew his attempts, with Laborde's 
division, on their left, where he hoped, from 
his superiority in numbers, to be able to 
outflank them. But the ground was un- 
favorable for his operations, and General 
Hope, who commanded the left wing, 
baffled all his efforts, and succeeded, after 
a short combat, in repulsing Laborde's 
division, which he pursued to the village of 
Palairo Abaxo, which was close under the 
French position. After a short resistance 
this village was carried, and remained in the 
hands of the British till the close of the 

Mermet's division again advanced against 
the British right, but General Paget, with 
the reserves, met the assailants, and charged 
them with such vigor, that they were thrown 
back upon Lahoussaye'g dragoons, and all 
driven in confusion and disorder to the foot 
of the hill. 

The want of cavalry was severely felt by 
the British, on this occasion, as with the aid 
of that powerful arm the French left wing 
would liave been utterly routed. As it was, 



when night closed on this field of carnage, 
the French were driven back at all points, 
and the British hne considerably advanced, 
and their embarkation secured without inter- 
ruption. 

In this engagement the British loss, in 
killed and Avounded, amounted to 800 or 
1,000 ; the French to at least 2,000. 

COWAN'S FORD, a.d. 1781.— On the 1st 
of February, 1781, a battle was fought be- 
tween a detachment of the American patriot 
army, under General Davidson, and a body 
of British grenadiers, commanded by Gen- 
eral O'Hara, at Cowan's Ford, on the Ca- 
tawba, Mecklenburg county, North Carolina. 
In the face of the enemy's fire, the British 
troops crossed the river, and falling fiercely 
on the Americans, who had warmly disputed 
their passage, put them to flight, with con- 
siderable loss. General Davidson was shot 
dead. 

COWPENS, A.D. 1781.— This village is 
situated about midway between the Pacolet 
and Broad rivers, in Spartanburg district. 
South Carolina, four miles south of the North 
Carolina Une. 

At the close of December, 1780, Brigadier 
General Morgan, with 400 continental in- 
fantry, under Lieutenant Colonel Howard of 
Maryland ; two companies of the Virginian 
militia, under Captains Triplet and Tate ; 100 
dragoons, under Lieutenant Colonel William 
Washington ; a body of North Carolina militia, 
under Major McDowell, and some Georgia 
militia, under Major Cunningham, was in- 
camped on the northern bank of the Pacolet 
river, near the Pacolet springs. Washington 
and his dragoons frequently salhed out from 
this camp, for the purpose of punishing the 
marauding bodies of Tories, who were in the 
habit of plundering and insulting the Whig 
inhabitants of the Carolinas. Washington's 
dragoons soon became the terror of the 
Tories, and Lord Cornwallis, who was sta- 
tioned with liis troops at Winnsborough, 
was alarmed at the successes of the American 
troopers, and resolved to break up Jklorgan's 
camp, and disperse his troops. Accordingly, 
he detached Tarleton with 300 cavalry, and 
about 700 foot, with two pieces of cannon, 
with orders to drive Morgan from his position. 
The British detachment commenced its march 
on the 12th of January, 1781, and on the 
14th arrived in the vicinity of the Pacolet 
river. Morgan, on the approach of the Brit- 
ish, was at first inclined to dispute their pass- 
age of the Pacolet ; but receiving intelligence 
of the superiority of their numbers, he re- 
treated and took up a position near the Cow- 
pens, on the north side of Thicketty moun- 
tain. Tarleton pursued eagerly, and, on the 
evening of the 16th, reached Morgan's old 
camp, a few hours after the Americans had 



202 



COWPENS. 



left. Leaving his baggage at this place, 
Tarleton pressed on in hot pursuit, riding all 
night, and taking a circuitous route around the 
western side of the Thicketty mountain. At 
eight o'clock, on the morning of January 17th, 
ttxe British army came within sight of the 
advanced parties of the enemy. The Amer- 
icans were drawn up in battle array awaiting 
Tarleton's approach. They occupied the 
summit and sloping side of a forest-crowned 
eminence. The first line consisted of 300 
practiced riflemen, under the command of 
Colonel Andrew Pickens. About 150 paces 
beliind these troops, the second line was sta- 
tioned, occupying the summit of the emi- 
nence, and concealed among the trees. It 
consisted of 430 men, of whom 290 were 
Maryland regulars, and 140 Virginian militia. 
This line was under the command of Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Howard. At about 150 paces 
in advance of the first line, was stationed a 
body of picked riflemen, under the command 
of Cunningham, on the right, and McDowell 
on the left. Colonel Washington's dragoons, 
and McCall's mounted mUitiamen, of Geor- 
gia, were posted behind the second line. 
Morgan stationed himself near Howard, in 
the rear, as a reserve. When Tai'leton ar- 
rived within 300 yards of the first Une of 
the American army, upon the Spartanburg 
road, he halted, and made his dispositions for 
the approaching battle. The British army 
was drawn up in two lines, the infantry in 
the center, and the cavalry on the two wings. 
In the center of the first fine were the two 
pieces of cannon. The first line was com- 
manded by Major Newmarsh, the second by 
Major McArthurs. Tarleton placed himself 
in the first fine. It was a glorious morning, 
the sun shining brightly upon the field which 
was so soon to be drenched \<'ith tlie blood 
of human beings. The crimson uniforms, and 
glistening weapons, of the British, presented a 
strong contrast to the homely guise and tarn- 
ished arms of the Americans ; but the issue of 
the contest proved that the brown barrel of the 
American rifle was equal, if not superior, to 
tlie polished iron of the British musket and 
bayonet. And the motives of the combat- 
ants must have presented as strong a con- 
trast, as was exhibited in their outward ap- 
pearance. The British Avere actuated by a 
sense of duty as paid soldiers and loyal sub- 
jects of their king, and by a desire to uphold 
their character as valiant and experienced 
soldiers. The Americans were filled with a 
desire to revenge the wrongs and outrages 
which the Tories and English had committed 
upon their neighbors, their homes and them- 
selves, and were resolved to a man to teach 
the insolent invaders that they were able to 
cope with them with their own weapons, 
even on unequal grounds. Tarleton gave 



the signal, and the soldiers of his first lino, 
with a loud shout, rushed forward while the 
cannon in their center thundered furiously on 
the Americans. Cunningham and McDowell's 
riflemen greeted them with one terrific dis- 
charge, and then retired to the first line un- 
der Pickens. 

The British, with prolonged shouts, rushed 
on, and delivered a close fire upon the mi- 
litia, who threw rapid and destructive dis- 
charges upon the approacliing enemy. The 
British column steadily advanced, and charged 
furiously upon the militia, who fled, those 
under McCall to their horses, and the others 
under Pickens to the right of the second line. 
The British now vigorously assailed the main 
body of the Americans; but they were re- 
ceived with such a warm resistance, that 
they wavered. The British reserve under 
McArthur was now ordered to advance. 
The conflict nov^ raged fiariously. When 
the battle was at its height, McArthur en- 
deavored to gain the American right flank, 
under Howard. Tliis maneuver was suc- 
cessful, and the American regulars gave way. 
ilorgan now ordered the whole line to re- 
treat to the eminence in front of the cavalry. 
This movement the British believed to be the 
precursor of flight, and followed up the 
Americans with shouts of victory. But when 
close upon the heels of the retreating Amer- 
icans, Howard ordered liis men to face about 
and fire. The words were obeyed with 
alacrity, and the Americans poured a deadly 
volley upon the pursuers, who, terrified at 
this unexpected movement, recoiled in dis- 
order. Howard now ordered his men to 
charge. Like tigers the patriots sprung upon 
their foes and hurled them back reeling down 
the hill. At the same time, some British 
cavalry, gaining the rear of the Americans, 
fell upon McCall's mounted militia. But at 
this moment Colonel Washington, with his 
dragoons, charged like a hurricane upon them, 
scattering them before him like chaff". This 
decided the victory. The Americans making 
one general charge on the enemy drove 
them like sheep before them. Washington, 
hot in pursuit, outstripped his soldiers in the 
chase, and Avas close behind a body of British 
cavalry, with Tarleton and two of his aids 
at their head. Observing the recklessness of 
the American officer, Tarleton ordered liis 
men to face about and capture him. A 
British officer was about to strike the gallant 
American with his sword, when his Serjeant 
arrived and disabled his adversary's sword- 
arm. Another of Tarleton's officers was 
about to strike liim, when he was wounded 
by a pistol ball from Washington's bugler. 
Tarleton, himself, then advanced to run the 
American officer through with his sword; 
but Washington parried the thrust and 



CEANEY ISLAND— CRESSY. 



2C3 



wounded the Briton in the liand. Tarleton 
wheeled hia horse, and as he retreated fired 
his pistol at Washington, wounding liim in 
the knee. The British army continued to 
retreat during the whole night, and the fol- 
lowing day reached the camp of Cornwallis, 
at Turkey Creek, about twenty-five miles 
from the Cowpens. The Americans lost in 
this battle 70 men, of whom 12 only were 
slain, Tarleton lost in killed wounded and 
prisoners, more than 800 men, two pieces of 
cannon, 800 muskets, the colors of the 7 th 
regiment, and all his carriages and baggage. 
One hundred dragoon horses also fell into the 
hands of the Americans. The battle of the 
Cowpens was one of the most decisive of the 
American Revolutionary war. It in fact 
paralysed the power of the Royalists in the 
South. It was to Cornwallis what the battle 
of Bennington Avas to Burgoyne. 

CEANEY ISLAND, a.d.'1813.— On the 
22d of June, 1813, fifty barges filled with 
troops, put olT from the British fleet then 
lying in James river, in Virginia, and rapidly 
approached Craney Island, to make an at- 
tack on that island, the first obstacle in the 
way of their fleet between the mouth of 
the river and the city of Norfolk. The 
Americans had manned a fort on the north 
side of this island with 100 seamen, while they 
had placed gun-boats to command the channel 
on the opposite side. The barges avoiding 
the gun-boats came within range of the bat- 
teries on shore, which opened such a de- 
structive fire upon them that many of the 
boats were cut in two and sunk, and the re- 
mainder compelled to retire. The British 
troops also made an attempt from the main 
land ; but they were repulsed with loss by 
the Virginia militia. The English lost in this 
attack 300 men. The American loss was 
trifling. 

CRANON, B.C. 322.— The Macedonians, 
under Antipater and Craterus, were victori- 
ous over the confederate Greeks, whom they 
defeated twice by sea, and once by land near 
Cranon, in Thessaly. The Athenians de- 
mandeil peace, and Antipater, the conqueror, 
put their orators to death. Among them was 
Hyperides, who, that he might not betray 
the secrets of his country, when under tor- 
ture, cut out his tongue. — Dvfresnoy. 

CRAYFORD, a.d. 457.— In the year 457, 
a battle took place between the Saxons and 
Britons near Cayford, in Kent county,England. 
The Saxons were commanded by Hengrist 
and Oise, his son. The Britons were under 
the command of Vortimer. The Saxons ad- 
vanced fiercely to the fight, shielding them- 
selves from the blows of the enemy with a 
target which they bore on their left arm, 
while with their right hand they dealt vigor- 
ous blows with their ponderous swords and 



battle-axes, or cast their spears and lances 
with the greatest accuracy. The Britons fled 
in wild disorder before the invaders. Four 
of the leaders were slain, and the battle-field 
Avas encumbered with their dead. The whole 
of Kent was abandoned to the Saxons, the 
fugitive Britons taking refuge in London. 

CRESS Y, A.D. 1346.— Cressy, an incon- 
siderable village, eleven miles north of Abbe- 
ville, in France, is famous in history for the 
battle fought in its vicinity by the English, 
under Edward III., and the French, under 
their king, Philip of Valois, on the 2Gth of 
August, 1346. 

Edward chose his ground with advantage 
near the village of Cressy. He drew up his 
army on a gentle ascent, and divided them 
into three lines. The first fine was com- 
manded by the Prince of Wales (then only 
fifteen years of age), and under him, by the 
Earls of Warwick and Oxford, by Harcourt, 
and by the Lords Chandos, Holland, and other 
noblemen. The Earls Arundel and North- 
ampton, with the Lords Willoughby, Basset, 
Roos, and Sir Lewis Tufton, were at the 
head of the second fine. Edward took to 
himself the command of the third division, 
by which he proposed either to bring succor 
to the two first fines, or to push his advan- 
tages against the enemy. He had, likewise, 
the precaution to throw up trenches on liis 
flanks; and he placed all liis baggage behind 
him in a wood, which he also secured by an 
intrenchment. 

The skill and order of this disposition, with 
the tranquillity in which it was made, served 
extremely to compose the minds of the sol- 
diers ; and the king, that he might further 
inspirit them, rode through the ranks with 
such an air of cheerfulness and alacrity, as 
conveyed the highest confidence into every 
beholder. He pointed out to them the ne- 
cessity to which they were reduced, and the 
certain and inevitable destruction which 
awaited them, if, in their present situation, 
inclosed on all hands in an enemy's country, 
they trusted to any thing but their own 
valor, or gave that enemy an opportunity of 
taking revenge for the many insults and in- 
dignities which they had of late put upon 
him. He reminded them of the visible as- 
cendant which they had liitherto maintained 
over all the bodies of French troops that had 
fallen in their way ; and assured them, that 
the superior numbers of the army which at 
present hovered over them, was compensated 
by the order in which he had placed his own 
army, and the resolution which he expected 
from them. He demanded nothing, he said, 
but that they would imitate his own example, 
and that of the Prince of Wales ; and as the 
honor, the fives, and fiberties of all were now 
exposed to the same danger, he was confi- 



204 



CRESST. 



dent that they would make one common 
effort to extricate themselves from their pres- 
ent difficulties, and that their united courage 
would give them the victory over aU their 
enemies. It is related by some historians, 
that Edward, besides the resources which he 
had found in his own genius and presence of 
mind, employed also a new invention against 
the enemy, and placed in his front some 
pieces of artillery; the first that had yet been 
made use of on any remarkable occasion in 
Europe. 

The invention of artillery was at this time 
known in France as well as in England ; but 
Philip, the French king, in Ms hurry to over- 
take the enemy, had left his cannon beliind 
him, wliich he regarded as a useless incum- 
brance. All his movements discovered the 
same imprudence and precipitation. Im- 
pelled by anger, a dangerous counselor, and 
trusting to the great superiority of his num- 
bers, he thought that all depended on forcing 
an engagement with the Enghsh ; and that, 
if he could once reach the enemy in their re- 
treat, the victoi-y on his side must inevitably 
ensue. 

He made a hasty march, in some con- 
fusion, from Abbeville; but after he had 
advanced about two leagues, some gentlemen 
whom he had sent before to take a view of 
the English, returned to him, and brought 
him intelUgence, that they had seen them 
drawn up in great order, and awaiting his 
arrival. They, therefore, desired him to 
defer the combat till the ensuing day, when 
his army would have recovered from their 
fatigue, and might be disposed into better 
order than their present hurry had permitted 
them to observe. Philip assented to this 
counsel ; but the former precipitation of his 
march, and the impatience of the French no- 
bihty, made it impracticable for him to put it 
in execution. One division pressed upon an- 
other; orders to stop were not seasonably 
conveyed to all of them ; this immense body 
•was not governed by sufficient discipline to 
be manageable ; and the French army, im- 
perfectly formed into three lines, arrived, 
already fatigued and disordered, in presence 
of tlie enemy. The first line, consisting of 
15,000 Genoese cross-bowmen, was com- 
manded by Anthony Doria, and Charles 
Grriraaldi ; the second was led by the Coimt 
Alen;on, brother to the king ; the king him- 
self was at the head of the third. Besides 
the French monarch, there were no less than 
tlireo crowned heads in this army — the King 
of Bohemia, the King of the Romans (his 
son), and King of Majorca; with all the 
nobility and great vassids of the crown of 
France. The army now consisted of abovi; 
120,000 men, more than three times the 
number of the enemy. But the prudence of 



one man was superior to the advantage of 
all this force and splendor. 

The Enghsh, on the approach of the French 
army kept their ranks firm and immova- 
ble ; and the Genoese first began the attack. 
There had happened, a little before the 
engagement, a thunder-shower, which had 
moistened and relaxed the strings of the 
Genoese cross-bows, and their arrows, for 
tliis reason, fell short of the enemy. The 
English archers, taking their bows out of 
their cases, poured in a shower of arrows 
upon this multitude who were opposed to 
them, and soon threw them into disorder. 
The Genoese fell back upon the heavy-armed 
cavalry of the Count of Alen9on, who, en- 
raged at their cowardice, ordered his troops 
to put them to the sword. • The artillery 
fired amid the crowd; the English archers 
continued to send in their arrows among 
them, and nothing was to be seen in that 
vast body but hurry and confusion, terror 
and dismay. The young Prince of Wales 
had the presence of mind to take advantage 
of this situation, and to lead on liis line to 
the charge. The French cavalry, however, 
recovering somewhat of their order, and 
encouraged by the example of their leader, 
made a stout resistance ; and having at last 
cleared themselves of the Genoese runaways 
advanced upon their enemies, and, by their 
superior numbers, began to hem them 
round. 

The Earls of Arundel and Northampton now 
brought forward their hue to sustain the 
prince, who, ardent in his first feats of arms, 
set an example of valor which was imitated 
by all his followers. The battle became, for 
some time, hot and dangerous; and the 
Earl of Warwick, apprehensive of the event, 
dispatched a messenger to the king, and 
entreated him to send succors to the rehef 
of the prince. Edward had chosen his sta- 
tion on the top of the hill ; and he surveyed 
in tranquillity the scene of the action. When 
the messengers accosted him, liis first ques- 
tion was whether the prince was slain or 
wounded. On receiving an answer in the 
negative, " Return," said he, " to my son, and 
tell him that I reserve the honor of the day 
to him : I am confident that he will show 
himself worthy of the honor of knighthood, 
which I so lately conferred upon him ; he 
will be able without any assistance to repel 
the enemy." This speech being reported to 
the prince and his attendants, inspired them 
with fresh courage; they made an attack 
with redoubled vigor on the French, in 
which the Count of Alen^on was slain, and 
the whole line of cavalry was thrown into 
disorder; the riders were most of them 
killed or wounded; the Welsh infantry 
rushed into the ttirong, and put to death all 



CREEK WAR. 



205 



•who came in their way ; nor was any quar- 
ter given that day by the victors. 

Tiie Eling of France advanced in vain with 
the rear to sustain the division commanded 
by his brother ; he found it already discom- 
fited ; and this increased the confusion which 
was before but too prevalent in his own 
body. He had himself a horse killed under 
him ; he was remounted ; and though left 
almost alone, he seemed still determined to 
maintain the combat ; when John of Ilainalt 
seized the reins of his bridle, turned about his 
horse, and carried liim off the field of battle. 
The whole French army took to flight, and 
was followed and put to the sword, without 
mercy, by the English, till the darkness of 
the night put an end to the pursuit. Ed- 
ward, on liis return to the camp, flew into 
the arms of the Prince of Wales, and ex- 
claimed, " My brave son ! persevere in your 
honorable cause; you are my son, for va- 
Uantly have you acquitted yourself to-day ; 
you have shown yourself worthy of em- 
pire." In this battle there fell on the side of 
the French, by a moderate computation, 
1,200 knights, 1,400 gentlemen, 4,000 men- 
at-arms, besides about 30,000 of inferior 
rank ; many of the principal nobilit}^, the 
Dukes of Lorraine and Bourbon, the Earls of 
Flanders, Blois, Vaudemont, Aumele, were 
left on the field. The Kings also of Bohemia 
and Majorca were slain. The fate of the 
former was remarkable. He was blind from 
age ; but being resolved to hazard his person 
and set an example to others, he ordered the 
reins of his bridle to be tied on each side to 
the horses of two gentlemen of his train ; and 
his dead body and those of his attendants 
were afterward found among the slain, with 
their horses standing by them in that situa- 
tion. His crest was tlu-ee ostrich feathers, 
and his motto these German words, Ich dien* 
which the Prince of Wales and his successors 
adopted in memorial of this great victory. 
The action may seem no less wonderful for 
the small loss sustained by the English, than 
for the great slaughter of the French. There 
were killed in it only one squire, three 
knights, with very few of inferior rank, a 
demonstration that the prudent disposition 
planned by Edward, and the disorderly 
attack made by the French, had rendered 
the whole rather a rout than a battle, which, 
indeed, was a common case with engage- 
ments in those times. — Hume. 

CREEK WAR, a.d. 1813-14.— We have 
deemed it advisable to give a condensed 
sketch of this war, rather than detailed accounts 
of its several battles. 

The intelligence of the massacre of the 
whites at Fort Mimms, by the Indians, went 
through the States of Georgia, Tennessee, 

• I serve. 



North and South Carolina, like a clap of 
thunder, arousing the people to the highest 
pitch of excitement and indignation. The 
citizens on all sides flew to arms ; and at a 
mass-meeting held at Nashville, Tennessee, 
on the 17th of September, 1813, Andrew 
Jackson was unanimously nominated com- 
mander-in-chief of the troops of the State. 
The legislature confirmed the nomination, 
and $200,000 were appropriated to carry 
on the war. Jackson issued a stirring ap- 
peal, calling on the people to enroll them- 
selves under liis banner. "Already," said 
he, " are large bodies of hostile Creeks 
marching to your borders, with their scalp- 
ing-knives unsheathed to butcher your wo- 
men and children; time is not to be lost. 
We must hasten to the frontier, or we shall 
find it drenched in the blood of our citizens." 
A large number of citizens obeyed this call, 
and hastened to Fayetteville, the place of 
rendezvous, Avherc Jackson joined them on 
the 7th of October. On the evening of the 
8th, Jackson received a dispatch from Colo- 
nel Coffee, who, with a large detachment, 
was stationed at Huntsville, thirty miles from 
Fayetteville, stating that large parties of 
Indians were approaching the frontiers of 
Georgia and Tennessee. 

On the morning of the 10th, Jackson ad- 
vanced with his army toward Huntsville, 
where he arrived on the evening of the next 
day. The Creeks were now hemmed in by 
enemies. On the west of these settlements 
they were threatened by 600 Mississippi 
volunteers, and COO regulars, under Colonel 
Russel; General Floyd, with 2,500 Georgia 
militia, was on the east; and on the north 
5,000 Tennessee militia, were advancing ; 
2,500 under General Jackson, from west 
Tennessee, and the same number under Gen- 
erals White and Cooke, from the eastern part 
of the State. From Huntsville Jackson pro- 
ceeded to Dilto's Fen-y, where Coffee was en- 
camped. From this place he detaced Gen- 
eral Coffee, with 600 men, to attack the 
Indians at Black Warriorstown, 100 miles 
south. On the 19th of October, Jackson, 
with liis army, started for Thompson's Creek, 
where ho arrived on the 22d. He had ex- 
pected to find provisions at this place; but 
they had not arrived, yet he did not despair, 
but pushed on through the wilderness as far as 
Tenplands, where he erected Fort Slother, to 
serve as a depot, and to cover his retreat 
should such a movement be necessary. His 
soldiers were now wretchedly supplied with 
provisions, but they were not despondent. 
General Coffee, meanwliile, had returned suc- 
cessful from his expedition to Black Warriors- 
town ; and was immediately ordered to at- 
tack a large body of Indians at Tallushatchee, 
about thirty miles from Fort Slother. Coffee, 



206 



CREEK WAR. 



with 900 men, marched through the forest 
and fell upon the savages with so much vigor, 
that, although the Indians fought with the 
utmost desperation, nearly the whole body was 
cut off. A hundred and eighty warriors were 
slain, and their dweUings reduced to ashes. 
Having accomplished this, Coffee returned to 
Jackson's camp. On the 7th of November, an 
Indian runner brought to Jackson the in- 
telligence that Fort Talladega, some thirty 
miles distant, was menaced by the Creeks, 
and being assured that if he did not march at 
once to its rehef, the friendly Indians who 
had sought shelter within its walls, would be 
massacred, Jackson, with 2,000 men, ad- 
vanced through the wilderness, and on the 
Sth, at dusk, arrived within six miles of the 
fort The Creeks lay in great numbers about 
the fort. At four o'clock the Americans, in 
three columns, cautiously advanced toward 
the Indian encampment. Arriving within a 
mile of the enemy they prepared for battle. 
The American army was composed of 800 
foot and 700 horse. Two hundred and fifty 
of the cavalry, under Lieutenant Colonel 
Dyer, were stationed in the rear of the cen- 
ter, to act as a reserve. The two brigades of 
Hall and Roberts occupied the center, while 
the right and left wings were composed of 
cavalry. The order to advance was given ; 
the two wings of cavalry darted forward, the 
one on the right the other on the left, in- 
chning their heads toward each other as they 
advanced until they met beyond the hostile 
encampment. Meanwhile the infantry pushed 
forward, keeping pace with the cavalry, until 
the enemy was completely surrounded. Then 
came the din of battle ; the horsemen dis- 
charged their rifles with deadly aim, while 
the infantry sent volley after volley into the 
midst of the affrighted savages, who ran 
frantically around the fiery circle firing at 
random, and filling the air with whoops of 
impotent rage and despair. They fell on ail 
sides before the withering fire of the Amer- 
icans, like grass before the mower's scythe. 
At length they discovered an opening be- 
tween the cavalry and infantry, and Uke a 
river poured through it, flying rapidly for the 
mountains. The horsemen pursued fiercely, 
and the sharp crack of their rifles, and the 
screams of the fugitives, plainly told how hot 
was the chase. The fugitives finally gained 
the mountains, and they were safe from fur- 
ther pursuit. Over 300 of the Indians were 
slain on the spot where the fight began, and 
200 were wounded. A great number were 
also slain in the flight. The Americans lost 
ninety-five in killed and Avounded. Having 
thus relieved Fort Talladega, Jackson re- 
turned to Fort Slother, where he remained 
with his army unemployed until the middle 
of January, 1814:. General Clairborne, with 



his volunteers, meanwlule, was passing up 
the east side of Alabama, piercing to the 
towns above the Catawba, and destroying 
Indian villages. He encountered and defeat- 
ed the Indians under their great cliief 
Weathersford, with a loss of only one man 
killed and seven wounded. Having com- 
pletely subdued the Indians in that part of 
the country, he returned to Fort Clairborne. 
About the middle of January, Jackson was 
reinforced by 800 men ; and he resolved to 
make a diversion in favor of General Floyd, 
who was advancing from the east. Floyd, 
on the morning of the 29th, while advancing 
along the southern bank of the Talapoosa 
river, came suddenly upon the town of Au- 
tossee, where a strong body of Indians were 
posted. The Indians were taken by surprise ; 
but they soon ralhed and fought with the 
utmost desperation. Floyd at length got his 
artillery to bear upon them, and they fled in 
dismay, leaving the ground covered with 
their dead. Several hundred Indians were 
killed and wounded. The Americans lost 
sixty-five in killed and wounded. Among 
the latter was General Floyd, Avho was struck 
by a bullet wliile le^iding on his men. Jack- 
son, hearing that a strong body of Indians 
were encamped at the junction of the 
Emuclcfau Creek with the Talapoosa river, 
and wishing to divert their attention from 
General Floyd, marched thither, and arrived 
near their encampment on the evening of the 
21st of January, 1814. Here he halted, in- 
tending to attack the enemy the next morn- 
ing. To prevent a surprise, the Americans 
built watch-fires around their camp, and stood 
to their arms all night. The Indians had 
observed the approach of the Americans and 
resolved on an attack. Just before dawn, 
with a yell wliich resounded through the 
forest, the savages from all quarters rushed 
furiously into the camp. But a rapid and 
deadly discharge from the Americans sent 
them back howling into cover. At sunrise, 
General Cofl'ee ordered a charge, which drove 
the Indians to their camp. He then ad- 
vanced to attack the encampment, but found 
it too strong, and retired. The Indians then 
attacked the American camp, and they fought 
with such desperate valor, that the Americans 
were obliged to make repeated charges before 
the savages finally took to flight. The In- 
dians lost many of their bravest warriors, and 
the Americans suffered considerably in tliis 
short conflict. Among other officers. Gen- 
eral Coffee was severely wounded. 

Having thus drawn the attention of the 
Indians from Floyd's force to his own, Jack- 
son determined to retreat. On the 23d he 
began to retra(;(! his steps, and at dusk ar- 
rived at the ford of Enotochopeo. Fearing 
a surprise at this place he moved about 600 



CREMOXA. 



207 



yards farther down tlie stream to another 
ford, where he encamped for the night 
Early the next morning the troops com- 
menced crossing. Jackson expected an at- 
tack while in the middle of the river, and 
therefore had formed Ms rear in order of 
battle. His expectations were correct. No 
sooner had a portion of the army gained the 
opposite shore than guns were heard in the 
rear. The savages in great numbers issued 
from the forest, and rushed upon the mihtia, 
who with their officers gave way in terror, 
and hurried in the utmost confusion into the 
river. The entire rear of the army was in 
imminent danger of being cut off; but Gen- 
eral CaiToll with Captain Quarles, and 25 
men, turned fiercely upon the enemy, and 
with well directed volleys, held them in 
check. General Coffee sprang from his litter 
and leaping to his saddle, galloped hastily 
toward the scene of action. Jackson suc- 
ceeded in rallying his troops, and with one 
charge the savages were put to flight. Jack- 
son, after burying the dead and attending to 
the wants of the wounded, resumed his 
march, and on the 28 th, reached Fort Slo- 
ther in safety. 

On the 27th of January, General Floyd, 
again advancing into the Creek country, was 
attacked, just before sunrise by a numerous 
body of savages. The Indians fought with 
desperate valor ; but were at length put to 
flight by a vigorous charge of the bayonet, 
leaving 37 dead on the field. Jackson re- 
mained at Fort Slother until March, when 
having received large reinforcements he found 
himself at the head of 4,000 militia and vol- 
unteers, a regiment of regular troops, and 
several hundred friendly Indians. Having 
completed his arrangements, Jackson, with 
4,000 men, on the 16th of Jlarch, marched 
into the Creek country. He established 
and garrisoned Fort WilUams, at the junction 
of Cedar creek with the Coosa river, and 
then with about twenty-five hundred men 
marched toward the Emuckfau creek. The 
Inchans about a thousand strong were posted 
in an intrenched camp on the Tallapoosa 
river, about five miles below the Emuckfau. 
The river at this point, wrapped itself around 
a tract of land, covering about one thousand 
acres, in the form of a horse-shoe, whence it 
is called Tohopeka land. The Indians had 
erected across the neck leading to the open 
plain, a breast-work of logs, about eight feet 
liigh, and pierced it with a double row of 
port holes. Behind this work, was an ele- 
vated piece of ground, and further back lay 
the village along the shore of the stream. 
The Indian warriors were awaiting the ar- 
rival of the enemy behind their breast-works, 
while their women and children were placed 
for secm-ity in the village. On the 25th of 



March the Americans advanced to the attack. 
I The conflict was obstinate and bloody. The 
Americans, after setting fire to the village, at 
length forced an entrance into the enemy's 
' works. The Indians would not yield and 
! scorned to ask for quarter. The fight became 
a butchery, Jackson, wishing to spare the 
J hves of the savages, sent an interpreter to 
I them offering them pardon ; but they sternly 
I refused, fighting on with the desperation of 
j demons ; but their efforts were all in vain ; 
the rifles and bayonets of the Americans 
rapidly thinned their numbers, and the sur- 
vivors fled to the brush and timber on the 
hill. Jackson turned his cannon on the spot, 
but failing to dislodge them, ordered the grass 
and brush to be fired. Driven fortli by the 
flames the Indians fled toward the river ; 
but most of them were slain before reaching 
the water. Darkness alone put an end to 
the terrible slaughter. 557 Indians were 
killed, and 250 were wounded in and around 
the encampment ; and many of them must 
have perished in their flight. The Americans 
lost, in killed and wounded, about 200. The 
next day Jackson took up his backward 
march to Fort William. The battle of Toho- 
peka, completely subdued the valor of the 
Indians ; and Jackson returned to Tennes- 
see covered with laurels. In a few months 
peace was restored between all the southern 
tribes, and the government of the United 
States. 

CREMONA, B.C. 200.— On the left bank 
of the river Po, in Italy, stands the city of 
Cremona, melancholy and dreary. Every- 
where it shows the symptoms of decay ; the 
grass growing in its streets and its buildings 
seeming ready to tumble down in ruins. Yet 
tliis city has now a population of 28,000 in- 
habitants. 

A numerous army of Gauls in the year 
200 B.C., laid siege to Cremona. The prsetor 
Lucius Furius marched to the succor of the 
allies of the Romans, in the absence of the 
consul. He gave battle the moment he ar- 
rived. The Gauls fought bravely, but at 
length took to flight, and retired in disord(^r 
to their camp. The Romans followed them 
thither, attacked the camp, and took it. Out 
of 35,000 combatants, scarcely 6,000 were 
saved. Eighty standards, and 200 chariots 
filled with booty were the trophies and the 
ornaments of the triumph. Amilcar, a Car- 
thaginian general, who had joined the bar- 
barians, fell in tills engagement, together 
with three of the most distinguished Gauhsh 
leaders. 

Second Siege, b.c. 69. — Vespasian was 
just raised to the empire, but he still had to 
tear the diadem from the brow of the barba- 
rous Vitellius, and maintain the choice of the 
legions with the sword. The new emperor 



208 



CREM02TA. 



sent Primus, one of his lieutenants, and a 
very skillful general, against the tyrant of 
Rome. After several advantages, Primus 
attacked two legions posted before Cremona. 
The Roman legions fought against eacli otlier 
like the most determined enemies. Primus 
was near losing the battle ; but his courage 
rallied his troops when on the point of giving 
way, and he brought them back to the charge, 
and gained a complete victory. His army 
was eager to enter Cremona, but was pre- 
vented by the arrival of six legions of the 
opposite party. A fresh nocturnal combat 
instantly ensued between the victorious Sol- 
diers and their newly arrived enemies. Suc- 
cess was doubtful ; in the obscurity of night, 
address and courage were equally useless; 
they slaughtered each other indiscriminately 
— their blows fell as frequently upon their 
friends as upon their foes. At length, how- 
ever, the moon shed her beams over the 
bloody scene, and gave a more certain di- 
rection to the fury of the combatants ; the 
troops of Primus had this friendly Ught at 
their backs. In this situation, the legions 
opposed to them, deceived by the shade, 
aimed their arrows badly, and shot them 
short of the mark. Primus profiting by this 
advantage, encouraged his soldiers, redoubled 
his exertions, and added the prudence of a 
consummate captain to the bravery of an 
enterprising soldier. Nothing could resist 
him ; his enemies fled before him ; and Pri- 
mus was victor a second time. 

This carnage was signalized by one of 
those tragical events which are only met 
with in civil wars; a son killed his own 
father without knowing him ; he recognized 
him as he was expiring, and, transported 
with grief, he gave himself up to despair, 
cursing the war which had made him an in- 
voluntary parricide. The victorious troops 
were indefatigable; beheving that nothing 
was done till all was done, they attacked and 
carried the camp which surrounded Cremona. 
This place must have fallen into their hands, 
and the inhabitants surrendered, in the hopes 
of mi^riting some clemency by a prompt and 
voluntary submission; but they were de- 
ceived; the greedy legions would not be 
disappointed of their booty. Cremona was 
pillaged, its walls were razed, its citizens 
were slaughtered, its edifices were burned, 
and the city was almost entirely destroyed 
by troops which ought to have respected the 
ancient allies of the Roman people, and the 
citizens of the same empire. 

Third Siege, a.u. 1702. — Cremona was be- 
sieged in 1702 by Prince Eugene. Marslial 
de Villeroi was at the time within the walls. 
It was in the depth of winter, and the mar- 
shal was one day comfortably asleep, Avlien 
he was awakened by a discharge of mus- 



ketry ; he arose in all haste, and was quickly 
on horseback. The first thing he met was a 
squadron of the enemy, by whom he was in 
an instant brought to the ground. A Ger- 
man oflicer, judging by his unilbrm that he 
was a general, made him his prisoner. As 
soon as he was on his feet, he whispered to 
the officer, " I am the Marshal de Villeroi ; I 
will give you ten thousand pistoles, and the 
command of a regiment, if you will conduct 
me to the citadel." "I have for a long 
time," replied the officer, " served the em- 
peror, my master, and I Avill not begin be- 
traying him to-day." He led him to the 
most remote corjjs-de-garde. The Marquis 
de Crenan, a heutenant-general, was mortally 
wounded close to the marshal. Villeroi, a 
prisoner, showed great regret at not being 
free, and declared that he envied him his fate. 
He was immediately taken out of the city, 
without knowing what was going on there. 
Prince Eugene was already in Cremona. 
A priest named Cassoli, the prevot of Saintc- 
Marie-la-Neuve, had introduced the Germans 
by a sewer. Four hundred soldiers, by 
means of tliis sewer, had gained the house of 
tlie priest, and had immediately killed the 
guards of two of the gates. Prince Eugene 
then entered with 4,000 men. And all this 
had been done without the Spanish governor 
having the least suspicion, and before Mar- 
shal de Villeroi was awake. The Spanish 
governor showed liimself in the streets at the 
head of a few soldiers, but was speedily 
killed by a musket-shot. All the general 
officers were either killed or taken, with the 
exception of the Count de Revel and the 
Marquis de Praslin. And yet the prudence 
of Prince Eugene was confounded. The 
Chevalier d'Entragues was that day to re- 
view, in the city, the royal regiment of the 
marine, of which he was colonel. These 
soldiers were already assembled at one ex- 
tremity ^of the city, precisely at the moment 
Prince Eugene entered by the other. D'En- 
tragues began by hastily scouring through 
the streets with his soldiers, and resistinc^ all 
the Germans he met with, which gave time 
for the rest of the garrison to come up. Offi- 
cers and soldiers, pell-mell, some badly 
armed, and some half-naked, without com- 
manders, without order, filled the streets and 
public places, fought in confusion, or in- 
trenched themselves from street to street, or 
from place to place. Two Irish regiments, 
which formed part of the garrison, stopped 
the efforts of the imperialists. Never was 
city surprised with more art and prudence, 
and never was one better defended by cour- 
age and promptness. The garrison consisted 
of 5,000 men ; Prince Eugene had not intro- 
duced more than 4,000. A large detach- 
ment of his army was expected to arrive by 



r'l'ii "i 'i'Mte 




CRIMBSUS. 



209 



the bridge over the Po ; his measures were 
■well taken, but another event deranged them 
all. The bridge over the Po, badly guarded 
by a hundred French soldiers, was to be 
seized by the German cuirassiers. At the 
instant Prince Eugene entered the city, it 
became necessary that as the cuirassiers 
had entered by the southern gate, near to 
the sewer, they should go out of Cremona 
immediately at the north, by the gate of the 
Po, and should hasten to the bridge. They 
went thither, but the guide who conducted 
them was killed by a musket-shot from a 
window, and the cuirassiers mistook one 
street for another, which made their passage 
much longer. In this short interval, the 
Irish threw themselves into the gate of the 
Po, and fought and repulsed the cuirassiers. 
This resistance at first perplexed Prince 
Eugene. He sent Macdonald, one of their 
compatriots, to them, who had been the first 
man that entered the city. " Sir," said he, 
addressing the commanding officer, " Prince 
Eugene has sent me here to say, that if you 
are willing to change your party, and come 
over to that of the Imperiahsts, he will prom- 
ise you better pay, and more considerable 
pensions than you have in the French serv- 
ice. The affection I bear for all persons of 
my nation, and for you, sir, in particular, 
obliges me to extort you to accept the offers 
I make you from this general ; if you refuse, 
I do not see how you are to escape certain 
destruction. With the exception of your 
solitary post, we are masters of the whole 
city ; and this is why his highness only waits 
for my return to attack you with the great- 
est part of his forces, and cut you to pieces." 
"Sir," replied the commander, "if his high- 
ness waits your return to attack us and cut 
us to pieces, he is not likely to do so very 
quickly ; for I arrest you as a prisoner, not 
considering you the envoy of a great gen- 
eral, but as a suborner. It is by such con- 
duct we would merit the esteem of the 
prince who sent you, and not by a treachery 
unworthy of a man of honor." At these 
words, the combat was renewed with fresh 
fury. Eugene, finding Macdonald did not 
return, at once comprehended that he was 
arrested; and being unwilling to resort to 
force, he conceived another stratagem to 
make them lay down their arms. He went 
to Marshal Villeroi: "You have passed 
through the city, monsieur," said he, " and 
you must have remarked that we are mas- 
ters of it. There are still some of your 
trailleurs firing from the ramparts; if that 
continues, they will oblige me to put them 
all to the sword ; order them to surrender." 
The marshal easily perceived that the prince's 
afi'airs were not going on so well as he could 
wish, and only coolly replied — " I have the 

14 



misfortune not to be at liberty, and therefore 
can order nothing." Eugene made a fresh 
attempt upon the Irish, who still opposed a 
wall of fire and steel to the Germans. The 
Baron de Freibourg was charged with this 
attack. Alahoney, commanding a battalion 
of Dillon, seized the bridle of this officer's 
horse, exclaiming, " Quarter for M. de Frei- 
bourg." But the latter, looking at him with 
contempt, rephed, " This is not a day for 
clemency; do your duty, and I will do 
mine." He spoke, and a discharge of mus- 
ketry stretched him dead on the pavement. 
The Marqis de Praslin, during this engage- 
ment, broke down the bridge over the Po, 
so that the Germans could not obtain the 
succors they looked for, and the city was 
saved. Prince Eugene, after fighting all 
day, being still master of the gate by which 
he had entered, at length retired, taking Avith 
him Marshal Villeroi and several officers 
prisoners, but having missed Cremona. His 
activity and prudence had given him the 
place, but the valor of the Irish and the 
French prevented his keeping it. — Rohson. 

Cremona suffered considerable during the 
French revolutionary wars, but had no siege 
of sufficient interest to warrant a place in our 
record. 

CRIlklESUS, 343 b.c— The troubles in Sy- 
racuse, arising from the death of the tyrant 
Dionysius, and the expulsion and restoration 
of Dionysius the younger, caused the Car- 
thaginians to deem it a favorable time to 
seize upon all Sicily. Accordingly, they fitted 
out a mighty fleet, which, in the year 343 B.C., 
set sail for that island, the most beautiful and 
fertile of the Mediterranean. The Syracusana 
saw with dismay the approach of the Cartha- 
ginian fleet, and, feeling themselves incapable 
of defending their city against such a force, 
they intreated aid of the Corinthians, who 
had often assisted them, and who were, of 
all the nations of Greece, most renowned for 
their hatred of tyranny and their love of 
liberty. The Corinthians immediatly sent 
over Timoleon, a man of great merit, who had 
freed his country from tyranny at the ex- 
pense of his own family. He had scarcely a 
thousand soldiers, but with tliis small body 
of men he advanced boldly to the reUef of 
Syracuse. His smaU army increased perpet- 
ually as he marched. The Carthaginians, in 
the mean time, had made themselves masters 
of the harbor ; but the foreign soldiers among 
them began to manifest some discontent, and 
Mago, their commander, glad to have a pre- 
tense to retire, sailed from the harbor and 
steered for Carthage. Great indignation was 
excited by his return, and the Carthaginians 
at once levied new forces, and sent a greater 
and more powerful fleet than the former to 
Sicily. It consisted of 200 ships of war, and 



210 



CRIMESUS— CULLODEN. 



upward of 1,000 transports. The army 
numbered 70,000 men. Immediately after 
the departure of Mago the Corinthians gained 
the entire possession of the city of Syracuse. 
The Carthaginian army landed at Lilybttum, 
under the command of Amilcar and Hanni- 
bal, who resolved to make an attack upon 
the Corinthians first. Timoleon immediately 
inarched out to meet them. The inhabitants 
of Syracuse were struck with such terror that 
scarce 3,000, out of ten times that number, 
ventured to follow him. Of 4,000 mercena- 
ries which were in his army, 1,000 gave way 
to their fears when he was upon the march. 
They turned back, crying, " Timoleon must 
indeed be mad, or in his dotage, to go against 
an army of 70,000 men, with only 5,000 foot 
and 1,000 horse." But the brave Corinthian 
was not discouraged, he rejoiced, rather, that 
the cowards had discovered themselves before 
the battle. Timoleon's army hastily marched 
toward the enemy, who were drawn together 
on th^ banks of the river Crimesus. A thick 
mist was rising from the river, and spreading 
throughout the air, completely concealed the 
enemy's camp. But the inarticulate and con- 
fused noises which issued from beneath the 
dark vail which covered the Carthaginian 
camp, convinced the Corinthians that they 
were in the vicinity of a great army. At 
length the Corinthians halted and laid down 
their shields to rest awhile. Now, like a 
huge curtain, the fog uprose, and a magnifi- 
cent spectacle was discovered to the gaze 
of the Corinthians- Below them rolled the 
river Crimesus, wliich the Carthaginians 
were crossing. Their first Une consisted of 
chariots, each drawn by four horses, and 
armed with formidable scythes. The chariots 
were followed by 10,000 men with white 
bucklers. These troops were native Cartha- 
ginians and marched with deliberation and in 
good order, but behind them came the troops 
of other nations, who advanced in a confused 
and tumultuous manner. Timoleon, observing 
that he had the power of engaging with what 
number of the enemy he pleased — for the 
main boily of the Carthaginian army was di- 
vided by the river, a portion having crossed, 
and a portion preparing to cross — ordered 
his cavalry to attack the enemy before they 
had time to range themselves in order of bat- 
tle. But the Corinthian cavalry could not 
come to close quarters with the enemy, by 
reason of the armed chariots that ran to and 
fro in front of their army. Now Timoleon 
called for !iis buckler, and with a shout which 
was heard by his whole army, he called upon 
his infantry to follow him. His soldiers, be- 
lieving him to be inspired from heaven, obeyed 
him with enthusiastic cries. The trumpet 
sounded, and the Corinthians, following their 
brave leader, rushed down upon the enemy. 



The Carthaginians sustained the first shock 
with great spirit; they were strongly pro- 
tected with breast-plates of iron and helmets 
of brass, and covering themselves with their 
large shields, they could easily repel the 
thrusts. of spears and javehns. The Greeks 
determined to decide the battle with the 
sword, a weapon wliich requires art as well 
as strength ; they pressed, therefore, upon the 
enemy with such vigor, that the latter were 
compelled to defend themselves with the 
sword alone. At this moment, a severe 
storm of rain and wind arose. The tempest 
drove directly into the faces of the Cartha- 
ginians, who, blinded by the rain, and in- 
cumbered by their heavy armor, fought at a 
great disadvantage. The Greeks cut to pieces 
400 men who composed the front ranks of 
the enemy, and then their whole body was 
put to flight. The Greeks pursued, over- 
taking many of the fugitives and putting them 
to the sword. A great number of them at- 
tempted to cross the river, but the stream, 
swollen by the rain, was impassable, and they 
were drowned. Among 10,000 Carthaginians 
slain, 3,000, it is said, were natives of Car- 
thage, of the highest rank. So many native 
Carthaginians never before fell in one battle. 
5,000 prisoners and 200 chariots were taken. 
The Carthaginian camp and baggage fell into 
the hands of the conquerors. Around Timo- 
leon's camp were gathered immense piles of 
spoils, among which were 1,000 breast-plates 
of exquisite workmanship, and 10,000 buck- 
lers. The bodies of the slain were arrayed in 
such costly armor, that those who stripped the 
dead rejected every thing save gold and sil- 
ver. So great was the wealth of the van- 
quished army, that three days elapsed before 
the victors could gather the spoils. Then the 
Corinthians erected a trophy of victory on the 
field of battle, and Timoleon, after directing 
his mercenary troops to lay waste the Car- 
thaginian province, returned to Syracuse. 

CULLODEN, A.D. 1746.— The moor or 
plains of Culloden are situated about three 
miles from the city of Inverness, in the high- 
lands of Scotland. They are surrounded by 
hills, except on the side next the sea. 

It was here that Prince Charles, the Pre- 
tender to the crown of Scotland, with the 
rebel army, determined to await the royal 
army, under the Duke of Cumberland, and 
decide the fate of Scotland by a single 
blow. 

The forces of the rebels, which consisted 
of 8,000 men, were drawn up in three di- 
visions, with a few pieces of badly-manned, 
ill-served cannon in the front of their hues. 

The battle commenced at one o'clock in the 
afternoon, on the 16th of April, 1746, when 
the cannon in the king's army committed 
frightful devastation in the ranks of the en- 



CUNAXA. 



211 



emy, while at the same time theirs oould 
made no adequate reply. The rebels did not 
feel at all comfortable under this heavy fire. 
They became impatient, and a body of 500 
men made a furious irruption on the English 
left wing. The first hne was broken and 
tlirown into disorder by tliis onset, but two 
battalions coming up to their support, they 
opened a close and murderous fire upon the 
rebels, wliile, at the same time, Hawley's 
dragoons and the Argyleshire militia destroy- 
ed a park wall which had covered their flank, 
and fell upon them, sword in hand, with great 
slaughter. 

Scarcely had tliirty minutes elapsed, ere 
they were all routed, and the field covered 
with the bodies of the slain, to the number 
of 3,000. Some French troops, who had 
been in the field as allies of the rebels, were 
not engaged during the whole contest, but 
stood merely as spectators, delivered them- 
selves up as prisoners of war. Besides much 
unnecessary cruelty was shown by the Duke 
of Cumberland, after the victory was secure. 
No quarter was given, and numbers were 
sabered who had not been in the rebel 
army, but had been attracted thither by 
curiosity. 

This battle was the last fought by the 
Pretender. His forces were utterly routed, 
and his cause beginning to appear desperate ; 
so with a few of his adherents, he set sail for 
France, where he arrived in a few days ; he 
continued to reside some time at Morlaix, and 
died at Rome, in 1788. 

CUNAXA, Battle of, and Retreat of the 
10,000 Greeks, b.c. 400.— Cyrus was the 
youngest son of Darius, King of Persia, and 
brother of Artaxerxes. Darius, being at the 
point of death, desired both his sons to at- 
tend him. Artaxerxes, the eldest, being 
then present, he sent for Cyrus, whom he 
had appointed general of all the people who 
assemble in the plain of Castolus, in Asia. 
Cyrus immediately complied with his father's 
request, and came to court, accompanied by 
Tissaphernes, whom he then considered his 
friend, and attended by 300 heavy-armed 
Greeks, under the command of Xenias, a 
Parrhasian. After the death of Darius, Ar- 
taxerxes ascended the Persian throne. Cyrus 
saw the elevation of his brother with pain, 
and at the very time that Artaxerxes was 
taking possession of his throne, he attempted 
to deprive him of his crown and life together. 
Artaxerxes was not insensible of what he 
had to fear from his brother, and upon Cyrus 
being accused of treason by Tissaphernes, he 
caused him to be arrested, with the design 
of putting him to death ; but the tears and 
prayers of his mother prevailed, and by his 
orders Cyrus was sent back to his govern- 
ment in Asia. Cyrus enraged at tliis fancied 



insult, thought of nothing but how to devise 
means whereby he might destroy his brother 
and mount the Persian throne himself. He 
received all who came to his court with the 
greatest affabiUty, and sent them back more 
disposed to favor him than the king. His 
mother, who had a greater love for Cyrus 
than the King Artaxerxes, warmly seconded 
him, and he rapidly gained friends through- 
out the whole empire. His care and kind- 
ness attracted the affections of the barbarians 
over whom he ruled, and he soon trained 
them to be good soldiers and true to his 
cause. He also levied an army of Greeks, 
with all possible secrecy, that the king might 
not be aware of his measures, and make prep- 
arations to meet them. At length, by in- 
trigue, and the efficient aid of his many 
friends, he collected an army of 13,000 
Greeks; 100,000 barbarians, and 20 chariots 
armed with scythes. Clearchus, the Lace- 
dfemonian, commanded all the Peloponnesian 
troops, except the Acheeans, of whom Socra- 
tes of Achsea, was leader. The Boeotians 
were under Proxenus, the Theban, and the 
Thessalians under Menon. The barbarians 
were commanded by Persian generals, of 
whom the chief was Ariaeus. Cyrus care- 
fully concealed from the Greeks the true ob- 
ject of his expedition. Having determined 
to march from Sardis, where he had collected 
his troops, to the upper provinces of Asia, he 
pretended that his design was to drive the 
Pisidians, who had infested his provinces by 
their incursions, entirely out of the country. 
Clearchus alone was acquainted with his real 
intentions. Tissaphernes, who was posted at 
Miletus, observing all these preparations, con- 
sidered them greater than were necessary to 
be used against the Pisidians. He, therefore, 
hastened to the king, and informed him of the 
intended expedition of Cyrus. Artaxerxes 
immediately prepared himself to oppose him. 
Cyrus now set his army in motion, and ad- 
vanced continually by long marches, until 
they arrived at Tarsus, a large and rich city of 
Cilicia. Here the Greeks refused to proceed 
any further. They rightly suspected that they 
were marching against the king. Clearchus 
endeavored to force his men to go on ; but as 
soon as he began to march, they threw stones 
at him and his sumpter horses, so that he nar- 
rowly escaped being stoned to death. He 
turned toward his troops and addressed them. 
With tears in his eyes, he entreated them 
not to desert the cause of Cyrus. "But," 
said he, to his soldiers, in conclusion, "I have 
determined, at all events, to give you the 
preference, and with you to suffer any thing 
that may happen. Neither shall any one say, 
that, having led the Greeks among barbar- 
ians, I betrayed the Greeks ?.nd preferred the 
friendship of the barbarians. Since you re- 



212 



CTJNAXA. 



fuse to obey me and to follow me, I will fol- 
low you, and share in all your sufferings; 
for I look on you as my country, my friends 
and fellow-soldiers, and that with you I shall 
live in honor wherever I am; but without 
you, that I shall neither be useful to my 
friends nor formidable to my enemies. Be 
assured, therefore, that whithersoever you go, 
I am resolved to go with you." 

The soldiers, hearing this, commended him 
for declaring that he would not march against 
the king. Cyrus was much perplexed at this 
state of affairs ; but Clearchus privately dis- 
patched a messenger to him with encourage- 
ment that it would soon take a favorable turn ; 
and that it would teml only to strengthen his 
cause in the eyes of the soldiers. He ad- 
vised Cyrus to send for him publicly, at the 
same time informing him that he did not de- 
sign to go to him. Cyrus did as he was ad- 
vised, and then Clearchus assembling liis 
soldiers again addressed them: "I know," 
said he, " that Cyrus thinks himself unjustly 
treated by us, and therefore shame prevented 
me from going to him when he sent for me. 
I am conscious myself of having deceived 
liirn, and I must confess that I was also afraid 
to go to him, lest he should cause me to be 
apprehended and punished for the wrongs he 
thinks I have done him. I am, therefore, of 
opinion that this is no time for us to sleep or 
to neglect the care of ourselves, but to con- 
sult what is to be done. If we stay, we are 
to consider 1 jy what means we may stay with 
the greatest security ; and if we resolve to 
go away, how we may go with the greatest 
safety, and supply ourselves with provisions, 
for without these, neither a commander, nor 
a private man can be of any use. Cyrus is a 
very valuable friend, when he is a friend; 
but he is also an enemy to be dreaded when 
he is an enemy. He is also master of that 
strength in foot, horse, and at sea, which we 
all both see and are acquainted with, for 
truly we do not seem to be encamped at a 
great distance from him ; so that this is the 
time for every one to advise what he judges 
best." Here he stopped. Here many arose 
of their own accord and gave various opin- 
ions. One said it would be impossible to re- 
turn to Greece without the consent of Cyrus, 
and another insisted that without his consent 
they could not remain where they were. At 
length it was decided to send deputies to 
Cyrus, to ask him in what service he intend- 
ed to employ them. Clearchus was appointed 
one of the deputies. The deputation now 
waited on Cyrus, who had been secretly ap- 
prised by Clearchus, of every thing that had 
transpired, and asked him the question ap- 
pointed by the army. Cyrus replied: "I 
am informed that Abrocomas, my enemy, 
lies near the Euphrates, at the distance of 



twelve days' march. My intention, therefore 
is, if I find him to punish him by leading my 
army against him ; but if he flies from the 
place, I will there consider what we are to 
do." When this answer was repeated to the 
Greeks, although they suspected that they 
were in reality to be led against the king, 
they resolved to proceed, and only demanded 
an augmentation of their pay. Cyrus, instead 
of one daric a month to each soldier, prom- 
ised them one and a half As Cyrus ad- 
vanced through the country by long marches, 
he was informed, from all parts, that the king 
did not intend to come directly to a battle ; 
but had resolved to wait in the heart of Per- 
sia until all his forces were assembled ; and 
that, to stop his enemies, he had ordered to 
be dug in the plains of Babylon a ditch five 
fathoms broad, and three deep, extending the 
space of twelve leagues from the Euplirates 
to the wall of Media. Cyrus, having ad- 
vanced into the country of Babylon, reviewed 
his forces, both Greeks and barbarians, in a 
plain, about midnight. He gave the com- 
mand of the right wing to Clearchus, and 
that of the left to Menon, the Thessalonian, 
whOe he himself drew up liis own men. Af- 
ter the review he marched onward in bat- 
tle array, and passed the ditch dug by the 
king, without molestation. He now thought 
that his brother had abandoned all intention 
of fighting, and therefore, he proceeded with 
more negligence. At length, unexpectedly, 
Artaxerxes approached with his army in 
excellent order. The place where the battle 
was fought, was called Cunaxa, about 25 
leagues from Babylon. The army of Cyrus 
consisted of 13,000 Greeks, 10,000 barba- 
rians, and 20 chariots, whose wheels were 
armed with scythes. Artaxerxes's army 
amounted in all to about 1,200,000 men, un- 
der the four generals, Tissaphernes, Gobryas, 
Arbaces, and Abrocomas, who had each the 
command of 300,000 men ; but of this num- 
ber 900,000 only were present at the battle, 
together with 150 chariots armed with 
scythes. Abrocomas, with 300,000 men, was 
on his way from Phoenicia, and did not ar- 
rive until five days after the action. The 
sudden arrival of tlie king's army occasioned 
a general confusion among the Greeks, all 
expecting that he would charge them before 
they could put themselves in order. Cyrus 
immediataly leaped from his car, and putting 
on his corslet, and taking his javelin, mount- 
ed his horse. He rode swiftly through 
his army, commanding every man to take 
his post. His generals warmly seconded 
him, and by his directions quickly formed 
their troops. Clearchus took command of 
the right wing of the Grecian army. The 
left was under the control of Menon, while 
the center was composed of the men under 



CUNAXA. 



213 



Proxenus, and the other G-recian generals. 
One thousand Paphlagonian horse, of the 
barbarians, were planted with the Greek 
targeteers, next to Clearchus on the right. 
The left wing of the entire army consisted of 
the barbarian forces, and was under the com- 
mand of Ariseus, Cyrus's lieutenant-general. 
Cyrus placed himseLf in the center of the left 
wing. He was surrounded by 600 horsemen, 
armed with large corslets and cuirasses. 
They all wore helmets except Cyrus, who 
stood ready for the charge with his head un- 
covered. The horses were armed with both 
frontlets and breastplates, and the horsemen 
with Greek swords. About three o'clock in 
the afternoon a great cloud of white dust 
arose, and announced that the army of the 
great king was upon them. Soon a black 
hne stretched itself across the entire plain, 
and the gUttering of armor, and lances, flashed 
along the line, like vivid lightning tlirough a 
dark cloud. Now the heavy tramp of armed 
men shook the ground, and like distant 
thunder fell upon the ears of Cyrus and his 
army. The left wing of Artaxerxes's army 
was under the command of Tissaphernes, 
and consisted of cavalry armed with white 
cuirasses, and of light-armed infantry ; the 
center was composed of the Egyptian heavy 
armed foot, who carried huge wooden shields, 
which covered their bodies from head to foot, 
and the right wing consisted of the rest of 
the light-armed infantry, and the cavalry. 
The troops marched according to their re- 
spective countries, each nation being drawn 
up in a solid oblong square. The king had 
posted himself in the main body of his 
army. His guard consisted of 0,000 horse, 
commanded by Artagersis. In the front of 
the army were disposed, at a considerable 
distance from one another, 150 chariots, 
armed with scythes fixed aslant at the axle- 
tree, or under the body of the chariot, point- 
ing downward, that they might cut asunder 
every thing they encountered. Cyrus relied 
most on the valor and experience of the Greeks. 
Observing that the front of the king's army 
so much exceeded in extent, that of his 
own, that Artaxerxes, although in the center, 
was beyond his left wing, Cyrus commanded 
Clearchus to bring his men opposite to the 
center of the enemy, that they might attack 
the king. But Clearchus, however, fearing 
that the enemy, so greatly his superior in 
numbers, might surround him on both sides, 
would not be prevailed on to withdraw his 
right from the river ; but answered Cyi'us he 
would take care all should go well. The 
enemy in the mean time advanced slowly 
and in good order. Cyrus rode to a small 
distance before his ranks, and surveyed atten- 
tively both Artaxerxes's army and his own. 
While he was thus engaged, Xenophon, an 



Athenian, spurred directly up to him, and 
asked whether he had any thing to command. 
Cyrus ordered him to tell the Greeks that the 
sacrifices and victims promised success. Cy- 
rus now immediately returned to his post 
The two armies were now within a short dis- 
tance from each other. The Greeks sung 
their battle hymn, and slowly advanced 
against the enemy. But in a fluctuation of 
the hne of battle, a few who were left be* 
hind hastened forward, and urged on their 
comrades to a greater speed. Then, with a 
general shout, they ran with their greatest 
speed against the enemy, striking their shields 
with their darts, and prolonging their shouts. 
Their enemies, frightened at the terrible noise, 
turned their horses and fled, before a blow 
was struck. Tissaphernes, with a small body 
of his troops, alone stood liis ground. The 
Greeks pursued the flying enemy, calling to 
one another not to run, but to follow in 
ranks. Many of the chariots of the enemy 
were driven back into their own ranks, with- 
out their charioteers ; others were borne 
through the Greeks, who, seeing them, di- 
vided and escaped uninjured. The chariots 
committed great havoc upon the king's 
troops ; but did not injure one of the Gre- 
cians. Cyrus rejoiced when he saw the 
Greeks victorious, and those about him 
worshiped him almost as a god, and pro- 
claimed him Icing at once. But he did not 
yet consider liimself a victor, and therefore 
did not leave his post to join in the pursuit 
Artaxerxes now wheeled liis right to attack 
Cyrus in flank. Upon perceiving tliis, Cyrus 
marched directly against him with his 600 
horse. "With his own hand he killed Arta- 
gersis, who commanded the king's guard of 
6,000 horse. On the death of their general 
the guards fled, and Cyrus, perceiving his 
brother, cried out, his eyes sparkling with 
rage, " I see the man." Then running furi- 
ously at him, he broke through the king's 
attendants, and striking him on the breast, 
wounded him through the corslet. At the 
same time Cyrus received a wound under the 
eye, from a well-directed javelin cast from 
the hand of one of the king's attendants. 
The two brothers now engaged in a furious 
hand-to-hand combat, while their retainers 
madly fought with each other in defense of 
their respective leaders. Imbued with deadly 
hatred and envy, Cyrus and Artaxerxes fu- 
riously struck at each other, each endeavor- 
ing to plunge his sword into his opponent's 
heart, and to assure himself of the throne by 
the death of his rival. By a well-directed 
stroke Cyrus killed his antagonist's horse, 
which fell, bringing his rider to the ground. 
The king quickly mounted another horse, 
when Cyrus attacked him again, and wound- 
ed him a second time. The king, foaming 



214 



CIJNAXA. 



with rage, spurred his horse against his 
enemy, who was on the point of again strik- 
ing him with liis weapon. Cyrus plunged 
headlong into the midst of a flight of darts, 
which were discharged at liim from aU sides. 
Tlie king, with all liis strength, hurled liis 
javelin at his brother, wounding him severely. 
At the same instant the king's attendants 
dischargetl their weapons against the Avound- 
ed man, and, pierced through and through 
with a multitude of arrows, Cyrus fell dead 
to the ground. "When Artapohs, the favorite 
minister of Cyrus, saw him fall, he leaped 
from his horse, and throwing himself upon 
the body of his master, embraced it, and 
wliile in that position, was killed by order of 
the king. Ariteus, who ought to have been 
the foremost of all his adherents, fled with 
the left wing of the army, as soon as he 
heard of his death. All of his other friends 
and favorites died fighting for him. Arta- 
xerxes caused the head and right hand of his 
brother to be cut ofi^ by the eunuch Mesabales, 
and then pursued the enemy into their camp. 
Ariaeus had not stopped there, but having 
passed through it, continued his retreat to 
the place where the army had encamped the 
day before, which was about four leagues 
distant. The king with his forces plundered 
the camp ; there he found Cyrus's mistress, As- 
{)asia, a woman of great beauty and wit. He 
made her his captive, but her companion, a 
young girl, escaped to the quarter of the 
Greeks who were left to guard the baggage. 
Thus warned, they killed many of those who 
came to plunder their camp, and finally suc- 
ceeded in driving them from the spot, with 
but slight loss to themselves. Tissapliernes, 
after the defeat of the greater part of his left 
wing by the Greeks, led on the rest against 
them, and by the side of the river passed 
through the Grecian hght-armed infantry, 
which opened to give him passage. As he 
passed through the Greeks they discharged a 
shower of arrows upon him, which wounded 
many of his men. Tissapliernes continued liis 
march, without returning to the charge, and 
went forward to Cyrus's camp, where he 
joined the forces of the king, who were 
plundering it. The army of Artaxexes, and 
the main body of the Greek army, were at 
a considerable distance from each other ; the 
Greeks pursuing the flying barbarians as if 
they had won a complete victory, while Ar- 
taxerxes was plundering Cyrus's camp and 
preparing to seize on the baggage of the 
Greeks, as if he also had been everywhere 
victorious. But when the Greeks were in- 
formed that the troops of the king were 
plundering their camp, and Artaxerxes, on 
his side, learned from Tissaphernes that the 
Greeks had put those before them to flight, 
the former halted and held a council, while 



the latter marched his army toward them. 
The two armies were soon very near each 
other, and the Greeks, seeing that the enemy 
drew near in order of battle, chanted their 
hymn of battle, and hastily advanced to en- 
gage them. But the barbarians did not wait 
to receive them. They again took to their 
heels, and ran further than before, and were 
pursued to a village at the foot of a hill, upon 
wliicli their cavalry halted. The king's stand- 
ard, which was a golden eagle with extended 
wings, upon a pike, was observed to be there. 
The Greeks instantly prepared to pursue 
them ; but they also abandoned the hill, and 
fled precipitately in the utmost disorder and 
confusion. Clearchus drew up his troops at 
the foot of the hill, and ordered Lycias, the 
Syracusan, and another, to ascend it, and ob- 
serve what passed in the plain. They re- 
turned with an account that the enemy were 
flying on all sides, and that their army was 
entirely routed. As it was almost night, the 
Greeks laid down their arms to rest them- 
selves, much surprised that neither Cyrus, nor 
any from him, appeared. They imagined 
that he was either engaged in the pursuit of 
the enemy, or was making haste to possess 
himself of some important place, for they 
were still ignorant of his death, and the de- 
feat of the rest of his army. Thereupon they 
determined to return to their camp, where 
they passed the night, concluding that Cynis 
was ahve and victorious. The next day they 
learned that Cyrus was dead, and that Ari- 
seus had retired to their former camp. They 
therefore sent deputies to Ariggus to offer 
him, as victor, the crown of Persia, in the 
room of Cyrus. At the same time arrived 
Persian heralds at arms from the king to 
summon them to deliver up their arms. They 
answered, with a haughty air, that such mes- 
sages were not to be sent to conquerors ; 
that if the king wanted their arms he might 
come and take them, but that they would de- 
fend them with their lives. They said, fur- 
thermore, that if the king would receive 
tliem as his aUies, they would serve him with 
valor and fidelity, but if he imagined to 
reduce them to slavery, as conquered, he 
might know that they were prepared to de- 
fend themselves to the last, that they would 
lose their hves and liberty together. The 
heralds added, that they had orders to tell 
them that if they continued in the place 
where they were, they would be allowed a 
suspension of arms ; but if they advanced or 
retired, that they Avould be treated as ene- 
mies. *' Let your king know," rephed Cle- 
archus, " that we are of the same opinion 
with him." "What is that?" inquired the 
heralds. " If we stay," continued Clearchus, 
" there may be peace, but if we march or re- 
tire, war." Again the heralds asked, " Shall 



CUNAXA. 



215 



we report peace or war ?" Clearchus replied, 
" Peace, if we stay ; war, if we retire or ad- 
vance." But lie did not decide what he pro- 
posed to do, in order to keep the king in a state 
of constant suspense and uncertainty ; and 
with tliis answer, the heralds were obUged to 
return. Ariajus, having refused the offer of tlie 
Persian crown, sent for the Greeks to join him 
without delay. Clearchus, with the advice 
of the officers, prepared to depart. When 
the night came, Miltocythes, tlie Thracian, 
who commanded forty horse and about 300 
foot, of his own country, went and sur- 
rendered himself to the king ; and the rest 
of the Greeks began their march, and at about 
midnight arrived at the camp of Ari^eus. 
After they had drawn up in order of battle, 
the principal officers waited on liim in his 
tent, where they swore alliance with him, 
and the barbarian engaged to conduct them 
out of the country without fraud. A plan 
for the retreat of the army was now agreed 
upon, and early in the morning of the follow- 
ing day they commenced their march north- 
ward. Toward evening, the scouts wlio 
had been sent out in advance returned, with 
the news that the enemy of the Persian king 
was near at hand. Clearchus immediately 
directed the army to encamp for the night. 
The next morning, at sunrise, the Greeks 
were drawn up in battle array and presented 
so bold an appearance that the king was ter- 
rified, and sent heralds, not as before to de- 
mand their arms, but to propose a treaty of 
peace. The Greeks boldly and ingeniously 
rephed that they preferred war, unless they 
were supphed with food. The king complied 
with their demands, and in the interim of ne- 
gotiations led them to villages abounding in 
provisions. 

Three days afterward Tissaphernes was 
sent by the king to ask them why they had 
borne arms against him. " We caU the gods 
to witness," replied Clearchus, " that we did 
not enlist ourselves to make war with the 
king, or to march against him. Cyrus, con- 
cealing Ms true motives under different pre- 
texts, brought us almost hither, without ex- 
plaining himself, the better to surprise you. 
When we saw him surrounded by dangers, 
we considered it infamous to abandon him 
after all the favors we had received from 
him. But now that Cyrus is dead, we neither 
intend to contend with the king for his king- 
dom, nor to ravage his country, nor to molest 
him, provicUng he does not oppose our re- 
turn. However, if any man offers an injury 
to us, we shall, with the assistance of the 
gods, endeavor to revenge it. And we shall 
not he ungrateful toward those who render 
us any assistance." Tissaphernes conveyed 
this answer to the king, and in three days 
returned, and made a treaty with the Greeks, 



on these conditions : that the Persians should 
faitlifully lead back the Greeks to their own 
country, and supply them with provisions; 
and that the Greeks should either purchase 
their provisions, or procure them unpurchased 
without detriment to the territory. In the 
mean time, the Greeks began to form suspi- 
cions of the sincerity of Ariseus, whose friend- 
ship for them appeared to cool every day 
more and more. On the arrival, therefore, 
of Tissaphernes, to conduct them on their 
march, they encamped apart by themselves ; 
wliile Ariasus with liis troops encamped with 
the barbarians under Tissaphernes. The 
aversion of the Greeks to the barbarians 
was, moreover, constantly augmented by 
their daily quarrels for wood and forage. At 
length the whole army commenced its march, 
and in three days arrived at the wall of Me- 
dia, near Babylon. The cowardice and pre- 
tended snares of the Persians continually 
increased the distrust of the Greeks. Having 
halted three days at the river Zabalus, the 
Greeks were confirmed in their suspicions 
against the good faith of the Persians ; and 
Clearchus, in a conference with Tissaphernes, 
used his utmost effort to bring matters to a 
more amicable footing. Tissaphernes replied 
with such civility, that the next day, Clear- 
chus proposed in the assembly to go to Tissa- 
phernes, with the several commanders of liis 
troops, in order to be apprised of the persons 
who by calumnies had endeavored to excite 
animosity between the two nations. Many 
of the assembly objected ; but Clearchus con- 
tinued to insist upon his proposal, tiU it was 
agreed that the four other commanders, with 
20 captains, and about 200 soldiers, should 
accompany him to the Persian camp. When 
they came to the tent of Tissaphernes, the 
generals, Clearchus, a Lacedaemonian, Prox- 
enus, a Boeotian, Menon, a Thessalian, Agias, 
an Arcadian, and Socrates, an Achaean, were 
admitted; while the captains were ordered 
to remain without. No sooner had they en- 
tered, than on a concerted signal, the five 
generals were seized, and the captains were 
put to the sword. Immediately afterward a 
troop of Persian horse scoured the plain, 
and killed all the Greeks they encountered, 
both freemen and slaves. The Greeks, with 
surprise, beheld these excursions from the 
barbarians' camp, and were in doubt of what 
they were doing, till Nicurches, an Arcadian, 
came flying into the camp, so severely 
wounded that he bore his bowels in his 
hands. On this the Greeks in amazement 
and terror ran to their arms, expecting an 
immediate attack. But they were not mo- 
lested. AriaBus, however, came with his at- 
tendants to the Grecian camp, and in the 
name of the King of Persia, demanded the 
immediate surrender of tlieir arms. The 



216 



CUNNERSDORF— CUZCO. 



Greeks, through Cleanor, the Orchomenian, 
returned a contumelious answer, and the bar- 
barians, after conferring together for a con- 
siderable time, departed. The five Grecian 
commanders, after having been seized by 
Tissaphernes, were sent to the king, who or- 
dered their heads to be struck off'. And now 
tlie 10,000 Greeks, who had followed the 
standard of the ambitious Cyrus, were more 
than 600 leagues from home, in a country 
surrounded on every side by a victorious 
enemy, without money, or provisions, or a 
leader. All gave themselves up to despair. 
They felt, that they were still 2,000 miles 
from the nearest part of Greece, close to the 
vast armies of a king who was determined 
that they should not convey the news of their 
glorious victory, or the dastardly conduct of 
his army out of the country. They were 
surrounded on all sides by tribes of barba- 
rians, who would supply them with nothing 
but at the expense of blood and blows. They 
had no guide acquainted with the country, 
no knowledge of the deep and rapid rivers 
that intersected it, and no cavalry to explore 
tlie road, or to cover their rear on their 
march. In this strait arose Xenophon, the 
Athenian, who began to arouse the courage 
of the colonels who had been under Proxe- 
nus. A certain Appolonides made a stupid 
opposition to the discourse of Xenophon, and 
was, therefore, deprived of his rank and oc- 
cupation. The rest of the surviving generals 
assembled, and were addressed by Xenophon 
in a vigorous speech. He exlaorted them to 
be of good cheer, and to encourage the 
minds of their soldiers, so that after the ap- 
pointment of new commanders nothing might 
be neglected to repel the attacks of the ene- 
my. Xenophon's recommendation was ap- 
proved by all, and new commanders were 
immediately elected. And now the 10,000 
Greeks, supported by the ardent desire of 
preserving their liberty, and of returning to 
their native land, commenced their march, 
and made their retreat before a victorious 
army of 1,000,000 of men, traversing more 
than two thousand miles, notwithstanding 
vast rivers and innumerable defiles, and at 
lengbh arrived in their own country, through 
a thousand fierce and barbarous nations, vic- 
torious over all obstacles in their way. 

CUNNERSDORF, a.d. 1759.— On the 
12th of August, 1759, the King of Prussia, 
with 50,000 men, attacked the Russian army 
of 90,000 men, in their camp near Cunners- 
dorf, with so much vigor, that the Russians 
fled precipitately. The Prussians, anxious to 
make the victory complete, followed the Rus- 
sians with so much eagerness that their ranks 
became disordered. The Russians at this 
moment rallied, and charging back upon their 
pursuers, overwhelmed them and drove them 



from the field with a loss of 20,000 men in 
kUled and wounded, and 200 pieces of artil- 
lery. 

CURNOUL, A.D. 1815.— This place, a 
strongly fortified town of India, was taken 
by the British on the 14th of December, 1815. 

CUZCO, A.D. 153G.— This city, formerly 
the capital of the Incas of Peru, stands at 
the foot of some liills fronting an extensive 
valley to the south-east; and is 400 miles 
south-east of Lima. The city at the present 
time is greatly inferior to what it was in the 
time of Pizarro. It now contains a popula- 
tion of about 40,000 inhabitants ; but then, 
if we can credit the words of the Spanish 
writers, it boasted of a population of over 
200,000. The buildings were of stone ; and 
the city contained many elegant palaces as 
each Inca built a residence for himself. The 
fortress was built of stone, and planted on a 
solid rock, reared its summit above the sur- 
rounding buildings, commanding a magnifi- 
cent view of the surrounding country. The 
approaches to the fortress were guarded by 
three semicircular parapets, composed of huge 
masses of rock. 

No sooner had Atahuallpa, the Peruvian 
inca, fallen into the hands of Pizarro at 
Caxamalca, than the conquest of Peru seemed 
accomplished. Fi'om blood-stained Caxa- 
malca, Pizarro, with an army greatly aug- 
mented by reinforcements, marclied toward 
Cuzco. His progress was slightly impeded 
by the Peruvians, who, although awe-stricken 
by the presumptuous daring of the Spanish 
general, endeavored to throw every possible 
obstacle in his path. The Spanish army now 
consisted of about 450 men, of whom 100 
at least were cavalry. Upon their arrival at 
Cuzco, Pizarro caused the immense treasure 
which had been gathered to pay the inca's 
ransom, to be divided between his soldiers. 
His next care was to elevate a new monarch 
to the Peruvian throne. For this purpose he 
selected Manco, a legitimate of the ancient 
Une of Cuzco, who received the empty title 
of inca ; but submitted entirely to the con- 
trol of the Spaniards. He next organized a 
municipal government, appointing Spanish 
alcaldes and regidores. Having accomphshed 
this, Pizarro, leaving his brother Juan in 
Cuzco, marched with the greater part of the 
army toward the sea-coast, to watch the 
movements of several bands of Spanish ad- 
venturers, of whose entrance into the 
country he had received intelligence. Shortly 
afterward, Hernando Pizarro returned to 
Peru from Spain where he had been sent by 
Pizarro, with that part of the prize set aside 
for the Spanish monarch, and proceeded to 
Cuzco. Meanwhile the Spaniards in the city 
of Cuzco indulged in every excess; they 
rifled the private houses of the citizens for 



cuzco. 



217 



gold, and even violated the graves of the 
dead in their eager search. They insulted 
the Peruvian women before the very eyes 
of their fathers, brothers, and husbands ; and 
they carried their outrages to such extremi- 
ties tliat even the mild Manco was aroused. 
The Spaniards did not watch him closely, for 
they considered him their dependent and 
willing tool. He took advantage of their 
carelessness to consult with his nobles in the 
city, and it was decided that the inca sliould 
leave the city and present himself among 
his people and arouse them against the invad- 
ers. Manco had no difficulty in escaping 
from the city ; but his movements were 
watched by an enemy more vigilant than the 
Spaniards. There was in the capital a tribe 
of Indians, numbering about 1,000, hostile to 
the Peruvians, and no sooner did they detect 
the absence of the inca, than they reported it 
to Juan Pizarro. The Spanish commander 
immediately marched, at the head of a small 
body of cavalry, in pursuit of the fugitive 
monarch. They discovered him in a marsh 
a short distance from the city, where he had 
endeavored to conceal himself, and he was 
brought back and confined in the fortress. 
The inca, however, contrived to win the 
confidence of Hernando Pizarro, who dis- 
played a friendly disposition toward him. 
He first awakened the cupidity of Hernando, 
by stating his knowledge of a cavern filled 
with gold ; and then by promising to bring 
the treasure to him, he succeeded in gaining 
the consent of that officer for his departure. 
Hernando sent with the inca two soldiers, 
rather to assist him in bringing home the 
gold, than as a guard ; but seven days elapsed 
and the inca did not return. 

Perceiving his error, Hernando at once 
took steps to repair it. Juan Pizzaro was 
sent with a body of sixty cavalry in search 
of the fugitive. But he traversed the envi- 
rons of the city without success ; not a trace 
of the inca could he discover. As he ap- 
proached the mountains that hem in the val- 
ley of Yucay, about 18 miles from Cuzco, 
he met the two soldiers who had been sent 
out with Manco. From them Juan heard 
that the inca was at the head of an immense 
army preparing to march against the city. 
He had allowed them to return in safety. Juan 
determined to attack the inca's army without 
delay. Accordingly, guided by the two sol- 
diers, he marched toward the Peruvian camp. 
Arriving at the river Yucay, he saw drawn 
up in battle order, the enemy's army. The 
Indian force consisted of many thousand 
warriors ; and at their head, surrounded by 
gayly dressed officers, was the Inca Manco, 
the former captive of the Spaniards. The 
Indians, as was their custom, had placed a 
river between themselves and the enemy. 



For a moment tlie Spanish general gazed at 
the warlike army before him, and he could 
not but have contrasted in his own mind the 
inferiority of his own numbers. But he lost 
no further time in thought. Followed by his 
little band he spurred his horse into the river, 
wliich though deep was not wide, and swam 
his horse through a hurricane of stones and 
arrows to the other side. The Spaniards 
gained the bank, and urged their horses for- 
ward against the Peruvian front, which as 
they approached gradually retired. But be- 
fore the Spaniards could form for a charge, 
the Indians returned, and encompassing them 
with their greatly superior numbers, assailed 
them with a fury which for a time threw the 
cavaliers into disorder. But recovering from 
their confusion they formed in a solid pha- 
lanx, — " St. Jago ! St. Jago I" they cried, and 
charged fiercely into the thickest of the en- 
emy. The Peruvians were scattered before 
the charge like the falling leaves of autumn 
in a whirlwind ; yet soon they collected and 
retreated in good order, turning at intervals 
to discharge their deadly missiles at the en- 
emy, or to deal sturdy blows with their war 
clubs and pole-axes. Juan drove the enemy 
from the plain to the mountains, where they 
were secure from further pursuit. With his 
troops he encamped at the base of the mount- 
ain, trusting that the terrible slaughter which 
he had inflicted on the Peruvians would crush 
their hopes of a successful resistance. Though 
conquerors the Spaniards had won a dear vic- 
tory. Several men and horses had been slain 
during the conflict, and nearly all were suffer- 
ing from the effects of severe wounds. The 
next morning, however, proved that the Peru- 
vians although defeated were not subdued. 
The mountains were fairly ahve with warriors, 
whom the Spaniards strove vainly to dislodge 
from their advantageous position. During 
the entire day Juan repeatedly charged the 
enemy ; but at each attempt he was met by 
such a terrific tempest of stones, arrows, and 
darts, that he was obliged to retire. At dusk 
he encamped on the plain near the mountain ; 
and on the succeeding day renewed hostil- 
ities with no better effect. The Indians stiU 
maintained their position on the mountains. 
Juan was making preparations for another 
assault when a message arrived from Cuzco, 
stating that the city was besieged by the en- 
emy, and demanding him to return to the 
city with all speed. Juan immediately began 
his retreat, followed by the Peruvians, who 
celebrated his defeat with triumphant and 
defiant shouts. As he approached the city 
a sight met his eye which filled him with as- 
tonishment and dismay. The plains around 
the city were occupied by an immense army, 
consisting, it is said, of 200,000 men I They 
were armed with long lances tipped with 



218 



CUZCO. 



copper, and liuge battle-axes, of the same 
metal, and tlieir dense array encompassing 
the city, stretched back to the very moun- 
tains. Clothed in gorgeous raiment, with 
banners and plumes lilUng the air, and with 
their bright weapons gUstening in the rays 
of the sun, the Peruvians, hke a large lake 
lay around the city, as if ready to overrun 
and sweep it from the plain. The Spaniards 
halted in dismay ; but Juan urged them for- 
ward determined to hew a way through the 
masses of the enemy with the sword. The 
Indians, however, seemed to shun an en- 
counter ; they opened and left a free passage 
into the city. The besieged greeted this 
seasonable reinforcement with joy ; for even 
now the whole Spanish force did not exceed 
200 horse and foot. Then- Indian allies 
numbered only a thousand, and with this 
small force they were to oppose an army of 
tens of thousands. 

The siege of Cuzco, commenced early in 
the month of February, 153(3, and is one of 
the most famous sieges recorded in the his- 
tory of the western continent. The Peru- 
vians made no hostile movements until the 
day after the return of Juan and his follow- 
ers. Night had scarcely rehnquished its 
throne at the approach of day, when the 
Spanish garrison was aroused by a terrible 
tumult of sounds. The wild notes of the 
conch and atabal, mingled with the hoarse 
yells of the Indians, while the sharp rattle 
of missiles falling in showers within the city, 
proved that the siege had commenced in 
earnest. For a time, the tempest of stones 
and arrows was incessant ; but gradually it 
luUed, and finally died away, only to be fol- 
lowed by another storm more fearful and 
effective. Burning arrows and red-hot 
stones wrapped in cotton, saturated with an 
inflammable substance, came in clouds from 
the besiegers' camp, filling the air with fire 
and smoke, and falling upon the roofs of the 
buildings, which were soon enveloped in 
flames. From all quarters the fiery tempest 
raged; building after building was set on 
fire, until the whole city seemed an ocean of 
flame. The Spaniards encamped in the 
great square of the city were encompassed 
by the conflagration on all sides, and hali- 
stifled by the smoke, they gazed upon the 
flames without an effort to suppress them. 
For nearly a week the fire raged, until more 
than one half of the city was laid in ruins. 
But although the Spaniards made no effort 
to extinguish the flames, they met the re- 
peated assaults of the besiegers with such 
vigorous sallies, that the Peruvians were in- 
variably compelled to retire with heavy 
losses. But the streets, filled with fallen 
timbers, and the rubbish of houses, were in- 
accessible to the movements of cavalry, and 



as often as the Spaniards removed the im- 
pediments, the Peruvians planted stakes and 
barricaded the streets. At length, however, 
by dint of the most arduous exertions, the 
Spaniards, in the face of incessant volleys of 
stones and arrows, cleared away the obsta- 
cles, and opened a free passage for the horse. 
With the fury of a long pent-up tempest, the 
Spanish cavalry rushed on the besiegers, cut- 
ting them down by hundreds, and forcing 
them back to their fines. But the Indians, 
returning with fresh numbers to the assault, 
fought with a fury that compelled the Span- 
iards to retire. The bow, the shug, and the 
lasso were their favorite weapons, and they 
used them with a skill that cost many a 
Spaniard Iris hfe. The fortress of the city, 
which had been abandoned by the garrison 
on the approach of the enemy, was in the 
possession of the Peruvians. This builthng 
commanded the great square, and from this 
elevated position the besiegers hurled clouds 
of deadly missiles into the Spanish camp. 
Hernando Pizarro saw the necessity of dis- 
lodging the enemy from this important posi- 
tion at once. But before making tliis des- 
perate attempt, he resolved on a general 
sortie, in order to intimidate the besiegers, 
and to divert their attention from the fort- 
ress. Accordingly, he divided his little 
army into three bodies, and placed them 
under the command of Gonzalo Pizarro, 
Gabriel de Rojas, and Hernon Ponce de 
Leon, who were directed to move simulta- 
neously along the main avenues of the city, 
toward the besiegers' incampment. The 
Indian aUies were sent forward to clear away 
the rubbish wliich obstructed the streets, and 
close in their rear followed the Spanish foot 
and horse. As they advanced, they encoun- 
tered numerous bodies of stragglers, who 
were soon cut to pieces, and the three divis- 
ions of the Spanish army issuing from the 
city at the same time, rushed into the Peru- 
vian lines with the utmost impetuosity. The 
Peruvians, taken by surprise, were unpre- 
pared to make a resistance, and were slaugh- 
tered by hundreds. At length, however, the 
Indians recovered from their confusion, and 
coming into order, received the assaults of 
the Spaniards with the coolness of brave 
men. The sword and lance of the Spaniards 
were crossed with the pole-axe, and spiked 
copper-headed club of the Peruvian, and the 
rattle of musketry on the one side, and the 
whizzing of stones and arrows on the other, 
proved that European science and American 
barbarism were striving for the mastery. The 
Indians fought with a courage and with a 
discipHne which astonished the Spaniards. 

Many of the Peruvians were armed with 
weaj)on3, and in several instances were 
mounted on horses, which they had taken 



cuzco. 



219 



from the Spaniards. Manco, himself, clothed 
ia European costume, rode a war-horse, and 
with a long lance in his hand, cheered on his 
followers, by word and action. Yet the Span- 
iards advanced steadily into the very midst 
of the enemy, cutting them down with their 
swords, trampling them under the feet of the 
horses, or sweeping them off by scores with 
an incessant discharge of musketry, which 
inflicted a terrible loss on the Indians, now 
slowly retreating. At length, weary of 
slaughter, Hernando ordered his soldiers to 
retire to their camp in the city. He next 
turned his attention to the fortress. It stood 
on a high rocky eminence, which overhung 
the northern part of the city. The hill rising 
in an abrupt acclivity from tlie city, was de- 
fended at its base by a single wall; but it 
presented in its steepness an obstacle wliich 
effectually prevented an assault on the fort- 
ress from that quarter. On the opposite side, 
however, it was more accessible. There it 
was defended by two semicircular stone 
walls each about 1,200 feet in length, and of 
great strength and tliickness. The interval 
of ground between the walls was raised to a 
sufficient height to allow the garrison to dis- 
charge its artillery on the assailants, while 
they themselves were secure from danger 
behind the rampart. The fortress, consisting 
of three strong towers, stood within the in- 
terior wall. One of the towers was of great 
height, and with a smaller one was now oc- 
cupied by the Peruvians, under the command 
of a warrior of great experience and valor. 
To Juan Pizarro the duty of reducing this 
stronghold of the enemy was intrusted. In 
order to gain the mountain passes behind the 
fortress, Juan, without attracting the atten- 
tion of tlie enemy, left the city in the even- 
ing, with a chosen body of horse, and marched 
in an opposite direction to that which he in- 
tended to pursue. But, covered by the dark- 
ness of night, he changed his course and 
marched directly for the mountains which 
faced the fortress. He found the passes un- 
guarded, and, without alarming the garrison, 
reached the outer wall of the citadel. The 
only entrance, which was a narrow opening 
in the wall, was now filled with stone, so 
that it resembled the rampart itself. With 
cautious hands the Spaniards cleared the 
opening, without disturbing the Peruvians. 
Having accomplished tliis arduous task, the 
cavaliers passed through the entrance, and 
advanced to the second rampart. Thus far 
tliey had moved with such silence that the 
garrison was unalarmed. The Peruvians, not 
anticipating a night attack, had not even 
posted a sentinel; but when the Spaniards 
had arrived at the second parapet, they found 
the interior court filled with warriors. As 
the assailants advanced they were saluted by 



shower after shower of missiles, which falling 
tliick and fast in their midst, compelled them 
to halt. Juan now ordered one half of his 
troops to dismount, and prepared to remove 
the stones with which the entrance, as before, 
was closed. Some days previous, he had re- 
ceived a severe wound in his cheek, and as 
his helmet irritated the sore, he removed it, 
trusting to his buckler for defense. The 
Spaniards, led by then- gallant commander, 
boldly commenced to demoUsh the wall, in 
the face of a tempest of deadly missies, which 
swept through them with the fury of a hur- 
ricane. But as soon as one fell, another took 
his place, and the work was continued until 
a breach practicable for cavalry was made in 
the parapet. This accompUshed, the Span- 
iards, remounting their horses, followed their 
intrepid leader through the opening, and 
dashed furiously into the court, cutting down 
and overwhelming all who opposed them. 
The Peruvians, flying before the vigorous as- 
sault of the enemy, sought shelter on a plat- 
form near the main tower. Here they made 
a stand, and discharged their artillery in thick 
clouds, while their companions in the fortress 
hurled huge stones and heavy pieces of tim- 
ber down on the heads of tlie assailants. 
Juan, shouting his battle-cry, mounted the 
platform, and, followed by his soldiers, fell 
fiercely on its defenders. But, at this mo- 
ment, a heavy stone, striking on his unpro- 
tected head, stretched liim on the ground. 
Yet his voice rang loud above the din, cheer- 
ing on his men, until the Peruvians on the 
platform, fighting to the death, were cut to 
pieces. Juan was then removed to the city 
below, and the assault, for the moment, was 
suspended. 

But Hernando Pizarro no sooner heard of 
the misfortune of his brother than he hastened 
to the hill, and putting himself at the head of 
the assailants, renewed the siege with greater 
activity. Alter an obstinate struggle, one of 
the towers was carried, but the other, with a 
formidable garrison, still held out. The Pe- 
ruvian commander was a man of gigantic 
proportions, and armed with a Spanish cuirass 
and buclder, and wielding a heavy spiked war- 
club, he was seen on the battlements, striding 
from point to point, and striking down with liis 
formidable weapon all who attempted to force 
an entrance into the tower. Hernando now 
determined to scale the walls. Ladders were 
planted at intervals against the sides of the 
tower, and the Spaniards eagerly ascended. 
The Indian commander, running from ladder 
to ladder, as the assailants reached the sum- 
mit, with stalwart blows hurled them lifeless 
to the ground. Hernando could not but ad- 
mire the bravery of this warrior, and bade 
his followers to take him alive. The Span- 
iards, completely surrounding the tower with 



220 



CTZICUM— CYNOCEPHAL^. 



ladders, at length gained a footing within its 
walls, and with cries of triumph rushed on 
the defenders and soon overpowered them. 
The commander of the garrison refused to be 
taken. Avoiding the grasp of his enemies, 
he ran to the battlements, and casting aside 
his raace, leaped headlong to the earth. Hav- 
ing stationed a small force in the fortress, the 
Spanish general returned triumphantly to the 
city. Weeks passed by, and yet the Peru- 
vians maintained the siege with stern obsti- 
nacy. The Spaniards soon began to feel the 
want of provisions, and hearing nothing from 
Pizarro, they were filled with the most dis- 
mal apprehensions. But that officer, who 
was stationed at Lima, did not neglect the 
garrison of Cuzco. He sent four detach- 
ments, at different times, to their relief. Each 
detachment consisted of at least seventy-five 
foot and twenty-five horse; but none of 
them reached their place of destination. 
They advanced into the interior of the coun- 
try unmolested ; but when intangled in the 
intricate passes of the Andes, they were sur- 
rounded by hordes of Indians, who poured 
showers of missiles on their heads from the 
rocky cliffs, or loosened huge rocks, which, 
rushing down the steep decUvities, plowed 
bloody furrows through their ranks. Nearly 
every detachment was entirely destroyed ; a 
few bruised and bleeding stragglers only 
found their way back to Lima, to tell the tale 
of death. The siege had now continued for 
five months. It was in the month of August, 
the plantmg season, and the necessities of the 
Peruvians did that which the arms of the 
Spaniards were imable to accomplish. Man- 
co was well aware that if his people ne- 
glected to plant, a famine, more terrible even 
than the presence of their enemies, would 
ensue. He therefore disbanded the bulk of 
his army, reserving a considerable force for 
his own protection, and directed them to re- 
turn to their usual employments, and after 
they had finished their labors at home to re- 
turn and resume the blockade of the city. 
Manco, with his remaining force, removed to 
Zambo, a strongly fortified town in the valley 
of Yucay. The Spaniards, greatly rejoiced at 
their unexpected release, sent out foraging 
parties to scour the country for provisions, 
and in this manner the garrison was soon 
placed beyond the reach of want. Hernando, 
moreover, determined to advance against the 
inca himself, and by one bold stroke secure 
his person, and thus put an end to the war. 
A strong body of Spaniards marched against 
Zambo, but they met with such a warm re- 
ception by the Indians, that they were com- 
pelled to retire with considerable loss. The 
inca never resumed the blockade of Cuzco. 
He had gained his last victory. The loss ex- 
perienced by the Spaniards, during tliis siege, 



is not stated. Juan Pizarro died from the 
efiects of the wound he received at the 
storming of the fortress. The losses of the 
Peruvians must have been enormous, for at 
each of the numerous sallies of the Spaniards, 
they were slaughtered in great numbers. — 
Prescott's Conquest of Peru. 

CYZICUM, B.C. 408.— Alcibiades, with a 
fleet of eighty-six ships, arrived, in the year 
408 B.C., at Proconnesus, a small island near 
Cyzicum, and being informed that the Pelo- 
ponnesian generals, Mindarus and Pharna- 
bazus were together at Cyzicum, he exhorted 
the Athenians to give them battle. He said 
it was necessary to fight them both by sea 
and land, nay, even to contend against stone 
walls, if it should be required, in order to 
come at their enemies. They must win a 
complete victory or they could not expect to 
secure the treasure and money which were 
stored in the wealthy city. He had arrived 
at Proconnesus under the cover of a thick 
fog, which prevented the enemy from discov- 
ering liis operations. As soon as the weather 
cleared up, the Peloponnesian ships were 
seen riding at anchor in the road of Cyzicum. 
Fearful that the enemy would be alarmed at 
the largeness of his fleet, and save themselves 
by disembarking, he directed many of his 
officers to slacken sail, and keep out of sight, 
while he advanced with forty ships only, 
and challenged the Lacedaemonians to the 
combat. This stratagem was successful 
The Laccdsemonians despising the small num- 
ber of galleys, which they saw, immediately 
weighed anchor and set out, and fiercely 
attacked the enemy. But now the rest of 
the Athenian fleet advanced, and the Lace- 
dtemonians, struck with terror, fled. Alcibia- 
des pursued them to the shore, landed, and 
killed a great number of them in the flight. 
Mindarus and Pharnabazus, who hastened to 
the assistance of the flying Lacedaemonians, 
opposed the enemy with great energy and 
valor. But after incredible exertions their 
troops were overpowered. Mindarus Avas 
slain, and Pharnabazus souglit safety in 
flight. The Athenians remained masters of 
the field, and of all the spoils. They took 
all the ships of the enemy, and having pos- 
sessed themselves of Cyzicum, which was 
abandoned by Pharnabazus, and deprived of 
the assistance of the Peloponnesians, who 
were almost all cut oS", they not only secured 
the Hellespont, but entirely cleared the sea 
of the Lacedcemonians. 

CYNOCEPHAL^, b.c. 197.— The Ma- 
cedonian War. — In the year 200 b.c, the 
Romans declared war against Philip, King of 
Maccdon. They had witnessed the prog- 
ress of that prince with uneasiness, and, 
having ended their war with Carthage, 
they thought it advisable to prevent the en- 



CYNOCEPHAL^ 



221 



terprises of the Macedonian king, who might 
become formidable, in case they should give 
him time to increase his strength. Upon 
their first entrance into Macedon, the various 
nations of Greece waited the event in order 
to declare themselves for the victor. A bat- 
tle was fought near a village called Octolophos, 
which resulted in the victory of the Romans. 
The consul, Publius Sulpicius, who commanded 
the Roman forces in Macedon, was shortly 
afterward recalled, and Titus Quintius Fla- 
mininus was appointed in his place. The 
Achseans, iEtolians, and Spartans, after a 
long delay, declared for the Romans. 

In the year 197 B.C., after a vain endeavor 
to conclude a peace, both the Romans and 
Macedonians made active preparations for 
a battle which was to decide the war. 

Quintius, the Roman commander, learning 
that Philip had entered Thessaly, followed 
him; but being unable to discover exactly 
the place where the Macedonians were en- 
camped, he commanded his soldiers to cut 
stakes in order to make use of them, should 
they be required. 

Both the Greeks and Romans used stakes 
with which to fortify their camp. But the 
Greeks did not adopt the most convenient 
mode of using them, either with respect to 
carriage or for the purpose of strengthening 
their camp. They cut trees, both too large 
and too full of branches for the soldiers to 
carry them easily along with their arms, and 
after they had fenced their camp with a line 
of these, to demolish them was no difficult 
matter ; for the trunks, appearing to view, 
with great intervals between them, and the 
numerous and strong shoots, affording the 
hand a good hold, two or three young men, 
uniting their efforts, used to pull out one tree ; 
which, being removed, left a wide breach, 
and there was nothing at hand with which 
it could be stopped up. The Romans, how- 
ever, cut light stakes, mostly of one fork, 
with three or four branches, so that a soldier, 
with his arms slung on his back, could carry 
several of them together. Then, they planted 
them so closely, and interwove the branches 
in such a manner, that it could not be seen to 
what stake any branch belonged. Nor could 
any man pull up those stakes by thrusting his 
hand into the branches, as they were so 
closely intertwined, that no vacant place was 
left; besides which, all the ends of them 
were sharp pointed. Nay, even if by acci- 
dent, a stake should be pulled out, it left but 
a small opening, which was very easily filled 
up. 

After the Roman general had taken the 
precaution of providing his soldiers with 
stakes, he marched out at the head of all his 
forces, and arrived near Scotussa nearly at 
the same time with the Macedonian army. 



During the march, several slight skirmishes 
had occurred between the two armies, in 
which the jEtolian cavalry signahzed them- 
selves, and were always victorious. The two 
armies were separated by the hills called 
Cynocephalae, and the day after their arrival, 
Philip detached a body of troops with orders to 
seize upon the summit of the hiUs. Quintius 
also detached ten squadrons of horse, and about 
1,000 light-armed troops to reconnoiter the 
enemy. This detachment met that of the 
Macedonians which had seized the eminences. 
Both parties were surprised at the meeting, 
and a sharp skirmish ensued. The Macedon- 
ians fought valiantly, but the Romans receiv- 
ing reinforcements from Quintius, at length 
compelled them to fly to the hills, whence 
they sent to Philip for succor. Philip imme- 
diately dispatched three bodies of troops to 
their aid. When this reinforcement joined 
them, the courage of the Macedonians re- 
vived; they returned to the charge, and 
drove the Romans from the hiUs. They 
even would have gained a complete victory, 
had it not been for the resistance made by 
the jEtolian cavalry, who fought with aston- 
isliing courage and intrepidity. 

This iEtolian cavalry was the best of all the 
Grecian cavalry, and was particularly famous 
for skirmishes and single combats. They so 
well sustained the charge of the Macedonians 
that had it not been for their bravery, the 
Romans would have been repulsed into the 
valley. Couriers came every moment to in- 
form Philip that the Romans were terrified 
and flying, and that the time had arrived for 
defeating them entirely. Philip was not 
pleased either with the place or the weather ; 
but he could not resist the repeated shouts 
and entreaties of his soldiers, who besought 
him to lead them on to battle. Accordingly, 
he led them out of their intrenchments. 
Quintius, the Roman commander, also left his 
camp, and drew up his army in order of bat- 
tle. The two armies were equal in numbers; 
each consisting of about 25,000 men. 

Fired by the speeches and promises of their 
leaders, the soldiers, who on the one side 
called themselves victors of the East ; and on 
the other conquerors of the West, prepared 
for battle. Plamininus, having commanded 
the right wing not to move from its post^ 
placed his elephants in front of this wing; 
and marching with a haughty and intrepid 
air, led on the left wing in person against the 
enemy. The skirmishers now seeing them- 
selves supported by the legions, returned to 
the charge and began the attack. Philip, with 
his hght-armed troops, and the right wing of 
his phalanx, hastened toward the mount- 
ains ; commanding Nicanor to march the rest 
of his army immediately after him. When 
he approached the Roman camp, and found 



222 



CZENSTOCHOW. 



his soldiers engaged, he was exceedingly 
pleased at the sight ; but presently, observing 
his men give way, and in exceeding want of 
support, he was obliged to sustain them and 
to engage in a general battle, though the 
greater part of his phalanx was still upon its 
march toward the hills which he now occu- 
pied. In the mean time he received such of 
his troops as had been repulsed ; posted them, 
both horse and foot, on his right wing, and 
commanded the hght-armed soldiers and the 
phalanx to double their files, and to close 
their ranks on the right. As soon as this 
was done, the Romans being near, he com- 
manded the phalanx to march toward them 
with their pikes presented, and the light- 
armed troops to extend beyond them on the 
left and right. Quintius had also received at 
the same time, into his intervals, those who 
had begun the fight, and then charged the 
Macedonians. The battle was now fairly 
begun. The soldiers on each side set up the 
most terrible cries. Philip's right wing had 
visibly the advantage; for, as he charged 
with impetuosity from the heights, with his 
phalanx on the Romans, the latter could not 
sustain the shock of troops so well closed and 
covered with their shields, and whose front 
presented an impenetrable hedge of pikes. 
The Romans were obliged to give way. But 
it was different with Phihp's left wing which 
had just arrived. As its ranks were broken 
and separated by the hillocks and uneven 
ground, Quintius flew to his right wing, and 
vigorously charged the left wing of the Mace- 
donians: persuaded could he but break it, 
and put it in disorder, it would draw after it 
the other wing, although victorious. The 
event answered his expectations. As this 
wing, on account of the unevenness and rug- 
gedness of the ground, could not keep in the 
form of a phalanx, nor double its ranks to 
give it depth, in which the whole strength of 
the body consisted, it was entirely defeated. 
On this occasion, a tribune, who had not 
more than twenty companions under him, 
made a movement which contributed very 
much to the victory. Observing that Philip, 
who was at a great distance from the rest of 
the army, was charging the left wing of the 
Romans with vigor, he left the right in which 
he was, and consulting only his own reason, 



and the present disposition of the armies, 
marched toward the phalanx of the ene- 
my's right wing, and charged them in the 
rear with all his troops. The Macedonian 
soldiers, on account of the prodigious length 
of their pikes, and the closeness of their 
ranks, could not face about to the rear, nor 
fight man to man. The tribune broke the 
phalanx, killing all before him as he ad- 
vanced ; and the Macedonians, unable to de- 
fend themselves, threw down their arms and 
fled. The Romans who had first given way, 
now rallied, and attacked the phalanx in 
front at the same time that it was assailed in 
the rear. Philip at first thought he had ob- 
tained a complete victory ; but when he saw 
his soldiers throw down their arms, and the 
Romans pouring on them from behind, he 
drew off with a body of his troops, to a dis- 
tance from the field of battle, and thence 
took a survey of the whole engagement. 
Upon perceiving that the Romans, who pur- 
sued the lefi; wing, extended almost to the 
summit of the mountains, he gathered to- 
gether all the Macedonians and Thracians he 
could assemble, and endeavored to save him- 
self by flight. After the battle, in every part 
of which victory had declared for the Ro- 
mans, Philip retired to Tempe, where he 
halted to wait for those who had escaped the 
defeat. The Romans pursued for some time 
those who fled. The ^tolians were accused 
of having occasioned Pliilip's escape, for they 
amused themselves in plundering his camp, 
while the Romans were employed in pursu- 
ing the enemy. When the former returned, 
they found scarcely any tiling left in the en- 
emy's camp, and they at first reproached 
the iEtolians on that account, and afterward 
quarreled with them outright, each side load- 
ing the other with the grossest invectives. 
The Romans, in this battle, lost about 700 
men, and the Macedonians 13,000, of whom 
8,000 died on the field, and 5,000 were 
taken prisoners. Thus ended the battle of 
Cynocephate, which terminated the Mace- 
donian war, and which restored to the 
Greeks their ancient rights and liberties. 

CZENSTOCHOW, a.d. 1665.— In 1665, a 
bloody battle was fought near Czenstochow, 
between the army of the King of Poland, 
and that of Lubonairski. 



DAMASCUS— DEFILE, BATTLE OF THE. 



223 



DAMASCUS, A.D. 642.- This city stands 
in a plain at the east foot of the Anti-Li- 
banus, in Syria. The Saracens, in the year 
G42, attacked Damascus, with the hopes of a 
speedy capture ; but the inhabitants made a 
gallant resistance ; the troops within the city 
were so enraged at the Saracens, that they 
were with difficulty restrained from rushing 
out to attack them. At the moment the 
troops of the Emperor Heraclius came to the 
succor of the city, two brothers, commanders 
of Damascus, made a vigorous sortie, pil- 
laged the rearguard of the Saracens, and 
carried off their women. The most import- 
ant prisoner was Caulah, sister of Derar, one 
of the early heroes of Mahometanism, whose 
fanatical zeal produced such miraculous tri- 
umphs. 

Dazzled by the charms of his prize, 
Peter, one of the commanders of Damascus, 
wished to treat her as a conquered captive ; 
but Caulah repulsed him with contempt. As 
if by a pre-concerted movement, she and her 
companions in misfortune seized the tent- 
poles, and ranging themselves back to back, 
refused to go to Damascus. Whilst hesitat- 
ing to fight with women, though thus armed 
and resolute, Caled, the sicord of God, came 
up, charged the Romans, and made a horri- 
ble carnage; the army of Heraclius was 
defeated at Ainadin. Caled re-appeared 
before Damascus, carried it by assault, and 
all the inhabitants were given up to indis- 
criminate slaughter. When Heraclius learn- 
ed the fall of Damascus, he exclaimed, "Fare- 
well to Syria 1" 

Second Siege, a.d. 1148. — Being compelled 
by the interest they inspire, to give at con- 
siderable length several of the sieges in 
which the Crusaders were engaged, we can 
not spare room for more than a notice of that 
of Damascus, referring our readers for de- 
tails, which will repay the research, to the 
pages of Michaud and Gibbon. 

Louis VIL, King of France, in company 
with Conrad III., Emperor of Germany, who 
had led armies from Europe for the recovery 
of the Holy Land, laid siege to Damascus, 
one of the most delightfully situated and 
splendid cities in the world. By its popu- 
lousness and wealth, Damascus excited the 
envy of Antioch, Jerusalem, and Tripoli, 
which were in the hands of the Christians, 
and probably affected their commerce. But 
it was neither the religion of the inhabitants 
nor the beauty of its position that tempted 
the Crusaders; it was enough for them to 
know that it was one of the richest cities of 
the East : nothing so soon induced a knight 
of the cross to buckle on his spurs and take 



his lance, as the prospect of the plunder of an 
oriental city. Damascus was well fortified 
on the east and on the south; but on the 
north, a multitude of gardens, inclosed with 
hedges and canals, formed its principal bul- 
wark. Every hedge was an ambuscade; 
every tree was filled with archers, and the 
Crusaders foimd this quarter of the town 
more difficult of access than they had imag- 
ined. It required five days to carry all the 
positions in these gardens, which the Sara- 
cens defended with the greatest valor ; and 
the Crusaders would have taken the place had 
it not been for the usual enemy, Discord ; they 
quarreled for the sovereignty of the city 
before they had taken it. By the perfidious 
advice of the Syrian barons, they abandoned 
the attack on the northern side, to make 
others on the east and the south. The Sara- 
cens immediately re-possessed themselves of 
the gardens, which was the only vulnerable 
point of the place, and the Crusaders dis- 
gracefully raised the siege. — Rohson. 

DANTZIC, A.D. 1807.— Dantzic, in West 
Prussia, was besieged in 1807 by the French, 
and surrendered after a defense of four 
months, on the 5th of May in the same 
year. Dantzic was besieged by the allies in 
1812, and after a gallant resistance, surren- 
dered to them on the 1st of January, 1812. 

DARIK, A.D. 1516— On the 17th of Aug- 
ust, 1516, a battle was fought at Darik, near 
Aleppo, in Syria, between the Egyptians and 
the Turks. The battle was long and obsti- 
nately contested on both sides. The Egyptian 
army was commanded by the Sultan Ghori, 
whose troops were put to route by the Turks, 
and himself slain. This battle was followed 
soon by the fall of Cario. 

DEFILE, BATTLE OF THE a.d. 1519.— 
As Cortez proceeded through the country 
toward the capital of Mexico, he collected 
recruits from the various villages through 
which he passed, so that now his whole army 
consisted of 3,0jD0 men. As the sun arose 
on the morning after the last battle, the army 
was called to arms, and after hearing mass, 
they commenced their march again. After 
proceeding a short distance, they were joined 
by the two Indian envoys whom Cortez had 
sent to the Tlascla, and who had escaped 
from their enemies the previous night. 
From these Cortez learned that the enemy 
had concentrated in great force, to obstruct 
the march of the invaders. Soon the Span- 
ish general saw before him a body of Indiana 
about 1,000 strong, who, with screams of de- 
fiance, brandished their weapons at the ad- 
vancing army. As was his custom, Cortez 
ordered his interpreter to proclaim that he 



224 



DENNEWITZ. 



was their friend, and merely wished a free 
passage through their country. 

Tlie proclamation was answered by a 
shower of stones, arrows and darts, which 
fell among the aUied army, inflicting many a 
stinging wound and awkward bruise ; but 
the thickly-quilted cotton armor of the Span- 
iards protected them, in a great measure, 
from the weapons of the enemy ; their In- 
dian allies, however, were not so fortunate. 
Many were grievo\isly wounded. Galled to 
madness by the pain of their wounds, the 
Spaniards rushed toward their enemies, 
shouting their battle-cry, and falling upon 
them with such ferocity that the Tlascalans 
were obliged to give ground, and at length 
finally to retreat. But the commander of the 
Indian army hit upon a scheme which proved 
nearly flital to the Spaniards. In the rear 
of his army was a narrow defile, through 
which ran a stream of water. He so arrang- 
ed the retreat of his army that he drew the 
pursuing Spaniards into this defile, which 
would not only render their artillery of no 
service, but forbade the operations of cavalry, 
then concentrating his forces at the opposite 
opening of the glen, he awaited the coming 
of the enemy. The Spanish soldiers, hot in 
pursuit, pressed forward through the defile. 
What a spectacle met their eyes, as they 
reached the gorge ! Before them stood an 
immense body of men armed with uncouth 
weapons, and clothed in brilliant and fanci- 
ful garments. Above the heads of the war- 
riors waved gorgeous banners, and their 
bright helmets reflected the rays of the sun, 
as they moved hke the troubled surface of 
an immense lake of polished brass. A low 
murmur arose from the countless throng, as 
the Spanish appeared at the gorge, and was 
protracted into a hideous cry of rage and de- 
fiance which caused a thrill of Icar to run 
through the stoutest heart in the Spanish 
ranks. 

With beating drums, and whoops, and 
shouts, the Indians swept on toward the 
enemy. The Spaniards received the charge 
with closed ranks, and with a courage which 
checked and drove back the Indians. Again 
and again they renewed the attack, but with 
like success. At length, however, a body of 
Uie enemy fell upon one of the cavahy, at 
one time, and, before his companions could 
afford him aid, they tore him from his saddle, 
killed his horse, and trampled the unfortunate 
soldier under their feet. The Spaniards hast- 
ened to the relief of their comrade, and a 
furious struggle ensued, over the body of the 
prostrate man. The Indians strove like de- 
mons to drive back the soldiers and bear 
away tljeir prize, while the Spaniards emu- 
lated to the greatest exertions by the danger 
of their beloved comrade, fought with a 



fierceness equally terrible. In spite of their 
armor ten of the Spaniards were severely 
wounded, before they succeeded in forcing 
back the enemy. The unfortunate soldier 
had suffered so severely during the struggle 
that he died the next day of his wounds, 
many of which had been inflicted by his 
countrymen. The Indians bore off the car- 
cass of the horse in triumph. The body was 
cut to pieces and sent to the various villages 
of the country. Aided by their Indian allies 
the Spaniards, with one tremendous effort, 
forced back their enemies, and passing rapid- 
ly through the gorge, cleared a space with 
their cavalry; planted their artillery and 
opened a hot fire upon the dense masses of 
the Indian army. With terrible efl'ect the 
iron messengers of death plowed their way 
through the living walls, scattering death on 
all sides and lading the earth with the man- 
gled and bleeding carcasses of dead and dying 
men. In vain cUd the Indians endeavor — as 
was their custom — to bear their dead and 
Avounded from tl^e field, as soon as they were 
struck. The cannon-shot of the enemy was 
aimed with such fatal accuracy that they 
could not perform the labor with sufficient 
rapidity. The bearers of the dead were shot 
down, and fell by the side of the bodies they 
were endeavoring to remove from the blood- 
stained field. Horror-struck at the devasta- 
tion produced upon them by the powerfiil 
weapons of the enemy, and dismayed and 
disheartened at the little effect produced upon 
the Spaniards by their own arms, tlie Indians 
fell back at all points. Eight of their chief- 
tains had been slain, and the carnage in their 
midst continued with unabated vigor. At 
length Xicotencall, the Tlascalan general, 
ordered a retreat. Abandoning their dead 
and wounded, the Indian army slowly and 
in good order retired from the field, and once 
more the path before the Spaniards was free 
and unmolested. Placing his wounded in 
litters, Cortez resumed liis march. At dark, 
the army arrived at an eminence, called the 
hill of Tzompach, where the army encamped. 
The night was spent in feasting and revelry, 
in celebration of the well-earned victory. 

DENNEWITZ, a.d. 1813.— The battle of 
Dennewitz, in Prussia, was fought on the 6th 
of September, 1813, between the forces of 
Bernadotte, Prince of Ponte Corvo (after- 
ward Charles XIV., King of Sweden), and 
the French, under Marshal Ney. The French 
were defeated after an obstinate conflict, in 
which thousands on either side were slain. 
This battle, with the defeat of Napoleon at 
Leipsic, on the 18th of October following, 
closed the series of reverses experienced by 
his arms in tlie memorable and disastrous 
campaign of this year. The French, it is 
stated, at the battle of Dennewitz, lost 



DETROIT— DITTINGEK 



225 



10,000 men. The loss of tlie allies was 7,000 
men killed and wounded. 

DETROIT, A.D. 1812.— This beautiful city- 
is situated on the west bank of the Detroit 
river, seven miles below the outlet of Lake 
St. Clair, and 18 miles above the western 
extremity of Lake Erie. The ground occu- 
pied by the city is elevated tliirty feet above 
the surface of the river. 

On the 15th of August, 1812, Brock, the 
British general, erected batteries on the bank 
of the river opposite Detroit which was oc- 
cupied by the American army, under General 
Hull, and summoned the American general 
to surrender ; stating that he should other- 
wise be unable to restrain the Indians from 
committing their usual atrocities. To thissum- 
mons General Hull rephed in a spirited and 
decided manner; declaring that the fortress 
would be defended to the last extremity. 
The American position was exceedingly ad- 
vantageous. The fort of Detroit was of great 
strength, surrounded by a deep, wide ditch, 
and strongly pallisaded, with an exterior bat- 
tery of two twenty-four pounders. The 
American army consisted of 2,500 men, of 
whom, 1,200 were miUtia. The fort was oc- 
cupied by 400 regulars, while 400 more lay 
behind a high picket fence, which flanked 
tlie approach to it. Three hundred more 
with the militia held the town. The British 
general's army consisted of 330 regulars, 400 
militia, and 600 Indians. Upon receiving 
Hull's answer to liis summons. Brock opened 
a fire from his newly erected battery, to 
which the Americans made a spirited reply. 
The fire on both sides continued with little 
cflect tiU the next day. General Hull by 
this time had become so much alarmed as 
to betray his cowardice to his own officers 
and men, by his appearance and his hasty 
and irregular measures. On the morning of 
the IGth, the British general resumed his fire, 
and the British troops began to cross the 
river under cover of two ships of war. They 
succeeded in effecting a landing on the op- 
posite shore without the loss of a single man. 
The troops then formed in columns of twelve 
deep, and marching along the shore, soon 
emerged in view, about 500 yards from the 
fort. The columns advanced steadily toward 
the formidable American array ; but not a 
shot was fired to arrest their progress. The 
Americans, anticipating an easy victory, anx- 
iously awaited the orders of their general to 
fire. Two four-pounders loaded with grape 
were planted on an eminence, ready to sweep 
tlie assaihng columns. M Arthur and Cass 
on their return from their expedition to the 
river Raisin, were ready to attack the British 
troops in the rear ; and the militia, who had 
never been under fire were eager for the 
conflict, so confident were they of victory. 

15 



But unmolested, the British columns ad- 
vanced. No sooner had they reached the 
fort, than General Hull ordered the troops to 
withdraw to the outer posts, and stack their 
arms, and a white flag was lifted above the 
works. A cry of inchgnation arose from 
every American soldier. Lieutenant Ander- 
son, in a paroxysm of rage, broke his sword 
over one of the guns and burst into tears. 
A British officer rode up to ascertain wliy tho 
flag was raised. A communication was 
opened between the commanding generals, 
which speedily terminated in a capitulation. 
The fortress of Detroit with its garrison, and 
munitions of war, were surrendered. Col- 
onels M' Arthur and Cass, and their detach- 
ment who had been sent to the river Raisin, 
together with that intrusted with supplies, 
were included in the capitulation. The dis- 
grace of the surrender seemed heightened in 
every circumstance. Hull did not even call 
a council of his officers. Fear alone prompt- 
ed him to capitulate. His only object seemed 
to have been to escape the scalping-knife and 
tomahawk of the Indians. Hull was, after 
he was exchanged, tried by a court-martial. 
He was charged with treason, cowardice, and 
neglect of duty, — and was found guilty of 
the two latter charges, and sentenced to be 
shot. His life, however, was spared in consid- 
eration of former services. In the year 1813, 
by General Harrison's victory at the Thames, 
the Americans regained possession of all the 
posts which had fallen into the hands of the 
British on the surrender of General Hull. 

DITTINGEN, a.d. 1743.— This small vil- 
lage of Bavaria, stands on the river Maine, 
eight miles north-west of Aschaffenburg. On 
the 26th of June, 1743, the allied British and 
Hanoverian army under George II., and the 
Earl of Stair, engaged the French forces, 
under Marshal Noailles. The French forces, 
numbering 60,000 men, were assembled upon 
the east bank of the river Maine. The Brit- 
ish army, consisting of 40,000 men, were on 
the other side of the river, in a country where 
they were entirely destitute of supplies and 
provisions of any kind, the French having 
cut off all their communications. The King 
of England arrived at the camp while his 
army was in this deplorable situation, and at 
once decided to push forward to join 12,000 
Hanoverians and Hessians, who had reached 
Hanau. With this view he decamped ; but 
before his army had marched three leagues, 
he found himself inclosed on every side by 
the enemy, near the village of Dittingen. 
The position of the English monarch waa 
now extremely dangerous ; if he fought the 
enemy, it must be at the greatest disadvan- 
tage ; if he continued inactive, there was a 
certainty of being starved ; and as for a re- 
treat, that was impossible. The impetuosity 



DETMOLD— DRESDEN. 



of the French troops saved liis whole army. 
They passed a defile, •wliich they should have 
been contented to guard; and under the 
conduct of the Duke of Grammont, their 
horse charged the EngUsh foot with great 
fury. They were received however, with 
such intrepidity and resolution, that they 
were obliged to give way and recross the 
Maine with precipitation. The King of En- 
gland with great personal courage exposed 
himself to a severe fire of the enemy's can- 
non, and in the midst of the engagement en- 
couraged Ms troops by his presence and his 
example. The English had the honor of the 
day ; taut Avere soon obliged to leave the field 
of battle, which was taken possession of by 
the French, who treated the wounded English 
with the clemency peculiar to that generous 
nation. In this engagement the French lost 
5,000 men killed and wounded ; the alUes 
about 2,000. 

DETMOLD, A.D. 9.— A battle occurred in 
the vicinity of Detmold, a town of north- 
west Germany, in the year 9, between the 
army of Varus and the Germans under Her- 
mann, in which the former was defeated with 
tlie loss of his entire force. In 1838 a monu- 
ment was erected on the battle-field to com- 
memorate the event. See Winnefeld. 

DINANT, A.D. 146G.— This town is built 
on the declivity of a rocky eminence on the 
Meuse in Belgium. The hill is crowned by 
the citadel, and in 1300 Dinant was so 
strongly fortified that it was deemed impreg- 
nable. Dinant has been besieged several 
times; and one siege, especially, deserves 
mention. In 1466, Phihp the Good of Bur- 
gundy, appeared before Dinant with an army 
of 30,000 men, and a formidable array of 
artillery, and demanded the garrison to sur- 
render ; but the latter, trusting in the 
Btrength of their fortifications, mocked him, 
and hung his messengers on their walls, in 
sight of the besieging camp. Philip inune- 
diately planted his batteries, and pUed his 
artillery with such eflect that a practicable 
breach was soon made in the fortifications, 
and the Bargundians were ordered to the 
assault. Enraged at the cruel treatmant of 
the mi'ssengers by the besieged, and panting 
for vengeance, the Burgundians rushed to the 
breacli with the utmost impetuosity, over- 
whelming all that opposed them, and carried 
the place with great slaughter. Pliilip rc- 
Folved to punisli the Dinanters for their 
cruelty, and caused 800 of the inhabitants to 
be tied in couples, back to back, and thrown 
into the Meu.^e, and that he might not lose 
the sigiit of the struggles of his victims, he, 
althougli suffering from sickness, entered a 
litter, and was carried to a spot which afford- 
ed a favorable view of the river, and tlierc 
witnessed the revolting spectacle. 



DOROGOBOOZH, a.d. 1812. — On the 
12th of October, 1812, the French army was 
defeated by the Russians near Dorogoboozh, 
a town of Russia about fifty miles east of 
Smolensko. 

DOVER, A.D. 1216.— The EngHsh barons, 
disgusted with the levity and tyranny of 
John, very inconsiderately offered the crown 
of England to Louis, son of Philip Augustus, 
and heir to the kingdom of France. This 
prince, who did not want for spirit, in spite 
of the anathemas of tlie court of Rome, un- 
der the protection of which the weak John 
had placed liimself, embarked with an army 
on board a fleet of 700 vessels, landed at 
Sandwich and took possession of the county 
of Kent, with the exception of Dover. This 
place was well provided against an attack, 
and was governed by Hubert du Bourg, an 
intrepid and skillful soldier. Louis being unable 
to overcome his firm resistance, had recourse to 
more seductive advances, offering him a con- 
siderable bribe ; but to his honor, Du Bourg 
repulsed it more indignantly and quite as 
firmly as he had resisted his arms. The 
French were obliged to raise the siege. 

DRESDEN, A.D. 1813, — This beautiful 
city of Germany is situated on both sides of 
the river Elbe, sixty-one miles east of Leip- 
zig. It is delightfully located in the midst of 
the most beautiful and richly cultivated por- 
tion of the valley of the Rhine. It is divided 
into the Old and New Towns, the first on 
the right or south bank of the river, and the 
latter on the north bank, and has four sub- 
urbs extending all round the Old Town, of 
which that called Frederickstadt, lying to 
the west of the small river Weisentz, near 
its confluence with the Elbe, is the most im- 
portant. The Old and New Town are con- 
nected by a noble stone bridge across the 
Elbe, of sixteen arches. 

On the 23d of August, 1813, Napoleon 
Bonaparte halted with his army at Louen- 
bcrg. That very day he had heard that an 
immense army, comjsosed of Russians, Prus- 
sians, and Austrians, were around Dresden, 
with a prodigious train of artillery. St. Cyc, 
the French general, protected the passes to 
this city with a force of 30,000 men ; but 
the overwhelming numbers of the enemy 
rendered it absolutely necessary that lie 
should be reinforced, or the French could no 
longer retain possession of that city. 

Early on the morning of the 24th, Napo- 
leon commenced his march toward Dresden, 
and on the 2(5th, arrived with his guards in 
Dresden. Schwartzenberg, who commanded 
the Austrian army, had established batteries 
on the semicircular heights around Dresden ; 
and at four o'clock in the afternoon of the 
2Gth, he opened a terrible fire from more 
than one hunrlred guns, upon the works and 



DRESDEN. 



227 



buildings of the city. The bombs and can- 
non-balls fell on all sides, and over the whole 
extent of the city. Several houses speedily 
took fire. The inhabitants, in despair, took 
refuge in the cellars and vaults to avoid the 
effects of the bombardment ; while the fre- 
quent bursting of shells in the streets, the 
loud thunder of the artillery from the ram- 
parts and redoubts, the heavy rolling of the 
guns and the ammunition-wagons along the 
pavement, the cries of the drivers, and the 
measured tread of the marching men, who 
forced their way through the throng, com- 
bined to produce a scene of unexampled sub- 
hmity and terror. Every street and square 
in Dresden, by this time, was crowded with 
troops. About 60,000 men had defiled over 
the bridges into the city since ten o'clock, 
and the balls fell, and the bombs exploded 
with dreadful effect among their dense 
masses. The attack of the allies was indeed 
terrible. At the signal of three guns fired 
from the head-quarters on the heights of 
Rochnitz, six columns deep and massy, de- 
scended from the heights, each preceded by 
fifty pieces of artillery, and advanced with a 
steady step against the city. It was an 
awful but yet an animating spectacle, when 
these immense masses, without firing a shot, 
descended silently toward the walls of the 
city. No force on earth seemed capable of 
resisting them; so vast, yet orderly was 
the array, that their tread, when hardly 
within cannon-shot, could be distinctly heard 
from the ramparts. Soon the beautiful build- 
ings of Dresden were enveloped in smoke 
and flame ; the French kept up an incessant 
fire from tlie works, while the allied batteries 
on the heights around, sent a storm of pro- 
jectiles through the air, and the moving 
batteries in front of their columns steadily 
advanced toward the embrasures of the re- 
doubts. The attack was almost irresistible ; 
but at half-past six o'clock, the gate of Plaucn 
was thrown open, and the dense masses of 
tlie Guard, under Ney, rushed furiously out; 
while a quick discharge of musketry from the 
loopholed walls and windows of the adjacent 
houses favored their sortie. Onward rushed 
the French troops; and the Austrian columns 
little anticipating so formidable an onset, fell 
back in disorder. The French guards taking 
advantage of the moment when the gate 
was free, defiled rapidly out, and forming a 
line on either side of it, by their increasing 
mass and enthusiastic valor, rapidly gained 
ground on the enemy. Similar sorties took 
place at the gate of Pima, and at the bamers 
of the Dippodis Walde: at all points the 
allies lost ground, and finally withdrew to 
await a pitched battle on the adjacent heights 
the next morning. The allies, during the 
night received reinforcements until, notwith- 



standing they had lost 6,000 men in the as- 
sault, they had nearly 160,000 men in line, 
independent of the forces under Klenau, who 
it was hoped would come up before the ac- 
tion was over. They resolved, therefore, to 
await the attack of the enemy on the follow- 
ing morning ; withdrawing altogether from 
cannon-shot of the ramparts, they arranged 
their formidable masses in the form of a semi- 
circle on the heights around the walls, from 
the Elbe, above the suburb of Pima, to the 
foot of the slopes of Wolfintz, near Priesnitz, 
below the city. The weather, which for some 
days previous, had been severe and intensely 
hot, now suddenly changed ; the skies were 
clouded, and soon the rain fell in torrents. 

Regardless of the storm. Napoleon traversed 
the city after it was dark, and waited on the 
bridge till Marmont and Victor's corps began 
to defile over ; and as soon as he was assured 
of their arrival, retired hastily through the 
streets again, issued forth on the other side 
and, by the hght of the bivouacs, visited the 
whole fine occupied by his troops, now en- 
tirely outside the city, from the barrier of 
Prina to the suburb of Frederickstadt. He 
had now accumulated a force of at least 
120,000 men, of whom 20,000 were admira- 
ble cavalry; an army sufficient in strength 
not only to repel any further attack which 
might be directed against the city, but to re- 
sume the offensive at all points. Napoleon 
disposed his troops after the following man- 
ner: the right wing, composed of the corps 
of Victor, and the cavalry of Latour Mar- 
bourg, was stationed in front of the gate of 
Wildsdrack, and in the fields and low grounds 
from that down the Elbe toward Priesnitz; 
the center, under the emperor in person, 
comprising the corps of Marmont and St 
Cyr, having the infantry and cavalry of the 
Old Guard in reserve, supported by the three 
great redoubts; on the left Ney had the 
comm.and, and directed the four divisions of 
the Young Guard, and the cavalry of Keller- 
man, which extended to the Elbe, beyond 
the suburb of Pirna. 120,000 men were, by 
daylight on the following morning, assembled 
in this position, having Dresden, bristling 
with cannon, as a vast fortress to support 
their center. The allies arranged their forces 
in the following manner: on the right, 
Wittgenstein commanded the Russians on the 
road to Pirna, and Kleist, the Prussians, be- 
tween Streisec and Strehlen ; in the center, 
Schwartzenberg, with the corps of Colloredo, 
Chastellar, and Bianchi's grenadiers in re- 
serve, occupied the semicircle of heights, 
which extend from Strehlen by Raeckmitz 
to Plauen ; while beyond Plauen, on the left, 
were posted the corps of Giulay, and one 
division of Klenau's troops which had at 
lengtli arrived. But from the extreme allied 



228 



DRESDEN. 



left, at the foot of the heights of Wolfmitz 
to Preisnitz, was a vacant space wholly un- 
occupied, destined for the remainder of Klen- 
au's men when they should come up. 

Both armies passed a cheerless night, 
drenched to the skin by the unceasing tor- 
rents of rain. Napoleon was on horseback 
at six in the morning and rod©> out to the 
neighborhood of the great redoubt, which had 
been the scene of such a desperate contest 
the day before. Ghastly traces of the com- 
bat were to be seen on all sides : out of the 
newly-made graves hands and arms were 
projecting, which stuck up stark and stiff 
from the earth in a most frightful manner. 
The cannonade soon began along the whole 
line ; but it was kept up for some hours only 
in a desultory manner, the excessive rain and 
thick mist rendering it impossible either to 
move the infantry or point the guns with 
precision. In the mean time the French 
right gradually gained ground upon the de- 
tached corps of Austrian?, beyond the ravine 
on the allied left, which was equally inca- 
pable of maintaining itself by its intrinsic 
strength, or obtaining succor across the 
chasm from the center, and Klenau, though 
strenuously urged to accelerate his move- 
ments had not yet arrived. Napoleon was 
not long in turning to the best account this 
state of matters in the allied line. Occupying 
himself a strong central position, and in a 
situation to strike at any portion of the vast 
semicircular line which lay before him, he 
had also this immense advantage, that the 
tliick mist and incessant rain rendered it im- 
possible not only for the allied generals to see 
against what quarter preparations were di- 
rected, but even for the commanders of corps 
to perceive the enemy before they were close 
upon them. This last circumstance proved 
fatal to their left wing. Unperceived by the 
enemy, Murat had stole around in the rear 
of Victor's men, and, entirely turning the 
flank of the Austrians, got with Latour Mau- 
bourg's formidable cuirassiers into the low 
meadows which he between Wolfnitz and 
the Elbe, in the direction of Preisnitz, where 
it was intended that Klenau's corps should 
have completed the allied line to the river. 
Shrouded by the mist, he had thus got Avith 
his whole force close to the Austrian left, 
and almost perpendicular to their line, before 
they were aware of his approach. Murat, in 
order to divert the enemy's attention from 
this decisive attack, caused Victor's infantry 
to occupy Lobda, in their front, whence they 
advanced in column against the line, and 
kept up a heavy cannonade from a strong bat- 
tery posted on an eminence on their left; and 
when the action had become warm with the 
foot, suddenly burst, with 12,000 chosen 
horsemen, out of the mist, on their flank and 



rear. In a few moments the Austrian line 
was broken through and pierced in all di- 
rections, and cut to pieces. A few battahons 
next the center escaped : the whole remain- 
der, being three fourths of the entire corps, 
with General Metsko, were killed or made 
prisoners. No sooner was Napoleon aware, 
by the advancing cannonade on his right, 
that Murat's attack had proved successful, 
than he gave orders for his left to advance 
against Wittgenstein ; while the action in the 
center was confined to a distant cannonade, 
Ney had concentrated the four divisions of 
the Young Guard between the Cross Garten 
and the Elbe, and with them and Keller- 
man's dragoons, he immediately made a 
vigorous attack upon the enemy. The Rus- 
sians posted at the villages of Seidnitz and 
Grass Dobritz, after a gallant resistance, were 
at length obliged to give way before the re- 
peated attacks of Ney's men. Ney gradually 
advanced along the Elbe, driving the enemy 
before him, until his flank was opposite the 
enemy's center. At this moment the famous 
General Moreau, who was in earnest con- 
versation with the Emperor Alexander, was 
struck by a cannon-shot from a French bat- 
tery in the center, which almost carried off 
both liis legs, the ball passing tlu'ough liia 
horse. This event excited a very deep sen- 
sation at the allied head-quarters, and for a 
time averted Alexander's attention at the 
most critical moment of the action. The 
allied generals now held a council of war, in 
which, after much discussion, it was resolved 
to retreat. Accordingly, on the evening of 
the 27th, the whole allied army, in three 
columns, commenced their march, leaving the 
field in the possession of the victorious French. 
Early on the morning of the 28 th, Napoleon 
visited the field of battle. It may be con- 
ceived what a ghastly spectacle Avas present- 
ed by the ground, on which, witliin the space 
of a league round the walls of the city, nearly 
300,000 men had combatted for two days, 
with determined resolution, under the fire of 
above 1,000 pieces of cannon. The wounded 
had, for the most part, been transported dur- 
ing the night into the town, by the efforts of 
the French surgeons, and the unwearied zeal 
of the inhabitants. But the dead, still un- 
buried, lay accumulated in frightful heaps, for 
the most part, half naked, having been strip- 
ped by those fiends in woman's form, whom 
so prodigious a concourse of men had attract- 
ed to the scene of woe. Cuirasses, sabers, 
muskets, helmets, belts and cartouch-boxes, 
lay about in endless disorder; while the 
ground was plowed in all directions, by vast 
numbers of cannon-balls. The allies lost, on 
this occasion, at least 25,000 men, killed, 
wounded, missing or taken prisoners. 26 
cannon, 18 standards, and 130 field-piece3 



DRBUX— DUNBAR. 



229 



fell into the hands of the French. The 
French lost about 10,000 men, killed and 
wounded. In the pursuit which immediately 
followed, the French took a great quantity 
of cannon, and baggage and ammunition- 
wagons, which the allied army, in their haste 
to escape, abandoned to the enemy, and be- 
fore the troops had extricated themselves 
from the mountains, 2,000 additional prison- 
ers were taken by the pursuers. 

DREUX, A.D. 1562.— Near Dreux, a town 
of France, in the year 1562, an engagement 
took place between a body of Catholic sol- 
diers commanded by the Constable Montmo- 
rency, and under him by the Duke of Guise, 
and the Protestant troops under the Prince 
of Conde. The field was fought on both 
sides with great obstinacy, and the action 
was distinguished by this singular event, that 
Conde and Montmorency, the commanders 
of the opposite armies, fell both of them pris- 
oners into the hands of their enemies. The 
Protestants were finally put to flight, with 
great slaughter. Montmorency escaped from 
his enemies, but Conde remained in the 
hands of the victors. 

DROGHEDA.— On the banks of the 
Boyne, four miles above its embouchure 
into the Irish sea, stands Drogheda, one of 
the most famous cities of Ireland. The river 
divides the town into two unequal portions 
which are connected by a bridge of three 
arches. In the time of Oliver Cromwell, the 
town was called Tredagh, and as it was in 
the neighborhood of Dublin, its possession 
was deemed of the utmost importance both 
by the royalists and by the supporters of the 
commonwealth. In the year 1649, Cromwell, 
having entered Dublin in triumph, hastened 
to Drogheda with his army to lay siege to 
that town which was in the hands of the 
royaUsts. The town was well fortified, and 
its garrison consisted of 3,000 men under the 
command of Sir Arthur Aston. Having 
made a breach, Cromwell ordered a general 
assault. Twice was he repulsed with loss, 
but leading on his men in person, he renewed 
the attack, and at length gained an entrance 
into the town. The furious valor of liis sol- 
diers overthrew all opposition. The tower 
was taken, sword in hand, and orders being 
issued to give no quarter, the soldiers of the 
garrison were cruelly slaughtered. Even the 
few who were spared by the clemency of the 
soldiers, were miserably butchered the next 
day by Cromwell's orders. One person alone 
of the garrison escaped to be a messenger of 
tliis universal havoc and destruction. 

DRUMCLOG, A.D. 1697.— The battle of 
Drumclog was fought on the 1st of June, 
1697, at Drumclog, in the parish of Avondale 
in Scotland, between the royalists under 
Claverhouse, and the Covenanters. The bat- 



tle was obstinately contested and resulted in 
the defeat of the royalists. A thrilling de- 
scription of this battle, which agrees nearly 
with the established accounts, can be found 
in Sir Walter Scott's romance " Old Mor- 
tality." 

This affair was the only one in which 
Claverhouse was defeated, or the insurgent 
Cameronians successful. The royalists lost 
about thirty or forty men. The commander 
of the Presbyterian, or ratlier Covenantry, 
party, was Mr. Robert Hamilton, of the hon- 
orable house of Preston, brother to Sir Wil- 
liam Hamilton, to whose titles and estates he 
afterwards succeeded. 

DUNBAR, A.D. 1296.— Dunbar, a seaport 
town of Scotland, is situated on a slight emi- 
nence, on the German ocean, twenty-seven 
mUes north of Edinburg. The town con- 
sists of a long and well-built street running 
east and west, with inferior streets toward 
the sea, and on the south introducing the 
road from Edinburg. In former times, on a 
lofty rock, within sea-mark, stood the cele- 
brated castle of Dunbar, a fortress of great 
strength, whose date of building is unknown. 
In the year 1296, Edward I. of England dis- 
patched Earl Warrene with 12,000 men to 
lay siege to Dunbar, which was defended by 
the flower of the Scottish nobiUty. The 
possession of this place was of the utmost 
importance to the Scots, for, if taken, it laid 
their whole country open to the enemy. 
They therefore advanced their main army, 
nearly 40,000 strong, under the command of 
the Earls of Buchan, Lennox, and Marre, in 
order to relieve it. The British commander, 
however, was not dismayed at the great 
superiority of the enemy's number, and 
marched out to give them battle. He at^ 
tacked them with gre^t vigor, and, as undis- 
ciplined troops, when numerous, are but the 
more exposed to panic, he soon threw them 
into confusion, and chased them oS" the field, 
with great slaugliter. The loss of the Scots 
it is said amounted to 20,000 men. The next 
day, the castle of Dunbar, with all its garri- 
son, surrendered to Edward, who arrived 
after the battle with the main body of the 
English army. 

In the year 1650, Dunbar was the scene 
of a bloody strife between the army of Oliver 
Cromwell, 16,000 strong, and the royal forces 
of Scotland, numbering nearly 30,000 men. 
The Scots were commanded by General 
Lesley, who was a good officer, and a pru- 
dent commander. Knowing that, though 
superior in numbers, his army was nmch in- 
ferior in discipline to the English, he kept 
himself carefully within his intrenched camp 
which was situated between Edinburg and 
Leith. He took care to remove from the 
counties of Merse and the Lothans every thing 



230 



DUNBLANE— DUNGAN HILL. 



■which could serve to the subsistence of the 
English army. Cromwell advanced to the 
Sco1,ch camp, and endeavored by every expe- 
dient to bring Lesley to a battle : the pru- 
dent Scotchman, however, remained closely 
within his intrenchments. By skirmishes 
and slight renconters, he tried to confirm the 
spirits of his troops; and he was successful 
in these enterprises. His army daily in- 
creased botli in numbers and courage. Crom- 
well found himself in a very bad situation. 
He had no provisions but what he had re- 
ceived by sea. He had not had the precau- 
tion to bring these in sufficient quantities ; 
and his army was reduced to difficulties. He 
retired to Dunbar. Lesley followed him, 
and encamped on the heights of Lammermure 
which overlook that town. There were 
many difficult passes between Dunbar and 
Berwick, and of these Lesley had taken 
possession. Cromwell was reduced to ex- 
tremities. He even had embraced the reso- 
lution of sending by sea all his foot and 
artillery to England, and breaking through 
the enemy at all hazards, with his cavalry. 
The madness of the Scotch ecclesiastics saved 
him from this loss and dishonor. Night and 
day the ministers had been " wrestling with 
God," as they termed it, and they lancied 
that the victory was awarded to the arms of 
the Scots. Kevelations, they said, were 
made them that the sectarian and heretical 
army, together with Agag, meaning Crom- 
well, was deUvered into tlieir hands. Upon 
the strength of these visions they forced their 
general, in spite of his remonstrances, to de- 
scend into the plain, with a view of attack- 
ing the Enghsh in their retreat. Cromwell, 
looking tln-ough a glass, saw the enemy's 
camp in motion; and foretold, without the 
aid of revelations, that the Lord had de- 
livered them into his hands. He gave orders 
immediately for an attack. In this battle it 
was easily observable that notliing in mihtary 
actions can supply the place of discipline and 
courage ; and that, in the presence of real 
danger, where men are accustomed to it, the 
fumes of enthusiasm presently dissipate, and 
lose their influence. The Soots, though 
double the number of the English, were soon 
put to flight, and pursued with great slaugh- 
ter. The chief, if not the only, resistance, 
was made by one regiment of Highlanders, 
that part of the army which was the least in- 
fected with fanaticism. No victory could be 
more complete than this which was obtained 
by Cromwell. About 3,000 of the enemy 
were slain, and 9,000 taken prisoners. Crom- 
well, pursuing his advantage, took possession 
of Edinburg and Leith; while the remnant 
of tlie Scottish army fled to Stirling. 

DUNBLANE, a.d. 1715.— This town of 
Scotland is situated on tlio Allan, twenty- 



three miles south-west of Perth. On the 
12th of Novembt.'r, 1715, an indecisive battle 
was fought near this place between the royal 
forces of England, under the Duke of Ar- 
gyle, and those of the Pretender, under the 
Earl of Mar. This battle Ls also called Sheriff- 
muir. 

DUNDALK, A.D. 1318.— On the 14th of 
October, 1318, a battle Avas fought near Dun- 
dalk, Ireland, between the troops of Edward 
II. of England, under John, Lord Birming- 
ham, and the Irish patriots, under Edward 
Bruce. The battle was obstinate and bloody ; 
the Irish maintained their ground against the 
enemy until their leader and nearly their 
entire number were slain, when the survivors 
fled. The English commander caused the 
body of Bruce to be quartered, and sent to 
the four principal towns of Ireland. His 
head was presented by the victor to Edward, 
who rewarded him with the title and 
emoluments of Earl of Louth. 

DUNDEE, A.D. 1645.— Dundee, in Scot- 
land, was besieged and sacked by the En- 
glish under the Duke of Montrose, in the 
year 1G45. Six years afterward (1651), 
Monk, Cromwell's general, with 8,000 En- 
glish soldiers, appeared before Dundee, and 
summoned the garrison to surrender. Lums- 
den, the Scottish governor, gave him a proud 
defiance ; and Monk made preparations for 
an assault. Meanwhile, the English general 
learned that a number of Scottish lords were 
holding a meeting on a moor in the vicinity. 
He, thereupon, detached 600 horse, under 
Colonels Abured and Morgan, who were 
guided, it is said, by a Scottish traitor, and 
early in the morning of the 28th of August, 
fell by surprise on the assemblage, and took 
300 prisoners. The besiegers soon made a 
practicable breach in the walls of Dundee ; 
and advanced to the assault. The place 
made but a feeble resistance, and in a short 
time the shouts of the English were resound- 
ing through the streets. Lumsden and liis 
troops were immediately massacred; and a 
general butchery of the inhabitants succeeded. 
Words can not describe the horrors of that 
day. Cruelty and lust reigned triumphant. 
" Mounche commandit all of quliatsummeur 
sex, to be put to the edge of the sword. 
Ther wer 800 inhabitants and souldiers killed, 
and about 200 women and children. The 
plounder and buttie they gotte in the tonne, 
exceided 2 millions and a halffe," (about 
$1,000,000!). On account of its strength 
many of the royalists liad deposited their 
wealth in Dundee, and all this witli sixty 
ships and their cargoes in the harbor, fell into 
the hands of the victors. The fall of Dundee 
firmly established the power of the Protector 
in Scotland. 

DUNGAN HILL, a.d. 1647.— On the 10th 



DUNKIRK— DURHAM. 



231 



of July, 1647, a battle was fought at Dungan 
Hill, in Ireland, between the English army, 
commanded by Colonel Jones, and the Irish, 
which resulted in the total defeat of the lat- 
ter, with a loss of 6.000 men. The British 
loss was trifling. 

DUNKIRK, A.D. 1658. — Dunkirk (the 
church of the Dunes, or sandbanks), is one of 
the most northerly seaport towns of France, 
and is situated on the Straits of Dover. 

Cromwell, Protector of England, in spite 
of disaffection and distraction at home, pro- 
ceeded in all his foreign measures with the 
same vigor and enterprise as if secure of the 
duty and attachment of the three kingdoms. 
In the year 1658, Spain declared war against 
him, and he concluded a peace or alliance 
with France, and united himself in all his 
counsels with that potent and ambitious 
kingdom. He maintained his alUance witli 
Sweden, and endeavored to assist that crown 
in its successful enterprises for reducing all 
its neighbors to subjection, and rendering it- 
self absolute master of the Baltic. Spain had 
long courted the friendship of the Protector ; 
but in vain, and at length espoused the cause 
of the unfortunate Charles II., who formed a 
league with Philip IV., and removed his 
small court to Bruges, in Flanders, and raised 
four regiments of Enghsh troops, who were 
still faithful to him, and employed them in 
the Spanish service. Cromwell was particu- 
larly desirous of conquest and dominion on 
the continent, and he sent over into Flanders 
6,000 men under Reynolds, who joined the 
French army, commanded by Turenne, and 
the combined army opened the campaign 
with the siege of Dunkirk, then in the pos- 
session of the Spaniards, who had garri- 
soned it with about 1,000 men. The Spanish 
army, vmder Don Juan, consisting of 6,000 
infantry, and 4,000 cavalry, marched to the 
reUef of Dunkirk, and on the 3d of June, 
1658, encamped between the village of Zud- 
cote, and the hues of the besiegers. Turenne 
resolved to attack the Spaniards at once, and 
on the morning of the 4th, advanced in bat- 
tle array against the enemy. The Spanish 
general hastily placed liis men along a ridge 
of.sand-hiJls which extended from the sea- 
coast to a canal, and gave the command of 
the right wing to James, Duke of York, 
afterward James II. ; the left wing was un- 
der the Prince of Conde, and the center was 
under the command of Don Juan, in person. 
The allied army was drawn up with the 
French on the right and the Enghsh on the 
left. The English commenced the battle. 
They were led by Major Greneral Morgan, 
who found himself opposed to his country- 
man, the Duke of York. With the greatest 
ardor the English advanced, receiving the fire 
of the enemy without flinching, and charging 



at the point of the pike, drove the enemy 
from their position. The Duke of York, at 
the head of the Spanish cavalry charged like 
a whirlwind upon the Enghsh, but a well 
directed fire of musketry drove him back 
with great loss ; but the fight, had been so 
obstinate that of the Enghsh scarcely an offi- 
cer remained to take the command. Mean- 
while, the Prince of Conde was fiercely 
assailed on the left by the French under 
Turenne, and was compelled to retreat by 
the bank of the canal. The center of the 
Spanish army was never engaged; for the 
regiment on its extreme left, seeing itself 
flanked by the French in pursuit of Conde, 
precipitately abandoned its position, and the 
whole line soon fled in the greatest disorder. 
The Duke of-York, meanwhile, had rallied 
his cavalry, and charged the French in flank 
at the head of his company of horse-guards. 
The French were thrown into disorder ; but 
they maintained the fight with obstinate valor, 
employing the butt ends of their muskets 
against the swords of their adversaries, until 
several squadrons of French cavalry arrived 
to their aid. James was surrounded ; and in 
despair of saving liimself by flight he boldly 
assumed the character of a French officer ; 
riding at the head of twenty troops toward 
the right of their army, and carefully thread- 
ing his way through the different corps, 
arrived without exciting suspicion at the 
bank of the canal, by which he speedily ef- 
fected his escape to Fermes. The victory on 
the part of the allies was complete. The 
Spanish cavalry made no attempt to protect 
the retreat of their infantry ; every regiment 
of which was successively surrounded by the 
pursuers, and compelled to surrender. On 
the 17th of June Dunkirk capitulated, and 
the King of France with his own hands de- 
livered the keys to the English embassador. 

In the year 1793, Dunkirk was besieged 
by the English under the Duke of York, who 
was compelled to retire witl;out effecting his 
purpose. 

DURRENSTEIN, a.d. 1805.— In 1805 a 
battle was fought, near Durrenstein, a town 
of Lower Austria on the Danube, between 
the allied armies of Russia and Prussia, and 
the French, in which the latter were defeated. 

DURHAM, (Neville's Cross), a.d. 1346. 
— This ancient and celebrated city of England 
is situated on a bend of the river Wear, 238 
miles north-west of London. The city con- 
tains two grand objects of interest, the ca- 
thedral and castle. The first of these struct- 
ures, begun in the reign of William Rufus, 
but much enlarged and improved in subse- 
quent ages, is a large and majestic pile of 
Norman architecture. The castle founded by 
William the Conqueror, and intended partly 
to bridle that part of his own dominions, and 



232 



ECKMUHL. 



partly as a defense against the irruptions of 
the Scotch, stands a little to the north of the 
cathedral in a rocky peninsula, about 80 feet 
above the river, which nearly encircles both 
the cathedral and castle. 

In the year 1346, when Edward III. of 
Eno'land, made liis last invasion upon France, 
David Bruce, King of Scotland, invaded the 
frontiers of England with an arruy of 50,000 
men, and carried his ravages and destructions 
to the gates of Durham. But Phihppa, Ed- 
ward's queen, assembUng an army which she 
intrusted to Lord Percy, approached the en- 
emy at Neville's Cross, near the city of Dur- 
ham. The Enghsh army consisted of 22,000 
men, of whom 12,000 were men-at-arms; 
3,000 were archers, and 7,000 were other 
soldiers variously armed. The Scots were 
posted opposite the EngUsh ; and both armies 
were drawn up in order of battle. The En- 
glish army was drawn up in four battalions. 
The first was commanded by the Bishop of 
Durham and Lord Percy ; the second by the 
Archbishop of York and Lord Neville ; the 
third by the Bishop of Lincoln and Lord 
Mowbray; and the fourth by Lord Bahol 
(governor of Berwick), the Archbishop of 
Canterbury, and Lord Roos. Each battalion 



had its just proportion of men-at-arms and 
archers. After her men were drawn up in 
battle array, the queen rode tlxrough the 
ranks of her army, and exliorted every man 
to do his duty, and take revenge on these 
barbarous ravagers. Nor could she be per- 
suaded to leave the field until the armies 
were on tlie point of engaging. The en- 
gagement was commenced by showers of 
arrows from the archers on either side. At 
length, however, the combatants wavering in 
the battle approached each other, and a 
furious hand-to-hand combat ensued. The 
struggle commenced about nine o'clock in 
the morning and lasted till noon. The Scots, 
armed with sharp and formidable Lochaber- 
axes, dealt deadly blows upon their enemies ; 
but the Enghsh with their heavy swords and 
bills, cut their way into the midst of the en- 
emy, and after a most bloody battle, at lengtb 
put the Scots to flight. Fifteen thousand of 
the Scots were slain ; and King David, himself, 
was taken prisoner ; fighting most gallantly 
and being severely wounded before he waa 
captured. Many of his nobles and knights, 
and many thousands of his men were taken 
prisoners. This action is also called the bat- 
tle of Neville's Cross. 



ECKMUHL, A.D. 1809.— This Bavarian 
village is situated on the great Laber, thirteen 
miles south of Ratisbon. It is noted only 
on account of the famous battle fought in the 
year 1809 in its vicinity, between the grand 
French army under Napoleon, and the Aus- 
trians under the Archduke Charles. 

At noon, on the 22d of April, 1809, the 
French army, 75,000 strong, approache Eck- 
muhl, where the Archduke Charles with his 
army was awaiting them. The Austrian 
army consisted of about 50,000 men. As the 
French troops arrived on the top of the hills 
of Lintach, which separate the valley of the 
Iser from that of the Labor, they beheld the 
field of battle stretched out before them hke 
a map. From the marshy meadows which 
bordered the shores of the Laber, rose a suc- 
cession of hills, one above another, in the 
form of an amphitheater, with their slopes cul- 
tivated and diversified by hamlets, and beau- 
tiful forests clothing the higher ground. The 
villages of Eckmuhl and Laichling, separated 
by a large copsewood, appeared in view, 
with the great road to Ratisbon winding up 
the acclivities behind them. In the interval 
of the woods, the Austrian artillery was to 
be seen ; standards waved in the village, and 
long white lines, with glancing helmets and 
bayonets, showed the columns of the Aus- 
trian generals, Rosenberg and Hohenzollern, 



already in battle array, in very advantageous 
positions on the opposite side of the valley. 
The French eagerly descended into the low 
grounds, while the emperor galloped to the 
front, and immediately formed his plan of 
attack. Davoust's column fiercely fell upon 
the left of the enemy's hne, wliile Lannes, 
with two divisions of the corps, assailed the 
village in the center. After a desperate con- 
test, Lannes succeeded in expeUing the enemy 
from the village of Eckmuhl, and in a few 
moments the shouts of Davoust's column 
Avere heard above the din of battle, as they 
drove the enemy before them. This severe 
check on his left, caused the archduke to 
give a general order to fall back. Napoleon 
now ordered a general attack. To cover his 
retreat, the archduke placed twelve squad- 
rons of cuirassiers, and a large body of hus- 
sars, in front of Eglofsheim, wliich was gar- 
risoned by six battalions of grenadiers, and 
supported by several powerful batteries. As 
the French infantry, in hot pursuit, ap- 
proached this formidable mass of cavalry, 
they paused, till the French horse came up 
in sufficient strength to hazard an engage- 
ment ; a variety of charges then took place 
on both sides, with various success; but at 
length the magnificent Austrian horse bore 
down with apparently irresistible force upon 
their pursuers. The French light horse could 



EDESSA. 



233 



not withstand the shock, and were quickly 
dispersed ; but soon their own cuirassiers 
came up, and then two rival bodies, equally 
heavy-armed, equally brave, equally discip- 
lined, engaged in mortal combat. So ve- 
hement was the onset, so nearly matched the 
strength of the combatants, so tremendous 
the conflict, that both parties, as if by mutual 
consent, suspended their fire to await its 
issue; the roar of the musketry subsided, 
even the heavy booming of the cannon 
ceased, and from the melee was heard only, 
as from the battle of the knights of old, the 
lou<l clang of the swords ringing on the hel- 
mets and cuirasses of the dauntless antago- 
nists. The sun set while the contest was still 
undecided; the moon rose on the deadly 
strife, and amid her silvery rays, fire was 
struck on all sides by the steel upon the ar- 
mor, and dazzling sparks flew around tlie com- 
batants, as if a thousand anvils were at once 
ringing under the blows of the forgers. At 
length the ringing strokes grew fainter and 
fainter ; the Austrians, unable any longer to 
make head against the invincible power of 
the enemy, broke and fled, leaving two thirds 
of their number on the field. But their he- 
roic stand, however fatal to themselves, 
proved the salvation of their army. During 
the engagement, the artillery and infantry 
withdrew in safety to the rear. Napoleon, 
with his victorious army, fatigued by fighting, 
reposed on the bloody field they had won. 
During the night, the whole Austrian army 
crossed the Danube, and retired within the 
walls of Ratisbon. The next day the French 
army was before the gates of that city. In 
the battle of Eckmuhl the Austrians lost 5,000 
men, killed and wounded, and 7,000 made 
prisoners, besides twelve standards and six- 
teen pieces of cannon which fell into the vic- 
tors' hands. The French loss was about 4,000, 
killed and wounded. 

EDESSA, A.D. 503. — Edessa is the ancient 
name of a town of Asiatic Turkey, called 
Oorfa. 

The inhabtants of Edessa have, or rather 
had, a legend that Christ promised their king 
Abgarus that their city should never be taken. 
This 'gave them such confidence, that they 
on all occasions braved the most formidable 
enemies. In 503 of the Christian era, Cava- 
dez, king of Persia, approached Edessa at the 
head of an army. The confidence of the 
inhabitants was so httle shaken by the ap- 
pearance of this formidable host, that they 
left their gates wide open during a whole 
day, and, such is the influence of supersti- 
tion, the Persians did not make the least 
attempt to violate the prohibition. It is re- 
lated that, on this occasion, children even 
went to the camp of the Persians and insulted 
them with unpunity. Cavadez proposed an 



accommodation; but without effect. This 
prince was preparing his batteries, when the 
inhabitants made so furious an assault upon 
him, that, without losing a single man, they 
repulsed his army with great slaughter. 
Ashamed of his defeat, the great king re- 
gained his dominions at quickest speed. 

Second Siege, a.d. 544. — Chosroes, son of 
the above king, presented himself before 
Edessa, but without any better success. Upon 
the point of abandoning his enterprise, he 
made it known, by a herald, that he meant 
to sell all the prisoners he had taken at Anti- 
och. The whole city of Edessa, animated 
by the zealous and active charity which re- 
ligion inspires, was in a state of eager im- 
patience to redeem these unhappy victims of 
war. Every one wished to contribute in 
proportion to, or even beyond, their fortune, 
to this pious purpose. Each person carried 
liis offering to the great church, which was 
speedily filled with treasures of various 
kinds. Courtesans from their vices, honest 
peasants from their labors, if they had but a 
goat or a sheep, contributed clieerfully to the 
liberation of their fellow Christians. This 
generous emulation produced a sufficient 
ransom for all the prisoners. But, as is too 
often the case, this wealth, collected for holy 
purposes, became so great as to attract the 
cupidity of Buzes, who commanded the city 
for the Emperor Justinian : when it was col- 
lected, he appropriated the whole to himself, 
and Chosroes took his prisoners to a better 
market. 

Third Siege, a.d. 549. — ^Four years after, 
this prince again laid siege to Edessa, and 
attacked it vigorously. But the besieged 
made a sortie, in which, it is said, an officer 
named Arget killed, with his own hand, 
tv/enty/-seven of the enemy, and in which 
Chosroes was repulsed. He then commenced, 
out of reach of the city missiles, a platform, 
with the purpose of carrying it up to the 
walls. Tlie sight of this terrible work in- 
duced the inhabitants to have recourse to 
prayer. The physician Stephen endeavored 
to bend the haughty monarch ; but his dis- 
course produced very Uttle effect upon Chos- 
roes ; he made such hard propositions, that 
the besieged fell back upon their courage and 
their resources. They destroyed the point 
of the terrace, by digging a chamber under 
it, and filling it with the most combustible 
wood, steeped in oil of cedar, sulphur, and 
bitumen ; fire was easily set to this, and the 
following night, columns of fire were seen 
bursting from different parts of the platform. 
At the same time, the Romans, the better to 
deceive the enemy, threw upon it a number 
of fire-pots and ignited torches. The Per- 
sians, not suspecting there was any other 
cause for the fire, came in crowds from their 



234 



EDESSA. 



camp to extinguish it, and were received 
with showers of missiles from the walls. 
Chosroiis himself came to the scene of action, 
and was the first one to discover that the 
conflagration was in the entrails of his plat- 
form. He ordered the wliole army to throw 
earth upon the top, to stifle the flames, and 
water to extinguish them ; but all in vain ; 
when vent was stopped at one place, a htm- 
dred more passages were opened in others, 
the water thrown upon the sulphur and bitu- 
men augmenting tlie violence of the burning. 
In the midst of the confusion, the garrison 
made a happy and vigorous sortie, producing 
great slaughter among the Persians. At 
length the flames burst from all parts, and 
tlie work was abandoned. 

Six days after, Chosroes ordered the walls 
to be scaled, early in the morning; but, after 
a severe contest, the Persians were repulsed, 
and obliged to abandon their ladders, which 
were drawn up over the walls by the besieged, 
amid triumphant laughter. On the same 
day at noon, the Persians attacked one of the 
gates; but the garrison, the peasants who 
retired to tlie city, with the inhabitants, made 
a sortie from the gate attacked, and again re- 
pulsed their enemies. At length, the King 
of Persia, enraged at this noble resistance, 
resolved upon a general assault. The citizens 
crowded to defend their walls ; every human 
being in Edessa became a soldier ; Avomen, 
children, and old men, were all eager to 
share the labors of the combatants, or to 
furnish them with arms and refreshments. 
The Persians gave way ; Chosroes forced 
them back to the walls with threats and 
blows ; but, notwithstanding his efforts, they 
yielded to the brave efforts of the besieged. 
Foaming with vexation and rage, Chosroes 
regained his camp, and soon afterward re- 
turned to his own states. During tliis furious 
attack, an immense elephant, bearing upon 
his back a lofty tower, filled with archers, 
advanced toward the wall like a terrible 
machine, from the top of which poured a 
continuous shower of darts and arrows. 
There was a great chance of the wall being 
escaladed at tliis spot, when a Roman soldier 
took it into his head to suspend a pig by a 
cord, and dangle it before the elephant. Tliis 
animal appeared amazed at the horrible noii^e 
made by the suspended pig ; he at first looked 
at it earnestly, and then, turning his back, 
retreated in such haste as to place liis master's 
troops in danger. 

Fourth Sikge, a,d. 1097. — Although the 
means by which Edessa fell into the hands 
of one of the Crusaders may not be, correctly 
speaking,- a siege, the circumstances are too 
interesting to be passed by in silence. 

Of all the Crusaders, Baldwin, the brother 
of Godfrey, was one of the bravest, but at 



the same time the most intractable. In fact, 
he had the honesty to confess what many 
of his comrades really felt, but were ashamed 
to admit; he came into Asia to make Ids 
fortune, and he lost no opportunity for effect- 
ing that great purpose. 

Seduced by the attractive picture drawn 
of the jirovinces upon the banks of the 
Euphrates by Pancratius, an ambitious, rest- 
less, Ai-menian prince, Baldwin, soon after 
the siege of Nicea, abandoned the main army 
of the Crusaders, and may literally be said to 
have gone to seek his fortune at the head of 
1,500 foot and 200 horse, all attracted by the 
hopes of plunder. He was the more free for 
this undertaking, from having just lost his 
wife Gundechilde, who had accompanied him 
to the Crusade. He witnessed the magnifi- 
cent obsequies bestowed upon her by his 
fellow-adventurers, and then departed, un- 
regrctted, on his expedition. 

The cities of Turbesscl and Ravendel were 
the first places that opened their gates to the 
fortunate adventurer. These conquests soon 
produced a division between Baldwin and 
Pancratius, both being actuated by the same 
ambitious projects ; but this quarrel did not 
stop the march of the brother of Godfrey a 
moment. The Crusader opposed open un- 
hesitating force to cunning ; he told Pancra- 
tius, if he presumed to be his rival, he should 
at once treat him as an enemy; and thus 
banished the disappointed Armenian from the 
theater of his victories. Baldwin stood in 
need of neither guide nor help in a country 
whose inhabitants all came out to hail and 
meet him. His fame pi-eceded Ids march; 
and his exploits were canvassed in Edessa 
long before he drew near to its walls. 

Tliis city, the metropolis of Mesopotamia, 
and so celebrated in the history of the primi- 
tive church, having escaped the invasions of 
the Turks and Persians, became the place of 
refuge for all the neighljoring Christians, who 
brought their wealth thither for security. A 
Greek prince, of the name of Theodore, sent 
by the Emperor of Constantinople, was gov- 
ernor at the time, and maintained Ids position 
by paying tribute to the Saracens. The ap- 
proach and the victories of the Crusaders 
produced a great sensation in Edessa. The 
people united with the governor in calling 
Baldwin to their aid. The bishop and twelve 
of the principal inhabitants were deputed to 
meet the European adventurer. They spoke 
to him of the wealth of Mesopotamia, of the 
devotion of their fellow-citizens to the cause 
of Christ, and conjured him to save a Chris- 
tian city from the domination of the infidels. 
Baldwin easily yielded to their entreaties, 
and set forward on his march to cross the 
Euphrates. 

He had the good fortune to escape the 



EDGEHILL FIGHT. 



235 



Turks, who laid wait for him, and without 
drawing a sword, arrived safely in the terri- 
tories of Edessa. Having left garrisons in 
tlie places which had surrendered to him, 
when he came near to this great object of his 
ambition, he had really with him no more 
than a body of 100 horsemen. As he 
approached the city, the whole population 
came out to meet him, bearing oUve branches, 
and singing triumphant hymns. It was a 
singular spectacle to behold such a small 
number of warriors surrounded by an im- 
mense multitude, imploring their support and 
proclaiming them their liberators. They 
were received with so much enthusiasm, that 
the prince or governor took umbrage at it, 
and began to see in them enemies much 
more dangerous than the Saracens. To at- 
tach their leader to himself, and to engage 
him to support his authority, he offered him 
vast wealth. But the ambitious Baldwin, 
whether he expected to obtain more from the 
affection of the people and the good fortune 
of his arms, or whether he considered it dis- 
graceful to be in the pay of a petty foreign 
prince, refused the governor's offers with 
contempt, he even threatened to leave the 
city to its fate. The inhabitants, to prevent 
liis departure, assembled in a tumultuous 
manner, and conjured him with loud cries to 
remain among them ; the governor himself 
made fresh efforts to detain the Crusaders 
and interest them in their cause. Baldwin 
gave them all clearly to understand that he 
would never be at the trouble of defending 
states that were not his own ; and the Prince 
of Edessa, who was old and childless, de- 
termined to adopt him as his son, and to 
designate him as his successor. The cere- 
mony of adoption was gone through in the 
presence of the Crusaders and the inhabit- 
ants. According to the custom of the East, 
the Greek prince caused Baldwin to pass 
between his shirt and his naked flesh, giving 
him a kiss, in token of alliance and parent- 
age. The old wife of the governor repeated 
the same ceremony, and from that time Bald- 
win, considered as tlieir son and heir, neglect- 
ed nothing for the defense of a city wliich 
was to belong to him. 

An Armenian prince coming to the aid of 
Edessa, Baldwin, seconded by this useful 
auxiliary, with his own horsemen and Theo- 
dore's troops, thought himself in a condition 
to take the field against the Turks. He was 
at first successful, but, while his men were 
engaged in plunder, they were attacked, and 
obhged to return to Edessa, where their ap- 
pearance spread consternation. 

As a loser is never welcome, Baldwin and 
Theodore began now to quarrel. But the 
people were all in favor of the new prince, 
and after several disgraceful plots and tumults, 



the Edessans hurled their old governor from 
the battlements, dragged his bleeding body 
through the streets, rejoicing over the murder 
of an old man as if they had gained a victory 
over the infidels. 

Although Baldwin affected to be passive 
in this horrid business, he did not fail to 
seize the advantages that accrued to him in 
consequence of it. He was proclaimed 
master and liberator of Edessa. Seated on 
a bloody throne, and dreading the inconstant 
humor of the people, he soon inspired as 
much fear among his subjects as among his 
enemies. But his fiimness of character 
overcame domestic seditions, and his pru- 
dence, tact, and valor, speedily extended his 
dominions. He purchased the city of Sa- 
moata with the treasures of his predecessor, 
and took several other cities by force of arms. 
As fortune favored him in every thing, the 
loss even of his wife assisted his projects of 
aggrandizement. He married the niece of an 
Armenian prince, and, by this alliance, ex- 
tended his possessions to Mount Taurus. All 
Mesopotamia, with the two shores of the 
Euphrates, acknowledged his authority, and 
Asia beheld a Frank knight reigning without 
obstacle over the richest provinces of the 
ancient kingdom of Assyria. — Rohson. 

EDGEHILL FIGHT, a.d. 1642.— Edge- 
hill is an elevated ridge of land in Warwick 
county, England, seven miles north-west of 
Banbury. 

The battle of Edgeliill took place on the 
23d of October, 1G42, and was the first en- 
gagement of importance between the royaUsts 
and the parliament army, in the civil war, 
Charles I., with 6,000 men, was on his road 
toward London, from Nottingham, and the 
Earl of Essex hastened, with an army of 
15,000 men, to Worcester to check the ad- 
vance of the royal army. In London the 
news of the approach of the royalists was re- 
ceived with terror ; and peremptory orders 
were dispatched to Essex to hasten with his 
Avhole force to the protection of the capital 
and the parhament. Essex had anticipated 
this order, and liis vanguard entered the vil- 
lage of Keynton on the same evening (Octo- 
ber 22) on which the royahsts halted on 
Edgehill, only a few miles in advance. At 
midnight Charles held a council of war, in 
which it was resolved to turn upon the pur- 
suers and offer them battle. Early in the 
morning the royal forces were drawn up in 
battle order on the summit of a range of hills. 
Their position was decidedly advantageous in 
case of attack; but Essex, whose artillery 
with one fourth of his men, was several mOes 
in the rear, satisfied with having arrested the 
march of the enemy, quietly posted the dif- 
ferent corps, as they arrived, on a rising 
ground, in the vale of the Red Horse, about 



236 



ESDRAELOK 



half a mile in front of the village. About 
noon the cavaliers grew weary of inaction ; 
and intreated the king to lead them into 
battle. Their importunity at last prevailed ; 
and at about two o'clock in the afternoon, 
the king discharged a cannon with his own 
hand as the signal of battle. The royalists 
descended in good order to the foot of the 
hUl, where their hopes were raised by the 
treachery of Sir Faithful Fortescue, a parlia- 
mentary officer, who, firing his pistol into the 
ground, ranged himself, with two bodies of 
cavalry, under the banner of the king. Soon 
afterward. Prince Rupert, who commanded 
the cavalry on the right of the royal army, 
charged the parliamentary horse, under Sir 
James Ramsay ; broke them at the very on- 
set; urged the pursuit two miles beyond 
Keynton, and, finding the baggage of the 
army in the village, indulged his men for 
the space of an hour, in the work of plunder. 
Had it not been for this fatal imprudence, the 
royalists would probably have gained a de- 
cisive victory. During his absence the main 
bodies of infantry were engaged, imder their 
respective leaders, the Earls of Lindsay and 
Essex, both of whom dismounting, led their 
men into action on foot. The cool and deter- 
mined courage of the roundheads undeceived 
and disconcerted the cavaliers. The royal 
horse, on the left, a weak body, under Lord 
Wilmot, had souglit protection behind a regi- 
ment of pikeraen ; and Sir William Balfour, 
the parliamentary commander, leaving a few 
squadrons to keep them at bay, wheeled 
round on the flank of the royal infantry, broke 
through two divisions, and made himself mas- 
ter of a battery of cannon. In another part of 
the field the king's guards, with his standard, 
bore down every corps that opposed them, 
till Essex ordered two regiments of infantry 
and a squadron of horse to charge them in 
front and flank, while Balfour, abandoning 
the guns which he had taken, burst on them 
from the rear. They now broke; Sir Ed- 
ward Varner was slain, and the standard 
which he bore was taken ; the Earl of Lind- 
say received a mortal wound ; and his son, 
the Lord WiUoughby, was made prisoner, in 
the attempt to rescue his father. Charles, 
who, attended by his troop of pensioners, 
watched the fortune of the day, beheld with 
dismay the slaughter of his guard. The 
standard was, however, recovered by the 
daring valor of a Captain Smith, whom the 
king made a baronet on the spot. The king 
now ordered the reserve to advance, placing 
himself at their head ; but at that moment 
Rupert and the cavalry reappeared, and their 
presence restored the hopes of the royalists 
and damped the ardor of their opponents. 
A breathing time succeeded: the firing 
ceased on both sides, and the adverse armies 



stood gazing at each other, till the darkness 
induced them to withdraw — the royalists to 
their first position, and the parliamentarians 
to the village of Keynton. From the con- 
flicting statements of the parties, it is impos- 
sible to estimate tlieir respective losses. 
Most writers make the number of the slain 
5,000, but the clergyman of the place, who 
superintended the burial of the dead, reduces 
it to about 1,200 men. Both parties claimed 
the honor, neither reaped the benefit, of the 
victory. Essex, leaving the king to pursue 
his march, withdrew to Warwick and thence 
to Coventry : Charles, having compelled the 
garrison of Banbury to surrender, turned 
aside to the city of Oxford. Each com- 
mander wished for leisure to reorganize his 
army after the late battle. 

ESDRAELON, b.c. 1316.— In the year 
1316 B.C. in the plains of Esdraelon, in Pales- 
tine, was fought the famous battle between the 
Israehtes under Deborah and Barak, and the 
Canaanites under Sisera. The Lord, to pun- 
ish the children of Israel, sold them to Jabin, 
king of Canaan. The Israelites were sorely 
oppressed by their cruel taskmasters, and 
intreated the Lord to rescue them from the 
chains of slavery. Deborah, the prophetess, 
sent for Barak, and said to him, " Hath not 
the Lord God of Israel, commanded, saying, 
Gro, and draw toward Mount Tabor, and take 
with thee ten thousand men, of the children 
of Naphtali, and of the children of Zebulun. 
And I will draw unto thee, to the river Kish- 
on Sisera the captain of Jabin's army, with 
his chariots and his multitude ; and I will de- 
liver him into thy hands?" Barak rephed, 
" If thou wilt go with me, then I will go; 
but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will 
not go." " I will surely go with thee," said 
Deborah, " notwithstanding the journey that 
thou takest shall not be for thine honor ; for 
the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hands of a 
woman." Deborah accompanied Barak to 
Kadesh, and thence, with 10,000 men, they 
both advanced to Mount Tabor. Sisera, re- 
ceiving intelligence of this movement of the 
Israelites, collected liis chariots to the num- 
ber of 900, and all the people that were with 
him, and marched to the river Kishon, which 
waters the plain of Esdraelon. The Israel- 
ites marched from Mount Tabor, and attack- 
ed the Canaanites. The Lord rendered them 
assistance, and by his aid, Sisera, with all 
his chariots, and his entire force, were put to 
rout. Sisera dismounted from his chariot 
and fled on foot. The Israelites pursued the 
fugitives with such ardor, that of the whole 
army of the Canaanites not one escaped. Si- 
sera fled to the tent of Jael, the wife of Ileber 
the Kenite, who was at peace with the Ca- 
naanites. She admitted him, but treacher- 
ously killed liim while he was sleeping, by 



ENGEN— EUPATORIA. 



237 



driving a nail into his temple. The Israel- 
ites, after this, prosecuted the war so vigor- 
ously that, with the help of the Lord, they 
destroyed Jabin, the king of Canaan, and re- 
gained their freedom. 

ENGEN, A.D. 1800.— Engen is situated on 
the Aach, in Baden, twenty-three miles 
north-west of Constance. 

On the 2d of May, the center of the French 
army, commanded by Moreau, encountered 
the main force of the Austrians in the exten- 
sive plain which lies before the town of En- 
gen. The Austrians, with Kray at their 
head, numbered some 40,000 men, besides 
the cavalry, which consisted of over 9,000, 
and as they were drawn up, presented a very 
grand and imposing appearance. The de- 
sign of Moreau was to attack in front him- 
self, at the head of the reserve and part of the 
center, Avhile St. Cyr, with liis division, was 
to turn the left of the enemy. But that gen- 
eral, being five leagues in the rear, could not 
come up until late in the day, and Moreau, 
fearing if the action was delayed the enemy 
would retreat, at the head of 32,000 men 
commenced the action himself. The princi- 
pal effort of Moreau was to gain possession 
of the plateau on the right of the imperialists, 
which would command their line of retreat, 
and also facilitate his union with St. Cyr; 
but Kray having taken every advantage of 
the ground in that quarter, for a long time 
resisted all the efforts of the repubhcans to 
drive them bade from the vineyards and 
wooded hills, which they had surmounted 
with a numerous artillery. After a time, the 
French carried the peak of Hohenhowen, the 
highest point on the field of battle, and the 
Austrians returned to the village of Ehingen. 
The Austrians strongly re-enforced this im- 
portant post, to restore the combat, and Mo- 
reau brought up his reserve to drive them 
from it. The repubhcans at first succeeded 
in carrying the village, but Kray charged in 
person at the head of the Hungarian grena- 
diers, drove them out with great slaughter, 
and compelled them to flee in disorder to the 
plain. Moreau hastened to the scene of ac- 
tion, restored order in a measure, and partly 
regained the lost ground, but the Hungarians 
still kept possession of the village, and all the 
roads leading to it. During this time, the 
French division of Richepans, which had 
taken possession of the peak of Hohenhowen, 
were exposed to a furious attack from the 
Austrian right. The summit of the mountain 
seemed like a volcano, throwing out fire in 
every direction ; and as twilight approached, 
it was easily seen, from the strong light that 
illuminated the heavens in that quarter, that 
his position was with great difficulty main- 
tained. At seven in the evening, the van- 
guard of the corps of St. Cyr arrived, and 



soon after took a part in the action. The bat- 
tle was now more equal, and although the ar- 
tillery on both sides still kept up a furious fire, 
it was evident that Kray only fought to gain 
time to withdraw his stores and ammunition. 
The Austrian general, receiving information 
of the defeat ot' the Prince of Lorraine, and 
the capture of Stockach, which threatened 
liis communications, drew off his forces in the 
direction of Liptingen and Moeskirch, and 
formed a junction with the prince, who had 
retreated in the same quarter. The loss of 
the Austrians in this battle was nearly 7,000 
men; that of the repubhcans was not so 
great. 

ENGHIEN, A.D. 1692.— The battle of 
Enghien was fought on the 3d of August, 
1692, by the British, under Wilham III., and 
the French under Marshal Luxemburg. The 
French, on this occasion, were victorious. 
Louis XIV. had invaded the Netherlands 
with an immense army, marshaled by Gen- 
erals Luxemburg, Conde, and Turenne. Wil- 
liam had put himself at the head of the 
confederated army in the Netherlands, and 
leagued himself with the Protestant powers 
upon the continent against the ambition of 
Louis. Although defeated in the battle of 
Enghien, he triumphed in the end. 

ESPIERIES, A.D. 1794.— This battle was 
fought on the 22d of May, 1794, by the al- 
hed Enghsh and Austrians on the one side, 
and the French on the other. The battle 
was long and bloody. Each army consisted 
of nearly 100,000 men. The French were 
finally defeated, losing 12,000 men, killed 
and wounded, 500 prisoners, and seven 
peices of cannon. 

EUPATORIA, A.D. 1855.— On the 17th 
of February, 1855, the town of Eupatoria, in 
Russia, occupied by the Turks, was attacked 
on the eastern side by 25,000 Russians, of 
whom 12,000 were cavalry, with 80 pieces of 
artillery, under General Osten Sacken. The 
combat lasted from half past five o'clock until 
ten o'clock in the morning. The Russians 
were finally repulsed. The Turks lost nearly 
400 men killed and wounded. Among the 
slain were Selim Pasha, general of the Egyp- 
tian division, and Colonel Rustem Bey. The 
Russians lost about 500 men killed, and a 
large number wounded. The battle consisted 
chiefly of a heavy fire of artillery, under 
cover of which the Russians made two or 
three attempts to carry the town. On the 
next day they returned toward Simpheropol. 
The French steamers at anchor in the road- 
stead contributed energetically to the defense 
of the town. Eighteen Frenchmen were 
killed and wounded on shipboard. 

A cavalry action took place on the 29th of 
September, 1855, between the French under 
General d'Allonville, seconded by the Turks 



238 



EURYMEDON— EUTAW SPRINGS. 



under Achmet Mushir Pasha, and the Rus- 
sians, near Eupatoria, in which the latter 
were defeated with a loss of 50 in killed and 
wounded. The French lost 35 men. In this 
action the French captured G guns, 12 am- 
munition-chests, with their teams, 169 pris- 
oners, and 250 horses. 

EURYMEDON, b.c. 470.— In the year 
473 B.C., the Athenians lost one of their most 
distinguished citizens, as well as ablest gen- 
erals, by the banishment of Themistocles. 
They endeavored to retrieve that loss by be- 
stowing the command of the armies on Ci- 
mon, who was not inferior to him in merit. 
No Grecian general ever gave so great a 
blow to the pride and haughtiness of a 
Persian monarch, as Cimon. Not satisfied 
with driving the Persians out of Greece, he 
pursued them, without suffering them to take 
breath, and ravaged and laid waste many 
portions of their dominion. In the year 470 
B.C., he learned that the Persian fleet, con- 
sisting of 350 ships of war, Avas lying near 
the mouth of the river Eurymedon, in Pam- 
phylia. Notwithstanding the inferiority of his 
fleet in number (it consisted only of 200 
ships), he determined to attack the enemy. 
The Persian fleet Avas supported by the land 
army on the coast. It Avas soon put to flight ; 
and more than 200 ships were taken, besides 
those that Avere sunk. A great number of 
the Persians had left their ships and leaped 
into the sea, in order to join their land army, 
which lay on the shore. The barbarian 
farces advanced close to the sea, and it ap- 
peared to Cimon, an arduous undertaking to 
make good Ms landing by dint of sword, 
with troops Avho Avere fatigued Avith the late 
action, and to engage those that were quite 
fresh, and many times their number. But 
Avhen he saAV his men elated with their late 
victory, and desirous to be led against the 
enemy, he disembarked his heavy infantry, 
while yet warm from the action. With loud 
shouts they rushed forward upon the Per- 
sians, who received the charge Avithout break- 
ing. A sharp contest ensued, and many of the 
bravest and most distinguished Athenians 
were slain. At length the barbarians, Avith 
much difficulty, Avcrc put to rout; many 
Avere killed, and a great number fell into the 
hands of the Greeks as prisoners. Tlie main 
body of the Persian army fled from the field 
of battle, leaving their pavilions full of all 
manner of rich spoil behind them. Thus, 
Cimon, like an excellent champion, won two 
prizes in one day, and by these two exploits 
outdid the victory of Salamis at sea, and of 
Platsea on land. 

EUTAW SPRINGS, a.d. 1781.— At the 
head of this small stream which flows into 
the Santee river, in South Carolina, was 
fought on the 8th of September, 1781, a bat- 



tle betAvcen the American patriots and tho 
British, which will be remembered to all 
time. 

After the battle of Hobkirk, General 
Greene fell back with the American troops 
upon Gum Swamp, five miles from Hobkirk. 
The British general, Lord Rawdon, on the 
9th of May, 1781, evacuated Camden, and 
retired toward Charleston, and encamped on 
the 13th at Nelson's Ferry, on the banks of 
the Santee river. Shortly afterward, learn- 
ing that the forts of Granby, Orangeburg, 
and Motte, had fallen into the hands of 
the Americans, the British general raised his 
camp and retired as far back as Eutaw 
Springs. Greene resolved to take advantage 
of this movement on the part of the enemy 
by reducing Ninety-six and Augusta, the 
only posts that still favored the royal cause. 
The Americans accordingly laid siege to both 
these places, General Greene assailing Ninety- 
six, and Colonel Pickens, Augusta. Pickens 
Avas successful at Augusta ; but at Ninety-six 
Greene did not fare so well. 

Finding the place too strong to be carried 
by storm, the American general raised the 
siege and withdrcAV beyond the Tiger and 
Broad rivers. RaAvdon entered Ninety-six, 
shortly afterAvard, and having examined the 
place, Avas of opinion that it could not hold 
out against a regular attack. He therefore 
recommenced liis march, and advancing to- 
Avard the lower part of South Carohna, es- 
tablished his head-quarters at Orangeburg. 
Greene, emboldened by his retreat, approached 
this place ; but perceiA^ng that the position 
of the British army was most advantageous, 
he halted, and turned his course toward the 
high hills of the Santee. Here he occupied 
himself in strengthening his army, and exer- 
cising his troops. His diligence Avas amply 
rcAvarded. The militia flocked to his stand- 
ard, from the surrounding country, in crowds, 
and he soon found himself at the head of an 
army composed of soldiers equal in number 
and courage to those of the enemy. At the 
beginning of September, finding his troops 
anxious to be employed, Greene resolved to 
endeavor to expel the British from the few 
towns they still occupied in South Carolina, 
except the city of Charleston. The American 
army accordingly advanced by a circuitous 
route toAvard the upper Congaree, and passing 
that river, descended rapidly along its left 
bank, in order to attack the British, under 
Colonel Stuart, Avho Avere stationed at Ma- 
cord's Ferry, near the Congaree and Santee 
rivers. 

No sooner did the British perceive the ap- 
proach of the enemy than they abandoned 
their position at M.ncord's Ferry, and fell 
back on Eutaw Springs, where tiiey com- 
menced to fortify iliemselvcs. Greene pur- 



EUTAW SPRINGS. 



239 



sued them thither, and, on the morning of 
the 8th of September, advanced in battle 
array against the enemy. The American 
army consisted of 2,300 men. The vanguard 
was composed of militia, two battalions of 
North, and two of South CaroUna. The 
center consisted of the regular troops of the 
Carolinas, and of Virginia and Maryland. 
Lieutenant Colonel Lee, with his legion, cov- 
ered the right flank, and Colonel Henderson, 
with the State troops, under Colonels Polk, 
and Wade Hampton, the left. The rear 
guard was composed of the dragoons of 
Colonel Washington, and the Delaware mili- 
tia, under Captain Kirkwood. The artillery 
consisted of four pieces, two three-pounders 
and two sixes. The first, under Captain 
Gaines, advanced with the vanguard; the 
second, under Captain Brown, with the cen- 
ter. The British army consisted of about 
2,500 men. The English commander drew 
' up his troops in two lines ; the first line was 
covered on the right by the little river Eutaw, 
and on the left by a thick grove. The sec- 
ond, which formed the reserve, was stationed 
on the height which commands the Charles- 
ton road. The right wing of the first line 
consisted of the Irish Buffs (3d regiment) ; 
the center of loyalists, under Lieutenant 
Colonel Cruger, and the left, of 63d and 64th 
veteran regiments. The second Hne was 
composed of Coffin's cavalry, and a detach- 
ment of infantry. The artillery was planted 
in the front of the line. In the rear of the 
British line was a cleared field, which was 
spotted Avith the tents of the soldiers. Near 
the Charleston road Avas a strong brick house, 
wliich, with its garden, was fortified with 
pallisades. Thus, on the morning of the 8th, 
were posted the two hostile armies. The 
landscape was basking in loveliness. The 
woods clothed in green ; the verdant fields, 
the fragrant air, and the rippling stream, all 
seemed more fitted for peace than war, yet 
soon was the fair groves to be shattered by 
cannon-shot, the grassy fields to be marred 
by the heels of contending men; the air to be 
racked by the harsh concussion of fiery dis- 
charges, and the lucid waters of Eutaw to be 
polluted by the blood of dying men. 

At about eiglit o'clock, the Americans hav- 
ing arrived within four miles of Eutaw, Colo- 
nel Lee fell in with a British foraging party, 
of about 400 men, under escort of Captain 
Coffin. Coffin, not aware of the proximity 
of the main body of the American army, im- 
mediately assailed the troops of Armstrong, 
who led Lee's advance. Armstrong fell back, 
and the British eagerly pursuing fell fiercely 
on Leo and Henderson. A sharp skirmish 
ensued. Lee's cavalry, under Major Eggles- 
ton, at length succeeded in gaining Coffin's 
flanlv, and attacked him in the rear. The 



Americans profiting by this movement, at- 
tacked the British in turn, with the utmost 
vigor, and, after a desperate struggle, put 
them to flight. Many of the British in- 
fantry were killed, and 40, with Coffin, were 
made prisoners. A number of the foraging 
party were also captured. The Americans, 
animated by this victory, pressed forward 
rapidly. When within a mile of the British 
position, they suddenly encountered another 
detachment of the enemy, which had been 
sent forward to succor Coflin and the forag- 
ers. The British fell back, and Greene 
pressed eagerly to a general attack. The 
British artillery swept the road, and checked 
the advance of the Americans ; but Gaines's 
artillery was brought forward, at full gallop, 
and opened upon the British with terrible ef- 
fect. The enemy's detachments separately 
fell back to the flanks of the main body of 
their army. 

The Americans extending their fines, stead- 
ily advanced, pouring rapid and destructive 
volleys of artillery and musketry upon the 
British. The action now became general. 
Both parties incessantly plied their artillery 
and musketry, and the carnage was fearful. 
At length the Carolina militia wavered and 
fell back. The British division at the left of 
the first line, leaving its position, eagerly 
pressed after the retiring Americans. The 
militia fought furiously as they retired, con- 
testing every inch of soil with obstinate 
valor. At this moment Gaines's three-pound- 
ers were dismounted, and one of the British 
cannon was disabled. The center of the 
American army was pierced, but the two 
wings maintained their ground checking 
every advance of the enemy. The British 
line was also opened, the left being in full 
pursuit of the flying mihtia in the American 
center, while the center and right wings 
were engaged with the two wings of the 
enemy. Greene observed this opening in 
the British line, and immediately took ad- 
vantage of it. Pushing forward his second 
line, he charged the British left so violently 
that they in turn wavered, and began to re- 
cede in disorder. At the same moment the 
second fine of the British army was brought 
forward, and furiously assailed the fresh 
American troops. '"Let Williams advance, 
and sweep the field with bayonets!" was 
Greene's orders, and hko a tempest the 
brave Virginians under Colonel Campbell, 
and the equally gallant Marylanders, under 
Colonel Williams, rushed upon tlic enemy. 
When within forty yards of the British, these 
troops delivered one destructive volley ; and 
then with fixed bayonets charged furiously 
upon them. The British were thrown into 
disorder; and Captain Rudolph of Lee's le- 
gion, wheeling upon their flank, completed 



240 



EVESHAM-ETLAU. 



their defeat by .1 close and well-directed fire 
of rimslvL'try. Meanwhile, a body of Mary- 
land troops, under Howard, were hotly en- 
gaged witli the Irish Buffs, on the right of 
the British army. So close were the com- 
batants that their bayonets were crossed ; 
and in that position they maintained an in- 
cessant fire upon each other. The Virginians 
and Marylanders after defeating the British 
left, fell with the utmost fury upon the British 
center and right. The shock was terrible ; 
and the British receded. And now a shout 
of victory arose from the American lines 
which was heard above the din of battle ; 
and that shout fell upon the ears of a dying 
hero. Colonel CarapboU was mortally wound- 
ed in the charge which shattered the British 
line. " I die content !" said he, and expired. 
The English in their flight threw themselves 
into the house and garden before mentioned, 
where they resolved to make a desperate 
defense. Others took shelter in a thick and 
ahnost impenetrable wood. The Americans 
at once endeavored to dislodge the enemy. 
The house was battered by four pieces of 
cannon ; Colonel Washington on the left ad- 
vanced to penetrate the wood, and Colonel 
Lee to force the garden. The English de- 
fended themselves gallantly, and the Amer- 
icans endeavored in vain to drive them from 
their strongholds. Both parties fought with 
the most determined valor, and the carnage 
was fearful. Washington's horse was shot 
under him, and he himself received a severe 
bayonet wound. His life was in the greatest 
peril ; but a British officer nobly interfered, 
saving him from the hands of the infuriated 
soldiery, and making him prisoner. Mean- 
while, Stuart, having relieved his right wing 
pushed forward, by a circuitous movement 
against the left flank of the Americans. This 
bold movement convinced Greene that fur- 
ther cfibrts to dislodge the enemy were 
useless. Leaving Colonel Hampton with a 
strong picket, near the British camp, the 
American general withdrew the remainder 
of the army seven miles to the rear of the 
British. He brought off about 500 prisoners, 
and all his wounded, with the exception of 
those near the house. He abandoned two 
pieces of artillery to the enemy. The En- 
glish did not attempt a pursuit ; but were 
contented to repossess themselves of their 
camp. The Americans lost in this battle, 
which continued four hours, 152 men killed, 
355 wounded, and 40 missing. The British 
lost 693 men killed, wounded, and made pris- 
oners. Eighty-five were killed on the plain 
On the day after the battle, the British com- 
mander, retreated for Charleston, leaving 72 
of his wounden, and 1,000 stands of arms, 
behindhim. In this battle both parties claimed 
the victory ; in truth it belonged to neither ; 



but the advantage decidedly belonged to the 
Americans. For his skill, bravery and cau- 
tion, on this occasion, Greene received the 
merited reward of a gold medal, struck by 
order of Congress. 

EVESHAM, A.D. 1265.— Evesham is situ- 
ated on both banks of the river Avon, in 
England, in a beautiful and fertile valley 
bearing the same name. Near this place 
was fought, on the 4th of August, 1265, the 
battle between Edward. Prince of Wales, 
afterward Edward I., and the confederated 
barons under Simon de Montfort, Earl of Lei- 
cester. Leicester, with his arm}', lay at 
Evesham, in expectation of being every hour 
joined by his friends from London, when 
suddenly the forces of Edward appeared 
in the field before him. Drawing up his 
army in a compact circle, the earl exhorted 
his soldiers to fight hke men who had all to 
gain or all to suffer. At the same time, he 
obhged the old king (Henry III.) to put on 
armor, and to fight against his own cause in 
the front of the battle. The battle soon 
began, but Leicester's army, exhausted by 
famine on the mountains of Wales, were iU 
able to sustain the impetuosity of Edward's 
attack, who bore down upon them with 
incredible fury. During this terrible day^ 
Leicester behaved with astonishing intrepid- 
ity, and kept up the spirit of the action from 
two o'clock in the afternoon till nine at 
night. At last, his horse being killed under 
him, he was obliged to fight on foot, and 
though he demanded quarter, his enemies 
refused it, and he fell dead upon the field, 
covered with wounds. The old king, who 
had been purposely placed in the front of the 
battle by the rebels, was soon wounded in 
the shoulder, and being clad in armor, and 
thereby unknown to his friends, was on the 
point of being killed by a soldier, when he 
cried out, " I am Henry of Winchester, your 
king !" A knight of the royal army, recog- 
nizing his voice, spurred forward, and saved 
his life. Prince Edward, hearing the voice 
of his father, sped to the spot Avhere he lay, 
and had him conducted to a place of safety. 
The rebels, beaten at all points, fled in every 
direction. The body of Leicester, being 
found among the dead, was barbarously 
mangled by one Roger Mortimer, and then, 
with an accumulation of inhumanity, sent to 
his wretched widow, as a testimony of the 
success of the royalists. This victory proved 
decisive; and the rebels everywhere sub- 
mitted, or were pursued with vigor. Their 
castles were taken and demolished; and 
scarce any were found that disputed the 
king's authority. 

EYLAU, A.D. 1807.— The village of Eylau, 
in Prussia, was, on the 8th of February, 
1807, tlie scene of one of the most terrible 



EYLATJ. 



241 



battles recorded in history. There, within 
half cannon-shot of each other, were encamped 
two hostile armies, Frencli and Russian, the 
former 80,000 strong, the latter 75,000 ; and 
their immense masses were disposed in close 
array, on a space not exceeding a league in 
breadth. The field of battle was an open 
expanse of uninclosed ground, rising in 
swells or small hills, interspersed with many 
lakes ; but as the whole surface was covered 
with snow, and the lakes so thoroughly 
frozen as to bear the weight either of cavalry 
or artillery, the whole surface was accessible 
to military operations. The Russians were 
provided with four hundred and sixty pieces 
of cannon, while the French had not above 
three hundred and fifty pieces. The French 
cavalry was nearly 16,000 strong. Thus the 
two armies were nearly equal — the French 
superiority in numbers, and especially in cav- 
alry, being counterbalanced by the advantage 
which the Russians had in that important 
arm, the artillery. The Russian right, under 
TutschakofF, lay on eithc-r side of Schloditten, 
the center, under Sacken, occupied a cluster 
of httle open hills, intercepted by lakes, in 
front of Kuschnitten; the left, under Oster- 
man Tolstoy, rested on Klein-Saussgarten ; 
tlie advanced guard, 10,000 strong, with its 
outposts, extending almost to the houses of 
Eylau, was under the command of Bargra- 
thion ; the reserve, in two divisions, was led 
by DoctorofF. The whole army in front was 
drawn up in two Unes, with admirable pre- 
cision; the reserve in two close columns 
behind the center ; the foot artillery, consist- 
ing of 400 pieces, was disposed along the 
front of the lines ; the horse artillery carry- 
ing sixty guns ; cavalry and Cossacks, under 
Platoff, in reserve behind the center and 
wings, in order to support any point which 
might appear to require assistance. The 
French position, generally spealdng, was 
more elevated than that of the Russians, 
with the exception of the right, which was 
commanded by the heights of Klein-Sauss- 
garten. The town of Eylau, however, occu- 
pied in force by their troops, was situated in 
a hollow, so low that the roofs of the houses 
were below the range of the cannon-shot, 
and the summit of the church-steeple, which 
stands on an eminence alone, was exposed to 
the destructive storm. Davoust was on the 
right, and received orders from Napoleon to 
attack the village of Klein-Saussgarten and 
Serpallen, occupied by the enemy. Soult, in 
the center, was destined to advance against 
the Russian main body, and the strong bat- 
teries placed opposite to Eylau. Augereau 
was on the left to support his attack; the 
Imperial Gruard, and cavalry of Murat, in re- 
serve behind the center, ready to support any 
attack which might appear likely to prove 

16 



unsuccessful. Lestocq, the Russian general, 
had lain the preceding night with his division 
at Husehnen, which was only three leagues 
distant, and was expected to join the Russian 
army before the battle was far advanced. 
Ney, the French marshal, had not yet ar- 
rived with his division ; but orders were dis- 
patched to him to attack the Russian right, 
when the action was warmly engaged ; and 
it was hoped that he would come up, at least 
as soon as Lestocq on the other side, upon 
whose traces he had long been following. 
When Napoleon saw that the Russians stood 
firm, and were resolved to give battle, he 
determined to turn their left wing by the 
corps of Davoust, and throw it back on the 
middle of the army. The better to conceal 
this object, he commenced the action shortly 
after daybreak, by a violent attack on their 
right and center. 

The Russian batteries in the center poured 
incessant, but Hi-directed volleys upon the 
French masses in front of Eylau ; while the 
French guns replied with fatal effect from 
their elevated position, down upon the ene- 
my, whose lines were exposed from head to 
foot to the range of their shot. Suddenly 
the lefl wing of the French army, led by Mar- 
shal Augereau, advanced in massy columns 
toward Schloditten, while Soult' scorps, pre- 
ceded by 150 pieces of artillery, marched 
with an intrepid step against the Russian 
center, and forty gims of tlie Imperial Guard, 
posted on an eminence, near the church of 
Eylau, opened a heavy fire on the great cen- 
tral Russian battery. 

When these troops had advanced about 
300 yards, driving the Russian trailleurs be- 
fore them, the Russian cannon-shot from two 
hundred pieces, admirably directed, plowed 
tiirough the mass, and so shattered it, that 
the whole body inclined to the left to get 
under the shelter of a detached house which 
stood in the way. At this moment a snow- 
storm set in, and darkened the air, so that 
neither party could see its opponents ; but, 
nevertheless, the deadly storm of bullets con- 
tinued to tear the massy columns of Auger- 
eau, and the fire was so violent as to prevent 
Soult from rendering him any effectual sup- 
port. In the midst of this carnage, envel- 
oped by the driving snow, Auger eau's di- 
vision was suddenly assailed on the one 
side by the right wing of the Russians, and 
on the other by the Russian reserve, and 
Doctoroff 's powerful cavalry. So thick was 
the snow-storm that the French did not per- 
ceive their assailants, till they had approached 
within a few yards of them, and the long 
lances of the Cossacks almost touched their 
breasts. Before this terrible and unexpected 
charge of cavalry and infantry, the French 
columns were dissolved as if by magic. 



242 



EYLAU. 



Overwhflmed, tliey broke and fled in the 
wildest disorder, closely pursued by the Rus- 
sian cavalry and Cossacks, who sabered doAvn 
the fugitives without mercy. Out of 16,000 
men, who composed the French columns of 
attack, 1,500 only found their ranks again. 
The others were either taken or destroyed ; 
and Augereau, with his two generals of 
division, Desgardeus and Heudelet, were 
severely wounded. Napoleon, stationed in 
the church-yard of Eylau, was apprized of 
this disaster by the torrent of fugitives which 
rushed into the village. Tlie snow-storm 
suddenly cleared away, and he saw the Rus- 
sian right and center far advanced. The 
crash of the Russian balls on the steeple 
and walls of the church, showed how nearly 
danger was approaching. A Russian division 
actually entered the town in close pursuit of 
the fugitives, and with loud hurrahs charged 
to the foot of the mound where the em- 
peror was placed with a battery of the Im- 
perial Guard, and his personal escort of 100 
men. In spite of his danger, Napoleon re- 
tained his usual presence of mind. He or- 
dered liis little body-guard to form a line, in 
order to check the enemy's advance, and dis- 
patched orders to the Old Guard to attack 
the column on one flank, while a brigade of 
Murat's horse charged it on the other. At 
the sight of the grenadiers of Napoleon's 
guard, the Russians came to a dead stand ^• 
and before they could make a regular assault, 
Murat's men and the Old Guard rushed upon 
them with the utmost fury, and almost the 
whole division was cut to pieces on the spot. 
Napoleon now ordered a grand charge by 
the whole cavalry and Imperial Guard, sup- 
ported by the divisions of Soult, who were 
again formed and led back to the attack upon 
the center. Napoleon anxiously watched the 
movements of this enormous mass. Fourteen 
thousand cavalry, and 25,000 foot soldiers, 
supported by 200 pieces of cannon, moved 
over the slope. The snow had again com- 
menced falling. In the midst of a storm of 
whirling snow, the French troops precipitat- 
ed themselves upon the Russian center. The 
shock was irresistible ; the front line of the 
Russians, thrown into disorder, was obliged 
to give way ; their cavalry was crushed by the 
enormous weight of the 14,000 horsemen 
who followed the white plume of Murat, and a 
terrible mCUe ensued in which prodigious 
losses were sustained on both sides. Tlie Rus- 
sians disdained to fly, and rallying again and 
again, maintained the combat w-ith the most 
dogged determination. At this moment, Bcn- 
ningsen, the Russian commander, ordered up 
the whole of the infantry of the reserve. 
These brave men, regardless of the storm of 
grape and musketry which fell in their ad- 
vancing ranks, pressed on eagerly to the sup- 



port of their comrades ; and uniting with the 
first Une, charged home with loud cries upon 
their enemy. In the shock, Essen's Russian 
division was broken, and the French horse 
swept through several openings and got as far 
as the reserve cavalry of Benningsen. But 
now with loud shouts the Cossacks of the 
Don advanced. Regardless of danger, they 
galloped forward to the charge, their long 
lances in rest, their horses at full speed, and 
in an instant pierced through and scattered 
the French cuirassiers. Retreat was impos- 
sible tlirough the again closed ranks of the 
enemy, and 18 only of the whole body re- 
gained tlieir own Hnes by a long circuit. 
The divisions of Davoust on the French left, 
in the mean time, were performing prodigies 
of valor. By repeated and vigorous attacks 
he possessed himself of the village of Klein- 
Saussgarten. At Serpallen the action was 
warmly contested. After a most obstinate 
conflict the Russians at this point gave way ; 
the cannoneers bravely resisting, were bayo- 
neted at their guns, and their pieces were 
about being taken by the French, when the 
Russians were reinforced by two regiments 
which Benningsen sent to their support, and 
the French were in their turn charged by 
cavalry, broken and driven back upward of 
300 yards. But the progress of the French 
at Klein-Saussgarten was so great, that the 
enemy, alarmed, were obliged to abandon the 
ground they had regained. Friant debouched 
in their rear in great strength, and rapidly 
continuing his advance from left to right of 
the Russian position, he had soon passed, 
driving every thing before him, the whole 
ground occupied by their left wing, and was 
making dispositions to assault Kuschnitten, 
which had been the head-quarters of Ben- 
ningsen the preceding night, and which lay 
directly behind the Russian center. Never 
was change more sudden; the victorious 
Russian center turned and attacked both in 
flank and rear seemed on the point of being 
driven off the field of battle; already the 
shouts of victory were heard from Davoust's 
division, and vast volumes of black smoke, 
blown along the whole Russian center and 
right from the flames of Serpallen, evinced 
the steady progress of the French on their 
left. 

With loud shouts, the French assaulted and 
carried Kuschnitten, in spite of the most ob- 
stinate resistance on the part of the enemy. 
At this critical moment, the long-expected 
corps of Lestocq arrived on the Russian right. 
lie was instantly ordered to defile as quickly 
as possible in the rear of the Russian right, 
so as to assist in the recapture of Kuschnit- 
ten behind their center, where the French, 
under St. Hilaire, had established themselves 
in so threatening a manner. These directions 



FAIRFIELD— FALKIRK 



243 



were immediately obeyed. Under cover of 
a terrible cannonade on its houses, the Rus- 
sians charged the village in three columns, 
and carried it with irresistible force ; and by 
the most strenuous exertions, Lestocq also 
expelled the French under Davoust from the 
hamlet of Anklappen and the wood adjoin- 
ing, and was pressmg forward toward Sauss- 
guarten, when night came on. The battle was 
over on the center and left, and already the 
French lines were illuminated by the fires of 
innumerable bivouacs, when both armies 
were startled by a sharp fire, succeeded by 
loud shouts on the extreme right of the Rus- 
sians, toward Schloditten. It was the fire 
of Ney's corps, which, following rapidly on 
the traces of Lestocq, had entered Altof, 
driving the Russian detachment, which Les- 
tocq had left to occupy that village, before 
him, and had now carried Schloditten, in or- 
der to cut off the Russian communication 
with Konigsberg. Benningsen immediately 
ordered the Russian division of Kamenskoi, 
wliich had suffered least in the preceding ac- 
tion, to assault the village, which was execut- 
ed at ten o'clock at night. Ney's corps, 
overwhelmed by numbers, were expelled 
from the village, and the shouts of the victo- 
rious Russians were heard even at Eylau. At 
eleven o'clock the Russian generals held a 
council of war, on horseback, and a retreat 
was decided upon. The desperate valor and 
the superior numbers of the French troops, 
discouraged the Russian general, and he im- 
mediately gave orders for the retreat, which 
began at midnight. The army marched 
through Schloditten, toward Kcinisberg, un- 



molested by the enemy. Thus ended the 
terrible battle of Eylau. The loss on both 
sides was immense. On the side of the Rus- 
sians 25,000 had fallen, of whom 7,000 were 
slain outright. The French lost nearly the 
same number of men, kiUed and wounded. 
Sixteen Russian guns and fourteen standards 
were taken by the French ; while the Rus- 
sians had to boast of twelve eagles taken 
from their antagonists. Scarcely any prison- 
ers were made on either side during the ac- 
tion, but 6,000 wounded Russians, most of 
them in a hopeless state, were left on the field 
of battle, and fell into the hands of the 
French. 

The battle-field presented on the following 
morning a most fearful spectacle. In the 
short space of six miles 50,000 men lay welt- 
ering in their gore. 6,000 horses were scat- 
tered in huge piles over the plain, some of 
them dead, and others dying ; and the shrill 
screams of the wounded animals were mingled 
with the gi'oans and stifled cries of the suf- 
fering men, whose forms were crushed be- 
neath the weight of their dying horses. The 
snow, stained crimson with blood, afforded 
no coolness to the feverish bodies of the 
vsTctched soldiers, who were burning with 
thirst, and goaded to madness by the pain of 
their wounds. The plain was filled with 
woe and pain, and the air was loaded with 
lamentations, curses, and shrieks of despair. 
" The spectacle," said Napoleon, after de- 
scribing the dreadful appearance of the battle- 
field, in his bulletin home, "is sufficient to in- 
spire princes with the love of peace, and 
horror of war." 



FAIRFIELD, a.d. 1779.— Fairfield in Con- 
necticut, in the year 1779, was entered by 
Governor Tryon with 2,600 British soldiers, 
and the town was given up to promiscuous 
plunder. After subjecting the inhabitants to 
the most brutal treatment, the troops set 
fire to the town, and the court-house; 
two churches, eighty-five dwellings, fifty-five 
barns, fifteen stores, and fifteen shops, were 
burned to ashes, producing great distress. 
500 barrels of rice, which had been stored in 
the cellar of the court-house, were destroyed. 

FALERII, B.C. 394.— The Romans and 
the Falerii were at war. Camillus being 
named dictator, attacked these people and 
besieged their capital. Before the circum- 
vallation of the place was completed, a school- 
master came out of the city and placed all 
his pupils in the hands of the Romans, as the 
readiest way of inducing the inhabitants to 
Burrender. The indignant dictator ordered 



the perfidious master to be stripped, had his 
hands tied behind him, and, arming the boys 
with rods, commanded them to flog the 
treacherous pedagogue back to the city. 
Plutarch says that Camillus was much shocked 
at this action of the schoolmaster, and said to 
those around him — " War at best is a savage 
thing, and wades through a sea of violence 
and injustice ; yet even war itself has its 
laws, which men of honor will not depart 
from ; nor do they pursue victory so as to 
avail themselves of acts of villainy and base- 
ness. A great general should rely upon his 
own virtue, and not upon the treachery of 
others." It is said that the magistrates of 
the place were so affected by the magna- 
nimity of the dictator, that they brought him 
the keys of the city. 

FALKIRK, A.D. 1298.— Falkirk, a town 
of Scotland, stands on an eminence three 
miles south of the Frith of Forth, at the 



244 



FALKOPING— FERE CHAMPENOISE. 



south-west extremity of the fertile tract of 
land called " The Carse of Falkirk." Two 
miles north-east of Falkirk, is the village of 
Carron, on the river Carron, which falls into 
the Frith of Fortli, In a valley between 
Falkirk an I the Carron, a battle was fought 
in the year 1298 by the Scotch under Sir 
William Wallace, and the EngUsh commanded 
by Edward I. The Scotch army, nearly 
10D,000 strong, was posted at Falkirk, and 
there determined to abide the assault of the 
EngUsh. The English king, determined to 
crush the Scotch army by one bold stroke, 
had collecteil the whole military force of 
England, Wales, and Ireland, and marched 
with an army of 100,000 combatants to the 
northern frontiers. To Wallace the Scots 
had given the entire command of their army ; 
but his elevation, though purchased by great 
merit, was the object of envy to the Scotch 
nobility, who repined to see a private gentle- 
man raised above them. Wallace was aware 
of their jealousy, and dreading the ruin of 
his country from these intestine discords, 
with a magnanimity only equaled by his 
courage, resigned his authority, and retained 
command only over that body of his follow- 
ers who, being accustomed to victory under 
his standard, refused to follow any other 
leader into the field. The chief command of 
the Scotch army devolved upon the Steward 
of Scotland, and Cummin of Badenoch, men 
of high birth, vinder whom the sensitive 
chieftains were willing to serve in the defense 
of their country. Ha-ving collected their 
several forces from every quarter, the two 
Scottish commanders fixed their station at 
Falkirk. Wallace accompanied them, at the 
head of his brave followers. The Scotch 
army was drawn up in three separate divis- 
ions, each forming a complete body of pike- 
men. The intervals between the three 
bodies were occupied by archers. The cavalry 
was placed in the rear ; and, dreading the 
great superiority of the EngUsh horse, they 
endeavore I to secure their front by pallisades 
tied together by ropes. Thus disposed they 
awaited the approach of the enemy. When 
the English army arrived within sight of the 
Scots, Edward divided his troops into three 
bodies and led them to the attack. As he 
advanced at the head of liis men, the Scots 
set up such a shout, that his horse took fright, 
and dislodged him from his saddle, and after- 
ward kicked Mm on the ribs as he lay on the 
ground; but the intrepid monarch, though 
sorely bruised by his fall, quickly remounted 
his horse, and ordered his troops to begin the 
attack. The English archers first assaulted 
the Scottish bowmen, who, after a sharp 
Struggle, were driven from the field. The 
Welsh troops next assaulted the enemy ; but 
the Scots, who fought with determined 



valor, fiercely drove them back. On this the 
EngUsh archers poured shower after shower 
of arrows among the pikemen who were 
cooped up within the mtrenchments, which 
threw them into disorder. Then the EngUsh 
pikemen and cavalry advanced to the attack, 
with Edward at their head. PulUng up the 
paUisades, they charged the enemy with so 
much impetuosity that they were no longer 
able to resist. In this distress WaUace did all 
that lay in the power of man to sustain and 
avert the shock ; but the division imder Cum- 
min, quitting the field, the divisions of the 
Lord Steward and WaUace were alone ex- 
posed to the united charge of the EngUsh 
pikemen and cavalry, and the incessant 
showers of arrows from the EngUsh archers, 
who at that time began to excel those of all 
other nations. The foUowers of WaUace, 
for a long time, maintained this unequal con- 
test ; but, finding himself in danger of being 
surrounded, he at last was obliged to give 
way, and slowly retired with the poor rem- 
nant of his troops behind the river Carron. 
The Scottish army, at aU points, was broken 
and driven ofi" the field. Edward's victory 
was complete. Twelve thousand Scots — 
some historians say 50,000 — were left dead 
upon the field of battle. The English lost 
100 men kiUed. In the general rout of the 
Scottish army, WaUace's miUtary sldU, and 
presence of mind, enabled him to keep 
his troops together, and, retiring behind the 
Carron, he marched leisurely along the 
banks of that river, which protected him 
from the enemy. Notwithstandmg this great 
victory, the subjection of Scotland l^y the 
English was not completed. The EngUsh 
army, after reducing the southern provinces, 
was obliged to retne for want of provisions, 
and left the northern counties in the hands 
of the natiyes. 

On a moor, witlUn half a mile of the town 
of Falkirk, Charles Stuart the Pretender, in 
1746, gained a victory over the army of the 
royaUsts, under Greneral Hawley. 

FALKOPING, A.D. 1388.— In the year 
1388, a battle was fought near Falkiiping, a 
smaU town in Sweden, near Mariestad, be- 
tween the Swedes, under King Albert, and 
the army of Margaret, Queen of Denmark. 
After a bloody struggle, the king was de- 
feated and was himself made prisoner. 

FEHRBELLEN, a.d. 1675.— A battle was 
fought A.D. 1675, near FehrbeUen, in Prussia, 
between the Swedes, and the troops of the 
Elector of Brandenburg, in which the former 
were defeated. 

FERE CHAMPENOISE, a.d. 1814.— 
Near this village, in France, on the 2Sth of 
February, 1814, the French, after an obsti- 
nate conflict, were totally defeated by the 
aUies. 



FISHGUARD— FONTENOY. 



245 



FISHGUARD, a.d. 1797.— Iq 1797, a de- 
tachment of French guards landed at Fish- 
guard, or Aberzwain, a seaport town, in 
South Wales, and were captured after a 
slight resistance, to a man, by the inhabitants, 
under Lord Cawdor. 

FLATBUSH. See Brooklyn. 

FLENSBORG, a.d. 1848.— In 1848, Flens- 
borg, in Denmark, with its environs, was the 
scene of hostile operations between the Ger- 
mans and Danes. 

FLEURUS. See Charleroi. 

FLODDEN, A.D. 1513.— Tliis village is 
memorable as the scene of one of the most 
destructive conflicts recorded in British his- 
tory. War having been declared between 
the English and the Scots, James IV., King 
of Scotland, crossed the Tweed with an army 
of 50,000 men, and ravaged those parts of 
Northumberland wliich lay along the banks 
of that river. But as liis forces were nume- 
rous, and the country barren, he soon began 
to want provisions ; so that many of his men 
deserted, and returned to their native coun- 
try. Meanwhile, the Earl of Surrey, having 
collected a force of 26,000 Enghsh soldiers, 
marched to the defense of the country, and 
approached the Scots, who lay on some high 
grounds near the hills of Cheviot. The river 
Till ran between the armies, and prevented 
an engagement; Surrey, therefore, sent a 
herald to the Scottish camp, challenging the 
enemy to descend into the plain of Alilfield, 
toward the south; and there, appointing a 
day for the combat, to try their valor on 
equal ground. As he received no satisfactory 
reply, he made a feint of marching toward 
Berwick, as if he intended to enter Scotland, 
to lay waste the borders, and cut off the pro- 
visions of the enemy. The Scottish army in 
order to prevent this purpose, put themselves 
in motion ; and having set fire to the huts 
in which they had quartered, they descended 
from the liills. Surrey, taking advantage of 
the smoke which was blown toward him, 
and which concealed his movements, passed 
the Till with his artillery and a vanguard at 
the bridge of Twisel, and sent the rest of 
his army to seek a ford liigher up the river. 
An engagement now became inevatable and 
both sides prepared for it with tranquillity 
and order. The English divided their army 
into two lines : Lord Howard led the main 
body of the first line. Sir Edward Howard 
the right wing, Sir ilarmaduke Constable the 
left. The Earl of Surrey himself commanded 
the main body of the second hne. Lord Dac- 
res the right wing, Sir Edward Stanley the 
left. The front of the Scots presented tliree 
divisions to the enemy ; the middle was led 
by the king himself; the right by the Earl 
of Huntley, assisted by Lord Hume ; the 
left by the Earls of Lennox and Argyle. A 



fourth division under the Earl of Bothwell, 
made a body of reserve. Huntley began the 
battle, and, after a sharp conflict, put to flight 
the left wing of the Enghsh, and chased them 
off the field ; but on returning from the pur- 
suit, he found the whole Scottish army in 
great disorder. The division under Lennox 
and Argyle elated with the success of the 
other wing had broken their ranks, and rushed 
headlong upon the enemy. Sir Edward 
Howard, at the head of his division, received 
them with great valor, and Dacres, who com- 
manded the second hne, wheehng about 
during the action, fell upon their rear, and 
put them to the sword without resistance. 
The division under James, and that under 
BothweU, animated by the valor of their 
leaders, still made head against the English, 
and throwing themselves into a circle, pro- 
tracted the action till night separated the 
combatants. The victory seemed yet unde- 
cided, and the numbers that fell on each side 
were nearly equal, amounting to above 5,000 
men; but the morning discovered where the 
advantage lay. The Enghsh had lost only 
persons of small note ; but the flower of the 
Scottish nobility had fallen in battle, and the 
king himself, after the most diligent inquiry, 
could nowhere be found. In searcliing the 
field the English found a dead body which 
resembled him, and was arrayed in a similar 
habit ; and they put it in a leaden coffin, and 
sent it to London. The Scotch did not re- 
new the figlit. Their loss was extremely 
great. Besides the king, no fewer than 
twelve earls, thirteen lords, and five eldest 
sons of peers, with a vast number of gentle- 
men of distinction, and about 5,000 common 
soldiers, were left on the field. The loss ou 
the part of the English was not so severely 
felt. Sir Walter Scott gives a vivid, and gen- 
erally just account of tliis great battle, in his 
Marmion. This battle was fought on the 
19th of September, 1513. 

FLUSHING, A.D. 1809.— Flushing, a sea- 
port town of the Netherlands, was ineffectu- 
ally bombarded by the British in August, 
1809. 

FONTAINEBLEAU. See Montereau. 

FONTERABIA, a.d. 1837.— Fonterabia, 
in Spain, was in 1837 the theater of several 
hostile engagements between the troops of 
General Evans, and the Carhsts. After a 
series of bloody conflicts, the Carhsts were 
defeated and Evans took possession of the 
town. 

FONTENAY, a.d. 841.— Fontenay, in 
Burgundy, was in 841, the scene of a terrible 
conflict between the sons of Louis le Debon- 
naire, the result of which was the division 
in 843 of the Frankish empire, founded by 
Charlemagne the great. 

FONTENOY, a.d. 1745.— The battle of 



246 



FORLI— FORNOVO. 



Fontenoy was foupht on the 30th of April, 
1745, between the French army, under Count 
Saxe, and the aUied armies of England, Han- 
over, Holland, and Austria, under the Duke 
of Cumberland. Fontenoy is in Belgium, in 
the province of Hainaut, five miles south-east 
of Tournay. The French had resolved upon 
a most strenuous eflort to defeat the plans of 
the allies in the Netherlands. They had as- 
sembled an army of 120,000 men, the chief 
command of which was given to Count Saxe, 
natural sou to the late King of Poland, and 
who had long been a soldier of fortune. Count 
Saxe was a brave and experienced general ; 
his long service had taught him to regard 
danger as a secondary matter ; and he hsten- 
ed to the whisthng of bullets with the same 
composure that he would have evinced in 
the drawing-room or dancing saloon. To 
this great general, liis opponent, the Duke of 
Cumberland, offered a strong contrast. He 
neither possessed courage nor talents for 
war ; nor was he able to bring such a for- 
midable body of men into the field. The 
French, therefore, swept every thing before 
them. They laid siege to Fribourg, and, early 
in the campaign of 1745, invested the strong 
city of Tournay. The allie?, notwithstanding 
the inferiority of tlieir numbers, and although 
commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, yet 
tliey resolved to save Tournay by hazarding 
a battle. The allies, therefore, marched 
against the enemy; and stationed them- 
selves within sight of the French, who were 
encamped on an eminence, with the village 
of St. Antoine on tlieir right, a forest on their 
lefl, and the town of Fontenoy before them. 
The allies began the attack at two o'clock in 
the morning. Through the darkness of night 
the stout Enghsh troops pressed forward up 
the steep acclivity, and attacked the French 
with an ardor which, for a time, bore down 
all opposition. The French fought with the 
utmost gallantry; Count Saxe, who was at 
that time sick of the disorder of which he 
afterward died, was carried about to all the 
posts in a fitter, and with the utmost coolness 
and intrepidity directed the movements of 
his troops, praising the brave, and encourag- 
ing the faint-hearted, by assuring them that, 
notwitlistanding the unfavorable aspect of 
affairs, the day Avas liis o■v^^l. The battle 
raged fiuiously. A column of the English, 
without any commander, but by mere me- 
chanical courage, advanced Ufion the enemy's 
lines, which opening formed an avenue on 
each sitle to receive them. They had no 
sooner entered than the French artillery, on 
three sides, began to play upon them with 
terrible effect. The action now became gen- 
eral. Prodigies of valor were performed on 
each side, and the ground was literally cov- 
ered with the dead and dying. At length 



the English, on whom tlie brunt of the battle 
fell, were obliged to retreat, at about tlu-ee 
o'clock in the afternoon. Tliis was one of 
the most bloody battles that had been fought 
in this age : tlie allies left on the field of battle 
12,000 men ; and the French lost nearly an 
equal number. This blow, by which Tournay 
was taken by the French, gave them such a 
manifest superiority, during all the rest of the 
campaign, that they kept the fruits of their 
victory during the continuance of the war. 
In connection with this battle we can not for- 
bear giving the following anecdote, taken 
from a French work, entitled le Ilistoire des 
CJiiens cel(hresj wliich, however remarkable, is 
said to be well attested : 

" Mustapha, a strong and active greyhound, 
belonging to a captain of artillery, raised firom 
his birth in the midst of camps, always ac- 
companied liis master, and exhibited no alarm 
in the midst of battle. In the hottest en- 
gagement he remained near the cannon to 
which his master was attached, and carried 
the match in liis mouth. At the memorable 
battle of Fontenoy, the master of Mustapha 
received a mortal wound. At the moment 
when about to fire upon the enemy, he and 
several of his corps were struck to the earth 
by a discharge of artillery. Seeing his mas- 
ter extended lifeless and bleeding upon the 
ground, the dog became desperate and howl- 
ed piteously. Just at that moment a body 
of French soldiers were advancing to gain 
possession of the piece, which was still aimed 
at them, fi'om tlie top of a small rising ground. 
As if with a view to revenge his master's 
death, Mustapha seized the lighted match with 
his paws, and applied it to the cannon loaded 
with case-shot! Seventy men fell on the 
spot, and the remainder took to flight ! After 
tliis bold stroke the dog lay down sadly near 
the dead body of liis master and remained 
there twenty-two hours, without food. He 
was at length, with difficulty removed, by 
the comrades of the deceased. This gallant 
greyhound was afterward presented to 
George II. who had him taken care of 
as a brave and faitliful public servant." 

FORLI, A.D. 1797.— This city in Italy 
was taken by the French, in 1797. 

FORMIGNY, A.D. 1450.— A desperate 
battle was fought, in the year 1450, near 
Formigny, a town of France, between the 
French and EngUsh. The battle was hotly 
contested ; and the British were finally de- 
feated, and in consequence were obliged to 
withdraw fi'om Normandy. 

FORNOTO, A.D. 1495.— In 1495, a bloody 
engagement took place at Fornovo, a town 
of northern Italy, between tJie French army, 
under Charles VIII., and the Milanese and 
their allies, in which the latter, after an ob- 
stinate struggle, were defeated with great loss. 



FORT BOYER— FORT ERIE. 



24Y 



FORT BOYER, a.d. 1814.— On tlie 15th 
of September, 1814, four British ships, carry- 
ing 90 guns, and a land force of about 700 
men, under Colonel Nicholls, commenced a 
cannonade, within musket-shot, upon Fort 
Boyer, a small redoubt, garrisoned by 120 
Americans, under Major Lawrence, which 
commanded the entrance from the Gulf of 
Mexico to Mobile. The British were re- 
pulsed with a loss of 232 killed and wound- 
ed. The iLmericans lost 8 men, killed and 
wounded. The British ship Hermes stranded, 
and the guns of the fort were opened upon 
her with terrible effect, and in a few mo- 
ments she blew up. Nearly the whole of 
her crew perished in the explosion. Nicholls 
effected his retreat to Pensacola, where he 
was received by the Spanish governor of 
that place with open arms. See Pensacola. 

FORT CAROLINA, a.d. 1565.— This fort 
was erected by the French Huguenots, in the 
year 1565, on the banks of the river May, in 
Florida. On the 21st of September, 1565, 
the French garrison was attacked by a supe- 
rior force of Spaniards, under Melendez, who 
had settled at St. Augustine. The French 
made an obstinate resistance, but the Span- 
iards finally were masters of the fort. No 
sooner had they gained possession of the 
fortress than they commenced an indiscrim- 
inate slaughter of the garrison. Neither men, 
women, nor children were spared. About 
two hundred persons were slain. A few 
only escaped to the woods, where many of 
them died fi-om starvation. Some who re- 
turned to the fortress and gave themselves 
up to the Spaniards, were immediately 
slaughtered. The survivors, after incredible 
hardships, reached the seacoast, where they 
fortunately espied two French vessels, which 
received them on board. 

FORT DADE, a.d. 1835.— In the month 
of December, 1835, Major Dade, with 112 
men, was attacked near Fort Dade, in Ben- 
ton county, Florida, by an overwhelming 
body of Indians. Tlie gallant major and his 
men made a heroic resistance; but after 
piling tlie ground with the corpses of their 
enemies, they were overpowered by the 
very weight of the savages, and all were 
killed with the exception of one man, who 
escaped to bear the fearful tidings to the 
nearest white settlement. 

FORT ERIE, A.D. 1814.— On the western 
bank of the Niagara river, directly opposite 
the city of Buffalo, stand the ruins of Fort 
Erie, the scene of one of the most sanguinary 
conflicts of the second war between England 
and the United States. Early in the month 
of July, 1814, Brown, the American general, 
crossed the Niagara into Canada, and invest- 
ed Fort Erie, which was surrendered without 
opposition, and the prisoners, 137 in number. 



were sent to Buffalo. The American army 
then advanced to Chippewa, where they en- 
countered and overcame the British, who re- 
tired to Fort George, while the Americans 
took post at Queenston. Slight skirmishes 
only took place between detachments of the 
two armies, until the 25th of July, when the 
battle of Lundy's Lane, near the cataract of 
Niagara, occurred. After a most sanguinary 
conflict, the British were defeated. The 
American generals, Brown and Scott, both 
being severely wounded, the command of 
the army devolved upon General Ripley, who 
took post at Fort Erie. General Gaines soon 
after arrived, and took the command. Im- 
mediately on his arrival at Fort Erie, Gaines 
set about strengthening the works until it 
was in a good state of defense. The garrison 
was composed of about 2,500 men. Drum- 
mond, the British leader, immediately laid 
siege to the fort, with about 3,500 men, and by 
the 4th of August, had formally invested the 
place. Having completed his trenches, and 
erected Ms batteries within four hundred 
yards of the fort, on the 13th he opened his 
fire. During that day and the following, the 
cannonade was incessant, and the enemy's 
fire was steadily returned by the garrison. 
On the night of the 24th, Drummond deemed 
the defenses so much injured that lie deter- 
mined to hazard an assault early on the 
morning of the 15th. The assailants were 
divided into three columns, each column 
nmnbering about 1,000 men. The storming 
parties were to move simultaneously against 
three points ; the first against Towson's bat- 
tery, occupying the extreme north-east angle 
of the fortifications ; the second against the 
right, and the third full on the fort itself 

" At about two o'clock in the morning, the 
muffled tread of the advancing columns was 
distinctly heard in the darkness. The one 
directed against Towson's batteries near the 
water, came first within range, when a tre- 
mendous fire opened upon it. In an instant 
the whole scenery was lit up by the blaze of 
the guns, which threw also a red and baleful 
light over the serried ranks, pressing with 
fixed bayonets to the assault. Although 
Towson kept his batteries in fierce play, and 
sheets of flame went rolling on the doomed 
column, it kept resolutely on till it approach- 
ed within ten feet of the infantry. But its 
strength was exliausted ; it could stagger on 
no further; and first wavering, it then 
halted, and finally recoiled. Rallied to a 
second attack, it advanced with loud shouts, 
only to be smitten with the same overwhelm- 
ing fire. Encouraged to a third effort, it 
swerved from the direct assault, and en- 
deavored to wade around an abattis of loose 
brushwood, that stretched from the batteries 
to the shore. Pressing forward, up to then- 



248 



FORT GEORGE. 



arm-pita in the water, some few reached the 
inclosure within, but only to perish, and the 
remainder retreated. Tlie column advancing 
against the right battery, commanded by 
Douglass, was allowed to approach within 
fifty yards, when such a rapid and wasting 
fire was poured upon it, that it recoiled in 
confusion. The central column, led on by 
Lieutenant Colonel Drummond, pressed firm- 
ly and rapidly through the fire of Hindman's 
guns, apphed their ladders to the walls, and 
began to mount, and after a desperate resist- 
ance, succeeded in effecting a lodgment in 
the fort which they maintained courageously 
until daylight, when some powder in a stone 
building near by, catching fire by accident, 
exploded with such a tremendous concussion 
that the besiegers, thinking a mine had been 
sprung, were seized with a sudden panic, and 
fled in disorder from their advantageous 
position. 

Drummond, however, did not abandon the 
siege, but sat down before tlie fort with a 
stronger determination than ever to reduce 
it. The British lost in the assault, 157 men 
killed, 308 wounded, and 186 made prison- 
ers. The Americans lost eighty-four. On 
the second of September, General Brown had 
so far recovered from his wound as to be able 
to resume his command. The main body of 
the British army was incamped in an open 
field, surrounded by a forest, two miles dis- 
tant from their intrenchments, in order to be 
out of reach of the American cannon, while 
one third of their force protected the artiller- 
ists in completing their batteries, and the 
workmen in digging trenches and erecting 
block-houses. They had completed two bat- 
teries, and a third was nearly finished, when 
General Brown determined to make a sortie 
with nearly the whole of his disposable force, 
and with one bold stroke to overwhelm the 
batteries of the enemy and destroy their 
works. For four days previous, Brown tried 
the effect of his artillery upon the enemy's 
works. The assault was to be made on the 
17th of September, at noon, an hour when 
such an attempt would be least expected. 
The assailants were to be divided into two 
columns. "The left, composed of Porter's 
volunteers, Gibson's riflemen, a portion of the 
1st and 23d regiment of regulars, and some 
Indians, was directed to march along a road 
which had been cut through the woods, while 
General Miller, with the 1st brigade, was to 
move swiftly along a deep ravine that run 
between the 1st and 2d batteries of the 
enemy, and the moment they heard the crack 
of Porter's rifles, mount the ravine, and 
storm the batteries. About ten o'clock, every 
thing being ready. Brown opened with his 
artillery, and for two hours it was an inces- 
sant blaze and roar along the line of the in- 



trenchments. Its cessation was the signal for 
the two columns to advance. General Rip- 
ley commanded the reserve, while Jessup, 
with 150 men, held the fort itself. 

"Porter, with his column, surprised and 
overtlirew the enemy's pickets, and began 
to pour in rapid voUeys on liis flank. MUler 
no sooner heard the welcome sound than he 
gave the order to charge. In an instant the 
brigade Avas on the top of the bank, and with- 
o»t giving the enemy time to recover from 
their surprise, the troops dashed forward on 
the intrenchments in front of them. Though 
assailed so unexpectedly and suddenly, the 
enemy fought gallantly to save the works 
which had cost them so much labor. The 
contest was fierce, but short. Carrying bat- 
tery after battery at the point of the bayonet, 
the victorious Americans pressed fiercely on, 
till all the batteries, and the labor of nearly 
fifty days, were completely in their possession. 
Ripley then hastened up with the reserve to 
fcirm a lino for the protection of the troops 
wliile the work of destruction went on ; while 
executing this movement he was wounded in 
the neck and carried back to the fort. 

" In the mean time, Drummond, aroused by 
the first volleys, had hurried off reinforce- 
ments on a run. Pressing forward through 
the rain, urged to their utmost speed by the 
officers pointing forward with their swords to 
the scene of action, they, nevertheless, arrived 
too late to prevent the disaster."* 

Having completely demoUshed the enemy's 
works, the Americans, perceiving strong re- 
inforcements coming up, retired in good order 
within the fort. The Americans lost 300, 
killed and wounded. The British lost 400, 
killed and wounded, and 300 taken prisoners. 
The result of the sortie completely discour- 
aged the British general, who, on the niglit 
of the 21st, raised the siege, Avhich had con- 
tinued forty-nine days, and retired to liis in- 
trenchments behind Cliippewa. On the 5th 
of November the Americans, having laid Fort 
Erie in ruins, recrossed the Niagara, and with- 
drew with all their force into the American 
territory. 

FORT GEORGE, a.d. 1813.— Fort George 
in Canada, at the western extremity of Lake 
Ontario, was taken by the American army 
under General Dearborn, on the 27th of May, 
1813. The fort was occupied by a British 
garrison, and a British army under General 
Vincent was incamped near its walls. The 
Americans, under Colonels Winfield Scott and 
Porter, attacked the troops of Vincent, and 
after a brief but bloody conflict, the British 
line was rent asunder, and the troops fled in 
disorder over the plain. Fort George was 
abandoned, and the garrison streamed after 
the defeated army. They had set fire to the 

* Ileadley. 



PORT GRISWOLD— FORT MIMMS. 



249 



train of the magazines before they left, and 
one of the magazines exploded with fearful 
violence, but no injury was done to life or 
limb. The Americans then took possession 
of the fort, and tlie British effected their re- 
treat in safety. In this affair the Americans 
lost seventy-two, in killed and wounded ; the 
British 250, killed and wounded, and 100 
made prisoners. 

FORT GRISWOLD.— See New London. 

FORT MEiaS, A.D. 1813.— Fort Meigs 

stood upon the east bank of the Maumee, in 

the State of Ohio, a short distance above 

where that river empties into Lake Erie. 

After Winchester's defeat at Frenchtown, 
the American army, under General Harrison, 
retreated to Fort Meigs. Here the troops re- 
mained inactive, acting only as a barrier be- 
tween the Oliio settlements and the Indians 
until the latter part of April, 1813. Mean- 
while the savage chieftain had returned with 
reeking hands from the massacre at Fort 
Mimms, and had joined the British camp in 
Canada, and with General Proctor, had or- 
ganized a large force for the reduction of Fort 
Meigs. The fort at this time was garrisoned 
with about 1,000 men, and was bountifully 
supplied with every tiling necessary for a 
long and obstinate defense. Twelve hundred 
Kentuckians, under General Clay, were also 
marching to the reUef of the garrison. On 
the 23d of April, Proctor, with a strong 
British force, and a horde of Indian allies, 
under Tecumseh, entered the mouth of the 
Maumee in boats, and besieged the fort in 
due form. Heavy batteries were erected on 
the west bank of the river, and the hght 
troops and Indians stationed on the opposite 
side. The besieged opened a well-directed 
cannonade from the fort upon the enemy, 
which compelled them to perform the most 
of their work by night. Having completed 
his batteries. Proctor, on the 1st of May, 
opened Ms fire. The garrison had suffered 
but little, except from the want of water. 
The well in the fort was dry, and they were 
obhged to bring water from the river. But 
many of the men were slain by the Indians, 
while on this service, and the savages, em- 
boldened by their success, gradually drew 
closer to the fort, and cUmbing into tall trees 
poured showers of buUets into the interior of 
the American works. Before opening his 
batteries, Proctor sent the garrison a sum- 
mons to surrender, which Harrison scorn- 
fully declined, and opened a brisk cannonade 
upon the enemy. For four days both parties 
maintained their fire, when Harrison received 
the joyful intelligence that Clay, with his Ken- 
tuckians, was near at hand. The American 
commander now resolved to compel the en- 
emy to raise the siege. He sent a messenger 
to Clay, cUrecting him to land 800 men on 



the west bank of the river, and attack the 
enemy's batteries, and spike the guns ; while 
the remaining 400 advanced along the east 
bank toward the batteries against which the 
garrison should make a sortie. The 800 
Kentuckians were placed under the command 
of Colonel Dudley, and crossing the river in 
good order fiercely attacked the British bat- 
teries. In the face of the fiery tempest 
which burst forth from the grim line before 
them, they carried the batteries, and neg- 
lecting to spike the guns rushed on in furious 
pursuit of the flying English, or turned aside 
to fight the savages, with whom the wood 
was alive. Proctor, meanwhile, aroused by 
the sound of the conflict, hastened from his 
camp, a mile and a half below, with rein- 
forcements. An-iving at the scene of action, 
he ralhed the fiagitives and joined at this mo- 
ment by Tecumseh, with a strong body of 
Indians, he fell with the utmost fury upon 
the Kentuckians, who in their eager pursuit 
had thrown themselves into disorder. The 
Americans fought with the utmost gallantry ; 
but they fell rapidly before the furious strokes 
and withering fire of the enemy, whose num- 
ber was greatly superior. Only 150 of these 
gallant men reached the eastern bank of the 
river in safety. Colonel Dudley was mortally 
wounded. Meanwhile, Colonel Miller, with 
the Americans on the east bank, attacked 
the British batteries on that side of the river 
and carried them at the point of the bayonet, 
and spiking the guns, returned to the fort 
with 42 prisoners. On the 8th of May, 
Proctor raised the siege, and under a galling 
fire from the fort, made a hasty -and disor- 
derly retreat down the river. The Indians 
had abandoned their allies the day before. In 
tins siege the Americans lost nearly 800 men 
in killed, wounded, and prisoners. The Brit- 
ish lost about 100 in killed, wounded, and 
prisoners. 

FORT MIMMS, a.d. 1813.— During the 
second war between the United States and 
England, twenty-four families had congre- 
gated at Fort Mimms, a mere block-house, 
situated on the Alabama river, near the 
junction of the Tombigbee, in the State of 
Mississippi, where tliey had fled for shelter 
from the anticipated ravages of Tecumseh 
and his savage warriors, who had formed an 
alliance with England against the Americans. 
Fort Mimms was garrisoned by 150 men, 
under Major Beasely, and, with proper pre- 
caution, could have resisted the attack of the 
savages ; but they were so careless that sud- 
denly, in broad d&ylight, they permitted 
nearly 700 Indians to advance within thirty 
feet of the fort, without being discovered. 
The gate was open, and the savages, with 
one wild yell, rushed through, into the outer 
inclosure, driving the terrified soldiers into 



250 



FORT NIAGARA— FORT SCHUYLER. 



the houses within. The Indians mounted 
these buildings and fired them, and shot 
down every man who attempted to escape. 
The soldiers, perceiving their doom, fought 
with the desperation of despair. They rushed 
from the houses and furiously attacked the 
foe, laying 60 of them dead at their feet, be- 
fore they were themselves overpowered. At 
length the last of the brave defenders was 
slain; and the Indians commenced a work 
of blood, at which the soul sickens. "Wo- 
men and children were ruthlessly butchered, 
and their mangled corpses tossed upon the 
gory pile, formed of the bodies of their hus- 
bands, fathers, brothers, and lovers. Of all 
the 300 that had inhabited Fort Mimms not 
one escaped. 

FORT NIAGARA, a.d. 1759.— Fort Ni- 
agara stands on the east side of the Niagara 
river, at its entrance into Lake Ontario, in the 
State of New York. 

In 1679, a French officer, named De Salle, 
erected a small fort at the mouth of Niagara 
river, and in 1725 a stronger fortification was 
erected here. In 1759, it was captured by 
the British, under Sir William Johnson. The 
force sent against the fort was under the 
command of General Prideaux, who sailed 
from Oswego, and appeared before the 
French works on the 7th of July. The Brit- 
ish immediately opened their batteries on the 
fort. An unfortunate accident deprived them 
of their commander : Prideaux was killed, on 
the 15th of July, by the bursting of a gun. 
Johnson then assumed the command, and the 
siege was carried forward with vigor. An 
army of French regulars, which were collect- 
ed from Detroit and Erie, La Boeuf, and Ve- 
nango, and numbered about 1,200 .men, were 
marched to the rescue of the garrison of Fort 
Niagara. On the morning of the 24th the 
French made their appearance. Sir Wilham 
Johnson attacked these troops and, although 
his own force was considerably weaker in 
numbers, put them to rout with fearful 
slaughter, at the first charge. The Enghsh 
pursued the fugitives tlirough the woods, 
slaying until fatigue put an end to the bloody 
work. Tiie dead were scattered along the 
forests and were not counted. On the next 
day the garrison surrendered, and 600 pris- 
oners fell into the hands of the victors. This 
victory put the EngUsh into the possession of 
all the French posts, as far as Erie. 

Fort Niagara, during the American revolu- 
tion, says De Veaux, " was the head-quarters 
of all that was barbarous, unrelenting and 
cruel. There were congregated the leaders 
and chiefs of those bands of murderers and 
miscreants who carried death and destruction 
into the remote American settlements. There 
civilized Europe reveled with savage Amer- 
ica, and ladies of education and refinement 



mingled in the society of those whose only 
distinction was to wield the bloody toma- 
hawk and the scalping-knife. There the 
squaws of the forest were raised to eminence, 
and the most unholy unions between them 
and oQicers of the liighest rank, smiled upon 
and countenanced. There, in their strong- 
hold, hke a vast vulture, securely, for seven 
years, they sallied forth and preyed upon tlie 
distant settlements of the Mohawk and Sus- 
quehanna valley. Is was the depot of their 
plunder: there they planned their forays, and 
there they returned to feast, until the time 
of action came again." 

During the war of 1812, Fort Niagara was 
garrisoned by the Americans with about 350 
men, under Captain Leonard. On the night 
of the 19th of December, 1813, a party of 
British and Indians, nearly 1,200 strong, 
crossed the river and took the fort by sur- 
prise. The commandant was absent, having 
left during the evening; the pickets were 
taken by surprise, the main gate was opened 
and guarded, and the enemy rushed in with- 
out handerance, slaying about 60 of the gar- 
rison, before giving them an opportunity to 
surrender. The remainder fell into the hands 
of the victors, as prisoners of war. 

FORT NINETY-SIX, a.d. 1781.— The 
pleasant village of Cambridge, in Abbeville 
district. South Carolina, is situated near the 
site of old Fort Ninety-six. This fort was 
occupied by about 550 royalists, under Colo- 
nel John Cruger, in the month of May, 1781, 
when it was besieged by General Greene, 
with about 1,000 American troops. The 
Americans, under the direction of Colonel 
Kosciusko, broke ground on the evening of 
the 22d of May; the siege continued until 
the 18th of June, when Greene, hearing that 
Rawdon was marching to the assistance of 
the besieged, and unwilling to encounter that 
general's superior force, raised the siege and 
retreated toward the Ennoree. In this siege 
the Americans lost about 150 men, in killed, 
wounded and missing. The precise loss of 
the besieged is unknown. 

FORT SCHUYLER, a.o. 1777. — The 
site of old Fort Schuyler, also called Fort 
Stanwix, is occupied by the village of Rome, 
in Oneida county. New York. In the spring 
of 1777, the celebrated Indian chief, Brant, 
invaded New York, from Canada, with over 
500 warriors. General Herkimer, who com- 
manded a small party of American troops, 
held a conference with Brant in an open 
field near Unadilla, and endeavored to treat 
with the savages. His attempt was unsuc- 
cessful, and after a stormy council, during 
which the Indians were very insulting, the 
two forces separated, and Brant joined the 
British army, which, under the command of 
Sir John Johnson, and Colonel John Butler, 



FORT SCHUYLER. 



251 



was organizing at Oswego, preparatory to an 
expedition against the defenseles settlements 
of the Schoharie and Mohawk valleys. 

It is a stain upon the British character that, 
in both the revolutionary war and the con- 
test of 1812, the royal government hired 
savage butchers to follow their armies into 
the field. On this occasion the Indians were 
invited to a grand war-feast by the royal 
officers, and then they enlisted as enemies to 
the patriotic cause. 

The fort of Oswego was crowded with the 
grim sons of the vrilderness. They were fur- 
nished ^Yith gay dresses, new arms, and "fire- 
water" in abundance, and before the council 
concluded, the great tribes of the Six Nations, 
numbering at the time several thousand 
warriors, entered into a firm alliance with 
the British, and they agreed to fight until 
King George had subdued his rebellious sub- 
jects. Each Indian was presented with a 
gun, tomahawk, scalping-knife, ammunition, 
a brass kettle, a piece of gold, and a suit of 
scarlet clothes. 

Rumors of the British preparations reached 
the patriot settlements in Tryon county, and 
Colonel Gansevoort, who commanded a small 
half-finished fortification, known as Fort 
Schuyler, implored the aid of Congress and 
of the State of New York. But at that 
period the American army had enough to do 
with the forces of England in the field, and 
Congress could not afibrd much assistance. 
On the 1st of August, 1777, General St. 
Leger, Colonel Butler, and Brant, with over 
1,700 British and Indians, commenced their 
invasion, and soon appeared before Fort 
Schuyler. Colonel Ganscvoort's force num- 
bered 750 men, with a few small cannon. 
They had no flag ! But this latter article 
was soon suppUed ; sliirts were cut up for 
wliite stripes and sewed upon the red lining 
of a cloak belonging to one of the officers, 
and it was tlirovra proudly out to the forest 
wind. 

The siege instantly commenced. Bombs 
were thrown into the fort, while the savages, 
with their rifles, watched every opportunity 
for a shot at the besieged. Every night 
they filled the air with horrible yells and en- 
deavored to set the works on fire. The 
Americans, however, were not intimidated. 
They refused to listen to St. Leger's sum- 
mons to surrender, and maintained a vigorous 
defense. 

In the mean time General Herldmer, a 
brave old soldier, rallied the militia of the 
surrounding country, and was soon on his 
way to relieve the garrison with a force of 
800 men. But younger men endeavored to 
supersede him in command. They reproached 
him with being too cautious, and finally 
charged the gallant ofiicer with being a 



coward and a Tory. Colonels Cox and Paris 
were loud in their taunts. But General 
Herkimer answered calmly, that he was 
placed in command as a guardian and a 
father, and that the troops should not be led 
into unnecessary danger. Accordingly he ad- 
vanced with great caution, at the same time 
teUing those who were so anxious to force 
the enemy, that he feared they would be the 
first to retreat. 

Battle of Oriskany. — On the morning 
of the 6th of August, the patriots arrived 
near Oriskany, about eight miles east of Fort 
Schuyler. Herkimer found means to warn 
Gansevoort of his approach, and requested, 
when he should hear the sound of guns, to 
make a sortie on the British camp. St. Leger 
sent forward a strong force to meet Herki- 
mer, and formed an ambuscade for his troops 
in a narrow deep ravine. It was about nine 
o'clock in the morning, dark and sultry, when 
the relieving army entered the valley. In 
one of the general's instructions, the van- 
guards were careless, or the ambuscade 
would have been discovered. One regiment 
of the force had entered the ravine, when 
Brant gave the signal, and liis warriors, 
sounding the war-whoop, poured in a galling 
fire from their rifles, and rushed forward 
tomahawk in hand. A portion of the 
militia, as Herkimer predicted, instantly 
broke and fled to the rear, but the general's 
division boldly and firmly held their ground. 
Herkimer was instantly wounded, and Colo- 
nel Cox and Captain Van Slyke killed at the 
first fire. Herkimer was carried beneath a 
beech-tree, where, seated upon a saddle, he 
calmly directed his men and cheered them 
on. The miUtia fought with desperation, re- 
ceiving and giving no quarter. The balls 
flew like hail, and the war-whoop rang shrilly 
through the forest. The patriots soon dis- 
covered that the Indians were watching until 
a man discharged his gun, then they would 
rush forward with tomahawk and knife. To 
prevent this, two miUtia-men stood behind a 
tree together, and fired alternately. 

While the fight was going on, volleys of 
musketry were heard in the rear. It was a 
sortie from the fort. No sooner did Colonel 
Gansevoort hear the roar of battle in the 
forest, than he ordered Colonel Willet, with 
300 men, to fall upon the British camp. 
Colonel Willet executed Ms commission in a 
splendid manner. Like a thunderbolt his lit- 
tle force burst upon St. Leger's encampment, 
and the mongrel force of Tories and Indians, 
and the few regulars present, were scattered 
like chafi". The savages fled into the forest, 
while St. Leger and Johnson bai-ely escaped 
— the latter without his coat. Twenty-one 
wagon-loads of spoils — arms, ammunition, 
clotliing, provisions, blankets, camp-equipage, 



252 



FORT ST. DAVID— FORT STEPHENSON. 



money, valuable documents and papers — 
were hauled into the fort, together with five 
British standards I Willet did not lose a 
man, and he was received in the fort with 
loud cheers. The British colors were all 
hoisted upon the staff, under the rough Amer- 
ican flag I 

Herkimer's men, greatly encouraged, at- 
tacked the enemy with renewed vigor, and 
the Indians, having lost nearly 100 warriors, 
and several chiefs, raised the cry, " Oohph ! 
Oohph!" (the signal to retreat), and fled deep 
into the forest. The British soon followed, 
and, after a terrible battle of six hours, the 
Americans were left masters of the field. 
The patriots lost 160 men killed, and about 
the same number wounded, besides some 
prisoners. The enemy's loss was much 
greater, though never exactly ascertained. 
The Indians were disappointed. General 
Herkimer died of his wounds a few days 
after the fight His army having no head, 
and being unable to reach the fort, re- 
treated. 

Smarting at their severe loss, and mortified 
at the sacking of their camp, St. Leger's army 
attacked Fort Schuyler with renewed vigor. 
Lying messages, to the eS'ect that strong re- 
inforcements were at hand, were sent by the 
royal commander to the fort, coupled with 
threats of massacre unless it surrendered. 
But Colonel Gransevoort scorned alike threat 
and overture, continuing his defense in the 
bravest manner. Day after day the siege 
continued. St. Leger began to approach in 
regular parallels, and employed the sap and 
mining system. With great danger, Colonel 
Willet and Lieutenant Stockwell succeeded 
in passing the British hnes, and hastening to 
General Schuyler, implored aid for the be- 
sieged garrison. In fact, the fort was becom- 
ing much straitened, when suddenly the 
enemy broke up camp and fled toward 
Canada. This sudden flight was caused by 
the arrival of scouts, with the intelligence 
that a strong force was at hand to relieve the 
fort. Tills rumor was false, but the Indians 
beheved it, and, having become wearied with 
the siege, they at once started off. The panic 
was communicated to the rest of the army, 
and they all b(\gan such a hurried retreat as 
to leave all their baggage, artillery, and spare 
arms. The savages fell upon and scalped 
many of their allies in the route. Thus was 
Fort Schuyler relieved. 

FORT ST. DAVID, a.d. 1758.— Tliis fort- 
ress in Hindoostan, was taken from the Brit- 
ish by the French under M. Sally, after a 
short siego, in 175R. 

FORT STEPHENSON, a.d. 1813.— Fort 
Stephenson stood upon the ground formerly 
occupied by Lower Sandusdy, now Fremont. 
On the 2d of August, 1813, this place was 



heroically defended against 500 British regu- 
lars and 500 Indians, under General Proctor, 
by Major Croghan, a youth of twenty-one 
years, with only 160 men. 

Tliis aliair, though of comparatively small 
importance, is in itself one of the most bril- 
liant that occurred during the war of 1812. 
The British, in the month of August, were 
making tlireatening movements upon all the 
various forts wliich had been established by 
the Americans on the rivers that empty into 
Lake Erie. The volunteers fi-om Ohio and 
Kentucky had not yet arrived, and could not 
be expected before Septemlser; and the 
British being considerably reinforced by reg- 
ular troops, and an unusual number of In- 
dians, under their famous leader Tecumseh, 
saw that it was all-important t3 reduce tliose 
forts before the appearance of the volunteers. 
Major Croghan, having received inteUigence 
that the British were about to invest the fort 
of Lower Sandusky, marched from Upper 
Sandusky, where he had commanded with a 
small body of men to the former place, and 
had placed it in the best possible posture of 
defense. He had only 160 men, consisting 
of regulars and detachments of the Pittsburg 
and Petersburg volunteers. The fort was 
provided with but one gun, a six-pounder; 
and the commander had had only sufficient 
time to make a ditch of six feet deep, and 
nine feet wide, outside the stockade of pickets 
with wliich these hastily-constructed forts 
were inclosed. General Harrison thought 
that it was impossible to defend the place 
successfully, and ordered young Croghan to 
retire at the approach of the enemy, after 
destroying the works ; but the gallant officer 
assumed the responsibility of disobeying this 
command. On the 1st of August, General 
Proctor, having left a large body of Indians, 
under Tecumseh, before Fort Meigs, arrived 
at Sandusky, with about 500 regulars, 700 
Indians, and some gun-boats. After he 
had disposed liis troops in such a manner as 
to cut off the retreat of the garrison, the 
British general sent a flag by Colonel Elliot 
and Major Chambers, demanding a surren- 
der, accompanied with the threat of butchery 
if the garrison should hold out. Croghan 
sent a spirited answer ; and his troops, nearly 
all striplings like himself, vowed to support 
their gallant officer to the last. When the 
flag returned, the British opened a brisk fire 
from the gun-boats and a howitzer. The fire 
was maintained during the night. In the 
morning, three six-pounders, which had been 
planted under cover of the night, were open- 
ed upon the fort, within two himdred and 
fifty yards of the pickets, but without much 
effect. At four o'clock in the afternoon, the 
Americans discovered that the enemy was 
concentrating his fire upon the north-west 



FORT WASHINGTON. 



253 



angle of the fort, with the intention of making 
a breach. This part "was immediately 
strengthened by the opposition of bags of 
flour and sand, so that the pickets suffered 
but little injury. During tliis time, the 
American six-pounder was carefully conceal- 
ed in the bastion which covered the point to 
be assailed, and it was loaded with slugs and 
grape. The British columns were now 
ready for the assault. About 500 men in 
close order advanced toward the part of the 
picket where it was supposed to be most 
injured, at the same time making several 
feints to draw the attention of the besieged 
to other parts of the fort; their force 
being thus divided, a column of 350 men, 
whicli were so enveloped in smoke as not to 
be seen until they approached within twenty 
paces of the lines, advanced rapidly to the 
assault. Their progress was checked by a 
fire of musketry from the fort ; but they 
were soon rallied by Colonel Short, who, 
springing over the outer works into the 
ditch, commanded the rest to follow, crying 
out, " Give the damned Yankees no quar- 
ter!" But no sooner had he reached the 
ditch, accompanied by the greater part of his 
followers, than the American six-pounder 
was unmasked, and thundered forth its terri- 
ble contents into the midst of the assailants, 
killing and maiming the greater portion of 
them. Colonel Short was slain, but the offi- 
cer on whom the command now devolved, 
re-formed his broken column, and again 
rushed to the ditch. But again were they 
hurled back by the deadly fire of that solitary 
six-pounder. The Americans, meanwliile, 
plied their muskets vigorously; tlie British 
force was thrown into complete disorder, 
and in spite of the eiforts of their officers, 
fled terror-stricken into the woods, whence 
they were soon followed by their savage 
allies. They made no further attempt to 
storm a fort so nobly defended by its heroic 
garrison. " If tins gallant defense deserves 
Sie applause of the brave," says Mr. Breck- 
enbridge, in his history of the last war, " the 
subsequent conduct of the besieged deserves 
the praise of every friend of humanity. The 
scene which now ensued deserves to be 
denominated subUme. The little band, for- 
getting in a moment that they had been 
assailed by merciless foes, who sought to 
massacre them without regarding the laws of 
honorable war, now felt only the desire of 
reUeving wounded men, and of administer- 
ing comfort to the wretched. Had they 
been friends — ^had they been brothers — they 
could not have experienced a more tender 
solicitude. The whole night was occupied in 
endeavoring to assuage their sufferings ; pro- 
visions and buckets of water were handed 
over the pickets, and an opening was made 



by which many of the sufferers were taken 
in, who were immediately supplied with sur- 
gical aid ; and this although a firing was 
kept up by the enemy until some time in the 
night. The loss of the garrison amounted to 
one killed and seven wounded ; that of the 
enemy was supposed to be at least two hun- 
dred. Upward of fifty were found in and 
about the ditch. It was discovered next 
morning that the enemy had hastily retreat- 
ed, leaving a boat, and a considerable quan- 
tity of military stores. Upward of seventy 
stands of arms were taken, besides a quantity 
of ammunition. This exploit called forth the 
admiration of every party in the United 
States. Croghan, together with his compan- 
ions, Captain Hunter and 'Lieutenants John- 
son, Baylor, ^Meeks, and Anthony, and 
Ensigns Ship and Duncan, together with 
other officers and volunteers, were highly 
complimented by General Harrison. They 
afterward received the thanks of Congress. 
Croghan was promoted to the rank of Lieu- 
tenant Colonel, and was presented with an 
elegant sword by the ladies of Chillicothe." 

FORT WASHINGTON, a.d. 1776.— The 
site of Fort Washington stands on the east 
bank of the Hudson river, on the highest 
eminence of Manhattan island, nearly oppo- 
site Fort Lee, in New Jersey, about nine 
miles north of the city of New York. The 
remains only of the fort are now visible. It 
was a strong earth-work, covering with its 
detached works, several acres of ground. In 
the interior was a sort of citadel within which 
were the magazines. It was provided with 
about 20 cannon, and several howitzers and 
mortars. 

On the 28th of October, 1776, (the day of 
the battle of White Plains), Knypbausen at 
the head of six German battalions, marched 
from New Rochelle, and took possession of 
the works at Kingsbridge, from Avhich the 
Americans had retreated to Fort Washington. 
At this place Knyphausen on the 2d of No- 
vember, crossed the Hudson river into Man- 
hattan island, and proceeded to invest Fort 
Washington, on the north. The Americans 
in Fort Independence and redoubts in the 
vicinity, fled on the approach of the enemy 
to Fort Washington ; and the wliole of the 
country beyond the Hudson, between Dobb's 
Ferry and Morrisania, west of the Bronx, 
was in the possession of the British army. 
On the 4th of November, Howe with his 
army abandoned White Plains, and descend- 
ing the Hudson river encamped upon the 
heights of Fordham, extending his left wing 
almost to Kingsbridge. On the 7th, three 
British ships sailed up the Hudson, and a 
large number of flat-boats went up the river, 
and were moored near Kingsbridge. Fort 
Washington was completely surrounded by 



254 



FOUGIERS— FREDERIKSHALD. 



hostile forces. Howe now prepared to at- 
tack the work. The American garrison 
consisted of about 3,000 men, under the 
command of Colonel Magaw, an experienced 
and valiant officer. On the 15th of Novem- 
ber, Howe, being apprized of the real strength 
of the garrison, hj a deserter, sent a messen- 
ger for the commander to surrender; and 
threatening a massacre of his troops in case 
he should refuse. Magaw in a brief and 
manly note declined to comply ; and sent a 
copy of his answer to Washington, who was 
at Hackensack, N. J. Early on the morning 
of the 16th, the British opened a brisk can- 
nonade on the American works, and under 
cover of their guns, the beseigers crossed the 
Harlem, and advanced to the assault in four 
columns. 

Magaw disposed his forces to meet the at- 
tack. In a redoubt (Fort George) upon a 
line north of Fort Washington, Colonel Raw- 
lings's riflemen, were posted, and some troops 
were stationed at the outpost called Cork-Hill 
Fort. Colonel Baxter's militia were placed 
on the wooded hills east of the fort, along 
the Harlem river, and the troops of Colonel 
Cadwallailer of Pennsylvania, were stationed 
along the lines in the direction of New York. 
The plan of attack was admirably arranged. 
General Knyphausen with 500 Hessians and 
Waldeckers was to advance to the attack on 
the north, simultaneously with a division of 
English and Hessian troops commanded by 
Lord Percy, who were to assault the works 
on the south. General Matthews, with the 
light infantry, the guards, and two battal- 
ions of grenadiers, supported by Cornwallis, 
was to cross the Harlem, and attack the in- 
trenchments, which extended from Fort 
Washington toward the East river, and Col- 
onel Stirling was to pass the river further up, 
and make a feigned attack, which if circum- 
stances warranted should become real, on the 
south. On crossing the river, Knyphausen 
divided his forces into two divisions. The 
first under Knyphausen, penetrated the woods 
near Tubby Hook, and attacked the troops of 
Colonel Rawlings, The Americans made a 
gallant defense, and the Germans sustained a 
heavy loss. The Marylanders from behind 
their works, poured forth unceasing volleys ; 
and their unerring rifles committed fearful 
havoc among their assailants. At length the 
Hessians, redoubling their efforts, gained a 
steep ascent, whence they came down upon 
the enemy with irresistible impetuosity ; and 
Colonel Rawlings was forced to yield and re- 
treat under cover of the guns of the fort. 
The second division under Colonel Rail* 
drove the Americans out of Cork-Hill Fort, 
and Lord Percy, meanwhile, having crossed 
the river, swept over the plain, and attacked 

• Rail was killed at Trenton, seventy days afterward. 



Cadwalladcr. Percy's division consisted of 
800 men ; Cadwallader's force numbered only 
150. Yet with that small force, and one 18 
pounder, he maintained the conflict with such 
ardor, that Percy was forced to move to the 
left behind a wood, and for the time being 
the conflict ceased. Meanwliile, the troops 
of Matthews and Stirhng landed. Matthews 
pushed up the wooded heights, and firmly 
attacked the troops of Baxter, driving them 
from the hills. Stirling immediately after 
landing, forced his way to the summit of a 
hill witliin the American lines, and assailed a 
redoubt on the summit. The Americans 
made a gallant resistance ; but were finally 
obliged to abandon the redoubt, leaving 200 
prisoners in the hands of tlie victors. Col- 
onel Cadwallader being informed of this dis- 
aster, and perceiving the peril of being placed 
between two fires, cut his way through the 
enemy, taking about 30 prisoners as he went, 
and reached the fort with the loss of only a 
few men. The Americans at all points out- 
side the fort, were gradually driven back, and 
at noon all were gathered within the walls 
of Fort Washington. General Howe now 
again summoned the garrison to surrender. 
The Americans had consumed nearly all their 
ammunition ; and Magaw, perceiving further 
resistance to be vain, decided to capitulate. 
At half-past one o'clock the British flag waved 
triumphantly over the walls of Fort Wash- 
ington. The garrison, numbering about 2,500 
men, were made prisoners of war ; they were 
sent to New York, and were confined in the 
noisome cells of the city jails. The Amer- 
icans lost in this conflict in killed and wounded 
about 100 men; the British lost nearly 1,000 
mostly Hessians. The loss of Fort Wash- 
ington was a sad blow to the patriot cause — 
not only did the English secure the entire 
possession of the island of New York, but 
they crossed the Hudson river and took pos- 
session of Fort Lee in New Jersey, without 
molestation. The garrison effected its es- 
cape ; but the artillery, and military stores, 
their baggage and tents, aU fell into the hands 
of the victors. The British could now pene- 
trate into the very heart of New Jersey. 
Washington, from Fort Lee, had seen the fall 
of Fort Washington ; and with tearful eyes 
I beheld the scarlet flag of England flaming 
I above its ramparts. He now turned liis at- 
I tention toward the defense of Philadelphia; 
j and had abandoned Fort Lee before the British 
: approached it. 

I FOUGIERS, A.D. 1793.— A bloody battle 
; took place near Fougiers, in France, between 
the republicans and the Vendeans, on the 
15th November, 1793. 
^ FREDERIKSHALD, a.d. 1718.— Charles 
XII. being desirous, for the second time, of 
making the conquest of Norway, laid siege to 



FEENCHTOWK 



255 



Frederikshald, an important place, situated at 
the mouth of tlie river Tistendall, near the 
Channel of Denmark. It was in the month 
of December, 1718. The winter was severe, 
and the cold killed a number of soldiers. The 
works, nevertheless, advanced quickly, and 
the city was soon pressed very closely. 

" On the 11th of December," says Voltaire, 
"the king went, at nine o'clock in the even- 
ing, to visit the trenches, and not finding the 
parallels advanced to lus mind, he appeared 
much dissatisfied. M. Megrel, a French en- 
gineer, who conducted the siege, assured him 
that the place would be taken in eight days. 
' We shall see,' said the king, and continued 
his examination of the works, in company 
with the engineer. He stopped at a place 
where the boyau made an angle with the 
parallel. He knelt doAvn upon the interior 
talus, and, resting liis elbows upon the para- 
pet, he remained for some time watching the 
laborers, who were continuing the trenches 
by star-light." 

Almost half the person of the king was ex- 
posed to a battery of cannon pointed at the 
right angle, where he was, and which was 
firing cartridges. At this moment his officers 
saw him fall upon tlie parapet, breathing a 
lieavy sigh. They rushed toward him, Ijut 
Charles XII. was no more. A ball, weigliing 
half a poimd, had struck him on the temple, 
and had made a hole in which three fingers 
could be introduced. When dying, he had 
the strength to place, as by a natural move- 
ment, liis hand upon the guard of his sword. 
Megrel, an indifferent and singular man, was 
content with sajnng, as he sui-veyed the Hfe- 
less monarch : " We may retire, the piece is 
played out." To keep the knowledge of this 
misfortune from the troops, until the prince 
of Hesse, Charles's brother-in-law should be 
informed of it, his body was enveloped in a 
grey mantle, with a wig and hat upon his 
head. In tliis disguise, the corpse of the 
king was conveyed away, under the name 
of Captain Carlesberg. 

It is now generally supposed that a pistol, 
fired by some mean and traitorous hand, 
closed the career of this celebrated monarch, 
who was too aptly styled the " Madman of 
the North." 

FRENCHTOWN, a.d. 1813.— This small 
town, on the river Raisin, in Canada, was, in 
the year 1813, the scene of one of the bloodiest 
affrays which occurred during the second war 
between the United States and England. 
The surrender of General Hull at Detroit ex- 
posed the north-western frontier to incursions 
from the British and Indians ; and the peo- 
ple of the western States were naturally anx- 
ious to recover the posts lost by the coward- 
ice of tliat general. During the autumn of 
1812, General Harrison, who had command 



of the army in that quarter, was occupied in 
collecting and organizing his forces in tliat 
quarter. General Winchester, who, with 
some 150 men, was incamped six miles from 
Fort Defiance, was, on the 8th of January, 
1813, sent forward in advance of the army. 
He was to proceed to the rapids of the Mau- 
mee, and then take in his supplies of ord- 
nance and provisions, and thence to march 
at once to West Maiden, which town was 
occupied by the British and Indians. Three 
days after General Winchester had arrived 
at the rapids, he received an urgent request 
from the inhabitants of Frenchtown, a small 
settlement nearly forty miles distant, on the 
river Raisin, to come to their protection 
against the British and Indians assembled at 
Maiden. A detachment of 500 men, under 
Colonel Lewis, was at once sent forward to 
Presque Isle, there to await the arrival of the 
main column. But Lewis, learning that an 
advance party of the enemy were already in 
possession of Frenchtown, hurried forward, 
and in the afternoon of the 21st of January, 
arrived on the banks of the stream opposite 
to the village. The river being frozen, he 
immediately ordered the charge to be sound- 
ed. The column advanced steadily across the 
ice, and entering the village under a heavy 
fire of the British, forced them from their po- 
sition, and soon drove them to the woods. 
Darkness closed the combat. On the 23d of 
January, General Winchester arrived with a 
reinforcement of 250 men. He had sent a 
dispatch to General Harrison, then on the 
lower Sandusky, announcing his movements, 
and asking for reinforcements. The latter 
sent forward a detachment of 300, and fol- 
lowed himself the same day with 350 men, 
in hope of affording rehef to General Win- 
chester. General Proctor, at Maiden, only 
eighteen miles distant, hearing of Colonel 
Lewis's advance on Frenchtown, hurried 
down with 600 British and Canadian troops, 
and 1,000 Indians under command of their 
chiefs, SpUtlog and Roundhead, and six pieces 
of artillery, to attack him. The 500 Amer- 
icans under Colonel Lewis were stationed be- 
hind pickets, in the form of a semicircle; but 
the 250 under General Winchester, were 
placed outside, 400 yards distant, and wholly 
uncovered. . On the morning of the 23d, 
Proctor's army arrived at the town, and im- 
mediately advanced to the assault. Lewis's 
men received them with such a fierce and 
deadly fire that they wheeled and fled in con- 
fusion. But while the attack in front was re- 
pulsed, that on the exposed left wing was 
completely successful. The Americans made 
but a momentary resistance, and then, borne 
back by numbers, turned and fled in all di- 
rections. But their retreat was entirely cut 
off by the Indians, who, with fearful yells, 



256 



FRETEVAL— FRIEDLAND. 



fell upon the fugitives, tomahawkinf,'. them 
witliout mercy. Winchester and Lewis, with 
100 men, rushed forward to their rescue, but 
they were soon surrounded by the savages ; 
their men were cut down and tomahawked, 
and they themselves made prisoners, and 
carried to Proctor. In the mean time, the 
right wing maintained the unequal contest 
with undaunted courage and resolution. Tlie 
British troops, unable to make any impres- 
sion on the gallant band, p'lused; and it is 
doubtful whether Proctor would have ven- 
tured to make a second attack. Proctor, 
however, represented to Winchester that he 
could easily set the town on fire, and reduce 
the garrison, but that should they prolong 
their resistance, he could not guaranty the 
persons of the soldiers or the inhabitants from 
the barbarity of the Indians. Winchester, 
fully beheving that the 500 men, who still 
maintained an undaunted front, must be sac- 
rificed, agreed upon a capitulation, and an 
officer was sent to Major Madison, who now 
commanded that gallant little band, inform- 
ing him of the unconditional surrender of 
his troops by his superior officer. The brave 
major, wlio did not at all consider himself 
and gallant band as vanquished men, inform- 
ed the officer " that he would not surrender 
at all, unless the side-arms of the officers 
should be restored to them at Amherstberg, 
the wounded promptly and securely trans- 
ported to that post, and a guard sufficient for 
their safety assigned them." If the British 
commander refused to grant these terms, he 
and his men. would fight to the last, and, if 
nacessary, die with their arms in their hands. 
Proctor, at first, rejected this proposition, but 
at length yielded, only because no other terms 
would be listened to. But no sooner did the 
garrison surrender, than, in direct violation 
of the conditions, he gave unbridled license to 
the soldiers and Indians. The latter were 
allowed to scalp and mutilate the dead and 
wormded. Proctor, fearing the approach of 
Harrison, hastily departed for Amherstberg 
with the prisoners, leaving the dead at 
Frenchtown, unburied, and sixty of the 
wounded, who were too feeble to march, 
unprotected. The next day, a large body of 
the Indians fell upon the wounded, toma- 
hawed and scalped them, and setting fire to 
the houses, consumed the dead and dying to- 
gether, responding to the shrieks of the suf- 
fering victims with whoops and yells, and 
hellish laughter. Two hundred dead bodies 
were left imburied, and for days after, hogs 
and dogs feasted on the mutilated corpses. 
Fired by these barbarities, the Americans 
from all quarters flocked to the standard of 
their country, and on the battle-field of the 
Thames, effijctually avenged their murdered 
fellow-citizens. 



FRETEVAL, a.d. 1194.— Near Freteval, 
a town of France, on the Loire, was fought, 
A.D. 1194, a battle between the troops of 
PhiUp Augustus and the English arniy, in 
which the former was signally defeated. 

FRIEDBERG, a.d. 1745.— On the 4th of 
June, 1745, a battle was fought at Friedberg, 
a town of Prussian Silesia, between the Aus- 
trians and Saxons, and the army of Frederic 
II., of Prussia, the greatest monarch of tho 
eighteenth Cf'ntury. After an obstinate en- 
gagement, Frederic obtained a signal vic- 
tory. 

FRIEDLAND, a.d. 1807.— Tliis Prussian 
town, which has acquired immortal celebrity 
by the famous battle of which it was the 
theater, in 1807, is situated on the west bank 
of the river Alle, which flows in a northcrlj- 
direction toward the Baltic Sea. It is situ- 
ated between the river and a large artificial 
lake, or fish-pond, which lies to the north, 
and has been formed by damming up a rivu- 
let, called the Millstream, which flows from 
the high grounds to the westward, near Pos- 
thencn, on the Alle, and falls into it at right 
angles. The windings of the Alle serve as a 
natural wet ditch round Friedland, on the 
south and east; the fish-pond protects it on 
the north ; in a mihtary point of view, there- 
fore, it is only accessible on the western side, 
where it is approached by the road from 
Eylau, from which side also set out the roads 
to Konigsberg to the north, and Wehlau and 
Tilsit, on the north-west. In that direc^on 
there is a large open space dotted with vil- 
lages, and cultivated ground, neither hill nor 
plain, but an undulated surface, intersected 
only along its whole extent by the Mill- 
stream, wliich is very deep, with rugged 
sides, and in many places, from the refluent 
waters, scarcely fordable. At the distance of 
two miles from Friedland, as a center, the 
cultivated plain to the westward is bounded 
by a semicircle of woods, wliich fringe the 
higher grounds and form the horizon when 
looking in that direction from the town. The 
banks of the Alle on the eastward are very 
steep ; and though there are three bridges 
over that river, in other quarters it can be 
passed only at a few fords. 

On the 11th of June, 1807, the Russian 
army, retreating before the victorious army of 
the Emperor Napoleon, evacuated Heilsberg, 
and marching all night, established them- 
selves at Bartenstein. Napoleon, observing 
this movement, detached Murat's dragoons 
to follow upon the traces of the enemy, and 
moving forward from his position before 
Heilsberg, himself with lus whole army en- 
camped on the blood-stained plain of Eylau, 
where he established his head-quarters. Dur- 
ing the night of the 12th, the Russians re- 
sumed their march through Schiffenheil, 



FEIEDLAND. 



257 



toward Konigsbexg, and on the following 
morning had reached the banks of the Alle. 
Napoleon, however, had anticipated them in 
their march upon that city. Murat and 
Victor were in full advance from Eylau to 
Konigsberg. Soult was marching on Creutz- 
burg ; Napoleon liimself, at the head of the 
corps of Lannes, Ney, and Mortier, was ap- 
proaching Friedland, by Domnau, ten miles 
from that town, where the Imperial Guard 
were already arrived. By three different 
movements the bulk of the French army in- 
terposed between Benningsen, the Russian 
general, and Konigsberg, where all his mag- 
azines were placed, and Napoleon was in a 
situation, by a rapid advance upon Welilau, 
to threaten his line of retreat to the Russian 
frontier. Benningsen saw that no time was 
to be lost; he gave orders to continue the 
march, and by great exertions the army 
reached Friedland, Avhere head-quarters were 
established. On the evening of the 13th, 
Benningsen received intelligence that the 
corps of Lannes was lying at Posthenen, a 
village about three miles from Friedland, on 
the road to Konigsberg. The exposed posi- 
tion of that corps, which formed the van- 
guard of the French army, inspired the Rus- 
sian general with the hope that by a sudden 
attack, it might be destroyed before the main 
body of Napoleon's forces could advance to 
its relief According to his orders, at two 
o'clock on the morning of the 14th, the Rus- 
sian vanguard commenced defiling over the 
bridge of Friedland, and advanced along the 
road to the attack of Lannes's corps. No 
sooner did the videttes of Lannes's corps des- 
cry the advanced posts of the Russians than 
a sharp fire of musketry began, which was 
soon increased to a heavy cannonade, as the 
dark masses of infantry and cavalry swiftly 
advanced. The French trailleurs fell back, 
skirmishing, however, sharply, as they re- 
treated ; the alarm was speedily conveyed to 
the rear, and the whole corps stood to arms. 
In the mean time, the French troops were 
constantly reinforced in the rear, by the ar- 
rival of detached portions of the main body, 
which were steadily advancing toward Fried- 
land. Benningsen had at first dispatched a 
single division across the river ; but the in- 
creasing resistance of the enemy, caused him 
to pass over another to its support. Three 
pontoon bridges were constructed to facili- 
tate the passage, and by degrees as the in- 
creasing masses of the French showed that 
other corps had arrived to the assistance of 
Lannes, the entire army was brought across. 
Thus was the Russian general, who at first, 
contemplated only a partial operation, in- 
sensibly drawn into a general action. Mor- 
tier's corps arrived to the support of Lannes 
in a short time after the firing commenced. 

17 



Both corps then withdrew to the heights 
stretching from Posthenen to Heinrichsdorf, 
about three miles to the westward of the 
river Alle. 

Benningsen deeming these the only forces 
he had to contend with, drew up his whole 
forces, as they successively arrived on the 
field from the bridges in the narrow plain, 
backed by Friedland and the Alle, facing to- 
ward the westward, about half a mile in front 
of that town. The Millstream flowing in a 
perpendicular direction to his line, nearly cut 
it in two equal parts: the right wing ex- 
tended from the rivulet to the Alle, through 
the wood of Domeraner; the left, which 
was less considerable in length, stretched in a 
southerly direction also to the Alle, across 
the wood of Sortlack, and barring the roads 
of Eylau, Bartenstern, and Schippenheil, 
nearly at the point where they intersected 
each other. The whole army was drawn up 
in two lines, facing to the west : the first and 
tliird battahons of each regiment in battle 
array, composing the first hne ; the second in 
close columns, behind the intervals between 
them, forming the second line. In their rear 
was the river Alle, across which in case of a 
retreat they would be obliged to retreat over 
three bridges. The whole Russian army 
consisted of 55,000 men, of whom 10,000 
were cavalry. The right wing of the Rus- 
sian army was commanded by Gortchakoff, 
the left by Bagrathion. The cavalry on the 
right was under Nuaroflf and Gallitzen, that 
on the left was commanded by KoUagriboff. 

As the successive divisions of the Russian 
army took up their position on the west bank 
of the river, Lannes gradually fell back, 
covering his movements with a cloud of light 
troops, whose incessant fire concealed the 
real strength of his force. A body of thirty 
French squadrons endeavored to turn the 
RussiaA right in front of Heinrichsdorfi". 
They attacked the enemy at that point with 
such vigor, that they were upon the point of 
accomplishing their purpose, when the ad- 
vance of some fresh regiments compelled 
them to give ground. Shortly after, 3,000 
men in a column advanced straight toward 
Friedland. The Russians permitted them to 
approach close to their batteries unmolested, 
Avhen suddenly they opened a terrible fire of 
grape, whicli, crashing through the assailants, 
struck down 1,000 men; the column was 
routed and an eagle was taken. The Rus- 
sians now advanced their left wing, which, 
attacking the French right, drove it back 
with such vigor that they seemed about 
retiring altogether toward Eylau ; but shortly 
afterward the French received fresh rein- 
forcements, and the Russians were in turn 
repulsed with great loss. A tremendous 
cannonade was now opened along the whole 



258 



FRIEDJiAND. 



line, and announced the approach of a gen- 
eral battle. Napoleon, at Domnan, heard the 
sound of the cannon, and mounting his horse 
rode rapidly to the front. The increat^ing 
cannonade, and the sharp rattle of musketry, 
warned him that a serious conflict was already 
rasing. He dispatched orders for the corps 
inlthe rear to hasten their march, and, having 
arrived at the heights behind Heinrichsdorf, 
which overlook the battle-field, he immediately 
sent out tlie oflicers of his staff in different 
directions to observe the movements of the 
enemy. Savery soon returned with the irffor- 
mation that the march of troops over the 
bridge of Friedland was incessant; that 
none Avere retracing their steps, and that the 
masses in front were continually increasing 
and extending themselves. " 'Tis well," re- 
plied the emperor, " I am aheady prepared : 
I have gained an hour upon them, and, since 
they wish it, I will give them another : this 
is the anniversary of Marengo: the battle 
could not be fought on a more propitious 
day." It was the l-ith of June. By three 
o'clock in the afternoon the bulk of the 
French army had arrived, and jSTapoleon at 
once dispatched orders for all the troops to 
prepare for action in an hour. In the mean 
time the soldiers were ordered to sit down 
and rest themselves, while the most minute 
inspection took place in the ranks to see that 
the muskets were in good concUtion, and tlie 
cartridge-boxes amply supplied. Napoleon's 
order of battle was as follows : the right of 
tlie army, directly in front of Friedland, was 
occupied by the corps of Ney ; next stood 
that of Mortier, on the extreme right of the 
corps of Lannes. In tlie second line imme- 
diately behind Ney, were stationed the 
corps of Victor, the Imperial Guard, with a 
numerous brigade of fusileers, under Savery ; 
and the cavalry, under Grouchy, Latour 
Marbourg, and Nansouty, behind the center 
and right. The whole army was directed to 
advance in echelon, with the right in front, 
and the left slightly tlu-OAvn back Thus Ney 
would be first engaged. The artiUery was 
directed to redouble their fire along the whole 
line as soon as the heads of their columns 
were seen emerging from the woods. The 
French army consisted of 70,000 infantry, 
and 10,000 horse. At five o'clock, at a sig- 
nal given by the discharge of twenty pieces 
of cannon from the French center, the whole 
army stood to arms, and immediately the 
heads of Ney's columns were seen emerging 
from the woods behind Posthenen, and rapidly 
advancing upon Friedland. On all sides the 
Russians saw the enemy's forces. From tlie 
steeples of Friedland, through the interstices 
of the trees, or the openings of the forest, 
they were descried in masses of enormous 
power and depth. Like an immense mass of 



steel, Ney's column advanced, driving before 
it the Russian chasseurs of the guard and 
several regiments of cavalry and Cossacks 
who were jilaced in advance, and had en- 
deavored to check its progress. At the same 
time Victor's corps advanced from the second 
line to the ground originally occupied by 
Ney; forty pieces of artillery, under the 
connnand of General Lenarmont, belonging 
to Victor's corps, were pushed on 400 paces 
further, on to a rising ground, and thence 
poured incessant and deadly volleys over the 
whole Russian hne, effectually preventing any 
succors being sent to the left, wliich was 
tlireatened by Ney. 

Ney's column assailed that portion of the 
enemy's army with such vigor that it was 
shaken everywhere ; tlie loud shouts of his 
soldiers were heard along the whole line; 
their advanced guards were close to Fried- 
land, and they were upon the point of storm- 
ing the towTi, and completing tlie ruin of the 
enemy by gaining possession of the bridges 
in hi^ rear. At tliis critical moment, the 
Russian Imperial Guard, which was placed 
in reserve behind the artificial lake, to the 
north of Friedland, was ordered to advance. 
Eagerly rushing forward with fixed bayo- 
nets, the Russians charged down upon Ney's 
column, in front and flank, with such vigor 
that it was penetrateil, and, after a most 
furious hand-to-hand conflict, in which both 
sides sustained prodigious loss, driven back. 
Still fighting fiercely, Ney's men retired, 
eagerly followed by the Russians, until they 
reached the reserve under Victor. The 
ground wliich the combatants had traversed 
was strewn with the dead and dying, and 
the soil was deluged with blood. But sup- 
ported by Victor's corps, Ney's soldiers made 
a stand, and the Russians, borne back by the 
united bodies, re-trod the ground which they 
had so gallantly won, and fresh victims en- 
cumbered the soil so fiercely contested. 
Dumont's division pressed on in hot pursuit, 
and Lenarmont's terrific battery advanced, 
jilaying without intermission on the crowded 
ranks of the retiring Russians, who were 
thrown into such confusion as they entered 
Friedland, that the leading French divisions 
determined to hazard an assault. The 
French soldiers poured into the town, and a 
.bloody battle raged in the streets. Soon the 
Russians were expelled ; the principal build- 
ings were set on fire, and some of the fiigi- 
tives, after crossing the river, apphed the 
torch to the bridges. In a few moments 
they were enveloped in flames, and clouds of 
smoke shrouded the whole field of battle like 
a funeral pall. Meanwhile, the Russians on 
the center and right, kept their ground under 
a terrible cannonade, which told with fatal 
effect on tlie dense masses, wliich, from the 



FRONTIERRA— GAZA. 



269 



limited extent of the ground, were there 
accumulated between the front and the river. 
At the retreat of the left wing and the 
guards, however, their flank was uncovered, 
and the left of Oudinot's grenadiers assailed 
them on that point with great vigor ; but at 
that moment the Russian cavalry galloped 
■ forward at full speed, and charged the French 
with such fury, that they were trampled 
down and destroyed. The Russian infantry 
now advanced in the center, and poured in a 
destructive flanking fire upon the enemy, 
which effectually covered the retreat of their 
cavalry, who had so gallantly repulsed the 
French grenadiers. But now the flames of 
Friedland and the bridges were seen to arise, 
and the vast volumes of smoke which filled 
the atmosphere told that their retreat was 
cut off, and success hopeless. Despair filled 
their ranks. But with courage unshaken, 
they united the fronts of their battalions, and 
closed the ranks of the soldiers, and present- 
ed an unbroken front to the enemy. The 
French artillery, approaching to half cannon- 
shot distance, plowed through this dense 
array, while their infantry threw in incessant 
and destructive fires of musketry. Slowly 
and in solid order the Russians retired, un- 
broken and unshaken, in spite of the fearful 
storm of grape and bullets which swept 
through their ranks. From their rear they 
kept up an incessant fire upon the pursuing 
enemy, and vigorously repelled the repeated 
charges of the French grenadiers. At length, 
amid incessant discharges of grape and mus- 
ketry, the Russians reached the bank of the 
river at a fordable point, and commenced the 
passage. The death-dealing missiles of the 
Frencia continued to shower among the fugi- 
tives wading through water, breast liigh, to- 
ward the opposite shore, which they finally 
gained with the greater part of their artil- 
lery. 

The slaughter, during this terrible passage. 



was immense. Two Russian divisions, im- 
patient of the slow progress at the ford, and 
unable longer to endure the incessant show- 
ers of musketry and gi'ape, threw themselves, 
sword in hand, into Friedland, and endeavor- 
ed to open a passage, with fixed bayonets, to 
the bridge. A bloody conflict ensued ; but 
with the desperation of despair, the Russians 
forced tl>eir way through the burning houses, 
to the water's edge. There, however, they 
found the bridge destroyed. Turning, tliese 
brave men fought their way back through 
the French masses, and with sadly diminish- 
ed numbers, reached the ford, and during the 
darkness of night plunged into the stream. 
Many, missing the fords, were drowned; 
others were slain by the balls of the enemy, 
and only a bleeding remnant reached their 
companions on the opposite shore. The 
French army, wearied with the strife, reposed 
on the bloody field which they had won. 
Such was the battle of Friedland, which, at 
one blow, destroyed tlie powerful league of 
Prussia and Russia against the Emperor of 
France. It was speedily followed by the 
peace of Tilsit, by which Russia lost no terri- 
tory, but Prussia was obliged to surrender 
nearly half her dominions. The losses of the 
Russians were great. Eighteen thousand 
men had fallen, either killed or wounded, and 
five hundred were made prisoners. Five 
thousand of the wounded, and eighty pieces 
of cannon, fell into the hands of the victors. 
The French lost 8,000, killed and wounded. 

FRONTIERRA, a.d. 1663.— In the year 
1663, a confhct took place near Frontierra, in 
Portugal, between the Spaniards and Portu- 
guese. The former were defeated with great 
loss. 

FUENTES DE ONORE, a.d. 1811.— 
This small town, sixteen miles west of Ciu- 
dad Rodrigo, in Spain, was the witness of 
several bloody conflicts, in 1811, between 
the French and EngUsh troops. 



G-AZA, B.C. 312.— The city of Gaza stands 
about two miles from the Mediterranean Sea, 
in Palestine, about 48 miles from Jerusalem. 

In the year 312 B.C., a battle was fought 
on the plains of Gaza, between the forces of 
Ptolemy, one of Alexander's generals, who 
had declared himself King of Egypt, and the 
army of Demetrius. After an obstinate bat- 
tle the troops of Demetrius were at length 
compelled to fly. He lost 5,000 men killed, 
8,000 made prisoners, and all his tents, treas- 
ures and equipage. 

Gaza is one of the strongholds of Egypt, 
and was besieged by Alexander the Great, 
in the year 332 b.o., for two months. Upon 



his arrival before the city, Alexander found 
it strongly garrisoned, and under the com- 
mand of Betis, one of the eunuchs of Darius. 
Betis was a brave man and loyal to his sov- 
ereign, and defended the city against Alex- 
ander, with great vigor; and although he 
employed every art of war, and notwith- 
standing his soldiers fought with the utmost 
intrepidity, he was forced, however, to re- 
main two months before it. Alexander, dur- 
ing the siege, received two wounds, and ex- 
asperated at the obstinate resistance of the 
garrison, he resolved to treat the governor, 
the inhabitants and the soldiers with a bar- 
barity wholly inexcusable. He caused 10,000 



260 



GEMBLOUX— GERMANTOWN. 



men to be cut to pieces, and sold all the rest, 
with their women and children, into slavery. 
Betis, the governor of Gaza, was taken in 
one of the last assaults. Alexander was 
either angry or jealous at the courage with 
which he had seen him face death, and or- 
dered him to appear before his tlirone : 
" "Wretch !" cried he, " tliou shalt not die 
sword in hand, as thou didst hope ; expect 
to suffer all the torments vengeance can con- 
trive." To imitate Achilles, who dragged 
the body of Hector three times round the 
walls of Troy behind his chariot, he ordered 
the unfortunate Betis to be pierced through 
the heels and to be fastened to a chariot, 
which he drove round the walls of Gaza; 
thus depriving the brave governor of the 
little life left by his wounds. 

Second Siege, a.d. 633. — Amrou, com- 
mander of the Saracens, presented himself 
before Gaza, in the year 633 of the Christian 
era. The governor of the place haughtily 
asked him, in an interview, what brought 
him into Syria ? " The order of God and of 
my master," replied Amrou. They soon pro- 
ceeded to action: the troops of Gaza were 
cut to pieces; Amrou took the governor 
prisoner, and Gaza opened its gates to him. 

Third Siege, a.d. 1799. — The French, un- 
der Bonaparte, besieged and took Gaza, in 
the Egyptian expedition ; but as there is no 
striking circumstance to give interest to the 
siege, save that it was prosecuted by Bona- 
parte, the "modern Alexander," we shall 
content ourselves with recording the fact. 

GEMBLOUX, A.D. 1794.— In. 1794, a bat- 
tle took place near Gembloux, a village of 
Belgium, between the French and the Aus- 
trians, in wliich the latter were signally de- 
feated. 

GERMANTOWN, a.d. 1777.— This place 
was formerly on(3 of the suburbs of Philadel- 
phia, Pennsylvania, but it is now included 
witliin the chartered Umits of the city. 

After its defeat, on the banks of the Bran- 
dywine, the American army, numbering 
about 10,000 men, under Washington, re- 
treated toward Philadelphia, and encamped 
at Germantown. Tiie British army (consist- 
ing of 12,500 men), the next day after the 
battle, marched toward Chester, on the Del- 
aware, a.s if with the intention of surprising 
Philadelphia. Washington, as soon as his 
soldiers were rested, crossed the Schuylkill, 
and advanced to oppose Howe. On the 16th 
of September, Howe arrived at Goshen, and 
there received intelligence that the Amer- 
icans were approaching to give him battle, and 
were already within five miles of Goshen. 
Both armies immediately prepared for action; 
but a violent storm of rain suddenly arose 
and prevented an engagement. Washing- 
ton again crossed the Schuylkill at Parker's 



Ford, and encamped on the banks of Skippack 
creek, near its entrance into Perkiomy creek, 
about twenty-three miles north-west from 
Philadelphia. But as this movement left the 
troops of Smallwood, who had been ordered 
to hang on the flank and rear of the British 
army, too much exposed to be surrounded 
by the enemy, Washington detached General 
Wayne, with his division, to the rear of the 
British army, with orders to form a junction 
with Smallwood ; and to seize every occasion 
to annoy the enemy. The British army, 
owing to the severity of the weather, did not 
pursue the enemy, but halted at Tryduffin, 
The British spies informed Howe that Gen- 
eral Wayne, with 1,500 men, was lying in 
the wood in the rear, at no great distance 
from the left wing of his army. 

The British general determined to dislodge 
Wayne at once. Accordingly on the night 
of the 13th, he detached general Gray with 
about 2,000 men, foot and horse, to surprise 
the enemy. Gray performed his duty with 
prudence and activity. Conducting his men 
silently through the woods, he arrived unob- 
served by the enemy, at about one o'clock 
in the morning, before Wayne's incampment. 
The American pickets were captured without 
alarming the camp, and the British troops 
rushed in upon the sleeping soldiers. The 
camp was thrown into a state of the utmost 
confusion and terror. In the darkness of 
the night, suddenly awakened by the furious 
onslaught of the enemy, cliilled by cold, 
and overcome by fatigue, the Americans were 
capable of making but Httle resistance. The 
slaughter was terrible ; and the whole corps 
must have been cut off, if Wayne had not 
preserved his coolness. He rallied a few of 
his troops, and received the charge of the 
enemy, with vigorous discharges of musketry, 
keeping the British at bay, until his terrified 
soldiers had made their escape. He then in 
good order withdrew his httle band from the 
field. Three hundred Americans were slain, 
and all their baggage, stores and arms fell 
into the hands of the victors. The British 
loss was trifling. Having thus secured his 
rear, Howe determined to force the enemy 
to a general battle, or to push them at such 
a distance from Philadelphia, as would allow 
him to cross the Schuylkill, and take pos- 
pession of that city. Washington to prevent 
this retired with his army and encamped at 
Pottsgrove (now Pottstown) 20 miles above 
Morristown, Howe receiving intelligence of 
this movement on the part of the Americans, 
wheeled his army, and marching down the 
Schuylkill, crossed that river at Flatland and 
Gordon's Fords. The British army reached 
the left bank of the river on the night of the 
23d of September, and was thus placed be- 
tween the city of Philadelphia and the Amer- 



GERMANTOWN. 



261 



ican army. Washington now abandoned all 
hope of saving Philadelphia from the enemy ; 
and on the 26th of September a detachment 
of the British army entered that city. The 
main body of the army encamped in German- 
town. The Americans, in order to prevent 
the British fleet from communicating with 
the troops in the city, erected works and 
batteries, on Mud Island, in the Delaware, 
near the junction of the Schuylkill, and also 
constructed a fort on the opposite shore of 
New Jersey, at Red Bank. In the channel 
of the river between these batteries, they 
sunk several machines for the purpose of ob- 
structing the passage of the fleet. They also 
were constructing extensive works, at Bil- 
lingsford on the Jersey shore. The British 
were well aware of the importance of a free 
communication with the sea, by means of 
the Delaware ; and two regiments were sent 
to put an end to the operations of the Amer- 
icans at BiUingsport, and other points on the 
Delaware. The expedition was so successful 
that the Americans were obUged to abandon 
their works at BiUingsport ; and the British 
succeeded in removing the obstructions from 
the river so that a narrow passage was opened 
for their fleet. The two regiments returned, 
after their expedition to Chester, where they 
joined another which had been sent from 
Germantown, that they might all together 
form a sufiicient escort for a large convoy of 
prisoners to the camp. Advised of the weak- 
ened state of Howe's army in consequence 
of the detachment of these divisions, Wash- 
ington, who had not left his position at Skip- 
pack creek, resolved to attack the main body 
of the army at Germantown. In the mean 
time his army had been augmented by the 
junction of the troops from PeekskUl on the 
Hudson, and a body of Maryland miUtia. 
The village of Germantown consisted of 
buildings standing on either side of a single 
street, extending a distance of two miles. 

The British hne of incampment crossed 
the village at right angles, at about the cen- 
ter, the left wing extending to the west to 
the Schuylkill. The left wing was covered in 
front by the German chasseurs, mounted and 
dismounted, and the right wing by a battalion 
of light infantry and the Queen's rangers, also 
in front. The center was posted in the town 
and was guarded by the 40th regiment, and 
a battahon of light infantry stationed about 
three fourths of a mile in advance. Wash- 
ington called a council of officers, and it was 
decided that SulUvan and Wayne's divisions, 
flanked by Conway's brigade, should enter 
the town by the way of Cliestnut Hill, to at- 
tack the English center, while the Pennsyl- 
vania militia, under General Armstrong, 
should get upon the enemy's left flank and 
rear, by falling down the Manatawny road. 



The divisions of Greene and Stephens flanked 
by MacDougal's brigade were to make a cir- 
cuit toward the east by the Limekiln road, 
and enter the town at the market-house to 
attack the left flank of the right wing. The 
Maryland and Jersey militia, under Small- 
wood and Forman, were to advance along 
the old York road, and attack the rear of 
the right, and the brigades of March and 
Maxwell, were to be held in reserve. Hav- 
ing made these dispositions, Washington on 
the 3d of October, left his camp at Skippack 
creek, and advanced toward the enemy. It 
was about seven o'clock in the evening. Par- 
ties of cavalry were sent on with orders to 
scour the country silently, and arrest every 
individual who might give notice to the ene- 
my of the threatened danger. Washington 
accompanied the column of SuUivan and 
Wayne, in person. The march was per- 
formed in the utmost silence. At about 
three o'clock in the morning the British 
pickets at Chestnut Hill, discovered the ap- 
proach of the Americans; the alarm was 
given ; the troops were called to arms, and 
each man took his post with the haste of 
surprise. The Americans came up at about 
sunrise. At seven o'clock General Conway 
attacked the British pickets, and drove them 
back to the main body of their army. Con- 
way closely followed, and fell upon the 40th 
regiment and the battalion of light infantry. 
A sharp conflict ensued; but the British 
were soon overpowered and driven back in 
disorder into the village. The victors pur- 
sued eagerly, and furiously assaUed the Brit- 
ish center, under Colonel Musgrave. Mus- 
grave finding his troops unable to cope with 
the enemy, tlu-ew themselves with five com- 
panies of the 40th regiment into a large and 
strong stone house (Judge Chew's, situated 
near the head of ttie village), whence he 
poured upon the Americans such a terrible 
fire of musketry that they were checked. 
The Americans repeatedly endeavored to 
storm this unsuspected covert of the enemy ; 
but they met with such a determined resist- 
ance fi-om its defenders that their efforts were 
fruitless. The fire of the small arms was in- 
effectual. At length cannons were brought 
to bear upon the house by the artillery regi- 
ment of Maxwell's brigade; but such was 
the courage of the English, the violence of 
their fire, and the strength of the house, that 
they were unable to dislodge them. Mean^ 
while, General Greene had approached the 
British right wing, and after a shght engage- 
ment routed the Queen's rangers and the 
fight infantry. Then turning a little to his 
right, he attacked the left flank of the ene- 
my's right wing, and endeavored to enter the 
village, feeling assured that the Pennsylvania 
militia, under Armstrong, on the right, and 



262 



GHUZNEE— GIBRALTAR. 



the militia of Jersey and Maryland, com- 
manded by Siuallwood on the \ei\, would 
have executed \Va.shiugluns orders by at- 
tacking and turning the first the left, and the 
secouifthe right flank of the British army, 
but neither of these detachments did their 
duty. The former arrived witliin sight of the 
German chasseurs, but did not attack them, 
the latter did not appear on the field until it 
was too late. General Gray, finding his left 
flank secure, marched with nearly the whole 
left wing of the British army, to the assist- 
ance of the center, which was upon the very 
point of defeat, notwithstanding the unex- 
pected resistance of Colonel Musgrave. The 
battle in Germantown no\v raged furiously ; 
and the issue for a time was doubtful. The 
British general, Agnew, was killed while gal- 
lantly charging at the head of the 1st brigade. 
A detachment of Greene's column, under 
Colonel Matthews, advanced to the eastward 
of the house occupied by Musgrave, and as- 
sailed a party of English, with such fury 
that they were driven into the village, leav- 
ing over 100 prisoners in the hands of the 
Americans. Matthews was about entering 
the town, but bewildered by a fog which be- 
gan to form at daylight, and which was so 
tliick that the contending parties could not 
see each other, he was unable to resist the ex- 
tremity of the right wing of the enemy, which 
finding they had nothing to apprehend from 
the Maryland and ISTew Jersey militia, sur- 
rounded him and his men, and attacked him 
so fiercely that the prisoners were rescued. A 
terrible conflict ensued amid the gloom. 

The Americans received the attacks of 
their foes with desperate courage, and it was 
not until the most of his officers and men 
were killed, that Matthews found himself 
obUged to surrender, with his bleeding rem- 
nant of about 100 men. This circumstance 
enabled the two regiments of the British 
right wing to throw themselves into German- 
town, and to march to the reUef of Mus- 
gravj in the center. They attacked and de- 
feated a body of Americans who had at that 
moment entered Germantown. The patriots 
then hastily retired from the village, taking 
their artillery with them ; but leaving tlie 
ground behind them strewn with the corses 
of their countrymen. General Gray, now 
being absolute master of the town, flew to the 
succor of his left wing, which was engaged 
with the left of Greene's column. Sullivan's 
division, with Armstrong's division of North 
Carolinians, and part of Conway's brigade, 
having driven the enemy before them into 
the center of Germantown, f jund themselves 
alone, and surrounded b}' foes. Tiieir am- 
munition was expended, and through the fog 
they could see the forces of the enemy grad- 
ually drawing around them. The troops 



suddenly became panic-stricken, and fled 
hastily. The divisions of Greene and SulUvan 
were the last -to quit the field, and their re- 
treat was gallantly covered by Count Pulaski 
and his legions. Thus the Americans aban- 
doned to the EngUsh the prize of victoiy 
when another moment might have placed it 
witMn their grasp. The battle of German- 
town lasted two hours and forty minutes, and 
Avas one of the bloodiest and most obstinate 
conflicts of the American revolutionary war. 
The Americans lost 152 killed, 521 wounded, 
and 400 made prisoners. Among the prison- 
ers were fifty-four officers. The British lost 
100 killed, and 400 wounded. Among 
the slain were Brigadier General Agnew, 
an officer of rare merit, and Lieutenant 
Colonel Bird. The American army saved all 
its artillery, and the same day retreated to 
their former camp on Skippaek creek. Al- 
though defeated when victory appeared on 
the point of declaring in their favor, the 
American generals were not blamed by their 
countrymen. 'On the contrary. Congress 
passed a vote of thanks to Washington for 
his wise and well-concerted attack upon the 
enemy's army near Germanto\vn, and to 
" the officers and soldiers of the army for 
their brave exertions on that occasion." 

GHUZNEE, A.D. 1839.— On the 23d of 
July, 1839, Ghuznee, a fortified city of Afl- 
ghanistan, was stormed and taken by the 
British under Lord Keane. In 1842, it was 
besieged by the Aflghans, and the English 
garrison surrendered, but in the same year it 
was retaken by the English under General 
Nott. 

GIBRALTAR, a.d. 1799.— This famous 
fortress, belonging to Great Britain, stands on 
the west side of a mountainous promontory, 
or rock, in the south part of Spain, adjoining 
the narrowest part of the strait of Gibraltar, 
connecting the Atlantic and Mediterranean. 
The rock is from a quarter to three quarters 
of a mile in breadth. Its north side fronting 
the long, narrow isthmus, which connects it 
with the main land, is perpendicular, and 
wholly inaccessible ; the east and south sides 
are steep and rugged, and extremely difficult 
of access, so as to render any attack on them, 
even if they were not fortiQed, next to im- 
possible ; so that it is only on the west side, 
fronting the bay, where the rock dechnes to 
the sea, and the town of Gibraltar is built, 
that it can be attacked with the slighest pros- 
pect of success. Here, however, the strength 
of the fortification is such, that the fortress 
seems impregnable, even though attacked by 
an enemy having command of the sea. The 
fortifications are of extraordinary extent and 
strength. The principal batteries are all case- 
mated, and traverses are constructed to pre- 
vent the mischief that might ensue from the 



GIBRALTAR 



263 



explosion of shells. Vast galleries have been 
excavated in the solid rock and mounted with 
heavy cannon; and communications have 
been estabhshed between the diiferent bat- 
teries, by passages cut in the rock, to protect 
the troops from the enemy's fire. In fact, the 
whole rock is hned with the most formidable 
batteries, from the water to the summit, and 
from Land Gate to Europa Point, by which 
name the southern extremity of the rock is 
designated ; so that if properly victualed and 
garrisoned, Gibraltar may be said to be 
impregnable. Gibraltar, the Caepe of the 
Greeks, formed with Abyla, on the African 
coast, "the pillars of Hercules." Its name 
was changed to Oihel Tariff or mountain of 
Tarif, in the beginning of the eighth century, 
when Tarif Eben Zarca landed with a large 
army to conquer Spain, and erected a strong 
fortress on the mountain side. During the 
Moorish occupation of Spain, it increased in 
importance, but was at length taken by Fer- 
dinand, King of Castile, in the fourteenth 
century. It was soon recaptured, and did 
not become an appendage to Spain till 1462. 
Its further history, till its conquest by the 
English in 1704, is unimportant. During the 
war of the Spanish succession, the English 
and Dutch fleets, under Sir George Rooke 
and the Prince of Hesse-Darmstadt, attacked 
the fortress, wliich surrendered, after some 
hours' resistance. The Spaniards, during the 
nine following years, vainly endeavored to 
regain it; and in 1713 its possession was se- 
cured to the English by the peace of Utrecht. 
In 1727 the Spaniards blockaded it for several 
months without success. The most memor- 
able, however, of the sieges of Gibraltar, is 
the last, begun in 1779, and terminated in 
1783. The British garrison was commanded 
by Sh Wihiam Elliot, afterward Lord Heath- 
field. A powerful combined French and 
Spanish fleet was collected, to co-operate in 
the attack, which excited an extraordinary 
interest throughout all Europe. 

On the 21st of June, 1779, all communica- 
tion was cut off between Gibraltar and the 
surrounding country, and the fort was block- 
aded by the middle of the following month. 
Fortunately, in the early part of the year, 
General Elliot, who had recently been ap- 
pointed governor, had arrived in the fort, and 
brought to the crisis the aid of his superior 
military science and talents. A supply of 
provisions had also been recently received. 
The firing commenced on the 21st of Sep- 
tember, when a cannonade was opened from 
the fort which did much damage to the be- 
siegers' works, yet the blockade daily became 
closer ; suppUes could no longer be stealthily 
introduced ; provisions were extremely dear ; 
disease spread rapidly. The besiegers com- 
menced firing on the 12th of January, 1780. 



By the end of March, the garrison was 
cheered by the arrival of a supply of provis- 
ions, brought in by Admiral Rodney, who 
had made his way bravely, in spite of the 
efforts of the enemy to prevent him. After 
this, the garrison and town's people were re- 
peatedly reduced to great extremities before 
provisions arrived. In the spring of 1781, 
the besiegers completely destroyed the town 
by the fire of their batteries. On the 27th 
of April, however, a most gallant exploit was 
performed by a party from the garrison, who 
succeeded in reducing to ashes all the erec- 
tions of the enemy. These, however, being 
repaired, the firing recommenced, and for 
more than a year was maintained incessantly. 
But the grand effort was to be made by the 
besiegers in the year 1782. In spite of the 
formidable batteries on the rock, the bold, if 
not extravagant project, was entertained of 
attempting to silence them by the fire of ten 
enormous floating batteries, ingeniously con- 
structed by the Chevalier d'Arcon. If the 
besiegers were active, the besieged were no 
less so. In the course of the same year, on 
the suggestion of General Boyd, the enemy's 
fire was returned from the rocks with red-hot 
balls, a device which was found to produce 
the most striking effect. The enemy, how- 
ever, now prepared for their grand effort. On 
the 12th of September the combined fleets 
of France and Spain arrived in the bay ; next 
morning they were drawn up around the 
south and west sides of the promontory, a 
most formidable armament, consisting of 
forty-seven sail of the line, seven of which 
were three-deckers, together with ten batter- 
ing ships, the strongest that had ever been 
built, and many frigates and smaller vessels. 
On land there lay an army of 40,000, with 
batteries on which were mounted 200 pieces 
of heavy ordnance. On the other side, the 
garrison now consisted of about 7,000 effect- 
ive men. The ships were permitted to take i 
their stations without molestation, but about 
a quarter before ten o'clock, as soon as the 
first of them dropped anchor, the citadel be- 
gan to pour upon them its hitherto reserved 
artillery. Now commenced a scene of terri- 
ble sublimity. 400 pieces of the heaviest 
ordnance tfiundered without intermission, 
and filled the air with smoke and flame. For 
several hours the attack and defense were so 
well supported as scarcely to admit any ap- 
pearance of superiority in the cannonade on 
either side. The wonderful construction of 
the ships seemed to bid defiance to the pow- 
ers of the heaviest ordnance. In the after- 
noon, however, the face of things began to 
change considerably. The smoke, which had 
been observed to issue from the upper part of 
the flag-ship, appeared to prevail, notwith- 
standing the constant appUcation of water; 



264 



GISORS— GRANADA. 



and the admiral's second was observed to be 
in the same condition. Confusion was now 
apparent on board several of the vessels ; and, 
by the evening, their cannonade was consid- 
erably abated. About seven or eight o'clock 
it almost entirely ceased, excepting from one 
-or two ships to the nortliAvard, which, from 
their distance, had suffered very Uttle injm-y. 
In the end, the attack concluded in the 
complete anniliilation of the assailing squad- 
ron. All the larger ships were beaten to 
pieces or burned. As night approached, groans 
and signals of distress from those on board 
the shattered navy supplied the place of the 
now slackened fire. Many of the wretched 
men were struggling for hfe in the waters ; 
and the victors themselves at last put out to 
their assistance, and picked numbers of them 
up. The loss of the enemy was supposed to 
amount to about 2,000, including prisoners. 
Of the EngUsh, there were only sixteen 
killed and sixty-eight wounded. The rock 
was a much better defense than those strong- 
built men of war. The assailants had 300 
pieces of orduance in play ; the garrison only 
eighty cannon, seven mortars, and nine how- 
itzers. Captain Drinkwater in his interesting 
history of the siege, states that upwards of 
8,300 rounds, more than half of which were 
hotshot, and 716 barrels of powder, were ex- 
pended by the Enghsh artillery. 

GISORS, A.D. 1198.— Gisors is a town of 
France, and is situated on the Epte, in the 
department of Eure, thirty-three miles north- 
east of Evreux. Here, in the year 1198, a 
battle was fought between the armies of En- 
gland and France. Philip, King of France, 
had marched from Nantes with three hun- 
dred kniglits, their esquires, and a large body 
of cavalry, for the purpose of raising the 
siege of Courcelles; but Courcelles had al- 
ready surrendered, and he was met by the 
English army, under Richard I., on the road 
to Gisors. After a sharp engagement, the 
French fled to that fortress; the bridge 
broke under the weight of the fugitives, and 
the king, with twenty knights all in armor, 
was precipitated into the river Epte. All, 
save the king, perished. Philip was extri- 
cated with difficulty, and owed his safety to 
the devotion of his followers, who gallantly 
turned on the pursuers, and renewed the 
battle, till all were either taken or slain. 
Forty barons, one hundred knights, and a 
hundred and forty chargers, covered with 
armor, were the reward of tlie victors. 
Richard, in a circular letter, communicated 
the news to his friends in England, and 
boasted with scornful complacency, that he 
had made the King of France drink of the 
waters of the Epte. The parole of Richard 
for the day was " Dieu et mon droit" (God 
and my right), and from this time it was 



made the motto to the royal arms of En- 
land. 

GLADSMUIR, a.d. 1745.— The battle of 
Gladsmuir, known, also, as that of Preston- 
pans, took place in the year 1745, near Pres- 
tonpans, in Haddington county, Scotland, 
between the royalist army and that of the 
Pretender. The battle was fought partly in 
Gladmuir, a parish four miles west of Had- 
dington, whence the name. 

GLENLIVIT, A.D. 1594.— GlenUvit, a vH- 
lage of Scotland, in 1594 was the scene of a 
l)loody conflict between the adherents of the 
Earls of Huntley and of Argyle. The battle 
was characterized by all that brutality and 
vengeful hatred which only civil warfare can 
arouse. Both parties fought with equal ardor, 
but at lengtli the army of Argyle was de- 
feated with great loss. 

GOREY, A.D. 1798.— The battle of Gorey 
was fought on the 4th of June, 1798, between 
the forces of the King of England and the 
Irish rebels. The royalists were defeated 
with considerable loss. The king's forces, 
after losing several pieces of cannon, retreat- 
ed to Gorey, and afterward to Arklow, 
abandoning both towns, the insurgents being 
nearly 20,000 strong. 

GRAMPIAN HILLS, a.d. 79.— The bat- 
tle of the Grampian Hills was fought in the 
year 79, between the Scottish army, under 
Galgacus, and the Picts, under Agi-icola. 
The battle was fought on a single hill, the 
^lons Grampius of Tacitus, whence these lulls 
derive their name. 

GRANADA, a.d. 1491.— Ferdinand V., 
King of Arragon, besieged Boabdil, the last 
king of the Moors of Granada, in his capital, 
with an army of 50,000 men. Granada, sur- 
rounded by a double wall, fortified by 1030 
towers, had two citadels, one of which 
served as a palace for the king. An army 
of 30,000 Moors was within the walls; it 
had an immense and warlike population, and 
magnificent stores of munitions and pro- 
visions seemed to render it impregnable. 
Ferdinand did not attack Granada according 
to the usual system of sieges ; he employed 
neither lines, nor trenches, nor artillery; he 
surrounded his own camp with walls and 
works. His sole aim was to starve the 
enemy, and make himself master of all the 
passages ; he rooted up the trees, he burned 
the houses, and in a moment changed a 
dehghtful territory into a dry and arid desert. 
The garrison endeavored to make sorties, but 
it was overwhelmed by numbers, and always 
proved unfortunate. The Saracens flattered 
themselves that the rigors of the winter 
would oblige the Christians to depart; but 
their hopes were disappointed. Ferdinand's 
camp became a fortified city, furnished with 
solid fire-proof houses. The Moors saw with 



GRANICUS. 



265 



grief that nothing could discourage the Cas- 
tilians. The rigors of famine began to be 
felt, and cold augmented both public and 
private misery. In this extremity it was 
determined to treat vrith Ferdinand, and 
they consented to surrender if not relieved 
within sixty days. Scarcely had the Moor- 
ish king signed the treaty, than he repented 
of it; tlie thoughts of descending from his 
throne plunged him into the deepest grief, 
and yet he did not dare to retract, so great 
were the evils that surrounded liim. His 
army could not endure the idea of submitting 
to the Christians, and the inhabitants inces- 
santly implored the assistance of God and 
Mahomet. Suddenly an Alfaique excited 
the people to revolt ; at his voice 20,000 men 
took arms. Boabdil required all his elo- 
quence to restore order ; he pointed out to 
them, with tears in his eyes, that if they pre- 
ferred hfe to a certain death, they were 
bound by the stern necessity of observing the 
capitulation. The sedition was appeased, but 
the pubhc despair was so great that the king 
of the Moors, dreading to see it renewed, 
hastened to surrender aU his forts, and to re- 
pair to the camp of the conqueror. Thus, 
after a duration of 762 years, terminated the 
domination of the Moors in Spain. — Robson. 

Washington Irving, in his history of the 
Conquest of Granada, has given a detailed 
account of this siege. We can not too highly 
recommend the perusal of this Work to our 
readers. 

GRANICUS, B.C. 334.— The Granicus is a 
narrow, deep, and rapid stream in northern 
Asia, originating in the northern slope of the 
range of Ida, and running a north-east course 
of forty geographical miles to the Propontis, 
now called the sea of Marmora. Its modern 
name is the Oostrala. Its western banks are 
reported by travelers to be high, steep, and 
rugged. 

In the year 334, B.C., Alexander arrived 
on the banks of the Granicus. His army 
consisted of a little more than 30,000 foot, 
and four or five thousand horse. They were 
all brave men, well disciplined, and inured to 
fatigue. On the opposite side of the river 
was stationed the Persian army, which 
Darius, upon hearing that Alexander was 
about to invade his country, had sent thither 
to intercept his progress. The Persian army 
numbered 100,000 foot, and upward of 
10,000 horse. The cavalry was posted along 
the shore in a line, forming an extended front 
to oppose the Macedonians should they 
attempt to pass the river. The two armies 
remained in sight of each other a long time, 
as if dreading the event. At length, Alex- 
ander, impatient at the delay, took the com- 
mand of the right wing of his army, and 
placing the left under the command of Par- 



menio, plunged into the stream. The trum- 
pets sounded, and setting up a shout which 
seemed to rend the very air, his troops 
leaped into the river after him. Surrounded 
by the flower of his army, thirteen troops of 
horse, Alexander madly buffeted the rushing 
current, and made rapid progress toward the 
enemy. The Persians hurled down multi- 
tudes of arrows upon the Macedonians, but 
they heeded them not. They gained the 
opposite bank, and forcing their way up its 
slippery sides, they engaged the Persians 
hand to hand. The Macedonians, as they 
landed, were somewhat disordered, for the 
Persian cavalry attacked them as fast as 
they landed, making good use of then- spears, 
and when those were broken, of their 
swords. Alexander himself was sorely 
pressed. The white waving ^ume which 
ornamented the crest of his helmet, and his 
brilliant buckler, rendered liim most conspic- 
uous. A javelin was thrust through his 
cuirass at the joint, but he escaped uninjured. 
Immediately afterward he was attacked at 
once by two distinguished Persian officers, 
Rhoesaces and Spithridates. With great 
address he avoided Rhoesaces, and received 
Spithridates with such a blow upon his 
breast^plate that it broke in pieces. He 
now drew his sword to dispatch him ; but at 
tliis very moment Rhoesaces rushed upon 
him, and raising himself up on his horse, 
uplifted his battle-axe, and with all his 
strength, dealt a blow at Alexander, which 
cut off his plume and crest, and penetrated 
tlirough the helmet even to the hair. He 
was upon the point of repeating the blow, 
when Clitus, with one stroke of his sword, 
cut of Rhoesaces's hand, and thus preserved 
the life of his monarch. The Macedonians, 
excited to madness at the sight of the immi- 
nent danger of their leader, pushed against 
the Persians with redoubled vigor. At 
length the center of the Persian cavalry 
began to give ground, and immediatiely the 
two wings were broken and put to flight. 
Alexander did not pursue them far, but 
turned about to attack the Persian foot, 
which was engaged with his infantry. The 
Persians who had received the first attack of 
the Macedonians with firminess, upon the 
arrival of Alexander and his cavalry, instant- 
ly turned and fled. The Grecian infantry in 
Darius's service alone remained. This body 
of men made a stand upon an eminence, 
and demanded from Alexander a promise to 
let them march away unmolested. But in 
his rage, Alexander would not Usten to rea- 
son, and instantly rushed with his troops into 
the mass of the Greeks, crying out to his 
men to spare none of the enemy. 

The Greeks made a vigorous resistance. 
Alexander's horse (not Bucephalus), was 



26G 



GROCHOW— GUILFORD COURT-HOUSE. 



killed with the thrust of a sword. The battle 
raged so hot around him that more Macedo- 
nians were killed in this struggle than in all 
the rest of the battle. The Greeks were well 
disciplined soldiers, and had been thorouglily 
inured to war. Their desperate condition 
caused them to fight with an energy almost 
superhuman; but crushed by the superior 
numbers of their enemies, they were all cut 
to pieces except 2,000, who were taken pris- 
oners. A great number of the Persian 
commanders lay dead on the field. 20,000 
foot, and 2,500 horse were kiUed in this en- 
gagement, on the Persian side, while the 
Macedonians lost only 22 of the royal horse 
which were killed at the first attack ; 60 of 
the other cavalry, and about 30 foot, who 
the next day were all laid in one grave. To 
do honor to the memory of the 25 horsemen 
who were slain Avhile fighting near his person, 
Alexander afterward caused a statue of each 
in brass to be erected in a city of Macedon, 
called Dium. He also sent to the Greeks 
presents out of the spoils, that they miglit 
nave their share of the glory of the day. To 
the Athenians in particular he sent 300 
bucklers. Upon the rest of the spoils ho 
caused the following glorious inscription to 
be inscribed : " Alexander, the son of PhUip, 
with the Greeks (the Lacedgemonians ex- 
cepted) won these spoils from the Barbarians 
who inhabit Asia." See battles of Issvs and 

GROCHOW, A.D. 1831.— Grochow is a 
village of Poland, three miles south-east of 
Warsaw. A battle occurred at tliis place on 
the 19th of February, 1831, between the 
Russian army, under Diebitch, and the Poles 
under Rodziwill. The forces on either side 
were nearly equal ; but the Russians had a 
great superiority iu artillery. The Poles 
fought with the most heroic resolution, and 
although toward evening they lost a few 
hundred yards of ground, yet when the firing 
ceased their ranks were unbroken, their cour- 
age unsubdued, and they had lost neither 
prisoners, cannon, nor standard in the fight. 
They lost in killed and wounded about 4,000 
men; the Russians lost 5,000. The battle 
of Praga soon followed. See Warsaw. 

GUAMANGA, A.D. 1824.— The battle of 
Guamanga, in Peru, was fought in 1824 be- 
tween the troops of Sucie and the Spaniards. 
The Spaniards were defeated, and with their 
defeat, Spanish rule in South America was 
termiu;ited. 

GUILFORD COURT-HOUSE, a.d. 1781. 
— This place is situated in Guilford co., N. C, 
and on the 15th of March, 1781, was the 
scene of one of the most sanguinary and 
bloody conflicts of the American revolution- 
ary war. 

The southern States were the field of the 



most important operations in the revolu- 
tionary war, during the campaign of 1781. 
On the 30th of October, 1780, General Greene 
was appointed commander-in-chief of the 
southern army, in place of General Gates. 
He took command on the 2d of December, 
and with the main body of the American 
army, took post at Cheraw, east of the Pedee. 
General Morgan was sent with about 1,000 
men, to occupy the country adjacent to the 
junction of the Pacolet river. The British 
army was stationed between the two di- 
visions of the army of the enemy. Corn- 
wallis, the English commander, detached 
Tarleton to attack Morgan. The battle of 
Cowpens followed, in which the British were 
defeated. Learning of the defeat of Tarle- 
ton, Cornwallis, having destroyed his heavy 
baggage, marched with the main body of his 
army, to intercept Morgan, who was pusliing 
forward with his prisoners toward Catawba, 
with the intention of entering Yirginia. 
Morgan, however, succeeded in crossing the 
Catawba, and arrived on the banks of the 
Yadkin, where he was joined by General 
Greene with his escort. On the 3d of Feb- 
ruary, 1781, Cornwallis arrived on the western 
bank of the Yadkin, almost at the moment 
when the Americans had gained the opposite 
shore. A sudden rise of the river prevented 
the British general from crossing; and the 
Americans continued their retreat. Had the 
river been in a passable condition, tlie troops 
of Morgan would have fallen an easy prey 
to their more numerous enemies. The British 
finally crossed the river and pressed on in 
pursuit. Greene arrived at Guilford Court- 
House where he was joined by the main 
body of liis army from Cheraw ; and the 
united army continued its fliglit. The British 
army pursued the retreating enemy as far as 
the Dan, when, upon finding that the waters 
of this river were so much swollen by tlie 
late rains that they were unable to cross, 
CornwalUs abandoned tlie chase, and moving 
southward, established his camp at Hills- 
bourough, in North Carolina. AiYer allowing 
liis troops a sufficient length of time for re- 
pose, Greene, on the 23d of February, re- 
crossed the Dan in order to prevent Corn- 
wallis from embodying the loyalists of the 
country under his banners. Colonel Lee 
with his cavalry scoured the country and 
effectually foiled the efforts of Tarleton, who 
was recruiting in the vicinity of the Haw 
and Deep rivers. Greene's army at this time 
consisted of about 5,000 men ; and feehng 
strong enough to cope with Cornwallis, he 
resolved to give him battle. On the 12th of 
March he crossed the Haw and Reedy Fork, 
and ineamped in battle array near Guilford 
Court-House. 

Cornwallis, meanwhile, had advanced from 



GUILFORD COUET-HOUSF. 



267 



Deep Keep river, toward the American army. 
The reconnoitering parties of both armies 
went out in all directions. These parties 
frequently met, and sharp skirmishes ensued 
with various success. The legions of Lee 
and Tarleton fell in witli each other in one 
of these excursions, and a fierce and bloody 
conflict ensued. Lee had the advantage at 
first ; but on Tarleton's receivmg reinforce- 
ments he was obhged to retire. These skir- 
mishes were merely the prelude of the battle 
which was soon to follow. The British army 
consisted of about 3,000 men, English and 
Hessians ; all tried soldiers, well armed and 
eager to avenge the defeat of Cowpens. The 
ground from Guilford Court-House, south- 
ward, falls abruptly to a broken vale, which 
is intersected by a small stream. At the 
time of the battle, there were many clearings 
around the court-house ; and the great Salis- 
bury road, which leads to the court-house, 
was hned on either side by a forest of oaks. 
In this forest, and near the court-house, on 
the 15th of March, was stationed the Amer- 
ican army, awaiting the approach of the 
enemy. General Greene's order of battle 
consisted in three divisions ; the first, com- 
posed of the North CaroUna militia, under 
Generals Butler and Eaton, was jDosted near 
the foot of the hill, upon the fore-edge of the 
forest, behind a fence. The second division 
was composed of the Virginia militia, under 
the command of Generals Stevens and Law- 
son ; the right flank of Stevens, and the left 
flank of Lawson resting on the road. This 
line was formed in the woods, parallel to the 
first, and about 800 yards behind it. The 
tliird division comprised the regular troops, 
under General Huger and Colonel Wilhams. 
They were stationed in the plain which ex- 
tended from the forest to the court-house. 
Two six-pounders, under the direction of 
Captain Singleton, were planted in the road 
a little in advance of the first line ; and two 
other pieces of artillery were placed on an 
eminence, near the court-house. Colonel 
Washington, with liis dragoons, Kirkwood's 
Delaware corps, and Lynch's riflemen, flanked 
the right wing, and Colonel Lee, with some 
hght infantry and Campbell's dragoons, the 
left. At about twelve o'clock, the British 
army, under General CornwaUis, approached 
the court-house. As the troops defiled fi-om 
SaUsbury road into the open plains, they 
presented a magnificent spectacle. The sun 
shone clear and unclouded upon their scarlet 
uniforms and glistening accoutrements, and 
the music of their martial band was wafted 
across the fields to the ears of the Americans. 
Like a huge piece of mechanism they obeyed 
the orders of their ofiicers, and formed for 
the approaching battle. The right wing of 
the first fine was composed of an English 



regiment and Bose's Hessian regiment, under 
General Leslie ; the left of two Englisli regi- 
ments under Colonel Webster. A battalion 
of Guards acted as a reserve to the right 
wing ; and General O'Hara's corps to the left. 
The royal artillery under McLeod, and the 
grenadiers, advanced in close order along the 
I'oad in the center. Tarleton was posted on 
the road with liis legion ; but he had received 
orders not to move until the infantry, after 
having carried the forest, should have pene- 
trated to the plains beliind it, where cavalry 
could operate to advantage. As the British 
advanced, the Americans opened a brisk can- 
nonade upon them, which they returned 
with equal vigor. The cannonade continued 
about half an hour, when Singleton fell back 
with his guns to the first Hne. Upon this 
the British, leaving their artillery behind, 
rushed forward toward the Nortli Carolinans, 
who were lying behind the fence at the 
verge of the wood. The Carohnians allowed 
them to approach within a proper distance, 
and then began to fire. The British replied 
with one volley, and gallantly rushed forward 
to the charge. The North Carolinians dis- 
played the deepest cowardice. They turned 
and fled in the direst confusion, although not 
a man had been injured by the enemy's fire. 
Their ofiicers vainly endeavored to rally 
them ; but like frightened sheep they darted 
through the woods, nor ceased their shame- 
ful flight until beyond the reach of danger. 
The dastardly conduct of the troops of the 
first line, was a death-blow to the fortune 
of the Americans on that day; but the 
remainder of the army did their duty 
wefl. General Stevens, with liis gallant 
Virginians, made a noble stand. Opening 
his ranks to allow the fugitives to pass, he 
reclosed them, and received the charge of 
the British without flinching. A furious 
conflict ensued ; but the Virginians were at 
length obhged to give way, and fell back 
upon the regular troops. The British left, 
under Lieutenant Colonel Webster, now ad- 
vanced and assailed the American left. The 
Virginians under Stevens and Lawson sup- 
ported on the right by Colonel Washing- 
ton and his dragoons, maintained a bloody 
struggle with Webster's troops. Washington 
having sent Lynch's riflemen to attack Web- 
ster in flank, O'Hara, with the British grena- 
diers and the 2d battahon of Guards, ad- 
vanced to Webster's support. The 33d regi- 
ment, by Webster's orders, wheeled upon 
Lynch; and O'Hara's troops appearing at 
the same moment, a combined bayonet 
charge was made against the whole Virginian 
line, breaking it and forcing it back. Web- 
ster pressed forward and fell fiercely upon 
the regular troops near the court-house. The 
Mary landers, supported by the Virginians 



268 



GUNDAMUCK— HAAELEM. 



under Howe, and Kirkwood's men of Dela- 
ware, maintained their ground valiantly. The 
struggle was fearful. At length the British 
troops recoiled before the furious assaults of 
the enemy, and Webster fell back across a 
ravine, where he ^waited the arrival of the 
remainder of his hne. In a few moments 
Lieutenant Colonel Stuart, with the first 
battahon of Guards, and two other corps, 
advanced and attacked tlie second Maryland 
regiment, under Colonel Ford. The Mary- 
landers were supported by Captain Finley 
with two six-pounders. The second Maryland 
regiment, far from emulating the valor of the 
first, fell back at the very first charge of the 
enemy, leaving the two pieces of artillery in 
the hands of the British. Stuart pressed for- 
ward in pursuit of Ford's men, when Colonel 
Gunby, with his Continentals, turned upon 
him with the utmost fury. A bloody strife 
ensued. Lieutenant Colonel Wasliington at 
this moment came up with his cavalry and, 
impetuously chargiag the royalists, put them 
to flight, cutting most of them down, and 
recapturing the two pieces of cannon. 
Washington's charge was a bloody one. Like 
an avalanche that compact body of horse cut 
its way thi'ough the midst of the British, 
strewing the ground on every side with dead 
and dying. Deeds of personal valor and 
prowess were performed on that occasion, 
which are without parallel in history. One 
of Washington's troopers, Francisco, a gal- 
lant Virginian, cut down eleven men in suc- 
cession with his broadsword. 

One of the British Guards, with a bayonet 
thrust, transfixed Francisco's leg to his horse. 
The Virginian at first did not strike, but as- 
sisted the assailant in drawing forth the 
weapon ; no sooner, however, was his limb 
released, than with hghtning speed he 
brouglit down his terrible blade, and split the 
soldier's head in twain. And every man in 
that gallant band emulated the daring bravery 
of the Virginian. Stuart himself was slain 
by Captain Smith, of the first Maryland regi- 
ment; and the whole of his corps would 
have shared his fate, had not CornwaUis ad- 
vanced from his post, on the Salisbury road, 



and covered their retreat by a brisk fire of 
artillery. The cannon-ball plowed through 
friends and Ibes, for the fire was directly in 
the face of the fugitives as well as of the pur- 
suers; but it produced the desired effect. 
Wasliington's pursuit was checked, and with 
Howard he withdrew to the line of the con- 
tinentals. Webster now recrossed the ravine 
and attacked the troops of Howe and Kirk- 
wood. Another English regiment fell upon 
their left at the same time, and Colonel 
O'Hara, who, though seriously wounded, 
kept his saddle, succeeded in rallying tlie 
remnant of the Guards, and cemented the 
center between the left and right wings. All 
these movements were made so opportunely 
that Stuart's disaster was promptly repaired. 
The American regulars had to sustain, un- 
supported, the whole weight of the action, and 
Greene, convinced that there was no hope of 
success, and not wishing to risk the annihila- 
tion of his army, determined on a retreat be- 
fore it was too late. Mean while the conflict 
on the British right, between the Hessians, 
under Bose, and the militia in the left wing 
of the American army, was maintained with 
various success; but at length Tarleton ad- 
vanced to the support of the Hessians, and by 
one vigorous charge succeeded in breaking 
and dispersing the militia, who sought shelter 
in the wood. The main body of the Amer- 
ican army retreated in good order. The 71st 
and 23d British regiments, with Tarleton's 
cavalry, commenced a pursuit; but they 
were soon recalled. Thus terminated the 
battle of Guilford Court-House. The battle 
lasted nearly two hours. The Americans 
lost, in killed, wounded, and missing, about 
1,300. The British lost 600 killed and 
wounded. Four pieces of cannon fell into 
the hands of the royalists. 

GUNDAMUCK, a.d. 1842.— Gundamuck, 
in Affghanistan, was, in the year 1842, the 
scene of a terrible massacre. The last sur- 
vivors of the British army retiring from Ca- 
bool, were attacked and butchered by the 
Affghans. Only one man escaped. Ninety- 
nine soldiers and 300 camp-followers were 
slain in cold blood. 



HAARLEM, a.d. 1572.— Haarlem, a city 
of the Netherlands, was besieged by the 
Spaniards, under Toledo, a son of the Duke 
of Alva, in the year 1572. The besieged 
made a most spirited resistance, and after 
holding out for seven months, were upon the 
point of making a desperate sortie, as a for- 
lorn hope, when Alva offered them terms of 
capitulation. The Dutch accepted; but no 
sooner had the Spaniards entered the town 



than, regardless of the terms of capitulation, 
they commenced an indiscriminate slaughter 
of the inhabitants. Over 2,000 persons, in- 
cluding the Protestant ministers, the garrison, 
and many of the ministers, were either put to 
the sword or tied in couples, neck and heels, 
and thrown into the lake of Haarlem. Alva 
was probably instigated to these barbarities 
by the obstinate resistance with which his 
troops had met from the inhabitants. The 



HALLE— HANAU. 



269 



Dutch had fought with such stubborn valor 
that, before the Spaniards gained by dishonor 
that wliich they could not win by force, they 
had lost over 10,000 men. 

HALLE, A.D. 1806.— Halle, a town of 
Prussian Saxony, situated on the river Saale, 
IS miles north-west of Leipsic, was, on the 
17th of October, 1806, the scene of an obsti- 
nate battle between a body of the Prussians, 
14,000 strong, commanded by the Duke of 
Wirtemberg, and the French troops, under 
Marshal Bernadotte. The battle resulted in 
the total defeat of the Prussians, who sustain- 
ed a heavy loss in killed and wounded. Four 
thousand prisoners and thirty pieces of can- 
non fell into the hands of the victors, whose 
loss did not exceed 1,200 men. 

HALLIDON HILL, a.d. 1333.— At Hal- 
hdon HUl, near Berwi(;k, in Scotland, was 
fought, in the year 1333, a bloody battle by 
the Scots and EngUsh. The English army, 
under Edward III., had laid siege to the city 
of Berwick, which was defended by a strong 
garrison under Sir William Keith. Douglass, 
the regent of Scotland, had assembled a large 
army on the frontiers ready to penetrate into 
England; but being informed that the garri- 
son at Berwick was reduced to such extrem- 
ities, that it was about to capitulate, unless 
speedily succored, he hastily advanced with 
liis army to the rehef of that important 
fortress. He attacked the English at HaUi- 
don Hill, a httle north of Berwick; and 
thougji liis heavy-armed cavalry dismounted 
in order to render the action more steady 
and desperate, they were received with such 
valor, by Edward, and were so galled by the 
Enghsh archers, that they were soon thrown 
into disorder. At the death of Douglass, 
their general, they were completely routed. 
The whole army fled in confusion ; and the 
EngUsh gave little quarter in the pursuit. 
All" the Scottish nobles were either slain or 
made prisoners ; near 30,000 Scots fell in the 
action ; while the loss of the English amount- 
ed only to 15 men, of whom there was 1 
knight, 1 esquire, and 13 private soldiers; an 
inequality almost incredible. 

HALYS, B.C. 585.— The Scythians, for the 
space of 28 years after expelling the Medes 
from the country, were masters of upper 
Asia. The Medes, determined to regain their 
lost possessions, invented a deadly scheme to 
destroy the Scytliians. Under pretense of 
strengthening and cultivating the alliance 
they had made together, they invited the 
greater part of the Scythians to a general 
feast, which was made in every family. Each 
master of the feast made his guests drunk, 
and wliile in that condition they were mas- 
sacred. The Medes then repossessed them- 
selves of the provinces they had lost, and 
once more extended their empire to the 



banks of the river Halys. The remaining 
Scythians, who were not at the feast, fled 
into Lydia, to King Halyattes, who humanely 
received them. This occasioned a war be- 
tween that prince and Cyaxares, King of the 
Medes. Many battles were fought, during 
the space of five years, with almost equal 
advantage on both sides. The battle which 
closed the war was fought in tlie sixth year, 
on the banks of the Halys, and was highly 
remarkable on account of an extraordinary 
event which happened during the struggle. 
While the battle was at its height, the com- 
batants on both sides were terrified by a sud- 
den eclipse of the sun, clmnging the bright- 
ness of day into the darkness of night, in one 
moment. Both parties considered this phe- 
nomenon a sign of the anger of the gods, 
and immediately dispersed and fled from the 
field. Shortly afterward peace was declared 
between the two nations. 

HAMPTON, A.D. 1813.— On the 25th of 
May, 1813, 2,500 British troops, under Ad- 
miral Cockburn and General Beckwith, made 
a descent on Hampton, a small fisliing town 
by Hampton Eoads, in Virginia. The Ameri- 
can riflemen and militia stationed there, 
made a brave resistance, but were finally 
obliged to retreat before superior numbers. 
The little town was then literally sacked. 
The houses of private citizens were rifled; 
churches were despoiled, and women violated 
in open day. England may well blush for 
the excesses and brutaUties of her soldiers 
on this occasion. 

HAMPTON'S DEFEAT, A.D. 1813.— Early 
on the 21st of October, 1813, G-eneral Hamp- 
ton, with the American troops under his 
command, entered Canada at the junction of 
the Chateaugay and Outard rivers ; but al- 
though he had 4,000 effective infantry, 2,000 
miUtia, and 10 guns, he was so vigorously 
and gallantly resisted by the frontier light 
infantry of the Canadians, not 600 in number, 
under Colonel De Salabery, who fought with 
the steadiness of veteran soldiers in their 
woods, that after three days' desultory fight- 
ing, he was driven with disgrace back into 
the American territory, pursued and harass- 
ed by the Canadian miUtia. — Alison. 

HANAU, A.D. 1813.— Hanau is situated 
on the river Kinzig, in Germany, near its 
junction with the Maine, eleven miles east 
of Frankfort. At this town, on the 30th of 
October, 1813, Napoleon, on his retreat from 
Leipsic, gained a decisive victory over a very 
superior force of Bavarians, and otlier allied 
troops under Wrede. 

On the 15th of October, the Bavarian array, 
under Marshal Wrede, which was stationed 
at Braunau, opposite to the Austrian corps 
under the Prince of Reuss, joined itself to the 
latter force, and both united, set out in the 



270 



HANAU. 



direction of Frankfort on the Maine, for the 
purpose of impeding Napoleon's progress 
toward France. The whole allied army con- 
sisted of three divisions of Bavarian infantry, 
and two brigades of cavahy, of that state ; and 
two divisions of Austrian infantry, and one of 
cavalry, in all numbering nearly 00,000 men. 
Wrede marched with such expedition that on 
the 27th he arrived at AschafTenburg, where 
he established his head-quarters. Having de- 
tached 10,000 men to Frankfort, on the 29th 
he took post in the forest of Hanau, stationing 
Ids troops across the great road, and blocking 
up entirely the retreat of the French army 
to Mayence, where the army of the French 
emperor, on the road from Erfurth, was grad- 
ually approaching the Maine. It numbered 
in all about 80,000 combatants ; but of these 
nearly 40,000 were stragglers ot- so far in the 
rear as to be of no value in the coming shock. 
Napoleon's artillery numbered only 200 pieces; 
but they were, for the most part, the artillery 
of the Gruard, second to none in Europe for 
vigor and efficiency. The French soldiers 
were animated to a man with the utmost 
courage and resolution, for they panted with 
the desire to reach France, and they knew 
that they would be compelled to win every 
foot of soil at the sword's point. "VVrcde, 
stretching his line across the high-road, lead- 
ing from Hanau to Frankfort and Mayence, 
completely stopped the way, and soon came 
into communication with the Cossacks of 
Cheruicheff and Orloff DenizofF, who hovered 
around the outskirts of the French army. 
Having formed this junction, the Bavarian 
general arranged his troops in order of battle 
in front of the town. The right wing of his 
army rested on the Kinzig, and the left in 
echelon, on the road from Erfurth to Frank- 
fort. Sixty pieces of cannon were planted 
in the center, between the bridge of Geln- 
hausen over the Kinzig, and the great road, 
to play on the advancing columns of the en- 
emy, when they attempted to debouch from 
the forest of Lambroi. That great tract of 
wood extends for about six miles in breadth 
toward Erfurth, and is composed of old oaks 
of enormous size, whose aged stems some- 
times rise out of close thickets of underwood, 
at others overshadow with their spreading 
boughs beautiful vistas of green sward, where 
numerous herds of swine feed on the acorns. 
The vanguard of the allied army was posted 
at Ruckingen, with orders to retire from that 
post, as soon as it was seriously attacked, 
and fall back to the main body of the army, 
which was drawn up across the great road 
in the plain which lies between the town of 
Hanau and the forest of Lamboi. The battle 
began on the forenoon of the 30 th. The 
French columns, preceded by a cloud of 
tiralleurs, advanced in dense masses — the ar- 



tillery following the great road, the light 
troops spread out in the thicket and green 
sward on either side — and soon a warm fire 
began in the forest. The dark recesses of the 
Avood were illuminated by the frequent flashes 
of the musketry ; the verdant alleys were 
hastily traversed by files of armed men, and 
the action began Uke a magnificent hunting 
party in the forest of Fontainebleau. Victor 
and Macdonald's corps, now reduced to 5,000 
combatants, headed the advance, and with 
some difficulty made their way through the 
wood to the plain beyond it ; but when they 
came there, and endeavored to deploy on its 
south-western skirts, they were crushed by 
the concentric fire of 70 pieces of cannon, 
which stood before the allied line, and for 
four hours the French army was unable to 
clear its way through the narrow plain which 
lay between the forest and the banks of the 
Kinzig. During this period, however, the 
guards and the main body of the French 
army had time to come up ; and Napoleon 
immediately ordered a general attack on the 
enemy. General Curial, with two battalions 
of the Old Guard, dispersed as tiralleurs, were 
brought forward to the front, and began to 
engage the Bavarian sharp-shooters; the 
hardy veterans soon gained ground and won 
not only the issues of the forest, but part of 
the Httle plain, scattered with vales, which lay 
beyond ; and to the space thus won the ar- 
tillery of the Guard, under Drouot, was im- 
mediately brought forward. This adniirable 
officer commenced his fire with 15 guns; 
but they were gradually augmented to 50, 
and soon acquired a decided superiority over 
the batteries of the enemy, whose artillery, 
though more numerous, returned the fire 
feebly. Under cover of Drouot's terrible 
fire, Nansoty and Sebastiani, debouched with 
the cavalry of the Guard, and by a vigorous 
charge overtlirew every thing that was op- 
posed to them. Wrede, seeing his danger, 
collected his cavalry, and the Bavarian horse 
and squares endeavored to rally behind 
ChernichefF's Cossacks ; but the Russian dra- 
goons were unable to withstand the thun- 
dering charges of the French cuirassiers, and 
the point-blank discharges of the Guard, and 
the whole left wing of the allies gave way 
and fled toward the Kinzig, leaving the plain 
between the river and the wood, and the 
road to Frankfort, open to the enemy. As a 
last resource the Bavarian general made an 
effort on his right; but Napoleon quickly 
pushed forward two battalions of the Old 
Guard, who arrested his advance ; and Wrede 
despairing of success, withdrew the shattered 
remains of his army behind the Kinzig under 
the protection of the cannon at Hanau. 
During this vehement conflict Napoleon him- 
self was exposed to imminent peril. He was 



HANGING KOCK— HASTINGS. 



271 



Walking backward and forward on the Ligh- 
Way, near a bend which the road makes in 
the depths of the forest, conversing with 
Caulaincourt, when suddenly a bomb fell 
near them in a ditch bordering tlie highway. 
Caulaincourt instantly stepped between the 
emperor and the dangerous missile, and they 
continued their conversation as if nothing had 
happened. The attendants of the emperor 
hardly dared to breathe ; but the bomb had 
sunk so deep in the ditch, that it was prevented 
from bursting. 

Meanwhile fresh troops were continually 
coming up from the rear, and the recesses 
of the wood swarmed with soldiers, car- 
riages, and cannon. On all sides the forest 
resounded with the echoes of the artillery ; 
cannon-balls crashed through the gnarled 
branches of the oaks, and, when Wrede made 
his last desperate effort, the combatants ap- 
peared so near that their cries were distinctly 
heard, and the bullets whistled through the 
branches of the trees, agitating their tops as 
in a hurricane. The repulse of that attack 
opened the road to Frankfort. During the 
night after the battle, the French army defiled 
without intermission on the great road by 
"Wilhelmstadt, whence it was moved by 
Hochstadt on Frankfort. Marmont, with a 
part of the army, was left before Hanau, in 
order to protect the march of the rear guard 
under Mortier, which was still on the other 
side of the forest. At two o'clock in the 
morning of the 31st, Marmont began to bom- 
bard the town of Hanau, and with such 
effect that it was speedily evacuated by the 
Austrian garrison, and immediately taken 
possession of by the French forces. Having 
secured this iwint cCappui, Marmont attacked 
the right wing of the alUes posted behind the 
road to jischaffenberg, with such vigor, that 
it was forced to give way, and thrown back 
in disorder on the Maine, where it must 
have inevitably been destroyed, if the Guards 
and cuirassiers of the French army had been 
at hand to support the advantage. They had, 
however, in the mean time, passed on toward 
Frankfort. Marmont, consequently, fell back 
toward Hanau. Wrede, stung to the quick 
by his recent disaster, followed Marmont 
hastily, and at the head of his troops assaulted 
the town. In the conflict which ensued 
AVrede was severely wounded, and his troops 
were driven back with great loss. The com- 
mand of the allied army now fell upon Gen- 
eral Tresnel, who, rehnquishing all hope of 
inflicting further injury on the French army, 
withdrew his troops toward the Kinzig. 
Marmont then took up his march toward 
Frankfort, where he was joined the same 
night by Llortier with the rear guard. At 
the battle of Hanau, the allies lost 10,000 
men, of whom 4,000 were prisoners. The 



French lost 4,000 men in killed and wounded. 
This victory completely opened the route of 
the French army to France. 

HANGING-ROCK, a.d. 1780.— This bat- 
tle derives its name from a peculiarly shaped 
rock in Kershaw District, South Carolina, near 
wliich it took place. It was fought on the 
7th of August, 1780, between the British 
troops, under Colonel Brown, and the Amer- 
ican militia under Sumter, and resulted in 
the defeat of the British. The Americans 
lost twelve killed and forty-one wounded. 
The British loss was considerably greater. 

HARLEM PLAINS, a.d. 177G.— On the 
16th of September, 1776, a British force came 
in collision with a body of Americans, at the 
mouth of a deep rocky gorge which extends 
from the southern extremity of Harlem 
Heights a Uttle to the north • of the city of 
New York. The conflict was brief but severe. 
The British were driven back across the 
plain; but Wasliington, fearing an ambush, 
ordered a retreat, and the Americans returned 
to their camp on Harlem Heights. The 
British lost in tliis affair eighteen kOled and 
ninety wounded. The American loss was 
trifling. See hattle of White Plains. 

HASTINGS, A.D. 1066.— Hastings, cele- 
brated in history as the spot near which was 
fought the decisive battle between the Nor- 
mans and English, is a town of England in 
Sussex county, and is pleasantly situated in a 
vale, surrounded on every side, except to- 
ward the sea, by romantic hills and cliffs. 
On one of these hills are banks and trenches 
supposed to have been constructed by Wil- 
ham the Norman, during his contest with 
Harold II. 

On the 29th day of September, 1066, 
William, Duke of Normandy, arrived at 
Hastings with an army of disciplined vet- 
erans, and laid claim to the English crown. 
His forces consisted of 60,000 men, all 
equipped in the most warUke and splendid 
manner. No sooner had he landed in En- 
gland than he sent back his fleet to Normandy, 
in order to leave no retreat for cowardice. 
Soon after his arrival at Hastings, he pub- 
lished a manifesto declaring the motives that 
induced him to undertake this enterprise. 
But Harold was resolved to defend his right 
to the crown, and to retain that sovereignty 
which he had received from the people, who 
only had a right to bestow it. His army was 
composed of active and vahant troops in high 
spirits, strongly attached to their king, and 
eager for battle. William's troops on the 
other hand, consisted of all the flower of the 
continent, and had been long inured to 
danger. The men of Bretagne, Boulogne, 
Flanders, Poictou, Maine, Orleans, France 
and Normandy, were all voluntarily united 
under lus command. Endand never before 



272 



HASTINGS. 



saw two such armies drawn up to dispute its 
crown. 

Tlie (lay before the battle, William sent an 
oDFer to Harold to decide the quarrel between 
them by single combat, and thus to spare the 
blood of thousands ; but Harold refused, and 
said he would leave it to the God of armies 
to determine. Both armies, therefore, that 
night, pitched their camps in sight of each 
oth(;r, expecting the dawning of the next 
day with impatience. The English spent the 
night in riot, jollity, and disorder, the Normans 
in devotion and prayer. The next morning, 
at seven o'clock, the duke called together the 
most considerable of his commanders, and 
made them a speech suitable to the occasion. 
He represented to them that the event wliich 
they and he had long wished for was ap- 
proaching : the whole fortune of war de- 
pended on their swords, and would be decid- 
ed in a single action ; that never army had 
greater motives for exerting a vigorous cour- 
age, whether they considered the prize which 
would attend their victory, or the inevitable 
destruction which must ensue upon their dis- 
comfiture. William next divided his army 
into three lines: the first, led by Mont- 
gomery, consisted of archers and light-armed 
infantry ; the second, commanded by Martel, 
was composed of his bravest battalions, 
heavy-armed, and ranged in close order ; his 
cavalry, at whose head he placed himself, 
formed the third line, and were so chsposed 
that they stretched beyond the infantry, and 
flanked each wing of the army. He ordered 
the signal of battle to be given; and the 
whole army moving at once, and singing the 
song of Roland, one of Charlemagne's bravest 
knights, the Normans advanced rapidly and 
orderly toward the enemy. 

Harold had taken advantage of a rising 
ground, and, having Ukewise drawn some 
trenches to secure his flanks, he resolved to 
stand upon the defensive, and to avoid all 
action with the cavalry, in which he was in- 
ferior. The men of Kent were placed in the 
van ; a post which they always claimed as 
their due : the Londoners guarded the stand- 
ard ; and the king himself, accompanied by 
his two valiant brothers, Gurth and Leofwin, 
dismounting, placed himself at the head of his 
infantry, and expressed his resolution to con- 
quer or to perish in the action. The Nor- 
mans began the fight with their cross-bows, 
which, at first, galled and surprised the En- 
glish, upon whose close ranks the arrows did 
great execution. But soon they came to 
close fight, and the English, with their bills, 
hewed down tlieir adversaries with great 
slaughter. Confusion was spreading among 
the Norman ranks, when William, who found 
liimself on the brink of destruction, hastened 
with a chosen baud to the relief of his forces. 



His presence restored the suspense of battle : 
he was seen in every place, endeavoring to 
pierce the ranks of the enemy, and had three 
horses slain under him. At length, perceiv- 
ing that the EngHsh line continued impen- 
etrable, he pretended to give ground ; which, 
as he expected, drew the enemy from their 
ranks, and he was instantly ready to take 
advantage of their disorder. Upon a signal 
given, the Normans at once returned to the 
charge, with greater fury than before ; they 
broke the Enghsh troops, ami pursued them 
to a rising ground. Now Harold flew from 
rank to rank, exhorting, entreating, and 
threatening his troops, and although he ha-l 
toiled all day, till near night-fall, in the front 
of his Kentish men, yet he still seemed un- 
abated in force or courage, keeping his men 
to the post of honor. Once more, therefore, 
the victory seemed to turn against the Nor- 
mans; and they fell in great numbers; so 
that the fierceness of this memorable battle 
was often renewed by the courage of the 
leaders, wheneverthat of the soldiers began to 
slacken. Fortune at length determined a vic- 
tory that valor was unable to decide. Harold, 
while making a furious onset at the head of 
his troops, against the Norman heavy-armed 
men, was shot in the brain by an arrov^; 
and his two valiant brothers, fighting by his 
side, shared the same fate. He fell with 
his sword in his hand, amid heaps of the 
slain, and, after the battle, the royal corpse 
could hardly be distinguished among the 
dead. From the moment of his death all 
courage seemed to forsake the Engli^i ; they 
gave ground on every side, and were pursued 
with great slaughter by the victorious Nor- 
mans. Thus, after a battle wliich was fought 
from early morning till sunset, the invaders 
proved successful, and the EngUsh crown 
became the conqueror's reward. Fifteen 
thousand Normans were slain in this battle. 
The EngUsh loss was somewhat greater, be- 
side the death of the king and his two 
brothers. The day after the battle, the dead 
body of Harold was brought to William and 
generously restored, without ransom, to his 
mother. The Norman army left not the 
field of battle without giving thanks to 
heaven, in the most solemn manner, for their 
victory : William, having refreshed liis troops, 
prepared to push to the utmost his advantage 
against the divided, dismayed, and discomfit- 
ed English. The battle of Hastings was fought 
on the 14th day of October, lOGG, and ended 
the Saxon monarchy in England, which had 
continued for more than 600 years. England, 
by this defeat of Harold, became subject to 
the Norman yoke ; and after his victory, a 
list was taken of WilUam's chiefs, amounting 
to 629, and called the "Battel Roll;" and 
among these cMefs the lands and distinctions 



HA^V— nEILSBERG. 



273 



of the followers of the defeated Harold were 
distributed. 

HAW, A.D. 1781.— This battle was fought 
between the American patriots, under Colo- 
nel Lee, and the royaUsts, under Colonel 
Pyle, on the 25th of February, 1781, near 
the river Haw, in North Carolina, two miles 
east of the AUamance, in Orange county, and 
resulted in the total defeat of the loyalists. 
The battle was of brief duration. Ninety 
loyahsts were slain, and their commander 
severely wounded. The Americans did not 
lose a single man. 

HEIDELBERG, a.d. 1622.— Heidelberg, 
a city of west Germany, has suffered severe- 
ly from hostile assaults. In 1G22, it was 
bombarded for a month, by the troops of the 
monster Tilly, who took it finally by storm, 
and gave his ferocious soldiers a three-days' 
license to pillage and destroy. The most 
abominable atrocities were committed. In 
1G88, the city was besieged by the French, 
under General Melac, acting under orders of 
Louis XIV. ; tliey took the town and burned 
it, and, with a ferocity equal to that of Tilly, 
Melac allowed his soldiers to perform deeds 
of the utmost cruelty and brutahty upon the 
persons and property of the inhalsitants. In 
1G93, it was again taken by the French, and 
the cruelties practiced upon the unfortunate 
inhabitants exceeded, if possible, all former 
atrocities. Our space hmits us to a mere 
mention of these circumstances. 

HEILSBERG, a.d. 1807.— Heilsberg ii 
situated on the AUe, in east Prussia, forty- 
one miles south-east of Kiinigsberg. 

On the 9th of June, 1807, the Russian 
army, after crossing the river Alle, and de 
stroying the bridges, safely intrenched them 
selves at Heilsberg, under cover of the most 
formidable fieldworks. Napoleon debated a 
long time belbre deciding upon the course of 
attack to pursue in regard to this large force 
of Russians. At length it was concluded to 
attack them in front, and on the 10 th of 
June preparations were made to that effect. 
A division was to make a front assault upon 
the camp, while Davoust and Mortier moved 
forward on the French left, to turn the right 
flank of the enemy, and tlu-eaten their com- 
munication with Konigsberg, where the latter 
had their ammunition. Tlie cavahy of Murat 
led the advance against the Russian intrench- 
ments, which were about ten miles from 
tliem ; bridges were hastily thrown over the 
river Alle, at various points; the corps of 
Soult, Lannes, Ney, and the infantry of the 
Guard, foUowed immediately after, on both 
sides of the river, to Heilsberg. The situation 
of Heilsberg was one of too much importance 
to be relinquished by Napoleon without a 
struggle. It was situated on a cluster of 
heights on both banks of the river Alle, of | 

18 



which the town covered a part ; it command- 
ed the roads of Wormditt, Mohlsack, and 
Landsberg, which intersected each other 
within the camp, and thus blocked up the 
access to Eylau and Konigsberg. The Russian 
hne might be considered unassailable as long 
as they held this position, and kept the course 
of the lower passage toward Braunsberg. But 
as soon as they were driven from the latter 
ground, their advantage was at end, as they 
were cut off from their depots of ammunition 
and suppHes. Their weakest point was the 
side on the left bank of the Alle, which was 
connected with the redoubt by four bridges. 
Here were assembled nearly 80,000 men, 
under cover of more than 500 pieces of can- 
non, in nine divisions, of which seven, under 
the Grand Duke Constantino, occupied the 
left bank of the river, and two, under Prince 
Gortchakoff, the right bank; while Kamen- 
skoi was stationed in the redoubts which cov- 
ered the front of the position. Napoleon on 
his left pushed General Dulaulay forward with 
forty pieces of cannon, and by the strength 
of his fire the enemy were weakened in some 
degree.' The divisions of St. Cyr and Le- 
grand, part of Soult's corps, with Murat's 
cavalry, advanced, about seven in the even- 
ing, by the villages of Sandem, Langwiesse, 
and Benermeken, to the attack of the ene- 
my's redoubts on the right bank of the river. 
These gallant men, as soon as they left the 
shelter of the ravine which had afforded them 
protection from the fire of the enemy, rushed 
forward with such fury that, in the first at- 
tack, the principal redoubt of the Russians 
was carried, with all the guns which it con- 
tained; while St. Hilaire, with his division, 
penetrated between that intrenchment and 
the neighboring works. The moment was 
one of importance, and the slightest wavering 
would have exposed the Russians to total 
ruin; but the men under Benningsen were 
equal to any emergency. The right wing of 
Prince Gortchakoff were ordered to charge 
instantly; and, with fixed bayonets, they 
rushed upon the two regiments which had 
taken possession of the redoubt, nearly de- 
stroyed them, and captured their eagles. 

Following up their success, the Russians 
burst out upon the plain between the woods 
and redoubts, and forced the division of Soult 
to give ground. With the steadiness of dis- 
ciphne, however, they retired in hollow 
square by echelon, wliich threw an incessant 
rolling fire upon their pursurers; the ap- 
proach of night gave the moving citadels the 
appearance of being surrounded by flame, 
while the intrenchments seemed a hne of 
volcanoes in tremendous eruption. The re- 
treat of St. Cyr and Legrand obliged St. 
Hilaire, who had penetrated to the foot of the 
redoubt, also to retire. Savary, with two 



274 



HELIOPOLIS. 



regiments of the Guard, and twelve guns, 
came up to cover his retreat, and was also 
surrounded. Tlie French retired to the cover 
of the woods, and narrowly escaped being 
made prisoners by the allied army, and the 
Russians were again withdrawn into their 
intrenchments. 

The incessant cannonade now ceased, and 
the cries of the wounded in the plain at the 
foot of the intrenchments, could be heard 
above the declining roar of the musketry. 
Information was received from a French de- 
serter, at eleven o'clock at night, that prepara- 
tions were making for a fresh attack. The 
Russians had hardly completed their arrange- 
ments, when, by the faint Hght of the even- 
ing, dark masses of the enemy were discern- 
ed, issuing from the woods, and advancing 
rapidly across the plain which divided them 
from the redoubt. Instantaneously the bat- 
teries opened upon them; they staggered 
under the discharge, but pressed on, with- 
out firing a shot; but when they came 
within reach of the musketry, the fire was 
so vehement that the heads of the columns 
were entirely cut off, and the remainder 
driven back with terrible loss. At length, at 
midnight, after fighting for twelve hours, the 
firing stopped, and in the narrow plain wliich 
divided the two armies, nothing could be 
heard but the groans of the wounded, who, 
hearing the battle would be renewed on the 
next day, were begging to be removed, or 
imploring death to put an end to their suf- 
ferings. A rain storm, in the early part of 
the night, diminished the suSbring of hosts 
of wounded of both parties, who lay mingled 
together on the plain. The Russians expected 
the attack would be renewed with the first 
approach of day, and accordingly stood to 
their arms ; but the morning passed without 
any movement on the part of the Frencli. 
As the light broke, the French were seen on 
the skirts of the wood in order of battle, but 
not on their well-appointed battahons and 
squadrons did the eye rest. A frightful spec- 
tacle lay between the two armies ; the space, 
about a quarter of a mile broad, and a mile 
in length, presented a sheet of naked human 
bodies, most of them dead, though the mo- 
tions of a few showed that life was not yet 
extinct. G,000 bodies were lying as close as 
they had stood in the ranks; during the 
night they had been stripped of every ar- 
ticle of clothing by the camp followers of both 
parties, and were ghastly pala, or purple with 
the blood which still flowed from their 
woun Is. By common consent, the interval 
of ho.-itilitles was employe<l in removing the 
wounded and burying the dead. 

Napoleon was disconcerted by tliis result 
of the action. The Russians still held their 
intrenchments ; twelve thousand French had 



fallen around the redoubts, without having 
gained one of them ; the ditches were filled 
with dead bodies, but none had been crossed. 
The Russians had lost 8,000 killed and 
wounded, and their loss was greater than 
the French, in proportion to the relative 
strength of their army. Napoleon knew too 
weU the strength of the enemy's position to 
venture to renew the attack ; he therefore 
resolved to compel them to evacuate it by 
assailing their flunk. Taking advantage of 
the arrival of Marshal Davoust's corps, he 
pushed it forward at noon, on the LandslDerg 
road, toward Eylau an'l Konigsberg. This 
alarmed Benningsen, yet he was not afraid 
of being forced in his intrenched position,~but 
feared being cut ofl^ from his supplies at 
Konigsberg, for on them the army depend- 
ed for daily sustenance. During tliis time, 
an order of Napoleon to Victor was inter- 
cepted, commanding him to attack Lestocq 
and the right wing of the aUies at all points, 
and push to Konigsberg. Benningsen, seeing 
the intentions of the French general clearly, 
gave orders to retreat. At nightfall the 
intrenched position was evacuated, and after 
marching all the night of the 1 1th, they estab- 
hshed themselves at daybreak in a position in 
front of Bartenstein, and the head-quarters 
were transferred to that place. Though a great 
part of their operations were performed in 
sight of the enemy, such was the awe in- 
spired by the battle of Heilsberg, that the 
French troops did not oppose their retreat. 

HELIOPOLIS, A.D. 1800.— Matarecyeh, 
an insignificant village of Lower Egypt, now 
occupies the site of the ancient city of Heh- 
opohs, the city of the sun. 

Kleber, who, in the year 1800, was com- 
mander of the European forces left in Egypt 
by Napoleon, had collected the scattered 
troops in one body, numbering some 12,000. 
On the night of the 19th of March, he drew 
up his army by moonUght, in four squares, 
in a plain in front of the ruins of HeliopoUs. 
In front were stationed the four squares, 
with artillery at the angles, and the cavalry 
at the intervals. The corners were doubled 
by companies of grenadiers, who were ready 
to be employed either in resisting an attack, 
or offensive movement. Every thing was 
conducted in the most quiet manner; the 
solemnity of the occasion had subdued the 
usual enthusiasm of the French army ; they 
seemed to feel that they must conquer or 
die. The Turks were encamped in the usual 
manner in confused masses, in the vicinity of 
El-Hanku. Six thousand janizaries lay in 
the vUlage of Matarecyeh, where they had 
thrown up some rude fortifications; their 
troops of horse, with the mamelukes of 
Abrahim Boy, extended on the right of that 
advanced guard as far as the banks of the 



HEMMINGSTED— HOBKIRK'S HILL. 



275 



Nile. Their whole force amounted to nearly 
50,000 men; but upon more than half of 
them no reliance could be placed, and tlie 
situation of the regular corps in the village 
of Matarecyeh gave rise to a hope that they 
might be cut off before the remainder of the 
army could come to their support. Accord- 
ingly, General Friant advanced before day- 
light directly toward that village, while 
Regnier, with his divisions, moved forward 
in front of HeUopoUs, to cut off communica- 
tions between the detached forces and the 
main army of the Turks. As soon as the 
janizaries found that the enemy were ap- 
proaching, tliey made a sally with their 
cimeters in their hands, and commenced a 
furious attack on the French squares. But 
their valor could not effect much against the 
steadiness and discipline of the European 
army. They were received in front with a 
terrible fire, and at the saine time charged in 
flank, while disordered by their rush forward. 
In a few minutes they were mown down, 
the ditches filled by the wounded, and the 
French grenadiers pressed forward over the 
mass of dead and dying, and scaled the 
works. The camp of the janizaries was im- 
mediately carried; all their ammunition, 
cannon, and tents fell into the hands of the 
victorious party ; and the few who fled to- 
ward the main army were cut down by the 
charges of the French cavalry. The grand 
vizier, as soon as he found that his advanced 
guard was cut off in such a manner, moved 
forward with his whole army, determined to 
avenge their loss. The French were resting 
from the fatigues of their first battle, when 
they discovered a cloud of dust in the east. 
It was the Ottoman army, still 40,000 strong, 
approaching to trample under the feet of 
their horses the small band which had the 
presumption to await their charge. In a 
moment the French formed in order of bat- 
tle; the troops were again drawn up in 
squares, Friant on the left, Regnier on the 
right ; the cannon filled the intervals between 
the masses ; the cavalry was immediately in 
the rear, to break through the first favorable 
opportunity. The cannonade was soon ex- 
tremely warm on both sides, but the balls of 
the Ottomans, owing to their ill direction, 
passed over the heads of the republicans, 
while the fire of the latter was fast dismount- 
ing their artillery, and even the staff of the 
grand vizier was nearly cut off by the furious 
tempest of bombs. Cut to pieces by the hail 
of bullets, the Turks prepared for a general 
charge. The concentration of standards 
along the whole hne gave warning to the 
French ; the sky was filled vpith dust ; the 
earth shook as if by an earthquake, and 
20,000 horsemen, at full gallop, rushed upon 
them. But nothing could break the firm 



array of the republicans. The enemy were 
received with a terrible discharge of grape- 
shot ; their front rank nearly all fell under 
the fatal fire; the rear turned around and 
fled, and in a few moments the splendid 
array had disappeared, without even the 
firing of a single musket by the French 
infantry. The vizier rallied his troops, and 
again brought them up to the assault, but 
they could not break through the flaming 
citadels and terrible fires of the French. 
Every ball took effect, and in a short time 
the carnage became intolerable, and the 
Ottomans fled in terrible confusion toward 
the desert. Kleber, following them, ad- 
vanced rapidly to El-Hanku ; the Turks fled 
the moment the French came in sight ; the 
whole army pressed forward, and before 
night, were in entire possession of the Otto- 
man camp, reposing in their tents amid all 
the luxury and magnificence of the East. 

HEMMINOSTED, a.d. 1500.— In the 
year 1500 a battle was fought near Hem- 
mingsted, a village of Denmark, between the 
inhabitants of the Ditmarshes and the army 
of the King of Denmark and the Duke of 
Holstein. The royal army consisted of 
30,000 men, while that of the opponents was 
a mere handfiil of men ; yet this Uttle band, 
raw and undisciplined, attacked the army of 
the duke, which seemed able to crush them 
by its very weight, with such impetuous 
valor, that the royal army was throvra into 
confusion and forced to fly, with great loss. 
This victory secured to the gallant conquer- 
ors their ancient hberties for fifty years ^ter- 
ward. 

HEXHAM, A.D. 1464.— Near the town of 
Hexham, in Northumberland, England, a de- 
cisive battle was fought on the 14th of May, 
1464, by the Lancasterians and the Yorkists, 
in which the latter were defeated and put to 
flight. The Duke of Somerset, Lords Ross 
and Hungerford, were taken in the pursuit, 
and immediately beheaded by martial law, at 
Hexham. Other noblemen were in like man- 
ner executed at Newcastle. All those who 
were spared in the field, suffered on the 
scaffold. 

HOBKIRK'S HILL, a.d. 1781.— Hob- 
kirk's Hill, is a high ridge overlooking the 
plains of Camden, about a mile from the city 
of Camden, in Kershaw District, S. C. 

In the early part of the month of April, 
1781, the British army, under Lord Rawdon, 
was in occupation of Camden ; and General 
Greene, with the American army, was march- 
ing from the scene of his recent defeat at 
Guilford Court-House, toward Camden. On 
the 19th of April, Greene descended the 
slopes of Hobkirk's Hill, and encamped at 
Logtown, within a half a mile of the city. 
The British army consisted of about 900 



HOBKIRK'S HILL. 



men ; that of the Americans mimbered 1,500. 
The British, however, had fortified their posi- 
tion so .strongly, that they did not fear an 
attack on the place. Greene perceiving that 
with his small force it would be folly to en- 
deavor to dislodge the enemy, withdrew his 
army from Logtown, and incamped at Hob- 
kirk's Hill. The American position was 
strong. Their front between the height and 
Camden was covered by a thick wood, and 
their left and rear by an impracticable marsh. 
Confident in the strength of their position, 
the Americans took but little care to guard 
against a surprise; and Lord Rawdon, who 
caused them to be watched attentively, and 
leai'ning that they had removed their artil- 
lery to some distance in their rear, resolved 
to attack them. Urgent circumstances com- 
pelled him to make this bold movement. 
His provisions were nearly exhausted, and 
he knew that the Americans were suspend- 
ing their attack until such reinforcements 
should arrive, as would insure success. Hav- 
ing armed the musicians, drummers, and 
every man in his army that was able to bear a 
musket, on the 25th of April he marched out 
of the city, and advanced toward Hobkirk's 
Hill. Unable to force his way through the 
wood, or marsh, he incUned his march to the 
right, toward Pine-tree creek, a small stream 
wliich rises near Hobkirk's Hill, and by making 
a large circuit, turned the swamp, and came 
down suddenly upon the left flank of the 
American line. The patriots were taken by 
surprise. Ignorant of the approaching dan- 
ger, they were employed in the various avo- 
cations of camp life; some washing their 
clothes, and others cooking their morning 
meal. General Greene and his officers were 
leisurely taking breakfast. The horses of 
Colonel Washington's cavalry were unsad- 
dled, and many of the troops were rcchning 
under the shade of the trees. It Avas a clear, 
warm morning, and the American camp pre- 
sented a scene of tranquilUty and ease. Sud- 
denly the camp was aroused by the firing of 
their pickets, Avhich were posted at about a 
quarter of a mUe from the camp. They had 
discovered the approach of the British, and 
gallantly received and returned the fire of 
the British van, and held them in check 
while Greene Ixjrmed his men for battle. 
The artillery corps, fortunately for the Amer- 
icans, had returned to the camp with their 
pieces, that morning. Greene's plan of at- 
tack was soon formed. Observing that the 
British marched in very close order, he re- 
ijolved to fall upon their two flanks. The right 
wing of the American line consisted of the 
Virginia brigade, und(!r Brigadier Huger, and 
Lieutenant Colonels Campbell and Hawes; 
the left of the Maryland brigade, under Col- 
onels Williams, Gunby, Ford, and Howard. 



The center was occupied by the artHlery un- 
der Colonel Harrison. Washington's cavalry, 
and a corps of 250 North Carolina mihtia, 
under Colonel Reade, acted as a reserve. 

The British steadUy advanced in close 
order, driving the American pickets before 
them. As they slowly moved up the slope, 
Ford was ordered to attack their left flank, 
Colonel Campbell to assaU their right, and 
Gunby, with the first Maryland regiment, to 
make an assault in front. Colonel Washing- 
ton was ordered to turn the right flank of the 
enemy and attack them in the rear. The 
battle soon commenced. Rawdon extended 
his fi-ont, and received the assaults of the 
enemy with firmness. At length the British 
troops began to waver before the impetuous 
charges of the Americans. Their confusion 
was increased by a violent fire of grape-shot 
from the American artillery ; and for a time 
victory seemed to have "decided in favor of 
the Americans; but at this critical moment, 
Rawdon pushed forward his reserve which 
consisted of a battalion of Irish volunteers 
and some other troops. The battle now 
raged furiously. The two Virginian regi- 
ments, led by General Greene in person, 
fought with the utmost gallantry. The action 
became exceedingly warm, and victory 
seemed hung in a balance. Like two con- 
tending seas the two armies swayed back 
and forth, the British now driving the patriots 
before them, and now in turn receding be- 
fore the impetuous valor of the Americans. 
At length the second Maryland regiment was 
charged so furiously by the enemy that it 
broke and fell into disorder. Gunby, their 
commander, was slain ; and in spite of the 
efforts of their officers, the Mary landers fled 
in wild confusion. In his endeavor to rally 
his troops Colonel Ford fell mortally wound- 
ed. The British followed up this success 
vigorously, and the Americans, disheartened 
by the defeat of the Maryland regiment, re- 
treated in one mass. Greene conducted the 
retreat sldUfully ; the British pursued fiercely. 
Meanwliile Washington, with his gallant 
troopers, had nobly performed his work. 
Having gained the rear of the enemy, he 
dashed with his men into the enemy, cutting 
them down on all sides and capturing a num- 
ber of prisoners. But when he saw that 
Greene was in full retreat, he thought proper 
to follow liim. A part of the prisoners 
escaped ; but he retained fifty, and pushed 
forward to rejoin the main body of the army. 
The action was not fairly over till about four 
o'clock in the afternoon ; the Americans had 
then retreated four or five miles closely pur- 
sued by parties of the enemy. Washington 
at this moment fiercely turned upon the 
pursuers, and by one vigorous charge dis- 
persed them with a loss of nine men killed. 



HOCHKIRCHEN— HOHENLINDEN. 



277 



This ended the battle. The British re-entered 
Camden; and Greene encamped on the north 
side of Sander's creek, about five miles fi-om 
Hobkirk, where he remained several days to 
collect the fugitives and reorganize the army. 
The Americans lost in killed, wounded, and 
missing, 266 ; the British 258 ; Greene's loss 
in killed was but eighteen ; and of Rawdon's 
troops only tliirty-eight were slain. This 
small number is remarkable when we con- 
sider the number of troops engaged, and the 
warmth of the action. 

HOCHKIRCHEN, a.d. 1758.— The battle 
of Hochkirchen was fought on the 14th of 
October, 1758, by the Prussian army, com- 
manded by Frederic II., and the Austrians, 
under Count Daun. The Prussian army was 
surprised in its camp, and totally defeated by 
the Austrians. Hochkirchen is in Saxony. 

HOCHSTADT, a.d. 1704.— The battle of 
Blenheim, fought in the vicinity of Hochstadt, 
in Bavaria, is called by the Germans and 
French, the battle of Hochstadt. 

HOHENLINDEN, a.d. 1800.— This vil- 
lage, famous on account of the great conflict 
which took place in its vicinity on the 3d of 
December, 1800, is situated twenty miles east 
of the city of Munich, in Upper Bavaria. 
The battle was fought by the Austrians under 
the Archduke John, and the French under 
General Moreau. Between the rivers Iser 
and Inn Hes a space of ground about fifteen 
leagues in breadth. The center of this space 
is occupied by the forest of Hohenlinden. 
This forest, composed almost entirely of pine 
trees growing close and thick, is seven leagues 
long, and one league and a half broad. Two 
great roads only traverse these thick and 
gloomy woods, that from Munich to Wasser- 
bourg ; and that from Munich to Muhldorf. 
The village of Hohenlinden stands at the en- 
trance of the road to Wasserbourg, on the 
Munich side of the forest ; and that of !Ma- 
tenpot is at the mouth of the other road lead- 
ing to Muhldorf. Between these two roads 
the irregular and broken surface of the 
forest is traversed only by country paths, 
almost impracticable during the storms of 
winter, even to foot travelers. 

With his staff, Moreau had carefiilly recon- 
noitered this ground ; and as soon as it be- 
came evident that the Austrian army was to 
advance through its dangerous defiles, he pre- 
pared, with the art of a skillful general, to 
turn it to the best account. He rapidly con- 
centrated his forces in the plain at tlie en- 
trance of the defiles, on the Munich side of 
the forest, and at the same time sent a divis- 
ion under Richepanse, through the forest, 
with orders to tall perpendicularly ob the 
line of the great road from Hohenlinden to 
Muhldorf. This movement, he thought, 
would bring him on the flank of the Austrian 



center, when entangled in the defile with its 
long train of artillery and chariots ; and that, 
if the French force at the entrance of that 
road, could only maintain its ground till this 
side attack took place, the ruin of tlie whole 
column, or at least the capture of all its can- 
non would be inevitable. To effect this object, 
he concentrated all the forces he could com- 
mand at the mouth of the road of Hohenlin- 
den. Early in the morning the Austrian 
army, on the opposite side of the woods, 
plunged in three columns into the forest to 
approach the enemy. The center, 40,000 
strong, advanced by the great road from 
Muhldorf to Munich. 

This was the only road that was practica- 
ble, in the dreadful state of the weather, for 
artillery ; and the movement of the column 
was encumbered by above 100 pieces of 
cannon and 500 chariots. The infantry 
marched first ; then came the long train of 
artillery and baggage-wagons, and the cav- 
alry closed the procession. The right wing 
under the command of General Latour, con- 
sisting of 25,000 men, marched along the 
inferior road leading from Wasserbourg to 
Munich ; Keinmayer moved on the flank of 
that column, with his light troop through the 
forest; while the left wing, under Riesch 
crossed the forest, by a small path leading by 
Albichen, to St. Christophe. The ground was 
covered with snow, and the soldiers trod its 
yet unstained surface, with light hearts, an- 
ticipating an easy victory over an enemy 
whom they deemed in fliU retreat before 
them. As they advanced, snow commenced 
falling with such rapidity that it was impos- 
sible to see twenty yards before the heads of 
the columns, while the dreary expanse of 
the forest presented under the trees a uni- 
form white surface, on which it was impos- 
sible to distinguish the track. The central 
column, which advanced along the only good 
road, outstripped the other, and its head had 
traversed the forest, and approached Hohen- 
linden about nine o'clock in the morning. 
Here it was met by the division of Grouchy, 
and a furious conflict immediately com- 
menced ; the Austrians endeavoring to de- 
bouch from the defile and extend tliemselves 
along the front of the wood, the French to 
baffle their movements and drive them back 
into the forest. Both parties fought with 
determined valor, the snow faUing thick and 
fast, obscured the atmosphere so that neither 
of the hostile lines could see each other; but 
aiming at the flashes which appeared through 
the gloom, they fired incessant volleys, and 
then with Wind fury rushed forward to the 
dreadful charge of the bayonet. The Austri- 
ans, after an obstinate struggle, were gradually 
driven back into the forest ; their ranks were 
broken by the trees, but posting themselves 



2ri 



HOHENLINDEN. 



behind the trunks, they kept up a murderous 
fire on the enemy. The French eagerly 
charging upon the retiring enemy, were also 
broken by the trees, and the contending 
armies fought man to man, v,'iih. obstinate 
fury. In the mean time the head of the 
Austrian column on the right appeared at 
the entrance of the forest on the other road. 
Ney's division instantly advanced to tliis 
point, and liy a vigorous charge on the flank 
of the enemy's column, wliich was in the act 
of deploying, not only drove it back into the 
forest, but captured a thousand prisoners, and 
eight pieces of cannon. These vigorous at- 
tacks on the heads of the Austrian cohmnis, 
soon threw the long train in their center into 
disorder. The combat in front compelled it 
to halt, and the crowd in its rear pressed it 
forward, until it was soon in a state of 
complete confusion. The soldiers jammed 
up between long files of cannon and wag- 
ons pushed forward by those in tlie rear, 
and pressed back by those in front, swayed 
backward and forward without power cither 
to advance or retire. They were in this 
state, when the division of Eichepanse, who 
had struggled on with invincible resolution 
through dreadful roads across the forest, ar- 
rived on the Muhldorf side of the wood, 
directly in rear of the Austrian center. But 
as Richepanse approached the decisive point, 
and was slowly advancing in open column 
through the forest, his division was pierced 
through the center, near St. Christophe, by 
the Austrian left wing, under Riesch, which 
moving up by the valley of Albichen to gain 
the road of Wasserbourg, by which it was 
destined to pierce through the forest, fell 
perpendicularly on its line of march. Rich- 
epanse thus with half of his division found 
himself irretrievably separated from the re- 
mainder ; the maneuver which he was des- 
tined to have performed on the center of the 
Austrians, was turned against himself, and 
with a single brigr.de he was placed between 
that immense body and their left wing. But 
undaunted by the alarming circumstance, 
Richepanse, pushed bravely on with his 
troops, to fall on the rear of the grand col- 
umn of the enemy. Having dispatched or- 
ders to his separated bi'igado to maintain 
itself to the last extremity, at St. Christophe, 
he bravely advanced toward Alatcnpot, and 
the line of march of the grand Austrian 
column. As the troops approached the great 
road they came upon the Austrian cuirassiers 
under Lichtenstein, who formed part of the 
central column. They had dismounted and 
were reposing leisurely under the trees until 
the great park of artillery, and the reserves 
of Kollowratli, had passed the defile Their 
astonishment at beholding this new enemy 
was unbounded; they had deemed them- 



selves perfectly secure on that side, as they 
knew that their left wing, under Riesch, had 
passed tlu'ough that part of the forest. The 
French attacked them at once ; and soon 
drove them off the road. After this success, 
Richepanse, leaving his cavalry, to keep off 
the Austrian cuirassiers, advanced with the 
two remaining regiments of infantry to at- 
tack the rear of the Austrian center in the 
forest of Hohenlinden. The sudden appear- 
ance of this force, amounting to nearly 3,000 
men, behind them, excited the utmost alarm 
in the Austrian column. A brigade of the 
Bavarian reserve was speedily directed to the 
menaced point, but it was overwhelmed in 
its advance, by the crowds of fugitives, and 
thrown into such disorder by the overturned 
cannon and caissons which blocked up the 
road that it never reached the enemy. The 
Hungarian regiments were next brought up ; 
but they were attacked by the French with 
such impetuosity that they were soon broken 
and put to flight. Consternation and dis- 
order prevailed throughout the entii'e length 
of the column. 

The sound of cannon in the direction of 
Matenpot, and the appearance of hesitation and 
confusion in the enemy's column, announced 
to Moreau, who was still maintaining an ob- 
stinate conflict at the entrance of the defile, 
in front of HohenUnden, that Richepanse 
had made a decisive attack on the rear of the 
Austrian center. He instantly ordered Grou- 
chy and Ney to make a combined charge 
in front on the enemy. The French bat- 
tahons now commenced a furious onset ; and 
the Austrian center, shaken by the alarm in 
its rear, was violently assailed in front. Ney, 
at the head of his grenadiers, pressed forward 
upon the enemy, scattering them in every 
direction before him, until the shouts of the 
troops announced that they had joined the 
victorious Richepanse, who was advancing 
along the same road to meet him, as fast as 
its innumerable incumbrances would permit. 
The Austrian column was thrown into the 
utmost confusion. The artillery drivers cut 
their traces and galloped in all directions into 
the forest; the infantry disbanded and fled; 
the cavalry in tumultuous masses rushed to 
the rear, tramphng under foot whatever op- 
posed their passage ; the wagons were aban- 
doned to fate, and amid the general wreck, 
97 pieces of cannon, 300 caissons, and 7,000 
prisoners, fell into the hands of the French. 
Meanwliile the Austrian right, under Latour, 
and Keinmayer, who had succeeded in de- 
bouching from the forest and uniting in the 
plain, violently assailed tlie French left, where 
G-rcnier, with inferior forces, defended the 
other road to Munich. An obstinate conflict 
ensued, and the French were gradually losing 
ground, when the intelligence of the defeat 



HORATn AND CURIATII. 



2Y9 



of the center reached the enemy, and com- 
pelled them to retire precipitately into the 
tbrest. Grenier instantly ordered a general 
charge of all his forces. Animated by the 
success of their center and right, the French 
troops rushed impetuously to the charge. 
The Austrians, struggling in the defile, were 
overwhelmed and put to flight, leaving six 
pieces of cannon and 1,500 prisoners in the 
possession of the enemy. At the same time 
General Decaen, with a fresh brigade, disen- 
gaged the half of Richepanse's division, cut 
off during his absence, which was hard press- 
ed between General Riesch's corps and the 
retiring columns of the Austrian center. Be- 
fore dark, the French at all points had crossed 
the forest. Four of their divisions were as- 
sembled at Matenpot, and the head-quarters 
were advanced to Haag ; whUe the Austrians 
took advantage of the night to withdraw 
their shattered forces across the Inn. 

Thus ended this great battle, which Mr. 
Campbell has immortalized in his noble Ode 
to Hohenlinden.* The Austrians lost 10,000 
men, in killed and wounded, and nearly the 
same number taken prisoners, together with 
100 pieces of cannon, and 500 wagons 
loaded with ammunition and provisions. The 
French loss amounted to 5,000 in killed and 
wounded. 

HORATII AND CURIATII, The Combat 
OF THE — B.C. 669. — Eighty-two years after 
the building of Rome, TuUus Hostilius was 
elected to the Roman throne. TuUus was 
even more warlike in his disposition than the 
great Romulus himself Therefore no sooner 
had he arisen to the throne, than he sought 
on all sides for an opportunity of stirring up 
a war. It happened that some Roman and 
Alban peasants had committed mutual depre- 
dations on each other's lands. Tliis incident 
TuUus seized upon as a favorable pretext, and 
shortly afterward war was declared between 
the two parties. It might almost be called a 
civil war, as it was to be waged, in a manner, 
between parents and children, for both par- 
ties derived their origin from Troy. Lavinium 
owed its existence to Troy ; from Lavinium 
sprung Alba, and the Romans were descend- 
ants of the race of the Alban kings. The 
Albans, with a large army, invaded the Ro- 
man territories, and threw up intrenchments 
within five miles of the city. The Romans, 
impatient for action, marched past the Alban 
camp in the night time, into the enemies' ter- 
ritories. This procedure caused the Alban 
leader, Mettius, to abandon his intrenched 

• Tho beautiful verses of Campbell : 

"And dark as winter was the flow 
Of Iser rolling rapidly," 
would lead one to suppose that the Iser was In sight, or 
at least near the field, whereas it is twenty miles distant. 
The city of Munich stands on the banks of the river 
Iser. 



camp, and to march toward the Roman army 
by the shortest route. When he had arrived 
within sight of the enemy, he sent a message 
to Tullus, requesting a personal interview 
before the battle ; which request was grant- 
ed. Both armies were now drawn up in 
order of battle, and the two generals, attend- 
ed by their principal officers, advanced to the 
open space between the two hues. At this 
interview it was decided that, as their mutual 
enemies, the Etrurians, possessed formidable 
power, in the neighborhood of both Rome 
and Alba, and that they would enjoy the 
sight of the two armies engaged in a battle 
as they would a show, and would undoubt- 
edly attack both the victors and the van- 
quished together when they should see them 
thinned and fatigued by the battle, some 
measure should be devised whereby the dif- 
ference of the two nations might be decided 
without great loss or much bloodshed on 
either side. Now it happened that in each 
army there were three twin brothers, equally 
matched in point of age, strength, and valor. 
Their names were Horatius and Curiatius. 
The Horatii, according to most authors, were 
Romans, and the Curiatii, Albans. Upon 
this point, however, there remains a doubt. 
To these three brothers, on each side, the 
kings proposed that they should support by 
their arms, the honor of their respective na- 
tions, informing them that the sovereignty 
was to be enjoyed by that country whose 
champions should prove victorious. They 
eagerly accepted the proposal, and the time 
and place were appointed. 

A league was then made between the 
Romans and Albans, on these conditions: 
that wliichever of the two nations should, 
by its champions, obtain a victory in the 
combat, that nation should, without further 
dispute, possess sovereign dominion over the 
other. Upon the conclusion of the league, 
the three brothers on each side took arms. 
Their friends exhorted them to conduct them- 
selves valorously in the coming contest, and 
naturally bold and courageous, and ani- 
mated to the highest pitch by the words of 
their countrymen, they advanced into the 
midst between the two armies. Both armies 
sat down before their respective cam^s, 
deeply anxious as to the result of the com- 
bat. The signal for combat was given and 
the three youths, who had been drawn up 
on both sides as in battle array, rushed for- 
ward to the fight, their breasts animated 
with the bravery and magnanimity of whole 
armies. Utterly thoughtless of their own 
personal danger, they were intent only on 
mutual slaughter. They knew that on the 
issue of the contest depended the future fate 
and fortune of their respective countries. 
They met, and the spectators shuddered when 



280 



HUAMANTLA— HYDASPES. 



they saw their glittering swords and heard 
the clash of their arms. In the deepest 
anxiety the two armies awaited the result in 
breathless silence. Both were filled ahke 
with hope and fear. The combatants fought 
with desperate courage. At length two of 
the Eomans fell hfeless to the ground. The 
three Albans were severely wounded, while 
the remaining Roman was unhurt. On the fall 
of the two Roman brothers, the Alban army 
set up a shout of joy which sent a thrill of 
despair to the hearts of the Romans. The 
Roman champion was now surrounded by 
his three enemies. Although he was by no 
means able to cope with them collectively, 
yet he was confident of success, against each 
taken single. And now a groan escaped 
from the Roman legions; their champion 
was flying. The Alban brothers pursued 
him, and by so doing separated one from 
another, for their wounds caused them to 
run at dilferent degrees of speed. The Ro- 
man quickly perceived this, and turning back, 
furiously attacked the foremost of his ene- 
mies, and, while the Alban army called out 
to the others to succor their brother, he slew 
him, and then rushed on against his second 
adversary. Before the third could come up 
to the relief of his brother the Roman dis- 
patched him, and now, amid the triumphant 
shouts of his army, he fiercely fell upon his 
only remaining antagonist. " Two of you," 
cried he, " I have slain to appease the manes 
of my dead brothers ; yourself I will offer to 
the cause for which we fight." The Alban, 
almost disabled by his wounds, and fatigued 
with running, as well as dispirited by the fall 
of his two brothers, could scarcely sustain 
the weight of his armor, and met the attack of 
his victorious enemy with but little resistance. 
The Roman champion plunged his sword 
downward into the throat of his foe, who 
fell dead to the earth. The victor now dis- 
poiled his vanquished adversaries of their 
armor, and returned into the Roman camp, 
where he was received with triumphant 
congratulations. This victory of the Roman 
champion united Alba to Rome. 

HUAMANTLA, a.d. 1847.— On the 9th 
of October, 1847, a battle was fought be- 
tween a detachment of the American army, 
and the Mexicans, under Santa Anna, near 
Huaraantla, in M(>xico, in which the latter 
were defeated. The Americans lost thirteen 
killed and eleven wounded. Among the 
slain was Captain Walker. 

HQBBARDTON, a.d. 1777.— Hubbard- 
ton, in Rutland county, Vermont, was, on the 
7th of July, 1777, the scene of a sanguinary 
conflict between the British, under General 
Frazer, and the American army, under War- 
ner, Francis, and Hall. The American army 
consisted of about 1,300 men ; that of the 



British, at the commencement of the action, 
numbered about 800. The battle began at 
seven oVlock in the morning, and was con- 
tinued for a long time without either party 
gaining an advantage. It was at length de- 
cided in favor of the British by the desertion 
of Colonel Hill, who, with his regiment aban- 
Colonels Warner and Francis, and fled to- 
ward Castleton ; and by the arrival of Rie- 
desel with his Hessians, the Americans, panic- 
stricken at sight of the newly arrived troops, 
wavered, and the British by one vigorous 
charge broke their ranks and then threw 
them into complete disorder. The Amer- 
icans suj)posing that the Germans were 
coming in full force upon them, fled, some 
toward Rutland and others toward Castleton. 
The Americans lost 324 in killed, wounded, 
and prisoners. Among the dead was the 
gallant Colonel Francis, who was slain while 
fighting at the head of his men. The British 
lost 183 in killed and wounded. About 200 
stand of arms fell into the hands of the victors. 

HYDASPES, B.C. 326.— Hydaspes is the 
ancient appellation of the River Ihylum in 
Cashmere, a province of northern Hindoostan. 
It rises in the south extremity of Cashmere, 
and after a course of about 450 miles, at 
first north-west or west, and afterward south- 
west, joins the Chenab. During most part 
of its course it is not fordable, its average 
depth being about fourteen feet. Its breadth 
is more than 1,800 yards. Its banks are 
interesting as the scenes of several of the 
exploits of Alexander; but their precise 
locaUties are unknown. 

Peace to the Macedonian soldiers was irk- 
some, and therefore Alexander, to put an end 
to their murmurs, commenced liis march for 
India. Having entered the country, he 
marched toward the interior without en- 
countering any opposition until he had arrived 
on the banks of the river Hydaspes. Here, 
on the opposite side of the river, was in- 
camped the army of Porus, the most power- 
ful of all the kings of Incha, who had marched 
hither in order to dispute the passage of the 
Macedonian king. Porus had posted at the 
head of his army eighty-five enormous ele- 
phants. Behind them he had planted 300 
chariots, which were supported by 30,000 
foot, and about 7,000 horse. Porus himself 
was mounted on an elepliant much larger 
thaft any of the rest. 

The Indian king was a man of great stature, 
and clothed in armor, glistening with gold 
and silver, his mien was at the same time ter- 
rible and majestic. The Macedonians, how- 
ever, were not terrified by the magnificent 
array of the Indian army. Their most potent 
enemy was the river, whose deep and rapid 
current presented an obstacle which they 
knew not how to overcome. For it would have 



HYDASPES. 



281 



been certain annihilation to attempt to cross 
the river in the face of the enemy. The river 
was full of little islands, to which the Indians 
and Macedonians used to swim, with their 
arms over their heads, and slight skirmishes 
took place between them daily in the sight of 
the two kings. On one occasion two young 
Macedonian officers, Nicanor and Egesima- 
chus, selected a troop of the bravest youth of 
the army, and with them swam to an island, 
on which several of the enemy had landed. 
The Macedonians were armed only with jave- 
lins, and although their enemies were more 
numerous, yet after a desperate struggle, 
they killed them almost to a man. Not con- 
tent with this victory, they waved their 
weapons in defiance, to a still more numer- 
ous body of Indians who were smmming to 
the assistance of their companions. The In- 
dians landed, and surrounding the little band 
of Macedonians, discharged their darts from 
a distance at them, until all were slain. Po- 
rus witnessed tliis action, and his courage 
rose to its highest pitch. Alexander, per- 
ceiving that he could not cross the river by 
force of arms, resorted, therefore, to strata- 
gem. He caused his cavalry to proceed along 
the bank of the river to a point some dis- 
tance from his camp, and to set up a shout 
as if they really intended to cross the stream. 
Porus hearing the shouts, immediately has- 
tened thither with his elephants ; but Alex- 
ander still maintained his position on the 
bank. This stratagem was repeated several 
times, until, Porus finding it merely a pre- 
tense, took no further notice of these mo- 
tions, and only sent scouts to every part of 
tlie shore. Having thus quieted the appre- 
hensions of the enemy, Alexander, having 
left a great part of liis army in his camp, 
secretly marched in the night-time, until he 
had arrived opposite to an island in the river. 
This island was nearer to the shore occupied 
by Porus, than to the other. In order to 
deceive the enemy, Alexander had ordered 
Craterus, whom he left in the camp, to cause 
the soldiers to make a great noise at a certain 
time, in order to alarm the Indians and make 
them believe that they were about to cross 
the river at that point ; but that the army 
should not cross the river until such time as 
Porus should have raised liis camp, either to 
withdraw, or to march against such of his 
troops as should succeed in gaining the op- 
posite shore. In that case he should cross 
the river with the whole army, with all pos- 
sible haste. The stratagem was eminently 
successful. Porus supposing that the enemy 
was in reality about to cross, drew up his 
elephants directly opposite Alexander's camp 
to oppose the landing of the Macedonians. 
In the mean time, Alexander with his troops 
had succeeded in crossing the river in small 



boats to the island. A furious storm now 
arose, and served greatly to facilitate the en- 
terprise. Notwithstanding the roughness of 
the water, Alexander immediately embarked 
liis troops from the island, and landed on the 
main shore without opposition, Porus being 
wholly occupied in watching Craterus. The 
moment Alexander was landed, he drew up 
his Uttle artoy, consisting of 6,000 foot and 
5,000 horse, in order of battle. He took the 
command of the cavalry himself, and ad- 
vanced toward the enemy's camp. Porus 
was soon informed by his scouts that some 
Macedonian troops had crossed the river, and 
immediately sent against him a detachment of 
2,000 horse and 120 chariots, under the com- 
mand of one of his sons. These troops soon 
encountered the Macedonians, who charged 
them so furiously, that they were entirely 
routed and put to flight. The king's son, 
and 400 of the cavalry were killed on the 
spot, and all the chariots were taken. Porus 
receiving intelligence of the death of his son, 
and the defeat of his detachment, immedi- 
ately advanced toward Alexander with his 
whole army, except a few elephants, whom 
he left on the bank to oppose the landing of 
the rest of the Macedonians. Having arrived 
at a spot, where the soil was firm and sandy, 
and in which his horses and chariots could 
wheel about with ease, he halted and drew 
up his troops in battle array. His army con- 
sisted of 30,000 foot, 4,000 horse, 200 ele- 
phants, and 300 chariots. Each of these 
chariots carried six men, two were armed 
"vvith bucklers ; two were bowmen, sitting on 
each side, and two guided the chariot. The 
latter, however, also fought when the battle 
grew warm, being provided with a great 
number of darts, wliich they discharged at 
the enemy. 

When the Indian king had drawn up his 
troops in battle array, what a magnificent 
spectacle his army must have presented. In 
the front, the 200 elephants, standing at reg- 
ular distances from one another, formed a 
line which extended 2,000 feet, serving as a 
bulwark to tlie 30,000 infantry, who stood 
behind them, and whose arms glistened be- 
tween the intervals of the elephants, like 
bright walls of steel. On the two wings of 
the elephants were also posted some infantry, 
who in turn were covered in flank by the 
cavalry, in front of which the chariots were 
planted. Alexander's army had marched in 
battle array, and shortly after he came with- 
in sight of the enemy, he gave the signal of 
battle. He did not deem it expedient to 
commence the battle by attacking the main 
body of the enemy, for he saw from the posi- 
tion which the elephants occupied, that such 
a beginning would be dangerous. He, there- 
fore, opened the battle by attacking the left 



282 



HTMERA. 



wing with his cavalry. Seleucus, Antigonus, 
and TauroD, who couimanded the foot, were 
ordered not to stir from their posts, until the 
cavalry had put the horse and foot of the en- 
emy's left wing into disorder. 

Obeying Alexander's commands, Croenus 
and Demetrius, with their respective troops 
of cavalry, made a circuit around the left 
wing of the Indians, and fiercely fell upon 
them in the rear. At the same moment, 
1,000 ^Macedonian mounted bowmen rapidly 
advanced, and discharged a shower of arrows 
upon them, in front, upon which Alexander, 
with his cavalry, furiously charged them in 
flank. The Indians, thus assaulted on all 
sides, and not able to make head against the 
enemy, were soon thrown into the utmost 
confusion, and at length retired behind the 
elephants as to an impregnable rampart. 
The elephant drivers now compelled these 
huge beasts to advance toward the Macedo- 
nian cavalry. But in an instant the Macedo- 
nian phalanx rushed forward, and surrounding 
the elephants, charged them with pikes. The 
elephants slirilly trumpeting with pain and 
rage, rushed upon the battahon with inde- 
scribable fury, trampling down whole ranks 
of men, and throwing the whole phalanx 
into complete disorder and confusion. The 
Indian cavalry of both wings, seeing the 
Macedonian foot stopped by the elephants, 
united and charged upon Alexander's cav- 
alry, but they were received with so much 
warmth that they were again compelled to 
retire behind the elephants. The Macedo- 
nian horse now united in one body, and 
wherever they attacked they spread terror 
and confusion. The elephants, covered with 
wounds, and many of them without drivers, 
no longer maintained their usual order. 
Furious with pain, they rushed about the 
field, distinguishing neither friend nor foe, 
and overthrowing every thing that came in 
their way. Alexander, having surrounded 
the enemy with his horse, called up his foot 
in order to make the final effort. And now, 
at the same time, the whole Macedonian 
army, horse and foot, charged upon the 
enemy from all sides. The slaughter which 
followed was fearful; the Indian cavalry, 
after a desperate resistance, was fairly cut to 
pieces. The infantry met with no better 
fortune. Finding themselves charged at all 
points, the soldiers turned and fled, leaving 
the field strewn with their dead. Craterus, 
who had remained in the camp with the rest 
of the army, seeing Alexander engaged with 
Porus, crossed the river, and charging the 
routed Indians with his troops, who were 
fresh and vigorous, killed as many of the 
enemy in the retreat as had been slain in the 
battle. On this occasion, the Indians lost 
20,000 foot and 3,000 horse. Their chariots 



were broken to pieces, and their elephants 
were all either killed or captured. The 
Macedonians lost only about 300 men. Porus, 
who, during the battle, had fought witli 
extraordinary courage, surrendered himself a 
prisoner to the conqueror. Upon being con- 
ducted to Alexander, the latter asked liim 
how he desired to be treated. "Like a 
king," he responded. " Do you ask nothing 
more?" inquired Alexander. "No," was 
the reply, " the word king comprehends all 
things." Alexander, struck with this great- 
ness of soul, not only restored to Porus his 
kingdom, but annexed other provinces to it, 
and treated him with the highest testimonies 
of honor, fi:-iendship, and esteem. Porus was 
faithful to him till his death. 

HYMERA, B.C. 480.— In the year 484, 
B.C., the Carthaginians made a treaty with 
Xerxes, King of Persia, whereby tlie former 
were to invade, with all their forces, those 
Greeks who were settled in Sicily and 
Italy, while Xerxes should march in person 
against Greece itself. After a preparation of 
three years, the Carthaginian land army 
amounted to 300,000 men. The fleet con- 
sisted of 2,000 ships of war, and nearly 
3,000 small vessels of burden. This powerful 
army was intrusted to the care of Hamilcar, 
the most experienced captain of his age, who, 
in the year 480, b.c, set sail from Carthage 
for Palermo. After arriving at this city, he 
allowed his troops sufficient time to re- 
cover from their fatigue, and the effects of 
their confinement on ship-board, and then 
marched against Hymera, a city near Pa- 
lermo, and laid siege to it. Theron, com- 
mander of the Greek forces within the city, 
immediately sent off Gelon, who had recent- 
ly possessed himself of Syracuse, asking aid. 
The latter general instantly flew to liis relief, 
with 50,000 foot, and 5,000 horse. His 
arrival infused the besieged with new ardor, 
and they, from that time, made a most vigor- 
ous defense. Gelon was a most able war- 
rior; above all things, excelUng in strata- 
gems. The Carthaginian general had, in the 
mean time, sent to Sehnuntum, a city in 
Sicily, for reinforcements; but the courier 
dispatched from Sehnuntum with the letter 
informing Hamilcar of the day when he 
might expect the arrival of the troop of cav- 
alry, was intercepted by some of the Greek 
troops, who immediately carried him to 
Gelon. Gelon made his preparations accord- 
ingly. He immediately selected from his 
army a number of men equal to the amount 
mentioned in the letter, and upon the day 
agreed on, he sent them from the city. They 
were immediately admitted into the enemy's 
camp, as the expected reinforcement ; but no 
sooner had they gained entrance, than they 
rushed upon Hamilcar, and having killed 



INGOUR— IPSUS. 



283 



him, they set fire to his ships. Now, Gelon, 
with his whole army, attacked the Cartha- 
ginians. The latter fought with the ferocity 
of tigers; but when they heard that their 
gallant officer was slain, and saw the flames 
consuming their noble fleet, their hearts sank 
within them, and they fled. Tlie Greeks 
pursued them, slaughtering the fugitives as 
they fled, until the ground was heaped with 
the dead. One hundi-ed and fifty thousand 
Carthaginians were slain, and nearly the 
same number were made prisoners. This 
battle was fought on the very same day of 
the famous action of Thermopylae, in which 
300 Spartans, with the sacrifice of their 



lives, disputed Xerxes's entrance into Greece. 
Afterward, in the year 412, B.C., Hymera 
was taken by storm by the Carthaginians, 
under Hannibal, the grandson of Hamilcar. 
He razed the entire city to its very founda- 
tion. He forced 3,000 prisoners to undergo 
all kinds of ignominy and punishments, and 
at last murdered them all on the very spot 
where his grandfather had been killed by 
Gelon's cavalry, to appease and satisfy his 
manes by the blood of these unhappy vic- 
tims. 

And thus a city which had been in 
existence two hundred and forty years, was 
extinguished. 



INGOUR, A.D. 1855.— The river Ingour 
rising in the snowy Caucasus, winds through 
the densely wooded country which extends 
from the base of the mountains to the Black 
Sea, and debouches into that body of water, 
at Anaklia. The battle of the Ingour was 
fought on the Gth of November, 1855, be- 
tween the Russians and the Anglo-Turkish 
army under Omar Pacha. The strength of 
the Russians was estimated at about 10,000, 
of which one half were regular troops, the 
remainder Mingrelian mihtia. The battle 
commenced at one o'clock, and after a des- 
perate struggle the Russians were defeated 
with great loss. The allies lost about 400 
men killed and wounded. Captain Dymock, 
aid-de-camp to Colonel Simmoiids, was killed 
while gallantly charging at the head of his 
battalion. Five guns and ammunition wag- 
ons, and fifty prisoners fell into the hands of 
the victors. 

INKERMAN, a.d. 1854.— This place, a 
village of south Russia, in the Crimea, 35 
miles south-west of Simferpol, wiU ever be 
memorable for the battle fought in its vi- 
cinity on the 5th of November, 1854, between 
the Enghsh and French forces on the one 
side and the Russians on the other. The al- 
lied forces consisted of about 15,000 men, 
that of the Russians amounted to over 40,000. 
The Russians commenced the attack early in 
the morning, and an obstinate and bloody 
battle ensued, and was maintained for several 
hours, when the Russians were finally driven 
back with great loss. The English lost 462 
killed, and 2,143 wounded; the French lost 
389 killed and 1,337 wounded ; and the Rus- 
sians lost 3,011 killed and 3,609 wounded. 
A further account of this battle will be found 
in the article on the Siege of Sebastopol in 
another part of this volume. 

INSTED, A.D. 1850.— The battle of Insted 
took place in 1850 between the Danes and 



Slcheswick-Holsteiners, at Insted, a village 
of Denmark, five miles north of Slcheswick. 

IPSUS, B.C. 431.— The army of Antigonus 
and Demetrius marched into Phrygia in Asia 
Minor. They arrived there about the same 
time as the troops of the confederate army, 
commanded by Seleucus and Lysimachus. 

Antigonus and Demetrius immediately re- 
solved on giving the enemy battle. Their 
forces consisted of 60,000 foot, 10,000 horse, 
and 75 elephants, whOe those of the con- 
federate army consisted of 64,000 men, 10,- 
500 horses, 400 elephants, and 120 chariots 
armed with scythes. The battle was fought 
near Ipsus, a city of Phrygia. 

At a given signal, Demetrius swiftly ad- 
vanced at the head of his cavalry against 
Antiochus who commanded the infantry of 
the confederate army. So impetuous was his 
charge, that it was uTesistible, the enemy's 
ranks were broken, and the men, throwing 
away their weapons, fled from the field. 
Demetrius pursued them, and in his eager- 
ness to capture as many of them as possible, 
committed the inexcusable fault of leaving 
his own infantry uncovered, and exposed to 
the attacks of the enemy. 

Meantime Seleucus had moved forward 
his elephants in order to interpose between 
Demetrius and his infantry, and thereby ren- 
der it impossible for him to give them any 
assistance. He did not immediately attack 
him in force, but made several feints, for the 
purpose of intimidating them ; and also with 
the expectation, that by this maneuvering, 
the greater part would m a short time sur- 
render at discretion. Nor was he mistaken 

his calculations, for when they saw the 
hopelessness of their situation, they almost 
all delivered themselves up to the mercy of 
Seleucus. Those who still maintained their 
position were speedily put to the sword. 

When Seleucus had thus accomplished the 



•284 



ISMAIL. 



destruction of the infantry, he detached a 
large portion of his army to move against 
Antigonus, whose men fought well, and de- 
fended themselves with the energy of despair; 
but the forces to which they were opposed, 
were overwhelming, and they were obliged to 
succumb. Antigonus fell, pierced with darts, 
after having defended himself with great 
courage and bravery during the onset. 

When Demetrius discovered that his father 
had been slain, and the battle irretrievably 
lost, he rallied his forces, and retired to Ephe- 
sus, with 5,000 foot and 4,000 horse, the 
scattered remains of the noble array of 
70,000 men, Avhich he and his father had 
commanded in tlie morning. 

ISMAIL, A.D. 1790.— The position of Is- 
mail, situated upon the Danube, in Bessarabia, 
tempted the court of St. Petersburg, then at 
war with the Turks, to endeavor to make 
the conquest of it. Tliis was one of the most 
important cities of the Turkish empire in the 
European provinces. It had a numerous pop- 
ulation, and a garrison of 43,000 men, com- 
manded by Auduslu Pacha, one of the best 
of the Ottoman generals. Provisions and 
munitions were abundant, and its artillery 
powerful. Its walls, having a circuit of a 
mile from one bank of the Danube to the 
other, were from three to four toises high ; 
at their feet was a fossee from seven to eight 
toises deep ; they were crowned by pieces 
of large caliber. Between the polygons of 
Bender and Brock, there was a fausse-hraie, 
near a cavalier, capable of containing many 
thousand soldiers. The water side was 
strongly defended by batteries making a 
horizontal fire. At the beginning of No- 
vember, 1790, General Sodowitsch, with 
several bodies of troops, made the approaches 
upon Ismail, wliile Admiral Ribas blockaded 
it with a flotilla of 100 row-boats. They ob- 
tained some advantages at sea, but tlie rigors 
of the winter obhged Sodowitsch to raise the 
siege. When informed of this, the court of 
St. Petersburg, accustomed to ' find no diffi- 
culty insurmountable, ordered Field-marshal 
Potemkin to return immediately before Is- 
mail and take possession of it. The marshal 
felt all the difficulties of the undertaking, but 
he obeyed. Arrived upon the Pruth, he de- 
tached Lieutenant-General Potemkin with 
orders to bury liimself under tiie ruins of 
Isma'il ; but his efforts were not more suc- 
cessful than those of Sodowitsch. Suwarrow 
then came up with a regiment of infantry, 
1,000 Arnauts, and 200 Cossacks. The land 
army consisted of 28,000 men, of whom near 
one half were Cossacks. Tiie first care was 
to exercise these irregular troops in the ma- 
neuvers of an assault. Many days were 
employed in reconnaissances, in order that 
the gencfal officers might be well acquainted 



with the posts they were to attack. When 
all the observations necessary had been made, 
batteries were raised, to lead the Turks to 
beheve that they were preparing to make a 
regular siege, and not to carry Ismail by as- 
sault. On the 9th of December, Suwarrow 
sent the seraskier a letter from Prince Po- 
temkin, to persuade him to surrender. The 
seraskier replied that he advised the Russians 
to retire, if they were unwilling to experience 
absolute want in an advanced season, and 
perish with famine and misery before a place 
amply pro\aded with every thing. Suwarrow 
the next day, sent another note to the se- 
raskier, in which he announced to him, that 
if he did not hoist the white flag that very 
day, the place should be taken by assault 
and the whole garrison be put to the sword. 
;Many Turks were incUned to surrender ; but 
the seraskier was resolved to risk every thing, 
and made no reply. 

Suwarrow immediately assembled a coun- 
cil of war, and spoke as follows to his troops : 
" Brave warriors, remember to-day all your 
victories, and continue to prove that nothing 
can resist the arms of Russians. The affair 
in hand is not one that can be deferred, but 
it concerns an important place, the possession 
of which will decide the glory of the cam- 
paign, and which the proud Ottomans con- 
sider impregnable. Twice already has the 
Russian army laid siege to Ismail, and twice 
has it retreated from it. There only remains 
for us, at the tliird attempt, to conquer or to 
die with glory." This speech inflamed the 
ardor of his soldiers, and an assault was de- 
cided upon. Suwarrow received a courier 
from Prince Potemkin, recommending him 
not to risk an assault if he was not sure of 
succeeding. Suwarrow replied in these few 
lines : " My plan is settled. The Russian 
army has already been twice at the gates of 
Ismail ; it would be disgraceful for it to re- 
tire a third time." Some Cossacks deserted 
in the evening, and informed the Ottomans of 
the approaching attack. The principal part 
of the garrison remained all night upon the 
ramparts. To make the Turks believe they 
were short of powder, the Russians fired but 
little during the night which preceded tlie 
assault. All measures being taken, by four 
o'clock in the morning the columns were 
formed : there were six on the land side and 
three upon the Danube. The Cossacks des- 
tined to mount to the assault were all on 
foot, and their lances had almost all been re- 
duced to five feet in length, to render them 
more useful in the mtli'e. The first column 
by water, commanded by General Islenief, 
consisted of two battaUons of grenadiers, 
one battalion of chasseurs, and 2,500 Cos- 
sacks. They had on board their shallops 130 
pieces of cannon. The second column had the 



ISMAIL. 



285 



same number of boats and cannon. In the 
third, and in the reserve, were 237 pieces of 
cannon, divided among a great number of 
barks, flat-bottomed boats, and floating-bat- 
teries. Among the troops embarked were 
the Prince de Ligni, the Colonel Duke de 
Richeheu, and the Count de Langeron. 

The weather, which had been fine and 
serene during the night, grew cloudy toward 
daybreak, and a thick fog enveloped the 
horizon tUl nine o'clock. All the columns 
marched in silence. At the aspect of the 
walls, the whole army halted in consterna- 
tion. Suwarrow exclaimed to those who 
were near him : " You see those walls ; they 
are very high; but the empress commands 
us to take possession of them." He then 
suddenly fell upon his knees, arose, and 
marched to the assault, followed by all his 
army. The Turks did not fire a shot till the 
Russians were within three or four hundred 
paces of them, but then saluted them vdth a 
shower of mitrailles, which did them great 
injury. They, however, approached the 
fosse, in which there was in several places 
water up to the shoulders, tlirew in their 
fascines, planted their ladders against the 
ramparts, many parts of which were so high 
that they were obliged to tie two together, 
although every one was five toises long. As 
in some places the besiegers did not find this 
expedient quick enough, they assisted each 
other with as much vivacity as address, and 
climbed up the ramparts with the aid of their 
bayonets. The arquebusiers fired from the 
edge of the fosse upon the Turks who de- 
fended the ramparts, to prevent them from 
beating back the assailants. The second 
column, commanded by the Marshal de Lasci, 
arrived first, but was not assisted with suffi- 
cient energy by the first and third. The 
first had had to overcome a great difficulty : 
it had met with a chain of strong pallisades, 
which extended to the banks of the Danube. 
The grenadiers, who were at the extremity 
of the palhsades, rushed against them, one 
after the other, to turn them ; and those most 
distant from that spot jumped over them. 
Another fosse was yet to be got over before 
they reached the ramparts. The Russian 
grenadiers took possession of the first bastion, 
and attacked without order the cavaUer which 
was between that work and the second ; but 
in doing so, they lost many men. Kutusow, 
who had taken the two left polygons on the 
side of the left bank of the Danube, would 
have arrived upon the rampart at the same 
time as the second column, if he had not 
been obliged to send assistance to the fourth 
and fifth columns, which had met with a 
vigorous resistance. The fosse was full of 
water at the place where these columns were 
obliged to cross ; the men being up to their 



middles, soaked their long Cossack clothes, 
and had great trouble in disengaging them- 
selves from them. They mounted the lad- 
ders, but when they came to the ramparts 
they could not maintain themselves there; 
the two columns were thrown back at the 
same time. They were separated by the 
gate of Bender; 8,000 or 10,000 Turks made 
a sortie from that gate, uttering frightful war- 
cries. Among these were a great number of 
women armed with poniards. The besieged 
charged all at once, in all parts ; the infantry 
Tjf the reserve came to the rescue, and made 
way with their bayonets; the Cossacks, 
finding themselves supported, repulsed the 
Turks. Such as could not gain the bridge to 
re-enter Ismail,were cut in pieces or smothered 
in the fosse. The Russians then made a fresh 
effort, surmounted all resistance, and estab- 
hshed themselves upon the rampart of the 
bastion, which was assigned to them. Ku- 
tusow, however, remarked that the two 
battahons of reserve, although masters of 
the rampart, could not yet hold out against 
the enemy; he in consequence sent thera 
a battaUon of chasseurs, who enabled them 
to keep their position. Every bastion hav- 
ing a powder-magazine under the ram- 
part, the conquerors immediately established 
a strong guard there, in order that the enemy 
might not be able to set fire to it and blow up 
the troops. There consequently followed 
slight actions between the besiegers and the 
besieged, who still continued to endeavor 
to introduce themselves there, but they could 
not succeed ; so that no accident happened. 
Day began to appear, and every one could 
ascertain his position, wliich, till that time, 
had only been indicated by the different war- 
cries of the two nations. WhiLe the Turk- 
\ ish infantry was fighting in the fosses near the 
Bender gate, a numerous body of cavalry fell 
upon the camp of the besiegers, Avhere the 
Cossacks received them with so much vigor, 
that scarcely any of them returned, and the 
Bender gate fell into the hands of the Russians. 
While the land columns were marching 
against Ismail, other columns were formed 
upon the Danube. The first, composed of 
100 boats, manned by troops, prepared to 
make a descent, advanced in two lines, keep- 
ing up a continual fire ; the second line, con- 
sisting of brigantines, floating-batteries, shal- 
lops, and hncons, followed it. The fire 
became still more warm as these two lines 
approached each other. The Turks had on the 
water side a work of small height, but great 
strength, furnished with eighty-three cannon 
of large caliber, fifteen mortars, and a howitzer 
of 600 pounds of balls. The fire of the mor- 
tars of the second Hne covered the cannon- 
ade of the first ; when they had arrived at 
some hundreds of paces from the shore, the 



286 



ISPAHAN— ISSUS. 



second line divided, and placed itself on the 
two -wings of the first; in this fashion it 
formed a half-circle. Both sides kept up a 
■warm fire of mitrailles, and the combat lasted 
an hour. But as it was still night, some Rus- 
sian battalions only suffered, without any 
vessel being sunk. About seven in the morn- 
ing the total descent was effected. The 
Turks had abandoned the few vessels they 
had left. The resistance was brave and per- 
sistent, particularly on this side, which was 
defended by more than 10,000 Turks. The 
greater part of these were put to the sword, 
the rest saved themselves in the chanas, or 
houses solidly built with stone. 

At eight o'clock the Russians were masters 
of the rampart on the water side, as well as 
on that of the land. A terrible conflict then 
commenced in the interior of the city, in the 
streets and public places, to which the in- 
habitants came from all parts. There were 
skirmishes beyond number, both sides fight- 
ing with equal inveteracy. The Turks de- 
fended themselves with desperation, main- 
taining an incessant fire from the windows, 
particularly in the narrow streets. The Rus- 
sians swept the larger ones with the fire of 
twenty field-pieces, to which the Turks, hav- 
ing no cannon but in their chanas, could not 
respond. There were 2,000 Turks in the 
first chana that was attacked: they made 
great havoc among the Russians Avith their 
artillery. Suwarrow ordered it to be taken, 
and it was escaladed, in spite of a determined 
resistance, and, for the first time, during the 
day, some hundreds of prisoners were made ; 
the unfortunate Auduslu Pacha had taken 
refuge in a stiU more considerable chana. 
The combat there lasted more than two 
hours ; cannon were required to batter in the 
gate. Two thousand of the best janizaries 
defended themselves in this place with all the 
rage of despair ; but the Russian grenadiers 
rushed in the moment there was an opening, 
with advanced bayonets, and all were cut to 
pieces, with the exception of a very few 
hundred prisoners : the pacha was of 
this number. He came out into the open 
place ; a chasseur perceiving a rich poniard 
in his girdle, thought it his duty to take it 
from liim. As several Turks still had arms, 
a janizary, who was near the seraskier, en- 
deavoring to repulse the chasseur with his 
saber, wounded a captain of chasseurs in the 
face. The Russians instantly charged their 
bayonets upon all that remained : they mas- 
sacred the greater part, the brave seraskier 
being of the number : scarcely 100 men of his 
immediate train escaped. Petty conflicts 
still continued in every place capable of the 
slightest defense ; every post was carried at 
a heavy expense of blood. The terrible re- 
sistance made by the Turks was more like 



frantic rage than the opposition of trained 
soldiers ; the women even fearlessly encoun- 
tered the Russians, armed with poniards and 
other weapons. All the Russian commanders 
faced danger with heroic courage, and their 
soldiers as bravely seconded them ; the miUe 
lasted ten entire hours, without the Russians 
in the least heeding the superiority of tlie 
Turks in number. The city was given up to 
pillage ; 33,000 Ottomans there perished in 
one day! and 10,000 were made prisoners! 
A single man had saved himself in a fortified 
house ; he was shghtly wounded, but con- 
trived to drop from a window into the Dan- 
ube, where he was fortunate enough to meet 
with a plank, by means of which he gained 
the opposite shore. This man carried the 
vizier the news of the loss of Ismai'l ; there 
were no less than six sultans among the dead. 
The Russians lost 15,000 men. 

A year after, Ismai'l, which had cost so 
much blood, was restored to the Turks as a 
guaranty of the peace between the two 
powers — and 48,000 human beings had been 
slaughtered, and countless women and chil- 
dren had perished, or been rendered miser- 
able, to secure the conquest of it ! — Rohson. 

ISPAHAN, A.D. 1387.— The famous city 
of Ispahan, formerly the glory of Persia, was, 
in the year 1387, a scene of horror and blood- 
shed rarely paralleled in the history of war- 
fare. In that year, Timour invaded Persia, 
and laid siege to the city of Ispahan; the 
city at length fell into the hands of his troops, 
and the remorseless concjueror caused an in- 
discriminate massacre of the inhabitants. 
70,000 were slain, and their heads, piled on 
the walls of the city, long remained a revolt- 
ing memorial of the merciless severity of the 
victors. The city, under the government of 
the Sefis, gradually revived, but it did not 
regain its former grandeur until it became the 
residence of Shah Abbas the Great, who made 
it the metropolis of Persia. In 1722 Persia 
was invaded by the Affghans, and Ispahan, 
after enduring a siege of eight months, during 
which the adjacent country was laid waste 
by the barbarous policy of the enemy, was 
reduced to its present condition. The walls 
were so demolished that no traces of them 
are now visible ; the palaces and public build- 
ings were destroyed, and the inhabitants 
massacred without mercy. In 1727 it was 
retaken by Nadir Shah ; but he took no steps 
to restore it to its ancient glory. 

ISSUS, B.C. 333.— Darius, King of Persia, 
at the head of an immense army, marched 
toward tlie Euphrates, full of confidence that 
he could crush the invader, Alexander, as he 
would an obnoxious insect. The magnificent 
army of the Persians resembled more a tri- 
umphal procession than the march of an 
army. 



ISSUS. 



' 28Y 



The following was the order observed by- 
Darius during his march : 

Priests, bearing silver altars, on which fires, 
called by the Persians eternal and sacred, 
were burning. 

Magi, singing hymns of praise, accompa- 
nied by 365 youths clothed in purple robes. 

A car consecrated to the Persian god, 
drawn by white horses. 

The horse of the sun, a magnificent courser, 
elegantly caparisoned, on eitlier side of which 
were equerries, dressed in white, and holding 
golden rods in their hands. 

Ten chariots, adorned with sculptures in 
gold and silver. 

A body of cavalry, composed of twelve 
nations whose manners and customs were 
various, and all armed in a different man- 
ner. 

The Immortals, 10,000 Persians, clothed in 
robes of gold tissue, with sleeved surtouts 
adorned with precious stones, and wearing 
golden collars around their necks. 

Dignitaries of the king, 1,500 in number, 
clothed in habits much resembling those of 
women, and more remarkable for the gor- 
geousness of their dress than the glitter of 
arms. 

The Doryphory, a body of the king's guards, 
bearing the cloak of Darius. 

Darius, seated in a chair profusely orna- 
mented with gold and silver images of the 
gods. From the middle of the yoke, wliich was 
covered with jewels, rose two statues, a cubit 
in height, the one representing War, the 
other Peace, having between them a golden 
eagle with extended wings. The king was 
clothed in a vest of purple, striped with silver. 
Over this he wore a long robe, blazing with 
gold and precious stones, and embroidered 
with a representation of two falcons rushing 
from the clouds and pecking at one another. 
Around his waist he wore a golden girdle 
whence his cimeter hung, the scabbard flam- 
ing with gems. On his head was placed a 
tiara, or miter, round which tvas a fillet of 
blue mixed with white. 

Two hundred of the king's nearest relatives, 
marching on either side of the king's chariot. 

Ten thousand pikemen, whose pikes were 
adorned with silver and tipped with gold. 

Thirty thousand infantry, which composed 
the rear guard. 

The king's horses, 400 in number, led by 
their grooms. 

An interval of 120 paces. 

Chariot, containing Darius's mother. The 
chariot of the king's consort, svith female 
attendants, on horseback, on both sides fifteen 
large chariots, containing the king's children 
and their teachers, with eunuchs marching on 
either side. 

The king's concubines, 360 in number. 



Six hundred mules, and 300 camels, bear- 
ing the king's treasures, guarded by archers 
on both sides. 

Wives of the crown officers, sutlers, and 
servants of the army, in chariots. 

Body of light armed troops. 

With this immense army Darius continued 
his march across the plains of Assyria. In 
the mean time, Alexander advanced into the 
country as far as Taurus, and having detached 
Parmenio, vdth part of the army, to seize the 
pass of Cilicia, in order to secure a passage 
for his army into Syria, he proceeded to An- 
chiala. The cities of Taurus and Anchiala, it 
is said, were both built in one day by Sarda- 
napulus. Alexander next advanced to Soti, 
whence he returned to Taurus. He now 
heard that Darius, with his whole army, 
was encamped at Sochos, in Assyria, two 
days' journey from Cilicia. He immediately 
held a council of war ; and all his generals 
and officers intreated him to leadthem against 
the enemy. Accordingly he set out the next 
day to meet the enemy. Parmenio had taken 
Issus, a little city of Cilicia, and after possess- 
ing himself of the pass, he left a body of 
forces in the city to secure it. Alexander, 
having arrived at Issus, left his sick in that 
city, and marching his whole army through 
the pass, encamped near Myriandros, a Syrian 
city. Darius, having sent his treasure, with 
his most precious effects, to Damascus, a city 
of Syria, under a small convoy, marched the 
main body of his army toward Cilicia, and 
entered it through the pass of Amanus, so 
called from that mountain, which lies some 
distance northward of the pass of Cilicia. 
After marching in a westerly direction a short 
distance into Cilicia, he turned toward Issus, 
where he arrived, not knowing that Alexan- 
der was behind him, for he had been assured 
that this prince had fled before him. 

On learning that Alexander had passed 
into Syria, he barbarously put to death all 
the sick that were in the city, except a few 
soldiers, whom he dismissed, after making 
them view every part of his camp, in order 
that they might inform Alexander of the 
prodigious multitude of his forces. These 
soldiers made their way to Alexander's 
camp, and gave him the first information of 
the movements of the enemy. He was sur- 
prised at the news, and could scarcely beheve 
the report of the magnitude of the king's 
army. He immediately made preparations 
to march to meet the Persians. At day- 
break, the following morning, the army 
arrived at the place where Alexander had 
determined to engage the enemy. This was 
an extensive plain lying near the city of 
Issus, It was bounded on one side by 
mountains, and on the other by the Mediter- 
ranean sea. The mountains formed a hollow 



288 



ISSUS. 



like a gulf, the extremity of which, in a 
curve line, bounded part of the plain. The 
plain was cUvided nearly into two equal 
parts, by the river Pinarus, which ran from 
the mountains, through the plain into the 
sea. Alexander immediately drew up his 
army in battle array. On the right wing he 
posted first the Argyraspides, a body of 
infantry, highly distinguished for their brav- 
ery. They were commanded by Nicanor, 
and as they all carried silver sliiekls, they 
were very conspicuous. Next to them he 
placed the phalanx of Croenus and the troops 
of Perdiccas, which terminated in the center 
of the main army. On the extremity of the 
left wing he planted the phalanx of Amyn- 
tas, then that of Ptolemy, and lastly, that of 
Meleager. The cavalry were posted on the 
two wings ; the Macedonians and Thessalians 
on the right, and the Peloponnesians and 
other allies on the left. The extremity of 
the right wing was some distance from the 
mountains, while the left extended nearly to 
the sea. The whole army consisted of about 
30,000 foot, and 4,000 or 5,000 horse. Par- 
menio commanded the entire left wing, as- 
sisted by Crateus, who, acting under his 
direction, commanded the foot. Alexander 
reserved to himself the command of the right 
wing. He covered his horse in the right 
wing with the light horse troops of Protoma- 
chus and the Pteonians, and his foot with the 
bowmen of Antiochus. He reserved the 
Agrians, commanded by Attalus, and some 
forces that Avere newly arrived from Greece, 
to oppose the troops which Darius had 
posted on the mountains. Having heard 
that Alexander was marcliing toward him in 
battle array, Darius advanced with his army 
to meet him. He commanded 30,000 horse 
and 20,000 bowmen to cross the river 
Pinarus, that he might have an opportunity 
to draw up his army in a commodious man- 
ner on the hither side. In the center he 
posted the 30,000 Greeks in his service, who 
were, doubtless, the flower and chief strength 
of his army, and were not at all inferior to 
the Macedonian phalanx. On the right 
wing he posted 20,000 Cardacians, and as 
many more on the left. These were all 
heavily armed. The rest of the infantry, 
distinguished by their several nations, were 
ranged behind the first line. The depth of 
these lines must have been enormous, for the 
pass, when we consider the amazing multi- 
tude of the Persian forces, was comparatively 
narrow. On the mountains, at the right of 
the Macedonian army, Darius posted 20,000 
men, who were so arrayed by the curvatures 
of the mountain, that some of them were 
behind Alexander's army, and others before 
it. Darius, having set his army in battle 
array, made his cavalry cross the river again, 



and dispatched the greater part of them 
toward the sea, against Parmenio, because 
they could fight on that spot with greater 
advantage. The rest of liis cavalry he sent 
to the left toward the mountains. However, 
finding that these would be of no service on 
that side, as the spot was too narrow, he 
caused a large part of them to wheel about 
to the right. As for himself, he took hia 
post in the center of his army, according to 
the custom of the Persian monarchs. Alex- 
ander, observing that most of the enemy's 
horse was to oppose his left wing, wliich 
consisted only of those of Peloponnesus, and 
of some other allies, detached immediately to 
it the Thessalian cavalry, which he caused to 
wheel round behind his battaUons, to prevent 
their being seen by the enemy. He also 
posted on his left, before the infantry, the 
Cretan bowmen, and the Thracians of Sital- 
ces (a king of Thrace), who were covered by 
the horse. The foreigners in his service were 
behind all the rest. Perceiving that his right 
wing did not extend so far as the left of the 
Persians, which might surround and attack 
it in flank, he drew from the center of his 
army two regiments of foot, which he de- 
tached thitlicr, with orders for them to 
march behind, to prevent their being seen by 
the enemy. He also reinforced that wing 
with the forces which he had ofiered to the 
barbarians on the mountains; for, seeing 
they did not come down, he made the 
Agrians and some other bowmen attack 
them, and drive them toward th©. summit of 
it; so that he left only 300 horse to keep 
them in check, and sent the rest, as before 
observed, to reinforce his right wing, which, 
by this means, extended further than that of 
the Persians. The two armies being thus 
drawn up in order of battle on the opposite 
banks of the river, Alexander rode through 
his ranks, and entreated his troops to behave 
themselves vahantly during the approaching 
contest. At the conclusion of his exhorta- 
tions, the whole army set up a shout, and 
eagerly demanded to be led against the 
enemy. Alexander first advanced very 
slowly, to prevent the ranks from breaking, 
and halted by intervals ; but when he had 
arrived within bow-shot, he commanded all 
his right wing to plunge impetuously into 
the river purposely, that they might surprise 
the barbarians, come sooner to a close en- 
gagement, and be less exposed to the en- 
emy's arrows, in all of which he was emin- 
ently successful. Both sides fought with the 
utmost bravery and resolution, and being 
now forced to fight close, they charged on 
both sides, sword in hand. A dreadful 
slaughter followed. They engaged man to 
man, each one aiming his sword at the face 
of hia opponent. Alexander performed the 




\vw^'»^5~(|i'"''"i|';iwi|!!|||!ri|']|™i|i^ 



iliillli 



ISSUS. 



289 



duty both of a commander and a private 
soldier, wishing nothing so ardently as the 
glory of killing with his own hand, Darius, 
who, being seated on a high chariot, was 
conspicuous to the whole army, and was by 
that means a powerful object both to encour- 
age his own soldiers to defend him, and the 
enemy to attack him. 

And now the battle grew more furious and 
bloody than before. Many of the Persian 
nobility were killed. Each side fought with 
incredible bravery. Oxathres, brother to 
Darius, observing that Alexander was going 
to charge that monarch, rushed before his 
chariot with the horse under his command, 
and distinguished himself above all the rest. 
The horses that drew Darius's chariot, being 
quite covered with wounds, began to prance 
about, and shook the yoke so violently that 
they were on the point of overturning the 
king, who, afraid of falhng alive into the 
hands of the enemy, leaped down, and 
mounted another chariot. The rest of the 
Persians observing this, fled as fast as possible, 
and throwing down their arms made the best 
of their way. Alexander had received a shght 
wound in the thigh ; but happily it was not 
attended with ill consequences. While part 
of the Macedonian infantry (posted to the 
right) were pursuing the advantage they had 
gained against the Persians, the remainder 
of them, who engaged the Greeks, met with 
greater resistance. These, observing that the 
body of infantry in question was no longer 
covered by the right wing of Alexander's 
army, which was pursuing the enemy, came 
and attacked it in flank. The engagement was 
very bloody, and victory a long time doubt- 
ful. The Greeks endeavored to push the 
Macedonians into the river, and to recover 
the disorder into which the left wing had 
been thrown. The Macedonians also signal- 
ized themselves with the utmost bravery, in 
order to preserve the advantage which Alex- 
ander had just before gained, and support the 
honor of their phalanx, wliich had always 
been considered invincible. The Macedon- 
ians lost 121 of their best officers, among 
whom was Ptolemy, the son of Seleucus, 
who had all behaved -with the utmost gal- 
lantry. In the mean time the right wing 
which was victorious, under Alexander, after 
defeating all who opposed it, wheeled to the 
left against those Greeks who were fighting 
against the rest of the Macedonian phalanx 
charged them vigorously, and, attacking them 
in flank, entirely routed them. At the very 
beginning of the engagement, the Persian 
cavalry, which was in the right wing (with- 
out waiting for their being attacked by the 
Macedonians) had crossed the river, and 
rushed upon the Thessalian horse, several of 
whose squadrons were broken by it Upon 

19 



this the remainder of the latter, in order to 
avoid the impetuosity of the first charge, and 
induce the Persians to break their ranks, 
made a feint of retiring as if terrified by the 
prodigious numbers of the enemy. The 
Persians seeing this were filled with boldness 
and confidence, and thereupon the greatest 
part of them advancing without order or 
precaution, as to a certain victory, had no 
thoughts but of pursuing the enemy. Upon 
this the Thessalians, seeing them in such con- 
fusion, suddenly faced about and renewed the 
fight with fresh ardor. The Persians made 
a brave defense till they saw Darius put to 
flight, and the Greeks cut to pieces by the 
Macedonian phalanx. The routing of the 
Persian cavalry completed the defeat of the 
army. The Persians lost in this battle 100,- 
000 men, while the historian relates that 
Alexander lost only 150 horse and 300 foot. 
But the Macedonian loss must have been 
much greater. The Persian horses sufiered 
very much in the retreat from the great 
weight of the riders' arms ; not to mention 
that as they retired in disorder, and crowded 
in great numbers through the defiles, they 
bruised and unhorsed one another, and were 
more annoyed by their own soldiers than by 
the enemy. Beside this the Thessalian cav- 
alry pursued them with so much fury that 
they were as much shattered as the infantry 
and lost as many men. With regard to 
Darius, as was before observed, the instant 
he saw his left wing break, he was one of 
the first who fled, in his chariot, but getting 
afterward into craggy, rugged places, he 
mounted on horseback, and throwing down 
his bow, shield, and royal mantle, made good 
his escape. About 8,000 Greeks that were in 
Darius's service, retired over the mountains, 
toward Tripoli, in Syria. As for the bar- 
barians, having exerted themselves at first 
with enough bravery, they afterward gave 
way in a most shameful manner, and being 
intent upon nothing but saving themselves, 
they dispersed in every direction ; some struck 
into the high road which led directly to Per- 
sia, others ran into the woods and lonely 
mountains, and a small number returned to 
their camp, which the victorious army had 
already taken and plundered. Sysigambis, 
Darius's mother, and that monarch's queen, 
who was also his sister, had remained in it, 
and fell into Alexander's hands, with two 
; of the king's daughters, a son of his (a child), 
I and some Persian ladies. The other women 
had been carried to Damascus, with the 
greater part of Darius's treasure. No more 
than 3,000 talents ($2,200,000) were found 
in his camp ; but the rest of the treasure 
afterward fell into the hands of the Mace- 
I donians, under Parmenio, at his taking the 
city of Damascus. 



290 



JAFFA— JAMESTOWN. 



JAFFA, A.D. 1799.— On the 13th of March, 
1799, the army of Napoleon Bonaparte ap- 
peared before Jaffa, the ancient Joppa, in 
Palestine. The place was surrounded by a 
strong wall flanked by towers, and '\\'as oc- 
cupied by a garrison of 4,000 men. Bona- 
parte immediately opened Ms batteries on 
the place, and a breach was soon made in 
the walls. He then summoned the Turkish 
commandant to surrender; but the latter 
answered only by cutting off the head of the 
messenger. The French general now ordered 
an assault, and the soldiers, incensed at the 
murder of their comrade, rushed furiously to 
the assault, and carried the place with the 
utmost gallantry. Jaffa was given up for 30 
hours to pillage and massacre, and words can 
not depict the horrors of that fearful day. 
The French found here a considerable quan- 
tity of artillery and ammunition of all kinds, 
and nearly 2,000 Turks were made prisoners. 
•' Unable to send these men into Egypt," 
says Thiers, " for he had no suitable means 
for escorting them, and he would not increase 
the numbers of his enemies by sending them 
back, Bonaparte resolved on a terrible expe- 
dient, the only act of cruelty he ever commit- 
ted. He ordered the execution of all the pris- 
oners. The army obeyed the cruel mandate, 
but with reluctance and horror." " The body 
of prisoners," saya Scott, " were marched out 
of Jaffa, in the center of a large square battal- 
ion. The Turks foresaw their fate, but used 
neither entreaties nor complaints to avert 
it. They marched on silent and composed. 
They were escorted to the sandhills to the 
south-east of Jaffa, divided into three small 
bodies, and put to death by musketry. The 
execution lasted a considerable time, and 
the wounded were dispatched by the bayo- 
net. The bodies were heaped together, and 
formed a pyramid, w)iich is still visible, con- 
sisting now of human bones, as originally of 
bloody corpses." French historians endeavor 
to excuse this cruel act in the manner fol- 
lowing: "As to the charge of shooting three 
or four thousand Turks, some days after the 
taking of Jaffa, Napoleon said there were 
not so many ; they did not amount to more 
that 1,000 or 1,200. The reason was, that 
among the garrison of Jaffa, a number of 
Turkish troops were discovered, taken a short 
time before, who had been sent out on their 
parole not to serve again; but instead of 
keeping their word, had thrown themselves 
into Jaffa. However, before Bonaparte at- 
tacked Jaffa, he sent an officer, bearing a flag 
of truce, whose head immediately afterward 
they saw elevated on a pole over the wall. 
Now, if spared again, he inferred the same 



Turks would have gone to St. Jean d'Acre, 
and played the same part Qver again ; there- 
fore, in justice to the hves of his soldiers, 
he could not act otherwise than he did : he 
therefore, availed liimself of the rights of 
war." Speaking of this massacre. Napoleon 
himself said : "I would do the same tiling 
again to-morrow, and so would Welhngton, 
or any general commanding an army under 
similar circumstances." 

JAMESTOWN, A.D. 1781.— Jamestown, 
in James county, Va., is the name of a former 
village of which now nothing but ruins re- 
main. The first English settlement in tlie 
United States was founded here in 1608. It 
occupied a point of land projecting into 
James river 32 miles from its mouth. James- 
town was set in flames, and consumed to 
ashes, in the year 1G76, by the American 
patriot, Bacon and his companions. 

In the spring of 1781, Cornwalhs, with the 
British army, marched from Wilmington, N. 
C, and entered Virginia to join the invading 
forces of PhiUips and Arnold, at Petersburg. 
But learning that the forces of Lafayette, 
Steuben, and Wayne, were rapidly augment- 
ing, Cornwallis abandoned his attempts to 
capture stores in the heart of Virginia, and 
returned toward the sea-shore. He retreated 
to Richmond, and thence to Williamsburg. In 
his retreat he was closely pursued by La- 
fayette and Wayne, with an army of about 
4,000 men, of whom 2,100 were regular 
troops ; the balance being American miUtia, 
On the 4th of July, 1781, Cornwallis, having 
received orders from Sir Henry Clinton to 
return to New York, broke up his incamp- 
ment and marched for Jamestown Island. 
He made his dispositions so as to cover the 
ford ; and on the same evening the Queen's 
Rangers passed over to the island. The bag- 
gage of the army was conveyed to tlie island 
during the two succeeding days. Lafayette and 
Wayne kept a vigilant eye upon the move- 
ments of the British general, and upon learn- 
ing that Cornwallis had left Williamsburg, the 
patriot army advanced and incamped within 
nine miles of Jamestown. Lafayette resolved 
to fall upon the rear of the enemy, as soon as 
the main body of the British army should 
have passed over to Jamestown Island. 

Cornwallis, however, anticipating his de- 
sign, incamped with the greater portion of 
his army on the main land, and strengthened 
his position by casting up fortifications on the 
right bank of the Powhattan creek, near the 
Williamsburg road. He kept his troops close- 
ly concealed in a wood, and displayed the 
Queen's Rangers on the island to the best ad- 
vantage, and endeavored to convince Lafay- 



JARNAO— JEMAPPES. 



291 



ette that the main body of the army had in 
reality passed on to the island, while only the 
rear guard remained on the main land. 

The French general was deceived by these 
maneuvers of CornwaUis, and he resolved to 
make an attack at once on the rear guard. 
At three o'clock in the afternoon of the 6th 
of July, Lafayette advanced from Green 
Spring plantation, and marched toward the 
enemy. General Wayne, with about 800 
men, was sent forward to make the attack. 
Lafayette, with 900 men, followed slowly be- 
hind, in readiness to support Wayne, if nec- 
essary, while Steuben, with the main body 
of the miUtia, remained at Green Spring 
plantation to act as a reserve. The vanguard 
of Wayne's troops advanced rapidly, driving 
the enemy's pickets in before them. The 
Americans, confident of victory, were about 
to plunge into the woods to engage the ene- 
my hand-to-hand, when about 2,000 British 
troops, under Lieutenant-Colonel York on 
the right, and Lieutenant-Colonel Dundas on 
the left, suddenly sprang into view, and with 
loud shouts advanced toward the astonished 
Americans. The vanguard stood for ten 
minutes against this overwhelming array, 
fighting with a courage which seemed almost 
superhuman. But, borne back by the sweep- 
ing tide of the enemy, they retreated in con- 
fusion to Wayne's hue. General Wayne at 
once divined the stratagem which Cornwalhs 
had prepared for him, and in an instant he 
resolved upon a bold and perilous movement. 
The trumpeters were ordered to sound the 
charge, and when the shrill blast struck the 
ears of the Americans, a shout arose along 
their whole Hue, and, like madmen, they 
dashed through a tempest of bullets, and fell 
upon the British with a ferocity which drove 
them back in fear and astonishment. Then, 
as quick as lightning, a retreat was sounded, 
and the Americans, wheeHng about, fell back 
to Lafayette's hne. Bewildered by these 
sudden movements on the part of the enemy, 
the British commander, fearing an ambuscade, 
neglected to pursue, but during the evening 
called in his detachments, and crossed over 
to Jamestown Island three days afterward, 
and thence, by easy marches, proceeded to 
Portsmouth, opposite Norfolk. In this action, 
according to Lafayette, the Americans lost 
118 men, in killed, wounded, and missing. 
The British lost eighty, killed and wounded. 
Two pieces of cannon, which the Americans 
were compelled to abandon on the field, the 
most of their horses having been slain, fell into 
the hands of the British. The Americans re- 
mained in the vicinity of Williamsburg for 
nearly two months, when, on the arrival of 
the combined armies, they proceeded to be- 
siege CornwaUis at Yorktown. 

JARNAC, A.D. 1569. — Jarnac is situated 



on the right bank of the Charente, in France. 
On the 14th of March, 1569, was fought the 
famous battle near Jarnac, between the army 
of the Huguenots under the celebrated Prince 
of Conde, and the army of the Duke of An- 
jou. Both parties were nearly of equal 
strength, each army consisting of about 20,000 
men. The Huguenots were defeated with a 
loss of 400 men. The Prince of Conde, with 
his arm in a sling, from a wound which he 
had already received, at the head of 300 
mounted gentlemen was advancing to the 
fight, when his leg was shattered by the 
kick of the horse of an oSicer of his retinue. 
"Nobles of France!" exclaimed the heroic 
Conde, exhibiting liis wounded limb, and 
drawing liis sword, " see in what state Louis 
of Bourbon will charge for Christ and his 
country." But liis httle band was soon over- 
whelmed, and the prince, being unhorsed, 
surrendered to the Lord of Argency, with 
whose person he was acquainted, and was 
led aside from the field and seated under a 
tree ; but his capture had been perceived by 
the retinue of the Duke of Anjou,and Montes- 
quieu, a Gascon captain of the royal Swiss 
guards, rode up, and leveUng at the prince's 
back shot him dead on the spot. The Duke 
of Anjou testified the most indecent joy at 
the death of his enemy. He expressed a 
wish to see the corpse of the prince, which 
was conyeyed to him rudely thrown across 
the back of an ass; and, having treated it 
with indignity, and jested upon it with fero- 
cious levity, he notified his design of founding 
a chapel to mark the spot upon which the 
heretic breathed his last. The intention was 
abandoned upon a suggestion that such an 
act would strengthen belief in a rumor already 
widely spread, that the cold-blooded murder 
of the prince, even if not perpetrated by his 
express order, had at least received his ap- 
probation. 

JEMAPPES, A.D. 1792.— Near the village 
of Jemappes, in the vicinity of the city of 
Mons, in Flanders, was fought, on the 6th of 
November, 1792, a battle between the French 
repubhcan forces, under Dumourier, and the 
Austrian army, commanded by the Arch- 
duke Albert. The French army consisted of 
40,000 men; while that of the Austrians did 
not exceed 20,000. The artillery of both 
armies was nearly equal, each being provided 
with about 100 pieces of cannon. After a 
bloody conflict, victory declared in favor of 
the French. The Austrians were driven from 
the field at all points ; and retired within the 
city of Mons. Their resistance, however, 
had been so obstinate, that the loss on both 
sides was nearly balanced. The Austrians 
lost 6,000 men, in killed, wounded, and pris- 
oners, and 15 pieces of cannon. The French 
loss amounted to 5,000 men, killed and 



292 



JENA. 



wounded. In this battle, the Duke de Char- 
tres, afterward Louis Pliilippe, king of the 
French, behaved in a most valorous manner. 
JENA, A.D. 1806. — Jena, ever memorable 
as the scene of one of Napoleon's most bril- 
liant victories, is a town of central Germany, 
duchy of Saxe Weimar, on the Saale, 
twelve miles east of Weimar. Early in the 
month of October, 1806, was commenced 
that terrible struggle between the north and 
south of Europe, which ended only in the 
disastrous expedition of Napoleon into Rus- 
sia. On the 8th of October the French army 
was concentrated around Baumberg, and at 
three o'clock on the morning of the 9th, 
Napoleon put himself in motion, and his 
columns marched toward Saxony on three 
great roads. The Prussians, meanwhile, 
were advancing toward the left wing of the 
French, and the advanced posts of the two 
armies were in presence of each other. The 
Prussian army marched in echelon ; the right 
in front was pushed on to Eisenach ; next 
followed the center, commanded by Fred- 
eric Wilham, King of Prussia,, in person, 
which, united with the corps of Hohenlohe 
and Ruchel, was to advance on Saalfeld and 
Jena. Each wing was covered by a de- 
tached corps of observation, the right by 
Blucher, on the confines of Hesse, the left 
by Tauenzein, on the side of Bayreuth. The 
object of the Duke of Brunswick was to ap- 
proach the French army upon the Maine, 
which was the base of Napoleon's operations, 
and while occupying the attention of their 
wings by detached corps, penetrate their 
center, and cut off their communication with 
France. But when intelligence of the ad- 
vance of the French on the left and center 
of the Prussians reached the Duke of Bruns- 
wick's head-quarters, he renounced liis inten- 
tions, and orders were instantly dispatched 
to coimtermand the advance, and direct the 
concentration of the army in the neighbor- 
hood of Weimar. But before the Prussian 
forces could be concentrated, the army of 
Napoleon was already upon them, and the 
detached bodies of the Prussians Avere ex- 
posed to the attacks of the French. Schleitz, 
on the 9th of October, was occupied by Gen- 
eral Tauenzein, with 6,000 Prussians and 
3,000 Saxons. Here they were attacked by 
the troops of Bernadotte, with such vigor 
that they were put to rout, with a loss of 
nearly 1,000 men. On the 10th, Murat ad- 
vanced on Gera, and fell in with and cap- 
tured a convoy of 500 carriages and a pon- 
toon train, and the French left, under Lannes 
and Augereau, was no less successful. On 
the 10th, near Saalfeld, a division of the 
former general's corps, under General Su- 
chet, fell in with the Prussian advanced 
guard, under Prince Hohenlohe, commanded 



by Prince Frederic Christian Louis of Prus- 
sia, charged witli defending this post and the 
bridge over the Saal. A cannonade com- 
menced, and was continued nearly two 
hours. The Prussian horse were charged by 
the French cavalry, and overthrown, and 
their infantry was assailed by the French 
with such impetuosity that it was put to 
rout, and the prince himself, wliile combating 
bravely with the rear guard, and striving to 
restore order among the fugitives, was slain 
by a saber-stroke from a French officer of 
hussars, who, not knowing the rank of his 
adversary, laid him dead at his feet. In this 
struggle the Prussians lost 1,200 prisoners, 
besides 800 killed and wounded, and tliirty 
pieces of cannon; "but this," says Alison, 
"was the least part of their misfortunes. 
The heroic Prince Louis was no more ; he 
had fallen, it is true, wliile bravely combat- 
ing on the field of honor, but his body re- 
mained the trophy of the victors, and the 
continued advance of the enemy indicated 
that defeat had attended the first serious ex- 
ploit of the Prussian arms." When Lannes 
was informed of the death of the prince, he 
showed the body all the honors due to such 
an illustrious character. It was interred 
with all the honors of war in the cemetry of 
the Princes of Coburg, at Saalfeld ; and Ber- 
tliier wrote on the 12th to the chief of the 
Prussian staff, announcing that Napoleon had 
ordered the body to be restored if it was de- 
sired that it should rest in the tomb of liis 
ancestors. The disasters which immediately 
ensued rendered it impossible for the royal 
family at that time to accept the offer. 

Meanwhile, both sides prepared for a de- 
cisive battle. The Prussians at length con- 
centrated their forces in two great masses, 
under the king in the neighborhood of 
Weimar, and under Hohenlohe at Jena. The 
French made a sweep which brought them 
completely round the Prussian army. In 
the evening of the 12th, the army of Hohen- 
lohe was incamped beliind the heights of 
Jena, their masses extending beyond Wei- 
mar, as far as the eye could reach, and on 
the same night, the Kang of Prussia ad- 
vanced with his forces, under the immediate 
command of the Duke of Brunswick, toward 
Auerstadt, where he incamped on the even- 
ing of the next day. The army of the King 
of Prussia, at Auerstadt, consisted of 65,000 
men ; that of Hohenlohe, at Jena, numbered 
nearly 50,000. The united artillery of the 
two armies numbered 300 pieces ; and their 
cavalry was admirably mounted. Napoleon, 
not suspecting this division of the enemy's 
forces, was endeavoring with his wonted 
energy to overcome the all but insurmount- 
able difliculties of the passage of Landgrafen- 
berg, by which access was to be afforded to 



JENA. 



293 



his columns for the attack of the Prussian 
position. The valley of the Saal at Jena 
begins to widen. From the right bank, 
which is low, extends a series of marshy 
meadows; while the left, rising abruptly, 
presents lofty heights which overshadow the 
town of Jena. The Landgrafenberg is the 
loftiest of these heights, and has since been 
called, in honor of Napoleon's achievements, 
Napoleonsherg. The French light troops 
having dislodged the Prussian patrols from 
the heights of Landgrafenberg, Napoleon re- 
paired to them in person, and, being able to 
see the formidable position of the Prussians 
on the opposite ridge, and believing that he 
had their whole army on his hands, he 
pressed, without intermission, the march of 
his columns, and soon arranged the forces of 
Lannes, who first arrived with Ins infantry, 
above by the steep and rugged ascent to its 
summit in such formidable masses around its 
dechvities, that the Prussians, who were now 
sensible of their error in abandoning so im- 
portant a point, and were making prepara- 
tions to retake it, were obhged to desist from 
the attempt. 

This valuable height, therefore, from which 
the whole of the Prussian position and all 
the movements of their troops were distinctly 
visible, remained in the hands of the French ; 
and its elevation not only gave them the ad- 
vantage, but entirely concealed from their 
view, the rapid concentration of the troops 
on the Jena side of the mountain, which 
would have at once revealed the intention of 
a decisive attack on the following day. The 
difficulty of the ascent however, was not 
yet entirely surmounted ; for wagons and 
artUlery it was totally impossible. Nothing, 
however, could long withstand the vigor of 
Napoleon and his followers. He stood on 
the spot tin the most rugged parts of the as- 
cent were widened by blasting the rock, or 
smoothed by pioneers, and when the men 
were exhausted, revived their spirits by himself 
working with their tools, and exhibited liis 
old experience as a gunner in surmounting 
the difficulty of dragging the cannon up the 
pass. Before eight o'clock in the evening, 
the ascent was passable for cavalry and ar- 
tillery, and at midnight the whole corps of 
Lannes, with all its guns and equipage, re- 
posed in crowded array on the ridges and 
flanks of the mountain ; the Imperial Guard 
under Lefebvre bivouacked on its summit ; 
Augereau on its left ; Soult and Ney received 
orders to march all night on the right in or- 
der to turn the enemy after the combat was 
engaged by his left ; Murat was in reserve at 
Jena; while Davoust and Bernadotte were 
directed, the first to fall back to Naumburg, 
in order to threaten the enemy's rear, the 
second to advance to Dornberg and cut off 



his retreat to the Prussian territories. The 
two armies now reposed within cannon-shot ; 
the Ught of the Prussian fires dispersed over 
a space of six leagues, threw a prodigious 
glow over the whole heavens to the north- 
west ; those of the French, concentrated in 
a small space, illuminated the heights in the 
middle of their position. 

Napoleon was on horseback at four in the 
morning of the 14th, and surrounded by his 
generals rode along the front of the hne of 
Suchet and Gazan's divisions, which were 
first to be engaged, and were already under 
arms. The morning was dark and foggy, and 
Napoleon and his party, escorted by torch- 
bearers, presented a picturesque appearance 
as they moved along the hne. The emperor 
dehvered a spirited harangue to the soldiers, 
who received his words with loud acclama- 
tions which testified their eagerness to be 
led into battle. The Prussian outposts, igno- 
rant of the intentions of the enemy, reposed 
in fancied security on the opposite heights. 
Suddenly tliey were aroused to a sense of 
their danger by the appearance of the French 
battaUons moving through the mist toward 
them, in beautiful order. The alarm was 
given, and the Prussians springing to arms, 
made a gallant resistance, but they were 
driven back with great slaughter and the 
loss of 20 pieces of cannon. Meanwhile the 
whole Prussian army, alarmed by the sharp 
and incessant fire of musketry in their front, 
stood to their arms ; and reinforcements were 
sent to the points in advance which were 
menaced; but in spite of their efforts the 
French gained ground ; the villages of Clos- 
witz and Kospoda, at the foot of the emi- 
nence on which the lines of Hohenlohe were 
posted, were successively carried, and all the 
low grounds in front of his position were 
filled with troops. Lannes, having made 
liimself master of the village at the foot of 
the Prussian position, prepared to ascend the 
slope of the height on which they stood ; 
Ney was on the immediate right of Lannes, 
with his troops drawn up in hne or column 
on the open ground, and Augereau on the 
left was pressed forward to turn the Prussian 
flank. The Imperial Guard and Murat's cavalry, 
occupied the slope of the Langrafenberg as a 
reserve, and the whole French army, nearly 
90,000 strong, was ready to fall upon the 
Prussians with overwhelming force. Ho- 
henlohe saw the extent of his danger ; but 
his position was strong, and he hoped to 
maintain it until succor should arrive. In- 
structions were dispatched to Ruchel, who 
with 20,000 men was posted a short distance 
on the right, to hasten to the scene of action, 
and the Prussians prepared to make a vig- 
orous stand. The Prussians gradually retired 
toward their chosen ground as the French 



294 



JERBA-JERICHO. 



columns advanced. But tlie French in rapid 
succession carried the stronsrhokls of the en- 
emy. !N'ey, with au intrepid step, ascended 
the hill, aiid alter a shivrp conllict carried the 
villa.iie of Vierzehn-IIeiligeu in tlio center of 
the Prussiiin position ; and next assailed the 
right of the Prussian hue toward Isserstadt^ 
wiiich Aiigereau with the French left had 
already carried. The Prussians opened a fire 
along their whole right wing, wlucli for a 
time arrested the progress of tlie enemy ; 
but the French lulvaneed into the sheet of 
liame, and the allies of tlie Prussians in that 
quarter were compelled to give ground. 

On the left of Yierzehn-HeiUgen, however, 
the Prussians had gained some advantage; 
then- numerous and magnificent cavahy had 
made several successful charges on tlie 
French nitau'i.-y, when advancing on the open 
ground beyond its inolosures ; several cannon 
had been taken, and Hohenlohe for a short 
time flattered himself with the hope of ob- 
taining decisive success. 

Ruchel at tliis moment arrived near the 
field of battle, and Hohenlohe requested him 
to direct tlie bulk of his forces to the village 
of Tierzehn-Heihgen, already the theater of 
such desperate sti-ile ; but tlie French were 
too quick for him. Soult, by a well-directed 
fire, had driven the Prussian cavahy on their 
left, from the field, while Launes and Auge- 
reau, pressing them at once in front and 
flank on tlieir right, had forced back tlieir in- 
lautry over hah" a mile. The French forces 
advanced with loud shouts, driving Uie Prus- 
sians before them, and throwing into tliem 
such destructive volleys of musketry that tlie 
ground over wliich they retreated was strewn 
with their slain. Napoleon, from his station 
on the summit of Laudgrafenberg, saw tliat 
the decisive moment had arrived, and sent 
orders to Murat to charge with his cavahy, 
and complete tlie victory. With hghtning 
speed tliat terrible mass of 12,000 horsemen, 
in the finest array, and with shouts of tri- 
umph, divshed upon the flying Prussians. 
The hne of their charge was marked with 
gore; the Prussians were thrown into the 
direst disorder; their infantry, artillery, and 
cavalry, were thrown together in the wildest 
confusion. The artillerists fleeing before the 
bloody sabers of Murat, abandoned theii- 
pieces to the enemy, and the whole Prussian 
army thought of nothing but to escape. 

In the midst of tliis appalling scene the 
columns of Ruchel, stiU in battle array, 
emerged through the cloud of fugitives to 
stem tlie torreut; but they, too, were min- 
gled with the fugitives by the tremendous 
charges of Murat's horse and the French in- 
fantry. The ground was strewn with fresli 
Prussian corpses ; Ruchel himself was severely 
wounded, and his httle army was almost to- 



taUy annihilated. It was no longer a battle, 
but a massacre. In frightful disorder the 
whole army rusliod from the field ; but Soult 
with a rapid movoiiiont, cut ofl' the left wing 
and made the Prussians in that quarter pris- 
oners almost to a man. Nearly the whole of 
the artillery of the alHes fell into the hands 
of the French, and the victors entered Wei- 
mar, pell-mell with tlie fugitives, at the dis- 
tance of twelve miles from the field of battle. 
Behind "Weimar, Ilohenlohe at six o'clock, 
collected twenty squadrons, Avhosc firm coun- 
tenance, until nightfaU, gave some respite to 
the wearied foot-soldiei-s, who were dispersed 
through the fields in every direction. But 
tlie Prussian army was anniliilated. The 
battles of Jena and Auerstadt had opened 
the road to Berlin to Napoleon, and tliither 
he hastened, making thousands of prisoners 
on liis way, and entered the Prussian capital 
in triumph. See Jiatile of Auerstadt. 

JERBA, A.D. 1558. — In the year 1558, a 
bloody conflict took place between the Turks 
and the Spanish troops, under the command 
of Medinaceli and Andre, at Jcrba, an island 
of north Africa, in the gulf of Cabeo. A 
pyramid nearly thirty feet in height, was 
erected, composeil entirely of the skidls of 
the Spanish soldiers, who were slain in this 
engasrement. 

JERICHO, B.C. 1-451.— Shortly after the 
arrival of the Israehtes in tlie promised land, 
Joshua encountered an extraordinary per- 
sonage clothed in armor from head to foot, 
and armed with a sword. The Hebrew gen- 
eral questioned him whether he was friend 
or foe, and the answer assured him that he 
was convei-sing with a messenger from 
heaven. This angel gave Joshua very ex- 
plicit orders respecting the manner of con- 
ducting the siege of Jericho, and these ordere 
were imphcitly obeyed. The whole army 
marched around the city once each day for 
six successive days, with seven priests having 
ti-umpets, formed of rams' horns, in their 
hands. The armed men marched before the 
priests, wlule the rest of the people followed 
the priestly procession. On tlie seventh day, 
the march was commenced at early dawn, 
and the circuit was accomplished seven 
times. At the completion of tiie last, Joshua 
commanded all the people to shout, proclaim- 
ing that God had given them the immediate 
possession of the city. He was obeyed, and 
the walls instantly fell flat to the ground, and 
the conquerors entered the city, sword in 
hand, slaying every tiling that had Hfe ; spar- 
ing neither man nor woman, child nor beast 
The city was then set on fire, and every tiling 
was consumed, with the exception of the 
silver and gold, and vessels of iron and brass, 
which were reserved for the treasury of the 
house of the Lord- 



JERUSALEM. 



295 



JERUSALEM, b.c. 1048.— The modem 
city of Jerasaleni, Vjuilt about 300 years ago, 
stands on a hOl between two small valleys, in 
one of which the brook Gibon runs %vith a 
south-easterly course, tojoin the brook Kedron, 
in the narrow valley of Jehoshaphat, east of 
Jerusalem. 

No city in the world has enjoyed so much 
veneration as well as attention as Jerusalem, 
and yet no city has been subjected to more 
violence. Almost held in as much reverence 
by the Mohammedans as the Christians, the 
possession of the Holy City was equally a 
devotional object as a temtorial one, with the 
followers of both creeds. Jerusalem has 
been besieged more than twelve times, and, 
as in such contests, religion only seems to 
embiter enmities and enhance cruelties, the 
state of this otherwise favored city can have 
been no object of envy. 

First Siege, b.c. 1048. — After the death of 
Joshua, the tribes of Judah and Simeon, having 
united their forces, marched upon this already 
important place, with a formidable army. 
They took the lower city, and, faithful to the 
orders of Moses, slaughtered all who present- 
ed themselves to their fury. The upper city, 
called Sion, checked their victorious progress. 
The efforts of the Hebrews, during nearly 
foiar centuries, failed wliile directed against 
this citadel. The glory of carrying it was 
reserved for David. This hero, proclaimed 
king by all the tribes, wished to signalize his 
accession to the tlirone by the capture of 
Jerusalem ; but the Jebusites, who inhabited 
it, feeling convinced that their city was im- 
pregnable, only opposed his army with the 
bhnd, the lame, and the crippled. Enraged 
by tins insult, David made them pay dearly 
for their rude pride. He ordered a general 
assault; and Joab, mounting the breach at 
the head of a chosen troop, overthrew the 
infidels, pursued them to the fortress, entered 
with them, and opened the gates to the king. 
David drove out the inhabitants, repaired the 
walls, strengthened the fortifications, and es- 
tablished his abode in the city, which, from 
that time, became the capital of the kingdom 
of the Jews. 

Second Siege, b.c. 976. — In the reign of 
Rehoboam, the grandson of David, Shishak, 
King of Egypt, laid siege to Jerusalem, 
threatening to raze it wth the ground if any 
opposition were offered to his arms. The 
indignant people were eager to attack the 
enemy of their religion and their country, 
but Rehoboam, as cowardly as a warrior as 
he was imperious as a monarch, opened the 
gates of his capital to the haughty Egyptian, 
and quietly witnessecf the pillage of it. 

Third Siege, b.c 715. — In the first year 
of the reign of Ahaz, King of Judah, Rezin, 
King of Syria, and Pekah, King of Israel, 



presented themselves in warlike array before 
Jerusalem. Their design was to dethrone 
Ahaz and put an end to the dynasty of 
David. But their ambitious project was 
checked by the sight of the fortifications, and, 
after a few vain attempts, they retreated with 
disgrace. 

Soipe time after, the Holy City was at- 
tacked by a much more redoubtable enemy. 
Sennacherib, King of Assyria, claimed of 
HezekiaK the tribute wliich his weak father, 
Ahaz, had consented to pay ; and after hav- 
ing overrun Ethiopia, besieged him in his 
capital. The fate of Jerusalem seemed pro- 
nounced, and tlie kingdom was about to fall 
into the power of a haughty and irritated 
conqueror ; but the hand of Providence in- 
tervened ; a miraculous slaughter of the As- 
syrians took place in one night, and the army 
of Sennacherib retreated precipitately. 

Fourth Siege, b.c. 587. — Nebuchadnezzar, 
King of Babylon, took Jerusalem by force, 
and gave it up to pillage. He placed King 
Joachim in chains, and afterward released 
him upon his promising to pay tribute ; but 
that prince soon violated his engagement. 
Nebuchadnezzar reappeared, Jerusalem was 
again taken, and Joachim expiated his perfidy 
and revolt by liis deatL 

The impious Zedekiah, one of his suc- 
cessors, proud of an alliance contracted with 
the Egyptians, against the opinion of the pro- 
phet Jeremiah, ventured, as Joachim had 
done, to endeavor to avoid the yoke of the 
Chaldeans. Nebuchadnezzar, upon learning 
tliis, marched against liim, ravaged Judea, 
made himself master of the strongest places, 
and besieged Jerusalem for the third time. 
The Kjng of Etrypt flew to the assistance of 
his ally; but Nebuchadnezzar met him in 
open figlat, defeated him, and compelled him 
to seek shelter in the center of his states. 
Jerusalem, which had given itself up to a 
violent, transitory joy, became a prey to new 
terrors. The King of Babylon renewed the 
siege, and Zedekiah determined to behave 
like a man who has every thing to gain and 
nothing to lose. The city was blockaded, 
the enemy stopped aU supplies, and laid 
waste the country round. An immense 
population was shut up in the capital, which 
the circumvallation soon reduced to a fright- 
ful state of famine. A single grain of wheat 
became of incredible value, and water, which 
an extraordinary drought had rendered 
scarce, was sold for its weight in gold. A 
pestilence likewise, no less formidaljle than 
the famine, made terrible ravages. The 
streets were blocked up by dead bodies left 
without sepulture, whose fetid odor became 
fatal to the living. Desolation and despair 
stifled aU the feelings of nature ; mothers 
were seen slaughtering their infants, to re- 



296 



JERUSALEM. 



lease them from such calamities, and after- 
ward expiring upon their bleeding bodies. 

The enemy in the mean time pushed on 
the siege most warmly: the rams never 
ceased to batter the walls ; and vast wooden 
towers were erected, from the summits of 
which enormous stones were launched upon 
the heads of those whom famine and pesti- 
lence had spared. But even in this extremity 
the Jews persisted in their defense ; Zedekiah 
conceahng his alarm under a firm counte- 
nance, reassuring them by his words, and 
animating them by his example. The more 
impetuous the enemy, the more furious be- 
came the citizens. They opposed force by 
force, and art quickly destroyed whatever art 
devised. Eighteen months passed in tliis 
way, without any attention being paid to the 
voice of Jeremiah, who continued to press 
the inhabitants to throw open their gates, 
and by concession disarm the wrath of a 
power that must in the end overcome them. 
At length the enemy effected a great breach, 
and it became necessary to yield. Zedekiah 
marched out at a secret gate, at the head of 
the soldiery, but he was overtaken, loaded 
with chains, and led away into captivity, 
after witnessing the massacre of his cliildren, 
and after being deprived of the hght of day, 
which had too long shone upon his sacrileges. 
The conqueror made his triumphal entrance 
into Jerusalem ; he bore away all the riches 
of the temple, immolated the greater part of 
the inhabitants, and led the rest into slavery, 
after reducing the temple and the principal 
quarters of the city to ashes. Such was the 
first destruction of Jerusalem, richly merited 
by the impiety and vices of its inhabitants, 
1,468 years after its foundation by Melchise- 
deck, and nearly five hundred years after 
David wrested it from the power of the 
Jebusites. 

Many years after, Zerubbabel rebuilt it by 
permission of Cyrus, King of Persia ; Nehe- 
miah reinstated the fortifications. It submit- 
ted to Alexander the Great ; and after death 
had carried off that conqueror, withstood 
several sieges for a time ; but these were of 
trifling importance, though they generally 
terminated in the plunder of the Temple. 
This was the state of the Holy City up to the 
time of the great Pompcy. 

Fifth Siege, b.c. 63. — The Jews having 
refused a passage to the Roman army which 
was marching against Aristobulus, Pompey, 
highly irritated, sat himself down before their 
capital. The sight of this place, which nature 
and art appeared to have rendered impregna- 
ble, made him, for the first time, doubtful of 
the good fortune which had so often crowned 
his exploits. He was in this state of incerti- 
tude when the Jews of the city, with that 
want of true policy which distinguished them 



in all ages, divided themselves into two fac- 
tions. The one favorable to the Romans 
proving to be the stronger, opened the gates 
to Pompey, while the other, consisting of the 
partisans of Aristobulus, retired to the Tem- 
ple, to which the Roman general quickly laid 
siege. He raised vast terraces, upon which 
he placed balistas and other machines of war, 
the continual play of which drove away the 
defenders of the walls. But the Jews, whom 
nothing seemed to astonish, rendered tlie 
efforts of the Romans useless by their valor 
and perseverance. They defended themselves 
with so much art and intrepidity, that in the 
course of three months the Romans were 
only able to take one tower. But at length 
the vigorous obstinacy of tlie legions was 
crowned with its usual success ; the Temple 
was taken by assault, Cornelius Faustus, son 
of the dictator Sylla, at the head of a brave 
troop, being the first to enter the breach. All 
who ventured to show themselves were mas- 
sacred. Several sacrificers were immolated 
in the performance of their ministry. All 
who could escape the fury of the enemy 
either precipitated themselves from the 
nearest rocks, or, gathering together their 
wealth, after setting fire to it, cast themselves 
into the flames. Twelve thousand perished 
in tliis unfortunate instance. Pompey re- 
spected the treasures of the Temple, and 
crowned his victory by forbearance and 
generosity. 

Sixth Siege, b.c. 37. — Herod the Great 
had been declared king of the Jews by the 
Romans ; but Jerusalem refused to acknowl- 
edge him. This prince, aided by Sosius, 
whom Antony had sent to him with several 
legions, marched against that city, at the head 
of a numerous army. He laid siege to it, 
raised three platforms, which dominated over 
the towers, poured from their summits a con- 
tinuous shower of darts, arrows, and stones 
upon the besieged, and unceasingly battered 
the ramparts with rams and other machines 
he had brought with him from Tyre. But 
the Jews, still intrepid, despised death, and 
only sought to inflict it upon their assailants. 
If a wall was destroyed, another arose as if 
by magic. If a ditch was dug. it was ren- 
dered useless by a countermine, and they 
constantly appeared in the midst of the ■ be- 
siegers when least expected. Thus, without 
being depressed, either by frequent assaults 
or by the famine which now made itself 
cruelly felt, they resisted during five months 
the united efforts of the Romans and the 
Jewish partisans of Aristobulus. At length, 
both the city and the. Temple were carried 
by assault. Then death assumed one of his 
most awful characters. The Romans bathed 
themselves in the blood of an obstinate ene- 
my; and the Jews of the king's party, reject- 



JERUSALEM. 



29Y 



jng every feeling of humanity, immolated to 
their fury every one of their own nation 
whom they met in the streets and houses, or 
even found in the temple. Herod, however, 
by means of prayers, promises, and menaces, 
at length obtained a cessation of this horrible 
butchery, and to prevent the pillaging of the 
city and the Temple, he generously offered 
to purchase them of the Romans with his 
own wealth. This capture of Jerusalem oc- 
curred thirty-seven years before Christ, on the 
very day on which Pompey had carried it by 
assault twenty-seven years before. 

Seventh Siege, a.d. 66. — Toward the end 
of the reign of Nero, in the sixty-sixth year 
of the Christian era, under the pontificate of 
Mathias, the son of Theophilus, began the 
famous war of the Jews against the Romans. 
The tyranny, the vexations, the sacrileges of 
the governors were the causes of it. Tired 
of groaning so long under a foreign yoke, the 
Jewish nation behoved they had no re- 
source left but in despair. Fortune at first 
appeared favorable to them; the Romans 
were beaten several times; but Vespasian, 
whom the Roman emperor had charged with 
this war, was soon able, by the exercise of 
skill, prudence, and valor, to attract fortune 
to his standards, and to keep her there. After 
having subdued the whole of Palestine, he 
was preparing to commence the blockade of 
Jerusalem, when his army recompensed his 
virtues with the empire. The new emperor 
assigned to his son Titus the commission of 
subduing the rebels and laying siege to the 
capital. 

Jerusalem, built upon two very steep 
mountains, was divided into three parts — the 
Upper City, the Lower City, and the Temple, 
each having its separate fortifications. The 
Temple was, so to say, the citadel of the two 
cities. Several thick and very lofty walls 
rendered access to it impracticable ; by the 
side of it stood a fortress which defended it, 
called Antonia. A triple wall, which occu- 
pied the space of 300 stadia, surrounded the 
entire city : the first of these walls was 
flanked by ninety very lofty and strong 
towers ; that of the middle had only fourteen, 
and the ancient one sixty. The noblest of 
these towers were called Hippicos, Phazael, 
and Mariamne, and could only possibly be 
taken by famine. At the northern extremity 
was, still further, the palace of Herod, which 
might pass for a strong citadel. It thus be- 
came necessary for Titus, to make himself 
master of Jerusalem, to form several success- 
ive sieges ; and whatever part the assailants 
carried, they seemed to leave the strongest 
untouched. Such was the place which Titus 
came to attack with soldiers accustomed to 
war and victory ; and, in spite of their valor, 
it is more than probable he would have failed. 



if cruel intestine divisions had not marred all 
the noble efforts of the unfortunate city. 

A troop of brigands, headed by Eleazer, of 
the sacerdotal tribe, whom impumty had 
allowed to gather together, threw themselves 
into Jerusalem. These lawless men, who 
assumed the w^ell-sounding name of the Zea- 
lots, profaned the Temple with the greatest 
crimes, and subjected the citizens to most of 
the misfortunes of a city taken by assault by 
a cruel enemy. This faction, as might be 
expected, however, soon became divided, and 
turned its arms against itself A wretch 
named John of Giscala, supplanted Eleazer, 
and made himself sole chief of the Zealots. 
The latter, jealous of the authority of his 
rival, separated himself from him, and, hav- 
ing recovered an interest with a considerable 
number of partisans, took possession of the 
interior of the Temple, and thence made 
attacks upon the troops of John. On another 
side, Simon, the son of Gioras, whom the 
people in their despair had called in to their 
succor, seized upon the supreme authority, 
and held almost the whole city under his 
power. These three factions carried on a 
continual strife with each other, of which the 
people were always the victims : there was 
no security in their dwelhngs, and it was im- 
possible to leave the city, of which the fac- 
tions held all the means of egress. All who 
dared to complain or to speak of surrender- 
ing to the Romans, were immediately killed ; 
fear stifled speech, and constraint kept even 
their groans within their own hearts. When 
Titus had reconnoitered the place, brought 
up his army, and commenced operations, 
these tyrants, seeing the danger which 
tlireatened them equally, suspended their 
divisions and united their forces with the 
hope of averting the storm. They made, in 
rapid succession, several furious sorties, which 
broke through the ranks of the Romans, and 
astonished those warlike veterans ; but such 
trifling advantages were not likely to affect 
such a man as Titus : he made another tour 
of the city to ascertain upon what point it 
could be best assailed, and, after his foresight 
had taken all necessary precautions to insure 
success, he set his machines to work, ordered 
the rams to maintain an incessant battery, 
and commanded a simultaneous attack upon 
three different sides. "With great exertions, 
and after a contest of fifteen days, he carried 
the fh-st wall, in spite of the spirited resistance 
of the besieged. 

Animated by this success, he ordered the 
second to be attacked ; he directed his rams 
against a tower which supported it, obliged 
those who defended it to abandon it, and 
brought it down in ruins. This fall made 
him master of the second rampart five days 
after he "had taken the first ; but scarcely had 



•208 



JERUSALEM. 



he time to congratulate himself upon tliis ad- I 
vantage, when the besieged fell upon him, i 
penetrated his ranks, caused the veterans to | 
waver, and retook the wall. It became uec- j 
cssary to reeomiuenoe the attack upon it: [ 
it was contested during four days upon many ' 
points at once, and the Jews were at length , 
compelled to yield. Titus by no means [ 
wished for the destruction of Jerusalem, and 
with a view of leading the inhabitants back 
to their duty by intimidation, he made a re- '. 
view of liis troops. There has seldom been a 
spectacle more capable of insphing terror — 
the mind can not contemplate tliese conquer- 
ors of the world passing in review before 
such a man as Titus, without something like 
awe. But the seditious Jews, for they sel- 
dom deserve a better name, would not hsten 
to any proposals for peace. Being convinced ' 
of tliis, the Roman general tUvided his army, 
for the purpose of making two assaults upon 
the fortress Antonia ; he nevertheless, before 
proceeding to this extremity, made one more 
effort to bring the rebels to reason. He sent 
to them the historian Josephus, as more likely 
than any other person to pei-suade them, he 
being a Jew, and having held a considerable 
rank in his nation. This worthy envoy made 
them a long and pathetic discoui-se to induce i 
them to have pity on themselves, the sacred j 
temple, the people and tlieir country; he i 
pointed out to them all tlie evils that would ; 
fall upon them if they did not hsten to his i 
prudent advice; he recalled to their minds 
the misfortunes which had overwhelmed their 
fathei-s when they had ceased to be faithful 
to their God, and the miracles which had ; 
been worked in then- favor when they had 
observed his commands : he bore witness to I 
the truthfulness of his own feeUng by enthng 
his harangue with a flood of tears. The fac- 
tions, however, only laughed at him and his \ 
eloquence ; and yet many of his hearers were 
convinced, and, endeavoring to save them- 
selves, sold all they had for small pieces of 
gold, which they swallowed for fear the ty- 
rants should rob them of them, and made 
their way to the Roman ranks. Titus re- 
ceived them with kindness, and permitted 
them to go whither they wished. As these 
continued to escape daily, some of the Roman 
soldiei-s learned tlie secret of the concealed 
gold, and a report prevailed in the camp that 
the bodies of these fugitives were filled with 
treasures. They seized some of them, ripped 
them open, and searched among tlieir entrails 
for the means of s;\tist'ying tlieir abominable 
cupidity. 2,000 of these miserable wretches 
perished in tliis manner. Titus conceived 
such a horroi^ at this, that he would have 
punished the perpetrators with deatli, if their 
numbers had not exceeded those of their vic- 
tims. He continued to press the siege closely : 



after having caused fresh terraces to be 
erected, to replace those the enemy had de- 
stroyed, he held a council with his principal 
othcei"s : most of them proposed to give a gen- 
end assault; but Titus, who was not less 
sparing of the blood of his soldiere tlian ho 
was procUgal of his own, was of a contrary 
opinion. The besieged, he Siiid, were de- 
stroying one another; what occasion could 
there be to expose so many brave warriors to 
the fury of these desperate rufiiaus? He 
formed the project of surrounding the place 
with a wall, wliich would not allow the Jews 
to make any more sorties. The work was 
distributed among all tlie legions, and was 
completed in three days. It was then that 
the miserable factions began for the first time 
to despair of their safety. 

If the troubles without the walls were 
great, those which consumed the unhappy 
city were still more terrible. "Who can paint, 
exclaims Josephus, tlie fearful eflects of the 
famine which devoured these unfortunates ? 
It increased every day ; and the fury of the 
seditious, more redoubtable than this scourge 
itself, increased with it They held no prop- 
erty sacred ; every tiling was torn fi-om the 
unliappy citizens. A closed door denoted 
provisions within : they forced it open, and 
snatched tlie morsels "from the moutlis of 
those about to swallow them, with brutal 
violence. They struck down old men ; they 
dragged women by the hair, without regard 
to either age, sex, or beauty ; they spared not 
lisping innocence. Such as still had any por- 
tion of food, shut themselves up in the most 
secret places of tlieir dwellings, swallowed the 
grain without crushing it, or glutted them- 
selves with raw flesh, for fear the odor of 
cooking it should attract the inhuman inquis- 
itoi-s. Fleshless men, or rather phantoms, 
with dried-up visages and hollow eyes, drag- 
I ged themselves along to corners, where fam- 
I ine speedily relieved them by death. So 
! great was the number of the dead, that the 
] living had neither strength or courage to 
I bury them ! There were no more tears — the 
1 general calamities had dried up the source of 
, them ! No more siglis were heard ; hunger 
I had stifled all the feeUngs of the soul I A 
I famished multitude ran hither and thitlier, 
I and seized eagerly upon that which would 
j have been rejected by tlie most unclean ani- 
i mals. At length, a woman, noble and rich, 
; at\er being despoiled of every thing by her 
I own want and the greedy fury of the mob, 
I weary of preparing food for these insatiable 

brigands, and left hersetf without a moi-sel of 
j nourishment, consumed by a devouring hun- 
I ger, proceeded, in her fury, to the most un- 
I heard-of crimes. StitUng in her heart the 

cry of nature, she tore from her bosom the 
, iui'ant she was supporting with her milk, and, 



JERUSALEM. 



299 



casting upon the innocent babe fierce and 
terrible glances, " Unhappy little wretch !" 
exclaimed she, " why wast thou bom amidst 
war, famine, and seditious tumult? Why 
dost thou still live ? What fate awaits thee 
— servitude ? No ; famine prevents it ; and 
the implacable tyrants who oppress us are 
still more to be dreaded than either the one 
or the other. Die then ! and be food for thy 
famished mother!" At these words, the 
maddened parent slaughtered her child, 
cooked it, ate part of it, and carefully con- 
cealed the rest. The mob, attracted by the 
odor of this abhoirent feast^ rushed in from 
all parts, and threatened to kill the woman 
if she did not instantly show them the food 
she had prepared. "I have saved you a 
good portion of it," said she, pointing to the 
mangled remains of her child. At this spec- 
tacle, even they recoiled ; human for the first 
time, they remained silent and motionless; 
they could not beUeve their eyes. " It is my 
boy I" cried she ;;' " I killed him : surely you 
can eat after me. Are you more delicate 
than a woman, or more tender than a moth- 
er ? If ferocity has not stifled every scruple 
within you — if you do hold such food in hor- 
ror, I will devour the rest myself." Base 
and degraded as they were, terrified at such 
a crime, they slunk away from the house, 
cursing so detestable an action. The report 
soon spread throughout the city ; and every 
one was as horror-struck as if he himself had 
perpetrated the frightful deed. All wished 
for death, and envied those whom famine had 
carried off without witnessing such a catas- 
trophe. Tlie news reached the Roman camp ; 
and Titus determined to put an end to such 
crimes by a general assault. 

An escalade of the Tetople was under- 
taken, but the besieged repulsed the Romans. 
The latter set fire to the porticos, and the 
flames gained the galleries without the Jews 
making the least attempt to extinguish them. 
At length the besieged determined to make 
one last effort, and deliver themselves, if 
possible, from an enemy who pressed them 
so closely, or perish with swords in their 
hands, selling tlie little life they had lefi;, dear- 
ly. They made an impetuous sortie from a 
gate of the Temple, fell upon the Romans, 
broke tlirough their ranks, and would have 
driven them to their camp, if Titus, who be- 
held the combat from the summit of the fort- 
ress Antonia, had not flown promptly to the 
succor of the vanquished. Fresh troops 
changed the fortune of the day; the Jews 
were overwhelmed by numbers, and con- 
strained to shut themselves up in the Temple : 
the prince commanded an assault for the next 
day. But, at that moment, a soldier, with- 
out having received orders for the attempt, 
and as if moved by a supernatural impulse, 



prevailed upon a companion in arms to lift 
liim up, and threw a blazing brand into one 
of the windows of that vast and superb edi- 
fice. The fire immediately caught some com- 
bustible matter ; the Jews perceived it, and 
uttering loud cries, made strong but useless 
efforts to .stop the conflagration. Titus him- 
self, with his army, hastened to assist in ex- 
tinguishing it. The excited soldier only 
thought of completing his work, and, with 
another brand, defeated the wishes and en- 
deavors of his general : the flames consumed 
every tiling, and this famous temple was re- 
duced to ashes in the second year of the reign 
of Vespasian. The Romans made a great 
carnage ; but the revolters, by a fresh attack, 
retarded their destruction for a short time, 
and took up cantonments in the city, and 
in the three towers, Hippicos, Phazael, and 
Mariamne. The conquerors prepared to be- 
siege them, but, at the sight of the macliines, 
the revolters became intimidated, and sought 
for safety in precipitate flight, leaving the 
Romans masters of every thing : they plun- 
dered the city, killed tens of thousands of the 
inhabitants, and spread flame and destruction 
in all quarters. Titus was declared impera- 
tor, an august title which he richly merited 
by his valor and generalship : he entered Je- 
rusalem in triumph, and admired the beauty 
and solidity of the fortifications, but, with the 
exception of the three towers, he caused them 
all to be destroyed. The accounts given by 
some historians of the numbers of the slain 
and the prisoners, appear to us incredible ; 
one statement avers tliat there were 1,100,000 
of the former, and 97,000 of the latter. John 
was found concealed in one of the city sewers, 
and was condemned to perpetual imprison- 
ment by the Romans. Simon was forced to 
surrender, aft.er a valiant defense ; he formed 
part of the triumph of the victor, and was 
afterward pubUcly executed at Rome. Elea- 
zer, who retired to an untenable fortress, de- 
stroyed himself. Jerusalem, which yielded 
in magnificence to no city of Asia — ^which 
Jererciah styles the admirable city, and David 
esteems the most glorious and most illustrious 
city of the East, was thus, in the seventieth 
year of the Christian eia, razed to the ground, 
and presented nothing but a heap of stones. 
The Emperor Adrian afterward destroyed 
even its ruins, and caused another city to be 
built, with the name of ^lia, from his own, 
so that there should be notliing left of the 
ancient Jerusalem. Christians and Jews 
were equally banished from it; paganism ex- 
alted its idols, and Jupiter and Venus had 
altars upon the tomb of Christ. Amid such 
reverses, the city of David was nearly for- 
gotten, when Constantine restored its name, 
recalled the fiiithful, and made it a Christian 
colony. The length and importance of this 



300 



JERUSALEM. 



siege may be accounted for by the strength 
of the fortifications. Its founders, says Taci- 
tus, having foreseen that the opposition of 
their manners to those of other nations would 
be a source of war, had given great attention 
to its defenses, and, in the early days of the 
Eoman empire, it was one of the strongest 
places in Asia. 

The admirable account given by Josephus 
of the Roman armies may serve as a lesson 
to all peoples untd the arrival of that happy 
millennium, when the lion shall he down with 
the lamb, and war shall be no more ; that is, 
when man has completely changed his 
nature, and has ceased to be governed by 
his passions. 

He says : " Now here we can not but ad- 
mire the precaution of the Romans, in pro-- 
viding themselves with such household serv- 
ants, as might not only serve at other times 
for the common offices of life, but might also 
be of advantage to them in their wars. And, 
indeed, if any one does but attend to their 
military discipline, he will be forced to con- 
fess that their obtaining so large a domin- 
ion hath been the acquisition of their valor, 
and not the bare gift of fortune, for they do 
not begin to use their weapons first in time 
of war, nor do they then put their hands first 
into motion, wloile they avoided so to do in 
time of peace ; but, as if their weapons did 
always cling to them, they have never any 
truce from warlike exercises; nor do they 
stay till times of war admonish them to use 
them, for their mihtary exercises differ not at 
all from the real use of their arms ; but every 
soldier is every day exercised, and that with 
great diligence, as if it were in time of war, 
which is the reason why they bear the 
fatigue of battle so easily; for neither can 
any disorder remove them from their usual 
regularity, nor can fear affright them out of 
it, nor can labor tire them ; which firmness 
of conduct makes them always to overcome 
those that have not the same firmness ; nor 
would he be mistaken that should call those 
their exercises unbloody battles, and their 
battles bloody exercises. Nor can their en- 
emies easily surprise them with the sudden- 
ness of their incursions ; for, as soon as they 
have marched into an enemy's land, they do 
not begin to fight till they have walled their 
camp about; nor is the defense they can 
raise rashly made, or uneven ; nor do they 
all abide in it, nor do those that are in it 
take their places at random ; but if it hap- 
pens that the ground is imeven, it is first 
leveled. Their camp is four-square by meas- 
ure, and carpenters are ready in great num- 
bers with their tools, to erect their buildings 
for them." 

Such was the system of the great " nation 
of the sword," differing, perhaps, but little, 



except in the scale upon which it operated, 
from that of Sparta. The machines employ- 
ed by the Romans were the artificial tower, 
with its drawbridges, catapultae, balistas, and 
rams: the weapons — -javelins, darts, arrows, 
pikes, stones, swords, and daggers, with the 
shield or buckler. 

Eighth Siege, a.d. 613. — In the reign of 
Heraclius, a countless host of Persians — 
fire- worshipers — under the leadership of 
Sabar, poured like a torrent upon Palestine, 
and carried their ravages to the gates of 
Jerusalem, of which they took possession. 
Nearly 100,000 Christians perished on this 
occasion: the great eastern inundations of 
hordes of barbarous conquerors, being always 
effected by numbers, necessaaily produce an 
amount of carnage in the vanquished which 
is sometimes staggering to our behef. But 
the loss most felt by the Christians was that 
of the holy cross, wliich the conqueror car- 
ried away with him, in a case sealed with 
the seal of Zachariah, then Patriarch of Jeru- 
salem. The Holy Sepulchre and the churches 
were given up to the flames. 

Ninth Siege, a.d. 635. — The Roman em- 
peror soon regained possession of the city ; 
but scarcely was it beginning to recover the 
shock sustained from the fire-worshipers, 
when it became the prey of a much more 
powerful race of fanatics. In 635, the Sara- 
cens, under the command of Khaled, the 
most redoubtable general of Arabia, laid 
siege to it. The first attack lasted ten days, 
and the Christians defended themselves with 
heroic courage. During four months, every 
day brought its sanguinary conflict ; but at 
length, the unfortunate citizens, being with- 
out hope of succor, yielded to the persever- 
ance of the Mussulmans, and by the means 
of the patriarch Soplu-onius, capitulated with 
the Caliph Omar in person. The following 
are the conditions of this treaty, wliich after- 
ward served as a model to the Mohammedans : 
" In the name of the All-Merciful God, Omar 
Ebn-Alklietlab, to the inhabitants of ^lia 
(the name given to it by its restorer, JEUus 
Adrianus). They shall be protected; they 
shall preserve their hves and their property. 
Their churches shall not be destroyed, but 
they shall erect no new ones, either in the 
city or its territories ; they alone shall enjoy 
the use of them. They shall not prevent 
Mussulmans from entering them, by day or 
night; the doors of them shaU be open to 
passers-by and to travelers. If any Mussul- 
man who may be traveling, should pass 
through their city, he shall be entertained 
gratis during three days. They shall not 
teach the Koran to their children ; they shall 
not speak publicly of their own religion, and 
shall make no efforts to induce others to era- 
brace it. They shall not prevent their kin- 



JERUSALEM. 



301 



dred from becoming Mussulmans, if they 
should be so disposed; they shall show 
respect to Mussulmans, and shall rise up 
when they wish to be seated. They shall 
not be clothed like Mussulmans ; they shall 
not wear the same caps, shoes, or turbans. 
They shall not part their hair as the Mussul- 
mans do; they shall not speak the same 
language, or be called by the same names. 
On horseback they shall use no saddles ; they 
shall carry no sort of arms, and shall not 
employ the Arabian language in the inscrip- 
tions upon their seals. They shall not sell 
wine; they shall be distinguished by the 
same description of clothes, wherever they 
go, and shall always wear girdles. They 
shall erect no crosses upon their churches, 
and they shall not exhibit their crosses or 
their books publicly in the streets of the 
Mussulmans. They shall not ring their bells, 
but shall content themselves with tolling 
them. They shall never take a domestic 
who has served a Mussulman." They were 
obliged to ratify this act of servitude, and to 
open the gates to the Saracens, who took 
possession of their conquest. 

Tenth Siege, a.d. 1099. — "We now come 
to one of the most remarkable sieges of this 
extraordinary city. In the eleventh century, 
after a lapse of 400 years, during which it 
had passed from the hands of the Saracens 
to those of the Seldjouc Turks, Jerusalem, a 
Mohammedan city, was beleaguered by the 
great band of Christian adventurers who had 
left Europe for the express purpose of deliv- 
ering it. 

With the earliest dawn, on the 10th of 
June, 1099, the Crusaders ascended the 
heights of Emmaus. All at once, the Holy 
City lay before them. "Jerusalem! Jerusa- 
lem!" was shouted from every lip, but was 
soon repeated ^vith bated breath and bended 
knee, when all that belonged to that city re- 
curred to the minds of the brave adven- 
turers. The rear ranks rushed through 
those that preceded them, to behold the 
long-desired object, and their war-cry, " God 
wills it! God wills it!" re-echoed from the 
Hill of Sion to the Mount of OUves. The 
horsemen alighted humbly from their steeds, 
and walked barefoot. Some cast themselves 
upon their knees, while others kissed the 
earth rendered sacred by the presence of the 
Saviour. In their transports, they passed 
from joy to sorrow, from sorrow to joy. At 
one moment they congratulated each other 
at approaching the great end of their labors ; 
in the next, they wept over their sins, over 
the death of Christ, and over his profaned 
tomb ; but aU united in repeating the oath 
they had so many times made, of dehvering 
the city from the sacrilegious yoke of the 
Mussulmans. 



At the time of the Crusades, Jerusalem 
formed, as it does now, a square, rather 
longer than broad, of a league in circumfer- 
ence. It extended over four hills ; on the 
east, the Moriah, upon which the mosque of 
Omar had been built, in the place of the 
Temple of Solomon ; on the south and west, 
the Acra, which occupied the whole width 
of the city ; on the north, the Bezetha, or 
the new city; and on the north-west, the 
Golgotha, or Calvary, which the Greeks con- 
sidered tlie center of the world, and upon 
wliich the Church of the Resurrection was 
built. In the state in which Jerusalem then 
was, it had lost much of its strength and ex- 
tent. Mount Sion no longer rose within its 
precincts, and dominated over the walls be- 
tween the south and the west. The three 
valleys which surrounded its ramparts had 
been in many places filled up by Adrian, and 
access to the place was much more difficult, 
particularly from the north. Jerusalem, 
however, had had to sustain several sieges 
while under the domination of the Saracens, 
and its fortifications had not been neglected. 

While the Crusaders had been so slowly 
advancing toward the city, the caliph's lieu- 
tenant, Istekhar-Eddaulah, ravaged the neigh- 
boring plains, burned the villages, filled up or 
poisoned the cisterns, and made a desert of 
the spot upon which the Christians were 
doomed to be given up to all sorts of mis- 
eries. He brought in provisions for a long 
siege, and called upon all Mussulmans to re- 
pair to the defense of Jerusalem. Numberless 
workmen were employed, day and night, in 
constructing macliines of war, raising the 
fallen walls, and repairing the towers. The 
garrison of the city amounted to 40,000 men, 
and 20,000 inhabitants took up arms. 

On the approach of the Cliristians, some 
detachments left the city, to observe the 
march and plans of the enemy. They were 
repulsed by Baldwin du Bourg and Tancred, 
the latter hastening from Bethlehem, of which 
he had just taken possession. After pursuing 
the fugitives to the gates of the Holy City, 
he left his companions, and strayed alone to 
the Mount of Olives, whence he contemplated 
at leisure the city promised to the arms and 
devotion of the pilgrims. He was disturbed 
in his pious contemplations by five Mussul- 
mans, who left the city for the purpose of 
attacking him. Tancred did not seek to avoid 
the combat ; three Saracens fell beneath his 
powerful arm, and the other two fled back 
to Jerusalem. Without hastening or retard- 
ing his steps, Tancred rejoined the army, 
which, in its enthusiasm, was advancing 
without order, and descended the heights oif 
Emmaus, singing the words of Isaiah — " Je- 
rusalem, lift up thine eyes, and behold the lib- 
erator who cometh to break thy chains/" 



302 



'.JERUSALEM. 



On the day after tlieir arrival, the Crusa- 
ders formed the siege of the place. The 
Duke of Normandy, the Count of Flanders, 
and Tancred, incamped upon the north, from 
the gate of Herod to the gate of Sedar, or 
St. Stephen. Next to these Flemings, Nor- 
mans, and Italians, were placed the English, 
commanded by Edgar Atheling; and the 
Bretons, led by their duke, Alain Fergent, 
the Sire de Chateau Giron, and the Viscount 
de Dinar. Godfrey, Eustache, and Baldwin 
du Bourg, estabhshed their quarters between 
the west and the north, around the extent of 
Calvary,from the gate of Damascus to the 
gate of Jaffa. The Count of Toulouse planted 
his camp to tlie right of Godfrey, between 
the south and the west ; he had next him 
Raimbard of Orange, Wilham de MontpelUer, 
and Gaston de Beam: his troops extended 
at first along the declivity of Sion, but a few 
days after, he erected his tents upon the top 
of the mountain, at the very spot where 
Christ celebrated the Passover with liis dis- 
ciples. By these dispositions the Crusaders 
left free the sides of the city which were de- 
fended, on the south by the valley of Gihon, 
or Siloe, and toward the east of the valley of 
Jehoshaphat. 

Every step around Jerusalem recalled to 
the pilgrims some remembrance dear to their 
religion. Tliis territory, so revered by the 
Christians, had neither valley nor rock which 
had not a name in sacred history. Every 
thing they saw awakened or warmed their 
imagination. But that which most inflamed 
the zeal of the Crusaders for the deUverance 
of the city, was the arrival among them of a 
great number of Christians, who, deprived 
of their property and driven from their houses, 
came to seek succor and an asylum amid 
their brethren of the West. These Christians 
described the persecutions which the wor- 
shipers of Christ had undergone at the hands 
of the ilussulmans. The women, children, 
and old men were detained as hostages ; all 
who were able to bear arms were condemned 
to laboy exceeding their strength. The head 
of the principal hospital for pilgrims, together 
with a great niimber of Christians, had been 
thrown into prison. The treasures of the 
churches had been plundered to support the 
Mussulman soldiery. The patriarch Simon 
had gone to Cyprus, to implore the charity 
of the faithful to save his flock from threatened 
destruction, if he did not pay the enormous 
tribute imposed by the oppressors of the Holy 
City. Every day the Christians of Jerusa- 
lem were loaded with fresh outrages; and 
several times the infidels had formed the pro- 
ject of giving them up to the flames, and 
completely destroying the Holy Sepulchre, 
with the Church of tlie Resurrection. The 
Christian fugitives, wliile making these dole- 



ful recitals to the warlike pilgrims, earnestly 
exliorted them to attack Jerusalem. In the 
early days of the siege, an anchorite, who 
had fixed his retreat upon tlie Mount of 
Olives, came to join his entreaties to those of 
the banished Clu-istians, to persuade the Cru- 
saders to proceed to an immediate assault; 
he urged his suit in the name of Christ, of 
whom he declared himself the interpreter. 
The Crusaders, who had neither ladders nor 
machines of war, gave themselves up to the 
councils of the pious hermit, and believed 
that their courage and their good swords 
would suffice to overthrow the ramparts of 
the Saracens. The leaders, who had seen 
such prodigies enacted by the valor and en- 
thusiasm of the Christian soldiers, and who 
had not forgotten the prolonged miseries of 
the siege of Antioch, yielded without diffi- 
culty to the impatience of the army ; in ad- 
dition to which, the sight of Jerusalem had 
exalted the spirits of the Crusaders, and ren- 
dered the least credulous hopeful that God 
would second their bravery by miracles. 

At the first signal, the Cliristian army ad- 
vanced in good order toward the ramparts. 
Never, Bay historians, was so much ardor 
witnessed in the soldiers of the Cross ; some, 
serried in close battalions, covered themselves 
with their bucklers, which formed an impen- 
etrable vault over their heads, and gave tlieir 
utmost eflbrts to shake the walls with pikes 
and hammers ; whilst others, ranged in long 
files, remained at some distance, employing 
sUngs and cross-bows to drive away the en- 
emies from the ramparts. Boiling oil and 
pitch, immense stones and enormous timbers, 
fell upon the first ranks of the Christians, 
without stopping their labors. The outward 
Avail had already crumbled beneath their 
blows, but the interior wall presented an in- 
vincible object. Escalade was the only means 
left. This bold method was attempted, al- 
though they could only find one ladder long 
enough to reach the top of the walls. The 
bravest mounted it, and fought hand to hand 
Avith the Saracens, who were astonished at 
such audacity. The Crusaders would most 
probably have entered Jerusalem that very 
day, if they had had the necessary war in- 
struments and macliines ; but the small num- 
ber who were able to attain the top of the 
walls could not maintain themselves there. 
Braverv was useless; Heaven did not accord 
the miracles promised by the hermit, and the 
Saracens at length forced the assailants to 
retreat. 

The Christians returned to their camp, de- 
ploring their imprudence and their creduiUty. 
This fiirst reverse taught them that they could 
not reckon upon prodigies, and that they 
must, before they could expect to succeed, 
construct some macliinee of war. But it 



JERUSALEM. 



303 



was difficult to procure the necessary wood 
in a country which presented nothing but bar- 
ren sand and arid rocks. Several detachments 
were sent to search for wood in the neigh- 
boring plains. Chance led them to the dis- 
covery of some immense beams in the depths 
of a cavern, and Tancred had them trans- 
ported to the camp. They demolished all 
the houses and churches that had escaped 
the flames; and every stick of wood that 
the Saracens had not destroyed, was em- 
ployed in the construction of the machines. 
Notwithstanding the discoveries, the work 
did not keep pace with the impatience of the 
Crusaders, or prevent the evils which threat- 
ened the Christian army. The great summer 
heats commenced at the very time the pil- 
grims arrived before Jerusalem. A blazing 
sun, and southern winds laden with the sands 
of the desert, heated the atmosphere to an 
intolerable degree. Plants and animals per- 
ished; the torrent of Cedron was dried up; 
all the cisterns around were either choked 
or poisoned. Beneath a sky of fire, in a 
burning and arid country, the Cliristian army 
soon found itself a prey to all the horrors of 
tliirst. 

The fountain of SUoe, which only flowed 
at intervals, could not suffice for the multi- 
tude of pilgrims. A skin of fetid water, 
fetched three leagues, was worth two silver 
deniers. Overcome by thirst and heat, the 
soldiers were seen digging the soil with their 
swords, thrusting their hands into the freshly- 
turned earth, and eagerly carrying the humid 
particles to their parched lips. During the 
day, they anxiously looked for night; and 
during the night panted for dawn, in the 
ever-disappointed hope that the return of 
the one or the other would bring some de- 
gree of freshness or some drops of rain. 
Every moi-ning they were to be seen gluing 
their burning lips to the marbles which were 
covered with dew. During the heat of the 
day the most rolDust languished under their 
tents, without having even strength to im- 
plore Heaven for rehef 

The knights and barons were in no respect 
exempt from the scourge under which the 
army suffered; and many of them daily ex- 
changed for water the treasures obtained 
from the infidels. " The grief of this extreme 
thirst," says the old translator of WiUiam of 
Tyre, " was not so great for the foot soldiers 
as for the horsemen ; the foot soldier could 
content himself with a little, but the horse- 
men could only satisfy their horses with co- 
pious ch-aughts. As to the beasts of burden, 
there was no more account taken of them 
than of so many dead creatures ; they were 
allowed to wander away at will, and died of 
thirst." 

In this state of general misery, the women 



and children dragged themselves about the 
country in search of a spring, or coohng 
shades which had no existence. Many of 
these, wandering too far from the army, fell 
into the ambuscades of the Saracens, and lost 
either their Hves or their hberty. When a 
pilgrim discovered a spring or a cistern in a 
secluded spot, he concealed it from his com- 
panions, or forbade their approaching it. 
Violent quarrels arose in consequence, and it 
was not uncommon to see the soldiers of the 
Cross contending, sword in hand, for a little 
muddy water. The want of water was so 
insupportable, that famine was scarcely per- 
ceived or thought of: tlie heats of thirst and 
of the climate made them careless of food. 

If the besieged had then made a spirited 
sortie, they would have easily triumphed 
over the Crusaders ; but the latter were de- 
fended by the remembrance of their exploits, 
and, however great their distress, then- name 
alone still inspired terror among the Saracens. 
The Mussulmans might, hke\\'ise, well be- 
hove tliat their enemies could not long resist 
the double scourge of hunger and thirst. 

The leaders were fully aware there was no 
other remedy for the ills they labored under 
but the capture of Jerusalem ; but the labors 
of the siege went on slowly ; they had not 
yet enough wood for the construction of 
machines ; they wanted laborers and the nec- 
essary implements. 

The wisest and the bravest, in such a crit- 
ical situation, were beginning to despair of 
the success of the holy enterprise, when they 
were cheered by a succor as welcome as it 
was unexpected. They learned that a Gen- 
oese fleet had entered the port of Joppa, 
laden with provisions and munitions of all 
kinds. Tliis ncAvs spread joy through the 
Christian army ; a body of 300 men left the 
camp to go and meet the convoy, which 
Heaven appeared to have sent to the Cru- 
saders in their misery. The detachment, 
after having beaten the Saracens they met 
with on their passage, entered the city of 
Joppa, which had been abandoned by its in- 
hajjitauts, and was occupied by the Genoese. 
The Crusaders learned that the Genoese fleet 
had been surprised and burned by that of the 
Saracens, but that they had had time to secure 
the jjro visions, and a great number of imple- 
ments and tools. All that was saved was 
safely conveyed to the camp ; and it afforded 
the Crusaders additional joy to find that the 
welcome supply was attended by a great 
number of Genoese engineers and carpen- 
ters. 

As wood was still short for the construc- 
tion of the machines, a Syrian conducted the 
Duke of Normandy, and the Count of Flan- 
ders, to a mountain situated 30 miles from 
Jerusalem. It was here the Christians found 



804 



JERUSALEM. 



the forest, of which Tasso speaks in the 
" Jerusalem Delivered." The trees of this 
forest were not forbidden to the axe of the 
Crusaders, either by the enchantment of Is- 
men, or the arms of the Saracens : cars drawn 
by oxen transported it in triumph to the 
walls of Jerusalem. 

AU the leaders, except Raymond of Tou- 
louse, were in want of money to pay for the 
labors they had commanded. The zeal and 
charity of the pilgrims came to their relief; 
many offered all they had left of the booty 
conquered from the enemy; knights and 
barons themselves, became laborious work- 
men ; all at length were employed — every 
thing in the army was in movement : women, 
children, and even the sick, shared the labors 
of the soldiers. Wliile the most robust were 
occupied in the construction of rams, catapul- 
tas, and covered galleries, others fetched in 
skins the water they drew from the fountain 
of Elperus, on the road to Damascus, or from 
the rivulet which flowed on the other side of 
Bethlehem, toward the desert of St. John; 
some prepared the skins wliich were to be 
stretched over the machines to make them 
proof against fire ; while others traversed the 
neighboring plains and mountains, to collect 
branches of the olive and fig-trees to make 
hurdles and fascines. 

Although the Christians had still much to 
suffer from thirst and the heat of the climate, 
the hope of soon seeing an end to their labors, 
gave them strength to support them. The 
preparations for the assault were pressed on 
with incredible activity ; every day some new 
formidable machine threatened the ramparts 
of the Saracens. Their construction was di- 
rected by Gaston, of Beam, of whose bravery 
and skill historians speak loudly. Among 
these machines were three enormous towers 
of a new form, each having three stages : the 
first destined for the workmen who directed 
the movements of it, and the second and 
third, for the warriors who were to make the 
assault. These rolling fortresses rose to a 
greater height than the walls of the besieged 
city ; on the top was a species of drawbridge, 
which could be lowered on to the ramparts, 
and form a road into the place. 

But these powerful means of attack were 
not the only ones which were to second the 
efforts of the Crusaders. The religious en- 
thusiasm which had already performed such 
prodigies, again lent its influence to aug- 
ment their ardor and confidence in victory. 
The clergy, spreailing themselves through 
the quarters, exhorted the pilgrims to peni- 
tence and concord. The solitary from the 
Mount of Olives, added liis exhortations to 
those of the clergy ; and advised the Crusa- 
ders to make the tour of Jerusalem, invok- 
ing the mercy and protection of Heaven. 



The pilgrims, persuaded that the gates of 
the city were not less likely to open to de- 
votion than bravery, listened with docility to 
the exhortations of the hermit, whose counsel 
they conceived to be the language of God 
himself. After a rigorous fast of three days, 
the left their quarters, in arms, and marched 
barefooted, with heads uncovered, around 
the walls of the holy city. They were pre- 
ceded by their priests clothed in white, bear- 
ing the images of saints, and singing psalms 
and spiritual songs; the ensigns were un- 
furled, and the drums and trumpets called 
the echoes from the hills and valleys. 

The Crusaders set out from the valley of 
Rephraim, which is opposite Calvary; they 
advanced toward the north, and on entering 
the valley of Jehoshaphat, saluted the tombs 
of Mary, St. Stephen, and the first elect of 
God. Wliile continuing their march toward 
the Mount of Olives, they contemplated with 
respect the grotto in which Christ shed the 
sweat of blood, and the spot where the Sa- 
viour of the world wept over Jerusalem. 
When they arrived at the summit of the 
mountain, the most imposing spectacle pre- 
sented itself to their eyes : on the east they 
beheld the plains of Jericho, the shores of the 
Dead Sea, and the banks of the Jordan ; on 
the Avest, the holy city lay at their feet, with 
its territoiy strewn with sacred ruins: as- 
sembled on the very spot whence Christ as- 
cended into Heaven, and where they anx- 
iously looked for the vestiges of his steps, 
they hstened to the exhortations of their 
priests and bishops. Arnoul de Rohes, chap- 
lain to the Duke of Normandy, addressed 
them in a pathetic discourse, conjuring them 
to redoul)le their zeal and perseverance. In 
terminating his address, he turned toward 
Jerusalem : " You behold," said he, " the her- 
itage of Christ defiled by the impious : here 
is at length the worthy reward of all your 
labors : these are the places in which God 
will pardon you all your sins, and bless your 
victories." At the voice of the orator, who 
pointed to the Church of the Resurrection, 
and the rocks of Cavalry, ready to receive 
them, the defenders of the Cross humbled 
themselves befoje God, and fixed their looks 
intensely upon Jerusalem. 

As Arnoul pressed them in the name of 
Christ to pardon injuries and love one 
another, Tancred and Raymond, who had 
long had differences, embraced in the pres- 
ence of the whole army ; the soldiers and 
other leaders followed their example. The rich 
promised to assist with their alms the poor 
and the orphans who bore the cross. All for- 
got their fatal discords, and swore to remain' 
foithfiil to the precepts of evangelic charity. 

Whilst the Crusaders were thus giving 
themselves up to transports of devotion and 



JERUSALEM. 



305 



piety, the Saracens assembled upon the ram- 
parts raised high in the air crosses, which 
they loaded with outrages ; they insulted the 
ceremonies of the Christians by their gestures 
and clamors. " You hear," exclaimed Peter 
the hermit, " you hear the menaces and 
blasphemies of the enemies of the true God ; 
swear to defend Christ, a prisoner and cruci- 
fied a second time by the infidels. You be- 
'hold him expiring a second time on Calvary 
for the redemption of your sins." At these 
words, the conubite was interrupted by the 
cries and groans of indignation which arose 
on all parts around him. " Yes, I swear by 
your piety," continued the orator, "I swear 
by your arms, the reign of the impious draws 
near to its end. The army of the Lord has 
only to appear, and all that vain mass of 
Mussulmans will fade away like a shadow. 
To-day full of pride and insolence, to-morrow 
they will be frozen vtith terror, and will fall 
motionless before you, as did the guardians 
of the sepulchre, who felt their weapons 
escape from their hand, and sunk dead with 
fear when an earthquake announced the 
presence of a Grod upon Calvary, where you 
are about to mount to the breach. Yet a 
few moments, and those towers, the last bul- 
warks of the infidel, will be the asylum of 
Christians; those mosques, which rise upon 
Christian ruins, will serve as a temple to the 
true Grod, and Jerusalem will once again 
listen to nothing but the praises of the 
Lord." 

At these last words of Peter, the most 
lively transports burst from the Crusaders, 
they embraced again and again, with tears 
pouring down their embrowned cheeks, ex- 
horting each other to support the evils and 
fatigues of which they were about to receive 
the glorious reward. The Christians then 
came down from the Mount of Olives to re- 
turn to their camp, and, taking their route 
toward the south, saluted on their right the 
tomb of David, and passed close to the Pool 
Siloe, where Christ restored sight to the 
blind ; they perceived at a distance the ruins 
ot the palace of Judah, and marched along 
the decUvity of Mount Sion, where other 
remembrances added to their enthusiasm. 
Toward evening, the Christian army regained 
their quarters, repeating the words of the 
prophet : " Tliey of the West shall fear the 
Lord, and they of the Bast shall behold His 
glory." When they had re-entered the 
camp, most of the pilgrims passed the night 
in prayer ; the leaders and the soldiers con- 
fessed their sins at the feet of their priests, 
and received their G-od, whose promises 
filled them with confidence and hope. 

While matters were going on thus in the 
camp, the most profound silence reigned 
around the walls of Jerusalem, only broken 

20 



by the voices issuing from hour to hour fi-om 
the minarets of the mosques, to call the faith- 
ful to prayer. The infidels flocked in crowds 
to their temples to implore the protection of 
their prophet, and swore by the mysterious 
stone of Jacob to defend a city which they 
called the house of God. The besieged and 
the besiegers were stimulated by the same 
ardor to fight and shed their blood : the for- 
mer to preserve Jerusalem, the latter to make 
the conquest of it. The hatred which ani- 
mated them was so violent, that, during the 
whole of the siege, no deputed Mussulman 
came to the camp of the Christians, and the 
Christians never once deigned to summon 
the garrison to surrender. Between such 
enemies, the shock must be terrible and the 
victory implacable. 

It was resolved, in a council of the leaders, 
to take advantage of the enthusiasm while it 
was at its height, and execute the assault. 
As the Saracens displayed a great number of 
machines on the side of the city which ap- 
peared to be most threatened by the Chris- 
tians, it was determined to change the dis- 
positions of the siege, and that the principal 
attack should be directed toward the points 
where the enemy had made no preparations 
for defense. 

During the night Godfrey removed his 
quarters to the eastward, toward the gate of 
Cedar, not far from the valley in which Titus 
incamped when his soldiers penetrated into 
the galleries of the temple. The rolling 
tower, and the other macliines of war which 
the Duke of Lorraine had caused to be bui't. 
were transported, with incredible eflPorts, in 
front of the walls he wished to attack. Tan- 
cred and the two Roberts drew up their 
machines between the gate of Damascus and 
the angular tower, which was afteward called 
Tancred's Tower. 

At break of day the Saracens, on behold- 
ing these new dispositions, were seized with 
astonishment and terror. The Crusaders 
might have taken advantage of the contusion 
inspired in this change; but upon a steep 
ground it was dhficult to bring their machines 
close to the walls. Raymond, in particular, 
who was charged with the attack on the 
south, found himself separated from the ram- 
parts by a ravine, which it was necessary for , 
him to fill up. He caused it to be proclaimed 
by a herald that he would pay a denier to 
every person who would cast three stones 
into it. A crowd of people instantly flocked 
to the aid of the soldiers — a shower of darts 
and arrows fi-om the ramparts producing no 
effect upon the ardor and zeal of the labor- 
ers. At length, by the end of the third day, 
all was completed, and the leaders gave the 
signal for a general assault. 

On Thursday, the 14th of July, 1099, as 



306 



JERUSALEM. 



soon as day appeared, the clarions resounded 
in the camp of the Christians ; all the Cm- j 
saders flew to arms ; all the machines were i 
put in motion at once ; pedereros and man- i 
gonnels vomited a shower of stones against 
the enemy ; while, protected by the tortoises 
and covered galleries, the rams were brought 
up close to the walls. The archers and cross- 
bowmen kept up a continuous discharge at 
the ramparts, while the bravest, covered with 
their bucklers, planted ladders in places where 
the walls appeared most assailable. On the 
south, the east, and the north of the city, the 
three rolling towers advanced toward the I 
ramparts, amid tumultuous noise, and the 
shouts of the workmen and soldiers. God- : 
frey appeared upon the highest platform of 
his wooden fortress, accompanied by his i 
brother Eustache, and Baldwin du Bourg. j 
He animated his men by his example ; every 
javelin he hurled, says the historians of the 
times, carried death to a Saracen. Raymond, 
Tancred, the Duke of Normandy, and the ' 
Count of Flanders, fought among their sol- ; 
cUers ; the knights and men-at-arms were ! 
animated Ijy the same ardor as the principal | 
leaders, and eagerly sought every point where 
danger threatened most. 

Nothing could equal the fury of the first 
charge of the Christians, but it everywhere 
met with an obstinate resistance. Arrows, 
javelins, boiling oil, the Greek fire, and four- 
teen machines, which the besieged had had 
time to oppose to those of their enemies, re- 
pelled on all sides the attacks and the efforts 
of the assailants. The infidels, issuing by a 
breach made in their rampart, attempted to 
burn the machines of the besiegers, and 
spread disorder throughout the Christian 
' army. Toward the end of the day the tow- 
ers of Godfrey and Tancred could not be 
made to move ; Raymond's had sunk into 
ruins. The combat had lasted twelve hours 
without victory being at all inclined to favor 
the Crusaders ; — night separated the combat- 
ants. The Christians returned to their camp, 
trembling with rage and grief; the leaders, 
particularly the two Roberts, could not con- 
sole themselves, from the idea that God had 
not yet thought them worthy to enter the Holy 
City, and worship the tomb of his Son. 

The night was passed on both sides in a 
state of anxious inquietude, each deploring 
their losses, and trembling at the prospect of 
fresh ones. The Saracens expected a sur- 
prise ; the Christians feared that the Saracens 
would burn the machines they had left at 
the foot of the ramparts. The besieged were 
employed in repairing the breaches made in 
their walls; tlie besiegers in attempting to 
put their machines in a state for another 
attack. The following day brought the same 
combats and the same dangers as the preced- 



ing one. The leaders endeavored to revive 
the courage of the Crusaders by their 
speeches. The priests and bishops went 
among the tents of the soldiers, announcing 
the certain succor of Heaven. The Christian 
army, filled with new confidence in victory, 
appeared under arms, and advanced in silence 
toward the points of attack, wliile the clergy 
walked in procession round the city. 

The first shock was impetuous and terrible. 
The Christians, indignant at the resistance 
they had met with the day before, fought 
with fury. The besieged, who had learned 
the arrival of an Egyptian army, were ani- 
mated by the hopes of victory ; formidable 
machines covered' their ramparts. Javelins 
were heard hissing on all sides ; stones and 
large timbers, launched by the Christians and 
infidels, met in the air with a fearful crash, 
and feU upon the assailants. From the 
height of their towers the Mussulmans in- 
cessantly hurled blazing torches and fire-pots. 
The wooden fortresses of the Christians ap- 
proached the walls amid a conflagration 
wliich seemed spreading in all directions. 
The infidels directed most of their efforts 
against the tower of Godfrey, upon wMch 
glittered a cross of gold, the sight of which 
provoked their fury and their insults. The 
Duke of Lorraine had seen one of his esquires 
and several of his soldiers fall by his side, 
himself a mark for all the arrows and darts 
of the enemy, he fought on amid the dead 
and the wounded, never ceasing to shout en- 
couragement to his companions in arms. 
The Count of Toulouse, who attacked the 
city on the south side, opposed all his ma- 
chines to those of the Mussulmans ; he had 
to contend with the Emir of Jerusalem, who 
animated his troops by his words, and show- 
ed liimself upon the wall§, surrounded by the 
elite of the Egyptian soldiery. Toward the 
north, Tancred and the two Roberts appear- 
ed at the head of their battalions. Motion- 
less upon their rolling fortress, they looked 
impatient to be wielding lance and sword. 
Ah'eady their rams had, upon several points, 
shaken the wall, behind which the Saracens 
closed their ranks, and presented themselves 
as a last rampart to the attack of the Cru- 
saders. 

In the midst of the combat, say the his- 
torians, two female magicians appeared upon 
I the ramparts of the city, appealing to the ele- 
ments and the powers of hell. They were 
not able to avoid the death they invoked 
upon the Christians, and fell beneath a 
shower of arrows and stones. Two Egypt- 
ian emissaries, who had come from Ascalon 
I to exhort the besieged to defend themselves, 
were surprised by the Crusaders as they 
were seeking to obtain entrance into the 
city. One of them fell covered with 



JERUSALEM. 



sol 



wounds ; the other, after having revealed the 
secret of his mission, w^as launched, by means 
of a maclaine, on to the ramparts where the 
Saracens were fighting. 

Tlie combat had lasted half the day, with- 
out the Crusaders being able to entertain any 
hope of penetrating into the place. Ail their 
machines were on fire ; they wanted water, 
but more particularly vinegar, which alone 
had the power to extinguish the kind of fire 
launched at them by the besieged. In vain 
the bravest exposed themselves to the great- 
est dangers, to prevent the destruction of all 
the wooden machines and the rams; they 
fell, buried under the ruins, and the raging 
flames devoured even their bucklers and 
their vestments. Many of the most intrepid 
warriors had found death -at the foot of the 
ramparts ; a great number of those mounted 
on the towers had been placed hors cle com- 
hai ; others, covered with sweat and dust, 
smothered with heat, and staggering under 
the weight of their armor, began to lose 
courage. The Saracens, who perceived this, 
uttered loud cries of joy. In their blasphem- 
ies, they reproached the Christians with 
adoring a God who was not able to help 
them. The assailants deplored their lot, and 
beUeving themselves abandoned by Christ, 
remained motionless on the field of battle. 

But the combat was about to cliange its 
character. All at once the Crusaders beheld, 
on the Mount of OHves, a horseman, waving 
his buckler, and giving the Christian army 
the signal to enter the c\\j. Godfrey and 
Raymond, who perceived him first, and at 
the same moment, cried out that St. George 
was come to the succor of the Christians. 
The tumult of the fight allowed of neither 
reflection nor examination, and the sight of 
the celestial horseman fired the besiegers 
with fresh ardor. They returned to the 
charge; even the women, the children, and 
the sick crowded into the mtUe^ bringing 
water, food, and arms, and uniting their 
efforts with those of the soldiers to get the 
rolUng towers, the dread of the enemy, 
nearer to the walls. That of Godfrey ad- 
vanced, amid a terrible discharge of stones, 
arrows, and Greek fire, and let fall its draw- 
bridge upon the wall. Fiery darts flew at 
one and the same time against the machines 
of the besiegers, and against the sacks of 
straw and hay, and the bales of wool which 
covered the inner walls of the city. The 
wind kindled the fires, and drove the flames 
fuU upon the Saracens, who, enveloped in 
fire and smoke, recoiled at the aspect of the 
lances and swords of the Christians. God- 
frey, preceded by the two brothe»s, Lethalde 
and Engelbert of Tournay, nnd followed by 
Baldwin du Bourg, Eustache, Raimbaud, 
Creton, Guicher, Bernard de St. Vallier, and 



Amenjeu d' Albret, broke tlirough the en- 
emy, pursued them, and rushed with them 
into Jerusalem. The brave men who had 
fought upon the platform of the tower with 
their intrepid leader, folloAved them into the 
streets, and massacred all they met with on 
their passage. 

At the same time, a report was spread in 
the Christian army, that the holy pontiff 
Adhemar, and several Crusaders who had 
died during the siege, had appeared at the 
head of the assailants, and unfurled the ban- 
ners of the Cross upon the towers of Jerusa- 
lem. 

Tancred and the two Roberts, ani- 
mated by tliis account, made fresh efforts, 
and threw themselves into the place, accom- 
panied by Hugh de St. Paul, Gerard de 
Eoussillon, Louis de Mousson, Conon and 
Lambert de Montargis, and Gaston de Beam. 
A crowd of heroes follow them closely; 
some enter by a half-open breach, others 
scale the walls with ladders, many spring 
from the wooden towers. The Mussulmans 
fly on all sides, and Jerusalem resounds with 
the victory-cry of the Crusaders, Ood wills 
it ! Ood wills it ! The companions of God- 
frey and Tancred hew down the gate of 
St. Stephen with axes, and the city lies open 
to the crowd of Crusaders, who pre^s upon 
each other, and dispute the honor of inthct- 
ing the last blow upon the infidels. 

Raymond alone met with some resistance. 
Made aware of the victory of the Christians 
by the cries of the Mussulmans, the clash of 
arms, and the tumult from the interior of the 
city, he roused the courage of his soldiers. 
These brave men, impatient to join their 
companions, abandoned their tower and . 
their machines, which they could no longer 
move. They planted their ladders, and 
sticking their swords into the walls as steps, 
they mounted to the ramparts ; they were 
preceded by the Count de Toulouse, Ray- 
mond Relet, the Bishop of Bira, the Count 
de Die, and William de Sabran, Nothing 
could now stop them; they dispersed the 
Saracens, who, with their emir, flew for 
refuge to the fortress of David ; and soon all 
the Crusaders in Jerusalem met together, 
embraced, wept with joy, and gave all their 
attention to securing their victory. 

In the mean time, despair had for a mo- 
ment rallied the bravest of the Saracens; 
they fell with impetuosity upon the Chris- 
tians, who were advancing in disorder, bent 
upon pillage. The latter were beginning to 
give way before the enemy they had con- 
quered, when Evrard de Preysaie, whose 
bravery Ralph of Caen has celebrated, re- 
vived the courage of his companions, placed 
himself at their head, and once more carried 
terror among: the infidels. From that mo- 



308 



JERUSALEM. 



ment tlie Crusaders had no longer an enemy 
to contend with. 

History has remarked that the Christians 
entered Jerusalem on a Friday, at three 
o'clock in the afternoon, which was the day 
and the hour at which Christ expired for the 
salvation of mankind. This memorable 
epoch ought to have recalled to their hearts 
a feehng of mercy ; but, irritated by the men- 
aces and long insults of the Saracens, exas- 
perated by the various ills they had under- 
gone during the siege, and the resistance 
they had met with, even in the city, they 
filled the Jerusalem they came to deUver, 
and which they considered as their future 
country, with blood and mourning. The 
carnage was soon general, such as escaped 
the swords of the soldiers of Godfrey and 
Tancred, becoming the victims of the Pro- 
vencals, equally thirsty for blood. The 
Saracens were indiscriminately massacred in 
the streets and in their houses; Jerusalem 
had no asylum for the vanquished ; some 
tried to escape d-eath by precipitating them- 
selves from the ramparts, while others ran in 
crowds to seek refuge in the palaces, the 
towers, and particularly in the mosques, but 
nowhere could they escape the murderous 
pursuit of the Chi-istians. 

The Crusaders, masters of the Mosque of 
Omar, in which the Saracens had defended 
themselves for a short time, repeated the 
scenes of carnage which had followed and 
sullied the conquest of Titus. Foot and horse 
entered the sacred structure ptle-mele with 
the vanquished. Amid the most horrible 
tumult the place re-echoed with cries and 
groans of death; the conquerors trampled 
upon heaps of slain in pursuit of such as en- 
deavored to escape. Raymond d'Agiles, an 
eye-witness, says that beneath the portico 
and in the front court of the Temple the 
blood ascended to the knees and the bridles 
of the horses. To paint this terrible specta- 
cle, which war presented twice in the same 
place, it will sutfice to say, in the words of 
Josephus, that the number of the slain ex- 
ceeded by far that of the soldiers who im- 
molated them to their vengeance, and that 
the echoes of the mountains neighboring the 
Jordan repeated the groans and cries that 
issued from the Temple. 

The imagination turns with disgust at these 
horrible pictures, and can scarcely, amid the 
carnage, contemplate the Christians of Jeru- 
salem whose chains the Crusaders had broken. 
They crowded from aU parts to meet the 
conquerors ; they shared with them the pro- 
visions they had been able to keep from the 
Saracens ; and all together were thankful to 
God who had crowned the arms of the 
Christians with such a triumph. The hermit 
Peter, who, five years before, had promised 



to arm the "West for the deliverance of the 
Christians of Jerusalem, must have experi- 
enced inexpressible deUglit in witnessing their 
gratitude and joy. They appeared to consider 
no one among the Crusaders but hun ; they 
recalled his words and his promises ; it was 
to him they addressed their songs of praise; 
it was him they proclaimed their liberator; 
they related to him all they had suffered dur- 
ing his absence ; they could scarcely beheve 
that he stood before them ; and, in their en- 
thusiasm, they expressed astonishment that 
God should have employed one man alone to 
rouse so many nations and effect such prod- 
igies. 

The sight of the brethren they had deliv- 
ered, no doubt, reminded the pilgrims that 
they had come for the purpose of worshiping 
the tomb of Jesus Christ. The pious God- 
frey, who had abstained from slaughter as 
soon as the victory was certain, quitted his 
companions, and, followed by two of his at- 
tendants, repaired, without arms, and bare- 
foot, to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. 
The news of this purpose of devotion soon 
spread through the Christian army, and im- 
mediately all fury, all vengeance, were ap- 
peased ; the Crusaders, stripping off their 
blood-stained vestments, made Jerusalem 
resound with their sobs and groans, and, led 
by the clergy, they marched in a body, bare- 
foot and with uncovered heads, toward the 
Church of the Resurrection. 

When the Christian army was thus as- 
sembled upon Calvary, night began to fall ; 
silence reigned in the public places and upon 
the ramparts ; nothing was to be heard in 
the Holy City but canticles of penitence, and 
the words of Isaiah, " You who love Jerusa- 
lem^ rejoice you with her!" The Crusaders 
evinced so much devotion that, according to 
the remark of a modern historian, it might 
be thought that these men who had just taken 
a city by assault, and committed a horrible 
carnage, really came from a long retreat and 
a profound meditation upon religious mys- 
teries. These inexplicable contrasts are often 
remarked in the history of the Crusaders. 
Some writers have fancied they found in 
them a pretext for an accusation against 
the Christian religion ; others, not less bhnd 
or less prejudiced, attempt to excuse the de- 
plorable excesses of fanaticism : the impartial 
historian is satisfied with relating them, and 
sighs in silence over the weakness of human 
nature. 

Besides, this pious fervor was soon burnt 
out, and only suspended the scenes of carnage 
for awhile ; policy and cupidity soon led to 
fresh horror^, and fanaticism most ably sec- 
onded them. AU whom humanity or lassitude 
of carnage had spared, or even some who 
had been saved in the hopes of a rich ransom, 



JERUSALEM 



309 



were slaughtered. The Saracens were forced 
to precipitate themselves from the tops of 
their houses , they perished by thousands in 
the flames ; they were dragged into the pub- 
^ lie places, and immolated upon the heaps of 
slain which already encumbered them. Nei- 
ther the tears of women, the cries of infants, 
nor the aspect of the Holy Places, where 
Christ had pardoned his executioners, had 
power to soften the irritated conquerors. 
The carnage was so great, that heaps of bodies 
were not only seen in the palaces, the tem- 
ples, and the streets, but were found in the 
most secluded and solitary places. Such was 
the delirium of vengeance, cupidity, and fa- 
naticism, that the scenes did not disgust 
beholders who might be supposed to be 
impartial : cotemporary historians describe 
them without offering a word of excuse, and 
throughout their recitals of revolting events, 
a single expression of horror or pity does not 
escape them. We, however, can not pursue 
the frightful details further. The carnage 
lasted for a full week, and the Oriental and 
Latin historians agree in stating that the 
numbers of Mussulmans slain iu Jerusalem 
amounted to more than 70,000 ! The Jews 
experienced no more mercy than the Sara- 
cens: they took refuge in their synagogue; 
the Crusaders set fire to the building, and all 
perished in the flames. 

Eleventh Siege, a.d. 1187. — The siege we 
have last described gave birth to one of the 
shortest-lived, and most troublous monarchies 
that is to be found in the pages of history. 
One or two good monarchs are met with in 
its short annals of 88 years, the rest were 
either wicked or imbecile, and only hastened 
the fall which naturally attended its peculiar 
construction and existence. The state of Je- 
rusalem when the errors of its rulers brought 
upon it the vengeance of Saladin — perhaps 
the greatest man that ever figured in the 
East — was disgraceful beyond description. 

To repeat the causes wliich had exasper- 
ated this powerful prince would trench too 
much upon the province of general history ; 
suffice it to say, that the conduct of the 
Christians was a tissue of weakness, perfidy, 
and occasional insane rashness ; they were 
under no strong-handed or prudent govern- 
ment, they showed themselves subject to no 
moral restraints. 

Politic, brave, cool, but severe when pro- 
voked, Saladin was the last man the Chris- 
tians should have made an enemy of Irritated 
by their total want of good faith, and their 
perpetual invasion of his territory when they 
thought he was distant or engaged with other 
objects, he at length determined to subdue 
them, and that effectually, by taking their 
capital city. 

After gaining the sanguinary battle of Ti- | 



berias, and taking every city in Palestine 
before which he thought it worth his while 
to sit down, the victorious sultan advanced 
toward Jerusalem. The moment appeared 
to be come at which this religiously important 
city must fall again into the power of the 
Mussulmans, and they imj^lored Mohammed to 
grant this crowning triumph to the arms 
of Saladin. After having taken Gaza, and 
several fortresses in the neighborhood, the 
sultan collected his whole army and sur- 
rounded the holy city. A queen in tears, 
the cMldren of the warriors killed at the 
battle of Tiberias, a few fugitive soldiers, and 
some pilgrims recently arrived from the West, 
were the only guardians of the Holy Sepul- 
chre. A great number of Christian families 
who had left the devastated provinces of 
Palestine filled the city ; but far from bringing 
it any assistance, they only served to augment 
the trouble and consternation. 

When close to the walls, Saladin summoned 
before him the principal inhabitants, and said 
to them : " I know, as well as you do, that 
Jerusalem is the house of God, and I do not 
wish to profane its sanctity by the effusion 
of blood : abandon its walls, and I will give 
up to you a part of my treasures ; I will give 
you as much land as you can cultivate." 
" We can not," they repHed, " cede willingly 
a city in which our God died ; still less can we 
yield it to you." Saladin, irritated by their 
refusal, swore upon the Koran to level the 
towers and ramparts of Jerusalem, and to 
avenge the death of the Mussulmans slaugh- 
tered by the companions and the soldiers of 
Godfrey de BouiUon. 

At the moment Saladin was speaking to 
the deputies, an eclipse of the sun all at once 
left the heavens in darkness, and appeared to 
be a sinister presage for the Cliristians. 
Nevertheless, the inhabitants, encouraged by 
the clergy, prepared to defend the city. They 
had chosen as leader Baleau d'Ibelin, who 
had been present at the battle of Tiberias. 
This old warrior, whose experience and vir- 
tue inspired confidence and respect, immedi- 
ately set about repairing the fortifications and 
disciphning the new defenders of Jerusalem. 
As he wanted ofiicers, he created fifty knights 
from among the citizens ; all the Christians 
in a condition to fight took up arms, and 
swore to shed their blood in the cause of 
Christ. There was no money to defi-ay the 
expenses of the war, but all means of ob- 
taining it appeared legitimate amidst the 
danger which threatened the city of God. 
The churches were spoiled, and the people, 
terrified at the approach of Saladin, beheld 
without scandal the precious metal which 
covered the chapel of the Holy Sepulchre 
converted into coin. 

The standards of Saladin were speedily 



810 



JERUSALEM. 



seen floating over the heights of Emmiius ; tlie 
Mussulman army pitched its camp on the 
same places as were occupied by the tents 
of Godfrey, Tancred, and the two Roberts, 
when they besieged the Holy City. The 
Christians at first opposed a warm resistance, 
and made frequent sorties, in wliich they 
held in one hand the lance or the sword, and 
in the other a shovel, with which they threw 
dust in the eyes of the Saracens. A great 
number of citizens received the palm of 
martyrdom, and ascended, say the liistorians, 
into the celestial Jerusalem. Many Mussul- 
mans fell under the sworus of their adversa- 
ries, and went to inhabit the banks of the 
river which waters Paradise. 

Saladiu, after being incamped some days 
on the west of the city, directed his attacks on 
the north, and mined the ramparts which ex- 
tend from the gate of Josaphat to that of St. 
Stephen. The bravest of the citizens made 
a sortie, and endeavored to destroy the ma- 
chines and works of the besiegers, encourag- 
ing each other by repeating the words of 
Scripture — " A single one of v^ will put ten 
infidels to flight ; and ten xuill scatter ten thou- 
sand." They performed prodigies of valor, 
but they could not retard the progress of the 
siege ; repulsed by the Saracens, they slowly 
retired to the city, whither their return 
brought discouragement and terror. The 
towers and ramparts seemed ready to fall at 
the first assault. Despair then seized upon 
the inhabitants, who saw before them no de- 
fense but tears and prayers. Instead of flying 
to arms, the soldiers ran to the churches ; 
the promise of a hundred pieces of gold could 
not detain them one night on the threatened 
ramparts. The clergy made processions 
through the streets, to invoke the assistance 
of Heaven ; some beat their breasts with 
stones, others lacerated their bodies with 
scourges, crying, Mercy! mercy! Nothing 
was heard in Jerusalem but groans; " hut our 
Sir Jesus Christ," says an old chronicle, 
" would not listen to them ; for the luxurity 
and impurity which were in the city did not 
allow orisons or prayers to mount up before 
God." The despair of the inhabitants in- 
spired them with a thousand contrary pro- 
jects at once : sometimes they formed the 
resolution of leaving the city, and seeking a 
glorious death in the ranks of the infidels : 
at others, they placed all their hopes in the 
clemency of Saladin. 

Among the general trouble and agitation, 
the Greek and Syrian Christians, and the 
Melchite Christians, endured with much pain 
the authority of the Latins, and laid to their 
charge all the misfortunes of the war. A 
plot was discovered, in which they had re- 
solved to deliver Jerusalem to the Mussul- 
mans : this discovery increased the general 



alarm, and determined the principal men of 

the city to ask a capitulation of Saladin. Ac- 
companied by Baleau d'Ibehn, they went to 
propose to the sultan to give up the place 
upon the conditions he had offered before the 
siege. But Saladin remembered that he had 
sworn to take the city by assault, and to put 
all the inhabitants to the sword. He sent 
back the deputies without giving them any 
hope ; Baleau d'IbeUn returned to him sev- 
eral times, renewed his supplications and 
prayers, but found Saladin still inflexible. 
One day, when the Christian deputies were 
conjuring him warmly to accept their capitu- 
lation, he turned toward the place, and, 
pointing to tlie standards which floated over 
the walls — " How can you ask me," said he, 
" to grant conditions to a captured city ?" 
Notwithstanding this, the Saracens were re- 
pulsed; and Baleau, animated by the advan- 
tage obtained by the Christians, replied to the 
sultan — " You see Jerusalem does not want 
for defenses ; if we can not obtain any mercy 
Trom you, we wiU adopt a terrible resolution, 
and the excess of our despair shall fiU you 
with fright. Those temples and palaces you 
are so anxious to conquer shall be destroyed, 
and aU our wealth, wliich excites the ambi- 
tion and cupidity of the Saracens, shall be 
given up to the flames. We wiU lay level 
the mosque of Omar, and the mysterious 
stone of Jacob, the object of your worship, 
shall be broken and ground into^dust. Jeru- 
salem contains 5,000 Mussulman prisoners : 
they shall perish by the sword. We will, 
with our own hands, slaughter our women 
and our children, and thus spare them the 
disgrace of becoming your slaves. When the 
Holy City shall be nothing but a mass of 
ruins — one vast tomb, we will leave it, fol- 
lowed by the angry manes of our friends and 
neighbors; we will leave it, fire and sword 
in hand ; not one of us will gain paradise, 
Avithout having sent to hell ten Mussulmans. 
We shall thus obtain a glorious death, and 
shall yield our last breath in calling down 
upon you the maledictions of the God of Je- 
rusalem." 

This speech produced a great effect upon 
Saladin, and he invited the deputies to return 
next day. He consulted the doctors of the 
law, and they decided that he might accept 
the proposed capitulation without violating 
liis oath. The conditions were signed on the 
morrow, in the tent of the sultan ; thus Jeru- 
salem again fell under the domination of the 
infidels, after having been eighty-four years 
in the hands of the Christians. The Latin 
historians had remarked that the Crusaders 
had entered Jerusalem on a Friday, at the 
same hour that Christ had suffered death to 
expiate the crimes of the human race. The 
Saracens retook the city on a Friday, the an- 



JERUSALEM. 



311 



niversary of the day on which, according to 
their behef, Mohammed ascended from Jerusa- 
Iciu to heaven. This circumstance, which 
might have induced Saladin to sign the capit- 
ulation proposed to him, did not fail to add 
new splendor to his triumph with the Mus- 
sulmans, and caused him to be looked, upon 
as the favorite of the prophet. 

All the warriors in Jerusalem obtained 
permission to retire to Tyre or to Tripoli. 
The conqueror granted their hves to the in- 
habitants, and permitted them to purchase 
their liberty. All Christians, with the ex- 
ception of Greeks and Syrians, received an 
order to quit Jerusalem withiii four days. 
The ransom was fixed at ten pieces of gold 
for men, five for women, and two for cliildren. 
Those who had not the means to purchase 
their freedom remained slaves. 

These conditions had at first been received 
with joy by the Clmstians, but when the 
time arrived for their leaving Jerusalem, 
their grief at quitting the Holy Places became 
intense ; they watered the tomb of Christ 
^vith their tears, and reproached themselves 
with not having died to defend it ; they ran, 
unconsciously, from Calvary to the various 
churches they were never to see again, shed- 
ding torrents of tears ; they embraced each 
other, weeping; in the streets, and deploring 
their fatal divisions. Such as could not pay 
their ransom, and could only leave Jerusalem 
as the slaves of the Saracens, gave themselves 
up to the wildest despair. But so great, m 
these deplorable moments, appeared their at- 
tachment to a religion whose precepts in 
happier times they had completely neglected, 
that the outrages offered to their worship 
afflicted them more then their own proper 
misery. A cross of gold having been torn 
from the dome of the church of the Templars, 
and dragged through the streets by the Sa- 
racens, all the Christians burst into cries of 
grief and indignation, and, although disarmed, 
Jerusalem was on tJie point of rising against 
its conquerors. 

At last the fatal day arrived on which the 
Christians were to leave Jerusalem. All the 
gates of the city were closed, except that of 
David, through which the Christians were to 
go out. Saladin, seated upon a lofty throne, 
saw all the people pass before him. The 
patriarch, followed by the clergy, appeared 
the first, bearing the sacred vases, the orna- 
ments of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, 
and treasiu-es of which, says an Arabian 



author, God alone knows the value. The 
Queen of Jerusalem, accompanied by the 
barons and knights, came next. Saladin 
respected her grief, and addressed some kind 
words to her. The queen was followed by 
a great number of women, bearing their 
children in their arms, and uttering the most 
pitiable cries. Several of them drew near to 
the throne of Saladin. " You see at your 
feet," said they, " the wives, the mothers, 
and the daughters of, the warriors you detain 
prisoners ; we are leaving for ever our coun- 
try which they have defended with glory ; 
they assisted us in supporting life; losing 
them we have lost our last hope ; if you 
would deign to restore them to us, they 
would soften the miseries of our exile, and 
we should be no longer without a support 
upon earth." Saladin was touched by their 
prayers, and promised to mitigate the mis- 
fortunes of so many unhappy families. He 
restored the sons to mothers, and the hus- 
bands to wives, who were found among the 
captives. Many Christians had abandoned 
their valuable goods and property, in order 
to bear away upon their shoulders some of 
their parents weakened by age, and others 
their friends, the infirm, and the sick. Sala- 
din was affected by this spectacle, and re- 
warded the virtue and piety of his enemies 
with gifts and alms ; he took pity upon all 
the unfortunates, and permitted the Hospit- 
alers to remain in the city to tend to the sick, 
as well as such as serious maladies prevented 
from moving. 

When the Saracens commenced the siege, 
the Holy City contained more than 100,000 
Christians. The greater part of them pur- 
chased their freedom: Baleau d'Ibelin, the 
depository of the treasures destined to defray 
the expenses of the siege, employed all that 
was left in the Hberation of the citizens. 
Malec-Adel, the brother of the sultan, paid 
the ransom of 2,000 captives. Saladin fol- 
lowed his example, by setting free great 
numbers of poor and orphans. There only 
remained in slavery about 14,000 Christians, 
among whom were 4,000 or 5,000 children, 
too young to be aware of the extent of their 
misfortune, but whose fate the faitliful de- 
plored the more, especially as they knew 
that those innocent victims of war, would be 
brought up in the idolatry of Mohammed. 
From this period Jerusalem lias remained in 
the hands of the Mohammedans. — Robson. 



812 



KAJBAE— KET AND WARWICK 



KAIBAR, A.D. 682. — Remarkable charac- 
ters give consequence to insignificant places ; 
Richard Coeur de Lion, who had fiUed two 
continents with his fame, was killed at the 
siege of a paltry castle, and the name of 
Chaluze is preserved in history. But Kaibar, 
a city of Arabia, is associated with, and saved 
from oblivion by, the name of even a greater 
man than Richard. 

The Jews spread throughout Arabia at- 
tempted to cross the ambitious projects of 
Mohammed. They took up arms, and shut 
themselves up in the strongly fortified city of 
Kaibar. Although he had beaten them sev- 
eral times, Mohammed knew that he must not 
lose his prestige, and at once marched to at- 
tack them. Kaibar was carried, but the con- 
quest proved fatal to the conqueror. He 
lodged at the house of one of the principal 
inhabitants, whose daughter, named Zainab, 
gave him for supper a poisoned shoulder of 
mutton. Mohammed vomited the meat ; but 
such was the activity of the poison that from 
that moment he became a valetudinarian : he 
died from the effects of the poison three 
years after. When questioned as to what 
could lead her to the commission of such a 
crime, Zainab cooly replied, " / wished to 
know if Mohammed were really a prophet." 
Notwithstanding such a death would discredit 
the hohness of liis mission, the followers of 
Mohammed do not deny this poisoning. — Roh- 
son. 

KALAFAT, a.d. 1854.— On the 11th of 
March, 1854, a battle was fought between 
the Turks and Russians, near Kalafat, in 
European Turkey on the Danube : the Rus- 
sians were defeated. On the 15th of March 
the Russians, under Prince Gortchakotf, re- 
newed their attack upon Kalafat, but were 
defeated with a loss of 2,000 men. 

KALISK, A.D. 1706.— Near Kalisk, a city 
of Poland, the Swedish army was totally 
defeated by the Poles, in the year 1706. In 
the year 1835 a grand military muster took 
place at KaUsk wliich was attended by the 
sovereigns of Russia, Austria, and Prussia, 
and other potentates. 

KANTH, A.D. 1813.— A bloody battle 
took place in 1813 between the French and 
Prussians, near Kanth in Prussia. 

KARS, A.D. 1855. — Kars is a city of Asi- 
atic Turkey, 105 miles north-east of Erzroom. 

The battle of Kars was fought on the 19th 
of August, 1855, between the Russians and 
Turks. The Turks lost 6,000 men, and six- 
teen pieces of cannon. The Russians lost 
5,000 men slain, but remained in possession 
of the field of battle. 

On the 29th of September, 1855, the Rus- 



sians under General Mouraviefi", the com- 
mander-in-chief of the Russian forces in Asia 
Minor, having invested Kars, made prepara- 
tions to carry it by assault. Kars was occu- 
pied by about 16,000 Enghsh and Turks, 
under General Williams. The garrison 
made a strong resistance, and repeatedly 
drove back the besiegers; but were finally 
obliged by famine to capitulate. The con- 
duct of the Russians on tliis occasion is 
worthy of all praise. The pale and emaciated 
appearance of their late foes moved their 
compassion to such a degree that they broke 
from then ranks and, ruslaing forward, oflered 
them refreshments from their own knapsacks. 
Sixteen thousand prisoners, twelve standards, 
130 cannon, and 30,000 muskets fell into the 
hands of the Russians on this occasion. 

KATZBACH, a.d. 1813.— On the 26th of 
August, 1813, an obstinately contested battle 
was fought on the banks of the Katzbach, a 
river in Prussian Silesia, between the French 
army under Marshal Macdonald, and the Prus- 
sians, under Blucher, in wliich the French 
were defeated. 

KERTCH, A.D. 1855.— On the 16th of 
December, 1855, a battle was fought between 
two sotnias of Cossacks, and a strong body 
of Anglo-Turkish cavalry, under General 
Vivian, near Kertch, in the Crimea. The 
aUies were defeated, and General Vivian was 
made prisoner. 

KET AND WARWICK, a.d. 1549.— Ket, 
the Tanner, was the leader of the insurgents 
in the risings of the people in England in 
1549, during the reign of Edward VI. He 
planted his standard on the summit of Mous- 
hold Hill, near Norwich, erected for himself 
a tin-one under a spreading oak, which he 
called the Oak of Reformation, and established 
courts of chancery, king's bench, and com- 
mon pleas, in imitation of the courts in West- 
minster Hall. In his proclamations he com- 
plained that the commons were ground to 
the dust by the oppression of the rich ; and 
that a new church service had been forced 
on the people in opposition to the conviction 
of their consciences ; and declared that, if he 
and his associates had taken up arms, it was 
for the sole purpose of placing trusty and no- 
ble counselors round the king during his mi- 
nority, and of removing those who confound- 
ed things sacred and profane, and regarded 
nothing but the enriching of themselves with 
the public treasure, that they might riot in it 
during the pubUc calamity. Obeyed by 20,000 
men, he treated the ofier of a pardon with 
contempt ; and when the Marquess of North- 
ampton had entered Norwich with 1,000 
Enghsh horse, and a body of Italians, under 



KHURD-KABOOL— ZILLIECEANKIE. 



313 



Malatesta, he attacked the city, set one part 
of it on fire, and killed the Lord Sheffield 
and 100 men, and compelled the marquess 
and his followers to retire out of the county. 
The government was greatly embarrassed ; 
troops were re-called from the army in Scot- 
land ; the gentlemen of the neighboring coun- 
ties were ordered by proclamation to join 
the royal forces ; and the command was given 
first to Hertford, the Protector, and after- 
ward to the Earl of Warwick. That noble- 
man, with 8,000 men, of whom 2,000 were 
German horse, forced liis way into Norwich. 
Yet so incessant were the insurgents in their 
attacks, so lavish were they of lile, that they 
often drove the gunners from the batteries, 
burst open the gates, and fought with the 
royalists in the streets. The earl commanded 
his followers to swear on their swords that 
they would never abandon the place; and 
by his perseverance was at length able to at- 
tain his object, of removing the enemy fi-om 
their advantageous position. Compelled by 
want of provisions, Ket descended from the 
hills : in Dussingdale he was overtaken, by 
the royal army, his followers were broken by 
the charge of a large body of regular cavalry, 
and about 2,000 men perished in the action 
and the pursuit. The remainder, however, 
surrounded themselves with a rampart of 
wagons and a trench, fortified with stakes, 
and to an offer of pardon, replied that they 
knew the fate wliich awaited them, and that 
it was better to perish by the sword than by 
the halter. The earl, still apprehensive of 
the result, spoke to them himself: at his so- 
licitation they accepted a general pardon; 
and the severity of the law was confined to 
the execution of Ket, on Norwich Castle ; of 
his brother, on the steeple of Windham, and 
of nine others on the nine branches of the 
Oak of Eeformation. 

KHURD-KABOOL, a.d. 1841.— The Brit- 
ish troops on their retreating from Cabool to 
Jelalabad, in 1841, entered Khurd-Kabool 
(Little Cabool), a village of Afghanistan, 16 
miles south-east from Cabool, and were there 
attacked, overpowered, and massacred with- 
out mercy, by the Afghans. 

KILLIECRANKIE, a.d. 1G89.— This fam- 
ous pass in the Grampian Mountains, in Scot- 
land, is in Perth county, 15 miles north-west 
of Dunkeld. Here the river Garry flows, 
for nearly two miles through a narrow, rocky, 
and densely wooded ravine, of great depth, 
along the side of which the road has been 
cut, overhanging a terrific precipice. The 
battle of Kiiliecrankie, was fought at the 
north-western extremity of the pass. The 
most important military post in Athol, was 
Blair Castle. The house which now bears 
that name is not distinguished by any strik- 
ing peculiarity from other country seats of 



the aristocracy. The old building was a lofty 
tower of rude architecture, which command- 
ed a narrow vaUey, watered by the river 
Garry. 

The walls would have offered very little re- 
sistance to a battering train ; but were quite 
sufficient to keep in awe the roving herds- 
men of the Grampian hills. 

About five miles south of this stronghold, 
the valley of the Garry contracts itself into 
the celebrated glen of KilUecrankie. At pres- 
ent a highway as smooth as any road near 
London, ascends gently from the low coun- 
try to the summit of the defile. White villas 
peep from the birch forest; and on a fine 
summer day, at frequent turns of the pass, 
may be seen some angler, casting his fly on 
the foam of the river — some artist sketching 
the pinnacle of a rock, or some party of 
pleasure banqueting upon its green margins, 
in the fret-work of shade and sunfehine. The 
country just above this pass, was now the 
theater of war, such as the Highlanders had 
seldom witnessed. Men wearing the same 
tartan, and attached to the same lord, were 
arrayed against each other. Dundee, of 
Claverhouse, commanded the Highland clans, 
while Mackay, an officer of tried courage 
and caution, commanded the English troops, 
which had been hastily gathered. Both com- 
manders made a push to seize and occupy 
this important stronghold. 

Early on the morning of the 27th of July, 
1689, Dundee arrived at Blair Castle. There 
he learned that Mackay's troops were already 
in the ravine of Kiiliecrankie. It was nec- 
essary to come to a prompt decision. A 
council of war was held. The Saxon officers 
were generally opposed to hazarding a battle. 
The Celtic chiefs were of a different opinion. 
Glengarry and Lochiel, were now both of 
one mind. " Fight, my lord," said Lochiel, 
with his usual energy ; " fight immediately : 
fight if you have only one to three. Our 
men are in heart. Their only fear is that the 
enemy will escape. Give them their way, 
and be assured they will either perish or gain 
a complete victory. But if you restrain them, 
if you force them to remain on the defensive, 
I answer for nothing. If we do not fight, 
we had better break up and retire to our 
mountains." 

Here the countenance of Dundee bright- 
ened. "You hear, gentlemen," said he to 
his Lowland officers — " you hear the opinion 
of one who understands Highland war better 
than any of us." But no voice was raised 
on the other side. A fight was concurred 
upon, and the confederated clans, in high 
spirits, set forward to encounter the enemy. 

In the mean time, Mackay's troops had 
made their way up the pass. The ascent 
had been lonar and tiresome: for even the 



314 



KINBURN— BATTLE OF THE KINGS. 



foot soldiers had to climb by twos and 
threes, and the baggage horses, 1200 in num- 
ber, could mount only one at a time. 

Previous to tliis battle, no wheeled car- 
riage had ever tugged up this rugged and 
lof^ path. The head of the column had 
emerged, and was on the table-land, while 
the rear guard was still in the plain below. 
At length tlie passage was eflfocted, and the 
troops found themselves in a valley of no 
great extent. Their right was flanked by a 
rising ground, their left by the Garry. 
Wearied with the morning's work, tliey 
threw themselves on the ground to take 
some rest and refreshment. 

Early in the afternoon, they were aroused 
by an alarm that the Highlanders were ap- 
proaching. Eegiment after regiment started 
up and got in order. In a little tune, the 
summit of an ascent, about a musket-shot 
before them, was covered with bonnets and 
plaids. Dundee rode forward for the purpose 
of sui"veying the foes with whom he had to 
contend, and drew up his own men with as 
much skill as the pecuhar character of their 
habits allowed. It was desirable to keep the 
clans distinct. Each tribe, large or small, 
formed a column, separated from the next 
column by a wide interval. One of these 
battalions might contain 700 men, wliile 
another consisted of only 120. Lochiel had 
represented that it was impossible to mix 
men of different tribes, without destroying 
all that constituted the peculiar strength of a 
Highland army. 

Soon a fire of musketry was opened and 
kept up on both sides, but more skillfully and 
more steadily by the regular soldiers than by 
the mountaineers. The space between the 
two armies was one cloud of smoke. Num- 
bers of the Highlanders dropped, and the 
clans became impatient. The sun, however, 
was low in the west, before Dundee gave 
the order to prepare for action. His men 
raised a great shout. The enemy, probably 
exhausted by the toils of the day, returned a 
feeble and wavering cheer. " We shall do it 
now, tliat is not the cry of men who are 
going to win," said Lochiel. He had walked 
through all his ranks, had addressed a few 
words to every Cameron, and had taken 
from every Cameron a promise to conquer or 
die. 

It was now past seven o'clock. Dundee 
gave the word. The Highlanders dropped 
their plaids. The few who were so rich as 
to wear rude socks of untanned cowhide, 
threw them aside. It was long remembered 
in Lochabar that Lochiel did the same, and 
charged barefooted at the head of his men. 
The whole advanced firing. The enemy re- 
turned the fire, 'and did much execution. 
When only a small space was left between 



the two armies, the Highlanders suddenly 
flung away their firelocks, tkew their swords, 
and rushed forward with a fearful yelk The 
Lowlanders prepared to receive tlie shock ; 
but tliis was a long and awkward process, 
and the soldiers were still fumbhng with the 
muzzles of tlieir muskets and the handles of 
their bayonets, when the whole flood of the 
Macleans, Macdonalds and Camerons came 
down. In two minutes the battle was lost 
and won. The ranks of Balfom-'s regiment 
broke. He was cloven down while strug- 
gling in the press. Eamsay's men turned 
their backs and dropped their arms. Mac- 
kay's own foot troops were swept away by 
the furious onset of the Camerons. His 
brother and nephew exerted themselves in 
vain to rally the men. The former was laid 
dead on the ground by a stroke from a clay- 
more, the latter, with eight wounds on his 
body,' made Ids way through the tumult and 
carnage to liis uncle's side. Even in that ex- 
tremity, Mackay retained all his self-posses- 
sion. He had still one hope. A charge by 
the horse might recover the day — for of the 
horse the bravest Highlanders were supposed 
to stand in awe. But he called to the horse 
in vain. Belhaven behaved indeed like a 
gallant gentleman ; but liis troopers, appalled 
by the rout of the infantry, galloped off in 
disorder. Annandale's men followed ; all 
was over, and the mingled torrent of red 
coats and tartans went raving down the val- 
ley to the gorge of Killiecrankie. — Macaulay. 
KINBUEN, A.D. 1787.— A battle waa 
fought in 1787 near Kiuburn, a fortress of 
Eussia, on a tongue of land at the mouth of 
the Dnieper, between the Turks and the 
Eussians, under Suwarrow, in which the lat- 
ter gained a signal victory. 

BATTLE OF THE KINGS, b.c. 1918.— 
About the year 1918, b.c, a war broke out 
between the potentates of the countries 
adjacent to and in the neighborhood of 
Sodom and Gomorrah. Five kings contend- 
ed against four, because the kings of Sodom 
and Gomorrah refused any longer to pay 
tribute to the King of Elam. The rebelUous 
parties were vanquished by the King of 
Elam and his alUes. Lot, who had received 
from his uncle Abraham the fertile and well- 
watered plains of Sodom and Gomorrah as a 
residence for himself, his cliildren, and his 
servants, was taken prisoner by the conquer- 
ing kings, and his property was despoiled. 
Abraham being informed of this disaster, ap- 
plied to his friends and confederates, and his 
brothers Eshcol and Aner, and adding to 
their assistance 318 trained and tried serv- 
ants of his own household, pursued the con- 
querors, and overtook them when they were 
on the left of Damascus. He at once attack- 
ed them, and the enemy, taken by surprise, 



KIXGS MOUNTAIN. 



315 



fled after a feeble resistance, and Lot and the 
other captives were rescued. 

KEs GS MOU^'TArN", a.d. 1780.— King's 
Mountain is situated in the ^-icinity of a vil- 
lage bearing the same name, in Gaston co., 
in the northern part of South Carolina. It 
is a rocky ridge, running north and south, 
and is elevated about one hundred feet above 
the ravines -which encompass it. Its sides 
are very steep, its summit narrow, and it is 
about a mile in length. 

The Americans at the South -were experi- 
encing nothing but reverses. On the 16th 
of August, 1780, their army under General 
Gates vras defeated at Camden by the British 
under General ComwaUis, and two days 
afterward the patriots imder Sumter were 
defeated by the enemy's troops under Tarle- 
ton at Rocky Mount. The whole South 
seemed to be entirely in the power of the 
royalists. But west of the Wateree were 
bands of active patriots, who spared no pains 
to harass the enemy in the upper coimtry. 
ComwaUis, determined to crush the spirit of 
rebeUion which was stiU rife, detached Major 
Ferguson with a strong body of men with 
orders to scour the upper part of South Caro- 
lina, and punish the rebellious patriots with 
the utmost rigor. As the British advanced 
through the country they committed the 
most horrible outrages upon the persons and 
property of the inhabitants, and thus aroused 
the patriots to the highest pitch of indigna- 
tion, filling every breast with a desire for 
vengeance. In various parts of the country, 
actuated by one impulse, the inhabitants 
banded themselves together, and placing 
themselves under the command of experi- 
enced leaders, demanded to be led against 
Ferguson's marauders. It was decided that 
each of the officers should collect his men, 
and that the forces should rendezvous at 
Watanga, on the 25th of September. Ac- 
cordingly on that day, Colonel William Camp- 
bell with fom- hundred men from Washington 
county of Virginia, Colonel Isaac Shelby 
with two hundred and forty men from SuUi- 
van coimty of North Carohna, and Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel John Sevier, with two hundred 
and forty men of Washington county of 
North Carolina, assembled at Watanga, where 
they were joined by Colonel McDonald with 
one humired and sixty men from the coun- 
ties of Burke and Rutherford. They com- 
menced their march on the twenty-sixth, and 
on the thirtieth were joined by Colonel 
Cleveland on the Catawba river, with tlu-ee 
hundred and fifty men, fi-om Wilkes and 
Surrey counties. Xo one officer having prop- 
erly a right to the command in chief, an 
express was dispatched to Major-General 
Gates, informing him of the situation of the 
army, and requesting him to send a general 



officer to take the entire command. Mean- 
while, Colonel Campbell was chosen to act as 
commandant tdl such general officer should 
arrive. The army marched to Cowpens, on 
Broad river in South Carolina, where they 
were joined by Colonel James WiUiams, with 
four hundred men, on the evening of the 6th 
of October, Colonel Wdhams informed the 
American commander that the enemy lay 
incamped somewhere near the Cherry Ford 
of the Broad river, about thirty rmles fi-om 
Cowpens. A council of war was held in 
which it was decided that nine hundred of 
the best cavalry should be sent in rapid pur- 
suit at once, while the foot, and the weak 
horse should follow as fast as possible. At 
eight o'clock the same evening, the Amer- 
ican cavalry commenced its march, and after 
marching aU night came within sight of the 
enemy about three o'clock in the afternoon 
of the following day. The British army lay 
incamped on the top of King's Mountain, 
twelve miles nOrth of the Cherry Ford, in 
the confidence that they could not be forced 
fi-om so advantageous a post. Previous to 
the attack, the following disposition was made: 
Colonel Shelby's regiment formed a colunm 
in the center on the left ; Colonel Campbell's 
regiment another on the right, with part of 
Colonel Cleveland's regiment led by Major 
Winston ; and Colonel Sevier's troops formed 
a large column on the right wing. The 
balance of Cleveland's regiment led by 
Colonel Cleveland himself, and Colonel Wil- 
liams's regiment, composed the left wing. In 
this order the army advanced to within a 
quarter of a mile of the enemy before they 
were discovered.* 

The following glowing account of the 
action which followed is extracted fi-om the 
oration of the Hon. S. T. Preston, dehvered 
on the 4th of October, 1855, at the battle- 
ground: 

"At twelve o'clock, the American army 
found themselves -within three miles of Fer- 
guson's camp on King's Mountain. They 
halted under an order passed rapidly along 
the line — an order, perhaps, the most laconic 
and appropriate ever given under the like 
circumstances. It was in these words : 

" ' Tie v.p overcoats, prich touch-holes, fresh 
prime, and be ready to fight.' 

'■ The officers here determined to divide 
their force, and to surroimd the mountain. 
At this moment an express fi:om Ferguson to 
Cornwallis was arrested, his dispatches 
opened, and read aloud to the head of the 
line. In them he said, '• I hold a position on 
King's Mountain, that aU the rebels out of 
hell can not drive me from." There was no 
shout or disorder when this was read ; but a 
quiet grim smile passed along the line as they 
* Cleveland, Shelby, and Campbell's Official Eeport. 



316 



KING'S MOUNTAIN. 



struck into a double gallop. They drew up 
along the bank of that little brook ; they dis- 
mounted and led their horses to these trees, 
leaving them in charge of a small guard. 

" The order of attack was hurriedly made, 
but with a military skill and discretion that 
could not be excelled. There was not an 
error or mistake, or even a miscalculation of 
marching time from the onset to the end. 
Each column advanced rapidly along the in- 
dicated line, all the hues tending to a com- 
mon center which was the British incamp- 
ment at the summit of the ridge. There 
began a scattering fire, for eight or ten 
minutes on the center column of the Amer- 
icans. The patriots moved steadily until 
Sevier's column, on the right, passed out of 
the valley in full sight of the enemy. The 
fire then began in earnest on both sides. The 
mountaineers proved their skill with the most 
deadly effect, forcing Ferguson, at the very 
beginning, to resort to a direct charge. This 
charge was headed .by a company of British 
regulars, and was worthy the high name and 
fame of that service. It was boldly and 
gallantly done, and forced the patriots to give 
back down the hill ; but at that moment 
Cleveland and Williams appeared on the left, 
and poured into the charging columns such 
an awful fire as to stop tliem before Sevier 
was routed. The British turned from charg- 
ing on Sevier, and wheeling, made a terrible 
dash at Cleveland and Williams on the left, 
and with like effect, driving them back down 
the ridge. Sevier, however, raUied instantly, 
and at the same time Shelby and Campbell 
appeared with the center column, rising in 
front along the ridge. These two columns, 
the center and left, then poured their fire on 
both flanks of the British, and stopped the 
charge against Cleveland and Williams. 
WheeUng rapidly and receiving reinforce- 
ments from within the lines, the British then 
made a third charge directly against the center 
column, and that irresistible British bayonet 
again told its story, and Campbell and Shelby 
were forced back down nearly to the valley. 
But Cleveland and Williams having rallied 
their columns, and Sevier's continuing to pour 
its fire from the left, the British were forced to 
leave the pursuit of Campbell and Shelby, 
turned suddenly, and themselves retreated up 
the ridge. Shelby and Campbell, hearing 
this tremendous fire on both flanks, finding 
the British were retreating supposed they 
were defeated, ralUed instantly, and turned in 
pursuit with loud hurrahs of victory. 

" The British turned immediately and at- 
tempted a fourth charge. It, however, was 
then too late — the blood of the mountaineers 
was hot ; they met and repulsed that charge, 
and drove back the British within their lines. 
This enabled the three columns of the patri- 



ots to meet and literally surround the army 
of Ferguson. Then came the fierce rage of 
the battle ; a circle of fire hemmed the wolf 
in his stronghold. The English soldiers proved 
their breeding in this hour of danger and de- 
spair. The regulars with their bayonets, and 
the Tories with their butcher-knives fastened 
to the muzzles of the guns, charged on this 
closing flame with the energy of despair. In 
vain ! The mountain-hunters, calmly, but 
rapidly loading, and deUberately aiming, each 
at his mark, sent a death-messenger in every 
bullet. At every discharge they advanced a 
few steps, until there was one narrowing cir- 
cle of flashing flames crackling around their 
devoted victims. At this moment, the British 
cavalry were ordered to mount. The order 
was heard by the Americans. It was the 
very thing for their rifles, giving a clear mark 
above the bushes ; and as each man threw 
his leg over his horse, he fell dead on the 
other side. Ferguson, with a gallantry that 
seemed to rise with his desperate condition, 
rode from rank to rank, and from post to post, 
encouraging, cheering, and driving his men. 
At length, he found his army pressed, and 
actually huddled together near the summit 
of the mountain, and falling as fast as the 
Americans could load and shoot. He deter- 
mined on one more charge, and, taking his 
position at the head of his cavalry, and with 
a voice that was heard loud above the roar 
of battle, summoned his men to ' Crush the 
damned rebels into the earth.' There was a 
pause for a moment, and one round of the 
Americans was stopped. Instead of the roar 
of their rifles, there "^as heard only the chck 
of the lock — it was the serpent's low warn- 
ing of coming death. The pause was but for 
a moment, when Ferguson and Dupoistre, 
horse and foot, burst like an avalanche down 
the mountain's side. Before they came with- 
in sixty paces of the American line, every 
rifle was loaded, and under deadly aim. Fer- 
guson was in front, and fell at the first dis- 
charge, with seven mortal wounds. The pat- 
riots rushed forward to meet the shock as 
Dupoistre's regulars, with set bayonets, and 
sabers in rest, came crushing down upon 
them. Not Agincourt nor Crcssy, with all 
their cliivalry, ever felt a shock more fear- 
ful than that; but, had the heaven rained 
British bayonets, it would not have stopped 
these patriots. The destinies of America, 
perhaps of mankind, depended on their mus- 
cle. Like martyrs, they went to the death ; 
like lions, they rushed to the carnage. Offi- 
cers and soldiers, with blood-shot eyes, and 
parched tongues, bounded upon the huddhng 
enemy, until their fierce glare, and hot breath, 
could be seen and felt by the craven Tory and 
his bull-dog master ; and at the moment they 
were crouching together for the last spring, 



KIOGE— KULM. 



317 



a wild terror-stricken shriek rose above the 
battle — a yell for quarter. A white flag was 
run up, arms thrown down, and Grod's cham- 
pions shouted ' Victory 1 Liberty I' " 

The engagement lasted an hour and five 
minutes. The British army consisted of 
1,100 men; 240 of the British were slain, 
and 200 wounded. The remaining 560 
were made prisoners. The Americans lost 
only twenty men, killed ; but a great num- 
ber of them were wounded. On the morn- 
ing after the battle, a court-martial was held 
for the purpose of trying the Tory prisoners 
for murder, and other liigh crimes. Several 
were convicted and hanged. Thus ended tlie 
bloody tragedy on King's Mountain. The 
victory was of the utmost importance to the 
Americans, weakening, irrevocably, the pow- 
er of the royalists in North and South Carolina. 

KIOGE, A.D. 1807.— Near Kioge, a town 
of Denmark, in 1807, a small body of Danish 
militia were defeated by the English troops, 
under the command of Sir Arthur Wellesley, 
afterward Duke of Wellington. 

KOSSOVO, A.D. 1389.— On the 15th of 
June, 1389, was fought, near Kossovo, a 
town of European Turkey, a battle between 
the Serbs and the Turks, in which the former 
were defeated, and, with their defeat, the 
independence of Servia was annihilated. 

KOWNO, A.D. 1812.— On the 13th of De- 
cember, 1812, Marshal Ney, with Napoleon's 
Old Guard, fiercely fought the Russians who 
were endeavoring to intercept the retreat of 
the French army, after their disaster at Mos- 
cow, while the main body was crossing the 
bridge at Kowno in Russia, and by the most 
heroic exertions kept them back until the 
whole army had crossed the river Niemen. 

KRASNOI.— See Smolenslco. 

KULM, A.D. 1813.— Kulm is a vfflage of 
Bohemia, sixteen miles north north-west of 
Leitminitz at the foot of the Erzzebirge 
mountains, which are here crossed by the 
pass of Nollendorf. 

The Nollendorf Pass will be ever memor- 
able in history for the decisive battle of Kulm, 
fought at its foot on the 30th of August, 
1813, between the French, commanded by 
Vandamme, and the aUied forces under 
Count Colloredo Mansfield. The former had 
been detached by Bonaparte, with nearly 
40,000 men, previous to the battle before 
Dresden, with orders to cross the Elbe, to 
the rear of the grand allied army, and take 
up a position on the heights beyond Peters- 
walde, so as to intercept that communication 
with Bohemia, but with a strict interdiction 
against his descending to the plain. Van- 
damme, however, knowing the small force 
there was to oppose him in Tdplitz, and 
conceiving that by a bold stroke he might 
gain that pivot of the allied operations, and 



intercept the line of their retreat, disregarded 
his master's orders, and, on the morning of 
the 29th of August, descended and vigor- 
ously attacked Count Osterman, who had 
been left with about 8,000 men, chiefly Rus- 
sian guards, to preserve the communications, 
when the grand alUed army advanced on 
Dresden. Osterman had barely time to post 
his handful of men across the plain, in the 
rear of the small village of Oriesten, his left 
covered by the wooded heights, while his 
right, composed wholly of cavalry, toward 
the village of Karwitz, was, as it were en air, 
having but an insignificant — easily turned — 
marshy tract in the distancd, when Vandamme 
made his attack. Yet, though Osterman'a 
position was an open plain, overlooked and 
commanded by a range of heights occupied 
by his enemy — though that truly brave war- 
rior had his left arm broken by a cannon-shot 
early in the day — though both villages were 
soon reduced to ashes by a foe outnumbering 
his force more than four-fold — he did not for 
a moment quit his glorious post, nor did his 
furious enemy gain one inch of ground, dur- 
ing the whole day of incessant attack, by 
successive fresh forces. The only aid to tliis 
invincible handful, on tliis long, hard-fought, 
day, was given at the last effort of the 
French near nightfall, when the Archduke 
John's regiment of dragoons, forming the 
advance of the alHed column which had re- 
treated from Dresden with the King of Prus- 
sia, by the Zinnewalde and Eichewalde Pass, 
was dispatched to Osterman's support by the 
king, immediately on his arrival at Toplitz. 
The men or horses of this regiment had 
scarcely tasted a moutliful of food, or rested, 
for three days, yet they marched with alacrity, 
and were in time to share with their brave 
Russian allies in completely repulsing Van- 
damme's last attempt, and in obliging him to 
seek his bivouac in his rear, near Kulm. 
During the night, Count CoUoredo arrived 
from Theresienstadt, with the Austrian force 
he had collected, and, conjointly with the 
Russian and other troops that also joined 
him on the morning of the 30th, early, at- 
tacked Vandamme, driving him successively 
from all his positions with immense loss. At 
this critical moment, the Prussian corps of 
Kleist, which was retiring from the repulse 
before Dresden, down the Nollendorf Pass, 
in total ignorance of the proximity of such a 
foe, most opportunely met Vandamme, flying 
in confused masses, midway, and, by barring 
the only retreat, completed the ruin of the 
French corps-de-armee. Vandamme, his offi- 
cers and men, with all their cannon, bag- 
gage and materiel^ fell into the hands of the 
aUies — a few thousand men excepted, who, 
by throwing away their arms, escaped 
separately through the woods, across the 



318 



KURROCHEE— LEIPSIC. 



mountains, and regained Bonaparte's head- 
quarters at Dresden. 

KURROCIIEE, A.D. 1839.— The British 



in 1839 took Knrrochee, a town of Scindeon 
the Indian Ocean, and afterward held it as a 
military station. 



LACED^MON, B.C. 272.— The restless, 
ambitious, insatiable Pyrrhus, King of Epiras, 
laid siege to Lacedsemon. He arrived in the 
evening with all his army, and only post- 
poned the attack till the next day ; — this de- 
lay saved Sparta. As soon as night came, 
the Lacedeemonians met to dehberate upon 
the propriety of sending their wives and 
daughters to the island of Crete; but the 
women strongly opposed such a determina- 
tion. One of them, named Archidamia, en- 
tered the senate, sword in hand, and address- 
ing the assembly in the name of all the rest, 
she proudly demanded why the senators had 
so bad an opinion of her and her companions, 
as to imagine they could love or endure life 
after the ruin of their country. 

It was resolved that they should not leave 
the city. As the men were employed, vsdth 
vigor and celerity, in digging a trench paral- 
lel with the camp of the enemy, to enable 
them to dispute the approach to the city, the 
women and girls came tojoin them, and after 
having exhorted thbse who would have to 
fight, to take repose during the night, they 
measured the length of the trench, and un- 
dertook, as their share, a third part of it, 
which they finished in the course of the day. 
This trench was nine feet wide, six deep, and 
900 long. In all the attacks which took 
place till Pyrrhus was constrained to raise 
the siege, these courageous women conducted 
themselves in a manner worthy of the reputa- 
tion of their mothers of former days. — Rohson. 

LA COLE MILL, a.d. 1814.— Near La 
Cole Mill, three miles below Rouse's Point 
on Lake Charaplain, in New York, a battle 
occurred on the 30th of March, 1814, be- 
tween the Americans, under General Wil- 
kinson, and a body of Canadians. The 
Americans were repulsed with a loss of 150 
men, killed and wounded. The loss of the 
enemy was not so great. 

LANGSIDE, A.D. 1568.— The battle of 
Langside was fought on the 15th of May, 
1568, between the forces of the regent of 
Scotland, the Earl of Murray, and the army 
of Mary, Queen of Scots. The latter was 
completely defeated, and immediately after 
this battle, the unfortunate queen fled for 
safety to England, where she was soon after- 
ward imprisoned by her sister Elizabeth of 
Englan<l. 

LAON", A.D. 1411. — ^Laon, in France, has 
sustained several sieges. In 1411 it was 
taken by the troops of the Duke of Burgundy, 



after a siege of three days; in 1419 it was 
besieged and taken by the Enghsh ; in 1429 
it was retaken by the French, and in 1594 
it was captured by Henry IV. In the year 
1814 Laon was the scene of some severe 
fighting between the French and the allies. 
The Prussians under Blucher having occupied 
the town, their position was unsuccessfully 
attacked on the 9th of March, by the French, 
under Napoleon ; and the Prussians having 
cut to pieces and dispersed the corps of Mar- 
mont during the night, Napoleon was obhged 
to vsdthdraw from before the town on tlie 
11th. 

LASWAREE, a.d. 1803.— In the year 
1803, the native troops of Dowlet Row Sin- 
dea, were signally defeated by the British, 
under Lord Lake, near Laswaree, in India. 

LAVAL, A.D. 1466. — Laval in France was 
taken by the English in 1466, and retaken 
by the French in 1467. It was also the 
scene of miUtary operations in the Vendean 
war, at the close of the last century. 

LEICESTER. See Nasehy. 

LEIPSIC, A.D. 1631.— Leipsic is situated 
in an extensive and fertile plain, on the river 
Elster, here joined by the Pleissee and Parde, 
in Saxony, and is one of the most important 
commercial towns of Germany. 

The plains of Leipsic have thrice been de- 
luged with the blood of hostile armies ; and 
in two instances the battles fought are among 
the most important and memorable struggles 
of Europe. The first battle was fought on 
the 7th of September 1631, between the 
army of Gustavus Adolphus, King of Swe- 
den, and that of the Catholic German generals 
Tilly and Pappenheim. The army of the 
King of Sweden consisted of 30,000 men, of 
whom 13,000 were cavalry. The infantry 
consisted of 13,000 Swedes, and 11,000 Sax- 
ons, the cavalry of 9,000 Swedes and 4,000 
Saxons. The imperial army consisted of 
32,000 men, of whom 11,000 were cavahy. 
On the 5 th of September, Gustavus Adolphus 
and the Elector, John George of Saxony, com- 
pleted their alliance ; and on the same day, 
the imperial army under Tilley laid siege to 
Leipsic. After a heavy cannonade, and a 
severe struggle the town surrendered, and 
Tilly with his troops entered in triumph. 
The field-marshal, it is said, took up his quar- 
ters in the house of a grave-digger, and as 
his eye fell upon the skull and cross-bones 
with which its owner had ornamented the 
door-way, he turned pale at the evil omen. 



LEIPSIO. 



319 



He was about to try his strength with the 
" Lion of the North ;" and for the first time 
the unconquered general was to meet a foe 
worthy of his arms; but whether his con- 
science smote him for his cruelties at Mag- 
deburg, or whether he really feared Ins 
formidable opponent is all conjecture; it is 
sufficient to know that Tilly on this occasion 
exhibited but httle of that decision of charac- 
ter for which he hdd been so highly distin- 
guished. On the 6th of September, TUly 
moved out of the city and incamped in a 
fortified position, between the little towns of 
Mockern (the scene of Blucher's victory 
over Ney in 1813) and Entritzsh. There he 
resolved to await the arrival of Altringer 
who was already on the march from Erfurt. 
When Tilly learned that Gustavus Adolphus 
and John George had formed an alliance, he 
called a council of war, in which it was de- 
cided to give battle to the King of Sweden. 
Tilly, depressed in spiiits, at first resolved to 
act on the defensive only ; but Pappenheim 
urgently insisted on a battle, and the field- 
marshal at length reluctantly gave his consent. 
The imperial army broke up their camp, and 
took up a new position with Breitenfeld on 
the left, and Seehausen on the right. In 
their front lay the villages of Podelwitz, on 
the left the village of Grebschelwitz. John 
George of Saxony was anxious to expel the 
imperial troops ft-om his territory ; and was 
urgent in liis entreaties that Gustavus should 
at once advance against TUly. The King of 
Sweden acceded to Ms request, and on the 
6th of September the army commenced its 
march from Duben, in two columns, the 
Swedes on the right and the Saxons on the 
left. On the morning of the 7th the allied 
armies arrived within an hour's march of 
the enemy, and Gustavus immediately made 
his dispositions for the approacliing battle. 
The King of Sweden planted his army be- 
tween the villages of Grebschelwitz and Po- 
delwitz. The allied army Avas divided into 
two columns, the right consisting of Swedes, 
the left of Saxons. The right wing of the 
Swedish army was commanded by Gustavus 
Adolphus in person, the center by General 
Tueffel, and the left wing by General Horn. 
The cavalry was on the wings, and was inter- 
spersed with foot soldiers. The Saxon army 
was under the command of the Elector John 
George ; and in advance of both armies, 
nearly in the center of the space between 
them, was planted the artillery consisting of 
nearly a hundred pieces of cannon. A num- 
ber of hght cannon were also distributed 
among the troops. Many of these pieces were 
four pounders, and some were made of iron, 
and others of leather hooped with iron bands. 
The leather cannons were very light, and 
were carried by the foot soldiers, interspersed 



among the infantry. Tilly's army was 
planted in a single line, with its left wing 
extending beyond the right wing of the 
Swedish army, ten men deep; the cavalry 
was on the wings, unsupported by infantry, 
and there were no reserves. The artillery, 
consisting of 16 and 24 pounders, was sta- 
tioned in the center. Tilly commanded tlie 
right wing ; the left was under the command 
of Pappenheim and Count Furstenberg. 

The battle was opened at twelve o'clock, 
by a furious cannonade on both sides, which 
continued nearly two hours. "While the 
King of Sweden was maneuvering with his 
right wing, to avoid the consequences of the 
enemy's fire in that quarter, Pappenheim, 
with his cavalry, charged fiiriously upon the 
Swedish left flank ; but a withering fire from 
the musketeers wliich were stationed among 
the cavalry on that side, drove him back with 
loss. Bannier rushed from the Swedish right 
with a body of infantry, and ^ercely assailed 
the imperial troops under the Duke of Hol- 
stein. The imperiaUsts were broken before 
the fierce charge, and the duke was mortally 
wounded. Pappenheim now charged the 
Swedish right wing with his troops so furi- 
ously, that had not Bannier hastened to its 
aid, it would have been broken ; but the gal- 
lant Swedes fought with such fury that the 
imperial cavalry was again hurled back to 
their own line. Meanwhile, Count Fursten- 
berg, with his troopers, assailed the Saxons, 
who had just formed, and such was the fiiry 
of the onset that the Saxons were scattered 
in all directions, and fled firanticly across the 
plains. The elector succeeded in rallying a 
few only, who took up a position in rear of 
the left wing of the Swedish army. Pappen- 
heim, wishing to unite his corps with that of 
Furstenberg, moved across the Swedish fi-ont, 
from right to left, thus exposing his troops to 
the fire of the Swedish battery in the center, 
which opened upon them with fearful effect. 
The battle now raged furiously. Tilley's men 
advanced rapidly to the fight ; but the Swedes 
gallantly maintained their ground, and, in 
spite of the efforts of the field-marshal, who 
galloped furiously to every part of the plain, 
calling upon his men to fight on, and encour- 
aging them, by the example of his own valor, 
his army was gradually beaten back at all 
points; the imperial artillery fell into the 
hands of the Swedes, and was turned upon 
the retreating army, and the retreat soon be- 
came a rout. Tilly himself was wounded, 
and narrowly escaped being made prisoner. 
The victorious Swedes pursued the fugitives, 
with great slaughter, until nightfall, when 
the pursuers were recalled. 

In this battle the imperiaUsts lost 7,000 
killed, 5,000 wounded, and 3,000 prisoners. 
The artillery, baggage, colors, and all the 



320 



LEIPSIO. 



paraphernalia of Tilly's camp, fell into the 
hands of the victors. Gustavus Adolphus 
lost 3,000 men, in killed and wounded, of 
whom 1,000 only were Swedes. This battle 
caused the name of Gustavus Adolphus to be 
feared by his enemies ; the victory was de- 
cisive, and the Protestant rehgion, for whi(;h 
the King of Sweden fought, was triumphant 
in Germany. 

The second battle of Leipsic was fought 
between the army of the Protestant general 
Torstenson, and the imperial army of Saxony, 
under the Archduke Leopold William, and 
Piccolomini, on the 2d of November, 1C42. 
The imperial troops were defeated with great 
loss. 

Of the three battles near Leipsic, that of 
the 18th of October, 1813, was most re- 
markable for its extent and duration, the 
magnitude of the contending armies, and the 
importance of its consequences. For the cam- 
paign of 1813, the alhed powers had formed 
the plan of operating on the flanks of Napo- 
leon, and uniting in Ms rear. With this view, 
the movements of the Silesian army under 
Blucher, and of the northern army under the 
crown prince, Charles John of Sweden (Ber- 
nadotte), were directed to the lower Elbe, 
and the movements of the main army, under 
Schwartzenberg, to the upper Elbe. Circum- 
stances finally determined the country around 
Leipsic as the place where the junction should 
be formed, and Napoleon cut off from the 
Saal. In all probability. Napoleon was well 
aware of this project, but expected to frus- 
trate it. A rapid march between the Mulda 
and the Elbe, a quick passage over the latter 
river at Dessau, ostensibly with the view of 
advancing upon Berlin, were to deceive and 
retard the northern army, and give Napoleon 
time to turn against Schwartzenberg, and 
drive him to the mountains of Saxony. If 
he was defeated, Blucher and John were to 
be defeated and destroyed. 

In conformity with the plan of the allies, 
the great Bohemian army of 120,000 men 
marched on the 12th of October, in three 
columns, against Leipsic, over the Erzebirge. 
Napoleon, meanwhile, assembled his forces in 
and around Leipsic. On the 15th of October, 
the French emperor mustered his army, and 
gave his orders to the generals. His whole 
force consisted of about 90,000 men, the 
corps of Ney and Regnier being still on the 
road, or employed under Marmont, in cov- 
ering the country to the northward. In the 
case of defeat the pass of Lindenau was to 
be secured by the troops of Bertrand. The 
army of the allies was under the command 
of Prince Schwartzenberg, although the mon- 
archs of Russia, Prussia, and Austria, were 
present. Sch^vartzenberg intended to attack 
the French position in tliree columns. The 



aUied troops were put in motion at about 
seven o'clock in the morning of the 16th of 
October ; they carried the French outposts at 
the villages of Mackleburg, Wachau, and 
Lieberwolkwitz. At about nine o'clock the 
action became general, and the thunder of in- 
numerable pieces of artillery shook the air. 
The soldiers of both parties were animated 
by the most brilhant courage. The fight for 
the possession of the villages was terrible. 
Six times did the brave Russians and Aus- 
trians return to the attack of these villages, 
and six times were they repulsed by the in- 
vincible courage of the French troops under 
Lauriston, supported by Macdonald's corps, 
and Sebastiani's dragoons. At eleven o'clock 
ilacdonald brought up his whole corps in an 
obhque direction from Holzhausen, and tak- 
ing Klenau's attacking corps in flank, he 
pressed upon it so fiercely that the Austrians 
were driven back, and a battery which they 
had estabhshed on tlie heights of Kolmberg 
was taken by Charpentier's division. En- 
couraged by this success on his left, and 
deeming the enemy in front of Lieberwolk- 
witz sufficiently exhausted by three hours' 
continued and severe fighting. Napoleon, 
who arrived at noon on the heights beliind 
Wachau, followed by the Guards and cuiras- 
siers, resolved to put in force his favorite 
measure of a grand attack on the enemy's 
center. With this view, two divisions of the 
Young Guard, under Oudinot, were brought 
up and stationed close behind Wachau ; two 
others under Mortier, were sent to Lieber- 
wolkwitz; Augereau was dispatched to sup- 
port Poniatowsky, who with a considerable 
body of MUliaud's cavalry, had resisted every 
attempt of the enemy to cross the Elster, 
near the village of Mark-Kleberg ; and be- 
hind Augereau the Old Guard moved for- 
ward to Doehtz to support either the right or 
center, as circumstances might require. Fin- 
ally, Druout, with 60 guns of the Old Guard, 
was brought to the front of the center, and 
these pieces moving steadily forward, soon 
made the earth shake by their rapid and con- 
tinued fire. The allied center was unable to 
resist this desperate attack. Victor and Ou- 
dinot, preceded by the terrible battery, rap- 
idly gained ground ; and Napoleon deeming 
the battle gained, caused the bells of Leipsic 
to be rung in honor of victory. Schwartzen- 
berg seeing his center so nearly forced by the 
impetuous attack of the French Guard, ordered 
up the Austrian reserve, under Prince Hesse- 
Homberg, from Zobigker. They were hur- 
ried as fast as possible across the river ; but 
meanwhUe, Napoleon ordered up his reserve 
cavalry, under Latour Maubourg and Keller- 
man, while an attack by infantry, under 
Charpentier, was ordered on an old intrench- 
ment on a hill, called the Swedish redoubt, 











^J. «j^ 




.^^^^/ 



LEIPSIC. 



321 



where the bones of the warriors of the great 
Gustavus Adolphus reposed, which had been 
won from the French in the early part of the 
day. So vehement, however, was the fire 
from the batteries on the summit, that tlie 
assaulting regiments paused at the foot of 
the hUl. Napoleon hastened to the spot. 
" What regiment is that?" said he to Char- 
pentier. "The 22d light infantry," replied 
the general. " That is impossible," said Na- 
poleon ; " the 22d would never allow them- 
selves to be cut down by grapeshot, without 
taking their muskets from their shoulders." 
These words being repeated to the regiment, 
they were so stung by the reproach, that, 
breaking into a charge, they ran up the hill, 
and carried the post; which gave the Frencli 
a decisive advantage in that part of the field. 

At one o'clock in the afternoon, Keller- 
man, at the head of 6,000 horse, debouched 
from Wachau, and supported by several 
squares of infentry, advanced rapidly against 
the retiring columns of Prince Eugene, of 
Wirtemberg, in the allied center. Three reg- 
iments of Russian cuirassiers, under Lcwa- 
chow, were thrown in the way of the charge ; 
but they were speedily overwhelmed, and 
driven back Avith great loss. Schwartzen- 
berg now brought up the Austrian cuirassiers 
of the Guard to the point of danger. This 
superb corps, consisting of six regiments, 
cased in steel, the very flower of the Aus- 
trian army, under Count Nostitz, after cross- 
ing the Pleisse, at Groben, arrived at the 
menaced point, at the same moment with 
the Guards and reserve of Alexander, which 
had been sent forward to the point of danger, 
by the advice of Jomini. The united forces 
bore down with loud shouts and irresistible 
force on the flank of Kellerman's dragoons, 
who, overwhelmed by superior numbers, 
were routed and driven back in great disor- 
der to the heights behind Wachau, where 
they re-formed under cover of the batteries 
in the French center. Meanwhile, Latour 
Maubourg, and Murat, at the head of 4,000 
cuirassiers of the Guard, bore down on the 
flank of the alUed right, wliile Victor and 
Lauriston assailed it in front. 

Tliis double charge was at first attended 
with great success. Though the brave 
Latour Maubourg had his leg carried off by a 
cannon-shot, the ponderous mass advanced 
in admirable order under Bordesoult, broke 
by a charge in flank Prince Eugene of Wir- 
temberg's infantry, routed ten light squadrons 
of the Russian Guard, which strove to arrest 
its progress, and captured twenty-six guns. 
So violent was the onset, so complete the 
opening made in the center of the alhes, by 
this terrible ciiarge, that the French horse- 
men pushed on to the position where the 
Emperor Alexander and King of Prussia had 

21 



taken their station, and they were obhged to 
mount on horseback, and retire a httle dis- 
tance to the rear, to avoid being made pris- 
oners. Alexander ordered the red Cossacks 
of the Guard to charge the enemy in flank, 
while the reserve cavalry of Barclay were 
also ordered up, and the last reserve batteries 
directed to open their fire. These dispositions 
and rapidly executed orders changed the fate 
of the day, and the French cavalry were 
driven back to their own lines. At three 
o'clock in the afternoon, the Austrian re- 
serves came up to the front at all points, and 
shortly afterward the sound of cannon on the 
north announced the approach of Marmont 
and Ney, but they were too closely pressed 
by Bluclier to render Napoleon any further 
assistance than to maintain themselves 
against the furious attack of the Prussians. 
Napoleon resolved to make one more efibrt 
for victory ; with this view, between five 
and six o'clock, he re-formed liis reserve cav- 
alry beliind Lieberwolkwitz. Victor and 
Lauriston's corps were thrown into a deep 
colunm of attack, and preceded by a numer- 
ous array of artillery, advanced against 
Gossa. The French drove madly to the 
charge, opening their artillery as they ad- 
vanced, threw the corps of Gorzakow into 
confusion, and took Gossa ; but Schwartzen- 
berg, bringing up the Prussian division of 
Pirsch, assailed the French so vigorously that 
the village was re-taken, and the enemy's 
column driven back ; while a powerful Rus- 
sian battery of eighty pieces of the Guard, by 
the precision and rapidity of their fire, arrest- 
ed the progress of the French in that quarter. 
Excessive fatigue prevented either party 
from making any further efforts in the cen- 
ter and left, and the battle there was reduced 
to a furious cannonade, which continued, 
without intermission, until nightfall. 

Late in the evening, Meerfeldt, at the head 
of the leading battalion, advanced to attack 
the French right flank near Mark-Kleberg, 
when he was assailed by a division of the Old 
Guard, and Poniatowsky's Poles in flank, 
and driven, with great loss, into the Elster. 
Meerfeldt himself, with 'a whole battahon, was 
made prisoner. 

On the other side of the Elster, Giulay 
was engaged the whole day, with various 
success, against Bertrand's corps; but the 
French, fighting for Lindenau, their only hne 
of retreat in case of disaster, finally drove 
the Austrians back, and kept the communi- 
cation with the grand army free from ob- 
struction. 

Battle of Mockern. — To the north of 
Leipsic, a conflict took place between the 
armies of Blucher and Ney. Ney drew up 
his troops in a strong position, the right in 
front of a wood of some extent in the neigh- 



322 



LEIPSIC. 



borhood of Brietenfeldt The army of the 
French marshal consisted of about 25,000 
foot, and 3,000 horse, while that of Blucher 
was composed of over 50,000 men. After a 
most desperate conflict, the French yielded 
to superior numbers, and retired belaind the 
Partha, having lost an eagle, two standards, 
twenty guns, and 2,000 prisoners, besides 
4,000 in killed and wounded. 

On the 17th of October, the arms of the 
contending forces were permitted to repose 
by a tacit agreement ; the aUies waited for 
the arrival of their third main body, under 
Benningsen, from Dresden, by way of 
Grimma, and Napoleon was meditating an 
honorable retreat, for which purpose lie 
attempted to open negotiations with the 
alhes, by means of the captive Austrian 
count, Meerfeldt. From this endeavor the 
allies ascertained his weakness, and refused 
-to hsten to the proposals. Schwartzenberg, 
therefore, made his dispositions for a grand 
attack on the morning of the ISth. 

Napoleon, during the night of the 17th, 
made considerable changes in the disposition 
of his troops. He had now brought up liis 
whole reserves from Duben ; and Regnier, 
with his Saxons, now reduced to 8,000 men, 
had joined the standards of Ncy on the Par- 
tha. The whole army effected a change in 
front to the left, the left wing being thrown 
back, and Connewitz, on the extreme right, 
serving as a pivot. Poniatowsky was sta- 
tioned there on the edge of the Ebter. The 
whole army, now not numbering more than 
160,000 men, was arranged in a semicircle, 
facing outward from the Elster, to the ex- 
treme left, which rested on the Partha to the 
nortli of Leipsic. The Une, thus contracted, 
abandoned Wachau, Lieberwolkwitz, and 
the heights in theu- rear, the object of such 
fierce contention on tlie preceding day; it 
ran from Connewitz to Probstheyda, in 
which last village Victor was stationed. 
Napoleon, in person, with the Imperial 
Guard, occupied a central position, on the 
Tlionberg, from which he could succor any 
point that might be peculiarly menaced. 
Bertrand remained in his old position at 
Lindenau. 

Schwartzenberg, with his immense army 
of 280,000 men, made preparations to press 
upon the columns of the French from all 
sides of the narrow circle into which they 
had now retired. 

The force of the allies was more numer- 
ous than had ever been assembled in one Geld 
during modem times ; and with the assist- 
ance of their formidable array of artillery, 
consisting of nearly 1400 cannons, a victory 
over the comparative small force of the French 
emperor seemed certain. The grand army 
of Bohemia, and Benningsen's reserve from 



Poland was formed into three columns ; the 
right under Benningsen was directed to 
advance against Holzhausen, where the 
French troops under Macdonald were sta- 
tioned; the center under Barclay de Tolly 
was to advance straight upon Wachau, while 
the left under the Prince of Hesse-Homberg 
was to move forward by the edge of the 
Elster, from Connewitz, and Mark-Kleberg 
on Doehtz and Leipsic. To the north of 
Leipsic, the prince-royal and Blucher, now 
nearly 100,000 strong, had made their ar- 
rangements for a decisive engagement; 
the former with his own troops and the corps 
of Langeron, was to cross the Partha, turn 
Ney's right, and force him back upon Leipsic, 
while Blucher with his two remaining corps 
of Sacken and d'York, was to remain on the 
right bank of the Partha, and drive all before 
him who should remain on that side of the 
river. 

"At length," says Alison, "the battle of 
the giants commenced. The 18th of October 
dawned, and the last hour of the French 
empire began to toll. At nine, Napoleon 
took his station on the Thomberg; the 
enemy's columns were already approaching 
with rapid strides on all sides, and their heads 
were soon seen surmounting the hills of 
Wachau,. and driving like chaff before the 
wind, the French detachments which were 
stationed to retard their advance to the inter- 
mediate A'illages. Inexpressibly awful was 
the spectacle which their advance afforded to 
the agitated multitude who thronged the 
steeples of Leipsic. As far as the eye could 
reach, the ground was covered with an innu- 
merable multitude of men and horses ; long 
deep masses marked the march of the infant- 
ry, dazzUng hues of Ught indicated the squad- 
rons of cavalry ; the glancing of the bayonets 
in the rays of the sun sparkled hke crests of 
foam on a troubled sea, while a confused 
murmur arising from the neighing of horses, 
the march of the columns, the rolling of the 
guns, was heard hke the rolling of distant 
thunder." The aUied left under the Prince 
of Hesse-Homberg first came into action; 
the Austrians were resisted by the Poles on 
the banks of the Elster, under the brave 
Poniatowsky, whom Napoleon had created 
Marshal of France on the preceding day, 
with heroic valor ; but they were unable to 
withstand the superior numbers and vehe- 
ment attacks of the Austrians, and gave 
ground. Napoleon, with two divisions of the 
Young Guard, under Oudinot, repaired to the 
spot, while the Old Guard under Mortier, was 
stationed in the rear in the suburbs of Leip- 
sic; the steady countenance of these veterans 
restored the combat; Prince Hesse-Hom- 
berg was wounded, and though the Poles 
were driven back after hard fighting to Con- 



LEIPSIC. 



823 



newitz, all the efforts of the Austrians under 
Bianchi could not dislodge Poniatowsky from 
that village, even with the aid of Giulay's 
corps, vs'hich Schwartzenberg dispatched to 
their support. " The village of Probstheyda 
formed the sahent angle of the position occu- 
pied by the French around Leipsic and as 
such it became early in the day, the object of 
the most vehement contention between the 
opposite parties. In the first instance the 
progress of the alUes in the center was rapid. 
Liebenwolkwitz and Wachau, the scene of 
such bloody struggles on the 16th, were 
abandoned after a slight combat of advanced 
posts ; the aUied artillery was hurried for- 
ward amid loud shouts to the summits of the 
hills of Wachau, and soon 200 pieces of can- 
non, arrayed along the heights, began to send 
an iron tempest into the French columns. 
But, meanwhile. Napoleon's batteries were 
not idle ; sensible of the inferiority of their 
pieces in point of number to those of the 
enemy, the men endeavored to supply the 
deficiency by the rapidity of their fire, and 
their guns were worked with extraordinary 
vigor. Every cannon that could be brought 
to bear on either side was hurried to the 
front, and soon 800 pieces of artillery dis- 
charged their fire, or played on the hostile 
masses in a space of not more than half a 
league in breadth in the center of the army. 
In the midst of this tremendous fire, Prince 
Augustus of Prussia, and General Prisch 
received orders with Kleist's corps to carry 
Probstheyda. Swiftly they moved over the 
intervening open space, and entered the vil- 
lage with such vigor that they reached its 
center before the onset could be arrested; 
but there they were met by Victor and Lau- 
riston, at the head of dense masses who com- 
batted with such resolution that they were 
driven back. Prince Augustus re-formed his 
men and again moved into the village, fol- 
lowed by Wittgenstein's Russians and nearly 
the whole of Kleist's corps. Such was the 
vehemence of the onset that the French were 
entirely expelled ; the fugitives and wounded 
overspread the plain which extended toward 
Leipsic. Napoleon instantly hastened to the 
spot with the two remaining divisions of the 
Young Guard; the steady columns made 
their way through the crowd of fugitives, 
and did not return to the Thomberg until they 
had entirely expelled the enemy from the 
village. Again the Russians under Wittgen- 
stein and Benningsen's reserves were brought 
up to the attack, and dislodged the French, 
but a third time the inv-incible soldiers of 
Lauriston and Victor recovered their post 
and hurled the assailants back with frightful 
loss into the allied ranks." 

On the right the Prussians marched against 
Holzhausen and Zuckelhausen, followed by a 



part of Benningsen's Russians in reserve. 
At the same time Platoflf, with 6,000 Cos- 
sacks, by a circuitous sweep, turned the ex- 
treme left of the Frenoh on this side, and 
threatened the rear of Macdonald's corps. 
That general, in consequence, abandoned 
Holzhausen, and fell back to Stoeteritz, warm- 
ly pursued by the Prussians ; but such was 
the vehemence of the French batteries of 
100 guns, posted on either side of Probsthey- 
da, that the Prussians were forced to recoil, 
glad to seek refuge in the nearest hollows 
from the fearful tempest. Still further to the 
allied right, Bubna's light horse, with a body 
of PlatofF's Cossacks, pushed across the plain, 
beyond the reach of the combatants, and 
opened up a communication -^vith Bernadotte's 
outposts, wlaich soon made their appearance 
from the direction of Taucha; united they 
foil upon the rear of the Wirtemberg brigade 
of Nermann, which immediately abandoned 
the colors of France, and ranged itself under 
the banners of the allies. 

Schwartzenberg, finding that the resist- 
ance of the enemy, on the south of Leipsic, 
was so obstinate, and that the assault of the 
villages was attended with such a fearful loss 
of life, ordered his columns over the whole 
semicircle to the south, to seek refuge in the 
nearest hollows ft-om the dreadful effect of 
the enemy's batteries, and for the remainder 
of the day confined his attack on that side 
to another and more powerful arm. The 
whole cannon of the grand army, amounting 
to above 800 pieces, were brought forward 
to the front, arranged in the form of a vast 
semicircle, two leagues in length, from Loes- 
nitz by the ridges of Wachan toward Holz- 
hausen, and during the remainder of the day 
kept up an incessant and most destructive 
fire on the enemy's columns. The French 
batteries in that direction, which numbered 
about 500 pieces, answered with uncon" 
querable vigor, and Lauriston and Victor's 
men, with heroic resolution, repeatedly 
rushed out of Probstheyda and pushed for- 
ward toward the hostle batteries; but, as 
soon as they came within the range of grape- 
shot, the heads of the densest columns were 
swept away, and the broken remains re- 
coUed behind the shelter of the houses. For 
four mortal hours this awful scene lasted, till 
nightfall ; the alhed batteries continuing, like 
a girdle of flame, their dreadful fire, while 
the French masses, devoted to death, still 
closed their ranks as they wasted away, but 
with unconquerable resolution maintained 
their ground. In Probsthej'da, Vial, Roch- 
ambeau, and several generals of inferior note, 
were killed, and great numbers wounded 
during this fearful interval; but still their 
columns stood firm beneath the tempest, ex- 
hibiting a subhme example of human valor, 



324 



LEIPSIC. 



rising superior to all the storms of fate. 
While this terrible conflict was going on to 
the south of Leipsic, Ney and Marmont 
had to maintain their ground against still 
more overwhelming odds on the banks of the 
Partlia. Ney, finding himself outnumbered, 
adopted the same change of front which Na- 
poleon had followed to the south of Leipsic, 
and drawing back his men to Schoenfeld, 
Sellenhausen and Slunts, extended across to 
Regnier's corps, which was estaUished at 
Paunaiiorf Thus the whole French army was 
now arrayed in a circle around the city, hav- 
ing its right under Poniatowsky, resting on 
the Plcisse at Connewitz, and the extreme 
left under Marmont, at the confluence of the 
Partha and Elster, below the gate of Rosen- 
thal. But now an incident occurred on this 
side, which depressed the French as much as 
it elated the alUes. A brigade of Saxon 
cavalry, as soon as the Russians approached 
the heights of Heiter Bleik, where it was 
stationed, instead of resisting, passed over to 
the allied ranks. This example was speedily 
followed by two Saxon brigades of foot, 
with their whole artillery, and the Wirtem- 
berg horse of Normann, as already noticed, 
immediately after also went over to the 
enemy. The Saxon cannoneers, immediately 
after their going over, pointed their guns 
against the French lines, and tore in pieces 
tlie ranks of their former comrades by a 
point-blank discharge. Regnier's force thus 
weakened, was reduced to the single division 
of Durutte, and threatened on the right by 
Bubna from the Boheinian army, and on the 
left l3y Bulow from that of the Prince Royal, 
was compelled to fall back to Sellenhausen, 
almost close to Leipsic. Ney, informed of 
the catastrophe, hastened to reinforce Reg- 
nier by Delmas's division of his own corps ; 
while Marmont, to keep abreast of the retro- 
grade movement in other points, withdrew 
his troops in a similar degree, with the excep- 
tion of his extreme left, which still stood firm 
at Schoenfeld. The allied troops now pressed 
forward at all points to incircle the enemy, 
and force them back at the point of the bay- 
onet, into the suburbs of Leipsic ; while the 
French, roused to the highest pitch of indig- 
nation by the shameful defection of their 
allies, made the most desperate and heroic 
resistance. Napoleon, informed of the de- 
fection of the Saxons, and tliat Schoimfcld, 
almost a suburb of Leipsic, was threatened^ 
hastened with the cuirassiers of Nansouty, 
and a division of the Young Guard, to the 
menaced point. On the arrival of these 
veterans, Durutte and Delmas had been driven 
close to Leipsic; the Swedisli troops had 
penetrated to Kuhlgaesten on the very edge 
of the city ; while Langeron furiously assault- 
ing Schoenfeld, had three times penetrated 



into that village, and as often been dislodged 
by the heroic courage of Marmont'smen. Nan- 
souty and the Guards were immediately pushed 
forward, and rapidly made their way almost 
unresisted, in at an opening filled only by a 
cordon of hght-troops between the extreme 
right of the army of Bohemia, mider Bubna, 
and the extreme left of the Prince Royal 
under Bulow ; but before it had advanced 
far, they were assailed with such vigor on 
the right by Bubna, and on the left by 
Bulow, supported by the English rocket 
brigade, under the direction of Captain 
Bougue, that they were forced to retire, after 
Delmas had been slain, with great loss.* 
Schoenfeld at the same time was vehemently 
attacked by Count Langron, and as gallantly 
defended by Marmont ; five times did the Rus- 
sians penetrate in, and five times they were 
driven out by the devoted courage of the 
French ; Marmont's aide-de-camp was struck 
down by his side ; General Campans was 
wounded; General Frederic killed in this 
terrible struggle. At length, at six at night, 
it was carried a sixth time, amid terrific 
cheers, and remained finally in the hands of 
the Russians ; whUe 4,000 of their bravest 
soldiers, and an equal number of its intrepid 
defenders, lay dead or weltering in their 
blood in its streets. 

This was the last considerable operation of 
the day. Both parties were so much ex- 
hausted by the long continuance of this mor- 
tal struggle, that neither felt inclined to renew 
hostihties. Notwithstanding his Ul fortune. 
Napoleon had been able to fill the chasms 
in his ranks, and repair his disadvantages ; liis 
hne was nowhere broken, nor was he even 
assailed in the rear, and a fair retreat seerped 
possible for the French. The near approach 
of the enemy on all sides, convinced Napo- 
leon that the position of Leipsic had become 
untenable, and his ammunition being nearly 
exhausted, his army fatigued and weakened 
by defection, he felt that he could not make 
a successful resistance against the overwhelm- 
ing army which was brought against him, and 
reluctantly made his dispositions for a retreat. 
No words can describe the state of horror 
and confusion in which the inhabitants of 
Leipsic were kept during the whole night 
after the battle. The prodigious multitude of 
wounded who had been brought in during 
the day had filled to overflowing ^very house 
in the city ; the maimed and the dying were 
^yi'^o) without either bandages for their 
wounds, or coverings for their bodies, in the 
streets ; while the incessant roUing of artillery 
wagons and caissons, on every avenue lead- 
ing to Lindenau, the cries of the drivers, the 

• This was tho first occasion that this new and most 
formiilablo iinplement of modern warfare was brought 
into &ctioQ.— Alison, 



LEPANTO— LEUCTRA. 



325 



neighing of the horses as the wheels of the 
carriages were locked together, and the con- 
tinued march of the columns, kept every eye 
open, in that scene of unutterable woe, dur- 
ing the whole night. At eight, Napoleon 
left liis quarters on the Thomberg, and took 
up his quarters in the hotel of Prussia. The 
King of Saxony, amid the wreck of his for- 
tunes, was cliiefly inconsolable from the de- 
fection of his troops during the battle, and 
repeatedly requested counsel from Napoleon 
how he should act in the crisis. The emperor 
had the generosity to leave him altogether 
unfettered in the course he was to pursue, 
and more than once expressed his admiration 
of the constancy of a prince who was the 
same friend in disaster as he had been when 
fortune smiled the brightest. Early on the 
morning of the 19th, the allied generals made 
preparations for a general attack on Leipsic. 
The French army was in full retreat; but 
there were still nearly 60,000 men in Leispic, 
besides an equal number who were defiling 
on the road to France ; tlie barriers were all 
strongly pallisaded, the adjacent walls and 
houses loopholed ; and such a force, defend- 
ing house by house, the suburbs of the city so 
defended, could certainly, it was hoped, make 
good the post till the evacuation of the am- 
munition wagons and cannon was effected. 
The allies soon drew themselves around the 
city, like a huge serpent preparing to . crush 
its victim vdth one contraction of its power- 
ful muscles. Napoleon barely had time to 
escape before two of the gates were forced, 
and the allies entered, in spite of the deter- 
mined resistance of the enemy, into the city. 
The French resisted with the most heroic 
valor ; but, overwhelmed by the mighty host 
which came pouring upon them, they were 
forced back ; the barriers were beaten down, 
and the allies rushed into the city at all points, 
bearing down all opposition, and driving be- 
fore them an enormous mass of soldiers, car- 
riages, artillery, and wagons, which, with the 
French rear guard everywhere yet fighting 
bravely, was rolled slowly onward toward 
the west, like a huge monster, bleeding at 
every pore, yet still unsubdued. At this 
dreadful moment the great bridge of Linde- 
nau, the only remaining passage over the El- 
ster, was blown into the air with a frightful 
explosion. The mine which had been run 
under it by order of Napoleon, had been 
fired prematurely. A shriek of horror, more 
terrible even than the loudest cries of battle, 
burst from the dense multitude which crowd- 
ed at the edge of the chasm, when they found 
the arch destroyed; the ranks immediately 
broke ; the boldest threw themselves into the 
liver, where a few escaped across, but the 
greater part perished in the deep and muddy 
channel. Macdonald, by great exertions, suc- 



ceeded in reaching the brink, and plunging in, 
swam his horse across and escaped. Ponia- 
towsky also reached the side, and spurred 
his horse on ; but his charger, exhausted with 
fatigue, reeled as he strove to mount the op- 
posite bank, and fell backward into the river, 
where his master perished beneath the turbid 
water. Lauriston, Regnier, and twenty other 
generals, with 15,000 soldiers, besides 23,000 
sick and wounded, and the King of Saxony, 
fell into the hands of the victors. The total 
loss of tlie French, in prisoners, killed, and 
wounded, during the three days of battle, 
was about 60,000 men. 300 cannon, and an 
immense quantity of baggage, etc., constitut- 
ed the trophies of the allies. The loss of the 
allies was also great, amounting to nearly 
50,000 men, in killed and wounded. At two 
o'clock in the afternoon of the 19th the car- 
nage ceased at all points ; the rattle of mus- 
ketry was no longer heard, and a distant roar 
in all directions alone indicated that the 
waves of this terrible tem.pest were gradually 
sinking to rest. The French army was al- 
lowed to retreat unpursued, and the next day 
arrived near Lutzen, and on the morning fol- 
lowing resumed their march toward Frey- 
lung. The funeral of the hero Poniatowsky 
was celebrated on the 20th of October, with 
extraordinary pomp, by the allied sovereigns, 
who recognized in him, although an enemy, 
a warrior, whose military career had been 
unsullied, and who, in the last extremity, 
preferred death to disgrace. The next day 
the alUes commenced a pursuit of the retreat- 
ing army. 

LEPANTO, A.D. 1475.— Lepanto is a sea- 
port town of Greece, government of Mtdlia, 
on the north coast of the gulf of Lepanto, 
twelve miles north-east of Patros. The town 
is fortified and defended with a castle, built 
on an eminence. Being ceded by the em- 
peror to the Venetians, it was fortified by 
them, and in the year 1475 stood a siege of 
four months against the Turks, who lost 
30,000 men. Near this town, Don John of 
Austria obtained a victory over the Turkish 
fleet, on the 7th of October, 1571. Cervantes, 
the celebrated author of Don Quixote, fought 
as a soldier in this battle, and had his left 
hand shot off by an arquebus. 

LERIDA, A.D. 1707.— In 1707, Lerida, in 
Spain, was stormed by the French during the 
War of the Succession ; and in 1810 it was 
again taken by the French, under Suchet. 

LEUCTRA, B.C. 371.— Thebes, one of the 
most powerful cities of Greece, and with it 
the whole of Boeotia, was in the possession 
of the Lacedaemonians. But about the year 
380, two illustrious citizens of Thebes, Pelo- 
pidas and Epaminondas, formed the design of 
restoring the liberty of their country, by re- 
moving the yoke of bondage which the Spar- 



326 



LEUCTRA. 



tans had placed upon it. Although during 
the whole Pelopounesian war, Sparta found 
faitliful allies in the Thebans, yet the Spartans 
were ever suspicious of their strength and 
spirit, and not only seized their strongest 
castle, called Cadmea, and garrisoned it with 
troops to protect the nobles who governed 
the city, subject to the inspection of the La- 
cedaemonians, but they banished many of the 
most influential and wealthy citizens of The- 
bes from the citj-. Among these exiles was 
Pelopidtis ; but Epaminondas, being despised 
as a man of no power on account of his pov- 
erty, they suflered to remain. Such ini:lig- 
nities aroused the Thebans to a high state of 
indignation. Epaminondiis discoursed witli 
tlie "young men, and inspired them with a 
passionate desire to thi-ow olT the Spartan 
yoke. Pelopidas went from one exile to 
another, and abjured them not to leave their- 
native city, enslaved and garrisoned b}' ty- 
rants, but to return and assist in expeUing 
the enemy. Excited to enthusiasm by his 
words, the exiles agreed to follow his advice. 
A plot was now laid for the destruction of 
the magistrates and generals who were 
cliarged with the government of Thebes. 
Every arrangement being perfected both by 
tlie conspirators and their friends in the city, 
a day for the execution of the project was 
fixed upon. On that day Pelopidas and his 
fi-iends entered the city disguised as peasants, 
separately, and at different gates. The gov- 
ernors and magistrates had been invited to a 
supper, by one of the conspirators' friends 
who had managed to be appointed secretary 
to the magistrates, and were heated with 
wine when it was whispered about that the 
exiles had returned into the city. But the 
conspirators were already at the head of their 
men, and by a stratagem effected an entrance 
into the banquet-hall, and put all the guests 
to the sword. Leontides, one of the magis- 
trates, who was not at tlie festival, was sur- 
prised in Iris bed. But upon the entrance of 
some of the conspirators he seized his sword, 
and made such a desperate resistance that 
several of his enemies were slain before he 
was killed himself. The doors of the prisons 
were now broken open, and 500 prisoners 
liberated. The Thebans were called upon to 
resume their liberty, and arms were distrib- 
uted among them. AU tlie exiles who had 
sought refuge in Athens arrived tlie next 
morning completely armed, and were soon 
followed by 5,000 foot soldiers and 500 horse- 
men, whom the Athenians had sent to the 
assistance of the Thebans, under the com- 
mand of Demophoiin. These troops together 
with others which shoitly afterward joined 
them from all the cities of Boeotia, formed an 
army of 12,000 foot soldiers, and 2,000 horse- 
men. Without loss of time this army besieged 



the castle Cadmea, which was defended by 
1,500 Laceditmouians, besides 3,000 Thebans 
wlio, alarmed at the state of aflairs, had taken 
refuge Uiere. The besieged made a vigorous 
resistance ; but at length the scarcity of pro- 
visions compelled them to capitulate, and the 
castle was surrendered into tlie hands of the 
Thebans. The Lacedaemonians now made 
vigorous preparations for war. To Agesilaus 
was given the command of tlie troops against 
Thebes. He entered Boeotia, and did con- 
siderable damage to the Thebans; but not 
without great loss on his o"\\ti side. The 
Theban and Lacedjemonian armies came every 
day to blows, and were perpetually engaged, 
but not in formal battles. Yet the constant 
skirmishes seemed to instruct the Thebans in 
the art of war, and to inspire them witli 
boldness, valor and experience. Several cam- 
paigns passed in tliis manner without any 
thing very decisive on either side. At lengtJi 
the armies came to an engagement at Tegyrae, 
which was a kind of prelude to tlie battle of 
Leuctra. Pelopidas tlie Theban commander, 
kept a strict eye upon the city of Orchome- 
nus, one of the largest and most considerable 
towns of Boeotia, and still garrisoned by tlie 
Lacedgemonians, and watched for an oppor- 
tunity to make himself master of it. On 
learning that the Lacedemonian troops had 
vacated Orchonienus, he hastened tliither 
Avith his sacred hand which consisted only of 
300 men, and with a troop of horse ; but 
finding, when he was near the town, that 
other troops were coming from Sparta to sup- 
ply tlie place of those that had marched out, 
he' immediately turned his troops toward 
Thebes. On his return he found the enemy 
posted near Tegyi-ae, to intercept him. As 
soon as the Thebans saw the enemy, one of 
them ran to Pelopidas, crying, "We have 
fallen into the hands of the enemy.'' '' Why 
so ?" rephed he ; " Why have they not fallen 
into ours ?" He now ordered liis cavalry to 
advance from the rear to the front that they 
might be ready for the attack. Then drawing 
up" his sacred band into a close body, he 
waited for the enemy's charge, feeling as- 
sured that liis noble 300 would break through 
the enemy's ranks, however superior in num- 
ber. The sacred band, ^A-hich was also called 
the band of lovers, was tlie very flower of 
tlie Theban army. It was composed of 300 
brave and resolute young men, •who had 
vowed perpetual friendship to each other, 
and had bound themselves by the^trongest 
ties to stand by one anotlier to the last drop 
of their blood, and were fomed equally for 
their fidelity to tlieir country and tlieir affec- 
tion for each other. 

The Spartans had two battalions, each 
consisting of 900 men. Led on by their 
generals, Gorgoleon and Theopompus, they 



LEUCTRA. 



9^ 



pushed boldly on agaiast the Thebans. At 
the first shock, the generals of the two 
armies were personally brought into the en- 
counter. The struggle was most obstinate 
on both sides. The Spartan commanders 
who attacked Pelopidas wore among the 
first that were slain. The Thebans fought 
with almost superhuman valor. All the 
Lacedsernonians who sunounded their gen- 
erals were slain, and the whole army was so 
terrified by the incredible bravery and 
strength of the enemy, that they divided and 
formed a line through which the Thebans 
might, if tliey so desired, have passed in 
safety. But Pelopidas disdained thus to 
make his escape. With his gallant sacred 
band he charged upon the Lacedaimonians, 
who yet stood their ground, and made such 
liavoc upon them that they fled in disorder 
and confusion. But fearing the Lacedaemo- 
nian forces which had just arrived at Orcho- 
mcnus from Sparta, the Thebans did not pursue 
them. They were content with Ijeating the 
enemy in a fair combat, and making a retreat 
through a dispersed and defeated army. In 
the year 371, B.C., the Lacedaemonians made 
peace with all the nations of Greece except 
Thebes. Cleombrotus, King of Lacedsemo- 
niii, entered their country with his army, 
and after taking a large compass, arrived at 
Leuctra, a small town of Boeotia, between 
Platiea and Thespiae. The Thebans were 
greatly alarmed on the first arrival of the en- 
emy. They saw themselves alone, without 
allies or support, while all Greece looked 
upon them as utterly lost. But in one man 
tlie Thebans had a whole army. That man 
was Epaminondas. He was appointed gen- 
eral, and had several colleagues joined in 
commission vrith him. He immediately 
raised all the troops he could, and began his 
march. His army consisted at most of 6,000 
men, whereas that of the enemy was at least 
thrice that number. Pelopidas was not then 
in office; but he commanded the sacred 
band, to whom, since the battle of Tegj-rae, 
he was so much attached that he would 
never part from them. Both armies having 
airiv^d at Leuctra, the generals on either 
side consulted whether they should give bat- 
tle, and both parties, after a long consulta- 
tion, decided on so doing. The two armies 
were very unequal. The Lacedaemonian 
army consisted of 24,000 footmen, and 1,600 
horsemen. The Thebans had only 6,000 
foot and 400 horse ; but they were all choice 
troops, and, animated by their former suc- 
cesses, they had resolved to conquer or die. 
Epaminondas, who resolved to charge with 
his left; wing, strengthened it with the choice 
of his heavy-armed troops, whom he drew 
up, fifty men deep. The sacred band was on 
liis left, and closed the wing. The rest of 



his infantry was posted upon his right in an 
obUque line, which, the further it extended, 
was the more distant from the enemy. By 
this unusual disposition, his design was to 
cover his right flank, to refuse his right 
wing, and ke(;p it as a kind of reserve, that 
he might not hazard the event of the battle 
upon the weakest part of his army, and ako 
to begin the action with hLs left ^^•ing, which 
consisted of his best troops, to turn tlje 
weight of the battle upon the right wing of 
the enemy, which consisted entirely of La- 
cedaemonians, under the command of Cleom- 
brotus himself. He was assured that if he 
could penetrate the Lacedaemonian phalanx, 
the rest of the army would soon be put to 
flight. The rest of his cavalry he disposed 
in front of his left wing. Cleombrotus, who 
commanded the right wing of the Lacedae- 
monian army, drew up his men in files 
twelve deep, in front of which he posted his 
cavalry. The left wing, which was com- 
posed of his allies, was commanded b)' Archi- 
damus, son of Agesilaus, the famous Lacedae- 
monian general. As soon as Cleombrotus 
perceived the intention of the enemy, he be- 
gan to change his order of battle, and to 
extend his right wing, and wheel about, 
with a design to surround Epaminondas. 
But at this moment Pelopidas came briskly 
up with his band of three hundred, and be- 
fore Cleombrotus could execute his design, 
fell upon the Spartans in flank with such 
vigor that they were put into disorder. 
Epaminondas, determined to contend only 
with the enemy's right wing, regardless of 
the other troops, warmly seconded Pelopidas, 
with his cavalry, and the battle which fol- 
lowed was furious and bloody. The Thebans 
fought with such determination and valor, 
that the Spartans, in spite of their knowledge 
of war, were obliged, by the great slaughter 
committed on their ranks, gradually to give 
ground. But so long as Cleombrotus wi.3 
uninjured the victory continued in suspense. 
At length, covered with wounds, the Lace- 
daemonian general fell dead to the ground. 
His troops now turned and fled. But in en 
instant, stung with shame at abandoning the 
body of their king, they returned to the field 
of battle, and redoubled their exertions. 
And now a terrible slaughter ensued on both 
sides. The Spartans fought furiously to re- 
cover the body, and the Thebans contested 
with them for victory with equal ferocity. 
At length the Thebans were forced back, 
and the Spartans gained possession of the 
body of their king, and carried it ofi". Then, 
elated by so glorious an action, tiiey were 
about to return to the charge, which might 
have been successfiil if their allies had sec- 
onded them. But the left wing of the Lace- 
dEemonian army, upon seeing the right wing 



328 



LEWES. 



broken, believed all lost, especially when 
they heard of the death of the king, took to 
their heels. The Spartans now despaired, 
and quickly joined in the flight. Epaminou- 
das followed them vigorously, and killed a 
great number in the pursuit. The Lacedae- 
monians had never received such a blow. 
Their most bloody defeats till then had scarce 
cost them more than 400 or 500 of their 
citizens, and the Thebans were the first who 
had ever defeated them with an inferior 
number of men. In this battle the Lacedas- 
monians lost 4,000 men, of whom 1,400 were 
Lacedaemonians. Of the Lacedsemonians 
killed, 400 were citizens of Sparta, out of 
700 who were in the battle. The Thebans 
had only 300 men killed, among whom there 
were but few of then- own citizens. See 
Battle of Mantinea. 

LEWES, A.D. 1264.— The town of Lewes 
is situated on the river Ouse, in Sussex co., 
England, forty-three miles south of London. 

The battle of Lewes between Henry III., 
King of England, and Montfort, Earl of Lei- 
cester and the rebellious barons, was fought 
on the 14th of May, 1264. On the 4th of 
April, Henry, having summoned the tenants 
of the crown to meet him at Oxford, un- 
furled his standard, and placed himself at the 
head of the army. His first attempts were 
successful. Northampton, Leicester, two of 
the strongest fortresses in the possession of 
the barons, were successively reduced, and 
among the captives at Northampton were 
counted Simon, the eldest of Leicester's sons, 
fourteen other baronets, forty knights, and a 
numerous body of esqviires. From Notting- 
ham, where he had been joined by Comyn, 
Bruce ami Baliol, the lords on the borders of 
Scotland, he was recalled into Kent by the 
danger of his nephew Henry, who was 
besieged in the castle of Eochester. At his 
approach the enemy, who had taken and pil- 
laged the city, retired with precipitation ; and 
the king fixed his head-quarters in the town 
of Lewes. On the 12th of May Leicester, 
having added a body of 15,000 citizens to 
his army, marched from London, with a 
resolution to bring the controversey to an 
issue. From Fletching he dispatched a letter 
to Henry, protesting that neither he nor his 
associates had taken up arms against the 
king, but against the evil counselors, who 
enjoyed and abused the confidence of their 
sovereign. Henry returned a public defiance, 
pronouncing Montfort and his adherents per- 
jured, and daring the Earls of Leicester and 
Derby to appear in the king's court and 
prove their assertion by single combat. After 
the observation of those forms, which the 
feudal connexion between the lord and the 
vassal was supposed to make necessary, 
Montfort sent a new message, renouncing in 



the name of himself and of the associated 
barons, all fealty and allegiance to Henry. 
He then marched toward Lewes with his 
army divided into four bodies ; the first com- 
manded by his two sons, Henry and Guy de 
Monttbrt, together with Humphrey de Bohun, 
Earl of Hereford ; the second led by the Eail 
of Gloucester, with William de Montchesney 
and John Fitz-John ; the tliird composed of 
Londoners, under the command of Nicholas 
de Legrave ; the fourth commanded by him- 
self in person. Each man wore upon his 
breast a white cross, and all were inspired 
witli the belief that they were fighting the 
cause of Heaven. On the 14th of May, the 
army arrived within about two miles from 
Lewes, and leaving his standard on the sum- 
mit of the hill, Leicester with his army de- 
scended into the plain before the town. 
Henry's foragers had discovered and announced 
the approach of the enemy, and the royahsts 
in three divisions silently awaited the attack. 
Leicester, having called before the ranks the 
Earl of Gloucester, and several other young 
noblemen, bade them kneel down, and con- 
ferred on them the order of knighthood ; and 
the Londoners, who impatiently awaited tlie 
conclusion of the ceremony, rushed with loud 
shouts on the enemy. They were received 
by Prince Edward with such warmth, that 
in a few moments they were broken, and 
driven back as far as the standard. Edward 
with his followers pressed forward in eager 
pursuit ; and in the heat of the- chase, carried 
with him the flower of the army four mUes 
from the field of battle. More than 3,000 
Londoners were slain ; but the advantage 
was dearly purchased by the loss of the vic- 
tory. Leicester, who viewed with pleasure 
the thoughtless impetuosity of the prince, fell 
with the remainder of his forces on the divis- 
ion of Henry and his brother. A body of 
Scots, who fought on foot, was cut to pieces. 
Their leaders, Baliol, Comyn and Bruce, were 
made prisoners ; the same fate befell the King 
of the Romans who commanded the other 
division of the royal army ; and the combat 
was feebly maintained by the exertions and 
example of Philip Basset who fought near 
the person of King Henry. But at length, 
that nobleman sunk beneath a hundred 
wounds, and his retainers fled. The king, 
whose horse had been killed under him, sur- 
rendered ; and Leicester conducted the royal 
captive into the priory. The fugitives, as soon 
as they learned the fate of their sovereign, 
came back to share his captivity, and volun- 
tarily yielded themselves to their enemies. 

Prince Edward, returning to the field of 
battle, from his precipitate pursuit of the Lon- 
doners, was astonished to find it covered 
with the dead bodies of his friends, and still 
more to hear that his father was defeated and 



LEXINGTON AND CONCORD. 



329 



a captive in the hands of a victorious enemy. 
As he approached Levpes, the barons came 
out and attacked him. At the first shock, 
Earl Warrenne, Hugh Bigod, and William de 
Valence, with seven hundred horse, fled to 
Pevencey, whence they sailed to the conti- 
nent. Edward, with a strong body of veter-:- 
ans from the Welsh marches, rode along the 
wall to the castle, and hearing that his father 
was a captive in the priory, obtained from 
Leicester permission to visit him. The Prince 
opened a negotiation with the chief of the 
enemy, and tlie next morning a treaty was 
concluded upon, by which it was agreed that 
all prisoners taken during the war should be 
set at Hberty ; that the Princes Edward and 
Henry should be kept as hostages for the 
peaceable conduct of their fathers, the King 
of England, and the King of the Romans ; 
and that aU matters which should not be 
amicably adjusted in the next parliament 
should be referred to the decision of certain 
arbitrators. In the battle of Lewes about 
5,000 men are said to have fallen on each 
side. From this time Montfort used the 
power he gained by this victory, so despotic- 
ally, that in the end it was the cause of his 
own destruction. See Battle of Evesham. 

LEXING-TON and CONCORD, a.d. 1775. 
— Lexington, ever memorable as the spot 
where the first American blood was spilt in 
our glorious struggle for Independence, is in 
Middlesex county, Mass., eleven miles north- 
west of Boston. 

Concord, in the same county, is situated 
six miles north-west of Lexington, and here 
the first British blood was shed in the Revo- 
lutionary war. 

About eleven o'clock on the night of April 
18th, 1775, nearly 1,000 of the best British 
troops were secretly conveyed up the river 
to Cambridge, from Boston, on their way to 
Lexington, for the purpose of destroying the 
military stores there deposited by the pat- 
riots. They had also received orders from 
General Gage, then stationed at Boston, to 
march on Concord, to seize upon the persons 
of John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who 
were foremost among those who had dared 
to oppose the British aggression aud oppres- 
sion. The Bostonians, however, having en- 
tertained suspicions of General Gage's object, 
sent messengers to Hancock and Adams, 
warning them of danger in time for them to 
make their escape. The British forces landed 
at a point called Phipp's Farm, and marched 
thence toward Lexington. Meanwhile, the 
news of their approach was spread far and 
near ; the bells of the town were rung, can- 
nons were fired, and the people from tlae ad- 
joining country flocked toward the scene of 
danger in crowds. The British troops were 
commanded by Colonel Smith, and Major 



Pitcairn. The vanguard was led by the latter 
officer. The provincial forces which had as- 
sembled at the news of the approach of the 
enemy, separated during the night, and at 
five o'clock on the morning of the 19th, when 
the vanguard of the British entered the town, 
only about seventy-five were under arms, too 
small a number certainly to think of engag- 
ing the superior force of the royahsts. On 
the entrance of the British the provincials 
were performing the exercises of a drill, and 
Pitcairn, advancing toward them, shouted, 
" Disperse, rebels ! lay down your arms and 
disperse !" His command was not obeyed. 
The British officer, enraged at their non- 
compliance, discharged his pistol at them, 
and brandishing his sword, ordered his men 
to fire. His men instantly poured a volley 
of musketry on the provincials, killing eight 
men on the spot, and throwing them into 
confusion. But quickly re-forming, they 
steadily retreated, facing the enemy, and re- 
turning their fire. The British following up 
the enemy, marched along the road to Con- 
cord. The news of the engagement spread like 
wild-fire. The whole country was in arms ; 
and armed men came to the scene of action 
from all quarters. As the soldiers approach- 
ed Concord, the inhabitants, who seemed 
determined to act on the defensive, fell 
back to the bridge at the north of the town. 
Here they were assailed by the enemy with 
such fury that they were obliged to relin- 
quish the possession of the bridge. The Brit- 
ish troops spiked two twenty-four pounders, 
and destroyed a number of artillery wheels, 
together with a quantity of ammunition and 
flour. But the provincials were not defeated. 
The hght infantry of the enemy, who were 
ravaging the country above Concord, were 
attacked by the Americans with such vigor 
that they were compelled to retire to the 
town. Here a hot skirmish ensued, wliich 
resulted in the defeat of the British, Avho re- 
treated precipitately. Meanwhile, General 
Gage, hearing of the dangerous position of 
his soldiers, dispatched hastily another thou- 
sand men, with a large train of artillery ; and 
they arrived at Lexington in time to support 
the shattered remnant of the first detachment, 
which had suffered great annoyance from the 
enemy, who, stationed behind trees, walls, 
and fences, kept up a constant fire on the re- 
treating army. The two detachments joined 
at Lexington, and having halted a consid- 
erable time, renewed their retreat toward 
Boston, followed closely by the provincials, 
whose numbers increased every moment, 
and who continued to harass their flanks and 
rear, until they reached Charlestown, when 
the Americans deemed it prudent to discon- 
tinue the pursuit. In this first feat of arms, 
tlie Americans were decidedly the victors. 



330 



LEYDEN. 



With a force far inferior in numbers, they [ 
had driven a well-armed and highly discip- 
lined army, provided with heavy artillery, 
before them like sheep. The British lost 65 i 
killed, 180 wounded, and 28 made prisoners. 
The Americans lost 50 killed, 34 wounded, [ 
and 5 prisoners. 

LEYDEN, A.D. 1574.— This city was be- 
sieged in 1574. Durmg a protracted resist- ! 
ance, 6,000 of the inhabitants perished of , 
famine. The following narrative is extracted j 
from the work of an Italian historian : | 

Leyden is one of the cliief towns of Hol- 
land ; it is seated low, among a labyrinth 
of channels, part of which are running, part j 
standing waters, and which cut through the 
territories thereof on all sides. The Rhine 
runs through it with one of its branches, 
which now is the weakest, but hath formerly 
been the most frequented ; though this retain 
its ancient name, whereas the rest, as they 
draw near the sea, change it into that of 
other rivers. So many other channels are 
derived from this branch within the town it- 
self in several parts, as the space, wMch is 
there broken off by the islands, is in a sort 
larger than what is united to the continent. 
But if it be divided by so many channels, it 
is rejoined by many more bridges, of wliich 
there are about 150, where they may serve 
either for use or ornament ; and the most of 
them are of stone. The town is well peopled ; 
her streets are large buildings, well pohshed ; 
it is well flanked round about ; her ditch is 
everywhere deep ; and in fine she is in all 
circumstances of such condition, as the king's 
men had good reason to use all endeavors to 
gain her, and also the rebels to keep posses- 
sion of her. 

The royalists betook themselves with dili- 
gence to be masters of all avenues, whereby 
succor miglit be kept fi-om the town. The 
parts thereabouts (as hath been said) are full 
of channels and rivers : wherefore it was 
thought necessary to block up all passages 
with sundry forts, by wliich the city might 
be come to, either by land or water ; so as, 
ere long, there were Uttle less than sixty forts 
built round about it, whereby almost all 
possibility of relieving it was taken away. 
The Leydenists meanwhile were not want- 
ing on their parts in preparing for defense. 
And judging that the royalists intended 
rather to take the town by famine than by 
the sword, they thought it not convenient to 
receive many foreign soldiers into the city ; 
the longer to preserve their victuals, and also 
because they hoped they had men enough of 
their own to maintain and defend it. 

John Douza, a famous Latin poet in those 
days, very nobly born, and of other high deserts, 
had the chief government of the atl'airs of the 
chy. He failed not in acting his part well ; 



he still encouraged the Leydenists, and fed 
them with hopes that other cities would 
speedily join with them, and relieve them. In 
confirmation of this, sometimes letters, some- 
times messages came from without, and some 
news was cunningly raised witliin the town 
itself: though it were very true, that Orange 
and the rest of the rebels in that province 
labored nothing more than how to keep a 
place of such consequence still at their devo- 
tion. It was now the month of August; 
and the Leydenists began already to sufier 
want of victuals. Therefore tlie states of the 
country met to treat of so weighty a business, 
and to find out some way whereby the city 
might be relieved ; and this affair began to 
be mightily earnest. The deputies diflered in 
their opinions ; some thought the town might 
be most easily got into by making a gallant 
assault by land, others held it might better be 
relieved by some river or channel ; but the 
greater part concluded that there was small 
hopes of doing it either one way or other, 
the king's men having so strongly fortified 
themselves everywhere. Lewis Boisot, ad- 
miral of Holland, chanced to be at this meet- 
ing ; a man very expert in maritime afiairs, 
of a manhke spirit and good at execution ; 
and one who was very well esteemed over 
all the province. He, while they were hot- 
test in their variety of opinions, stepped forth 
to propound his, and began to speak thus : 

" I wish that our own misfortunes did not too 
deplorably teach us how perverse the fury of 
the sea proves sometimes to our countries. 
Who sees not how we are daily inforced to 
oppose our industry to the threats thereof? 
Nor have our mountainous banks been suifi- 
cient so to curb the tempest of her waves, 
but that sometime she hath swallowed up 
Avhole islands on some sides, and caused 
miserable aud unheard-of ruins in other parts. 
We are now to seek for remedy, in this our 
l^resent necessity, from these evils which do 
so often afEhct us. Let nature work the same 
effect to-day, for our good, which she useth 
upon so many otlier occasions to do for our hurt. 
And by those weapons wherewith she makes 
war against us, let us by her example make 
war upon our enemies. Every one knows that 
at the .two equinoxials of the year the ocean 
swells extraordinary high upon our coasts; 
and, by the season of the year, we are shortly 
to expect the effects thereof My counsel 
shall therefore be, that we may immediately, 
I at the high tides, begin to let the waters 
loose into the neighboring ground of Ley- 
den : greater tides will hereafter follow. 
And tiius, turning the siege upon the be- 
siegers, we may hope to destroy our enemies 
within their own works, and at the same 
time to free the city fiom all danger. It 
may be thought impossible to reUeve it by 



LEYDEK 



331 



land, or by the ordinary way of channels or 
rivers ; whereas, by the way I have pre- 
scribed, we may beheve that our enter- 
prise will be smiled on by success. It will 
be in our power to let in the inundation 
where we please. We shall see the enemy 
strangely astonished and confused between 
the shame of abandoning the siege and the 
horror of continuing it. But being forced at 
last to fly, we shall see our own weapons and 
those of nature conspire together in slaught- 
ering them on all sides ; and shall see that 
punishment justly transferred on them which 
they with open violence prepared for the 
innocent. The country which shall be 
drowned will doubtlessly be somewhat dam- 
aged thereby; but who would not bear 
with such an inconvenience, whereby their 
country shall receive so great a l:>enefit ? On 
the contrary, whose hair will not stand on 
end to think, that, after the loss of Haarlem 
and of Leyden, the whole province will 
shortly remain at the cruel will of the Span- 
iards ? We must sometimes be wicked to be 
good. How often do we cut off some one 
member for the welfare and safeguard of the 
rest of the body ? Yet this evil will not 
prove finally so great, but that it will be paid 
with great usury. Some worldly actions 
prove so memorable, as they strike envy 
dumb and add new tongues to fame. This 
of ours wiU certainly be such, and wiU. be 
everywhere highly celebrated. I, who so 
boldly give the advice, do as confidently pro- 
nounce the augury ; and hope that the 
event will crown both of them with fortu- 
nate success." 

At the hearing of so strange a proposition, 
the deputies were much confused, whether 
they should accept or reject it. But it is 
ofb-times seen that need, passing into neces- 
sity, necessity passeth luckily into desperation. 
And thus it proved in what we shall now 
relate. For all of them, joining at last in 
opinion that Leyden was not to be freed by 
any other way than by what Boisot had pro- 
pounded, it was resolved that at all adven- 
tures they would foUow his advice. The chief 
banks or ditches of the Meuse and Isell be- 
tween Rotterdam and Tergowe were present- 
ly cut in divers places ; and at high tide tlie 
waters began to break in everywhere, and 
overflow all the grounds which lie between 
Tergowe, Rotterdam, Delf, and Leyden. At 
this unlooked-for inundation the Spaniards 
were at first much astonished; but they 
were soon aware of the enemies' design. 

The king's forts were very many, as we 
have said, and divers of them were seated in 
the lowest places. These the inundation did 
quickly reach, and therefore they were quickly 
forsaken, and those who kept them went to 
join with those that kept the chiefest forts, 



which were so placed as they might be the 
more easily maintained. Meanwhile, when 
once the enemy had pitched upon the afore- 
said resolution, they applied themselves apace 
to get together great store of vessels which 
should be fitting to relieve Leyden. They 
were very careful to build them with shallow 
bottoms, to the end that they might pass over 
such grounds where the water was shallow- 
est. The greatest part of them were built in 
Rotterdam, by reason of the nearness and 
opportunity of its situation. All Holland was 
in great expectation what the success would 
prove, and therefore people flocked from aU 
parts to help to build boats ; many of which 
were to be in the form of galleys with oars, to 
the end that they might the easier get by the 
passes, and assault the forts, which were yet 
in the royalists' possession. These boats 
were therefore furnished with many pieces 
of artillery, and such people as were judged 
fit to fight. WhOe they were making this 
preparation, the admiral of Holland endeav- 
ored, with some ships prepared for that pur- 
pose, to force certain passes, and to bring 
some succor into Leyden; for the besieged 
suffered very much for want of victuals, and 
did very earnestly solicit succor. But his de- 
sign did not at that time take effect ; for the 
waters were not yet so far increased as that 
his vessels could come near Leyden. All 
Holland joined therefore in their prayers, that 
the sea might suddenly swell higher; and 
that the province, by raising the siege of Ley- 
den, might receive so desired a misfortune. 

On the other side, the king's men were not 
wanting in securing their forts, and repairing 
them with earth, hay, and whatsoever else 
they could come by of most commodious; 
and hoping that the waters would swell no 
higher, they persuaded themselves that they 
should, within a few days, finish their busi- 
ness. They very well knew the townsmen's 
necessities, and that all their victuals being 
already spent, the affairs within were draw- 
ing to great extremity. While both sides 
were in these hopes and fears, the time came 
wherein nature, by way of her hidden causes, 
was likewise to work her effects. About the 
end of September the sea began to swell ex- 
ceedingly, according as she useth to do in that 
season of the year; and pouring in at the 
high tides, no longer waves, but even mount- 
ains of waters, into the most inward chan- 
nels and rivers, made so great an inundation, 
as all the country about Leyden seemed to be 
turned into a sea. It can not be said how 
much the rebels were hereby encouraged, and 
the king's men discouraged. The former 
came presently forth with their fleet, which 
consisted of alwut 150 liottoms, a great part 
whereof were made hke galleys; and to 
these were added many other boats which 



332 



LIEGE. 



served only to carry victuals. The whole 
fleet was thus assembled together about the 
beginning of Oetober, and put to water in 
good order, to execute their designed reUef : 
the galleys went on the outsides ; the other 
greater vessels, which, if need should be, were 
to play upon the forts, in the midst ; and those 
which bore the victuals in the rear. But 
there was no occasion of any great conten- 
tion; for the king's men, having vahantly 
defended themselves in sundry places, consid- 
ering that they were not now to fight with 
men, but with the elements, thought rather 
how to withdraw themselves into places of 
safety, than rashly to oppose the enemy. 
Yet they could not forego their fortifications, 
neither so soon nor in so good order, but that 
many of them remained a prey either to the 
sword or to the water. And truly it was a 
miserable spectacle to behold, from all parts, 
one slain, another drowned, and many en- 
deavoring to save themselves in the highest 
places, where, when they were freed from the 
waters, they were inexorably slain by the en- 
emy. It is said that above 1,500 of the 
king's men perished thus, and most of them 
Spaniards, as those who were chiefly em- 
ployed in ordering the siege, and who, de- 
sirous to bear away the greatest glory, fell 
into the greatest misfortune. Thus was Ley- 
den at last reUeved, after five months' siege, 
to the exceeding great joy of the rebels and 
all that favored them. But, howsoever, the 
memory of this siege remained a long time 
very sorrowful in the city, for about ten thou- 
sand died within the town of hunger and other 
sufferings, and all the most unclean and vilest 
nourishment was already so consumed when 
the relief was brought in, and the besieged 
resolving rather to die than to yield, nothing 
was expected but that the city should give 
up her last breath, and, remaining a misera- 
ble carcass, should be buried witliin her own 
walls and houses. 

With extreme impatience they now ex- 
pected the approach of those tides which are 
commonly the object of their dread and ter- 
ror. The situation of the besieged was be- 
come the most desperate and deplorable. 
During seven weeks there had not been a 
morsel of Bread within the city ; and the only 
food had been the roots of herbs and weeds, 
and the flesh of dogs and horses. Even all 
these were at length consumed, and the peo- 
ple reduced to live on soup made of the hides 
of animals which had been killed. A pesti- 
lence succeeded to the famine, and carried 
off in a few weeks some thousands of the 
inhabitants. Those who survived, over- 
whelmed with anguish at the dismal scenes 
which they daily beheld, were scarcely able 
to perform the mournful office of burying the 
dead. In this dreadful situation they saw 



from their walls the flags and sails of the ves- 
sels destined for their rehef, but hud the 
mortification to perceive that it was utterly 
impossible for them to approach. It is not 
surprising that some of the people, finding 
their misery greater than they were able to 
endure, should have entertained the thoughts 
of surrendering the town to the enemy. Some 
conspiracies were again formed for this pur- 
pose, but they were discovered and defeated 
by the vigilance of Douza, supported by a 
great majority of the people, to whom neither 
the pestilence, nor famine, nor death in its 
most hideous forms, appeared so dreadful as 
the tyranny of the Spaniards. 

A great number of people having come one 
day in a tumultuous manner to a magistrate 
whose name was Adrian, exclaiming, that he 
ought either to give them food, or deliver the 
town into the hands of the enemy : " I have 
solemnly sworn," he replied, "that I will 
never surrender myself or my fellow-citizens 
to the cruel and perfidious Spaniard ; and I 
will sooner die than violate my oath. I have 
no food, else I would give it you. But if my 
death can be of use to you, take, tear me in 
pieces, and devour me : I shall die with satis- 
faction, if I know that by my death I shall 
for one moment reheve you fi-om your direful 
necessity !" By this extraordinary answer 
the people, struck with astonishment, were 
silenced, and their fury was for some time 
appeased. * * * At length, however, 
their heroic sacrifices were rewarded by the 
wished-for deliverance. — Bentivoglio's Wars 
in Flanders. 

LIEGE, A.D. 1468.— Louis XI. had raised 
the Liegeois against their suzerain, the Duke 
of Burgundy. In an over-cunning attempt 
at poUcy, Louis had placed himself in the 
hands of the bold Burgundian, who, irritated 
by the outbreak at Liege, compelled the im- 
prudent monarch to hoist the cross of St. 
Andrew, the ensign of the house of Bur- 
gundy, and lead his army againsf the Liegeois, 
whose revolt he had excited. Made aware 
of the storm about to break over their ram- 
parts, the inhabitants prepared for a vigorous 
defense. Although reduced to a feeble gar- 
rison of 600 men, the burgesses determined 
to withstand with courage the efforts of an 
enemy who had sworn to ruin them. The 
Duke of Burgundy opened the trenches, and 
took up his lodging in one of the faubourgs. 
The besieged, in a vigorous sortie, killed 800 
Burgundians, and put the rest of their in- 
fantry to flight. WUd, provost of Liege, who 
had led on this attack, died of his wounds : 
the loss was irreparable — no one could re- 
place him. The duke of Burgundy and the 
king came up. They lodged in houses in the 
faubourgs, and ordered many useless attacks 
and assaults. Several days passed without 



LINCOLN. 



3^3 



any event of consequence. During this short 
repose, the Liegeois meditated carrying off 
the king and the duke by surprise. In the 
darkness and silence of night, tlie Liegeois 
marched, led by the owners of the houses in 
which the princes were lodged. A hollow 
way cut through a rock covered their march. 
They killed some sentinels, arrived at the 
lodgings without being discovered, and stop- 
ped at the pavihon in which dwelt the Count 
du Perche, son of the Duke d'Alen^on. They 
missed the decisive moment. The two princes 
were awakened and put upon their guard. 
Three hundred men-at-arms were round them 
instantly. The tumult was horrible. The 
clash of arms, the uncertainty of the cause of 
perU, the darkness, and the cries of the com- 
batants, augmented the confusion of this 
mtUe. The Liegeois, conscious of the smaU- 
nes3 of their numbers, and feeling they must 
succumb, fought hke lions at bay : they per- 
ished, but sold their Uves dearly. The king 
and the Duke of Burgundy met in the street, 
at the head of their guards; their presence 
removed mutual suspicions. They separated, 
after felicitating each other upon their good 
fortune and intrepidity upon so perilous an 
occasion. This fruitless attempt only in- 
creased the rage of the irritable duke : he 
ordered an assault for the 30th of October. 
At the given signal, toward daybreak, 40,000 
men advanced to the foot of the battle- 
ments, to the sound of warUke instruments. 
Nobody appeared upon the walls to defend 
them ; the inhabitants had fled ; women, 
children, and old men awaited in consterna- 
tion and silence the evils it would please their 
implacable conqueror to pour upon them. 
The Burgundians entered without resistance. 
The poor remains of the population took 
refuge in the churches from the fury of the 
soldiery. The duke triumphed: but what 
triumph could satisfy his brutal nature? 
Priests were immolated at the foot of the 
altar ; sacred virgins, dragged from their asy- 
lums, were violated and then massacred; 
soldiers went from house to house with the 
lighted torch and naked sword in their hands ; 
they vented their fury upon defenseless wo- 
men and children ; plunder was the least of 
their crimes. The unfortunate fugitives per- 
ished in the woods of hunger and destitution, 
or were pitUessly massacred; prisoners, too 
poor to pay their ransom, were precipitated 
into the waters of the Meuse. The city, 
when changed into a desert, presenting no 
animated creature upon wliich the barbarous 
conqueror could exercise his cruel vengeance, 
he directed his resentment against inanimate 
objects. Pour thousand men of the country 
of Limbourg were commanded to set fire to 
the public edifices, and to demolish all that 
the flames had not devoured. Liege soon 



became one heap of melancholy ruins. — 
Robson. 

LIGNY, A.D. 1815.— Ligny is a village of 
Belgium, and situated 14 miles west of Na- 
mur, and is celebrated for a combat between 
the Prench and Prussians, on the 16th of 
June, 1815, two days before the battle of 
Waterloo. See Waterloo. 

LIMERICK, A.D. 1691.— Limerick in Ire- 
land, capitulated in 1691 to the troops of 
William III., under Ginkell. 

LIMOGES, A.D. 1189.— Nothilda, queen 
of Richard the Lion-heart, laid siege to Li- 
moges in France, and finally took it by storm. 
She then gave it up to pillage. In 1370 it 
was besieged and taken by Edward, Prince of 
Wales, known in history as the Black Prince. 

LINCOLN, A.D. 1141.— This city is situa- 
ted on the river Witham, in Lincoln co., 
England, one hundred and twenty-one miles 
north of London. 

On the 30th of September, 1139, Matilda, 
widow of Henry IV., landed in England, 
to assert her rights to the crown of England 
against Stephen who then occupied the 
throne. She was accompanied by her bro- 
ther Robert, Earl of Gloucester, and a retinue 
of 140 knights. With this small force she 
undertook to conquer the throne of her father; 
but the temerity of the attempt was justified 
by the promises of her partizans, and the 
dispute between the king and the clergy. 
Her brother Robert, the soul of the enter- 
prise, with twelve companions left her to join 
his friends in the west, and by unfrequented 
roads eluded the pursuit and vigilance of his 
enemies; Matilda, herself, at tlie invitation 
of the queen dowager Alice, retired witliin 
the strong castle of Arundel, and she excited 
by messages her partizans to take arms in 
every part of England. The queen-dowager, 
who was now the wife of the Earl of Sussex, 
had expected that her daughter-in-law would 
have invaded the kingdom with a much 
greater force, and became apprehensive of 
danger; and Matilda, to ease her of her 
fears removed first to Bristol and thence to 
Gloucester, where she remained under the 
protection of Milo, a gallant nobleman of 
those parts, who had embraced her cause. 

Soon after, Geofirey Talbot, William 
Mohun, Ralph Lovell, and many other 
barons declared for her; and her party, 
which was generally favored in the country, 
seemed every day to gain ground upon that 
of her antagonist. England was now ex- 
posed to all the horrors of a civil war. The 
garrisons of the royal fortresses supported 
the cause of Stephen. The standard of 
Matilda was unfurled at Gloucester and 
Bristol, Canterbury and Dover, places which 
Robert held from the gift of his father, the 
late monarch. Each competitor had numer- 



334 



LINCOLN. 



ous partisans ; but the majority of tlie barons, 
shut up in their castles, oitlier affected to 
observe a strict neutraUty, or under tlie mask 
of a pretended submission, maintained a real 
independence. The execution of justice was 
suspended ; the defenseless were alternately 
plundered by the adverse parties. Many 
were the conflicts and sieges ; but these in- 
cidents, so little memorable in themselves, 
and so confused both in time and place, 
could neither afford entertainment nor in- 
struction to the reader. At length, in the 
year 1141, in an evil hour Stephen was per- 
suaded to besiege the castle of Lincoln, 
which had been surprised by Ranulf, Earl of 
Chester, a nobleman who had offered his 
services to both the king and the empress, 
and who had been equally mistrusted by 
both.* Confiding his wffe and femily to the 
faith of the garrison, Ranulf escaped through 
the besieging army, and hastened to Robert 
for assistance. With 10,000 men the earl 
hastened to surprise, and crossing the Trent, 
on the 2d of February, found the royal army 
drawn up to receive him. Stephen, with 
the most tnisty of his adherents, had dis- 
mounted, and placed himself at the foot of 
his standard ; and each flank was protected 
by a small squadron of horse, under the 
commaml of a nobleman of suspected fidelity. 
At the first shock the cavalry fled ; the mass 
of infantrjr^ animated by the presence of the 
king, firmly withstood the efforts of the mul- 
titude by which it was surrounded. Stephen 
fought witli the energy of despair ; his battle- 
axe was broken ; his sword was shivered ; 
a stone brought him to the ground, and Wil- 
liam de Kains, seizing him by the helmet, 
claimed him as his prisoner. Still he strug- 
gled with his opponents, and refused to sur- 
render to any man but liis cousin of Glouces- 

• As sieges form the principal features in the military 
transactions of this period, a description of one of tlie 
ancient castles may not be uninteresting to the reader. 
The keep, the lord's residence, was surrounded at a con- 
venient distance, by a wall about twelve feet high, sur- 
mounted by a parapet, and flanked with towers. With- 
out the wall was excavated a deep moat, over which a 
drawbridge was thrown, protected by a tower, called 
the barrieau, on the external margin of tlie moat. This 
formed the outward defense of the place. The keep 
was a strong square building, with walls about ten feet 
thick, and five stories in height. Of these the lower- 
most consisted of dungeons for the confinement of cap- 
tives; the second contained the lord's stores; the next 
served for the accommodation of tlie garrison ; in the 
fourth were the state-rooms of the baron, and the 
uppermost was divided into sleeping apartments for his 
family. The only portal or entrance was fixed in the 
second or third story, and generally led through a small 
tower into the body of the kefp. The ascent was by a 
flight of steps fixed in the walls, and carefully fortified 
to prevent the entrance of an enemy. About the middle 
stood a strong gate, which it was necessary to force 
open; on the landing-place was a drawbridge, and 
then came the door itself, protected by a huse or port- 
cullis, which ran in a groove, and was studded with 
spikes of iron. It is not surprising that fortresses of 
this description should have often withstood the efforts 
of tljc most powerful mouarchs before the invention of 
cannon. 



ter. The earl took possession of the captive, 
and presenteil him to Matikla. The conduct 
of that princess does little honor to her 
humanity. Though at first treated kindly, 
he was soon after, on some suspicion, thrown 
into prison, and loaded with chains. Earl 
Robert afterward fell into the hands of the 
royahsts, and after some negotiation it was 
agreed that he should be exchanged for the 
king. By tliis revolution, the two parties 
were placed in the same relative position 
which they had occupied before the battle of 
Lincoln. 

On the 14th of May, 1217, in the second 
year of the reign of Henry III. of England, 
the Count de Perche, with the army of Louis 
of France, numbering 600 knights and 20,000 
men, composed of the disaffected English 
barons and knights, with their esquires and 
retainers, and a numerous body of French 
infantry entered Lincoln, and were received 
by the inhabitants, who. were on hostile 
terms with the youthful king of England, 
with loud acclamations of joy. The count 
immediately l^id siege to the castle of Lin- 
coln, which was garrisoned by the royalists, 
and which was gallantly defended by a cele- 
brated heroine, Nichola de Camville. Pem- 
broke, who was then marshal of England, 
immediately summoned the royalists to meet 
him at Newark, and was able to number 
among his followers 400 knights with their 
esquires, 250 cross-bowmen, and a numerous 
liody of infantry. He employed three days 
in marshaling his army, and in performing 
religious duties, and having exhorted his 
sokhers to fight for their God, their king, and 
their country, he marched from Newark on 
the ISth of May. The army marched in 
seven divisions, and each soldier had a white 
cross scAved upon his breast; the bowmen 
kept a mile in advance, and the baggage a 
mile in the rear. This disposition deceived 
the enemy, who, mistaking the baggage 
train for a second army, unwisely shut them- 
selves up within the walls, and at the same 
time, by way of bravado, made a brisk as- 
sault on the castle. But the bowmen, who 
had been admitted by a postern into the 
fortress, thinned with their arrows the ranks 
of the assailants, an<l, by killing the horses of 
the knights, laid them in theh armor on the 
ground. The rest of the royalists, wheeling 
around, burst open, after a sharp conflict, the 
northern gate, and at the same moment a 
sortie was made from the castle. Dismay 
and confusion now spread through the ranks 
of the barons. The most spirited, unable to 
withstand the ton-ent that rushed into the 
city, were carried before it; the crowd ran 
to the opposite portal ; but the narrow wind- 
ing passage was soon choked, and the fugi- 
tives were compelled to recoil on the pur- 



LISBON— LISLE. 



335 



suers. The meaner combatants met with no 
mercy; but little noble blood was shed by 
the victors, who,, prompted by relationship, 
or the hope of ransom, sought not to slay 
but to capture their enemies. The Count de 
Perche alone lost his life. He fought in a 
church-yard till his horse was killed; and 
when a voice called out to him to accept 
of quarter, he replied with an oath that he 
would never surrender to an English traitor. 
Irritated by the reproach, a soldier thrust his 
pike through the eye of the count's visor 
into his brain. The nimiber of captives 
amounted to three earls, eleven barons, and 
400 knights. Two hundred others escaped 
by different routes to London; the foot 
soldiers, seeking to follow them, were massa- 
cred by the inhabitants of the villages 
through which they were obliged to pass. 
Tliis victory, which secured the crown on the 
head of the young king, was called in the 
quaint language of the time, " the fau- of Lin- 
coln." There were few of the conquerors 
who were not enriched by it. As soon as 
resistance ceased, the city which had long 
been distinguished by its attachment to the 
barons, was given up to pillage. The fate of 
the women and children was most deplora- 
ble. When the gate was forced, they 
crowded for security into the boats on 
the river. Some of the shght vessels sank 
under the weight; others were lost through 
mismanagement; and of the fugitives the 
greater part were drowned. 

LISBON, A.D. 1147. — Alphonso, a prince 
of the house of Burgundy, having assumed 
the title of King of Portugal, felt that he could 
not truly be considered monarch of that 
country while his capital remained in the 
hands of the Saracens. Too weak to under- 
take the conquest himself, he made a religious 
Crusade of it, and English and Flemings, who 
had embarked for the Holy Land were induced 
by the jirospect of greater wealth without go- 
ing so far to attain it, to take up his cause. 
The great historian of the Crusades attributes 
this dereHction to a reUgious feeling, which 
operated as well in Portugal as in Palestitie. 
We have no hesitation in agreeing that the 
Crusaders were acted upon in both countries 
by similar motives ; in this case, it was too 
transparent to be possibly mistaken. The 
new auxOiaries covered the sea with their 
vessels, and blockaded the city, whUe Al- 
phonso besieged it by land with an army 
much more brave than numerous. During 
five months, several assaults were given and 
sanguinary battles were fought. Willing to 
make one last and great attempt, Alphonso 
drew up his soldiers in order of battle before 
the place, and, making his dispositions for a 
general attack, said to them : " Warriors, I 
am about to lead you to glory ; dare to con- 



quer, and you will triumph. Advance boldly 
through stones, arrows, and fire ; brave death, 
and nothing can resist your courage. Hasten, 
my friends, hasten to enrich yourselves with 
the spoils of the Arabs. You, warriors of 
the Cross, whom heaven has sent, God wiU 
bless your arms ; noble pay and rich posses- 
sions will be the reward of your valor." He 
liad scarcely finished speaking, when all the 
soldiers rushed to the walls ; scrambling over 
one another up and over the ruins. Alphonso 
nobly supported the title of their leader ; the 
besieged vainly opposed force to force, the 
Christians drove them in, in all quarters, and 
broke down the gate called Alfama. In a 
moment they were spread through the city ; 
they massacred all found with arms in their 
hands, pillaged the wealth of the infidels, and 
planted the prince's standard upon all the 
towers. The capture of Lisbon soon render- 
ed Alphonso king of all Portugal. — Robson. 

LISLE, A.D. 1793. — Lisle, or Lille, is a 
strongly fortified town of France, situated on 
the Deule, a canal connecting the rivers 
Scarpe and Lys, 2G miles north-east of Anas. 

On the 14th of September, 1793, the Aus- 
trian army imder the command of the Arch- 
duke Albert, attacked and completely routed 
the French forces which were retreating fi'om 
their camp at Maulda, to the camp of Bruille, 
a stronger position in the rear of Maulda. 
Encouraged by this success, the archduke 
determined to besiege Lisle, one of the best 
fortified towns of Europe. The garrison of 
Lisle consisted of 10,000 men ; and the com- 
mander, was a man of energy and bravery. 
Devoted republicans, both the commander 
and his men were ready to defend the city 
against the assaults of the imperialists with 
their hearts' blood. The Austrian army con- 
sisted of 25,000 men. Yet, notwithstanding 
his great superiority in numbers, the Aus- 
trian general could not hope to reduce the 
town by a regular siege. He was aware of 
the indomitable courage of the garrison ; and 
endeavored to intimidate them by the terrors 
of a bombardment, rather than to approach 
the town with regular siege works. For 
seven consecutive days and nights he bom- 
barded the town incessantly. The soldiers, 
however, were secure within bomb-proof 
casements, and beheld the terrible tempest 
fall upon the defenseless inhabitants of the 
tovra with indifference. The people, although 
their town was nearly consumed by fire, bore 
the horrors of the JDombardment with the 
firmness of heroes ; and the garrison, during 
the siege, having received a reinforcement of 
10,000 men, so that the besiegers and the be- 
sieged were nearly equal in numbers, the 
Archduke Albert on the 7th of October, 
raised the siege and withdrew his troops 
from French territory. 



336 



LISIEUX— LOANO. 



LISIEUX, A.D. 1130.— Lisieux, in France, 
has been frequently besieged. It was burned 
by the Saxons in 1130; was taken by Phihp 
Augustus, in 1203 ; by the EngUsh in 1415 ; 
by the French, under Charles VII., in 1448 ; 
by the Leaguers, in 1571; and finally the 
French, under Henry IV., in 1589. 

LIVRON, A.D. 1574.— When Henry III. 
left Poland as a fugitive, to occupy the throne 
made vacant by the death of Charles IX., he 
created Roger de St. Lary-Bellegarde, one of 
hia minions, a marshal of France. A short 
time after his promotion, the new general 
was repulsed in three assaults which he made 
upon Livron, a small Huguenot fortified place 
in Daupliiny, although he attacked it with a 
good army, and it was defended but by a few 
inhabitants. The women of the city thought 
him so contemptible, that, to insult him, they 
plied their distaffs on the breach. Henry, 
who passed near the city, stopped for a few 
hours, to display his valor. The besieged, on 
learning his arrival, made a general discharge 
of their artillery, which they followed by 
continual hissings and hoo tings, accompanied 
by cutting railleries against the monarch and 
the queen, his mother. "Ha! ha! you mas- 
sacrers ! you shall not poniard us in our beds, 
as you did the admiral ! Bring us a few of 
your laced, ruffled, and perfumed minions; 
let them come and look at our women ; they 
will see if they look like a prey to be easily 
taken !" Henry ordered a fresh assault to be 
made, but it was repulsed by the women 
only, and the siege was raised shortly after 
tliis disgraceful defeat. 

LOANO, A.D. 1795. — Loano is situated on 
the gulf of Genoa, in Italy. The battle of 
Loano, between the Austrian army and the 
French republicans, was fought November 
23d and 24th, 1795. The army of the Aus- 
trians, numbering some 40,000 men, occupied 
a strong and fortified position, its left resting 
on the small seaport town of Loano, and its 
right extending to the northern summit of 
the mountains, and holding communication, 
by a chain of fortified posts, with the strong 
places of Ccva, Mondovi, and Coni, occupied by 
the Piedmontese troops. Their position was 
very strong, but in case of disaster, there was 
no means of retreat for their left wing. The 
French were posted directly in front of their 
enemy, their right resting on the little village 
of Borghetto, on the sea-coast, and their right 
also extending to the mountains. Their army 
had been increased to nearly G0,000 men, 
and was commanded by Scherer and Massena. 
During former campaigns, Massena had pos- 
sessed himself of all the localities of that 
mountainous region, and being already quite 
a successful general, was therefore intrusted 
with the command of Uie attack. The Aus- 
trian commander was entirely unconscious of 



the movements of the French army, and knew 
nothing of their great additions, and the in- 
creased activity wliich they had shown for 
some time, and was so unaware of any dan- 
ger that he remained at La Pietra, detained 
by an abscess in liis mouth, while his officers 
were nearly all at Feriole, where they were 
roused from a ball, by the cannon of the 
French, at six o'clock on the morning of the 
23d of November. The right wing of the 
repubUcans was commanded by Scherer, who 
was general-in-chief; the center by Auge- 
reau, and the left by Serrurier. It was the 
intention of Massena to force the Austrian 
center with an overwhelming force, and 
having gained this advantage, to take the 
remainder of the Une in flank and rear. After 
a speech to liis troops, he led them to the at- 
tack. The Austrian center, commanded by 
Argenteau, made an obstinate resistance at 
the posts of Bardenetto and Melogno; but 
the fresh columns, brought to the assault by 
the French, fought with such vigor that they 
were compelled to retire to a second line, on 
the right bank of the Boninda. That position 
was soon forced by Massena, and by this 
means, he got into the interior of the Aus- 
trian lines, and was able to take all their po- 
sitions in the rear. Thus, on the first day of 
the battle, the center of the allies was forced, 
and their left wing left in such a position as 
to be overwhelmed by the Frencli center and 
right wing at any moment. As soon as the 
Austrian general was aware of this state of 
affairs, he took decisive measures to draw 
back lais right wing. But this he was not 
permitted to do without great oi:)position. 
Augereau was climbing the heights of the 
Appenines by the break of day, while his 
successful battalions were driving all before 
them. The unperiahsts, in retreating, did not 
show much vigor or decision, wliich, under 
the circumstances, could alone save them. 
The consequence was, they were beset on all 
sides, in a ravine, which formed theu* only 
line of retreat. The head of the column, 
seized with a panic, was driven back upon 
the center, and thrown into utter confusion ; 
and in the midst of an unparalleled scene of 
carnage and horror, forty-eight pieces of can- 
non, and 100 caissons were abandoned. By 
taking to paths almost inaccessible, the other 
column of the right wing escaped, after 
abandoning all their artillery also. 5,000 pris- 
oners, eighty pieces of cannon, and an im- 
mense quantity of ammunition and magazines, 
fell into the hands of the victors ; the total 
loss on the side of the Austrians was not less 
than 7,000, while that of the French hardly 
amounted to 1,000 men. 

This battle was the most decisive which 
had been gained by the repubUcans since the 
commencement of the war, and was entirely 



LODI— LONDONDERRY. 



33Y 



owing to the skill and strategy of Maasena. 
It was the first iastance of the succeasful ap- 
plication by the French troops of those princi- 
ples which were afterward carried to such 
perf(;ction by Napoleon. 

LODI, A.D. 1790. — Lodi i? situated on the 
Adda, in Lornbardy, nineteen miles south-east 
of Milan. The river at this place is crossed 
by a wooden bridge, 609 feet long. 

On the 10th of May, 1790, Napoleon 
marched from Parma toward Milan, at the 
head of tlie French i-epublican army. Before 
arriving at that city he was obliged to cross 
the Adda. The bridge of Lodi, over that 
river, was held by 12,000 Austrian infantry, 
and 4,000 horse, forming the rear guard of 
the Austrian army, wliich had returned to 
Cassano, in the neighborhood of Milan. Na- 
poleon hoped by a rapid advance to cut off 
the bulk of the enemy's troops from the 
hereditary states of Austria, and make them 
prisoners ; and as there was not a moment to 
be lost in achieving the movements requisite 
to attain this object, he resolved to force the 
bridge, and thus get into their rear. Napo- 
leon in person arrived at Lodi at the head of 
the grenadiers of D'AUemagne, upon which 
the Austrians withdrew from the town and 
crossed the river, drawing up their infantry, 
with twenty pieces of cannon, at the further 
extremity of the bridge, to defend the pass- 
age. Napoleon immediately directed Beau- 
mont, with all the cavalry of the army, to pass 
at a ford half a league further up, while he 
iiimself directfid all the artillery which had 
come up, against the Austrian battery, and 
formed G,000 grenadiers in close column, 
under cover of the houses at his own end of 
the bridge. The French cannon were at 
once opened upon the Austrian artillery, and 
a furious cannonade ensued on both sides. 
The Austrian fire soon began to slacken from 
the effect of tlie French artillery, and Napo- 
leon, perceiving that the passage of Beau- 
mont on the flank of the enemy had com- 
menced, addressed a few animating words to 
Ilia soldiers, and gave the signal to advance. 
The grenadiers responded to liis words with 
loud shouts, and rushed forward, through a 
cloud of smoke, over the long and narrow 
defile of the bridge, with Napoleon at their 
head. The Austrians poured forth a concen- 
trated fire of grape-shot upon the advancing 
columns. But, inspired by the bravery of 
their dauntless leader, the galknt grenadiers 
rushed through the iron tempest, which 
swept the whole length of the bridge, and, 
supported by the tiralleurs, who waded the 
stream below the arches, they carried the 
Austrian guns, and drove back their infantry. 
Tho victory of the French was complete. 
The Austrians fled in confusion, leaving the 
ground atrewn with dead and dying. Their 

22 



artillery fell into the hands of the conquer- 
ors. 

LONDONDERRY, a.d. 1089. — Amid 
the difficulties which King "William had to 
find officers in Ireland whom he could trust, 
he had appointed Colonel Lundie to be gov- 
ernor of Londonderry ; a man whose fidelity 
was so little known, that the officer sent to 
him from England with the stores of war, 
was ordered not to deliver his charge until 
Lundie had taken the oaths, in his presence, 
to th(^ new government. The precaution waa 
necessary, but weak, for Limdie, having been 
one of Tyrconnel's officers, had quitted the 
interests of King James only with a view to 
serve them the more effectually. Lundie, as 
James's armyadvanced toward Londonderry, 
abandoned pass after pass, sometimes with 
feeble, and sometimes with no defense ; and 
at last, upon the 13th of April, 1689, took 
refuge in the town. 

Two days before King James could over- 
take Lundie, two regiments, under the com- 
mands of Colonel Richards and Colonel Cun- 
ningham, arrived from England in the lake 
which commands a communication betwixt 
the sea and the town. Their orders having 
been discretionary, to land the troops or not, 
according as the service should require, they 
offered to join Lundie. They urged liim to 
march out of the toAvn, and defend one of 
the passes which was still left. Lvmdie wrote 
tliem an ambiguous and contradictory letter ; 
in the end of it, he told them the place was 
untfinable, and referred them for particulars 
to the officer who carried the letter. The 
officer dehvered them orders not to land the 
men, but to come to to-vvn themselves with 
some of their ofiicers, in order to attend a 
council of war. To this council Lundie called 
only two of his own oflScers, thirteen of those 
belonging to the two regiments, and the town- 
clerk, whose assistance was necessary to 
frame the minutes of council. To these per- 
sons he painted, in the strongest terms, the 
weakness of the town in military stores, in 
defenses, in provisions ; he even averred that, 
to his own knowledge, there was not subsist- 
ence in it for ten days. The council came 
to a resolution, opposed only by Richards, not 
to land tlie regiments, and that all the officers 
sliould privately withdraw from the town. 
The two colonels, with some of their officers, 
retired from the council to their ships. Lun- 
die next called a meeting of the town-coun- 
cil, where it was resolved to send messengers 
to King James, with an offer to surrender the 
town next day. 

It was intended to keep the result of these 
councils a secret. But next morning, the 
town-clerk, convening a number of the peo- 
ple, informed them of every thing that had 
passed. The inhabitants, and many of the 



338 



LONDONDERRY. 



soldiers of tlie garrison, crying out, " They 
were betrayed by those wiio were bound to 
defend them," rose in a fury against the gov- 
ernor, the town-council, and such of the offi- 
cers as they suspected. They shot one of 
the officers, they wounded another. Hence 
the highest uproar of divisions; for, while 
some wore framing the terms of surrender, 
others were planting guns on the walls ; in 
one place, the multitude was pressed to yield 
to necessity ; in another, voices were heard 
calling to fire upon those who proposed it. 

During this state of pubhc distraction 
James was seen slowly advancing with his 
army, to take possession of a town which 
had sent messengers to receive him ; a sight 
which increased the fears of the one party, 
and the rage of the other. At this instant, 
advice was brought, that on the opposite side 
of the town. Captain Murray, a brave officer, 
conspicuous in person, and known to all, was 
advancing with impetuosity at the head of a 
body of horse, to prevent the surrender. 
Lundie sent him orders to retire from the 
view of the inhabitants. But great nmnbers, 
stretching their arms and bodies from the 
walls, and calling upon him by name, and 
upon all his followers whom they knew, to 
advance to their relief, he entered the place. 
In broken speeches he called to the multi- 
tude, who surrounded him as soon as he 
passed the gate, to remember glory, safety, 
religion, their country, themselves, their pos- 
terity, with other topics, which natural pas- 
sion dictated, or the present exigency re- 
' quired. He pointed to different persons to 
secure the gates, to run to arms, to mount 
the walls, to point the guns. He directed all 
those whose voices were for defending the 
town to distinguish themselves by tying a 
white cloth round their left arm. From 
thence he hastened to Lundie, then sitting in 
a council, whom he tried in vain to soothe 
with flattery, or rouse by reproaches. In the 
mean time, the multitude, kindled by the 
orders they had received, fired upon King 
James, killed an officer by his side, and 
obliged him to retire. 

When these violent actions were over, and 
the inhabitants reflected that there were no 
regular troo[)S among tliem, fear and con- 
sciousness of what tliey had done, and what 
they were to expect, seized them. They 
pressed for the landing of the regiments ; 
they offered to submit to authority, and kept 
even Lundie a sort of prisoner in his own 
house, to prevent his departure. Embracing 
those officers whom chance threw in their 
way, they conjured them not to abandon 
tliem to the rage of an affronted enemy ; 
they flattered, encouraged, reproached, men- 
aced; but in vain. The remaining officers 
of the two regiments, with many officers of 



the garrison, withdrew, and sailed to En- 
gland. The less valiant part of the multitude, 
following their example, fled from the town. 
Lundie stole off with a load on his back ; a 
disgraceful disguise, and suited to the man 
who bore it. About 7,500 mihtia in arms 
remained to defend the place against an 
enemy, once their sovereign, and at the head 
of 20,000 regular forces. 

Men abandoned to themselves often exert 
a vigor which, while they trusted to others, 
they knew not that they possessed. The 
town was weak in its fortifications, having 
only a wall, eight or nine feet thick, along the 
face of the rampart ; a ditch, eight bastions, 
and some outworks lately thrown up, and of 
little consequence. It was weaker in its 
artillery, there being no more than twenty 
serviceable guns on the works. Near 20,000 
unarmed hands increased the numbers, and 
diminished the strength of the place. But 
its best defense lay in the minds of the de- 
fenders; men refined from all the dross of 
their party ; and possessed of the valor and 
enthusiasm of those Scottish ancestors from 
whom most of the inhabitants of Ulster are 
descended. They offered the command of the 
place to Captain Murray ; with the ingenuous 
frankness wliich is the common attendant of 
true courage, he answered, " He was better 
fitted for oflensive than defensive war ;" and 
offered to take the command of the horse. 
Major Baker was chosen governor; with 
that modesty which likewise attends true 
courage, he begged to have an assistant. The 
garrison, under the impressions of rehgion 
wliich danger excites, chose Mr. Walker, a 
clergyman, to assist him ; a man who had a 
great and warhke spirit, under the most 
peaceful of professions. These men formed 
the garrison and inhabitants into a number of 
regiments, proportioned to that of the bas- 
tions ; and, in order to create the greater 
emulation, they assigned different parts of 
the works to different regiments, which they 
alone were to defend. The besieged repaired 
then: fortifications and artillery, as well as 
the shortness of the time would permit. 
They alarmed King James by continual 
sallies, in the day, in the night, in time of 
meals, in rain, in mist; they destroyed his 
works, or, where success failed them, they 
returned, contented that they had harassed 
his troops. 

These sallies they made more formidable 
by a practice which pedants in the profession 
of arms would have disapproved. When a 
sally was to be made, the command was 
offered to whatever officer would undertake 
it, and the officer offered the service to what- 
ever soldiers would attend him ; hence com- 
petition among the oflicers ; hence confidence 
among the soldiers, who reasoned upon the 



LONDONDERRY. 



339 



merits of those who commanded them, and 
followed those only in sudden services, under 
whom they were sure to conquer. Murray 
flew from man to man, and from body to 
body. Walker assembled them at sermons. 
Murray cried out, " That it was not a few 
military evolutions, nor the movements of 
arms by rule, the mere parade and foppery 
of war, which made soldiers; but strong 
bodies, stronger minds, the contempt of 
dangers and death ; or if, in regular fields of 
battle, disciplined troops had the advantage 
over a militia, useless was that advantage 
here, where the defenders fought behind 
walls ; a situation in which those who could 
bear most fatigue, and durst stand longest to 
their posts, must in the end prevail in the 
contest." Walker pointed to their churches — 
to the sky: "These were the holy fanes 
from which their enemies were to drive 
them, if they survived, vnth disgrace; this 
was the asylum prepared for them by their 
God, if they died with glory in his cause." 
The young animated the old, the old gave 
counsel, gave praises to the young. All were 
fired by hatred of the Catholic religion, en- 
thusiasm for their own, and the dread of a 
vengeance proportioned to both. Perhaps, 
too, the spirit of competition, and the glory 
of defending a place which regular troops 
had abandoned, was equal to any of their 
other incitements. James continued his 
attacks unsuccessfully during eleven days ; 
and then went to Dublin to meet his parHa- 
ment. He left the army under Hamilton to 
continue the siege. 

In the mean time, intelligence is received 
that the French had made another embarka- 
tion of stores, and some troops, for the serv- 
ice of their allies in Ireland. The English 
fleet is sent in quest of the French fleet, 
which was to conduct the embakation. They 
met, and engaged. The battle lasted most 
of the day, with equal success. The English 
fleet retired toward Scilly, and the French 
toward Ireland, where they landed their 
troops and stores. 

But the accession of strength to James's 
party by the disembarkation from France, 
did not shake the resolution of the faithful 
defenders of Londonderry. G-eneral Kirk 
had been sent to them from England with 
provisions and a reinforcement of 5,000 men. 
From different accidents, he did not arrive in 
the lake of Derry until the 13 th of June. 
Upon the sight of his fleet, which consisted 
of thirty sail, the besieged gave the usual 
salutations of joy : but, perceiving them re- 
ceived with silence, and no jovial returns 
made by the seamen, they looked upon each 
other with uncertain and foreboding eyes. 
Soon after, they were informed that Kirk, 
upon receiving information that the passage 



of the river to the town was secured by 
works, had resolved to retire to the Inch, an 
island six miles from Londonderry. These 
works were batteries along the banks, vessels 
sunk in the channel, and a boom which had 
been thrown across the river, and which was 
defended by forts; and all these were re- 
ported to be much stronger than they 
were. 

Upon these sad news, the besieged made 
signals of distress from their steeples to Kirk, 
but in vain. After a short stay he set sail ; 
the inhabitants of the town following his 
ships with their eyes as long as they could 
perceive them. Kirk chose the Inch for a 
station, because it facilitated the junction of 
the volunteers, who lay at Inniskillen with 
his detachment, and for that reason too he 
fortified it. From thence he sent a letter to 
the townsmen, assuring them, in terms full 
of affectation, that every thing in Scotland, 
England, and Ireland, was prosperous, and 
that succors beyond their wishes were speed- 
ily to join them, but he concluded with giv- 
ing them in charge to husband well their 
provisions : a letter more alarming than all the 
menaces of the enemy. 

But the besieged, though in a desperate 
condition, did not give themselves up to de- 
spair. Not contented with making sallies, 
and defending the old outworks of the place, 
they even advanced new ones, and became 
expert in fortification and mining, by imitat- 
ing the arts which were employed against 
them. The women attended every service, 
animating the men by their cries, and often 
assisting them with their hands. All the 
spare time of the garrison, and of the in- 
habitants, was spent in private prayer, or 
public devotion ; yet it was strange, amid the 
union created by common danger, to see 
religious divisions break forth. The conform- 
ists and non-conformists insisted each to 
have possession of the cathedral ; nor could 
mutual slaughter have been prevented, had it 
not been agreed that the one class should 
attend service in the forenoon, the other in 
the afternoon. About the middle of June, 
when the weather grew sultry, disease at last 
seized upon them, cooped up in a narrow 
place. They buried fifteen officers in one 
day. Baker, their governor, died. Yet even 
death, in this form, more dismal than in that 
of war, dismayed them not. Their provisions 
being spent, they preserved Ufe by eating 
horse-flesh, tallow, starch, salted hides, im- 
pure animals, and roots of vegetables. "WTien 
their cannon-balls were near spent they 
made use of brick covered with lead. In 
this situation. General Hamilton pressed 
them to surrender upon reasonable conditions. 
Their answer consisted in asking, "If he 
thought they could trust one who had be- 



340 



LONDONDERRY, 



trayed the trust which theu" master had put 
in him ?" 

James, tired with the tediousness of the 
siege, aud alarmed at Kirk's arrival, sent 
Marischal Rosen, his commander-in-chief, in 
the end of Junej to urge matters Avith more 
vigor. He, more skilled in attack than the 
Irish generals, changed the arrangements, 
invested the place more closely, and made 
many furious, but ineffectual, assaults. At 
length, provoked by the fidelity of the gar- 
rison, instead of humoring it, ho took an 
unparalleled step ; ordered that all the inhabit- 
ants, ten miles around Londonderry, should 
be driven under the walls of the town. He 
ordered the country to be burned, and pro- 
claimed that, unless the town surrendered 
within ten days, all would be put to the 
sword: 5,000, some say 7,000, miserable 
wretches, who were collected from the 
country around, men, women, the old, the 
young, even the sick, and nurses with infants 
hanging at their breasts, all were driven, with 
drawn swords, under the walls of the 
town. 

This device weakened the spirit of James's 
array by its horror, and strengthened those 
of the besieged, by turning a sedate into a 
furious valor. Many of the prisoners called 
to their friends on the walls above them, 
" To attend to their own interest, not theirs ; 
for that a surrender to men, void of all 
Christian humanity, could not save those who 
were without, and Avould only involve those 
within in one common slaughter." The Irish 
officers executed their orders against their 
countrymen, weeping and obeying; and 
many of them owned that the cries they 
then heard rang forever after in their ears. 
The besieged, on the other hand, erecting a 
gibbet on the bastion nearest the enemy, 
gave orders to hang up whatever prisoners 
fell into their hands, and wrote to the enemy 
to send priests to confess them. During two 
days and two nights the unhappy victims of 
Rosen's resentment continued at the foot of 
the walls, without meat, drink, fire, or 
shelter, where many hundreds of them died. 
At the end of that time, such of them as 
were able to go away were permitted to do 
so. But those who died were the most 
fortunate : for the rest, filled with the seeds 
of diseases, and with dejection, as they 
wandered homeward, beheld, on all sides, 
their habitations in ashes, here and there at 
distances the smoke of some not extinguished ; 
their cattle, provisions, furniture, carried off. 
A vast silence reigned over the land. They 
envied their companions who were at rest 
with their miseries. It would be inhuman 
to the memory of the unhappy to impute the 
disgrace of this action to James : he revoked 
the order as soon as he heard of it ; his own 



sufferings had probably taught him to feel for 
those of others. 

Kirk, in the mean time, heard the cries, and 
saw the fires, though enraged, and perhaps 
not displeased, to see his own character for 
cruelty exceeded. At last, receiving intelli- 
gence that the garrison, sunk with fatigues, 
had sent proposals of capitulation, and had 
only two days' provisions, he resolved upon 
an attempt to throw a convoy of provisions 
into the place, by means of tliree victual 
frigates, and a man-of-war to cover them in 
an attempt, upon the success of which, it 
was obvious to all, the loss or ruin of the 
town would not fail to depend. 

As soon as these vessels approached the 
town, upon the 30th of July, the Irish army 
hastened to that side ; some to oppose them, 
and the rest to gratify their curiosity. That 
part of the garrison which was not upon duty 
ranged tliemselves along the walls nearest 
the river, with eyes intent, and hands lifted 
to heaven for the success of the convoy. 
Kirk had been deceived in the strength of 
the enemy's works. The ship of war, too, 
by galling the enemy's batteries, drew their 
fire upon itself, and thus saved the victuallers 
from danger. The foremost of the victuallers, 
at the first shock, broke the boom, and ran 
aground by the turn which this gave to her 
course. A shout burst from the besiegers as 
from the mouth of one man, which echoed 
to the ships, the camp, and the town. Mul- 
titudes of them, quitting their ranks, flew to 
the shore, and plunged into the water ; some 
pushed Avith their hands the boats they found 
there ; others leaped into them ; all advanced, 
or called to advance, against the vessel in 
distress. The smoke of the enemy's fire, and 
of her own, covered her from the sight of 
the besieged. During this darkness and con- 
fusion the besiegers called from the opposite 
side of the river, that the vessel was taken ; 
a shrill cry of misery, like the wailings of 
women, were heard from the walls. The 
common paleness of fear appeared not upon 
men who had lost all sense of it : one, who 
was an eye-witness, relates that, in the depth 
of despair, they looked black in the eyes of 
each other. But, in a little time, the victu- 
aller was seen emerging from the smoke, 
having got off by the rebound of her guns ; 
and she, and her followers, amid the tu- 
multuous cries of both parties, sailed up to 
the town. 

On the fortune of this convoy turned the 
fate of Londonderry, and perhaps of Ireland. 
For, next day, the enemy raised the siege, 
having continued it three months and a half, 
conscious they could have hoped for success 
from famine alone, not from their swords. 
The garrison was found to be reduced from 
7,500 men to about 4,000, of which 1,000 



LONATO— LOUISBURG. 



341 



■were rendered unfit for service ; and the re- 
maining part of the garrison scarcely deserved 
to be called men, as, by v^atching and famine, 
they had rather the appearance of shadows. 
Their eyes being hollow, sunk beneath their 
brows, there appeared, in the expression of 
their looks, rather signs of resentment that 
their enemies had escaped, than of joy that 
themselves were free. Even to their friends 
who rescued them those dark looks seemed 
to mark the remembrance that relief had so 
often been called for in vain. Of the un- 
armed multitude, about 7,000 had perished 
by famine, disease, or the shot of the enemy. 
The supply of provisions was received with 
silent gratitude, as if it had been a gift from 
Heaven, not with the noisy rejoicings usual 
on such occasions ; the garrison, in a long 
and devout order, repaired in procession to 
the church, checking the efiusion of their 
joy, until they had returned thanks to that 
Grod who was the author of their relief. — 
DalrympU^s Memoirs. 

LONATO, A.D. 1796.— Lonato is a town 
of Lombardy, and is situated about three 
miles south-west of Lake Garda. 

On the 3d of August, 1796, Napoleon, at 
the head of 25,000 men, advanced upon Lo- 
nato. A feint attack of the repubUcans was 
unsuccessful, their light troops were thrown 
into confusion; General Pegion, with three 
pieces of artillery, was captured by the en- 
emy, and Lonato taken. Napoleon, had a 
short time previous, driven the imperialists 
from the place and made 500 of them prison- 
ers. After the capture of General Pegion, 
Napoleon took the command, and formed the 
center into one formidable body, while the 
Austrians were extending their troops toward 
Salo, in which direction Quasdonovich was 
stationed, so that in case of disaster they 
would be near him. The French general at 
once perceived the error of his adversary, in 
thus extending his forces, and made a des- 
perate charge, with both foot and horse upon 
the Austrian center which being weakened 
so much, from the extension of the wings 
speedily gave way. Lonato was re-taken by 
assault, and the Austrians divided. One part 
of it effected its retreat under Bayahtch to 
Mincio, the other endeavored to join Quas- 
donovich at Salo ; but Guyeaux, with a di- 
vision of French already occupied that place, 
and the flying imperialists, pressed between 
the dragoons of Junot, who assailed their 
rear, and the infantry at Salo, who prevented 
them from advancing, disbanded, losing 3,000 
prisoners and 30 pieces of cannon. 

LONG ISLAND. See Brooklyn. 

LOUDOUN HILL, a.d. 1307.— The battle 
of Loudoun was fought between the followers 
of Robert Bruce, the hero-king of Scotland, 
and the English army under the Earl of Pem- 



broke. After a desperate battle the Scots 
were defeated, and Bruce was obliged to seek 
safety in flight. 

LOUISBURG, A.D. 1758. — This Uttle- 
place was once an important seaport town of 
Cape Breton at the mouth of the St. Law- 
rence. It is situated on the south-east shore 
of the island, about twenty miles east of Syd- 
ney. The French had erected at this place 
a fortress, at the expense of 30,000,000 livres. 
In 1758, Louisburg was the strongest fortifi- 
cation in America, and was the rallying-point 
of French power on the western continent 
On the 28th day of May, 1758, Lord Am- 
herst arrived at Halifax from England, 
whence he had been ordered with General 
Wolfe, to join the fleet of Admiral Boscawen 
for the purpose of laying siege to Louisburg. 
The whole fleet consisted of twenty-two 
ships of the Hue and fifteen frigates ; the land 
force amounted to twelve thousand men. 
On the 20th of June the fleet anchored in 
Gabarus Bay ; and on the 8th of July the 
troops, under a random fire from the frigates, 
commenced lancUng. The French had estab- 
lished several batteries upon the island 
without the town, and some French troops 
were posted behind a breastwork of felled 
trees. As the British were landing the ene- 
my poured forth rapid and well directed vol- 
leys upon them; but Wolfe, who led the 
first division, would not allow a gun to be 
fired. He encouraged the oarsmen, and 
cheered on liis men. The boats stranded on 
a shoal, and in spite of the surf which dis- 
played its white teeth, as if to intimidate the 
soldiers, the EngUsh landed and carried the 
breastwork at a bound. They took the bat- 
teries, and drove the French into the town. 
On the same day the English invested Loui?- 
burg. Among the British ofiicers who dis- 
tinguished themselves on this day was Rich- 
ard Montgomery. He was only twenty-one 
years of age ; but he evinced that gallantry 
and firmness -vyliich afterward rendered him 
so conspicuous when fighting against tyranny 
under the walls of Quebec. He was attached 
to Wolfe's brigade, and the lovers of coinci- 
dences might find something to marvel at in 
the fact that both Wolfe and Montgomery 
met their ends beneath the walls of the same 
city, the one while fighting for his king, the 
other for the cause of liberty.* On the morn- 
ing of the 12th, before daybreak, Wolfe, at 
the head of some light infantry and a corps 
of Higlilanders, surprised and captured the 
light-house battery, on the north-east side of 
the entrance to the harbor. This movement 
completely cut off the means of escape to tlie 
French, who, alarmed at the overwhelming 
numbers of the British, meditated a retreat. 
The captured battery was turned on the 
♦ See Quebec. 



342 



LUNCAETY— LUTZEN. 



town, and well-directed shots soon silenced 
tlie other batteries. On the 23d, the En- 
glish battery commenced playing on that of 
the French, on the island near the center of 
the mouth of the harbor. Hot shot were also 
poured into the small fleet of French vessels 
lying in the harbor of Louisburg, and on the 
21st three vessels were burned. On the 
night of the 25th the British set fire to a 
French seventy-four, the Prudent, and suc- 
ceeded in cutting out and carrying off the 
Bienfaissant. Meanwliile the English artil- 
lery from ship and shore poured incessant 
volleys of shot and shell into the town, shat- 
tering the houses, and spreading desolation 
and ruin on all sides. The French cannon 
were nearly all silenced, and scarcely a spot 
in the place was tenable, and at the very 
time that Boscawen was preparing to send 
six English ships into the harbor. Chevalier 
de Drucor, the French governor, was medi- 
tating a capitulation. On the 26th of July, 
the French garrison surrendered, and on the 
following day the British took possession of 
Louisburg. The garrison were made prison- 
ers of war, and with the sailors and marines, 
in all nearly six thousand men, were sent to 
England. Cape Breton and Prince Edward's 
Island also fell into the hands of the English, 
and with their fall ended the power of France 
on the eastern shores of America. Louis- 
burg was deserted, and now a few fisher- 
men's huts only mark the spot, to fortify which 
France once expended so much treasiu-e. 

LUNCARTY, a.d. 900.— At Luncarty, in 
Scotland, a battle was fought between the 
Danes, who had invaded Scotland, and the 
Scots. The battle was one of extraordinary 
obstinacy on both sides ; but the Danes found 
an enemy in the commander of their antago- 
nists worthy of their steel. By the energy 
and bravery of Hay, the founder of the Errol 
family, the Danes were signally defeated. 

LUTZEX, A.D. 1632.— This little village is 
famous in history, as the witness of two of 
the most memorable battles of modern times. 
It is a town of Prussian Saxony, and is situ- 
ated twelve miles south-west of Leipsic. 

The battle of Lutzen, the last victory of the 
great Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, 
the Lion of the North, anil the cliief support 
of the Protestant religion, was fought on the 
6th of November, 1632, between the impe- 
rial army of Germany, and the Swedes. The 
town of Lutzen stands on a plain. Across 
the center of the road which leads from 
Lutzen to Leipsic, a trench is cut, which con- 
nects the Elster with the Saale. The hostile 
armies were posted between this trench and 
the village of Lutzen. The right wing of the 
imperial army rested on the trencli, the left 
on the town ; and the left wing of the 
Swedes rested on the trench, and the right on 



Lutzen. The two armies were divided by 

the street, wliich had deep ditches on either 
side. The whole imperial army occupied 
the north side of the road ; the Swedes stood 
upon the south. The imperial army was com- 
manded by Wallenstein, Duke of Friedland, 
and consisted of 25,000 men. Wallenstein, 
however, was in daily expectation of rein- 
forcements. The Swedish army was under 
the immediate command of Gustavus Adol- 
phus; and consisted of 18,000 men. The 
army was formed in two divisions, with a 
reserve ; and with clouds of cavalry on each 
wing. Between the two main divisions in 
the center, were stationed eight ranks of in- 
fantry, four men deep ; and among the cav- 
alry on the wings small boches of musketeers. 
In the front a battery of twenty cannon, 
were planted ; and a number of portable can- 
nons,* the invention of the king liimself, 
were distributed among the several divisions 
of the army. The right wing was under the 
command of Gustavus Adolphus, the left was 
under Bernard Von Weimar. The center 
was under Brahe, and the reserve corps was 
commanded by Kniphausen. 

The imperiahsts were drawn up in Wal- 
lenstein's usual order of battle. The center 
was composed of infantry, ckawn up in four 
great hollow squares, the rear ranks consist- 
ing of pikemen, the fi-ont ranks of musketeers. 
These squares were flanked on the right and 
left by cavaliy, and on the extreme right an 
eminence called Windmill Hill, was occupied 
by a body of cuirassiers, troopers, and foot- 
men, posted there for the purpose of protect- 
ing the town from the assaults of the enemy. 
On the left was posted a body of Croats ; and 
the ditches along the road were filled with 
musketeers. Between the ditch and the front 
of the center of the army, was planted a bat- 
tery of seven cannons, and on Windmill HUl 
was another battery consisting of fourteen 
pieces of smaller calaber, planted in front of 
the infantry in the left wing. 

Gustavus Adolphus had made his disposi- 
tions during the night of the 5th, with the 
determination to fall by surprise on the en- 
emy; but the ever memorable 6th of No- 
vember opened with a tliick fog, and it was 
not until noon that the fog disappeared be- 
fore the rays of the sun, and disclosed to the 
eyes of all, both armies drawn up in battle 
array. The Swedish monarch gave the sig- 
nal for battle, and with a loud shout, " God 
be with us!" the Swedes rushed franticly to 
the fight. On, on they went, sweeping across 
the plain, driving the enemy's musketeers in 
the ditches before them, like chips on the 
te(^th of a billow. They rushed into the blind- 
ing tempest which burst forth from the im- 

* These cannons, it is said, were made of leather, 
strongly banded with iron hoops. 



LUTZEK 



343 



perial batteiy in the center, and capturing 
the guns, advanced rapidly toward the en- 
emy's fi'ont. They dashed madly against the 
first sohd square, who received them with a 
warm fire of musketry, and loud shouts ; but 
nothing could resist the impetuous charge of 
Swedes. The imperial square was broken 
and scattered like cliafF before the wind, and 
the Swedes swiftly advanced toward the 
second. The imperiaUsts defended them- 
selves obstinately with the sword; but like 
a tempest the Swedes swept through them, 
and the second square shared the fate of tlie 
fii-st. Wallensteiu, who was sufferering from 
a severe attack of the gout, and was obhged 
to be conveyed in a litter, saw the disaster 
in the center, and hastily sent tliree regiments 
of horse, to support the third square, which 
the Swedes were assailing vigorously. They 
fell fiercely on the Swedish ranks, and the 
conflict raged with the utmost fury. The 
broken squares re-formed, and the Swedes in 
turn were compelled to fly across the road, 
leaving the captured guns behind. 

Wliile this terrible conflict was raging in 
the center, Bernard Von Weimar, with the 
left wing of the Swedish army, had been en- 
deavoring to storm Windmill Hill. His 
troops had charged and charged again, with- 
out effect, when suddenly their leader was 
called up-on to assume the supreme command. 
Gustavus Adolphus, with the troopers of 
his right wing, had attacked and driven back 
the Croats on the enemy's left, when he saw 
his center falling back. Placing himself at 
the head of his favorite Finnlanders, he led 
them forward to cover the retreat of his 
center. He was accompanied by Duke 
Francis Albert of Saxony, a page, and a 
stable master. While urging his horse on at 
a full gaEop, he received a ball in his arm, 
and soon afterward a second ball entered his 
back penetrating tlirough his body, and he 
fell heavily to the earth.* The duke and the 
sta})le master fled; but the faithful page, 
Liubelfing, remained with his master, and 
endeavored to assist him to mount. A fog 
again covered the field of strife. The impe- 
rial horsemen made a furious charge over 
the prostrate monarch, and perceiving him, 
returned, and not recognizing him as the 
king, pierced liim through and through with 
their lances, and shot him in several places. 
The brave page defended his master to the 
utmost of liis abilities ; but at length sank to 
the ground wounded so severely that he died 
five days after the battle. The troopers 

• Pnffendorf in his memoirs, says that the hullet 
which struck the king, was from a musket in the hands 
of Falkenberg, a colonel in the imperial service. There 
were various accounts of the death of Gustavus Adol- 
phus; hut by a letter it was satisfactorily proved that 
he was shot by an Austrian officer in Wallenstein's army. 
The conduct of Duke Albert on this occasion, was cer- 
tainly cowardly in the extreme. 



Stripped the body of the king, and mangled 
it in such a manner, that when it was found 
the Swedes could scarcely recognize the fea- 
tures of their beloved monarch. 

No sooner had Bernard heard of the fall 
of the king, than he desisted from his attacks 
on Windmill Hill, and hastened to the center. 
He informed Kniphausen of the disaster, and 
the latter advised him to return ; but Ber- 
nard resolved to avenge the death of his 
master or die in the attempt. 

He assumed the command of the entire 
army, and having got his troops into order 
again, addressed them energetically. " Swedes, 
Finnlanders, and Germans," said he, " the 
protector of your hberties has been slain. 
To me Hfe is notliing, if I can not avenge liis 
fall. Be brave, and charge the enemy vigor- 
ously ; all who desire to show their love for 
their king, may show it now. Follow me, 
and conquer or die, like brave men and true 
soldiers 1" The Swedes received his words 
with a shout for vengeance, wliich sent a 
thrill of terror to the hearts of their enemies, 
and like a mighty wave they nished to the 
attack, clearing the ditches of the Austrian 
musketeers, and carrying for a second time 
the enemy's battery in the center. A shot 
struck Bernard's cap from his head, but un- 
heeding the incident, he led his men fiercely 
against the enemy on Windmill Hill. The 
gallant Swedes bm-ning for revenge, advanced 
steadily up the slopes in face of the enemy's 
fire ; they attacked the gunners and drove 
them back, and with the battery took posses- 
sion of the enemy's ammunition wagons. 
The Austrians seeing their cannons in the 
hands of the enemy commenced retreating 
at all points, and victory seemed to have de- 
clared for the Swedes; but at this critical 
moment, Wallenstein was reinforced by the 
arrival of Pappenheim with seven thousand 
cavalry, and restored the battle. The cavalry 
on the left wing of the Austrian army rallied, 
and fiercely attacked the Swedes in that 
quarter of the field, urged on to desperate 
deeds by the presence of Wallenstein, who 
sitting up in his fitter, gave his orders with 
the greatest coolness. The Swedes were 
again driven back ; the batteries in the center 
were again recaptured. The right wing ani- 
mated by the events which were transpiring 
on the left, rushed forward upon the Swedes 
on Windmill Hill, and the latter fighting ob- 
stinately were driven back across the plain, 
and the imperiahsts recovered all their lost 
guns. At this moment Kniphausen, with the 
reserve of four regiments of horse, and two 
of foot, came up, and the Swedes encour- 
aged by this reinforcement returned to the 
fight with renewed ardor. The fight now 
raged with terrible fury. Pappenheini at 
length fell, and his cavahy, panic-stiicken, fled 



344 



LUTZEN. 



pressinfj; back tlie troops behind them into a 
mass of the direst confusion. Bernard von 
Weimar seized this favorable moment, and 
by a skillful movement united the two divis- 
ions of his army, and made one final tre- 
mendous charge upon the imperial center. 
For a third time the battery was carried ; for 
a tliird time the Swedes battled their way 
across the plain into the very heart of the 
enemy. Night put an end to the conflict. 
The Swedes remained masters of the field ; 
the Austrians retreated. The united loss of 
both armies was 9,000 men killed and wound- j 
ed. The exact loss of each is unknown; 1 
but from the stubborn valor displayed on ! 
botli sides it is supposed to have been about { 
equal. The guns of the Austrians fell into 
the hands of the victors. 

A. D. 1813. — In the latter part of April 
1813, Napoleon, with an army of 70,000 
men, was advancing toward Leipsic from 
Erfurth. On the 30th of April the Russian 
and Prussian forces, wliich had occupied 
Halle, Naumberg, Leipsic, and all the adja- 
cent roads, were moved forward with all pos- 
sible dispatch, to prevent the advance of the 
French army to Leipsic, give them battle in 
the plains of Lutzen, and drive them back in 
case of success into the marshes formed by ' 
the Phesse and the Elster. On the first of 
May the Prussian army Avas posted at 
Roethe ; Wittgenstein with the Russians was 
at Zwenkau ; while Winzingerode and IMala- 
radowitch, more in advance, observed the 
movements of the enemy on the roads of 
Naumberg and Chemnitz. The entire force 
of the allies consisted of over 80,000 men. 
It was in crossing the defile of Grunebach, 
that the head of the French column first en^ 
countered the aUies, who were strongly posted 
with six guns on the heights of Poserna, on 
the opposite bank, to defend the great road 
which, after descending into the valley of 
that name, and passing the village of Reppach, 
ascends the opposite steep to enter the great 
plains of Lutzcm and Leipsic. 

The inferiority of Napoleon's forces in cav- 
alry rendered it necessary to approach this 
advanced guard with caution, and the 
French infantry moved on in squares, as at 
the battle of the Pyramids, in Egypt. Mar- 
shal Bessi("'res, Duke of Istria, colonel of the 
Imperial Guard, was among the foremost x)f 
the horsemen who advanced to reconnoiter 
the enemy's position, when a cannon-shot 
killed the brigadier and his escort. " Inter 
that brave man," said the marshal ; and hard- 
ly had the words passed his lips when a 
second cannon-ball struck himself on the 
breast, and laid him dead on the spot.* The 
* Napoleon wrote the following touching letter to the 
widow of Marshal Bessiores, who was inconsolable for 
his loss :— '• Mv Cousin : Your husband has died on the 
Held of honor." The loss which you and your children 



French were not disheartened by the loss of 
their leader; they brought up the artillery 
of the Guard, and under cover of their fire the 
leading square got through, and the allied 
vanguard retired, leaving open to the French 
the entrance of the plain of Lutzen. The 
French army occupied Lutzen and the adja- 
cent villages, where they slept ; the Young 
Guard bivouacked around the Tomb of Gusta- 
vus Adolphus ; sentinels were placed to pre- 
serve from destruction, during the night, the 
trees which shaded the grave of tlie Hero of 
the North. Next morning, the French troops, 
being aware that they were in presence of 
the enemy, advanced in close order toward 
Leipsic, ready at a moment's warning to form 
square to resist the formidable cavalry to 
which they were opposed. General Lauris- 
ton, with his corps, the advanced guard of 
the army of Eugene, moved on the road from 
Museberg ; he met with no resistance tiU he 
arrived at Lindenau, the western suburb of 
Leipsic ; but there the streets were barricaded, 
and the houses loopholed ; and as a serious 
resistance was expected, the troops halted, 
and the fire of the artillery commenced. 
Macdonald's corps followed on the same fine, 
and neither of these were engaged in the 
subsequent action. The main body of the 
French army, under Napoleon in person, ad- 
vanced in a dense array of infantry, cavalry, 
artillery, and chariots, on the road from 
Weissenfelds to Lindenau. The vanguard of 
the army was composed of Marmont's corps ; 
next to him Bertrand brought up his Italians 
from Nossen ; behind them, between Naum- 
berg and Weissenfelds, came Oudinot's men ; 
while the Imperial Guard and reserve cavalry 
were still further in tlie rear, and Ney's col- 
umns covered the flank of the huge array as 
far as Lutzen. 

The allied army, on the other hand, were 
resolved to give battle to the enemy in the 
plain of Lutzen. They crossed the Elbe, 
therefore near Pegau, early on the morning 
of the 2d of May, and advanced with all their 
forces, directing their march toward Jena, 
and threatening the enemy's right, so as to 
j keep up the communication with Bohemia 
I and the forces of the Austrian monarchy. 
j The plan of attack was to refuse their own 
! right, and make no considerable effort in the 
i center, but endeavor to force back the en- 
1 emy's right, turn it, and cut him otf from the 
Saale, and then inundate his rear with a 
I numerous cavalry, to wliich he had no cor- 
I responding force to oppose. Blucher's Prus- 
j sians were in front, next came Wittgenstein's 

have sustained is doubtless great; but mine is still 
Rreater. The Duke of Istria has died the noblest death, 
and, without sufferinis;, ho has left a reputation without 
a spot, the best inheritance lie could bequeath his chil- 
dren. My protection is secured to them; they will in- 
herit all the affection I bore to their father." 



LUTZEN. 



845 



Russians ; Winziugcrodc's Russians, with the 
Russian and Prussian guards, and the cavalry 
of both armies, formed the reserve. In this 
order, the troops, after having enjoyed an 
hour and a half s rest, advanced to the attack 
at one o'clock in the afternoon. 

The hostile armies thus approached each 
other in a very peculiar manner ; for both 
were in open column, and actually under 
march, and they came into collision like two 
men-of-war attempting to pass each other on 
opposite taqks. Napoleon, aware that the 
enemy was not far distant, but ignorant of 
their intentions, and not expecting them to 
stand firm that day, had been on horseback 
since nine in the morning; and he had passed 
the monument of Gustavus Adolphus, when 
he was first roused to a sense of his situation 
by the sound of artillery on his extreme left, 
at Lindenau. Soon a tremendous cannonade 
arose in rear of his right, in the direction of 
G-reat and Little Gorschen, and Napoleon im- 
mediately perceived that the attack was to 
be expected on this side. The French infant- 
ry in this quarter occupied the villages of 
Great Gorschen, Little Gorschen, Rhano, and 
Kaia, which lie near each other, somewhat in 
the form of an irregular square, in the plain 
between Lutzen and Pegau. The plain is 
there traversed by a deep channel of a ri^nl- 
let called the Flossgraben, which was crossed 
by the whole combined army in small com- 
pact columns, and formed a support to the 
right, after these columns had deployed. 
Emerging from behind the heights, where 
they had taken their rest, entirely concealed 
from the enemy's view, the allied army, 
80,000 strong, moved on in four deep black 
columns, with a powerful artillery in front, 
which immediately commenced a heavy con- 
centric fire upon Great Gorschen, which the 
French infantry in the village sustained with 
admirable intrepidity. Soon, however, it 
was assailed by two Prussian brigades, under 
General Ziethen, with great vigor. The gal- 
lant Frenchmen made a strong resistance, 
but, overwhelmed by superior numbers, they 
were forced to fly. The Prussians next at- 
tacked Little Gorschen and Rhano with the 
utmost impetuosity, and both villages were 
carried with loud shouts. The two villages 
were set on fire, and the whole right of the 
field was enveloped in the black clouds of the 
conflagration. Aide-de-camp after aide-de- 
camp was sent to Napoleon after reinforce- 
ments. The French emperor's resolution was 
immediately taken. " We have no cavalry," 
said he — " no matter : it will be a battle as 
in Egypt — the French infantry is equal to 
any thing, and I commitmyself, without alarm, 
to the inherent valor of our young con- 
scripts." 

Orders were immediately dispatched to 



Macdonald, who was on the left, to retrace 
his steps, and direct his march to the point 
of attack on the right. Eugene, gifted with 
the true eye of a general, had already stop- 
ped his advance on hearing the cannon on 
the right, and enjoined him to incline in that 
direction ; orders were simultaneously sent 
to Marmont to hasten across the fields in the 
same direction. Bertrand was instructed to 
advance as quickly as possible on the other 
side; while the whole troops on the road 
between Lutzen and Leipsic were at once 
halted, and wheeled into line by a movement 
on the right. Napoleon himself set off with 
liis suite in the same direction, directing his 
rapid course to the point where the smoke 
was thickest, and the cannon loudest. The 
Prussian general resolved to support his first 
attack to the utmost of his power, and direct 
his principal forces in that quarter, while, at 
the same time, he distracted the enemy's at- 
tention by a furious onset upon his center. 
He brought up, therefore, his second line, 
and a part of liis reserves. This was now 
necessary, for Ney, having moved forward 
three French divisions, had, by a briUiant 
charge, regained the lost villages, and driven 
back the allies to the ground they had occu- 
pied at the commencement of the action. 
Again the Prussians, in superior numbers, 
advanced to the attack. Nothing could 
withstand their impetuosity. The French 
columns, driven out of the houses, were 
charged in the intervening open ground by 
the allied horse, and thrown into confusion. 
Several regiments of conscripts disbanded 
and fled. Seeing his attack thus far success- 
ful, Wittgenstein brought up his reserves of 
the Russians and Prussians. These troops 
advanced in good order through a driving 
tempest of cannon-shot from the French bat- 
teries, and pressing incessantly forward, car- 
ried the villages of Little Gorschen and 
Hahatbh by assault, and drove the enemy 
by Kaia, the key of the French right. Kaia 
was soon in flames, and remained burning 
furiously, unoccupied by either party. No 
sooner did Napoleon receive intelligence of 
these movements, than he set out at a gallop 
to the scene of danger. As the emperor ap- 
proached, he received the most touching 
proofs of the devotion of his troops; the 
broken crowds of conscripts re-formed in 
haste at the sight of the imperial staff; the 
wounded, which were carried past in num- 
bers, never failed to salute the emperor with 
the wonted acclamations — cries of " Vive F 
Empereur /" broke forth from lips soon about 
to be silent in death, and a faint expression 
of joy illumined the countenances of the 
dying youths when the well-known form of 
Napoleon flitted before their eyes. Never 
had the French army displayed more de- 



346 



LUTZEN. 



voted valor — never did the generals and offi- 
cers evince a more heroic spirit — and never, 
except perhaps at Wagram, had the emperor 
exposed his person more than at this 
crisis. 

Both parties, perceiving that the decisive 
point of the battle was to be found in the 
ruins of Kaia, strove, by accumulating forces 
upon it, to secure to themselves so important 
an acquisition, Uke two skillful players of 
chess, who successively bring up all their 
forces to support the attack or defense, to- 
ward the close of the struggle of often an in- 
significant piece on the board. Napoleon, 
placing himself a short distance behind the 
village, arranged the broken remains of Ney's 
divisions, which had been already engaged, 
preceded by the division of Ricard, with his 
aide-de-camp Count Lobau at their head, for 
a fresh attack. These gallant troops ad- 
vanced with cool intrepichty, and now being 
nearly equal in numbers wdth their oppo- 
nents, drove them back behind Kaia, and 
into the neighborhood of Little Giirschen. 
Blucher's Prussians of the reserve, however, 
issued with the utmost vigor from that vil- 
lage; a furious combat ensued in the plain 
between the two ; G-erard and Brenier both 
fell severely wounded at the head of their 
troops. While the combat was raging be- 
tween Kaia and Little Grorschen, the other 
corps of the French army came up ; the Im- 
perial Guard was now assembled close be- 
hind Kaia in reserve, with Napoleon at its 
head. Bertrand's forces were on the one 
side, Marmont's infantry issued from the 
willow thickets, which adjoined the Flossgra- 
ben on the other. As a last effort, Wittgen- 
stein ordered the artillery of General Winzen- 
gerode to march forward and take the 
enemy, combating between the villages, on 
their left flank, while Ms infantry advanced 
to the support of the Prussians. This able 
maneuver had at first surprising success ; one 
of his divisions debouched from Eisdorf, be- 
yond the Flossgraben streamlet, and drove 
back Marchant's chvision of Marmont's 
troops; while another reinforced the Prus- 
sians, between the villages, and, with the aid 
of the guns on the enemy's flank, with loud 
shouts drove them out of Little Gbrschen 
and Kaia, back to the Imperial Guard of 
Napoleon. An interesting yet melancholy 
incident took place in the contest for the 
burning villages. The young conscripts of 
Paris and the volunteers of Berlin met amid 
the ruins; both made their first essay at 
arms, but both fouglit with the courage of 
veteran soldiers, hand to hand, body to body, 
heart to heart ; these gallant youths strug- 
gled with invincible obstinacy amid the 
flames, and nearly a half of each found there 
an untimely grave. Napoleon now saw that 



the decisive moment had arrived : all his re- 
serves witliin reach except the Imperial 
Guard, had been engaged. He forthwith 
drew out that formidable host which had so 
often decided the fate of European fields. 

Sixteen battalions of the Young Guard were 
drawn up in a close colunm, preceded by 
sixty pieces of its incomparable artillery, com- 
manded by Drouot, and foUow;ed by the 
whole reserve cavalry. Tliis weighty column 
soon made its way through the crowd of fiigi- 
tives which lay in its Hue of advance. Noth- 
ing could withstand the swift and deadly 
fire of Drouot's guns, which seemed absolute- 
ly to be discharged as they moved along. 
Kaia was regained, and the aUies forced back, 
stiU facing about and firing, to Little Gorschen. 
The Prussian battahons fell back behind that 
village to re-form. There, however, the fight 
was renewed. Mortier had a horse shot un- 
der him ; Dumoustier fell by his side ; wlule 
on tlie Prussian side Scharnhorst was mor- 
tally wounded, the Prince Leopold of Hesse- 
Homberg and Prince Mecklenberg-StreUtz, 
killed. The Guard, still enveloped by clouds 
of dust and smoke, steadily advanced, and 
the receding sound of their artillery and the 
light of their guns, showed that the enemy 
was in retreat on the right. At the same 
time Eugene, who at this critical moment 
came up from Lindenau, fell on the extreme 
right of the Prince of Wirtemberg, and drew 
oif his batteries from the flank of the column 
engaged among the villages ; and the prince 
was able barely to maintain his position with- 
out prosecuting the attack, which, in the 
first instance, had promised so nuich success. 
The fire of the artillery was kept up on both 
sides until nightfall ; but the aUied generals, 
although still in possession of the ground they 
occupied in the beginning of the battle, felt 
that they could not withstand further attacks, 
and accorcUngly gave orders for a retreat on 
the following morning. Napoleon dispatched 
couriers to Paris, Cracow, Rome, Vienna, 
and Constantinople, to announce that he 
had gained the victory. At nine o'clock 
at night as Napoleon was riding across a 
part of the field of battle, toward Lutzen, 
where head-quarters were to be established, 
he was suddenly assailed by a fire of mus- 
ketry from behind a hedge, followed by the 
irruption of a huge mass of the enemy's horse, 
wliich advanced in close order and a steady 
pace, almost to the imperial escort. Some 
esquires having now come up, and poured in 
a close fire on both sides, the allied horse got 
entangled in the darkness, in a ravine, and at 
length, with considerable loss, returned to 
their own camp. The combat at all points 
ceased, and the two armies reposed upon the 
field of battl(\ The aUies the next day re- 
treated toward Dresden, closely pursued by 



LYONS. 



347 



the French. The battle of Bautzen soon fol- 
lowed. 

The loss of the French in the battle of Lut- 
zen, was six thousand killed and twelve 
thousand wounded. The allies lost fifteen 
thousand in killed and wounded. 

LYONS, A.D. 197. — Lyons is the second 
city of France. The greater part of the town 
is built upon a tongue of land formed by the j 
junction of two large rivers, the Rhone, flow- 
ing from the east, and the Saone, from the ' 
north. The city, however, is not confined I 
to these hmits alone ; but extends to the I 
banks of both rivers, which are crossed at t 
various points by commodious and elegant 
bridges. 

Albinus, a Roman general, revolted against 
the Emperor Severus, and encamped his rebel 
troops near Lyons. The emperor marched 
against him, and the battle commenced the 
instant the armies came in sight of each other. 
The conflict was terrible, but Albinus was 
conquered, and forced to take refuge in 
Lyons. The conquerors followed him thith- 
er, and plundered and ravaged the city. 
Albinus, finding aU was lost, plunged his 
sword into his own body ; but as he was not 
dead when the adverse party took Lyons, 
they enjoyed the savage satisfaction of cutting 
off the head of a man who could not have 
lived an hour. 

Second Siege, a.d. 1793. — A' great number 
of the Lyonnais had witnessed the revolution 
of the 10th of August with regret. Devoted 
to commerce and the arts, Lyons must neces- 
sarily have preferred a stable and tranquil 
government to the storms of a revolution. 
Political agitations, the emigration of the 
nobles, the proscriptions of the rich, were at 
every instant drying up the springs of its 
commerce, paralyzing its industry, and dete- 
riorating the product of its manufactures. 
When private interests were thus injured, it 
could not be expected that the Lyonnais 
should feel much revolutionary ardor ; they 
were certain to follow the ideas of the most 
moderate party. The Convention was recog- 
nized, the Republic proclaimed ; but the rich 
trembled at the opening of the clubs ; they 
were terrified at seeing municipal powers 
pass into the hands of proletaires ; their 
minds revolted at hearing propositions for 
murder and carnage. Their hoiTor for the 
men who oppressed them was soon displaced 
by a desire for vengeance. Two parties de- 
clared themselves in Lyons ; that of the Mu- 
nicipals, supported by the Montague; and 
that of the Sections, composed of pure re- 
publicans and disguised royalists. Both sides 
assembled, and both spoke of preparations for 
defense and of measures for attack. Each 
party designated its enemies, watched its 
partisans, exaggerated its injuries and causes 



of alarm ; minds were heated, and hearts di- 
vided. People became accustomed to con- 
sider as irreconcilable enemies all who did 
not embrace the opinions of the party they 
had espoused. The storm, which had been 
growhng for a length of time, burst forth on 
the 29th of May, 1793. Two commissioners 
from the Convention, were sitting with Cha- 
her at the municipahty ; they had made a 
place of arms of it. On their side, the Sec- 
tionaries had gathered together all their col- 
umns. There were three attempts at accom- 
modation, but they all failed through the 
perfidy of Chaher. A battahon of the Lyon- 
nais approached the municipality, sent for 
under the pretense of conciliation. The sig- 
nal for carnage was given ; Chalier ordered 
a discharge of artillery and musketry. The 
unfortunate Lyonnais were compelled to 
abandon the bodies of their friends ; the 
whole city was in arms. Two columns left 
the Place de Bellecourt, and besieged the 
Hotel de ViUe, defended by eighteen hundred 
men and two pieces of cannon ; the besiegers 
did not amount to two thousand. The com- 
bat lasted two hours ; the Hfitel de Ville was 
carried. The Lyonnais had in their power 
the men who appeared to have meditated 
their ruin. There was still more carnage 
after the victory ; the soldiers were obliged 
to defend their prisoners against the fury of 
the people. Among them were the two com- 
missioners from the Convention ; but liberty 
was soon restored to them, on condition of 
their giving an honest account of the provo- 
cations which had brought on the combat. 
These representatives, four days after, not- 
withstanding a favorable account had been 
given, described the Lyonnais to the Conven- 
tion as rebels, and demanded vengeance for 
the national representation having been unac- 
knowledged, degraded, and insulted in their 
persons. In the mean time the Lyonnais had 
chosen fresh magistrates, and these had cre- 
ated a commission to try the prisoners made 
in the contest on the 29 th of May. ChaUer 
was condemned to death ; the rest were 
spared, and kept as hostages. 

No sooner had the intelligence of the re- 
volt of Lyons reached Kellerman's ears than 
he assembled 8,000 men, and a small train of 
artillery, to observe the place. But this 
force was totally unable to maintain its 
ground before the armed population of the 
city, wliich soon amounted to 30,000 men. 
The citizens of Lyons were determined to 
resist to the last the progress of the French 
republicans. They formed a mihtary chest, 
and issued a paper currency which was guar- 
antied by the principal merchants. Great 
numbers of cannon were cast at the founder- 
ies within the walls; while on the heights 
around the city fortifications were erected 



348 



LYONS. 



under the supervision of a skillful engineer. 
On the other hand the troops of the repub- 
licans were daily increasing ; yet they were 
not in sufficient force to make head against 
an enemy so strong and vigorous. During 
the whole month of August, and the begin- 
ning of September, the siege made little 
progress, the batteries of the besiegers being 
scarcely armed. During this time the be- 
sieged made proposals for an accommodation, 
but tho commissaries of the Convention 
answered them in an indignant manner, say- 
ing they must first show themselves worthy 
of pardon, by acknowledging that they were 
in the wrong ; they must also lay down their 
arms, and deUver up the keys of the city, 
before they could be entitled to any clemency 
on the part of the Convention. The Lyonnaise 
had no faith in the clemency of the Conven- 
tion, and repUed, " We expect nothing from 
your clemency ; we shall firmly await your 
arrival, and you shall never capture our city 
but by marching over our dead bodies." 

As soon as the Convention learned that the 
Enghsh had entered Toulon, they redoubled 
their efforts to subjugate Lyons, and took the 
most energetic measures for the prosecution 
of the siege. A hundred pieces of cannon, 
from the arsenals of Besan^on and G-renoble, 
were mounted on the batteries, veteran troops 
selected from the army on the frontier of Pied- 
mont, and four corps formed, to press the out- 
works on different sides of the city. In 
several contests in the outer intrenchments, 
the Lyonnaise fought with great valor, but 
although the success was nearly equal, the 
besiegers had the advantage, and the horrors 
of war at length fell on this devoted city. A 
terrible cannonade with red-hotshot, and bom- 
bardment commenced on the 24th of Sep- 
tember, and was kept up incessantly for 
seven days. Day and night the flaming 
tempest fell on the quarter of St. Clair; the 
magnificent hotels of that district were 
burned; the splendid public buildings, and 
the beautiful quays of the river, were aU 
involved in the awful conflagration. The 
arsenal blew up with a terrific explosion. 
The great hospital, a noble monument of 
charity, was at length reached by the hungry 
flames. It was filled with the wounded and 
dying from every quarter of the town. In 
hopes to avert the fury of the besiegers from 
this last asylum of humanity, a black flag 
was raised from tho top of the building, but 
it only served as a mark for the red-hot shot, 
and after the fire had been extinguished for 
more than forty times, it was burned to the 
ground. These ravages increased the suffer- 
ings of the inhabitants, but in no wise 
diminished their means of defense. Soon 
after, the repeated attacks of the republicans 
made them masters of the heights of St. 



Croix, which commanded the city from a 

nearer position, while another detachment 
cut off all communication between tho in- 
habitants and the part of the country from 
which they obtained their provisions. Before 
the end of September, 50,000 men were as- 
sembled before the walls, and notwithstand- 
ing the utmost economy in distributing food, 
the pangs of hunger began to be felt. The 
force of the besiegers received new rein- 
forcements of artillery from Valenciennes, 
and also 25,000 mountaineers from Auvergne, 
under the command of Coutlion. 

The hopes of the inhabitants had rested on 
a diversion from the side of Savoy, where 
the Piedmontese troops were slowly assem- 
bling for offensive operations. But they were 
cruelly disappointed. The Sardinian array 
was driven back, after having failed to avail 
themselves of an opportunity which .would 
never again occur of establishing the royalist 
party in the south of France. This, together 
with the pressure of famine, depressed the 
spirits of the besieged. The inhabitants, 
however, nobly and heroically defended 
themselves against a force of over 60,000 men. 
In vain the bombardment was continued 
with unexampled severity, and 27,000 
bombs, 5,000 shells, and 11,000 red-hot shot 
thrown into the city ; entirely regardless of 
the iron storm, one-half of the citizens man- 
ned the works, while the other half watched 
the flight of the burning projectiles, and car- 
ried water to the quarters where the confla- 
gration broke forth. Notwithstanding all 
these efforts, the city seemed doomed. The 
Convention becoming exasperated at the 
slowness of the siege, deprived Kellerman of 
the command, and ordered liim to the bar of 
the Convention to give an account of his 
conduct. The command of the besieging 
army was given to General Doppet, who re- 
ceived orders to reduce Lyons immediately 
by fire and sword. In order to hasten opera- 
tions, Couthon, as commissioner of the Con- 
vention, was invested with a despotic author- 
ity over the general, and he instantly resolved 
to storm Lyons, by employing the whole 
60,000 men. On the 29th of September, a 
general attack was made by General Doppet 
on the intrenchments of the besieged, the 
object of Avhich was to force the fortified post 
near the confluence of the Saone and the 
Rhone. After a desperate resistance the 
batteries which commanded that post were 
carried by the republicans, and the bridge 
which connected it with the opposite side 
was forced. These obstacles being removed 
between the assailants and the city, the de- 
struction of Lyons seemed inevitable. But 
Precy hurrying to the scene of danger, at the 
heail of a chosen band of citizens, the be- 
siegers were driven back from the plain with 



LYONS. 



349 



the loss of about 2,000 men; still, with all 
hia efforts, the heights and the bridge were 
occupied by the enemy's army. A more 
fatal enemy was deahng destruction within 
the walls. Famine, with aU its horrors, was 
staring the besieged in the face. The women 
renounced the use of bread, in order that the 
soldiers might have sufficient ; but even then 
they were soon reduced to half a pound a 
day of this simple food. Many subsisted on 
a scanty supply of oats which were daily 
served out, with the most rigid economy 
from the public magazines. By the 1st of 
October their resources became exhausted, 
and provisions of every kind had failed ; 
thirty sections of Lyons, driven by necessity, 
were compelled to nominate deputies to pro- 
ceed to the camp of the besiegers. The 
brave Precy, disdaining even in this extremity 
to submit, resolved to force his way with a 
chosen band through the enemy's Hne, and 
seek an asylum in foreign lands. 

On the night of October 9th, at the head 
of 2,000 men, the flower of Lyons, together 
with their wives and children and what little 
property they had saved, he commenced the 
perilous journey. They were arranged in two 
columns, and tlie light from their burning 
dwellings served to guide them on the way. 
Scarcely had they left their homes amid the 
tears and blessings of those they had left be- 
hind, Avhen a bomb from the enemy's camp 
fell into one of their ammunition-wagons, and 
many were instantly killed. Not disheart- 
ened by this disaster, they broke the opposing 
division and forced their way through the 
lines of the besiegers, but they were soon as- 
sailed by an overpowering force in the center 
and rear. They found themselves surrounded 
on every side; all the heights were Hned 
with cannon, and every house filled with sol- 
diers ; a dreadful slaughter took place ; men, 
women, and infants alike perished, and of all 
those who left Lyons, hardly fifty forced their 
way with Precy into the Swiss territories. 

The next day the republicans took posses- 
sion of Lyons. The troops observed strict 
discipline ; they were lodged in barracks, or 
encamped in the Place BeUecoeur or the 
Terreaux : the inhabitants indulged a fleeting 
hope that they might be treated with com- 
passion, but they were not aware of the bit- 
terness of republican hatred. Lyons was 
not spared ; it was reserved for cold-blooded 
vengeance. As soon as the subjugation of 
the town was complete, Couthon entered at 
the head of the authorities of the Convention, 
reinstated the Jacobin municipality, and com- 
missioned them to seek out and punish the 
guilty. The name of the city was suppressed, 
the inhabitants were appointed to be dis- 
armed, and the whole city to be destroyed, 
with the exception of the poor's house, the 



manufactories, the great workshops, the hos- 
pitals, and pubhc monuments. A committee 
of five members was appointed to inflict ven- 
geance on the citizens. At the head was the 
villain Couthon and Collot d'Herbois. Cou- 
thon was to preside over the destruction of 
buildings, and attended by a retinue of serv- 
ants he visited the finest parts of the city with 
a silver hammer in liis hand, and striking at the 
doors of the houses he wished destroyed, ex- 
claimed, " I strike you in the name of the law;" 
upon this his agents, numbering some 20,000, 
immediately surrounded the dwelling and lev- 
eled it to the ground. This destruction con- 
tinued for six months, and the expense was 
enormous, amounting to 700,000 pounds. 
The builcUngs tlms destroyed were among the 
finest private residences in all France. But 
this was but a commencement of horrors. 
Collot d'Herbois, the ■ proconsul, cherished a 
feeUng of private resentment against the in- 
habitants, and resolved to gratify a revenge of 
tt'n years' duration. His first act was to cel- 
ebrate a fete in honor of Chaher, the repub- 
lican governor of Lyons, a man of the most 
infamous character, and who had been put to 
death at the commencement of the insurrec- 
tion. He closed the churches, abolished the 
priests, and endeavored to extinguish every 
vestige of religion. The bust of Chalier was 
carried through the streets, followed by the 
vilest portion of their army. After them was 
an ass bearing the Gospel, the cross, and all 
the most sacred emblems of Christian wor- 
ship. An altar was erected in one of the pub- 
lic squares, a fire Avas hghted, the cross and 
Gospel burned, the consecrated bread tram- 
pled upon by the mob, and the ass compelled 
to drink the wine out of the communion 
cup. Collot d'Herbois was devoid of even a 
spark of mercy. The punishment of the in- 
habitants was much too slow to satisfy his 
terrible revenge. Deeming the execution of 
even twenty persons in a day insufficient, he 
prepared a new mode of punishment. Sixty- 
captives of both sexes were led out together, 
tightly bound in file, to the Place de Brot- 
teaux, then arranged in two files, with a 
deep ditch on each side, which was to be all 
the place of burial allowed them. At the ex- 
tremity of the file were placed two cannon 
loaded with grape. The unhappy victims be- 
held with composure the awful preparations, 
and sang the patriotic hymns of the Lyonnaise 
until the signal was given and the guns dis- 
charged. Few only were killed at the first 
fire, but being horribly mutilated, the shrieks 
and cries were heart-rending. A second and 
third discharge did not complete the work of 
death, and the gend'armes unable to witness 
tlieir struggles, dispatched numbers of them 
with their swords. Day after day this bloody- 
scene was renewed, and Collot d'Herbois, 



350 



MADRAS— MAESTRICnT; 



•with his associate Fouche, were witnesses of 
the butchery from a distance by means of tel- 
escopes. The bodies of the slain floated in 
such numbers down the Rhone as to poison 
the waters, and at last Collot, for fear of dis- 
ease, was obliged to bury them. In five 
months, more than 6,000 persons suffered 



death in this manner, and double that num- 
ber driven into exile. After this dreadful 
massacre, and subjugation of Lyons, the 
troops were commanded to proceed immedi- 
ately to Toulon to quiet the disturbance that 
was just beginning in that city. 



MADRAS, A.D. 1702.— In 1702 Madras in 
India was besieged by the forces of Dahood 
Khan ; but the British garrison made such a 
spirited and gallant resistance, that the be- 
siegers were compelled to withdraw with 
great loss. In the year 1744, the French 
besieged Madras, and took it. In 1749 it 
was restored to the English. In 1758, it was 
again besieged by the French under the 
famous Lally ; but after a siege of two months 
the French were obUged to retreat. 

MAESTRICHT, a.d. 1576.— Maestricht 
is a city of the Netherlands, about four miles 
in circumference, seated on the Meuse, oppo- 
site Wyck, with which it commimicates by a 
stone bridge. 

The inhabitants of Maestricht, in concert 
with their G-erman garrison, drove out the 
Spaniards in 1576. Their intention was to 
unite themselves with the Dutch, who had 
shaken off the yoke of Spain. Vargos, the 
general of Philip II., hastened to endeavor 
to regain possession of the place ; of which 
he had the greater hopes from being still 
master of Wyck. The conquered, humiliated 
by a disgrace of which they were the more 
sensible from its having arisen out of their 
own negligence, were eager to repair their 
fault by instantly taking back what they had 
lost. As they saw no other obstacle to their 
doing so but some pieces of cannon placed 
upon the bridge which unites the two cities, 
they formed, to avoid this danger, a most 
extraordinary resolution. They placed before 
them all the women of Wyck. Provided 
with this rampart, they advanced over the 
bridge, and, covered with these singular 
bucklers, they fired boldly, and safely upon 
the citizens, who, not being able to defend 
themselves without shooting their relations, 
or at least the women of their party, quitted 
their post, took refuge in the houses, and 
abandoned the field of battle to the Spaniards, 
who thus remastered the city without receiv- 
ing a single wound. 

Second Siege, a.d. 1579. — Three years 
after this Maestricht was invested by the 
celebrated Prince of Parma, Governor of 
Flanders. This general having secured his 
quarters and encamped in face of Maestricht, 
directed a numerous park of artillery against 



it. Mondragone was charged with the block- 
ade on the side of Wyck. In a short time 
the circumvallation was secured ; and, simul- 
taneously, the Meuse was closed, both below 
and above the city, by two bridges of boats, 
sufficiently solid to deprive the enemy of all 
chance of entrance to the place by water. 
These bridges served at the same time as 
means of communication to the army spread 
over both banks of the river. The trenches 
were opened. The garrison, being small, 
could not risk many sorties, but they made 
some with success. Two attacks were 
formed : one at the Brussels gate, and the other 
opposite the curtain which was between the 
gate of Hoxter and that of the Cross. When 
the trenches were sufficiently advanced, 
Hierges set his batteries playing. The 
Spaniards had already arrived at the counter- 
scarp, and were endeavoring to debouch in 
the fosse, to fill it jiromptly and second the 
operations of the artillery. The Brussels 
gate was defended by a good ravelin and a 
large cavalier, which impeded the progress of 
the besiegers greatly. It was battered by 
some pieces of large cannon ; but the audac- 
ity of the besieged seemed to increase with 
their peril. The Spainards on their part re- 
doubled their efforts ; their ardor was inde- 
fatigable ; they emulated each other in braving 
dangers. Witliin the walls, the citizens and 
the countrymen who had there sought refuge, 
vied with the most practiced soldiers in in- 
trepidity. The women themselves became 
redoubtable warriors : three companies of 
them were formed, one of which was em- 
ployed at the counter-mines, and the others 
did garrison duty. They appeared on the 
ramparts by the side of the bravest soldiers ; 
they cheerfully shared the painful labors of 
the pioneers, and entered warmly into the 
repairs of old fortifications, or the erection of 
new ones. The besiegers, however, remained 
masters of the fosse, and the breach appeared 
sufficiently practicable for an assault to be 
attempted. A signal was given for one ; but 
the Spaniards, after making the most courage- 
ous efforts, were constrained to retire with 
loss. The fire of the batteries increased ; the 
works were perfected ; all sorts of means 
were employed to prevent the enemy firom 



MAESTRICHT. 



351 



repairing tlie breaches made in the ramparts 
of the city, A second assault was prepared. 
To weaken the resistance of the Flemings by 
dividing it, it was resolved to give the assault 
at the two attacks. The trumpets sounded ; 
they rushed to the breaches ; the parties met ; 
the contest began ; one side impetuously at- 
tacking, the other as firmly defending : vic- 
tory remained doubtful ; Herle, in the Spanish 
ranks, and Tappin, the celebrated defender of 
Maestricht, performing prodigies of valor. 
It was a hand to-hand fight — pike to pike, 
and sword to sword. Some barrels of pow- 
der caught fire, and blew up ; in an instant 
the ground was covered with mutilated 
bodies. The combat ceased, and the besiegers 
were obhged to retreat, without having been 
able to gain possession of the breach. Tliis 
fruitless attempt cost the Spainards very dear. 
But the greater part of the garrison had per- 
ished upon the waUs, and the remainder were 
in want of every thing. Disease, fatigue, 
watcliing, and famine, made awful ravages. 
No more confidence could be placed in the 
succors promised by the Prince of Orange ; 
and the inhabitants, determined to die rather 
than surrender, had no resource but their 
bravery. The ravelin which covered the 
Brussels gate annoying the besiegers greatly, 
the Prince of Parma determined to make 
himself master of it. He ordered some fresh 
mines, and on the 24th of June succeeded in 
winning it. The prince, profiting by this 
advantage, caused the large cavalier con- 
structed at this point to be raised much 
liigher, and turned the fire against the place. 
The besieged, being without repose, and 
finding safety nowhere, began to despair of 
holding out, without however, being at all 
wilhng to subscribe to the honorable capitu- 
lation offered them by the prince. That 
general fell sick ; the siege appeared to suffer 
by the circumstance, and the attacks became 
weaker. ' In consequence of this, the exliaust- 
ed citizens relaxed in tlieir vigilance. The 
prince, who from his bed was still watchful, 
learned how matters stood, and immediately 
ordered an assault. On the morning of the 
day designed for this last eCtbrt, a soldier 
having crept through an ill-repaired breach, 
found no one on the Avails but some sentinels 
buried in sleep. He informed the general of 
tills. The troops were commanded to follow 
liim : the breach was mounted, and the city 
taken. The carnage was so frightful that 
scarcely four hundred persons Avere spared. 
The life of the brave Tappin, the governor of 
Maestricht, was however saved, out of respect 
for his character. The besiegers lost two 
thousand five hundred men ; but a booty of 
a milhon of crowns of gold, and the conquest 
of an important city, compensated for their 
fatigues and perils. 



Third Siege, a.d. 1632.— In 1632 Maes- 
tricht was reduced by the Prince of Orange, 
and was confirmed to the Dutch in 1648. 

Fourth Siege, a.d. 1673.— On the 10th of 
June, Louis XIV. appeared before Maes- 
tricht with an army of 40,000 men. The 
place was defended by a garrison of 5,000 
men, and by an intrepid governor, named 
Farjaux, a Frenchman, in the service of Hol- 
land. On the 17th the trenches were opened, 
and five batteries were directed against the 
city. Vauban, who in tliis siege first dis- 
tinguished himself, employed the parallels 
invented by some Italian engineers in the 
service of the Turks, before Candia. He 
added places of arms in the trenches, to 
draw up troops in battle order, and the bet- 
ter to rally them in the event of sorties. 
Louis proved himself, in this famous expedi- 
tion, more particular and laborious than he 
had ever been. As long as the siege lasted, 
he was up the whole night, from ten o'clock 
in the evenmg till five in the morning. The 
most furious assault was that of the 24th of 
June, and was made at the counterscarp of 
the Songres gate ; in it the French and the 
Dutch were by turns conquerors and con- 
quered, while disputing an advanced half- 
moon. The first company of musketeers 
was commanded to fall upon this half-moon, 
while the second precipitated itself upon the 
pallisades between that post and the horn- 
work. " The signal was given," says M. de 
Sainte Foix, "they marched, and in spite of 
the vigorous resistance of the enemy, in 
spite of the fire of the fourneaux which were 
sprung, and the terrible reports of the gre- 
nades which were incessantly cast among 
them, these works were carried almost at 
the same moment." Four bloody confhcts 
were necessary ; and they only triumphed in 
the last, after losing many men. Night 
separated the combatants. The action of the 
morrow was still more warm and murder- 
ous; it was beheved that the lodgments 
were secured aind the musketeers had re- 
turned to the camp. The enemy sprang a 
fourneau^ which the French had not dis- 
covered in the half-moon ; there was reason 
to tliink it was not the only one. Farjaux, 
who had placed himself at the head of the 
best troops of his garrison, profiting by tliis 
moment of alarm, entered the work and 
drove out the French soldiers. The musket- 
eers were ordered to take it again, and they 
did retake it. In an obstinate and sangui- 
nary confhct, fifty-three musketeers were 
wounded and tlurty-seven killed, with the 
famous Count d'Artagnan, commander of the 
first company. "The musketeers who re- 
turned from this fight," says Pehsson, " had 
all their swords blooded up to the guards, 
and bent and notched with the blows they 



352 



MAESTRICHT. 



had given." So many repeated and terrible 
attacks destroyed the defenders of Maes- 
tricht without weakening the courage of the 
survivors. Farjaux in particular was deter- 
mined to hold out to the last minute ; he 
preferred a glorious death to life at the hands 
of a conqueror, and he formed the resolution 
of making one more attempt. A mine was 
dug, and set fire to with too much precipita- 
tion ; the soldiers of Farjaux were blown up 
by it instead of the French. Tliis accident 
so completely disconcerted the besieged, that 
even their bold governor was forced to think 
of composition. They were satisfied, on the 
29th of June, with a favorable capitulation. 
The remains of the garrison retired with the 
honors of war, and the inhabitants retained 
their privileges. This conquest cost France 
nearly 8,000 men; the besieged lost more 
than 3,000. 

Fifth Siege, a.d. 1676. — Louis XIV., 
aware of the importance of his victory, placed 
in the city a garrison of 6,000 foot and 1,200 
horse. Three years after, the Prince of 
Orange laid siege to Maestricht with an army 
of 25,000 men, while the Duke of Villa- 
Hermosa on one side, and the Count de Wal- 
deck on the other, intrenched in advantageous 
posts, watched the operati(jns of the French, 
and held themselves in readiness to prevent 
their succoring the besieged. The Count de 
Calvo commanded in ilaestricht, in the 
absence of Marshal d'Estrades, the governor. 
This officer was a Catalan, in the service of 
France ; the king had not a braver soldier ; 
but as he had all his life served in the cavalry, 
he was thought to be more in his place at the 
head of a squadron of horse than of a gar- 
rison. As soon as the place was invested, he 
assembled the principal officers: "Gentle- 
men," said he, " I have served all my life as 
a cavalry officer, and have very little ac- 
quaintance with the defense of cities. All 
that I know is that I will never surrender. 
Concert among you the means of an obsti- 
nate and insurmountable resistance, and I will 
undertake to have them executed with as 
much vigor as celerity." The frankness of 
the commander won all hearts, and the con- 
fidence he placed in his subalterns elevated 
and expanded their minds. There was 
estabhshed, without pride, mistrust, or jeal- 
ousy, a communication of ideas which saved 
the city, and which places the name of Calvo 
among the few that will descend to posterity. 
Calvo made a vigorous and considerable 
sortie, the commencement of which was 
fortunate. The Prince of Orange, informed 
of what was going on in the trenches, flew 
to the succor of lois people with the greatest 
courage, drove back the French with the 
sword to the gates, and being wounded in 
the arm, exclaimed to those who had fought 



witliout spirit, " This is the way you should 
act, gentlemen I It is you who have caused 
the wound for which you appear to enter- 
tain so much regret." Calvo first introduced 
the use of back-handled scythes ; his soldiers, 
armed with these in the sorties, killed three 
men at a stroke. The trenches were opened 
on the 19th of July, and the batteries were 
erected on the 22d : during eight days the 
firing never ceased. At length, a large 
breach was made in the Dauphin bastion, 
and an assault was ordered for the 30 th. It 
was terrible, but proved useless. The Dutch 
retired with loss. The next day the Prince 
of Orange ordered a second attack, still more 
sanguinary and quite as unsuccessful. A 
suspension of arms was then entered into to 
bury the dead. Not at all discouraged the 
prince gave a third assault, and succeeded in 
gaining the bastion. Scarcely had he gained 
a lodgment, when the French sprang two 
mines, the bursting of which they followed 
up by a furious sortie : they were, liowever, 
repulsed, and the work remained in the 
hands of the Dutch. Some days after they 
took another bastion, and drew near to the 
counterscarp. While the Hollanders were 
preparing to pour their thunders upon this 
part of the fortifications, the powder and 
grenades of the besiegers were suddenly set 
fire to. Taking advantage of the consequent 
disorder, the enemy gained possession of the 
counterscarp ; they then prepared to attack 
the horn-work. Twice they gave the assault, 
and twice they were driven back with loss. 
The dragoons and the cavalry having dis- 
mounted to sustain the infantry, discouraged 
by so many repulses, a third effort was made. 
It was so terrible that the covered way was 
choked with dead bodies, and the blood of 
the slaughtered discolored the waters of the 
fosse. But the assailants were forced to re- 
gain their former posts, after having lost a 
host of soldiers. 

But now news was brought that Marshal 
Schomberg was hastening to the succor of 
the place, and the Prince of Orange, having 
already lost 12,000 men, did not think it 
prudent to wait for him. He decamped in 
the night of the 26th of August, after forty 
days of open trenches, and, to make the 
more haste, embarked thirty pieces of can- 
non, 500 wounded, and a great quantity of 
munitions on the Meuse. At daybreak, the 
garrison perceiving the retreat of the Dutch, 
pursued them and took some prisoners. 

Sixth Siege, a.d. 1748. — " Peace is in 
Maestricht," said the Marshal de Saxc. It 
was with preparations for this siege that 
the campaign of 1748 commenced. It was 
necessary to secure all the passages, to force 
an army to retreat, to render it powerless for 
action, to deceive the enemy, and leave his 




DLSTRLCTION OF JERUSVLLM. 



MAGDEBURG. 



353 



own troops in ignorance of his secret. Mar- 
shal Saxe succeeded in all this ; he only com- 
municated his views to M. de Cremille ; he 
made his allies believe that liis object was 
Buda, and he went, at the head of 28,000 
men, to conduct a convoy to Bergen-op-Zoom, 
feigning to turn his back toward Maestricht. 
Three divisions 'advanced upon Tirlemont, 
Tongres, and Luxembourg ; and at length all 
four took their route toward Maestricht. 
The enemy quitted their posts precipitately, 
abandoned immense magazines, and knew 
nothing of the designs of the Count de Saxe 
until it was too late to oppose them. The 
city was invested, without a possibiUty of 
any succor being introduced. The siege was 
pushed on Avith vigor. The Baron d'Aylva, 
the governor, and the Count de Marshal 
commanding the Austrian garrison, displayed 
in vain all their skill to dispute tlie ground, 
and drive back the besiegers. They were on 
the point of submitting to the conqueror, when 
a courier, dispatched by the Duke of Cumber- 
land, came to announce the cessation of hos- 
tilities, and to confirm the saying of Marshal 
Saxe with which we commenced this article. 

Maestricht was besieged in vain by the 
French, under Meranda, in 1793, but yielded 
to the troops of that country, commanded by 
Kleber, in 1794, after eleven days of open 
trenches. — Robson. 

MAGDEBURG, a.d. 1637.— Along the 
picturesque heights that embank the beautiful 
rivers of the German confederacy, ancient 
cities and castles abound, rich in historical 
recollections ; some like the magnificent cas- 
tle and decayed town of Heidelburg, are mon- 
uments chiefly of the past, wliile others hke 
the capital of Saxony, the city of Magdeburg, 
still retain much of their ancient splendor. 

This city was besieged in 1637. We se- 
lect the narrative of an eye-witness, the 
simplicity of which proves its fidelity. It is 
the narrative of a minister of a church in 
Magdeburg. The town was assaulted at day- 
break, when the garrison was most likely to 
be off their guard, and when it was generally 
thought that Tilly was about to break up the 
siege. 

" At M. Malsio's we found many people 
who had fled to him in great perplexity. 
We comforted and exhorted each other, as 
fiir as the terror of our minds would give us 
leave. I was summoned tlience to discharge 
the duties of a colonel, who lay dangerously 
wounded. I resolved to go, and sent my 
maid to fetch my gown : but, before my de- 
parture from my wife and neighbors, I told 
them that the affair to me appeared to be 
concluded, and that we should meet no more 
in this world. My wife reproached me in a 
flood of tears, crying, ' Can you prevail on 
yourself to leave me to perish all alone ? 

23 



You must answer for it before God?' I 
represented to her the obhgations of my 
function, and the importance of the moment I 
was called upon to give my assistance in. 

" As I crossed the great street, a multitude 
of matrons and young women flocked about 
me, and besought me, in all the agonies of 
distress, to advise them what to do. I told 
them my best advice was to recommend 
themselves to God's protecting grace, and 
prepare for death. At length I entered the 
colonel's lodgings, and found him stretched 
on the floor and very weak. I gave him 
such consolation as the disorder of my mind 
would permit me : he heard me with great 
attention, and ordered a small present of gold 
to be given me, wliicli I left on the table. 
In this interval, the enemy poured in by 
crowds at the Hamburg gate, and fired on 
the multitude as upon beasts of prey. Sud- 
denly my wife and maid-servant entered the 
room, and persuaded me to remove imme- 
diately, alleging we should meet with no 
quarter, if the enemy found us in an apart- 
ment filled with arms. We ran down into 
the court-yard of the house, and placed our- 
selves in the gateway. Our enemies soon 
burst the gate open, witla an eagerness that 
can not be described. The first address they 
made to me was, ' Priest, dehver thy money 1' 
I gave them about 24 shillings in a httle box, 
which they accepted with good will; but 
when they opened the box, and found only 
silver, they raised their tone, and demanded 
gold. I represented to them that I was at 
some distance from my house, and could not 
at present give them more. They were rea- 
sonable enough to be contented with my 
answer, and left us, after having plundered 
the house, without oflTering us any insult. 
There was a well-looking youth among the 
croAvd, to whom my wife addressed herself, 
and besought him, in God's name, to protect 
us : ' My dear child,' said he, ' it is a thing 
impossible: we must pursue our enemies;' 
and so they retired. 

"In that moment another party of soldiers 
rushed in, who demanded also our money. 
We contented them with seven sliiUings, and 
two silver spoons, which the maid had fortu- 
nately concealed in her pocket. They were 
scarce gone, before a soldier entered alone 
with the most furious countenance I ever 
saw : each cheek was puffed out with a mus- 
ket ball, and he carried two muskets on his 
shoulder. The rfoment he perceived me, he 
cried out with a voice of thunder, ' Priest, 
give me thy money, or thou art dead.' As 
I had nothing to give him, I made my apol- 
ogy in the most afifecting manner : he leveled 
a piece to shoot me, but my wife luckily turned 
it with her hand, and the ball passed over 
my head. At length, finding we had no 



354 



MAGDEBURG. 



money, he asked for plate; my wife gave 
him some silver trinkets, and he went his 
way. 

" A little after, came four or five soldiers, 
who only said, ' Wicked priest, what dost 
thou here ?' Having said thus much, they 
departed. 

" We were now inclined to shelter ourselves 
in the uppermost lodgings of the house, hoping 
there to be less exposed and better concealed. 
We entered a chamber that had several beds 
in it, and passed some time there in the most 
insupportable agonies. Nothing was heard 
in the streets but the cries of the expiring 
people; nor were the houses much more 
quiet : every thing was burst open or cut to 
pieces. We were soon discovered in our re- 
tirement: a number of soldiers poured in, 
and one who carried a hatchet made an at- 
tempt to cleave my skull, but a companion 
hindered him, and said, ' Comrade, what are 
you doing ? Don't you perceive that he is a 
clergyman ?' 

" When these were gone, a single soldier 
came in, to whom my wife gave a crape 
handkerchief off her neck, upon which he re- 
tired without oflfering us any injury. His 
successor was not so reasonable ; for, enter- 
ing the chamber with his sword drawn, he 
immediately discharged a blow^ upon my 
head, saying, ' Priest, give me thy money.' 
The stroke stunned me ; the blood gushed 
out in abundance, and frightened my wife 
and servant to that degree, that they both 
continued motionless. The barbarian turned 
round to my wife, aimed a blow at her, but 
it glanced fortunately on her gown, Avhich 
happened to be Uned with furs, and wounded 
her not. Amazed to see us so submissive 
and patient, he looked at us fiercely for some 
moments. I laid hold of this interval to rep- 
resent to him that I was not in my own 
house, being come to the place where I was 
to discharge my duty to a dying person, but 
if he would grant us quarter, and protect us 
to our home, I would then bestow upon him 
all I had. ' Agreed, priest,' said he ; ' give 
me thy wealth, and I will give thee the 
watch-word: it is Jesu Maria; pronounce 
that, and no one will hurt thee.' We went 
down stairs directly, highly contented to have 
found Such a protector. The street was cov- 
ered with the dead and the dying; their 
cries were enough to have pierced the hearts 
of the greatest barbarians. We walked over 
the bodies, and when we arrived at the 
church of St. Catharine, we met an officer of 
distinction on horseback. This generous per- 
son soon discovered us, and, seeing me cov- 
ered with blood, said to the person who 
conducted us, ' Fellow-soldier, fellow-soldier, 
take care what you do to these persons.' 
At the same time he said to my wife, ' Ma- 



dam, is yonder house yours ?' My wife hav- 
ing answered that it was ; ' Well,' added he, 
' take hold of my stirrup, conduct me thither, 
and you shall have quarter.' Then, turning 
to me, and making a sign to the soldier with 
his hand, he said to me, ' Gentlemen of Mag- 
deburg, you yourselves are the occasion of 
tliis destruction: you might have acted 
otherwise.' The soldier who had used me 
ill, took tliis opportunity to steal away. 
Upon entering my house, we found it filled 
with a multitude of plunderers, whom the 
officer, who was a colonel, ordered away. 
He then said he would take up his lodgings 
with us, and, having posted two solders for 
a guard to us, left us with a promise to re- 
turn forthwith. We gave, with great cheer- 
fulness, a good breakfast to our sentinels, 
who compUmented us on the lucky fortune 
of falling into their colonel's hands ; at the 
same time representing to us that their fel- 
low-soldiers made a considerable booty while 
they continued inactive merely as a safe- 
guard to us, and therefore beseeching us to 
render them an equivalent to a certain de- 
gree. Upon this, I gave them four rose no- 
bles, with wliich they were well contented, 
and showed so much humanity as to make 
us an offer to go and search for any acquaint- 
ance whom we desired to place in safety 
with us. I told them I had one particular 
friend who had escaped to the cathedral, as I 
conjectured, and promised them a good gra- 
tuity on his part, if they saved his hfe. One 
of them, accompanied by my maid-servant, 
went to the church, and called my fi-iend 
often by name ; but it was all in vain : no 
one answered, and we never heard mention 
of him from that period. 

" Some moments after, our colonel returned, 
and asked if any person had offered us the 
least incivihty. After we had exculpated the 
soldiers in this respect, he hastened abroad 
to see if there was any possibility to extin- 
guish the fire, which had already seized great 
part of the city : he had hardly got into the 
street when he returned with uncommon 
haste, and said, ' Show me the way out of 
the town, for I see plainly we shall perish in 
the flames if we stay here a few minutes 
longer.' Upon this, we threw the best of 
our goods and movables into a vaulted cellar, 
covered the trap-door with earth, and made 
our escape. My wife took nothing with her 
but my robe, my maid seized a neighbor's 
infant child by the hand, whom we found 
crying at his father's door, and led him away. 
We found it impossible to pass through the 
gates of the town, which were all in a flame, 
and the streets burned with great fury on 
either side : in a word, the heat Avas so in- 
tense, that it was with difficulty we were 
able to breathe. Having made several un- 



MALO-YAORSLAVETZ— MALPLAQUET. 



355 



successful attempts, we determined at last to 
make our escape on the side of the town next 
the Elbe. The streets were clogged with 
dead bodies, and the groans of the dying were 
insupportable. The Walloons and Croatians 
attacked us every moment, but our generous 
colonel protected us from their fury. When 
we gained the bastion, which stands on the 
banks of the Elbe, we descended it by the 
scaling-ladders which the imperialists had 
made use of in the assault, and arrived at 
length in the enemy's camp, near Rottensee, 
thoroughly fatigued a^d extremely alarmed. 
" The colonel made us enter his tent, and 
presented us some refreshments. That cer- 
emony being over, ' Well,' said he, ' having 
saved your hves, what return do you make 
me ?' We told him that for the present we 
had nothing to bestow, but that we would 
transfer to him all the money and plate that 
we had buried in the cellar, wliich was the 
whole of our worldly possessions. At this 
instant many imperial officers came in, and 
one chanced to say to me, ' Ego tibi condolo, 
ego sum addictus Fidei Augustante.' The 
distressed state I found myself in made me 
unable to give a proper reply to the condo- 
lences of a man who carried arms against 
those whose religion he professed, and whose 
hard fortune he pretended to deplore. 

" Next day the colonel sent one of his do- 
mestics with my maid-servant to search for 
the treasure we had buried in the cellar, but 
they returned without success, because, as the 
fire still continued, they could not approach 
the trap-door. In the mean wMe the colonel 
made us his guests at his own table, and dur- 
ing our whole stay treated us not as prison- 
ers, but as intimate friends. 

" One day at cUnner an officer of the com- 
pany happened to say, that om- sins were the 
cause of all the evil we suffered, and that 
God had made use of the Catholic army to 
chastise us ; to whom my wife replied, that 
the observation perhaps was but too true; 
however, take care, continued she, lest God, 
in the end, should throw that very scourge 
into the flames. This sort of prophecy was 
fulfilled soon afterward in the self-same im- 
perial army, which was almost totally de- 
stroyed at the battle of Leipsic. 

" At length I ventured one day to ask our 
colonel to give us leave to depart; he com- 
plied immediately, on condition that we paid 
our ransom. Next morning I sent my maid 
into the town to try if there was any possi- 
bility of penetrating into the cellar ; she was 
more fortunate that day and returned with 
all our wealth. Having returned our thanks 
to our deliverer, he immediately ordered a 
passport to be prepared for us, with permis- 
sion to retire to whatever place we should 
think proper, and made us a present of a 



crown to defray the expenses of our journey. 
This brave Spaniard was colonel of tlie regi- 
ment of Saveli, and named Don Joseph de 
Ainsa. " 

MALO-YAROSLAVETZ, a.d. 1812.— 
Napoleon left Moscow with 105,000 combat- 
ants, 600 pieces of cannon, and 2,000 mili- 
tary chariots, and took up hi-s line of march 
for Kalonga. KutusoflF, the Russian general, 
broke up his camp, meanwhile, at Taroutino, 
at the head of 80,000 regular troops, and 
nearly 30,000 Cossacks, the Cossacks were 
divided into irregular bands of horsemen, and 
were of more service in the pursuit of a re- 
treating army than the elite of the Imperial 
Guard. The army was immediately marched 
towards Malo-Yaroslavetz, the strongest po- 
sition on the new road from Moscow to Ka- 
luga, in the hope of anticipating the Frencli 
emperor in the occupation of that important 
position, while General Winzingerode, who 
lay in the neighborhood of Klin, on the road 
to Twer, with 10,000 men, advanced toward 
Moscow with 10,000 men. He marched 
without opposition through the ruined streets 
of the capital, and approached the Kremlin, 
and summoned the French garrison there to 
surrender ; but he fell a victim to his impru- 
dence, being made prisoner by Marshal Mor- 
tier, who commanded the French rear guard 
that still occupied its walls. The French, how- 
ever, after blowing up a part of the Kremhn, 
retired. 

On the 19th of October, Napoleon gained 
the new road which led straight to the Rus- 
sian position of Tarowtino, tlxrough Yaroslav- 
etz. The division of General fielzons took 
possession of Mala-Yaroslavetz on the night 
of the 23d, where they were attacked the 
next morning by the Russian chasseurs under 
DoctoroflF. The French, after a spirited re- 
sistance, were driven out of the village by 
the superior force of the enemy ; but Prince 
Eugene coming up shortly after with his 
corps, after a desperate contest, succeeded in 
expelling the Russians at every point from 
the village. Both parties displayed the most 
desperate valor, and the French, although 
victors, sustained a heavy loss. General Del- 
zons and his brother were killed. The French 
brought into the conflict only about 18,000 
men, while the Russians were nearly twice 
as strong. The loss of both armies was nearly 
equal, being about 5,000 men on either side. 
The Russian general, Dorokhoff, fell in the 
early part of the engagement. 

MALPLAQUET, a.d. 1709.— On the 11th 
of September, 1709, a battle was fought near 
Malplaquet, a village of France, between the 
aUies under the Duke of Marlborough, and 
Prince Eugene, and the French army under 
Marshal VUlars. The armies consisted on 
each side of nearly 120,000 choice soldiers. 



356 



MALTA. 



and the battle was obstinate and bloody. At 
length victory declared for the allies ; but it 
was dearly purchased by the loss of 18,000 
men. 

MALTA, A.D. 1565.— After the conquest 
of Rhodos by Solinian II., its knights retired 
to the island of ^Malta, which asylum was 
granted to tliem by the emperor Charles V. 
In the hands of this military order, Malta soon 
became the strong bulwark of Clii-istendom. 
The Mohammedans were deeply interested in 
taking this island, but more particularly in 
subduing its defenders. Dragut laid siege to 
it in 1565, with an army of more than 30,000 
men. Several assaults were given, which tlie 
knights sustained with theii; usual bravery, 
and the Ottoman general met with his death. 
Mustapha Pacha, who succeeded him, at- 
tacked Fort St. Elmo, the smallest of the 
city, with great impetuosity. One of the 
knights, Abel de Bridiers de la Gardampe, 
received a shot which struck him to the earth. 
He said to some of his comrades, M-ho oflcred 
to carry him to a place of safety to have his 
wound dressed, " Do not consider me among 
the living ; your cares will be much better 
bestowed in defending our brethren." He 
then dragged himself as far as the chapel, and 
having recommended himself to God, expired 
at the foot of the altar. The knights who 
were quartered there made a gallant resist- 
ance, but their cannon being dismounted, 
their defenses breached, and their numbers 
thinned, they sent a deputation to De la Va- 
lette, the Grand Masttn-, to represent the de- 
plorable condition of the place, that it was no 
longer tenable, and that sending over rein- 
forcements to them was worse than useless, 
because it insensibly consumed the troops 
necessary for the defense of the island. Most 
of the Grand Crosses, who composed the 
council of tlie Order, coincided with these 
views, but the Grand blaster was of a con- 
trary opinion. He agreed, indeed, that the 
first was not tenaljle, and o^vned that he 
could not but lament the fote of tlie knights 
who, in so dangerous a post, were exposed to 
daily death ; but he insisted tliat there are 
some circumstances in which it is necessary 
to hazard some of the Umbs to save the body. 
The Viceroy of Sicily, to whom they looked 
for rehef, had declared that if the fort were 
lost, he would not attempt to save the island. 
The whole saft>ty of Malta, therefore, de- 
pended on the length of the siege, and it was 
absolutely necessary to protract it as long as 
possible. The council came over to liis opin- 
ion, and with their concurrence he impressed 
on the garrison that the preservation or loss 
of the island, and perhaps of the Order itself, 
depended on the time tliat they should hold 
out the place, and bade them call to mind the 
vows they had made at their profession, and 



that they were obliged to sacrifice their lives 
for the defense of the Order. Finally, he 
would not fail to send such reinforcements as 
the smallness of the fort would adniit of, and, 
if necessary, would throw" himself into the 
place, and there die with them. 

After various bloody assaults, from the 
2-l:th of May to tlie 21st of June, the garrison 
was much reduced. A swimmer was sent 
across the port to the Grand Master to re- 
quest help, and five large boats were soon 
filled with knights. But the shore was now 
lined witli Turkish artillery, and they could 
not effect a landing. Tlie besieged in the fort 
being now out of all hopes of succor, thought 
of nothing but ending their lives like good 
Christians and true soldiers. For which pur- 
pose tliey were all night long preparing 
themselves for it, by receiving the sacra- 
ments of the church : when this was over, 
and that notliing remained but the giving up 
j their souls to God, they embraced one an- 
other with tenderness, and retired to their 
I several posts in order to die with their wea- 
I pons in theu: hands, and expire in tlie bed of 
honor. Such as were not able to walk by 
reason of their wounds had themselves car- 
ried in chairs to the side of the breach, where, 
armed with swords, which they held with 
both their hands, they waited with a heroic 
resolution till such time as their enemies, 
toward whom they were not able to ad- 
vance, should come and attack them in their 
posts. 

The next day, the 23d of June, the Turks, 
at daybreak, came on to the assault with 
great shouts, as if they were going to a vic- 
tory which it would be impossible to dispute 
with them. But the Christian soldiers de- 
fended themselves with invincible bravery; 
one would have thought that the certainty 
of an approaching death which they were to 
share in common with the knights, had put 
them on the same level with respect to cou- 
rage. They advanced to meet the enemy 
with as much intrepidity as if they had lieaten 
them, and such as could nqt walk fired on 
tlie enemy with their pieces ; and when, by 
reason of their continual discharges, they had 
spent aU their powder, they supplied them- 
selves from the pouches of tlieir comrades 
who had dropped by tlieir side : in fine, the 
Icnights having sustained an assault for four 
hours together, had but sixty persons left; to 
defend the breach; but these were some- 
thing more than men, who, by a noble con- 
tempt of death, still made their enemies 
tremble. The commander, seeing the place 
on the point of being forced by tlie Turks, 
recalled some Christian soldiers, who till 
then had maintained themselves upon tlie 
j cavalier which lay before the fort. The 
I pacha seeing the breach fortified with this 



MANNHEIM— MANTUA. 



357 



small reinforcement, discontinued the assault 
in an instant, as if he had again been dis- 
heartened by so obstinate a resistance, and 
pretended to retire, but it was only to make 
his janizaries seize, not only on the cavalier, 
which was abandoned, but likewise on all 
such points as were higher than the breach, 
and overlooked the inside of the fort. The 
besieged employed this httle suspension from 
fighting in dressing their wounds, not so 
much for the sake of preserving the poor re- 
mains of life, as to enable themselves to fight 
for some moments longer with greater vigor. 
At eleven in the morning the Turks re- 
turned to the assault with new strength, and 
the janizaries, who from the top of the cava- 
lier and other posts commanded the place 
with their muskets, pointed out all such per- 
sons as they had a mind to kill. The great- 
er part of them perished by the enemy's fire ; 
the bahff of Negropont, witli most of the re- 
maining knights and soldiers, being over- 
whelmed with numbers, died upon the breach, 
and this terrible assault was discontinued, 
only for lack of combatants, not ending but 
with the death of the last knight. It is 
probable that to the bravery of these gallant 
knights, on this occasion, the preservation of 
Malta was due. This fort held out so long 
that the pacha could not refrain from saying, 
as he entered it, " What will the father do, 
if the son, who is so small, has cost us so 
many brave soldiers. ?" B'rora that time he 
saw that the conquest of Malta was impossi- 
ble, and turned his thoughts to retreating 
with credit To intimidate the knights he 
hung the bodies of all of the Order whom he 
found among the dead, and more particularly 
those who had a faint breath of lile left. He 
ordered them to be opened, their hearts to 
be taken out, their bodies to be cut into 
quarters, to be clothed in their soubrevesies, 
and, after being fastened to planks, to be cast 
into the sea. These mutilated bodies were 
carried into the city by tlie waves. The 
Grand Master, Jean de la Valette, could not 
restrain his tears. Animated by a just but 
useless indignation, he employed reprisals, 
and cut the throats of all his Turkish prison- 
ers, commanding their bloody heads to be 
thrown into the camp of their compatriots. 
The preservation of Malta covered the knights 
with glory. 

MANNHEIM, a.d. 1793. — This city is 
situated on the right bank of the Rhine, in 
Baden, sixty-six miles south-west of Frank- 
fort It was once strongly fortified, and, 
lying near the French frontier, was repeated- 
ly the object of attack, and suffered severely 
during the wars between France and Ger- 
many. On the 30th of May, 1793, a battle 
was fought near Mannheim between the al- 
lies and the French. On the 20th of Sep- 



tember, 1795, the city was taken by the 
French, under General Pichegni ; and on the 
25th of the same month the French army 
was defeated near the city, by the Austrians, 
under General Wurmser. 

MANS, A.D. 1793. — Mans, a town of 
France, was taken by William the Conquer- 
or in the 11th century; but it is chiefly 
memorable in history as the scene of one of 
the worst defeats sustained by the Vendeans 
during the French revolutionary war. On 
the 12th of December, 1793, the royalists 
I assembled within Mans, were attacked by an 
i army of 40,000 republicans. The Vendeans 
were commanded by the heroic Laroche- 
jaquehn, and although far inferior in num- 
bers to the enemy, they made a most gallant 
defense. Larochejaquelin posted his brav- 
est troops in a fir wood, whence they kept 
up a fire so heavy tliat the republicans on 
the left were held in check ; but they were 
finally borne back at all points, hke a torrent, 
into the town. There, however, they made 
a most obstinate resistance. The Vendean 
commander planted his cannon down all the 
streets leading to the great square, and filled 
houses in the streets with musketeers ; night 
had come on, and a terrible fire arose on all 
sides, increasing the horrors of a nocturnal 
combat. But the repubUcans, urged on by 
their leaders, Marceau, Westerman, and 
Kleber, gained ground in every quarter. 
The night was spent in one continual slaugh- 
ter. Larochejaquelin had two horses shot 
under him, and in spite of all his efforts the 
mighty crowd was forced out of the town, 
and disbanded when they reached the plain 
on the other side. "The scene of horror 
! and confiision," says Alison, " wliich there 
\ ensued defies all description. Larochejaque- 
j lin in vain assembled 1,500 men to check 
the advance of the victorious columns ; he 
was wounded and overpowered in the tu- 
! mult; his bands dispersed and the republic- 
! ans commenced an indiscriminate slaughter 
of the shrieking fugitives." Ten thousand 
soldiers, men, women, and children per- 
! ished under their relentless swords. Youth, 
grace, rank, and beauty were ahke disre- 
garded. 

MANTUA, A.D. 1797.— Mantua, in Aus- 
trian Italy, is situated on an island in the 
Mincio, twenty-two miles south-west of 
Verona. It is surrounded by swamps, 
crossed by artificial dams, which connect it 
with several fortified suburbs and outworks. 
On the 7th of January, 1797. Mantua surren- 
dered to the French under Napoleon, after a 
siege of eight months. On the 30th of July, 
1799, it was attacked by the Austrian and 
Russian army, under General Kray, to which 
it surrendered afi;er a short siege. Napoleon 
obtained possession of Mantua after the bat- 



358 



MARATHON. 



tie of Marengo, and it remained in the pos- 
session of the French until 1800, when they 
delivered it up to the Austrians. 

MARATHON, b.c. 490.— In the year 493, 
B.C., Darius, King of Persia, sent heralds into 
Greece in order to sound the people, and to 
require them to submit to him. Many of the 
Grecian cities, dreading the power of the 
king, complied with the requests of the her- 
alds immediately on their arrival. Among 
these cities was ^gina, a city on a small isle 
opposite and not far from Athens. This pro- 
ceeding of the people of ^gina was consid- 
ered public treason, and ten of the principal 
inhabitants were conveyed to Athens, and 
there imprisoned. The Persian heralds who 
went to Sparta and Athens were not so 
favorably treated as those that had been 
sent to the other cities. One of them was 
thrown into a well, and the other into a 
deep ditch. Darius immediately placed an 
army of 500,000 men under the command of 
Datis and Aristaphernes, instructing those 
generals to give up Eretria and Athens to be 
plundered. In the year 490, B.C., this army 
set sail with a fleet of 500 or 600 ships. 
Darius had directed his generals to make all 
the inhabitants of both places prisoners, for 
which purpose they went provided with a 
great number of chains and fetters. The 
Persians made themselves masters of the isle 
in the ^gean sea, and then turned their 
course toward Eretria, a city of Euboea, 
which they took after a siege of seven days. 
They reduced Eretria to ashes, and putting 
all the inhabitants in chains, they sent them 
to Persia. The Persians now advanced to- 
ward Attica. They landed at Marathon, a 
city distant from Athens about forty miles, 
and began to ravage the surrounding coun- 
tries. The Athenians had sent to Lacedse- 
monia asking assistance against the common 
enemy, which the Spartans immediately 
granted ; but they did not set out till some 
days after on account of an ancient supersti- 
tion among them, which did not allow them 
to commence their march before the full of 
the moon. So great was the terror pro- 
duced throughout all Greece, that only one 
other of the Atlienian allies prepared to suc- 
cor them. This was the city of Platsea, 
which furnished them with 1,000 soldiers. 
The Athenians in this extremity were 
obliged to arm their slaves, whioli had never 
been done there before tliis occasion. The 
Persian army, commanded by Datis, consist- 
ed of 100,000 foot and 10,000 horse. The 
Athenian army in all amounted only to 
10,000 men. Miltiades, by the universal 
consent of the Athenian generals, received 
the entire command of this army. He drew 
up his army at the foot of a mountain, that 
the enemy could not surround him or charge 



him in the rear. He caused large trees to be 
cut down for the purpose, to be thrown on 
the two sides of Ms army, to cover his flanks, 
and render the Persian cavalry useless. 
Datis, not wishing to wait until the Spartans 
should arrive to the assistance of the Athe- 
nians, determined immediately to give battle 
to the enemy, although he was sensible that 
the place was not advantageous for him. 
The Athenians did not wait for the enemy's 
charge. As soon as tlie signal of battle was 
given, they rushed upon the enemy with 
furious valor. The battle was very fierce and 
obstinate. !Miltiades, although he had made 
the wings of his army exceedingly strong, yet 
he had weakened the main body. Having 
but 10,000 men to oppose such a multitude 
of the enemy, it was impossible for him 
either to make an extensive front or to give 
an equal depth to his battaUons. He had 
therefore determined to break and disperse 
the enemy with the efforts of his two wings, 
not doubting but when his wings were once 
victorious they would be able to attack the 
enemy's main body in flank, and complete 
the victory without much difficulty. The 
Persians charged upon the main body of the 
Grecian army, making their greatest efforts 
particularly upon their front. This was led 
by Aristides and Themistocles, who, animat- 
ing their men by voice and example, dashed 
into the midst of the enemy. The Grecians 
fought long and obstinately ; but at length, 
overpowered by the overwhelming numbers 
of the enemy, they slowly retreated. At 
tliis moment, their two wings, which had 
successfully charged upon and broken through 
the two wings of the Persian army, turned, 
the one to the lefl, and the other to the 
right, and attacked the enemy in the rear. 
The Greek front now again pushed against 
the Persians, who, attacked both in front 
and rear, were soon put to flight. They did 
not run toward their camp, but to their sliips, 
by which they hoped to make their escape. 
The Greeks pursued them thither, and, 
ascending the sides of the vessels, mounted 
to the decks, and either slaughtered the 
fugitives or drove them into the sea. Cynse- 
girus, the brother of the poet ^schylus, 
while in the act of climbing up the side of a 
galley, was attacked by a Persian, who cut 
off his right hand, and he fell into the sea 
and was drowned. The victorious Greeks 
set fire to many of the Persian ships, which 
were consumed, with their crews, and those 
who had fled to them for safety. Seven 
large uninjured galleys also fell into the hands 
of the Athenians. In tliis battle the Greek 
army sustained a loss of only 200 men, while 
of the Persians 6,000 were slain, not includ- 
ing those who were driven into the sea and 
drowned, and those who were consumed 



MARCINAGO— MARENGO. 



359 



with the ships set on fire. Hippias, the un- 
grateful and perfidious Athenian, who, in 
order to recover the unjust dominion usurped 
by his father Pisistratus, over the Athenians, 
had implored the aid of the Persians against 
his native country, and had served as a guide 
to an army invading the land to which he 
owed his birth, met with a just reward. He 
died on the field of battle while fighting 
against liis own countrymen, and his name 
has been branded with everlasting infamy. 

Immediately after the battle, an Athenian 
soldier, still reeking with the blood of the 
enemy, quitted the army and ran to Athens 
with the news of the victory. ArriA-ing at 
tlie magistrates' house, he exclaimed, "i2e- 
joice, the victory is ours /" and fell down dead 
at their feet. That portion of the Persian 
fleet which succeeded in making its escape, 
sailed toward Athens with a view to sur- 
prise the city before the Greek army could 
return: but Miltiades immediately marched 
home with nine tribes, and used such expedi- 
tion tliat they reached the city in one day, 
and the design of the Persians was frustrated. 
Aristides was left at Marathon with his own 
tribe to guard the prisoners and the spoils. 
He proved faithful to his trust, for, although 
there were gold and silver, and rich garments 
and other booty scattered in profusion over 
the field of battle, he touched none of the 
spoils himself, nor permitted others to do so. 
But notwithstanding his care some enriched 
themselves unknown to him. Among them 
was Callias, a torch-bearer. A Persian hap- 
pened to meet him in a private place, and 
probably taking him for a prince, on account 
of his long train, and the fillet he wore, pros- 
trated himself before him, and taking him by 
the hand, led him to a well where was con- 
cealed a large quantity of gold. CaUias, no 
less cruel than unjust, appropriated the gold 
to himself, and then killed the man lest he 
might mention the thing to others. 

The plain on which this battle was fought, 
derives its name from the village of Marathon, 
which is situate at the N. W. extremity of a 
valley that opens toward the S. E. into the 
great plain, which is quite flat, and extends 
along the ^Egean sea from N. E. to S. W. 

MARCIXAGO, A.D. 1132.— Near Mar- 
cinago in Italy, in 1132, a battle was fought 
between the Ghibellines of Pavia, and the 
Guelfs of Milan, in which the former were 
defeated with great loss. 

MARCIANS, A.D. 1555.— Near this place 
in Tuscany, in a battle with the French, the 
Tuscans sained a signal victory. 

MARENGO, A.D. 1800.— Marengo, a Ht- 
tle vQlage of Piedmont, is memorable for the 
battle fought in its vicinity, on the 14th of 
June, 1800, between the French under Na- 
poleon, and the Austrians under General 



Melas. The village stands near the Bormida 
in an extensive plain three and a half milea 
east of Alexandria. 

After the battle of Montebello, Napoleon 
with his army proceeded to Stradella, a 
strong position, formed by the advance of a 
lower ridge of the Apennines, toward the 
river Po. The Austrians under Melas were 
concentrated in the plain of Marengo, on the 
Bormida, and their position was highly criti- 
cal. In their front at Stradella, lay Napoleon, 
and his rear, under Suchet, was driving 
the Austrians before him like chaff before 
the wind, wliile on his left rose the awful 
barrier of the Alps, and on his right the 
ridges of the Apennines bounded by the 
Mediterranean sea, rendered it impossible for 
him to gain the hereditary states of Austria 
by a circuitous route. Napoleon finding that 
the Austrians were resolved not to attack 
him at Stradella, but remained grouped under 
the cannon of Alexandria, determined to give 
him battle in the plain of Marengo, notwith- 
standing the ground was so admirably adapt- 
ed to the movements of cavalry, in which 
arm the Austrians were greatly superior to 
the French. As Napoleon advanced, the 
Austrians under Ott, retired across the Bormi- 
da, and the two bridges over that stream 
were fortified and armed with cannon. 
Napoleon hastened forward with the utmost 
speed, and fearing that the Austrians meditat- 
ed a retreat into the fastnesses of the Apen- 
nines, he sent Victor in advance to Marengo, 
with orders to take possession of the bridges 
over the Bormida. The French troops under 
Victor carried the village of Marengo on the 
13th of June, and were arrested only on the 
bank of the river by the heavy cannonade 
from the fortified bridges. The readiness 
with which the Austrians abandoned Maren- 
go confirmed Napoleon in his opinion that 
they were about to retreat; he quickened 
the speed of his army and estabhshed his head- 
quarters at Tore de Garofala, between Tor- 
tona and Alexandria. Believing that the 
Austrians had withdrawn from the vicinity 
of Marengo, Napoleon on the same day dis- 
patched Dessaix with 9,000 men to Rivolta. 
By this means his army was reduced to 
20,000 men, while the Austrians had nearly 
40,000 in the field. The Austrian cavalry 
was more than double the number of the 
French ; the nature of the soil was favorable 
to the movements of large bodies of horse ; 
thus the Austrians in the choice of ground, 
and in numbers had decidedly the advantage. 
Napoleon had deceived himself. Far from re- 
treating, the Austrian general was meditating 
an attack. Early in the morning of the 14th of 
June, the whole Austrian army was in motion ; 
they rapidly defiled over the bridges of the 
Bormida, and preceded by 300 pieces of can- 



360 



MARENGO. 



non, rapidly advanced across the plain 
toward Mareng6. At eight, the Austrian 
infantry uiuler Haddick and Kaim, preceded 
by a numerous and splendid array of infantry 
commenced the attack on the French under 
Q-ardanne, who was stationed in front of 
Marengo. 

Gardanne after an obstinate resistance, was 
obliged to fall back on Victor's corps, which 
was drawn up with its center in the village, 
and its wings along the hollow of Fontanone, 
which separated liis corps from that of Lan- 
nes, wliich was in the rear. Against the 
enormous force which was hurled upon 
them, Victor's troops maintained their ground 
for two hours. The French -Boldiers fought 
with the utmost gallantry ; tlirice were they 
expelled from the village, and thrice they re- 
turned to the fight pushing back their antag- 
onists at the point of the bayonet, and re- 
capturing every inch of soil they had lost. 
At length the corps of Lannes came up, and 
although now opposed to nearly twice their 
number, the battle was more equal. The op- 
posing columns stood within pistol-shot of 
each other, and at this short distance the 
hostile thunderbolts of the cannon darted 
through the ranks on either side, hewing 
bloody passages in their flight and strewing 
the earth with mangled corj^ses. But on 
both sides the most heroic courage was dis- 
played ; the gaps were filled up as fast as 
they were made, and fresh victims were con- 
stantly added to the bloody heaps. At length 
the overwhelming numbers of the Austrians 
prevailed over the devoted bravery of the 
French. Marengo was carried, and the 
Fre&ch were driven back to a second line 
which they had formed beliind the stream of 
the Fontanone. Here they made a gallant 
stand. The Austrians under Haddick, flushed 
with victory, rushed pell-mell upon the en- 
emy ; but Watrin with the right of Lannes's 
division, repulsed them with frightful slaugh- 
ter and drove them back in disorder across 
the stream ; but the French could not foUow 
up their advantage ; Victor's corps were ex- 
hausted with fiitigue, thinned in numbers, and 
were in no condition to support any offensive 
movement. The Austrians perceived the 
weakness of the French, and redoubled their 
efforts, and Victor's corps was at length bro- 
ken. The imperialists pressed forward ea- 
gerly ; the French retired in good order across 
the open plain. The Austrians rapidly fol- 
lowed, preceded by 50 pieces of artillery 
which sent death and destruction into the 
retreating columns. Melas, with the center 
of the imperial army, established himself at 
Marengo; and Lannes being now entirely 
uncovered on his left flank, was obliged to 
retire, which he did at first in good order by 
echelon in squares. Gradually, however, 



the retreat became more disorderly. The 
imperial cavalry sweeping round the retreat- 
ing columns charged them repeatedly ; until 
they were finally repulsed by the French 
horse under Kellerman and Champeaux ; but 
they could not check the Hungarian infantry, 
which advanced steadily in pursuit; halting 
at every fifty yards, and pouring in destruct- 
ive volleys, wliile the intervals between the 
Austrian regiments were filled up by a pow- 
erful artillery, which incessantly sent a storm 
of grape-shot through the retreating masses. 
Matters were in tliis desperate state when 
Napoleon at eleven o'clock arrived on the 
field of battle with his guard. The sight of 
his staff, surrounded by 200 mounted grena- 
diers, acted like magic on the spirits of the 
fugitives. They ralHed at St. Juliano, in the 
rear of those squares of Lannes which still 
kept their ranks. Napoleon detached 800 
grenadiers of his guard, to the right of the 
army, to oppose the progress of Ott, who 
there tlireatened to turn its flank, and at the 
same time, he himself advanced with a demi- 
brigade to the support of Lannes, in the cen- 
ter, and detached five battalions, under Mo- 
nier, the vanguard of Dessaix's division to the 
extreme right, to hold in check the hght in- 
fantry of the enemy, which was there mak- 
ing serious progress. The grenadiers, in a 
soUd square, first advanced, crushing their 
way through the enemy, while from the sides 
of the Hving square, burst sheets of flame, 
which seemed to devour the Austrians as it 
advanced. In vain did the imperial horse 
and foot, with repeated charges, endeavor to 
break this intrepid band ; they were hurled 
back by the fierce fire of the grenadiers with 
great slaughter. At length, however, the 
square was attacked in front by the Hunga- 
rian infantry ; in flank by the Austrian hus- 
sars, and being exposed to the heavy fire of 
the Austrian artillery, the grenadiers wavered, 
and fell back before their numerous enemies, 
upon the troops of Monier, who advancing 
rapidly made himself master of the village 
of Castel Ceriolo. The Austrians here at- 
tacked him with such vehemence that he was 
compelled to evacuate the village ; but the 
French returning to the struggle with re- 
newed ardor finally expelled the Austrians, 
and succeeded in holding that important post 
during the remainder of the day. 

Although the French had repaired their 
disasters on the right, their left was still in a 
state of confusion, and the Austrians were 
making fearful progress in that quarter. 
Melas deeming the victory gained, retired at 
two o'clock to Alexandria, leaving Zack, the 
chief of his staff, to follow up his success ; 
but the French army although broken was 
not deft;ated. At four o'clock Dessaix with 
his troops made his appearance. THis arri- 



MARIGNAIT. 



361 



val reanimated the hopes of the French. 
Victor and Lannes's troops were re-formed 
under cover of the cavalry v^'hich was massed 
in front of St. Juliano, a masked battery was 
planted under the direction of Maimont, and 
Dessaix advanced, at the head of his corps, to 
arrest the progress of the enemy. Napoleon 
rode to the front, and advanced along the 
hne, exclaiming, " Soldiers ! we have retired 
far enough ; you know it is always my custom 
to sleep on the field of battle." This ener- 
getic and suggestive speech was received by 
the soldiers, with loud acclamations, and 
they advanced to the charge with the utmost 
impetuosity. Zack was advancing at the 
head of his column, little anticipating such 
an onset, when Marmont suddenly unmasked 
his batteries and opened a destructive fire 
upon him, and at the same time Dessaix de- 
bouched from St. Juliano at the head of his 
division. The Austrians fell back in disorder 
before the French ; but Zack, by the most 
strenuous exertions, succeeded in restoring 
order in front, and for a moment the advance 
of the French was checked. The struggle 
now became fierce ; a tempest of balls was 
hurled upon the French from the Austrian 
Hne, and Dessaix was struck by a bullet in 
the breast and soon expired. The command 
fell on Boudet, and the French troops aroused 
to fury at the fall of their beloved leader, 
rushed frantically on the enemy, hurling a de- 
structive and incessant storm of lead into their 
bosoms, and the conflict raged with increased 
vigor. The Austrians replied to the French 
fire with vigor ; neither party wavered ; and 
the devouring tempest was maintained on 
both sides with unceasing energy. At this 
moment, when victory trembled as it were 
in a balance, Kellerman was ordered to 
charge with his cavalry. On hke a whirl- 
wind swept the noble band ; passing Dessaix's 
division and Marmont's battery with hght- 
ning speed, they plunged headlong into the 
midst of the Austrians, overthrowing and 
trampling under foot all that opposed their 
progress, and cutting Zack's column through 
the very center. Zack, himself, with 2,000 
men, was made prisoner, and the remainder 
fled in the utmost confusion to the rear, bear- 
ing back in the flight the other divisions which 
were advancing to their support. The troops 
of Lannes and Victor, on this, regained their 
former spirit and turned fiercely on their pur- 
suers. The infantry of Kaim overwhelmed 
by the tide of fugitives, gave way ; the caval- 
ry were seized with a sudden panic and gal- 
loped wildly to the rear, trampling down in 
their mad career, the unfortunate fugitives 
who were flying before them. "To the 
bridges! to the bridges!" was the general 
cry ; and the whole Austrian army disband- 
ing, flew terror-stricken toward the Bormi- 



da. Marengo fell into the hands of the 
French, and the fugitives choking up the 
bridges with their number compelled the gun- 
ners to plunge into the river with their horses 
and pieces, where twenty cannons stuck fast 
and fell into the hands of the French. The 
slaughter of the Austrians was frightful. 
The Frencli maintained the pursuit until dark- 
ness prevented them from distinguishing 
friend from foe. Several battahons of the 
Austrians laid down their arms and surren- 
dered at discretion. The French remained 
masters of the field, and encamped for the 
night on the bloody plain. Thus ended the 
bloody battle of Marengo. The Austrians 
lost 7,000 men kUled and wounded, and 3,000 
prisoners. Among the latter was General 
Zack. The French lost 7,000 men killed and 
wounded and 1,000 made prisoners in the 
early part of the day. Eight standards and 
twenty pieces of cannon fell into the hands 
of the victors. Melas, disheartened by his 
defeat, proposed a suspension of hostilitieg, 
and terms of a treaty were shortly afterwards 
agreed upon between the two generals. By 
tliis treaty, it was agreed that tliere should 
be an armistice between the two armies until 
Melas should obtain an answer from the court 
of Vienna. That in the mean time the Aus- 
trian army should occupy the country between 
the Mincio and the Po, that is, Peschiera, 
Mantua, Borgoforte, and from it to the left 
bank of the Po, and on its right bank, Ferra, 
Ancona, and Tuscany ; that the French should 
occupy the district between the Chiesa, the 
OgUo, and the Po, and the space between the 
Chiesa and Mincio should not be occupied by 
either army. That the fortresses of Tortona, 
Milan, Turin, Pizzighitone, Arena, Placentia, 
Ceva, Savona, Urbia, Coni, Alexandria, and 
Genoa,,should be surrendered to the French 
with all their artillery and stores, the Austri- 
ans taking with them only their own cannon. 
The evacuation of all these places, and the 
final retreat of the Austrian army, were to 
be completed by the 24th of June. Napoleon 
after the battle of Marengo, returned to 
Milan, where he was received with extra- 
ordinary demonstrations of joy. He shortly 
afi;erward returned to Paris, and notliing 
could exceed the transports of the people 
when his arrival was known. He had con- 
quered a peace, and won the imperial crown. 
MARIGNAN, a.d. 1515.— The battle of 
Marignan was fought on the 13th of Sep- 
tember, 1515, near Milan in Italy, between 
the Swiss army, and the French under Fran- 
cis I. The gallant Swiss maintained the 
fight with heroic valor against overwhelming 
odds. After losing aU their bravest soldiers, 
they were finally compelled to fly. Up- 
ward of 20,000 men fell in this obstinate and 
sanguinary conflict. 



; 



362 



MAESEILLES— MARSTON MOOR. 



MARSEILLES, b.c. 49. — Tliis famous city 
of Frauce is situated at the head of a bay 
on the north-east side of the Gulf of Lyons, 
about 200 miles south-east of Lyons. It 
was founded by the Phoenicians about GOO 
B.C., and its progress in arts and letters was 
so rapid that Cicero called it the " Athens of 
Gaul." 

The inhabitants of Marseilles being under 
great obligations to Pompey, were not Avill- 
ing to open their gates to Cassar. Irritated 
by this affront, Caesar laid siege to their city. 
It was long, because that great general did 
not at first conduct it in person ; but as soon 
as lie presented himseU" before the place, it 
surrendered. The conqueror was satisfied 
with disarming the citizens, and ordering 
them to bring to him all the money in the 
pubUc treasury. 

Second Siege, a.d. 310. — ^Notwithstanding 
his repeated abdications, Maximian Hercules 
was again anxious for power, and, for the 
third time, to remount tlie throne of the 
Caesars. In order to engage the Gauls to 
declare in his favor, he caused a report of the 
death of Constantine to be circulated. This 
report had not time to be accredited, for Con- 
stantine, at the head of a numerous army, 
presented himself before Marseilles, into 
which place Maximian had retired. He at 
once led on an assault, and would have taken 
the city if his ladders had not proved too 
short. Several soldiers, however, succeeded 
in gaining the top of the walls, but the em- 
peror, to spare the blood of the troops and of 
the inhabitants, sounded a retreat. Maximian 
appeared upon the walls ; Constantine drew 
near to them, and represented to the ex- 
emperor the injustice and futility of liis pro- 
ceedings. While the old man was pouring 
forth invectives, some of the inhabitants, un- 
known to him, opened one of the gates, and 
admitted the soldiers of Constantine. They 
seized Maximian, led him beibre the emperor, 
and terminated this short and foolish war. 

TniRD Siege, a.d. 15-14.— The constable 
De Bourbon, wisliing by his services to merit 
the favor of Charles V., to whom that per- 
fidious prince had sold himself, vmdertook the 
siege of Marseilles. " Tliree cannon-shot," 
said he, " will so astonish the good citizens, 
that they will come with halters around their 
necks to present me the keys." But, far 
from surrendering, tlie Marseilleise swore to 
defend themselves to the last extremity. 
The women took part in the most painful 
labors of the defense ; their ardor was so 
great, that the countermines which they dug 
on the side of the attack were called, to perpet- 
uate the memory of the fact, " The Ladies' 
Trench." A caimon-ball, fired from the city, 
killed two gentlemen, and a priest, who were 
celebrating mass. The constable De Bour- 



bon, attracted by the noise created by this 
accident, hastened to the spot, and asked 
what was the cause of the tumult. The 
Marquis De Pescaira, liis rival, coolly repUed, 
" It is only the consuls of Marseilles, Mon- 
sieur, who have brought us tlie keys." Bour- 
bon well deserved tliis raillery, for they had 
already been forty days before a place which 
he had boasted would surrender as soon as 
he apjieared. Rendered furious by the can- 
non-ball and the joke, he gave orders for the 
fire of the artillery to be doubled, and soon 
a breach was made suflQcient for an assault. 
The engineers who were sent to reconnoiter 
reported that there was behind it a deep 
ditch, filled with combustibles, and defended 
by a great number of soldiers. Pescaira gave 
a description of it to the council of war, and 
added, maliciously, "You see, gentlemen, 
that the Marseillese keep a well-spread table, 
in order to entertain properly all who have 
any desire to visit them; if you have any 
inclination to sup in Paradise, go there, in 
heaven's name ; but for my part, I don't feel 
disposed to go thither yet. We should do 
much better, I think, to return to Italy, 
where the French may be before us." The 
hatred in which the constable De Bourbon 
was held caused this advice to be approved 
of. Francis I. came to the reUef of the city 
with an army of 40,000 men. Instructed in 
the school of misfortune, he obstinately re- 
fused to give the imperialists battle, and con- 
tented himself with depriving them of all 
means of subsistence. His army destroyed 
aU the mills : that of D'Aubagne was the 
only one left. Francis I. was convinced that 
the retreat of his enemy was inevitable if 
this mill was destroj'ed, and he ordered Bar- 
besieux, who commanded in JklarseiUes, to 
undertake it. This general thought the 
thing impossible, because tlie post was so 
well guarded and so near to the imperialists. 
Montluc, young, enterprising, and full of re- 
sources, tliought that, with courage, secrecy, 
and diligence, it was possible to succeed. 
Barbesieux laughed at what he called a fan- 
farronade ; but as it was only at the risk of 
120 men, he gave his consent. Every tiling 
succeeded ; the mill was forced and destroyed; 
and the detacliment came off unhurt. This 
Uttle expedition had a singular influence over 
the fate of Marseilles. Deprived of pro- 
visions, tlie imperiahsts quickly retired, and 
the constable had the double disgrace of fail- 
ing against a place while fighting against his 
prince and his country. — Eobsoii's Famovs 
Sieges. 

MARSTON MOOR, a.d. 1644.— The mem- 
orable and desperate battle of Marston Moor, 
wliich terminated so fatally for the cause of the 
unfortunate Cliarles I. of England, was fought 
on the 3d of July, 1644, between the par- 



MANTINEA. 



liamentarian army and the Scots, under Sir 
Thomas Fairfax and the Earl of Leven, and 
the forces of the royalists, under Prince 
Rupert. The field of battle was about eight 
miles from the city of York, near the villages 
of Monckton and Milton, in the vicmity of 
the river Ouse. Prince Rupert had marched 
with an army of 25,000 men, for the reUef of 
York, then besieged by Su- Thomas Fairfax 
and the Earl of Leven, with an army of 
25,000 men. The besiegers, observing the 
approach of the enemy, retreated to Marston 
Moor, a large open plain about eight miles 
distant from the city. Thither they were 
followed by the prince. Wliitlocke has re- 
corded with much impartiality the following 
particulars of this eventful day : "The right 
wing of the parliament was commanded by 
Sir Thomas Fairfax, and consisted of aU his 
horse, and three regiments of the Scots' 
horse ; the left wing was commanded by the 
Earl of Manchester and Colonel Oliver Crom- 
well One body of their foot was command- 
ed by Lord Fairfax, and consisted of his foot, 
and two brigades of the Scots' foot for re- 
serve ; and the main body was commanded 
by General Leven. The right wing of the 
royalists was commanded by the Earl of 
Newcastle ; the left wing by the prince him- 
self, and the main body by General Gormy, 
Sir Charles Lucas, and Major General Porter. 
Both armies were thus drawn up in order of 
battle. On the morning of the 3d of July, 
1644, at about seven o'clock, the fight began. 
The prince, with his left wing, fell on the 
parliaments' right wing, routed them, and 
pursued them a great way ; the like did 
Generals Gormy, Lucas, and Poi-ter, upon the 
parliaments' main body. The three generals, 
giving up aU for lost, hastened out of the field, 
and many of their soldiers fled, and tlirew 
down their arms. The king's forces too 
eagerly following them, the victory, now al- 
most achieved by them, was again snatched 
out of their hands. For, Colonel Cromwell, 
with the brave regiment of his countrymen, 
and Sir Thomas Fairfax, having ralhed some 
of his horse, fell upon the prince's right wing, 
where the Earl of Newcastle was, and routed 
them ; and the rest of their companions ral- 
lying, they fell altogether upon the divided 
bodies of Rupert and Gormy, and totally dis- 
persed them, and obtained a complete victory 
after a three hours' fight. From this battle 
and the pursuit, some reckon were buried 
7,000 Englishmen; all agree that above 
3,000 of the prince's men were slain in the 
battle, besides those in the chase, and 3,000 
prisoners taken, many of their chief officers, 
twenty-five pieces of ordnance, forty-seven 
colors, 10,000 arms, two wagons of carabines 
and pistols, 130 barrels of powder, and all 
their bag and baggage!" This disastrous 



battle extinguished the power of the royalists 
in the northern counties of England. 

MANTINEA, b.c. 363. — A war had 
sprung up between the ArcacUans and Eleans, 
two nations of Greece, and this war occa- 
sioned another between the Arcadians them- 
selves. The inhabitants of Tegaea and Man- 
tinea, two Arcadian cities, declared war 
against each other, and aU Greece was put 
into motion. The people of Tegasa called on 
the Thebans for aid, while those of Mantinea 
sought the assistance of the Spartans and 
Athenians. Aid was granted in both cases. 
There were besides several other aUies on 
each side. The command of the Theban 
army was given to Epaminondas, who im- 
mediately entered Arcadia, and encamped 
near Tegaea. He designed to attack the 
Mantineans ; but being informed that Agesi- 
laus, the Spartan general, had begun his 
march toward Mantinea, he determined upon 
an enteqjrise wlxich he beheved would im- 
mortalize liis name, and reduce the power 
of the enemy forever. Unknown to the 
Mantineans he left Tegaea in the night, and, 
with his army, marched directly to Sparta, 
carefully avoiding the road which Agesilaus 
had taken. He would undoubtedly have 
taken the city by surprise, for it had neither 
walls, troops, nor other means of defense, had 
not a Cretan informed AgesUaus of the design. 

Agesilaus immediately sent a horseman to 
alarm the city, and hastened after him with his 
whole army. A short time afterward, the 
Thebans crossed the river Eurotas, and com- 
menced an attack on the town. The Spartans 
defended their beloved city with the despera- 
tion of despair. Agesilaus, in person, fought 
with a vigor above his years. Archidamus his 
son, distinguished himself greatly, both by his 
valor and agility, flying through the by-lanes to 
meet the enemy wherever they pressed the 
hardest; his Httle band closely followed the ex- 
ample of their youthful commander, repulsing 
the enemy on all sides. But Isodus, the son of 
Phoebidas, presented the most extraordinary 
spectacle, not only to his countrymen, but to 
the enemy. He was tall and elegant in form 
and feature and just growing from boyhood 
into manhood. He had stripped himself of 
armor and clothing, and naked and newly an- 
ointed with oil, he rushed out of his house arm- 
ed only with a spear in one hand and a sword 
in the other. He eagerly made his way through 
the combatants, and dealt his blows among the 
enemy's ranks, slaying every man with whom 
he engaged. In spite of his defenseless condi- 
tion he received not a single wound. After 
the battle he was rewarded for his bravery by 
a crown, but he Avas also fined 1,000 drachmas* 
for daring to appear without his armor. 
Epaminondas having failed in his aim, hastily 
* About $125. 



364 



MANTINEA. 



returned with his army to Tegsea. The | 
Spartans and Athenians with tlieir allies 
closely followed him, and encamped before 
Mantinea. Epaminondas decided to give 
battle immediately. Never before had the 
Greeks fought among themselves with more 
numerous armies. The Lacedemonians 
numbered more than 20,000 foot, and 2,000 
horse. The Theban army consisted of 30,000 
foot, and nearly 3,000 horse. The right wing 
of the Lacedemonian army consisted of 
Mantineans, Arcadians, and Lacedemonians 
posted in one hne ; the center was composed 
of Eleans and Acheans, who were the 
weakest of their troops, and the left wing 
consisted entirely of Athenians. In the 
other army the Thebans and Arcadians were 
on the left ; the Argives on the right, and the 
other allies in the center. The cavalry in 
each was disposed on the wings. Epaminon- 
das marched toward Mantinea, in the same 
order of battle in which he intended to fight. 
He did not march directly, and with his front 
to the enemy, but in a column along the hills, 
with his left wing foremost, to make them 
believe that he did not intend to fight that 
day. When he had arrived within sight of 
the enemy, he ordered his troops to halt, and 
lay down their arms as if he designed to en- 
camp there. The troops of the enemy in 
fact, were deceived, and reckoning no longer 
upon a battle, they quitted their arms, and 
dispersed about the camp. Epaminondas, 
however, suddenly wheeled his troops to the 
right, and thus changed his column into a hne. 
Then drawing out the choice troops whom 
he had expressly posted in front during his 
march, he made them double their files upon 
the front of his left wing to add to its strength, 
and to put it into a condition to attack in a 
point, the Lacedemonian phalanx, which by 
the movement he made, forced it directly. 
He ordered the center and right wing of his 
army to move very slowly, and to halt before 
they came up with the enemy, that he might 
not hazard the event of the battle upon troops 
on whom he could not rely. He took com- 
mand in person of the body of picked men, 
which he formed in a point lilce a galley, and 
with them expected to penetrate the Lace- 
demonian phalanx, which once broken, he 
would not find it difficult to rout the rest of 
the army, by charging upon the left and right 
with his victorious troops. But fearing that 
the Athenians who were posted on the left 
wing of the enemy's army, might come to 
the support of the Lacedemonians on the 
left, he caused a detachment of his horse and 
foot to advance out of the line, and to post 
themselves on the rising ground in readiness 
to attack the Athenians in flank and rear in 
case they should advance to sustain their 
right wing. Having thus disposed his whole 



army, he moved on to charge the enemy 
witli the entire weight of his column. The 
troops of the enemy were strangely surprised 
when they saw Epaminondas advancing 
toward them in this order, and resumed 
their arms, bridled their horses, and hastened 
to form into ranks. The Theban general 
now commanded the bowmen, sUngers, and 
lancers, whom he had planted in the inter- 
vals of his cavalry, which covered his flank 
on the left, to discharge their weapons upon 
the enemy's horse. Instantly a cloud of ar- 
rows, stones, and lances clouded the air, and 
falling among the Lacedemonian troopers, 
threw them into disorder. Then like a thun- 
derbolt, the Theban cavalry dashed upon the 
disordered horsemen, who after a desperate 
but ineffective resistance fell back behind 
their infantry, with great loss. In the mean 
time Epaminondas had not been idle ; with his 
body of foot he charged upon the Lacede- 
monian phalanx, and the troops on both sides 
were soon engaged in a desperate and bloody 
struggle. Neither Thebans nor Lacedemo- 
nians would yield : both resolved rather to 
perish than to relinquish the glory of arms to 
their rivals. The fight was commenced with 
spears ; but in the fury of the combat their 
weapons were soon broken, and drawing 
their swords they charged each other with 
such fuiy and animosity that the ground was 
piled with heaps of slain. Neither party 
would yield an inch of ground, and the furious 
slaughter on both sides continued for hours. 
At length, Epaminondas, determined by an 
extraordinary personal effort, to force victory 
to declare for him. He formed a troop of the 
bravest and most resolute soldiers around 
him, and placing himself at their head, made 
a vigorous charge upon the enemy where the 
battle was most fierce and bloody. With the 
first javehn he threw he wounded the Lace- 
demonian general. His men excited to 
enthusiastic valor by liis example, hewed 
their way through the soHd phalanx of the 
enemy, killing all that stood before them. 
The Lacedemonians, dismayed by the pres- 
ence of Epaminondas, and the heroism of his 
noble band, gave way before them. The 
main body of the Theban troops animated by 
the success of their general, fiercely attacked 
the enemy upon his right and left, and drove 
them back with fearful carnage. But some 
Spartan troops perceiving that Epaminondas, 
abandoning himself wholly to his ardor, was 
too reckless of his own personal safety, sudden- 
ly rallied, and charged him with a shower of ja- 
velins. While he was engaged in warding oft", 
and shunning these darts, CaUicrates, one of 
the Spartans, rushed upon him, and thrust a 
javelin into his breast through his cuirass. 
The head of the lance broke off in the wound, 
and Epaminondas fell to the ground in ex- 



MAYENNE— MESSINA. 



365 



cruoiating agony. And now the battle raged 
around the fallen general with redoubled fury. 
The LacedaBmonians used their utmost en- 
deavors to take him alive, while the Thebans 
were equally determined to save him. The 
dead were piled in heaps around him, and 
the ground was soaked with gore. At length 
the Thebans by an almost superhuman effort 
drove the enemy from the spot, and remained 
masters of the field and of the slain. In the 
mean while the Athenian cavalry attacked the 
horsemen on the left wing of the Theban 
army ; but being received with a shower of 
darts and arrows from the bowmen and lan- 
cers posted in the intervals of the Theban 
cavalry, they were galled so extremely, that 
they could not resist the rude charge of the 
horsemen, but were obliged to fly. 

After thus repulsing and dispersing the 
enemy's cavalry, the Thebans, instead of pur ■ 
suing them, attacked the Athenian foot, 
which they took in flank, put into disorder, 
and pushed with great vigor. At the very 
moment when the Athenians were about to 
take to flight, the general of the Elean cav- 
alry, who commanded a body of reserve, 
hastened to their support. They charged the 
Theban horse, who were awaiting them, and 
who received them so warmly that they 
were forced to retreat. The Athenian cav- 
alry, which had been routed at first, finding 
they were not pursued, rallied, but instead 
of going to the assistance of their foot, which 
was roughly handled, they attacked the The- 
bans upon the heights without the line, and, 
routing them, put every man to the sword. 
After these various movements, the troops on 
both sides stood still, and rested upon their 
weapons. Shortly afterward, as if by mu- 
tual consent, the trumpets of the two armies 
sounded the retreat, at the same time. Both 
parties pretended to the victory, and each 
erected a trophy on the field of battle : the 
Thebans because they had defeated the right 
wing, and remained masters of the field of 
battle ; and the Lacedsemonians because they 
had cut the detachment in pieces. And from 
tliis point of honor, both sides refused at first 
to ask leave to bury their dead, which, with 
the ancients, was confessing their defeat. The 
Lacedaemonians, however, first sent a herald 
to demand permission, after which the rest 
had no thoughts but of paying the last duties 
to the slain on their respective sides. After 
the surgeons had examined the wound of 
Epaminondas, tliey declared that he would 
expire the moment the head of the dart was 
drawm fi-om it. These words sent sorrow 
and affliction to the hearts of all present. 
Epaminondas alone was unmoved. His only 
anxiety was as to the result of the battle. 
His shield was shown him, and he was as- 
sured that the Thebans had won the victory. 



His countenance bespoke his joy, and after 
addressing a few words of consolation to those 
around him, he drew the head of the javelin 
out of the wound, and instantly expired. 

MAYENNE, a.d. 1429.— The siege of 
Mayenne, in France, by the English, under 
the Earl of Salisbury, took place in 1429, and, 
after enduring three months, was ended by 
the capture of the place by the besiegers. 

MAXEN, A.D. 1759.— The battle of Maxen 
was fought A.D. 1759, between the Austrians 
and the Prussians. The Prussians were de- 
feated. 

MEERUT, A.D. 1018.— Meerut, a town of 
British India, was taken by Mahmoud of 
Ghizuee, in 1018, and in 1399 by Timour. 

MEGASPELION. — The Turks, under 
Ibrahaim Pasha, besieged the convent of Me- 
gaspelion, in Greece, but were repulsed by 
the Greeks, with a loss of several thousand 
men, in 1825. 

MENDAYIA, a.d. 1507.— An insignificant 
action took place in Mendavia, in Spain, in 
1507, in which Coesar Borgia was killed. 

MEEGUI, A.D. 1824.— Mergui, in British 
India, was taken by storm by the British in 
1824. 

MERIDA, A.D. 715. — Merida, in Spain, 
was taken by the Moors in 715 ; in 1229 it 
was recaptured by the troops of Alonzo el 
Sabio, and afterward remained permanently 
attached to the Idngdom of Castile. 

MESSINA, B.o. 264.— The power of the 
Romans had struggled during nearly 500 
years against the people of Italy ; and it was 
not till after many and severe toils that they 
succeeded in laying the foundations of an 
empire which was destined to embrace nearly 
the known universe. Rome, mistress of those 
vast countries which extend from the Rubi- 
con to the southern extremity of Italy, be- 
came anxious to carry her conquests iibroad. 
She ventured to attack the forces of Carthage, 
at that time the most flourishing republic in 
existence. The union of the Carthaginians 
with Hiero, King of Syracuse, for the de- 
struction of the Messinians and the siege of 
Messina, were the pretexts for the first war 
between these two ambitious repubhcs, 
wliile the conquest of Sicily was the red 
object. Messina having placed itself under 
the protection of Rome, Appius Claudius was 
ordered to march to the succor of that op- 
pressed city ; but a strait of the sea had to be 
crossed, and the Romans, without maritime 
experience, had nothing but boats, rudely 
constructed, very much resembling Indian 
canoes. Was it possible for such a fleet to 
resist that of the Carthaginians, well equipped 
and numerous, besides being accustomed to 
the domination of the seas ? Appius at once 
perceived his weakness; and yet it was 
necessary that he should arrive at Messina 



366 



MESSOLONGHI— MEXICO. 



quickly, as the enemy was pressing it very 
closely. In this embarrassment, the consul 
had recourse to an ingenious strategem : he 
pretended to endeavor to cross the strait, but 
seeming to be terrified at the sight of the 
Carthaginians, he took to flight suddenly, and 
feigned to abandon the enterprise. The Car- 
thaginians fully persuaded that he vs^ould not 
return, but was gone back to Kome, retired, 
as if there was nothing more to be feared. 
Appius, taking advantage of this belief, 
crossed the strait in the night time, and ar- 
rived safely in Sicily. The place at which 
he landed was close to the camp of the Syra- 
cusans; and the consul exhorted his troops 
to fall at once upon the enemy, promising 
them an easy victory ; — in flict, it proved so. 
The army of Hiero could not sustain the im- 
petuous shock of the Romans: it fled and 
abandoned the entrances of Messina to the 
conquerors. The consul was received like a 
liberator from heaven ; and the joy of the 
citizens was the greater, from their having 
been in utter despair. Appius, taking ad- 
vantage of his victory, attacked the camp of 
the Carthaginians ; but he was repulsed with 
some loss, and forced to retreat. He was 
pursued, wliich was what he desired and ex- 
pected ; he faced about, and fortune seemed 
to change with the situation of the place. 
The Carthaginians could not stand against the 
courage of the Eomans, but took to flight in 
their turn, after losing many men. And thus 
Rome commenced the first Punic war. 

Second Siege, a.d. 1282. — Stung almost to 
madness by the celebrated Sicilian Vespers, 
Charles of Anjou collected all the troops in 
his power, set forward on his march, accom- 
panied by an apostolic legate, and invested 
Messina, which he pressed closely. The un- 
fortunate inhabitants, upon the point of hav- 
ing their city carried by assault, offered to 
capitulate. They promised to return to their 
duty, if the monarch would forget the past, 
and engage not to give to the French either 
places "or magistracy in their city. Charles 
replied that he intended to govern as to him 
should seem best; and that, if they did not 
promptly submit, they might prepare to be 
treated in the same manner as they had 
treated the French. The Messinese, irritated 
by this disheartening reply, swore that they 
would rather devour their own children than 
become slaves forever. It was in vain that 
endeavors were made to bring them back to 
a more prudent line of conduct ; the most ter- 
rible menaces were equally vain ; they would 
listen to nothing ; they declared that it would 
be better to die hke brave men, than to be 
given up to the executioner like base malefac- 
tors. Old men, women, and children, all 
took up arms in the common cause. The 
king continued to press the siege very warmly, 



but the Messinese, animated by a generous 
despair, defended themselves with such heroic 
valor, that they gave Don Pedro of Arragon 
time to come to their succor. This prince, at 
the head of a fleet of fifty galleys, which had 
for admiral Roger Doria, the greatest seaman 
of his age, advanced into the strait of Mes- 
sina, for the purpose of carrying off the 
French fleet, wliich lay there without de- 
fense. Charles, being informed of this pro- 
ject, thought it evident he should be ruined 
if he continued the siege ; so he retreated 
without obtaining his revenge ; but he could 
not save his vessels, of which the enemy took 
29, and burned 30. 

Tliis war lasted many years, and was al- 
most always unfortunate for the house of An- 
jou, which was at length obUged to share 
Sicily with that of Arragon, and to content 
itself with Calabria, Apulia, the Terra di La- 
voro, and the Abruzzi, under the title of tlie 
kingdom of Naples. — Rohson. 

MESSOLONGHI, a.d. 1823.— Marco Bo- 
zarris, celebrated by Halleck, the American 
poet, at the head of a small but gallant body 
of Greeks, met, fought, and signally defeated 
an overwhelming force of Turkish troops, near 
]\Iessolonghi, in Greece, during the Greek 
revolution in 1823. But the victory wag 
dearly won; Marco Bozarris, the hero, was 
slain in the action. 

MEXICO, A.D. 1520.— The ancient city of 
Mexico, or as it was called, Tenochtiltan, was 
built on a group of islands in the lake Tez- 
cuco. The city was connected with the 
mainland by three principal causeways of 
stone and earth, about tliirty feet in breadth, 
and extending from two to six miles over the 
surrounding marshes. The causeway of Iz- 
tapalapan approached the city from the south, 
that of Tepejucal from the north, and that of 
TIacopan from the west. The causeways 
were pierced by several canals, which were 
provided with draw-bridges. 

Cortez, upon his first entrance into the 
Mexican capital, was entirely satisfied with 
his reception by Montezuma, and feeling 
that he had secured the friendship of the 
Mexican emperor and nobles, set out for Cem- 
poalla, for the purpose of securing his alliance 
with the Cempoallans. He left behind him 
in the city 150 Spanish soldiers, and 10,000 
Tlascalan warriors, under the command of 
Alvarado ; and by the rashness of this officer 
the hostility of the citizens was provoked to 
an extent that soon threw the whole city into 
a state of insurrection. 

It was the custom of the Aztec nobles to 
hold an annual festival, in the month of May, 
in honor of their god of war ; and they re- 
quested Alvarado to allow them to hold it in 
the court in tiio vicinity of the Spanish quar- 
ters. The Spanish general granted their re- 



MEXICO. 



36? 



quest on certain conditions, one of wliich was 
that tliey should come unarmed. Accord- 
ingly, on the appointed day, tiie nobles and 
the principal men of the city, to the numher 
of 600, met together in the place named, 
dressed in their richest attire. Meanwhile 
Alvarado had concocted a scheme, so infernal 
in its character, that his name has been 
handed down in liistory, branded with infamy 
and disgrace. His soldiers were to be pres- 
ent at the festival, fully armed, some being 
directed to mingle with the crowd, while oth- 
ers, as if by accident, were to gather around 
the gates of the courtyard, and at a signal 
from him they were to fall upon and slay all 
before them. 

The festivities were at their height; the 
nobles engaged in dancing and music heeded 
not the presence of the Spaniards : the signal 
was given; instantly every Spanish sword 
leaped from its scabbard, and like demons the 
soldiers rushed upon the unarmed nobles, 
hewing them down to right and left, until the 
pavement was piled with dead, and stream- 
ing with blood. Amid their gayety and in- 
nocent diversion, this joyous company was 
furiously assailed by the treacherous Span- 
iards. In vain they strove to escape. Foes 
encompassed them on all sides. Some met 
their doom in stern inactivity ; others sprang 
toward the gates, and were impaled on the 
lances of the soldiers ; and others endeavored 
to scale the wall, and were shot down or cut 
to pieces by tlieir enemies. The court-yard, 
lately resounding with mirth and joyful mu- 
sic, was now filled with groans and cries of 
despair. At length all was silent. The cruel 
work was finished ; all were slain ; and now, 
glutted with slaughter, the Spaniards with 
blood-begrimed countenances, fell upon the 
mutilated corses, like vultures, and rifled them 
of their jewels and precious ornaments. 

The tidings of the butchery spread rapidly 
tliroughout the city. Exasperated to mad- 
ness, the citizens flew to arms, and on the fol- 
lowing morning at daybreak, they assailed 
the Spanish quarters with vengeful energy. 
With desperate zeal they repeatedly at- 
tempted to scale the walls, but were as often 
repulsed by the Spaniards. They succeeded, 
however, in setting fire to the works, and 
probably would have stormed the place had 
not ^Montezuma himself interfered. Mount- 
ing the battlements, the Mexican king be- 
sought his subjects if they valued his own 
safety, to desist. Moved by the entreaties 
of their monarch, the mob ceased further act- 
ive hostilities, but throwing up works around 
the palace, they changed the siege into a 
blockade. The Spaniards being cut off fi'om 
supplies of either provisions or water, were 
reduced to the utmost extremities. 

Intelligence of this state of affairs at Mexico 



being conveyed to Cortez, who was still at 
Cempoalla, that general immediately set forth 
on his return to the capital. 

The Siege of the Palace of Axtacath. 
— The arrival of Cortez in Mexico did 
not materially alter the disastrous state of 
affairs into which the Spanish soldiers had 
plunged themselves. The populace were 
still in a ferment ; they refused to furnish the 
Spaniards with supphes, and murmurs of in- 
dignation and threats were heard on aU sides. 
Cortez, vexed with himself, his general, and 
with every body around him, vented his dis- 
pleasure upon the Mexican emperor, accusing 
him as the cause of the insurrection, and 
treating him in the most contemptuous man- 
ner even before the very faces of the Mexican 
nobles. 

In order to conciliate the populace he re- 
leased the emperor's brother Cuitlahaua, who 
had been imprisoned on a charge of assisting 
in a former revolt ; but being the heir-appar- 
ent of the throne, Cuitlahaua, was appointed 
by the people to act as their sovereign, during 
the captivity of Montezuma. He eagerly 
accepted the position, and full of anger 
toward the invaders of his country he made 
active preparations for future operations 
against them. And soon the result of his 
preparations was to be seen. Cortez confi- 
dent in his power to check the progress of 
the insurrection, little dreamed of the storm 
which was about to burst with the- fury of a 
hurricane upon him. 

But soon he learned his weakness. The 
citizens, under the direction of their experi- 
enced commander, had formed themselves 
into an immense army, and the Spanish gen- 
eral was awakened from his delusion by the 
intelligence that the city was in arms, and 
that an immediate assault upon his quarters 
was meditated. Soon, hke huge serpents, 
the masses of the infuriated populace were to 
be seen advancing through the various streets 
toward the palace, and, as if by magic, the 
house-tops in the vicinity were covered with 
armed men, who, wildly brandishing their 
weapons, howled forth their defiance to the 
Spaniards. 

The palace of Axaycath, which was occu- 
pied by the Spaniards, stood in the center of 
a large court-yard which was inclosed by a 
stone wall of a moderate height. This wall 
was strengthened by towers erected at equal 
distances from each other. The palace itself 
was one story high; but from the center 
arose a number of turret-shaped apartments. 
Cortez had set aside the palace for the accom- 
modation of his Spanish soldiers, while his 
Tlascalan allies were lodged in sheds roughly 
constructed, erected in the court-yard. The 
artillery was mounted in embrasure on the 
parapet, wliich was also pierced with loop- 



8C8 



MEXICO. 



holes for the use of the musketeers. How- 
ever confident the Spanish general might 
have been of his ability to overawe the 
Mexicans, he nevertheless did not relax for 
an instant the strict discipline which he had 
ever maintained in his army. The intelli- 
gence of the approach of the enemy was no 
sooner received than the trumpet sounded to 
arms, and in an instant every man was at 
his station. 

In dense masses the Mexicans continued to 
concentrate their forces in the square in front 
of the palace. They were armed with spears, 
slings, and bows and arrows; and their 
gaudy banners, and gay head-dresses pre- 
sented a strange spectacle as they rushed for- 
ward in tumultuous eagerness toward the 
enemy Onward like a tempest they rushed 
amid the sounds of their rude instruments 
of warlike music. As they neared the Span- 
ish works they stopped, and delivered cloud 
after cloud of arrows, stones, and lances, 
which fell thick and fast upon the besieged, 
who were also annoyed by a constant rain of 
hke missiles from the neighboring house-tops. 
The Spaniards reserved their fire until the 
front ranks of the besiegers had arrived in 
close proximity to the inclosure. Then volley 
after volley of artillery and musketry was 
opened upon the Mexicans. Shattered and 
torn by the terrible discharges, the besiegers 
wavered, but soon recovering from the con- 
fusion into which they had been thrown by 
the furious fire of the enemy, they rushed 
forward with wild cries over the heaps of 
carcases which strewed the pavement before 
them. Again and again were they received 
by withering discharges of artillery and 
musketry, and again were they obliged to 
fall back. But, aided by their comrades on 
the roofs, who continued to pour terrific and 
deadly clouds of missiles ujDon the Spaniards, 
they again advanced under the very muzzles 
of the guns, and endeavored to scale the 
parapet ; but no sooner did they elevate their 
heads above the breastwork than they were 
shot down by the musketeers from within, or 
pierced through and through by the thrust of 
a Tlascalan lance. 

Yet, with obstinate valor they pressed on- 
ward, mounting over the bodies of their slain 
and wounded companions, and grapphng the 
walls with hands and feet, strove vainly to 
scale it. Defeated at all points, they 
changed their method of attack, and endeav- 
ored to effect a breach in the walls by the 
aid of battering-rams. But the wall was 
strong and resisted every attack of the as- 
sailants. Throwing aside their huge beams, 
the besiegers endeavored to set fire to the 
Spanish quarter by casting burning missiles 
upon them. The palace, however, was 
built of stone, yet the besiegers succeeded in 



firing the wooden sheds used by the Tlasca- 
lan?, in the court-yard. In vain did the be- 
sieged endeavor to quench the flames, the 
sheds were consumed, and some of the out- 
works connected with the parapet took fire, 
and could only be checked by throwing down 
a portion of the rampart itself. Tliis was 
done, and a formidable breach was laid open. 
By Cortez's order this breach was protected 
by a battery of heavy guns and a company of 
musketeers, who maintained a constant fire 
from the breach upon the besiegers. The 
Mexicans rushed toward the opening with 
shouts of exultation. But as they entered 
the withering storm of lead and iron, they 
sank before it in heaps of dead and dying. 
Yet they maintained the conflict ; fresh war- 
riors supplied the place of the slain only to 
meet a like fate, and night alone closed the 
terrible strife. Within a stone's throw of 
each other the besieged and besiegers spent 
the night ; but not in sleep. The Spaniards 
busied tliemselves in repairing their works, 
while the Mexicans, in a mass, swayed back 
and forth like the waves of an ocean recover- 
ing from the effects of a recent storm, and 
occasionally giving fortli a shout of defiance, 
and casting a stone or lance over the para- 
pet. 

At length the laggard night opened and 
admitted the expected day. The early 
dawn had just announced the approach of 
hght when the Mexicans resumed the oflien- 
sive. During the night they had received 
reinforcements from all quarters of the city, 
and they presented to the eyes of the be- 
sieged a force of far greater magnitude and 
power than that of the day before. Lances, 
stones, arrows, and darts were hurled from 
aU sides upon the Spaniards. Cortez now 
determined to make a decisive sortie. A 
general discharge of artillery and musketry 
opened a bloody gap in the midst of the ene- 
my, and before they could reorganize the 
gates were opened, and the Spanish cavalry, 
supported by a large body of Tlascalan war- 
riors, rushed out, and charged down upon 
the Mexicans at fuU gallop. Little expecting 
such an attack, the Mexicans were thrown 
into the utmost confusion and made but Ut- 
tle resistance. On through the masses of the 
enemy the Spanish cavahy plowed its way, 
strewing the plain with corses. The enemy 
fled in aU directions. The Tlascalan infantry 
followed up the attack of the cavalry with 
the utmost vigor, and the ilexicans were for 
the time being entirely routed. But soon 
they arrived at a breastwork of timber, 
which they had thrown across the principal 
street. Behind this they ralUed, and replied 
to the frequent charges of the enemy by 
clouds of arrows and stones, which checked 
their further progress and threw them into 



MEXICO. 



369 



disorder. But now Cortez ordered up liia 
heavy artillery, and having placed it in po- 
sition, opened a fire upon the enemy's work 
which in a short time swept it away, and 
cleared a passage for his army. But the 
Mexicans kept their ground with surprising 
obstinacy. In vain did the Spanish horse 
charge down upon them ; they were driven 
back, and being also attacked in flank by 
fi-esh battahons of the enemy wliich came in 
from adjoining lanes and streets, victory 
seemed hung in a balance. Attacked in front, 
rear, and flank by swarms of an enemy 
whom hatred had inspired with a desire for 
vengeance, which nothing but the accom- 
plishment could quench, the Spaniards fought 
with the sullen ferocity of despair. Shoulder 
to shoulder they battled against the human 
tide. Cortez exhorted them not to separate ; 
but in spite of their efforts several were di- 
vided from their companions, dragged from 
their horses, and either slaughtered on the 
spot or hurried away to furnish a victim for 
the sacrificial altar. Cortez saw the danger 
of liis position, and acted with promptness 
and decision. 

In order to clear the streets of the enemy, 
he directed his men to set fii-e to the houses. 
Although constructed of stone, still the in- 
terior of the buildings contained great quan- 
" titles of combustible matter. Hence, they 
were readily fired, but as each house stood 
separate from its neighbor, the progress of 
the Spaniards in their work of destruction 
was slow. Seven hundred houses with their 
inmates were consumed, and the enemy was 
driven from that quarter of the city. Yet, 
although defeated at all points, the Mexicans 
kept the field. Dispersed in broken squadrons 
in the various adjacent streets, they never- 
theless continued to battle against the furious 
charges of the Spanish horse. When broken, 
they would soon rally behind some temporary 
works, which had been thrown across the 
Streets, and resume the fight with undimin- 
ished ardor, until the barrier was swept 
away by the enemy's artillery, and a passage 
cleared for the cavalry. And thus, retreat- 
ing and rallying, the Mexicans kept up the 
fight, until the Spaniards, sated with carnage, 
and weary with their exertions, sounded 
a retreat, and returned to the palace. The 
Mexicans followed, close at the heels of the 
retreating enemy, pouring showers of arrows 
and stones in upon their rear, and harassing 
them by every means in their power. The 
Spaniards at length reached their quarters, 
and seeing them again estabUshed within the 
palace, the Aztecs resumed their original 
position before the wall, and encamped for 
the night. 

Late in the day Cortez was wounded 
severely in the hand ; many of his officers 

24 



were also wounded, and some were slain. 
Of his men, too, numbers of them were slain, 
and many of them were grievously wounded. 
The Spaniards also lost some of their best 
horses. The Mexican loss must have been 
enormous, yet they could afford to sacrifice 
hundreds where the Spaniards lost one. 

At early dawn the Mexicans renewed the 
assault with redoubled vigor; with almost 
superhuman courage they faced the terrific 
fire of the Spaniards, and working their way 
over the carcasses of their slain enemies, in 
fact using the bodies as stepping-stones, they 
succeeded in scaling the wall, and effecting 
an entrance into the interior of the court- 
yard. But as fast as they entered they were 
encountered by the desperate defenders, and 
slain; yet they pressed on, and for a few 
moments it seemed as if the place would be 
carried, and the Spaniards overpowered by 
the mere weight of the assailants. At this 
critical moment, Cortez sent a messenger to 
Montezuma, with a request that he would 
interpose with liis people in favor of the 
Spaniards. The captive monarch at first re- 
fused ; but upon being assured by Cortez that 
he would gladly depart if his enemies would 
permit him, the emperor consented to entreat 
his people to cease further hostilities. Ac- 
cordingly, Montezuma, clothed in his imperial 
robes, presented himself upon the central 
turret of the palace, in the sight of his 
people. At the instant he was recognized, 
the fierce clamor of war, among the Mexi- 
cans, ceased, and a deep silence pervaded 
throughout the whole of the vast assemblage. 
Montezuma, in a voice which, although calm 
and full of dignity, was heard by the whole 
of the Mexican army, expostulated with 
them, saying, that he was a fi-iend of the 
Spaniards ; that they were his guests ; and 
that it was his wish that they should at once 
disperse and return to their homes. But his 
words did not produce the intended effect. 
Enraged at the cowardice and weakness of 
their monarch, the Mexicans turned their 
wrath upon him. He had scarcely ceased 
speaking, when the air was darkened by 
clouds of arrows, all directed toward the un- 
fortunate monarch, who fell beneath them 
dangerously wounded. And now, the Mexi- 
cans, shocked at their own sacrilegious deed, 
set up a melancholy and universal howl, and 
scattered, fear-stricken, to their various 
dwellings. 

Storming of the Temple of Huitzilo- 
poTCHLi. — Near the palace stood the great 
temple of Huitzilopotchli, which from its ex- 
treme height commanded the Spanish quar- 
ters. This temple was occupied by a body 
of about 600 Mexican nobles, who discharged 
such immense numbers of arrows and jave- 
lins into the court-yard, that the Spaniards 



370 



MEXICO. 



could not leave their cover without running 
the greatest danger. On the other hand, the 
Mexicans in their lofty tower vsrere com- 
pletely protected from the fire of the enemy. 
Cortez, tlierefore, determined to storm the 
temple. He selected for this purpose 100 of 
his most experienced soldiers, vfhom he 
placed under the command of Escoba ; but 
that officer, after repeated, trials, in which he 
was invariably repulsed with great losses, 
was obliged to return unsuccessful. Cortez 
then selected 300 Spanish soldiers, and several 
thousand Tlascalan Avarriors, and buckling a 
shield over his left arm, which was wounded, 
he sallied forth at their head. His entrance 
into the court-yard of the temple was hotly 
disputed by a large body of Mexicans, who 
were waiting his arrival. The Spaniards 
charged them vigorously, but the pavement 
was so smooth that the cavalry was crippled 
in its movements, and they were obliged to 
retire before the natives, who witnessed their 
discomfiture with shouts of derision. The 
horses were sent back to the court-yard of 
the palace, and Cortez again led his men 
against the enemy. Overpowered by the 
superior numbers of their foes, the Mexicans 
were compelled to flee, and a free passage 
was opened for the Spaniards to the great 
temple. This structure was in the form of a 
pyramid. It was about 300 feet around the 
base, and was at least 150 feet in height. 
The summit was gained by five terraces 
which passed around the building, and were 
connected by flights of stone steps. The 
summit of the temjjle was flat, forming an 
open area about 200 feet square. On this 
area, at the side of the temple directly oppo- 
site the entrance, stood two stone towers, 
forty feet in height ; and in the center arose 
the huge sacrificial stone. No other impedi- 
ments marred the surface of the area. 

No sooner was the court-yard cleared than 
Cortez, at the head of a body of his soldiers, 
rushed up the lower staircase, Avhile a file of 
musketeers, and a strong corps of Tlascalans 
remained in the court-yard, to prevent any 
movement on the part of the enemy, against 
the temple. The first gallery, as well as 
those above, was crowded with Mexican 
warriors, who met the advance of the be- 
siegers with showers of stones, arrows, and 
darts, which the Spaniards, protected by 
their thick cotton armor, heeded but Httle ; 
but as they advanced up the staircase the 
Mexicans cast huge beams, and rocks, and 
burning timber upon them, which, crashing 
through their midst, carried death and de- 
struction in their path. For an instant the 
Spaniards wavered; but urged forward by 
their brave commander, they sprang forward, 
and a gallant few eluding the enormous 
weapons of tlie enemy, gained the first land- 



ing, where, with almost superhuman courage, 
they drove back tlie Indians to the second 
staircase, thus affording their comrades below 
an opportunity to join them. The Spaniards 
having gained the first gallery, prepared to 
assail the second staircase, and aided by the 
fire of the musketeers in the court-yard, to 
which the Mexicans were now exposed, they 
gradually drove them upward, until at length 
the besieged were glad to retreat to the open 
area which formed the summit of the pyra- 
mid. The Spaniards eagerly pursued, and 
both parties stood face to face upon the flat 
surface of the area. And now a battle en- 
sued wliich is without parallel in the history 
of man. Imagine a huge monument, 150 
feet in height, 300 feet square at the base, 
and about 200 feet square at the summit, 
wliich formed an arena capable of containing 
1,000 men, and then imagine this arena filled 
Avith armed men engaged in fierce conflict 
Look upon the strange spectacle. The Span- 
iards stream from the entrance of the top- 
most staircase, and rush toward the Indians 
Avho, crowded together at the extreme verge 
of the monument, await the approach of the 
enemy with the sullen aspect of despair. 
Among them you perceive the black-robed 
priests, running from man to man, urging 
them to fight for their country and their 
gods. But Avhy urge them? They see* 
death staring them in the face. Nothing but 
courage can save them. All sides of the lofty 
platform are unprotected by parapet or wall. 
Beneath the combatants hes the city with its 
magnificent domes and towers, ghstening in 
the rays of the sun, while a black cloud 
hovering' over a certain portion, marks the 
spot where the flames of the Spaniards are 
doing their destructive work. Observe the 
masses of Mexican soldiers which crowd the 
square and all tlie principal streets. How 
silent they are ! All eyes are turned toward 
the aerial battle-field. The contending par- 
ties close in mortal strife. Their battle-shouts 
fall faint upon the ears of the thousands of 
anxious spectators beneath. The sharp rattle 
of the Spanish fire-arms sounds dull, yet the 
lurid flashes of the pieces, and tlie clouds of 
smoke which hang lUce a pall over the sum- 
mit of the temple, proclaim that the mighty 
weapon of the European is deahng its work 
of death. We gaze upon the field of strife. 
With compressed lips and fixed eyes the 
stern warriors battle fiercely, neither asking 
nor giving quarter. Man to man they fight 
like demons. They close ; they hold each 
other in mortal embrace, one endeavoring to 
throAV the other over the verge of the monu- 
ment. The stronger hurls the weaker from 
the giddy height, and frequently two war- 
riors fiimly fixed in each other's embrace, 
roll together down the sides of the pyramid. 



MEXICO. 



371 



Cortez himself is grappled by two strong 
men ; they hold him fast, they drag him to- 
ward the edge, and in an instant more the 
great general would have been dashed to 
pieces with his stalwart foes, and Mexico, 
for the time being, would have conquer- 
ed; but, with almost superhuman strength, 
he releases his arm, and with a blow strikes 
one of them dead at liis feet, and with one 
mighty effort hurls the other far into the ah 
over the side of the temple. For three hours 
the battle rages. The number of the Mex- 
icans is rapidly diminishing, and now the 
Spaniards are equal in strength with their 
enemies. They continue the fight with re- 
newed ardor. One by one the Mexicans fall 
beneath the unerring blows of the Spaniards. 
At length the tumult of battle ceases. The 
arena is strewn with the bodies of the slain ; 
all of its gallant defenders have fallen, save 
two or three priests who are led away in 
triumph by the victors. The Spaniards rush 
into the temples. What a horrible spectacle 
meets their vision. Upon the altars stand 
the figure of the Mexican god, and before 
him lays a fearful array of smoking hearts, 
freshly torn from the breasts of hving victims. 
With shouts of rage the Spaniards seize upon 
the grim image, and hurl it to the ground, 
and then apply the torch to the bloody build- 
ing, wliich is sooji enveloped in flames. 
Having done this good work, the soldiers 
pass unharmed through the crowds of the 
amazed and terror-stricken Mexicans, and 
reach their quarters in safety. 

In this conflict the Spaniards sustained 
serious losses. Forty-five were killed, and 
scarcely one escaped unharmed. The 600 
Mexicans who defended the temple, were 
slain to a man. During the night, Cortez 
followed up the blow by a sortie on the 
town, burning three hundred houses whose 
inmates perished miserably in the flames. 

The Battle of the Bridges. — Deeming 
that the Mexicans were now sufl&ciently cowed 
to listen to terms, Cortez, attended by his in- 
terpreter, and his principal officers, mounted 
into the turret of the palace, and by signs 
informed the Mexicans that he wished to 
communicate with them. The multitude Us- 
tened to the gentle voice of Marina, who, in- 
terpreting Cortez's words, assured them of 
the folly of longer opposing the Spaniards. 
She pointed out the fearfiil punishment they 
had already received for their rebellions, and 
threatened to reduce their city to ashes if 
they continued in their opposition, at the 
same time promising that if they would lay 
down their arms, and return peaceably to 
their homes, the past would be forgiven. But 
the Mexicans would promise nothing. They 
desired war. They answered Cortez, by 
stating that he was the one who would sub- 



mit ; that he would eventually fall into their 
hands, for they had cut off all Iris supphes of 
water and provisions, and had effectually 
guarded against his escape by breaking down 
all the bridges. At the conclusion of their 
reply, they discharged a cloud of arrows into 
the group in tlie turret. None were injured 
however, and before the enemy could send a 
second volley, Cortez and his attendants had 
descended and sheltered themselves behind 
the defenses. The Spanish general now saw 
the necessity of evacuating the city at once. 
His soldiers, dispirited by the dangers which 
surrounded them, murmured, and seemed upon 
the point of open insubordination. Cortez,how- 
ever, with his usual self-possession, immedi- 
ately commenced maldng preparations to lead 
his soldiers out of the city. He selected for his 
road out of the city, that of Tlacopan, which 
seemed better suited for his purpose, for the 
reason that the causeway by which it crossed 
the lake was but two miles in length, much 
shorter than the causeways by which the 
other great avenues of the city, crossed the 
lake. In order to reconnoiter the ground, 
before his final departure, Cortez determined 
upon a sally toward the causeway of Tlaco- 
pan. He caused to be constructed under his 
immediate superintendance, three wooden 
towers, wliich consisted of two inclosed apart- 
ments, one over the other. The sides ol' 
these chambers were pierced with loop-holes 
for the use of musketeers. The towers were 
mounted on wheels, and furnished with strong 
ropes by which they were to be dragged along 
the streets. The towers being completed they 
were filled with musketeers ; the ropes were 
manned by Tlascalan warriors, and at the 
command of the general, the enormous ma- 
chines were dragged into the square. Pre- 
ceded by the Spanish horse, the machines 
went thundering through the streets, striking 
terror to the heart of the Mexicans, as they 
vomited forth fire and smoke on all sides. 
As they advanced the Mexicans everywhere 
receded ; those on the house-tops alone en- 
deavoring to harass the movements of the 
Spaniards by continued discharges of arrows, 
stones and lances; but by bringing the tow- 
ers close under the walls of the buildings the 
Spaniards were enabled to drive the enemy 
from the houses, either by the fire of mus- 
ketry, or by assaults over a light draw-bridge 
with which each maclune was provided, upon 
the roof where they closed with the enemy 
in fierce hand-to-hand combats. The loftier 
buildings, however, were too high to permit 
of the use of the towers ; and from the roofs 
of these houses the Mexicans hurled large 
beams and stones upon the machines, shaking 
them to the very center. At length, how- 
ever, the towers, although not materially in- 
jured, were rendered completely useless by 



372 



MEXICO. 



the intervention of a canal, the first of seven 
which crossed the street of Tlacopan. The 
Mexicans had demoUshed the bridge ; and 
Cortez at once ordered the towers to be 
abandoned, and the canal to be filled with 
timber, stone, and other material procmx'd 
from the ruins of demoUshed houses. The 
Spaniards obeyed their commander's direc- 
tions with alacrity ; but their work was much 
retarded by the incessant flight of arrows, 
and stones, discharged by the Mexicans on 
the opposite side of the canal. 

At length the ditch was filled, and the Span- 
ish horse, riding across, charged the enemy 
with such impetuosity, that the Mexicans pre- 
cipitately retreated to the second canal, where 
they again came to a stand. Here the Span- 
iards also found the bridge destroyed ; again 
they filled the ditch with rubbish, amid the 
gaUing discharges of bows and slings ; again 
they drove the enemy back to the third 
bridge ; and again the Mexicans made a stand. 
At each canal the same operations were per- 
formed on both sides ; the Spaniards filling 
the ditches, and the Mexicans striving gal- 
lantly to retard the work, until driven back 
by the furious charge of the Spanish horse. 
In each engagement the Spaniards suffered 
considerable loss. The Mexican loss was enor- 
mous, when compared to that of the enemy ; 
but they had reason to rejoice if a single 
Spaniard should fall, even though liis death 
should cost them a thousand Uves. The 
Spaniards were engaged in this work two 
days before the last canal was bridged. A 
strong body of infantry was planted at each 
bridge, and now Cortez saw liimself master 
of the road, from the palace to the causeway. 
The Mexicans now sent a messenger to Cortez 
asking a parley. Cortez, eager with joy at the 
intelligence, selected sixty of his men from 
among those who guarded the bridges ; and, 
accompanied by Sandoval and Alvarado, 
hastened to the palace. There he held an in- 
terview with the Mexican chieftains who pro- 
posed that the two priests whom he had cap- 
tured in the great temple should be returned 
to them to act as agents in conducting the 
negotiation. Cortez immediately compUed 
with their terms, and anxiously awaited the 
result. But the wily Mexicans having secured 
the safety of their priests, returned with re- 
newed energy to the conflict. They furious- 
ly attacked the bridges, and before Cortez 
could receive intelligence of their operations 
drove back the Spaniards from three of them, 
and commenced to destroy them. Cortez was 
soon informed of the state of affairs, and boil- 
ing with rage, he mounted his horse and rode 
at full gallop to the scene of strife, followed 
by his gallant comrades. With the fury of a 
tornado that little band of horsemen rushed 
into the compact mass of the enemy. The 



Mexicans recoiling before the terrible charge, 
scattered, and fled in disorder. On rushed 
the Spanish cavalry, sweeping the street free 
of the enem}^, and regaining the tliree bridges. 
But while the cavalry was driving the enemy 
before them in the direction of the causeway, 
fresh bodies of Mexicans, streaming from the 
by-streets and lanes, fell upon the infantry at 
the bridges. Nearly exliausted by their ar- 
duous exertions the Spanish soldiers at one 
of the bridges were unable to maintain their 
ground against their numerous enemies. 
Surrounded by the Mexicans on all sides, this 
noble band fought with the valor of despair. 
Perceiving their danger Cortez hastened to 
their reUef. Fresh swarms of tlie natives 
poured in upon them, and now both the 
Spanish cavahy and infantry were upon the 
verge of destruction. Yelling hke demons 
the Mexicans sprang upon their enemies, 
embracing the foot soldiers in their sinewy 
arms, and grappling the horses of the cavalry 
by their legs and mane, heedless of sword or 
musket. The air was filled with stones, 
lances, and arrows, which falUng among the 
Spaniards brought many a warrior to the 
ground. Cavalry and infantry were mingled 
in wikl confusion, and the shouts of the com- 
batants and the rattle of the musketry added 
to the terrors of the scene. The Spaniards 
thought only of securing a retreat to the 
palace. Backward they fought their way, 
facing first to the right then to the left as new 
enemies presented themselves to oppose their 
progress. For a season their destruction 
seemed inevitable ; but at this citical moment 
Cortez himself alone, preserved his army. 
Striking Ms spurs deeply into the heaving 
flanks of his weary charger, he vaulted boldly 
into the very midst of the swaymg mass be- 
fore him. With a shout which sounded loud 
above the din of battle, he cheered on his 
men, and striking to right and left with his 
sword, he hewed a bloody circle around him, 
and spread terror through the ranks of the 
Mexicans. And it was not until the last 
soldier had crossed over the canal that he 
ceased his exertions ; then with a single bound 
his horse cleared the ditch, bearing his noble 
rider in safety through a shower of stones 
and arrows. Night approached and tlie 
Mexicans according to their custom dispersed, 
and the fiercely disputed bridge remained in 
tlie hands of the Spaniards, who, bleeding from 
numerous wounds, and faint with hunger, 
thirst, and fatigue, with shattered weapons, 
and bruised armor, slowly and sadly returned 
to their quarters. On their arrival their de- 
spair was increased by the intelligence of the 
death of Montezuma. The last hnk which 
bound them to the respect, if not to the 
aflections of the Mexicans, was snapped 
asunder. 



MEXICO. 



373 



The Battle of the Causeway. — From 
the extremity of the street of Tlacopan^ 
stretched a causeway across the lake, con- 
■necting the city with the mainland. 

This causeway was pierced by three canals, 
whose bridges had been destroyed by the 
Mexicans. By this route Cortez, with the 
advice of his officers, determined to evacuate 
the city. It was decided that the night 
would be preferable to the day-time for the 
hour of departure. Having provided for the 
safe transportation of the greater bulk of the 
royal treasure, Cortez bade his soldiers to 
select as much of the balance as they saw fit 
for their own use, at the same time warning 
them not to overload themselves. His own 
followers followed his advice; but the sol- 
diers of Narvaez displayed less judgment, 
and loaded themselves with the glittering 
dust imtil they could scarcely walk beneath 
their burdens. The general next causing a 
portable bridge to be constructed, to be laid 
across the breaches, proceeded to arrange 
his order of march. In the front he placed 
two hundred Spanish infantry, commanded 
by Sandoval, and supported by about twen- 
ty-five cavaliers. At the rear were stationed 
the greater portion of the infantry and artil- 
lery, under the command of Alvarado and 
Leon. Cortez stationed himself in the cen- 
ter of the line of march, having under liis 
immediate command a hundred men, select- 
ed from his own followers. A few of the 
heavy guns, the prisoners, and the treasure 
were also in the center. The Tlascalans 
were distributed along the Hne in bodies of 
nearly equal strength, between the three 
Spanish divisions. The bridge was intrusted 
to the care of forty men, selected from among 
the most experienced soldiers of the army. 
They were under the direction of an officer 
named Mazarino, and they all SAVore to de- 
fend the bridge to their last gasp. The army 
was called to arms at midnight. It was the 
first of July, 1520 ; the night was dark, and 
a fine rain filled the air with a drizzly mist. 
The city was silent. After hearing mass, the 
army slowly wound through the gates of the 
palace court-yard, into the deserted square. 
Onward through the street of Tlacopan 
marched that line of nearly seven thousand 
men. Their measured tread and the rumble 
of the artillery resounded along the road like 
mufHed thunder ; yet the inhabitants of the 
city slept on in silence. At length the van 
of the line emerged from the city, and ad- 
vanced upon the open causeway. The band 
of forty prepared to lay the portable bridge. 
As they gazed forward in the darkness they 
saw the white garments of several Indian 
warriors flit athwart the causeway, and dis- 
appear Hke phantoms in the night. With 
loud shouts the Mexican sentinels fled toward 



the city, arousing their comraaes as they ran. 
The large drum in the temple of the war- 
god sounded in sonorous notes the alarm, 
and a murmur of preparation was wafted 
from the city, on the breeze, to the ears of 
the retreating army. The bridge was laid 
across the canal, and while the long hne 
passed over, its gallant guardians remained 
around it, ready to defend the passage with 
their hearts' blood. The van and the center, 
with Cortez and a portion of the artillery, had 
crossed the bridge, when the Mexicans came 
suddenly upon them, springing as it were 
from earth, air, and water. The lake was 
alive with boats, and the causeway was lined 
with men, whose cries arising from all quar- 
ters seemed to curse the very air with one 
universal howl of hatred and revenge. As 
rapidly as they arrived the Mexicans com- 
menced discharging their bows and slings 
upon the enemy, until the slight shower of 
missiles with which the attack began in- 
creased to a perfect tornado, filling the air 
with arrows, stones, and lances. And 
through the scathing tempest the apparently 
doomed army marched with steady tread. 
The van reached the second breach before 
the rear had crossed the first, and there, 
amid the peltings of that cruel storm, the 
soldiers stood awaiting the arrival of the 
bridge by which they were to cross the gap 
before them. Emboldened by the apparent 
confusion in the ranks of the enemy, the 
Mexicans approached the verge of the cause- 
way, and pom-ed into the unresisting mass 
before them cloud upon cloud of deadly 
missiles. Many, dashing their canoes against 
the dike, leaped into the midst of the enemy, 
and grappled them in a hand-to-hand con- 
flict, anxious to die in the death-embrace of 
their antagonist. As the rear of the retreat- 
ing army pressed forward to cross the bridge, 
they crowded against the center, until the 
soldiers were wedged together in one disor- 
dered and inactive mass, and against this 
portion the Mexicans directed their assaults 
with terrible success. At length the rear- 
guard crossed the first breach, and the band 
of forty prepared to remove it to the front ; 
but to their dismay they found that the 
weight of the moving army, and especially 
that of the heavy guns had embedded the 
timbers into the mud to such a degree that 
it was impossible for them to extricate them. 
With yells of triumph, at the sight of the 
useless endeavors of the Spaniards, the Mex- 
icans crowded around the bridge, advanced 
and attacked the despairing workmen with 
the utmost fury. From water and land came 
a storm of stones and arrows, falUng upon the 
Spaniards with terrible effect. The brave 
forty melted beneath the withering storm, 
untU they were on the very verge of annihi- 



314: 



MEXICO. 



latiou; yet they toiled on, for without the 
bridge the army was lost. But their efforts 
^vere fruitless ; the timbers remained firmly 
imbedded in the miry banks. Human exer- 
tion could do no more, and, with a cry of 
despair, which conveyed the clismal tidings to 
their comrades, they abandoned the work, 
and fled from the blows of their determined 
enemies. As the fearful intelligence spread 
from man to man, a wail of despair ran 
through the line, until the whole army united 
in one universal cry of horror. The infantry 
in front plunged madly into the breach, and 
struggled despairingly in the briny waters for 
life, while tlieir companions, rusliing eagerly 
upon them, formed with their writhing bodies 
a temporary bridge for those behind. And 
amid this struggling mass of human beings, 
the horses of the cavaUers plunged madly, 
striking many of the soldiers dead with their 
hoofs, and crushing others beneath the weight 
of their bodies. Sandoval and Ordaz, and 
other of the cavahers, succeeded in gaining 
the opposite bank ; but many of their com- 
rades had met their death either beneath the 
water or by the clubs or lances of the Indians, 
who, from their canoes, dealt deadly blows 
on all sides upon the drowning Spaniards. 
Along the whole line the carnage was fearful. 
Ranged at a safe distance in their canoes, the 
Mexicans, hning each side of the causeway, 
discharged incessant volleys of stones and 
arrows into the black line of the enemy, 
while immense numbers of their comrades on 
the causeway were fighting furiously with 
club and spear. Howls of rage fi-om the fu- 
rious natives, screams of pain from the 
ATOunded; the cries of women, and the 
hoarse voices of command, were mingled 
together along the whole extent of the cause- 
way in discordant confusion ; and the thun- 
ders of the Spanish cannon in the rear, added 
to the terrors of that fearful night. Mean- 
while, a dismal bridge had been formed across 
the break in the causeway. The bodies of 
men and horses, bales of rich stuff, ammu- 
nition-wagons, boxes of gold, and heavy guns, 
had been forced into the opening, until they 
formed a structure over which the army 
gradually passed. Tliinking only of escape,-^ 
the Spaniards, throwing away their arms, 
and abandoning their baggage and artillery, 
pressed forward, each caring only for his own 
safety. The stronger, hurling aside the weak- 
er, passed on, regardless of the fate of his 
companions; the wounded were left behind, 
where they were either pierced by the lances 
of the Aztecs, or dragged on board their 
canoes as a victim for a future sacrifice. 
Cortez himself found a fordable place, but his 
voice, lost in the din of strife, could not be 
heard, and he was compelled to press forward, 
accompanied only by a few cavaliers. Yet 



he was surrounded by enemies, and before he 
reached the van, his favorite attendant, a boy 
named Salazar, was slain at his very side. 
Arriving at the front, he found Sandoval and 
his comrades standing on the brmk of the 
third breach, urging their men to cross the 
stream. At this point, the Mexicans were 
not so numerous as at the other passages; 
but the water in the canal was deep and wide. 
The horse first plunged into the breach. They 
were followed by the infantry, in one indis- 
criminate mass, some striking out singly for 
the shore, and others grasping the tails and 
manes of the horses of the cavalry, while 
others, clinging to each other in an embrace 
of terror, sank beneath the water. A sad 
remnant gained the opposite shore, and, led 
on by Cortez and his ofhcers, advanced along 
the causeway. They were rapidly nearing 
the main land, when a report reached the 
ears of the general that the rear guard would 
be totally destroyed unless immediately suc- 
cored. With one impulse, the noble cavaliers 
halted, and, without a moment for dehbe- 
ration, they turned their horses' heads, and 
hastened toward the scene of action. Press- 
ing through the throng of fugitives, they 
swam the canal, and charged into the thick- 
est of the fight. 

Cortez found Alvarado on foot, surrounded 
by a slender body of followers, battUng for 
life against an overwhelming number of the 
enemy. His horse had been shot under him, 
and the gallant officer himself was wounded 
in many places, yet with voice and example 
he had cheered on his handful of soldiers, who 
fought with an energy which strewed the 
causeway with heaps of the enemy. Yet 
the Mexicans confident in their strength, had 
pressed forward, pushing the Spaniards down 
the sides of the bank to the waters' edge. 
Assailed in rear by the Mexicans in the 
canoes, and exposed in front to the murderous 
weapons of a greatly superior force, the httle 
band would have been cut off to a man, but 
for the timely appearance of Cortez and his 
comrades. Like a bolt from a bow, the cav- 
aliers in one compact mass dashed into the 
midst of the enemy, wlule the artillery thun- 
dered upon their dense array with terrible 
effect. The Mexicans wavered ; Alvarado's 
men with desperate energy charged upon 
them, and they fell back in disorder. But 
recovering from their confusion, Uke a huge 
billow, tiie Mexicans returned the charge 
with so much impetuosity, that the Spanish 
horse, infantry, and artillery were engulfed in 
the flood. No time was to be lost. Aban- 
doning their guns the artillerymen leaped 
into the water ; but a few only escaped, their 
companions either perished miserably in the 
lake, or beneath the blows of the Mexican 
clubs. Cortez and his comrades plunged into 



MEXICO. 



375 



the lake, and attempted to swim their horses 
to the shore ; but assailed on all sides by the 
natives in the canoes many of them were 
slain. Alvarado, deserted by his followers, 
remained alone in the midst of the enemy. 
For a moment he hesitated. The natives 
rushed at him from all sides. Glancing 
quickly around he saw by the dim hght of 
the breaking day, that the surface of the lake 
was covered on both sides of the causeway 
as far as the eye could reach with canoes fill- 
ed with armed Indians. That glance satisfied 
him, that to plunge into the water was cer- 
tain destruction. With the rapidity of thought 
he set his long lance firmly on the bottom of 
the water in the canal, and with an almost 
superhuman effort, he sprang forward, and at 
a single leap cleared the breach. Regardless 
of the clouds of missiles which fell around 
him, the gallant Spaniard hastened to the 
van of the army, where he found Cortez and 
his officers directing the movements of the 
troops who were marching in disorder off 
the causeway. At length the sad remnants 
of the army reached the mainland, and defiled 
unmolested through a neighboring village. 
Dismounting from his horse, Cortez seated 
himself on the steps of a temple, and sadly 
surveyed his shattered army as it passed be- 
fore him. Bruised and bleeding from a hun- 
dred wounds, the soldiers marched by, a 
disordered mass of unhorsed cavalry and 
disarmed infantry. Cannon, baggage, am- 
munition, muskets, all were gone. Nothing 
of their equipage remained, except their 
hacked swords, a few damaged cross-bows, 
and twenty-three jaded and crippled horses. 

On this fearful night, the Spaniards lost out 
of an army of about 800 men, 450 killed, of 
whom 46 were cavalry. Their Tlascalan 
allies were reduced to one fifth of their 
original force, 4,000 warriors having fallen 
during the struggle. Of the Mexican loss, 
we have no account ; but it could not have 
equalled that of the enemy who fought only 
on the defensive. 

A. D. 1521. — A year has rolled by since 
the disastrous defeat of Cortez on the cause- 
way, and his glorious victory in the plains of 
Otumba. We now find Mm on the borders 
of the lake of Tezcuco, at the head of an 
army of 900 European soldiers, of whom 
eighty-seven were admirable cavalry. His 
men were well-armed, and in excellent 
spirits. His artillery consisted of three large 
iron cannon, and fifteen smaller pieces of 
brass. His supplies of powder, shot, and 
balls, were abundant, and he had caused 
50,000 copper-headed arrows to be made 
after a pattern furnished him by the natives. 
During the past year Cortez had won the 
confidence of the nations tributary to the 
emperor, to such a degree, that, anxious to 



throw oflf the yoke of bondage, they had 
flocked to the standard of the invader by 
thousands. Aside, therefore, from his Span- 
ish army, he could depend upon the active 
co-operation of an immense body of Indian 
warriors. He was also master of a fleet of 
twelve brigantines of various sizes, on the 
lake of Tezcuco, which had been transported 
over land in pieces on the shoulders of a 
great number of Indians, from Tlascala, 
where they had been constructed by Lopez 
the carpenter. The fleet was manned by 300 
men, and each vessel carried a piece of heavy 
artillery. Cortez established his head-quar- 
ters at the city of Tezcuco, which was located 
at about two miles from the lake, with which 
it was connected by a canal constructed by 
Cortez to facilitate the landing of the brig- 
antines. Before commencing operations 
against the city of Mexico itselfj Cortez made 
several reconnoitering excursions around the 
lake, in which he reduced the towns and 
cities upon its borders. In his attacks upon 
these places he met with considerable resist- 
ance from the inhabitants ; at Xochimilco, one 
of the most powerful and rich cities of the 
valley, especially, his entrance was hotly dis- 
puted. By observations made during these 
tours, Cortez formed his plan of operations 
against the capital. He determined to begin 
the siege by distributing liis army into three 
divisions, each of which was to occupy the 
extremity of the principal causeways. The 
city of Tacuba, which commanded the cause- 
way of Tlacopan, was assigned to Alvarado, 
with a force consisting of 160 Spanish foot, 
thirty horse, and twenty-five Tlascalan war- 
riors. A second force of like strength, under 
the command of Olid, was to occupy Cojohua- 
can, at the extremity of a small dike which 
connected with the causeway of Iztapalapaa. 
The third division, under Sandoval, was to 
take its station at Chalco, whence it w^as to 
march on Iztapalapan, and complete the de- 
struction of that city, before taking up its 
position on the causeway of Tepejucac. 
Cortez himself was to take command of the 
fleet. The Indian allies were sent forward 
in advance, with directions to await the 
arrival of the Spaniards on the borders of 
the Tezcucan territory, on the 10th of May ; 
the tliree divisions of Olid and Alvarado 
commenced their march around the lake, 
taking a northerly direction, whOe Sandoval 
was to march toward the south. After 
gaining possession of Tacuba, Olid and Alva- 
rado, were to march on Chapultepec, and 
destroy the aqueduct in that place, wdiich 
supplied the capital with water. Without 
molestation on the part of the enemy, the 
Spaniards continued on their march, and 
took possession of Tacuba, which was en- 
tirely deserted by its inhabitants. Having 



376 



MEXICO. 



established themselves in their quarters, they 
next proceeded to Chapultepec, to demolish 
the aqueduct. The Mexicans had assembled 
in a large body to protect this important 
work, and a sharp battle ensued in which 
the Spanish were the victors. The aque- 
duct was partially demolished, and the water 
turned from its channel. The next day the 
two divisions advanced to the causeway of 
Tlacopan, for the purpose of securing the first 
bridge. The dike was swarming with war- 
riors, and the lake was covered with canoes. 
Marching to the head of the causeway, the 
Spaniards were met by such a storm of mis- 
siles, that they wavered. But urged on by 
their commander, they recovered and ad- 
vanced through the terrific hail. Soon their 
progress was checked by a barricade, which, 
after an obstinate struggle, they scaled ; but 
barricade after barricade rose in rapid succes- 
sion, retarding the movements of the cav- 
alry ; and the Spaniards surrounded on every 
side by enemies, assailed from water and 
from land, by clouds of deadly missiles, were 
compelled to turn and fight their way back 
to the main land, which they reached dimin- 
ished in numbers, and covered with wounds. 
The next day Olid withdrew his forces, and 
took up his post at Oojohuacan. 

Sandoval now received orders to advance 
against Iztapalapan. His route lay through 
a friendly country, and on his arrival at 
Chalco, he was joined by the Indian allies 
who were there waiting his coming. With- 
out delay he marched directly on Izatapala- 
pan. 

A large body of the enemy was posted 
before the city to oppose him. An obstinate 
conflict ensued ; but tlie Indians, after a 
brave resistance, were defeated, and the 
Spaniards entered the place in triumph. 
Immediately on the departure of Sandoval 
from Tezcuco, Cortez set sail with his fleet, 
and passing through the canal entered the 
lake. A body of Indians occupying a large 
solitary rock, near the southern shore of the 
lake, greeted the fleet as it sailed by with 
showers of arrows and stones. Cortez im- 
mediately landed, and with 150 men, clam- 
bered up the steep side of the rock, and 
fiercely attacked the natives, who fought 
until all were slain. A beacon-fire was 
burning on the summit of the rock, and as 
Cortez glanced over the lake, he saw it had 
called forth a mighty concourse of canoes, 
which were advancing swiftly toward the 
fleet. Cortez hastily returned to his vessels, 
and prepared for action. But a dead calm 
chained his vessels to the spot, and he had 
the mortification of seeing liis enemies almost 
within his reach while he was powerless. 
But soon a light breeze sprang up from the 
shore, and extending his hue of battle, with 



every sail set, he bore down on the enemy's 
flotilla. 

The Mexicans rested on their oars, and 
gazed in astonishment at the swift-rushing 
vessels. On Uke winged monsters, the vessels 
dashed into the very midst of the pigmy 
canoes, crusliing them beneath their bows, 
and sending their crews to the bottom. Here 
and there through the dense mass, the Span- 
iards steered their ships, discharging their 
guns to right and left, overturning and crush- 
ing the frail vessels of tlie enemy until the 
lake was covered with the wrecks of canoes 
and boiling with the struggles of drowning 
men. With yells of despair tlie survivors 
without returning a single shot, paddled for 
shore with all their strength. But -borne on 
the wings of the wind, the Spanish fleet pur- 
sued, and dasliing to and fro in the midst of 
the enemy, dealt death and destruction at its 
ease. The few canoes that escaped entered 
the various canals of the city, and found 
shelter in the harbor, where the shallow water 
prevented further pursuit. At evening Cortez 
came to anchor at a fort called Xoloc, located 
at the point where the dike from Cojohuacan 
meets the causeway of Iztapalapan. This 
place consisted of two stone towers, sur- 
rounded by walls, and at this time was occu- 
pied by the Mexicans. The garrison was not 
strong, and Cortez by one assault carried the 
place. He here fixed his head-quarters. He 
then sent orders to Olid to join him with half 
liis force, and directed Sandoval to quit Izta- 
palapan and proceed to Cojohuacan. Upon 
the arrival of Sandoval at Cojohuacan he 
Avas to detach fifty of his best soldiers to 
Cortez's camp. Cortez now removed the 
heavy guns from the vessels and planted them 
on the causeway ; and then busied himself 
in strengthening his defences at Xoloc. We 
find the besieging army was now posted 
around the capital as follows : — Cortez with 
450 Spanish soldiers, and 10,000 Tlascalan 
warriors occupied the causeway of Iztapala- 
pan, at the fort of Xoloc, which was about a 
mile and a half from the city, in a southerly 
direction, the causeway in front of the fort 
being curtained by a battery of twelve pieces 
of artillery. Sandoval with his men, and the 
balance of Olid's force, was stationed at Co- 
johuacan, which was united with Xoloc by 
a short dike, while Alvarado occupied Tacu- 
ba at the western extremity of the causeway 
of Tlacopan. The third great causeway, that 
of Tepejacac, on the north, was still unoccu- 
pied by the besiegers, and afforded the Mexi- 
cans a means of communication with the 
main land. This causeway might be termed 
a continuation of that occupied by , Cortez ; 
for it issued directly from the principal street 
which, running north and south through the 
heart of the capital, terminated at its souther- 



MEXICO. 



377 



ly extremity at the causeway of Iztapalapan. 
Cortez, by the advice of Alvarado, sent San- 
doval with a large force to occupy this cause- 
way ; and that officer without molestation 
took possession of the extremity of the dike, 
thus completing the blockade of the city. 
Meanwhile the Mexicans had annoyed the 
besiegers with repeated attacks. They sallied 
forth both by day and night, assailing the 
Spaniards from water and land ; but they 
were invariably defeated and driven back 
with great loss. Having completed the block- 
ade, Cortez determined to support it by re- 
peated assaults, and thus distress the besieged 
and hasten the day of its surrender. He ac- 
cordingly fixed a day for a general assault. 
At early dawn on the appointed day, the 
Spanish army on the three causeways was in 
motion. Cortez, on foot, led his column in 
person. The infantry marched in the rear : 
and the brigantines sailing on each side of 
the causeway, kept opposite the column as it 
advanced. They had marched but a short 
distance when they were brought to a dead 
halt, by a canal which crossed the dike. The 
bridge had been destroyed, and on the oppo- 
site bank was a strong breastwork of stone. 
Behind this rampart a numerous body of 
Mexicans was stationed. As the besiegers 
halted on the verge of the canal they were 
saluted by cloud after cloud of arrows. They 
opened a brisk fire of musketry and discharges 
of cross-bows in return; but secure behind 
their works tlie Mexicans shouted in derision 
at the futile efforts of the enemy to dislodge 
them. Cortez now ordered two of the ves- 
sels to take stations which would enable them 
to enfilade the enemy's position. This being 
accomplished the brigantines opened their 
artillery upon the breastwork, and thus ex- 
posed to two fires, the Mexicans were obliged 
to fall back. The vessels were brought near 
the dike, and the soldiers leaping to the shore, 
clambered up the sides of the dike, where they 
were joined by Cortez and his troops who 
had crossed tlie breach unmolested. The 
Spaniards eagerly pursued the rapidly retreat- 
ing Indians, who fled until they arrived at a 
second canal, whicli they swam, and took up 
a position behind a second rampart of stone. 
Here they maintained their ground until the 
brigantines again compelled them to recede. 
Again the Spaniards pursued, and again the 
Mexicans came to a stand behind a third 
breastwork which faced another canal. In 
like manner the Spaniards dislodged them 
from this position ; and thus pursued the enemy 
from breach to breach until they were masters 
of the entire length of the causeway. The 
Spanish general now caused the breastworks 
to be demolished, and the breaches to be 
filled. Having halted until the rear guard I 
had come up with him, Cortez entered the | 



great avenue which, running through the city 
from north to south, connected the tvro cause- 
ways. The tops of the buildings on each 
side of the street were black with Mexican 
warriors, and in the distance great crowds of 
combatants were seen advancing to dispute 
the entrance of the besiegers. 

Amid a terrific storm of stones, and arrows, 
and heavy missiles, the Spaniards, slowly but 
steadily, advanced along the avenue. As 
they proceeded, the houses along their hne 
of march were demolished by their Indian 
allies; and the sounds of the crashing timbers, 
and the yells of the infiiriated Mexicans, 
mingling with the roll of musketry, created a 
turmoil of noises which deafened the ear and 
stunned the senses. And on, through clouds 
of dust and smoke, and a perfect tempest of 
deadly missiles, marched the Spaniards, driv- 
ing before their destructive volleys crowds 
upon crowds of the enemy, until they arrived 
at the bank of a wide and deep canal which 
intersected the street. The few planks which 
still remained of the bridge were quickly 
broken by the Mexicans, after they had 
crossed, and a solid rampart of stone, on the 
opposite shore, defended by thousands of the 
enemy, effectually checked the further ad- 
vance of the besiegers. In vain did the 
Spanish musketeers pour volley after volley 
on the enemy; their buUets glanced harm- 
lessly from the rampart of stone. The heavy 
guns were now brought forward, and a brisk 
cannonade opened on the breast-work, which 
soon crumbled, beneath the storm of cannon- 
shot, into a wide gap, through which the 
Spaniards poured destructive volleys on the 
dense masses of the enemy behind. The 
Mexicans, unable to withstand the terrific 
storm of lead and iron, which, crashing 
through their midst, swept them down by 
scores, heaping the pavement with slain, and 
deluging the street with blood, which rushed 
like a crimson rivulet through the water- 
courses of the street, turned and fled in the 
utmost disorder. The Spaniards, leaping into 
the shallow water of the canal, crossed the 
breach, and advanced rapidly along the 
avenue, driving the enemy before them. Nor 
did they halt until they arrived at the great 
square of the palace of Axaycalt. Without 
delay, the Spaniards entered the court-yard 
of the palace ; and a small party hastened to 
the summit of the temple, whence they 

j hurled the priests, and despoiled the efiigy 

t of the Mexican god of war of its jewels. 
The Mexicans, aroused to madness at the 

I sight, rushed on the Spaniards with the fury 
of a hurricane. Unable to stand against the 

j overwhelming flood, the Spaniards, abandon- 
ing their cannon to the enemy, retreated in 
the utmost disorder to the principal avenue. 
There, minghng with their aUies, who crowd- 



378 



MEXICO. 



ed the streets, they spread an alarm, which 
added tenfold to the confusion. Like a flock of 
frightened sheep, without a leader, the Span- 
iards and Tlascalans rushed pell-mell along 
the avenue, while storms of missiles met them 
on all sides. At this moment, the Spanish 
cavalry, coming from an adjoining street, 
plunged into the mass of the enemy. With 
courage almost superhuman, these brave cav- 
aliers rode fiercely through the crowd, strik- 
ing down all that came in their path; and 
the Mexicans, to whom the horse was an 
object of superstitious terror, were thrown 
into confusion and ceased their pursuit. Cor- 
tez saw his advantage, and, with a shout 
which recalled the valor of his followers, 
turned upon the enemy. His men, recover- 
ing from their confusion, IbUowed him, and 
with one tremendous charge, drove the ene- 
my back into the court-yard. Then, securing 
the cannon, which had been left in the square, 
he ordered a retreat to be sounded, and the 
Spaniards, in good order, slowly retired to- 
ward the causeway, protecting the rear of 
the allies, who were now marcliing in the 
van. The Mexicans followed, with howls of 
futile rage, until the rear guard of the column 
had gained the causeway. Then, without 
further molestation, the army returned to its 
quarters at the fort of Xoloc. 

Alvarado and Sandoval, in their assault, 
experienced Uke difficulties. The causeways 
were pierced by canals, strongly defended by 
barricades, and occupied by numerous bodies 
of natives. They succeeded in expelling the 
Mexicans from their strongholds on the dike, 
but did not penetrate into the city. Their 
operations, however, were of the utmost ad- 
vantage to Cortez, who, without them, would 
probably have met Avith a much stronger op- 
position from the enemy. Shortly after this 
assault, Cortez's forces were augmented by 
the arrival of 50,000 Indian warriors, whom 
Ixtlilxocliitt, Prince of Tezcuco, had raised. 
These new allies were distributed among the 
three divisions of the besieging army. Mean- 
while, the besieged were not idle. Gaute- 
mozin, who, on the death of Cuitlahan, had 
succeeded to the Aztec throne, was an ener- 
getic prince, and, for a Mexican, a skillful 
general. The hatred of the Mexicans for the 
invaders was unquenchable, and they all, to 
a man, seemed actuated with the desire to 
save tlieir beautiful city from the hands of 
the Spaniards, or perish beneath its ruins. No 
sooner had the Spaniards evacuated the city, 
than hordes of Indians issued out on the 
causeway, and with indefatigable energy re- 
moved the material with wliich the canals 
had been filled, and constructed new ram- 
parts in the place of those destroyed ; and, 
therefore, when the Spaniards made a second 
assault, they were obliged to go over the 



whole ground again. Cortez made his second 
assault shortly after the arrival of the Tezcu- 
cans. 

The Indians contested every inch of soil, 
as they slowly retreated over the causeway, 
with an obstinacy which hitherto they had 
not displayed. For seven hours they battled 
with the enemy — making a stand behind each 
rampart — until they were driven to the very 
extremity of the dike. There the enemy 
succeeded in gaining a foothold in the sub- 
urbs of the city ; and, as the Spaniards had 
demolished the buildings, the Mexicans had 
no alternative but to meet the enemy face to 
face. They received the charge of the Span- 
ish cavalry with showers of arrows and other 
missiles, and it was not until after repeated 
charges both by horse and foot, accompanied 
with destructive volleys of musketry that 
they began gradually to fall back. Sullenly 
retiring before the deadly weapons of their 
adversaries, the Indians stUl maintained a 
bold front, and fauiy covered the enemy 
with incessant flights of deadly missiles, which 
altliough comparatively harniless to the Span- 
iards, nevertheless told with fearful effect upon 
the allies. The Mexicans retreated to the 
palace-square whence after a desperate strug- 
gle, they were expelled by the Spaniards ; . 
and Cortez, intending to intimidate them, set 
fire to the palace — liis former quarters — and 
the adjoining buildings. The fire spread rap- 
idly, and soon the biuldings were wrapped 
in ilames. Having accomphshed their work 
of destruction, the Spaniards sounded a re- 
treat. Filled with horror and fury at the 
sacrilegious outrage, the Mexicans howling 
forth their rage, rushed on the Spaniards, 
filling the air with missiles, and grappling the 
horses' legs, dealt their furious blows at tlae 
riders until struck to the ground. Thus, 
fiercely fighting they hugged the enemy's 
rear, until it had entered the causeway. So 
furious had been the conflict that when Cortez 
reached his quarters, few of his men only 
had escaped unwounded. Meanwhile San- 
doval and Alvarado, on their respective cause- 
ways, had pushed their assaults with the 
utmost energy; but they met with such deter- 
mined resistance on the part of the besieged, 
that they could not gain a footing in the sub- 
urbs. - For nearly a week Cortez made daily 
assaults; and with the same success. One 
day he advanced some distance down the 
street of Tlacopan ; and, in the hopes of open- 
ing a communication with Alvarado who was 
posted on the causeway bearing that name, 
he pushed on and destroyed three bridges. 
Alvarado, however, had not penetrated fur- 
ther than the suburbs, and the Mexican forces 
at that point were so strong that Cortes was 
obliged to return without accomplishing his 
object. As often as the Spaniards retired to 



MEXICO. 



319 



their encampments, which they did after 
every assault, the Mexicans emerged and 
filled the breaches. The breaches filled by 
Alvarado, however, were undisturbed ; as 
that indefatigible officer, after each assault, 
placed a strong guard at the breach nearest to 
the city, and thus effectually prevented the 
Mexicans firom re-opening them. After these 
repeated assaults, the Spaniards for a time 
remained on the defensive only. But their 
vigilant enemy did not give them one hour's 
leisure. Day and night they were obhged to 
be on their guard against the repeated and 
vigorous sorties of the besieged. Meanwhile 
the inhabitants of the city were reduced to 
a state of the utmost distress ; one by one 
the various towns in the neighborhood cast 
off their allegiance, and reiused to furnish the 
supplies which thus far they had continued 
to smuggle into the city, notwithstanding the 
vigilance of the besiegers. From these towns 
Cortez received large reinforcements, which 
he employed either in foraging the country 
for provisions, or in reducing places still hos- 
tile to the Spaniards. Cortez, although certain 
that famine alone would in time compel the 
city to surrender, could not restrain the im- 
patience of his soldiers, and at the request of 
his officers called a council of war, in which 
it was resolved to make a decisive assault. 
The assault was to be made simultaneously 
by the divisions of Cortez and Alvarado. Of 
Sandoval's force, 70 picked men were to be 
detached to the support of Cortez, and with 
the balance, that officer was to join Alvarado. 
Having perfected these arrangements the two 
forces, the one on the causeway of Ixtapa- 
tapan, commanded by Cortez, and the other 
on the causeway of Tlacopan, under Alvarado 
and Sandoval, advanced toward the city. 
The Mexicans on their side were prepared 
for the attack. The organization of their 
forces was perfect to a degree. Governed by 
the head of the araiy, they moved as with 
one impulse. Supported by all the brigantines 
and a flotilla of canoes which was to force a 
ige up the canals, too shallow to admit 
of greater burden, the Spaniards, fol- 
lowed by their numerous allies, slowly ad- 
vanced toward the city, carefully filling the 
breaches in the causeway as they proceeded. 
The rain poured in torrents — it was in the 
rainy season — and the soldiers wading knee- 
deep in mud, and hindered at each breach, 
made slow progress. At length they gained 
the suburbs, and having expelled the enemy 
from that quarter, Cortez halted in order to 
dispose his forces for the attack on the city 
itself From the suburbs three streets led to 
the city; the center one being flanked on 
either side by deep canals. Cortez caused 
his forces to be divided into three divisions ; 
the first, under the command of Alderete, 



was to advance along the center street ; the 
second, under Andres de Tapia and Jorge de 
Alvarado, was to march along one of the 
parallel streets; and the third, under Cortez 
himself, was to occupy the other. A small 
reserve, consisting of a body of horse, and 
three pieces of cannon, was stationed in the 
square in front of the street of Tlacopan, 
which was to serve as a general rallying 
point. Having completed the preliminary 
arrangements, the three divisions simulta- 
neously moved along the three parallel 
streets. The Mexicans, however, made such 
httle resistance that Cortez, suspecting danger 
from the facility of his success, brought his 
column to a halt; but the impetuous Alderete 
pressed forward, rapidly driving the Mex- 
icans before him, until he had penetrated 
into the very heart of the city. Contrary to 
the explicit directions of Cortez, he had neg- 
lected to fiU the ditches and canals as he 
crossed them; and Cortez, receiving intelli- 
gence of this neglect, hastened to the princi- 
pal street to repair the damage ere it was too 
late. He had advanced but a short distance 
when he arrived at the margin of a deep and 
wide canal, which intersected the two canals 
on either side of the street. Cortez saw at 
once that Alderete had fallen into the snare 
which the wily Mexicans had laid for him. 
He immediately commenced filling the ditch, 
but his men had scarcely began their labors, 
when the sullen roar of battle fell upon the 
ears of the Spanish commander. Alderete, 
having advanced to the veiy center of the 
city, was driving the Mexicans before him 
like chaff before the wind, when suddenly 
the horn of Gautemozin sounded, and the 
Mexicans, obeying the signal, turned with 
the fury of a whirlwind upon their pursuers, 
and rushing upon them in one mighty mass, 
threw them into complete disorder. Borne 
back by the overwhelming flood, the Span- 
iards, striking blindly at friend and foe, re- 
treated toward the ditch. On, hke a river 
they rolled toward the canal, and soon the 
foremost ranks plunged into the water, and 
vainly strove to swim to the opposite shore, 
whence Cortez and his comrades were gazing 
in horror on the destruction of their country- 
men. The Spaniards, in one body, poured 
over the bank into the deep canal, falling one 
upon the other, and struggling in each other's 
death embrace. And upon their rear, the 
Mexicans, with shouts of triumph, poured in- 
cessant volleys of deadly missiles, pushing 
them forward to the ditch, and forcing them- 
selves into the midst of the disordered mass 
of wliite men and Indians, striking them to 
the earth, or dragging them away as prison- 
ers. Cortez did not desert his men in their 
extremity. With his own hand he rescued 
many of his followers from a watery grave. 



380 



MEXICO. 



When the enemy recognized hhn, he became 
a conspicuous target for their missiles. 
Stones and arrows fell in a thick shower 
around him ; and it was not until he had re- 
ceived a severe wound in the leg, that he 
allowed his followers to bear him from the 
field of strife. The Spaniards, at length, after 
a fearful loss, and with the utmost difficulty, 
succeeded in eiFecting a retreat to the cause- 
way of Izatapalapan. During this bloody 
conflict, Alvarado and Sandoval had on their 
side penetrated far into the city ; but meet- 
ing the Mexicans returning from the pursuit 
of Cortez, they were obliged to retreat before 
the overwhelming number of the enemy. 
The Mexicans followed the Spaniards to their 
very intrenchments ; but the heavy artillery 
of the brigantines and the batteries on the 
causeway was brought to bear on them with 
such precision that they were compelled, 
after sustaining immense losses, to retreat to 
the city. Besides the long list of kQled and 
wounded, in this conflict, sixty-two Span- 
iards and a great number of Tlascalans were 
taken prisoners by the Mexicans. Two 
pieces of cannon and seven horses also fell 
into the hands of the victors. During the 
afternoon, the Mexicans, leading their victims 
one by one to the fiat summit of the temple, 
sacrificed them all in the view of the Spanish 
soldiers, who thus saw their companions per- 
ish miserably before their very eyes without 
the power of aiding them. The Mexicans, 
highly elated by their victory, sent the heads 
of several of their victims to the neighboring 
towns, caUing upon them to return to their 
allegiance. The priests also assured the peo- 
ple that at the expiration of eight days the 
god of war would deliver the Spaniards into 
their hands. Dispirited by their recent de- 
feat, and alarmed by the proclamation of the 
Mexican priests, the Indian allies — not even 
excepting the Tlascalans — withdrew from 
their alliance, and departed from the Spanisli 
camp. But after eight days had elapsed, and 
they were informed that the Spaniards still 
maintained their position around the city, the 
greater part of the Indians returned, and en- 
tered into a new alliance with the Spanish 
commander. Cortez now determined to re- 
sume hostihties. But to tusure success he 
concluded not to advance a single step with- 
out securing the ground over which he 
marched both for retreat and for future 
operations. The breaches and canals were 
all to be filled in such a substantial manner 
that they could not again be disturbed. The 
materials for this purpose were to be drawn 
from the ruins of the buildings, all of which 
were to be demohshed as the army ad- 
vanced. 

As soon as the general's order to this effect 
was promulgated, botla the Spaniards and the 



allies were filled with satisfaction. The first 
saw in it the only method of bringing the 
siege to a final and successful issue ; and the 
second, longing for revenge, felt that now in- 
deed they could retaliate upon their former 
oppressors. In spite of the energetic exer- 
tions of the besieged, the breaches in the 
causeway were soon filled so solidly that they 
could not again be opened. The suburbs 
were then laid bare of buildings, thus creat- 
ing an open space around the city. Cortez, 
wishing to spare the beautiful city, offered 
terms of capitulation ; but the Mexicans re- 
plied by a furious sortie of their whole army. 
On they rushed in countless masses, pouring 
out of the city at every gate, and advancing 
to the intrenchments of the besiegers, they 
assailed them with myriads of missiles, and 
threatened to crush them beneath their very 
weight; but the fire of the artillery, which 
thundered along the causeways, and from the 
brigantines, sweeping through the ranks of 
the Mexicans, mowing them down by scores, 
checked them in their career. They recoiled 
before the terrific fire, and hke the receding 
tide they rushed back in a disordered mass 
to the city. For several weeks Cortez pur- 
sued operations with complete success. Al- 
though at every point he met with obstinate 
resistance on the part of the enemy, yet he 
made steady progress in the work of destruc- 
tion. The Mexicans, held in strict blockade, 
were in a starving condition, feeding upon 
the most loathsome substances, and drinking 
the brackish water of the soil. To add to their 
misfortunes, a terrible disease, engendered by 
the unwholesome odors of unburied corpses, 
and the putrid substances on which they fed, 
swept away thousands, until the population 
was reduced to a dismal concourse of wan and 
gaunt-visaged men, women, and children. Yet 
with an almpst superhuman endurance, and 
with a patriotism unsurpassed in the annals 
of history, the Mexicans battled with the en- 
emy. But the Spaniards gradually worked 
their way into the very heart of the city, de- 
stroying the buildings as they advanced, un- 
til the Mexicans were driven into the quarter 
of Tlatelolco, now called the Barrio de San 
Jago. This district comprised about one 
eighth of the city; the remaining seven 
eighths were in the hands of the Spaniards, 
and were laid in ruins, and strewed with 
corpses. Words can not depict the terrible 
condition of the besieged. Crowded together 
in a small portion of the city, without food 
or water, they died by hundreds. A terrible 
plague stalked through their midst ; and the 
houses and streets were heaped with dead 
bodies, lading the air with pestilential vapors. 
And here in the midst of death, the heroic 
Aztecs made their last stand for Hberty. Cor- 
tez again offered terms of capitulation, and 



MEXICO. 



881 



again were they indignantly refused. The 
Spanish commander now ordered his forces 
to advance. They were received by a rapid 
volley of arrows and stones ; but steadily ad- 
vancing through the storm of missiles, the 
Spaniards marched on, pouring destructive 
discharges of musketry and cross-bows in the 
dense mass of the enemy, and the guns of the 
fleet, wliich commanded the opposite side of 
the Mexican quarters, aided the efforts of the 
army by repeated volleys ; placing the Mexi- 
cans between two fires. Thus exposed to 
the concentrated fire of the enemy, the Az- 
tecs fell in heaps. It was no longer a battle ; 
it was a butchery. Like demons the allies 
rushed into the midst of the Mexicans, and 
slaughtered men, women, and cloildrcn indis- 
criminately. The roar of the musketry, the 
fierce yeUs of the savage slayers, the screams 
of women and children, the moans of the 
wounded and dying, and the crash of falling 
buildings, all together created an uproar and 
confusion so infernal that the very contem- 
plation of the scene sends a shudder of horror 
to the heart. The blood in a crimson torrent 
gushed through the streets, running into the 
canals, even reddening their waters. At 
length the Spanish general, to put an end to 
the horrible carnage, ordered a retreat ; and 
the Spanish army, sated with slaughter, re- 
tired from the bloody scene, leaving the 
ground burdened with 40,000 corpses. The 
next morning, which was the 13th of August, 
1521, Cortez again advanced from his Cjuar- 
ters, and moving through the blood-stained 
ruins of the city, entered the Mexican pre- 
cincts. He again offered them terms ; but 
the Aztec monarch refused to accept his con- 
ditions. Cortez, bm-sting with rage at the 
unexpected refusal, ordered his men to re- 
new their work of death. It was like putting 
a lighted match to gunpowder. 

The Spaniards and their confederates 
again commenced the butchery of the almost 
powerless Indians. Thousands fell beneath 
their hands ; no quarter was given. Neither 
sex nor age was respected. Meanwliile 
many of the Aztecs were endeavoring to 
effect their escape by means of their canoes ; 
but they were invariably intercepted by the 
brigantines, and the battle raged on the lake 
as well as on the land. One of the canoes, 
larger and better manned than tlie others, 
avoided the brigantines, and would have 
gained the shore, had it not been discovered 
in season. The swiftest brigantine was sent 
in pursuit, and rapidly overtaking the canoe, 
the Spaniards were about to discharge their 
weapons into it, when its occupants shouted 
that their king was with them. The brig- 
antine quickly came alongside the canoe, and 
the emperor was taken on board. With the 
capture of Grautemozin the resistance of the 



Mexicans ceased. On the following day 
Cortez, at the request of the captured em- 
peror, directed his officers to allow his men 
to depart from the city in peace. The evac- 
uation commenced on the same day, and 
continued for the three succeeding ones. 
The whole number of Mexican warriors re- 
maining is variously estimated at from thirty 
to seventy thousand. They were accom- 
panied by a great number of women and 
children. And thus terminated the famous 
siege of Mexico, after a continuance of three 
months. The number of those who per- 
ished during the siege is variously stated. 
Cortez himself states that the enemy lost in 
the three assaults, 67,000, and he supposed 
that 50,000 died from disease and famine, 
thus giving a total of 117,000. Other ac- 
counts range from 120,000 to 240,000. The 
Spanish loss, when compared with the en- 
ormous loss of the enemy, was small. 
Their alUes, however, must have suffered 
greatly, as 30,000 Tezcucans alone were 
slain during the siege. Of the loss of the 
Tlascalans and the other confederates of the 
Spaniards, no account is given. The satis- 
faction of the Spaniards at this brilliant ter- 
mination of the siege was great. They found 
but a small amount of treasure in the cap- 
tured city, yet they felt that by their own 
arms they had won a land for their sovereign, 
wliich was equal to the richest countries of 
Europe. Yet after some time had elapsed, 
they bitterly felt their disappointment at not 
finding a greater amount of gold, and Gaute- 
mozin, the Mexican emperor, being suspect- 
ed of knowing where it was concealed, they 
placed him and one of lois ministers upon a 
bed of glowing coals in order to extort a 
confession from him. His attendant, over- 
come by the extreme torture, groaned aloud, 
and Gautemozin rebuked him in words which 
speak the firmness of his character : " Am I 
tlien enjoying my bath ?" Cortez must him- 
self have been struck by the fortitude dis- 
played in this answer; for he caused the 
king to be removed from the fire before he 
was seriously injured. Yet afterward the 
unfortunate monarch was hung by the gen- 
eral's own command. — Prescott's Conquest of 
Mexico. 

A.D. 1847. — The modern city of Mex- 
ico stands on a plain near Lake Tezcuco. 
Although it occupies the same site vdth 
the ancient city, which stood on several 
islands in the lake, yet, owing to the drain- 
age and more rapid evaporation, produced by 
the removal of the forests, and other causes, 
the lake has receded, and the present city is 
about two and a half miles west from its shore. 

The battle of Molino del Key had been 
fought and won; the castle of Chapultepec 
had been captured, and on the 13th of Sep- 



382 



MEXICO. 



tember 1847 the American anny had cut its 
way through all obstacles, and stood upon 
the two principal causeways which lead to 
the gates of the city of Mexico. General 
Scott immediately after the capture of Cha- 
pultepec, ordered General Worth to press 
forward in pursuit of the fugitives on the 
San Cosme road to the capital, and General 
Quitman to do the same on the Chapultepec 
road. The road of San Cosme does not run 
in a straight line to the city, but makes an 
abrupt bend to the north. The Chapultepec 
road runs to the city in a straight line. The 
roads are broad, and are flanked on either 
side by deep and marshy grounds. In the 
center of each runs an aqueduct, supported 
by heavy stone arches, which divide, each 
causewjiy therefore into two avenues, afford- 
ing great facilities both for attack and de- 
fense. These roads, like those in the time of 
Cortez, afforded the Americans easy access 
to the city. 

The Chapultepec road in fact is connected 
with both conquests of Mexico. Quitman 
had not advanced far along the causeway of 
Chapultepec before his troops were checked 
by a breastwork and ditch which the Mexi- 
cans had tin-own across the road. The 
Americans, however, opened a destructive 
fire of cannon within 400 yards of the breast- 
Avork, wliich soon compelled the Mexicans to i 
withdraw. Quitman pushed forward his 
men vigorously, and pursued the fugitives to 
the gate of Belau, which was carried after a 
brief resistance on the part of the Mexicans, 
where he fortified himself Meanwhile 
General Worth advanced along the causeway 
of San Cosme. This advance was consider- 
ably delayed by sending Duncan's battery 
to the assistance of Quitman, when checked 
by the Mexican works on the causeway to 
Chapultepec. As soon as his forces were 
united, the gallant general pushed forward, 
carrying breastwork after breastwork until 
he arrived at the Campo Santo (or English 
burying-ground, near which the causeway 
and aqueduct of San Cosme turn to the 
right. From this place the road runs in a 
direct hne to the city. Here Worth was 
joined by General Cadwallader, and Colonel 
Riley, whom General Scott had sent to his 
assistance. Worth posted Cadwallader with 
his troops at the Campo Santo, to protect his 
flank and rear, and pushed on toward the 
city. A strong battery soon appeared to 
oppose their progress, and beliind the battery 
stood the last defense of the Mexicans, the 
gariia of San Cosme. Here the Mexicans 
seemed determined to make a stand; and 
swept the road to these defenses with an in- 
cessant storm of grape, cannister, and shells ; 
and from the adjacent houses and churches 
was maintained a constant fire of musketry. 



Worth, at once, took the most efficient 
measures to dislodge the enemy. Garland's 
brigade was thrown to the right, with in- 
struction^ to dislodge the enemy from the 
buildings in his front, and endeavor to reach 
and turn the left of the garita. At the same 
time, Clark's brigade was ordered to take the 
buildings on the left of the road, and with 
crow-bars, and pick-axes to burrow through 
from house to house, until he reached the 
right of the garita. While these orders were 
being executed, a howitzer was planted on 
the azotea of the church of San Cosme on the 
right, and another on a lofty building on the 
left. While Clark's sappers and miners were 
patiently boring their way through the houses, 
a brisk skirmish took place between detached 
parties of Americans, under such cover as 
they could find, and the enemy; and the two 
howitzers maintained a brisk and efiective 
fire. The Mexicans had abandoned the 
breastwork, wliich was covered by the 
garita^ and Worth sent Lieutenant Hunt of 
Duncan's battery with orders to jslant a piece 
of artillery on the deserted works. The gal- 
lant heutenant with nine men advanced his 
piece through a tempest of balls to the desired 
spot, with a loss of one killed, and four 
wounded. Clark's "borers," meanwhile, 
had worked their way through the houses to 
a convenient position, whence they could 
assail the last stronghold of the enemy. They 
sprang to the house-tops, into which they 
had made their way unsuspected by the 
enemy, who were still busily engaged with 
their guns at the gate, and opened upon 
them within easy range a most deadly fire of 
musketry. The Mexicans stood aghast at the 
fearful havoc committed among tliem by the 
fire of a foe which had sprung upon them as 
if by magic. Their gui^ners dropped their 
sponges and rammers, and fled, and loud 
cheers from the Americans announced that 
they were in possession of the garita of San 
Cosme, and were already within the gate of 
the city. General Worth slept that night 
with his staff, and most of his chvision, a 
short distance within the gates of the city. 
" He had fought his way to the city," says 
Lieutenant Semmes, a gallant officer, and tlie 
talented author of that admirable work 
'' Afloat and Ashore," " over the celebrated 
causeway of Tacuba, by which Cortez had 
retreated on the memorable Node Triste. 
We had passed through the once populous 
quarter, (now a mere suburb) of Tlaletolco, 
where according to Cortez and Old Bernal 
Diaz, 40,000 people had been wont to traffic 
in the market place, and we had identified 
amid the whistUng of balls, and the shout of 
battle, the famous ' leap of Alvarado.' No 
won<ler that we were agitated by strange 
and indiscribable feehngs as we lay down to 



MILAN. 



383 



rest, that night ; waking we were in a land 
of poetry and romance ; sleeping, in a land of 
dreams." 

Worth had no sooner reached the gate of 
San Cosme, than he advanced a twenty-four 
pounder and a ten-inch mortar, under Captain 
Hughes, to the garita, and opened them upon 
the grand plaza and palace. The guns were 
opened at nine o'clock on the evening of the 
13th, and at one o'clock a commission from 
the municipal authorities came to General 
Worth's advanced post, announcing that im- 
mediately after the heavy guns opened, Santa 
Anna, the officers of the national goverment, 
and the army, had commenced evacuating 
the city ; and that the commission was de- 
puted to confer with the general-in-chief, to 
whose head-quarters it was passed under 
Assistant Adjutant General Mackall. At 
five o'clock on the morning of the 14th, 
Worth's troops and heavy guns advanced into 
the city, and occupied the Alameda, to the 
point wliere it fronts the palace, and there 
halted at six o'clok to await the further orders 
of General Scott. The American troops, 
6,000 in number, entered the city on the 
morning of the 14th of September, in tri- 
umph. General Scott, arrayed in his fuU ! 
uniform, and surrounded by his numerous 
staff, all clothed in like manner, was escorted 
to the National Palace, by Harney's dragoons. 
Thousands upon thousands of spectators 
thronged the streets, and housetops, and bal- 
conies, to witness the novel spectacle. Scarcely 
had the American general reached this place, 
than the scene was suddenly changed. A 
Mexican fired from a housetop among a group 
of officers of Worth's division, and seriously 
wounded Colonel Garland. The events 
which followed are thus described by Sem- 
mes : " Reports of small arms were heard 
simultaneously in various other directions, 
and soon it became evident that there was a 
fermentation among the populace, and that 
our work had, as yet, been but partially done. 
We were 6,000 all told, and were in the 
midst of a city of 200,000 inhabitants! 
There were apparently men enough in the 
streets to have crushed us with the paving- 
stones, if they had possessed the tithe of the 
patriotism or valor which had inspired their 
noble ancestors at the siege of Saragossa, 
under the bra-^e Palafox. But this was no 
uprising of a great and indignant people in j 
defense of their fire-sides. Alas, for poor 
Mexico ! the people were a dead and un- 
learned mass, as incapable of the sentiment of 
patriotism as of the other noble virtues. Still 
our position was somewhat critical. We were 1 
exposed in the midst of streets that were 
flanked on either side by massive stone houses, 
(some of them three or four stories high), 
with flat roofs and parapets, answering all | 



the purposes of fortifications, and unless 
energetic measures were adopted, we might 
lose many valuable lives before the insurrec- 
tion could be quelled. In a moment, there- 
fore, every thing was in motion. The quick 
movement of troops in various directions, the 
rattling of artillery at full speed through the 
streets, the galloping hither and thither 
of aids and orderlies, the shouts of the 
women as they disappeared in haste fi-om 
the balconies, and the firing from the house- 
tops, which increased every moment, indi- 
cated that more blood was about to flow, and 
that we could not as yet sit ourselves down 
quietly in the city of Mexico." 

Batteries were planted in favorable posi- 
tions to command the several streets, and 
detached parties of skirmishers, were sent 
in various directions with instructions to pur- 
sue the enemy into their hiding places and 
shoot down aU who should be found with 
arms in their hands. Throughout the whole 
day the skirmishing was maintained ; night 
put an end to the contest. The next day 
the insurgents who proved to be a number of 
prisoners whom Santa Anna had released 
from the several jails of the city on the night 
of his evacuation, resumed their firing; but 
by the vigorous efibrts of the Americans, 
who were aided by the authorities, they, 
after many were slain, succumbed to the 
powers that were, and order was restored to 
the city. The Americans remained in pos- 
session of the city of Mexico, until peace 
was declared between the United States and 
the Republic of Mexico. The terms of a 
treaty of peace were concluded upon by the 
American commissioner, Mr. Trist, and the 
Mexican government, on the 2d of February, 
1848; and tliis treaty, after having been 
modified somewhat, was adopted by the 
American Senate on the 10th of March, and 
ratified by the Mexican Congress on the 30th 
of May, in the same year. 

MILAN, A.D. 338. — UraVas, nephew of 
Vitiges, besieged Milan in 338. That city, 
then a magnificent one, was esteemed the 
second of the West. With the assistance of 
10,000 Franks, furnished by Theodebert, king 
of Austrasia, IJraias pressed the siege warm-^ 
ly during six months. The Goths, masters 
of the city, dehvered it up to pillage, made 
the garrison prisoners, put the inhabitants 
to the sword, and carried oflE" the women into 
captivity. 

Seconh Siege, a.d. 1159. — In this year the 
inhabitants of Milan revolted against Freder- 
ic Barbarossa. The angry emperor imme- 
diately laid siege to that city. The cruel 
conqueror drove out all the inhabitants, razed 
the most beautiful of the edifices with the 
ground, demolished the gates, its triumphal 
arches, its baths, its most magnificent houses, 



384 



MINDEN— MOESKIRCH. 



and sowed salt upon its ruins to denote that 
it should never be rebuilt. His cruel design 
was disappointed; Milan soon rose again 
from her ashes. 

Third Siege, a.d. 1499. — During the wars 
of the French with the Milanese, in the reign 
of Louis Xll., the Chevalier Bayard fell in 
with an Italian party in the neighborhood of 
Milan, and attacked it warmly. On his ar- 
riving at the gates of Milan, a French gend- 
arme, cried out to him with a loud voice, 
"Turn, man-at-arms, turn!" Bayard, trans- 
ported by the desire of conquering, was deaf 
to these repeated cries, and entered the city 
at full gallop, as if, says an historian, he meant 
to take that capital alone. Soldiers, people, 
even women fell upon him. Cajazzo, whom 
his valor astonished, ordered his men-at-arms 
to cover him from these assaults, and made 
him his prisoner. He took him to liis own 
house, and afterward to sup with the Duke 
of Milan. Ludovic, who had witnessed the 
extraordinary feats of the Chevalier from his 
palace windows, spoke of the brave French- 
man with great admiration, and with a view 
of ascertaining his character, conversed freely 
with him. " My brave gentleman," said the 
duke, " what brought you hither ?" " The 
desire of conquering, my lord," replied Bay- 
ard. " And pray did you think of taking 
Milan alone ?" " No," rejoined the knight, 
" but I reckoned upon being followed by my 
companions." "They and you together," 
said Ludovic, " could not do it." " Well," 
said Bayard, with his characteristic frankness, 
" I must admit they are wiser than I have 
been; they are free, and I am a prisoner, 
although to one of the bravest and most 
generous of men." The prince then asked 
him, with an air of disdain, " What is the 
strength of the French army?" "For our 
parts," replied Bayard, " we never thinlc of 
counting our enemies ; but what I can assure 
you is, that my master's soldiers are aU pick- 
ed men, before whom yours will have no 
chance." Ludovic, very much piqued, re- 
plied, " that effects gave a very different idea 
of his troops, and that a battle would very 
soon proclaim both his right and their cour- 
age." " Would to G-od," cried Bayard, " that 
it were to-morrow, and I were free." '^ You 
are free," replied the prince ; " I like your 
frankness and your courage, and, to the first 
benefit, I beg to add whatever you desire." 
Bayard, penetrated with so much kindness, 
threw himself on his knees before the duke, 
and begged him to pardon, in favor of his 
duty, all that might have appeared too bold 
in his speech. He then requested to have 
his horse and his arms, and returned to the 
French camp, to give a highly favorable ac- 
count of the generosity of Ludovic. 

Fourth Siege, a.d. 1706. — Prince Eugene 



had made himself master of Alilan, but he 
could not be sure of keeping it without oc- 
cupying the citadel. The Marquis de la 
Florida was the governor of it. Prince 
Eugene summoned him to surrender, at the 
same time threatening to grant no quarter if 
he did not capitulate within four-and-twenty 
hours. " I have defended twenty-four places 
for my masters, the kings of Spain," replied 
the governor, " and I have made up my 
mind to be killed on the breach of the twenty- 
fifth." . This bold reply, which was known to 
be the expression of a strong mind, caused 
the prince to renounce the project of attack- 
ing the castle by force, and he was satisfied 
with blockading it. 

Milan was besieged by the King of Sar- 
chnia in 1733, by Don Philip of Spain in 
1745, by Bonaparte in 1796, by Suwarrow 
in 1799, and by Bonaparte in 1800 ; but 
there is nothing interesting ia the details of 
any of these sieges. — Rohson. 

MINDEN, A.D. 1759.— In 1759, the French 
army was defeated by troops of the Duke of 
Brunswick, in an action near Minden, a forti- 
fied town of Prussia. 

MOCKERN, Oct. 16, 1813.— See Leipsk. 

MOESKIRCH, A.D. 1800.— The battle of 
Moeskirch, in Baden, was fought on the 5th 
of May, 1800, between the French under 
G-eneral Moreau and the Austrians under 
Kray. 

On the fourth of May the Austrian army, 
under Kray, occupied a strong position in 
front of Moeskirch ; the whole front of their 
line was covered by a deep ravine ; the horse, 
and a reserve of eight battaUons of grenadiers, 
were stationed on the heights of Rohrdorf 
The chaussee which approached the village, 
was commanded by powerful batteries, and 
by their fire in every direction, seemed to 
render all access impossible. In this formi- 
dable position were collected 40,000 foot, 12,- 
000 splendid horse, besides more than 200 
pieces of cannon. 

Moreau, the commander of the French 
army, receiving intelligence that the Aus- 
trians were trying to concentrate all their 
scattered forces at this point, resolved to im- 
prove the present advantage and attack them 
before any more reinforcements arrived. 
He ordered Lecourbe to join him with all 
his disposable forces in order to take part in 
the general action ; still he did not arrange his 
plan so as to bring his forces aU at the same 
time into the field. The consequence of this 
was, that Lecourbe, with that portion of his 
corps which had not been in the action of the 
previous day, commenced the attack. He 
advanced with the greatest intrepidity to the 
assault against the Prince of Lorraine ; but 
so tremendous was the fire fi'om the cross 
batteries of Kray, on the heights, that his 




■•••-■' "•• ¥ 

BATTLE OF MOM NO P F. F, HV.Y ( K r N T, ' R MILI.s). 



MOHACZ— MOLINO DEL RET. 



385 



artillery were instantly dismounted, and he 
himself compelled to take shelter in the neigh- 
boring woods. Upon this, Moreau came for- 
Avard with the division of Loyes, and assailed 
the position by its left and the village of Hen- 
dorf ; but the attacking columns having been 
assaulted by the enemy's masses, who sud- 
denly came upon them from beliind their bat- 
teries, were thrown into disorder and com- 
pletely routed. Kray, encouraged by this 
success, made a sally with his right wing, and 
advanced into the plain ; but he was received 
in so resolute a manner by the left of the 
French, that he was soon not only obliged to 
retire, but the victorious republicans regained 
all the ground they had lost, and the village 
was carried by their pursuing columns, who 
entered at the same time with the fugitives. 
At the same time, Vandamme with the re- 
pubHcan right, advanced against the imperial 
left, and attacked the village of Moeskirch ; 
it was defended by the Austrians with great 
intrepidity and it was taken and re-taken 
several times. Lecourbe at length formed liis 
division into four columns and advanced to 
the attack. Their impetuosity was so great 
notliing could resist it; they rushed down 
the sides of the ravines, up the opposite 
banks, and chased the imperialists from the 
plateau, while MoHtor drove them out of 
Moeskirch, and their victorious columns met 
in the center of the town. Kray seeing the 
position of his left forces, executed a change 
of position in the very middle of the battle. 
He drew back his left from the plateau, and 
took up a position parallel with the Danube, 
with his center still resting on Rohrdorf. 
This brought him on the flank of the division 
of Loyes, who was unsupported on that side. 
Kray took advantage of this, and charged 
the exposed division, overthrew it, and drove 
it back in confusion, and had it not been for 
the arrival of Dehnas with six fresh battalions, 
tlie French line would have been entirely 
broken at that point. Both sides now were 
making great efforts, the Austrians to im- 
prove the advantage they had gained, and 
the French to re-establish their line. Moreau 
changed his front, arranged his army parallel 
to the enemy, and dm-ing this change, the 
French division of Delmas was furiously assail- 
ed, but the utmost efforts of the imperiaUsts 
were of no avail against his admirable infantry. 
The combat continued for two hours. 
Kray redoubled his efforts, till at length on the 
arrival of Richepanse with a fresh division, 
the Austrian general concluded to retire, 
which was done before night, and in good 
order, to the heights of Buchern and Rohr- 
dorf In this action, so well contested by 
both parties, the loss was nearly equal, 
amounting to about 6,000 men on each side. 
The Austrians, occupied at evening the pla- 

25 



teau of Rohrdorf; the French slept on a great 
part of the battle-field : and on the next day 
the imperial army retired across the Danube. 

MOHACZ, A.D. 1526.— Two great battles 
were fought near this place, a village of Hun- 
gary, which our limited space will allow us 
to mention only. On the 29th of August, 
1526, a large army of Turks under Solyman 
the Magnificent, encountered the Hungarian 
army, and after a desperate battle defeated 
and put them to rout. Louis, King of Hun- 
gary, two archbishops, and six bishops, many 
noblemen, and over 22,000 private soldiers 
were slain during the battle and flight. This 
battle may be said to mark the commence- 
ment of Turkish rule in Hungary ; their 
power was terminated by the battle of 1687, 
in which the Turks were signally defeated 
by the imperiahsts under the Duke of Lor- 
raine. 

MOHRUNGEN, a.d. 1807.— The village 
of Mohrungen is in East Prussia, 62 miles 
south-west of Konigsberg. The division of 
the republican army commanded by Berna- 
dotte, was concentrated at Mohrungen, when 
he was assailed by the Russians under Ben- 
ningsen, with a force far superior to liis own. 
The French troops, 18,000 strong, were 
posted on the liilly ground, two miles in 
front of the town. General Makow attacked 
them with the advanced guard of the Rus- 
sians, and after a bloody conflict he suffered 
the 'penalty of his rashness by being repulsed 
toward Leibstadt. In this action both sides 
lost 2,000 men, and the Russian general, Au- 
repp, was killed. 

MOKHAUSE, A.D. 1717.— The viUage of 
Mokhause is famous for the gallant defense 
of its garrison against the Tartars of the Koo- 
ban, in 1717. 

MOLING DEL RET, a.d. 1847.— Molino 
del Rey is the name of a group of strong 
stone buildings which form the western side 
of the inclosure of Chapultepec, with its 
groves and fields, rocks and castles. These 
buildings are about two miles south-west of 
the city of Mexico; and in the month of 
September, 18i7, were occupied by about 
14,000 Mexican troops, to intercept the 
march of the American army against that 
capital. The American force designated to 
attack Molino del Rey moved out of Tacuba 
early in the morning of the 8th of September. 
They numbered about 3,500 men, and were 
commanded by General Worth. The right 
wing consisted of Garland's brigade, with 
Huger's battery ; the center of five hundred 
picked men, under Major Wright, of Worth's 
regiment, and the left of Mcintosh's brigade, 
with Duncan's battery. Cadwallader's brig- 
ade formed a reserve in the rear of the Amer- 
ican line. The sun arose and shone bright- 
ly upon the advancing columns of the 



386 



MOLWITZ. 



Americans, and upon the grim walls of Mo- 
lino del Rey. The battery of Huger opened 
the battle, and the Mexicans, aroused sud- 
denly from their slumbers, were slow to 
reply ; but at length they opened their guns, 
and the roar of heavy cannon shook the air. 
When Huger's guns had sufficiently shaken 
the walls of Molino, Wright's storming party, 
under the direction of Mason and Foster, 
rushed furiously to the assault. The Mexi- 
cans received them with a terrible fire of 
grape-shot and cannister ; but the Americans 
advanced steadily through the fearful tempest, 
driving the enemy before them at the point 
of the bayonet. Tne ground over which the 
assailants advanced formed a gradual slope 
unsheltered by rock or tree, while the main 
body of the Mexicans lay concealed behind 
dikes and maguey plants, or were protected 
by the walls and parapets of the molino. 
The Mexicans abandoned their field-pieces to 
the Americans, who immediately turned the 
guns upon the retreating masses ; but before 
they could be discharged, the Mexicans, per- 
ceiving the weakness of the force that had dis- 
possessed them of their guns, ralhed and re- 
turned to the charge with the utmost fury. 
Hurling a tempest of bullets within pistol-shot 
upon the enemy, the Mexicans rushed fu- 
riously forward, driving back the Americans 
with great slaughter, and bayoneting the 
wounded Avith savage glee. Major 'V\"right 
and ten officers, and a great number of the 
rank and file of the gallant five hundred, 
were slain in tliis murderous conflict over the 
Mexican guns. General Worth immediately 
ordered Smith's hght battalion, under Cap- 
tain Kirby, and the right wing of Cadwalla- 
der's brigade to advance to the support of 
the repulsed storming party. The Amer- 
icans advanced firmly amidst a fearful fire of 
musketry and artillery from the Mexicans, 
and assailed the enemy with such fury that 
they gave way, and for a second time the 
battery was captured. Meanwhile Garland's 
brigade, supported by Duncan's battery, as- 
saulted the Mexican left, and after a bloody 
struggle drove the enemy from the strong 
works of the molino. Huger's battery-guns 
were now advanced to the captured posi- 
tion, and with the enemy's captured guns 
were opened upon the broken and retreat- 
ing lines of the Mexicans. Duncan's battery 
in the mean time was opened on the Mexican 
right, and the 2d brigade, under Mcintosh, 
was ordered forward to assail this point. 
This brigade crossed the fi-ont of Duncan's 
pieces, and the firing of those guns were dis- 
continued for the moment. Mcintosh gal- 
lantly led his men to the assault of the Casa 
Mata, a strong stone building a short dis- 
tance from the molino. While Mcintosh 
was advancing to assail this work, 4,000 



Mexican cavalry, under General Alvarez, 
advanced toward the American left, with a 
view of attacking them in flank. Duncan's 
battery immediately changed its front, and 
Colonel Andrews, with the Voltigeurs, was 
ordered to support the battery. Major Sum- 
ner, with his 270 dragoons, was also directed 
to place himself in the vicinity of Duncan's 
guns, in order to profit by events, and pur- 
sue, when an opportunity was afforded, the 
enemy's retreating force. In making this 
movement, the dragoons were exposed to the 
fire from the Casa Mata, wliich inflicted con- 
siderable damage upon them. Two thousand 
of the ^Mexican cavalry, under, the command 
of General Alvarez in person, advanced bold- 
ly toward Duncan's battery. Duncan re- 
served his first fire until the enemy had come 
witliin good cannister range, when he opened 
a terrible fire upon them, which threw them 
into confusion, wliich ended in disorderly 
flight. The flying cavalry precipitated them- 
selves into the midst of the other division of 
two thousand, and the whole four thousand 
rushed like frightened sheep from the field. 
" Tell General Worth," said Duncan to an or- 
der from that officer, directing him to hold the 
Mexican cavalry in check, "to make himself 
perfectly easy ; I can whip twenty thousand of 
them." Meanwhile Mcintosh with Ms brig- 
ade steadily advanced against the Casa Mata. 
As his troops came within range the Mexicans 
opened a destructive fire upon him, cutting 
down officers and men in fearful profusion. 
Yet through this storm the gallant Mcintosh 
urged his men, until he sank to the ground 
mortally wounded. The command devolved 
upon Martin Scott, a brave officer, who led 
the brigade until it reached the slope of the 
parapet that surrounded the citadel, when he 
also fell.- Major White, his second in com- 
mand, was badly wounded, and the Amer- 
icans recoiled, and fell back for support upon 
Duncan's battery, which, having repulsed the 
]\lexican horse, had resumed its former posi- 
tion. Duncan opened his guns upon the 
Casa Mata, and maintained a furious cannon- 
ade until the enemy abandoned the place, 
and fled wildly across the fields. The Mex- 
icans were now in fuU retreat at all points. 
The Americans were everywhere victorious. 
The battle of Chapultepec followed shortly 
afterward, and the road to the city of Mex- 
ico was opened to the advance of the Amer- 
ican army. The Americans lost in tliis bat- 
tle 9 officers killed and 49 wounded, and 729 
rank and file, killed and wounded. The 
Mexicans lost 1,500 killed and wounded, and 
800 made prisoners.— ^Ssmmes's Service Afloat 
and Ashore. 

IVIOLWITZ, A.D. 1741.— On the 10th of 
April, 1741, a battle was fought between the 
Prussians and Austrians, near Mohvitz, a vil- 



MONMOUTH. 



387 



lage of Prussian Silesia, in which the Austri- 
ans were defeated. 

MONDOVI, A.D. 1796.— The battle of 
Mondovi, in Piedmont, was fought on the 
21st of April, 1796, between the French un- 
der Napoleon, and the Sardinian troops under 
CoUi. The Sardinians were defeated, and 
Colli retired to Cherasco with a loss of 2,000 
men, 8 cannon, and 11 standards. General 
Dictrat was killed when the engagement was 
at its height, by a cannon-ball ; his death cre- 
ated a great panic among his troops, which 
contributed greatly to the defeat of the entire 
army. 

MONMOUTH, A.D. 1778.— Freehold, near 
which the famous battle of Monmouth Court- 
House was fought, is situated on a plain about 
thirty miles east of Trenton, N. J., and is the 
capital of Monmouth county. 

The American army remained inactive in 
its encampment at Valley Forge, until, in 
1778, when receiving intelUgence that the 
British under Sir Henry Clinton had evacu- 
ated Philadelphia, "Washington broke up his 
camp, and with his army commenced a pur- 
suit. Sir Henry Clinton's destination was 
New York. To reach New York by land, 
it was necessary to traverse New Jersey, 
which, exliausted by a long war, and alive 
with enemies, afforded the British general 
but little opportunities to forage ; and there- 
fore he felt constrained to take with him a 
long train of carriages laden with provisions. 
The British left Philadelphia, on the 18th of 
June, and commenced the passage of the 
DelaAvare at Gloucester Point, about three 
miles below the city. Wasliington broke up 
his camp at Valley Forge immediately on 
receiving intelligence of the departure of the 
British; and having detached General Ar- 
nold -with a small body of troops to occupy 
Philadelphia, crossed the Delaware with his 
army at Congyell's Ferry on the 20th and 
the two succeeding days. A council of war 
had been held at VaUey Forge prior to the 
breaking up of the camp, in which it was de- 
cided to hang upon the rear of the enemy, 
and watch his movements without hazarding 
a battle. Wasliington, however, was of a 
different opinion. He could not make up his 
mind to see the enemy retreat with impu- 
nity ; yet as the majority of the officers were 
against attacking, Washington felt constrained 
to submit. General Dickinson had been sent 
into New Jersey to assemble the militia un- 
der arms ; and General Maxwell, with a con- 
siderable corps, was sent to their support. 
The New Jersey militia and Maxwell's corps 
were mutually to embarrass by every imped- 
iment in their power, the retreat of the Brit- 
ish ; to destroy the bridges ; to break up the 
roads, and to fell trees, and to plant them in 
abattis. They were directed, however, to 



avoid hazardous movements and unexpected 
actions. The American army under Wash- 
ington, after having crossed the Delaware, 
advanced as far as Hopewell, five miles from 
Trenton, where they halted, and Washington 
called a second council of war. The ques- 
tion of the chief, " WiU it be advisable to haz- 
ard a general engagement," was decided in 
the negative. General Lee especially opposed 
it. The council recommended that Morgan's 
corps should gain the rear of the enemy's 
right flank; that Maxwell's brigade should 
hang on their loft ; and that Brigadier Gen- 
eral Scott, with about 1,500 picked troops, 
should harass their rear and flanks. These 
troops were augmented by the New Jersey 
militia under General Dickinson, and some 
volunteer troops under General Cadwallader. 
Meanwliile the British army advanced to- 
ward AUentown. Their train of baggage- 
wagons and pack-horses, together with the 
soldiers, formed a Hue nearly 12 miles in 
length; and as they were obliged to con- 
struct bridges, and remove obstacles placed in 
their path by the New Jersey patriots, their 
progress was slow. Chnton finally reached 
AllentovsTi, and finding that the American 
army under Washington was nearly in his 
front, changed his course, taking the road 
which led to Jilonmouth Court-House, whence 
he resolved to proceed to Sandy Hook, at 
which point Howe's fleet was waiting to con- 
vey the troojjs to New York. Washington 
at this time resolved upon a general action, 
notwithstanding the opposition of the major- 
ity of his officers ; and he was warmly sec- 
onded in this decision by Generals Lafayette, 
Greene, and Wayne. Accordingly he imme- 
diately commenced making liis dispositions for 
a battle. The Americans had now advanced 
as far as Kingston, on the Millstone river. 
Washington detached 1,000 men under Gen- 
eral Wayne to reinforce the troops of Cad- 
wallader ; and as the simultaneous action of 
the several corps of Wayne, Cadwallader, 
Dickinson, Maxwell, and Morgan, was of the 
utmost importance, the American commander- 
in-chief intrusted General Lafayette with the 
command of the whole. They numbered in 
all about 4,000 men. The entire American 
army consisted of about 15,000 men ; that of 
the British of nearly 20,000. 

Early on the morning of the 27th of June, 
Lafayette proceeded with the advanced 
guard to Eughshtown, about five miles west 
of Monmouth Court-House. The day was 
intensely hot, and the troops were excessively 
fatigued by their march. Sir Henry Clinton, 
on being informed of the movements of the 
enemy, changed his order of march, placing 
his baggage and provision wagons in front, 
and protecting his rear by his best troops. 
Having thus disposed his army, he took up a 



388 



MONMOUTH. 



strong position near Monmouth Court-House. 
The baggage of the army was intrusted to 
the care of General Knyphausen ; while 
Clinton liimself, took command of the rear 
guard, wliich consisted of the Hessian grena- 
diers, the light infantry and chasseurs of the 
Une. These movements on the part of the 
enemy, obhged Wasliington to support the 
American vanguard by other troops. He 
ordered G-eneral Lee, to push forward with 
two brigades. Lee, as a senior officer, took 
command of all the regular troops on his ar- 
rival at Englishtown, leaving to Lafayette 
that of the militia and light horse only. The 
main body of the American army, on the 
same day (June 27,) marched from Kingston, 
and encamped within three miles of Enghsh- 
town. The relative positions of the two ar- 
mies were now as foUows : Washington with 
the main army was encamped three miles 
from EngUshtown, which was occupied by 
Generals Lee and Lafayette ; the British ar- 
my lay near Monmouth Court-House ; Llor- 
gan's troops were hovering on the British 
right ; and Dickinson with about 700 men 
threatened their left. Washington fearing 
lest Clinton should move his whole army to 
the heights of Middletown, wliich would af- 
ford him a position of increased strength, 
had on the previous evening resolved on an 
immediate attack. 

Early on the morning of the 28th, Knyp- 
hausen, with the British vanguard and baggage 
train, moved into the valley and advanced 
toward Middletown ; and was soon at a con- 
siderable distance from Monmouth Court- 
House. Clinton with his picked troops still 
maintained his position, to cover tlie removal 
of his baggage to the heights. It was a 
bright and beautiful Sabbath morning; the 
whole country hushed in the light of a June 
sun, and all nature was at rest, that peaceful 
rest which hovers over the country on a Sab- 
bath day. But soon the rude noise of battle 
was to fill the balmy air, sulphurous clouds 
were to dim the rays of the sun, and the 
green earth was to be cumbered with muti- 
lated corpses, and profaned by the hfe blood 
of men. The weather was hot and sultry, 
not a breeze disturbed the calmness of the 
groves, or subdued the intensity of the heat. 
Washington's order of battle had been re- 
solved upon the previous evening. Lee was 
to attack the enemy in front, while Morgan 
and Dickinson were to descend into the val- 
ley on both his flanks in order to assail the 
columns of Knyphausen. Early in the morn- 
ing they moved toward the enemy. Clinton 
resumed his march at eiglit o'clock, and de- 
scended the heights of Freehold into the 
plain, wherCj perceiving that the Americans 
were in motion, and finding that Knyphau- 
sen was in great danger, he resolved to fight. 



Lee's whole force, exclusive of Morgan's and 
Dickinson's troops, amounted to about 4,000 
men, and to these troops were now opposed 
the flower of the British army, led by Clinton 
and CornwalUs in person. The artillery be- 
gan to play, and the Queen's dragoons charged 
furiously upon the American light horse, 
drivng them back to the main line ; and then 
retreating under a furious fire from the Amer- 
ican guns. And now Lee gave an order 
wliich tlirew liis whole army into confusion ; 
and that order was to retreat. Bewildered 
by the strange conduct of their general, the 
Americans fled before the British in the ut- 
most disorder. The enemy pursued them as 
far as the Comt-House, where they halted, 
while the Americans continued tlieir flight. 
Meanwhile Washington with the reserve was 
pushing forward to tlie support of Lee ; and 
his astonishment and indignation knew no 
bounds when he found that general in fuU 
retreat. Spurring forward his horse, he rode 
up to Lee, and sternly inquired what was the 
cause of all the disorder and confusion ? Lee 
retorted sharply, and harsh words passed be- 
tween them. But time was too precious to 
be wasted. Wasliington wheeling his horse, 
hastened to the rear, and rallied a large por- 
tion of the regiments of Ramsay and Stewart, 
and then ordered two pieces of cannon under 
Oswald to be placed on an eminence and 
opened on the enemy. The fire of Oswald's 
guns deterred the enemy from pursuing ; and 
tlie presence of Washington revived the 
drooped spirits of the soldiers, and in a few 
moments something like order again reigned 
in the American army. The British gi'cna- 
diers maintained an incessant fire upon the 
broken ranks of the Americans ; but under 
cover of Oswald's guns, and the well-directed 
musketry of Stewart and Ramsay's troops, 
the Americans re-formed, and in half an hour 
stood drawn up in battle order. Then ad- 
vancing to Lee, he said, " Will you, sir, com- 
mand these troops?" "I will," exclaimed 
Lee, eager to wipe out his disgrace. " Then 
forward and check the enemy immediately." 
" I shall obey," repUed Lee. 

Lee disposed his troops on more advanta- 
geous ground, and received the assault of the 
British with firmness. Like two contending 
tides they fought man to man, breast to 
breast. The rattle of musketry, the roar of 
artillery, the shouts of the infuriated soldiers, 
and tlie screams of the dying, loaded the air. 
The flashing scarlet of the British uniforms 
was mingled with the somber hue of their 
antagonists ; and the strife was hot and fu- 
rious. At length, the Americans, over- 
whelmed by superior numbers, fell back and 
withdrew, but in good order, behind English- 
town, to rally anew. The American rear 
guard, mean time, had arrived at the field of 



MONS— MONTEBELLO. 



389 



action. Washington planted these troops 
partly in a neighboring wood and partly 
upon a hill, on the left. On this eminence 
some pieces of cannon had been planted by 
Lord Stirling, and their fire severely annoyed 
the enemy. The infantry were drawn up in 
the center, at the foot of the hiU in front of 
the enemy. The left wing was commanded 
by Lord Stirling, the right by General 
Greene. Washington took his station in the 
center. Wayne, with some hght infantry, 
was posted upon an eminence, in advance 
of the main hne ; and upon a height on liis 
right was a battery which commanded the 
elevation occupied by the enemy, and com- 
mitted cruel havoc upon their left wing. 
The English, meeting with such a warm re- 
ception in front, endeavored to turn the left 
flank of the Americans, but were repulsed. 
They next turned toward the American 
right ; but, met by a perfect tornado of iron 
from Knox's battery upon an elevated piece 
of ground, occupied by General Greene, they 
were obliged to fall back. Meanwhile, the 
Americans in the center, under Wayne, 
maintained an incessant fire, repulsing the 
repeated assaults of the royal grenadiers, 
commanded by Colonel Monckton. Monck- 
ton saw that unless Wayne should be driven 
from his position the day was lost. Spurring 
his horse through the ranks, he harangued 
his men, in a voice so clear that it reached 
the ears of the patriots ; then forming them 
in a solid column, led on his troops with the 
utmost gallantry. The grenadiers advanced 
toward Wayne's troops, witli the precision 
and regularity of a parade. Onward came 
that brilliant line of scarlet, with glittering 
weapons poised, and banners fluttering; on 
came the British grenadiers, with measured 
tread and hps compressed. A calm ensued. 
It was the prelude of the storm. " For- 
ward !" shouted the gallant Monckton, and 
Uke bloodhounds trained to the fight, his 
men rushed madly on to the bayonet charge. 
The Americans were silent. Suddenly 
Wayne — Mad Anthony Wayne — gave the 
signal, and the American line blazed with 
lightnings which cast a tempest of lead into 
the bosoms of the advancing Britons. Al- 
most every British officer fell. The brave 
Monckton was among them. The Amer- 
icans rushed forward on their foes, and over 
the body of the prostrate Monckton a terri- 
ble conflict ensued ; and along the entire hne 
the battle raged furiously. The grenadiers 
were finally driven back, and the whole 
British army retreated to the heights occu- 
pied in the morning by General Lee. The 
new position of the British army was strong ; 
woods and deep marshes covered their 
flanks, and their front was protected by a 
ravine narrow and deep, through wliich the 



enemy must pass before reaching it. Wash- 
ington, however, resolved to renew the en- 
gagement; but the nature of the ground 
prevented him from gaining any decided 
action. Night feU upon the combatants. 
The roar of artillery died away. Washing- 
ton postponed his attack until the following 
morning, and on the field the American 
army sought repose in sleep, after the fatigues 
of the day. Wasliington passed the night 
with his suite, under the branches of a huge 
oak. Morning dawned, and the Americans 
prepared for battle; but during the night 
CUnton had withdrawn liis army ; and Wash- 
ington, taking into consideration the extreme 
heat of the weather, the fatigue of his troops, 
and the distance which the enemy had gained 
upon him during the night, rehnquished the 
thought of pursuing the British. Thus ter- 
minated the battle of Monmouth, in which 
the honor of victory clearly belongs to the 
Americans, although the British dispute their 
claim. The Americans lost, on this occasion, 
in killed, six officers and sixty-one non-com- 
missioned ofiicers and privates, and 160 in 
wounded. The British lost 300 killed, and 
nearly the same number wounded, together 
with about 100 taken prisoners, and a great 
number of deserters. 

Lee was court-martialed for his behavior 
at the commencement of the battle of Mon- 
mouth ; and was found guilty of disobedience 
in not attacking the enemy when ordered to 
do so ; for having made an unnecessary and 
disorderly retreat ; and for disrespect to the 
commander-in-chief He was sentenced to 
be suspended from Ms command for one 
year. Whether this sentence was too severe 
or too mUd is a question of opinion ; certain 
it is, however, that Lee's conduct at the 
commencement of the battle was such as to 
warrant the bchef that he preferred seeing 
the Americans disgraced by a defeat, rather 
than Washington should be honored by a 
victory. His conduct during the balance of 
the day, was that of a brave and skillful officer. 

MONS, A.D. 1425. — Mons, a fortified town 
of Belgium, has sustained several sieges. In 
1425 it was taken by Jean IV., aided by 
Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy ; in 1691, 
after an obstinate defense it was taken by 
Louis XIV., and was occupied by Eugene 
and Marlborough in 1709. It fell alternately 
into the hands of the French, Austrians, and 
Spaniards, until in 1794, it was taken by the 
French, who retained it until 1814, when it 
was finally united to Belgium. 

MONTEBELLO, a.d. 1800.— MontebeUo 
is an Italian village, situated twenty-three 
miles north-east of Alexandria. Marshal 
Lannes, by his victory over the Austrians, 
near this place, won the title of Duke de 
MontebeUo. 



MONTENACKEN— MONTENOTTE. 



The battle of Montebello occurred on the 
9th of June, 1800, between the repubUcan 
army of France and the imperialists. The 
advanced guard of the French was com- 
manded by Lannes, wliile the main body of 
the Austrians, concentrated at Montebello, 
was under the supervision of Ott. He had 
stationed his forces, numbering some 15,000 
chosen men, in the most advantageous po- 
sition on the heights, their right resting on 
the eminences that form the roots of the 
Apennines, and commanded the road to Tor- 
tona, which wound round their feet, their 
left, extending into the plain, where their 
cavalry could act with effect. Lannes was, 
for a moment, startled at the sight of such an 
array, but seeing the disastrous effect which 
the sUghtest backward movement would have 
on a force with its rear resting on the Po, he 
resolved on instantly attacking the enemy. 
His army did not number more than 9,000 
men, while those of his enemy were over 
15,000 strong ; but the division of Victor was 
not more than six miles in the rear and was 
soon expected. The French infantry, with 
great heroism, advanced in echelon, under a 
shower of grape-shot and musketry, to storm 
the hills on the right of the position of the 
Austrians, where strong batteries had been 
placed, which commanded the whole field of 
battle. 

They were successful in carrying the 
heights of Revetta, but, being disordered by 
this success, they were assailed by six fresh 
regiments, and driven down into the plain. 
In the center, on the great road, the French 
division under Watrin maintained itself with 
the utmost difficulty against the vehement 
attacks of the imperialists; and, notwith- 
standing Lannes made such desperate efforts, 
defeat would have been certain, had not the 
arrival of a part of Victor's division enabled 
the republicans to rally their troops and pre- 
pare for a fresh attack. They immediately 
formed new columns to assail the heights on 
the left, while Watrin commenced a furious 
onset in the center. The Austrians were 
driven back at all points, and the victory of 
the French seemed sure, when Ott brought 
up his reserves from the second Hne, and vic- 
tory again seemed the Austrians'. The re- 
publicans gave way, and the loud shouts of 
tlie imperialists announced a total overthrow, 
when the balance of Victor's division arrived, 
and the victory was again theirs. The Aus- 
trians would not yield, however, without a 
desperate struggle ; they fought to gain time 
for a concentration of their forces to meet 
this new enemy, the republicans to avoid be- 
ing driven back into the Po. The last re- 
serves, on both sides, were soon engaged, 
and the contending parties fouglit hand-to- 
hand, with the most heroic gallantry. At 



length. Napoleon's arrival with the division 
G-ardane, decided the victory. The right of 
Ott's division was turned, the center and left 
was now giving way, he therefore reluctantly 
gave the signal of retreat, and the imperiaUsts, 
in good order, retreated toward St. Juliano, 
after putting a garrison of a thousand men 
into the fortress of Tortona. In tliis battle, 
the Austrians lost 3,000, killed and wounded, 
and 1,500 prisoners. The loss of the French, 
in slain and disabled, was nearly equal. 

MONTENACKEN, a.d. 1213.— A great 
battle was fought in the vicinity of Monte- 
nacken, a town of Belgium, in 1213, between 
the Bral:)aneons and the Liegeois, which re- 
sulted, after a most obstinate and bloody 
contest, in the total destruction of the Bra- 
baneons, who lost in the battle 3,000 men 
killed, and 4,000 made prisoners. 

MONTENOTTE, a.d. 1796.— Montonotte 
is a village of Sardinia, in the Apennines, 
twenty-six miles west of Genoa. 

The armies of the French and Austrians, 
while marching through the Alps, on their 
route to the sea coast, came in contact at 
Montenotte, in the early part of April, 1796. 
The Austrian general advanced his center to 
this place for the purpose of faUing on the 
left flank of the French, and thus intercept, 
by occupying Savona, the road they were 
pursuing from Provence to Genoa. The 
imperialists, numbering some 10,000 men, 
commanded by Pioccavina, encountering Col- 
onel Rampou, at the head of 1,200 men, 
forced him to retire to an old redoubt ; but 
he, knowing that much depended upon the 
possession of this important post, gallantly 
defended the fort, again and again repulsed 
the Austrians, and, in the midst of the fire, 
made liis soldiers swear to conquer or die. 
With great- difficulty he maintained his po- 
sition until night, and thus by his bravery 
saved the French army, which would have 
been cut in two had this battle been lost. Roc- 
cavina was severely wounded, and forced to 
be removed. Before he left, he urged his 
successor, D'Argenteau, to renew the assault 
during the night, aud gain possession of the 
fort, before the republicans could come to the 
aid of Colonel Rampou ; but tliis advice he 
did not incline to obey. If he had, all would 
have been changed. While this attack at 
Montenotte was taking place. Napoleon was 
at Savona; but as soon as the intelligence 
became known to him, he resolved to crush 
the whole Austrian force which had thus 
pushed into the center of his line of march. 
Accordingly, he left Savona after dark, with 
the two divisions of Massena and Serrurier, 
and crossing the ridge of Calibane, occupied 
the heights in the rear of Montenotte. The 
darkness of the night entirely concealed their 
movements, and at daybreak, the Austrians 



MONTEREAU— MONTEREY. 



391 



found themselves surrounded on all sides. 
Theii- front was soon attacked by Eampou 
and La Harpe, while Messina and Joubert 
pressed their rear. Their resistance was long 
und brave, but the French force being so 
much more superior, they were completely 
routed, with the loss of five pieces of can- 
non, 2,000 prisoners, and 1,000 killed and 
wounded. 

MONTEREAU, a.d. 1814.— This town is 
situated at the confluence of the rivers Seine 
and Yonne in France, forty-two miles south- 
east of Paris, and about ten miles south of 
Fontainebleau, in the famous forest bearing 
the name of the latter place. 

The overwhelming forces of the aUied 
armies of England, Prussia, Russia, and Aus- 
tria, had entered France. In the month of 
February 1814, the whole plain between the 
Seine and the Loire, as far as Fontainebleau, 
was inundated with troops on their way to 
Paris. Paris was in consternation; it was 
reported in the capital that hordes of uncouth 
men, with long beards and barbarous man- 
ners, were approaching to lay waste the me- 
tropolis of science and the arts. Oudiuot 
and Victor with 20,000 French troops had 
unsuccessfully but obstinately endeavored to 
check the advance of the aUies ; but borne 
back by the overwhelming tide of the enemy, 
they had gradually retreated, and the capital 
was in imminent danger, when Napoleon, at 
the head of his Guards and cuu-assiers ad- 
vanced across the valley of the Seine by 
Guignes through the forest of Brie. Having 
formed a junction with the forces of Victor 
and Oudinot at the cross roads of Chalons, 
the whole army halted, and the advance ol' 
the enemy was checked. The next day. Na- 
poleon, assuming the offensive, marched 
against the enemy, and a combat between 
Wittgenstein's Russian advanced guard, and 
the French near Margis took place, which re- 
sulted in the defeat of the latter, with a loss 
of 3,000 men IciUed, wounded and made pris- 
oners, with fifty-one pieces of artillery. At 
the same time, a conflict also took place be- 
tween the Bavarians and the French near 
Montereau, in which the Bavarians were de- 
feated with a loss of 2,500 men; but the 
French were unable to expel the enemy from 
that village, the town of Montereau. The 
rivers Seine and Yonne are here crossed by 
bridges of stone, which Avere in the posses- 
sion of the allies. Napoleon immediately 
advanced against Montereau and on the even- 
ing of the 18th, the French troops were as- 
sembled in imposing masses on the heights of 
Surville, which overhang the town on the 
northern bank. Napoleon had not gained 
tliis position without a struggle; Branchi 
with the troops of Wirtemberg had during 
the night of the 17th, occupied them in force ; 



but the French attacked them with such 
vigor that they retreated in the utmost dis- 
order over the bridge into the town. Napo- 
leon immediately estabhshed himself on the 
abandoned heights, and soon sixty pieces of 
cannon opened a close and concentric fire on 
the dense masses which were crowding over 
the bridge. The French cavalry protected 
by the fire of such a powerful battery on the 
heights above them, the mere discharges of 
which sliivered every pane in the neighboring 
chateau of Surville to pieces, pressed so rap- 
idly on the last column of the Wirtembergers, 
that there was no time to fire the trains with 
which the bridge was undermind ; the pur- 
suing horsemen crossed over, pell-mell, with 
the fugitives, the division of Duchesne rapid- 
ly pressed after them, and amid the shouts of 
the inhabitants, drove the enemy entirely out 
of Montereau, tlie allies retiring after having 
destroyed the bridge over the Yonne, which 
stopped the pursuit in the direction of Lens. 

In this battle, the French lost about 2,500 
men in killed and wounded. The allies lost 
3,000 men killed and wounded, and 3,000 
made prisoners. Six guns and four standards 
fell into the hands of the victors. 

MONTEREY, a.d. 1846.— Monterey is 
situated on the Tigre, at the head of an ex- 
tensive and beautiful valley, in Mexico, eighty- 
five miles east of Saltillo. In the year 184G, 
Monterey was taken by the United States 
army, under General Taylor. The following 
detailed account of the siege is taken from 
General Taylor's oflficial account : 

From information received while on the 
approach of the American army toward Mon- 
terey, General Taylor was induced to beUeve 
that the Mexicans were prepared to defend 
that place. Upon reaching the neighborhood 
of the city on the morning of the 19th of 
September this belief was fully confirmed. 
It was ascertained that the enemy occupied 
the town in force; that a large work had 
been constructed commanding all the north- 
ern approaches ; and that the Bishop's Palace 
and some heights in the vicinity near the 
Saltillo road had also been fortified and occu- 
pied with troops and artillery. It was known 
from information previously received, that the 
eastern approaches were commanded by 
several small works in the lower edge of the 
city. The configuration of the heights and 
gorges in the direction of the Saltillo road, as 
visible from the point attained by the advance 
of the United States army on the morning of 
the 19th, led General Taylor to suspect that 
it was practicable to turn all the -works in 
that direction, and thus cut the enemy's line 
of communication. After establishing his 
camp at the " Walnut Springs," three miles 
from Monterey, the nearest suitable position, 
General Taylor ordered a close reconnoisance 



392 



MONTEEEY. 



of the ground in question, which was execut- 
ed on the evening of the 19th by tlie en- 
gineer officers under the dhrectiou of Major 
Mansfield. A reconnoisance of the eastern 
approaches was at the same time made by 
Captain WiUiams of the topograpliical engi- 
neers. Tlie examination made by Major 
Mansfield proved the entire practicabihty of 
throwing forward a column to the SaltUlo 
road, and thus turning the position of the 
enemy. Deeming this to be an operation of 
essential importance, orders were given to 
Brevet Brigadier-G-eneral Worth, command- 
ing the second division, to march with his 
command on the 20th ; to turn the hQl of the 
Bishop's palace ; to occupy a position on the 
Saltillo road ; and to carry the enemy's de- 
tached works in that quarter, where practic- 
able. The first regiment of Texas mounted 
volunteers under command of Colonel Hays 
was associated with the second division on 
this service. Captain Sanders, engineers 
and Lieutenant Meade, topographijcal engi 
neers, were also ordered to report to Greneral 
Worth for duty with his column. 

At two o'clock, p. M., on the 20th, the 
second division broke up its march. It was 
soon discovered, by ofiicers who were recon- 
noitering the town, and communicated to 
General Worth, that the movement had been 
perceived and that the army was throwing 
reinforcements toward the Bishop's Palace 
and the height which commands it. To di- 
vert his attention as far as practicable, the 
first division, under Brigadier-G-eneral Twiggs, 
and a field division of volunteers under Major- 
General Butler, were displayed in front of 
the town until dark. Arrangements were 
made at the same time to place in battery 
during the night, at a suitable distance from 
the enemy's works, the citadel, two 24 pounder 
howitzers, and a 10 inch mortar, with a view 
to open a fire on the following day, when 
General Taylor proposed to make a diversion 
in favor of General Worth's movement. The 
4th infantry covered this battery during the 
night. General Worth had in the mean time 
reached and occupied for the night a defensive 
position just without range of a battery above 
the Bishop's Palace, having made a recon- 
noisance as far as the Saltillo road. General 
Taylor in his report, mentioned in detail 
only those operations which were conducted 
against the eastern extremity of the city or 
elsewhere under his immediate direction ; the 
operations of General Worth were entirely 
distinct from those of Taylor, and for the 
particulars of his movements we are obliged 
to consult his own report. 

Early on the morning of the 21st, Tay- 
lor received a note from General Worth, 
written at half-past nine o'clock the night 
before, suggesting, what he had already in- 



tended, a strong division against the center 
and left of the town to favor Worth's enter- 
prise against the heights in rear. The in- 
lantry and artillery of the first division, and 
the field division of volunters were ordered 
under arms and took the direction of the 
city, leaving one company of each regiment 
as a camp-guard. The 2d dragoons under 
Lieutenant Colonel May, and Qolonel Wood's 
regiment of Texas mounted tolunteers, un- 
der the immediate command of General 
Henderson, were directed to the right to 
support General Worth, if necessary, and to 
make an impression if practicable, upon the 
upper quarter of the city. Upon approach- 
ing the mortar battery, the 1st and 3d regi- 
ments of infantry and battaUons of Baltimore 
and Wasliington volunteers with Captain 
Bragg' s field battery — the whole under the 
command of Lieutenant Colonel Garland — 
were directed toward the lower part of the 
town, with orders to make a strong demon- 
stration, and carry one of the enemy's ad- 
vanced works, if it could be done without 
heavy loss. Major Mansfield's engineers, and 
Captain WiUiams, and Lieutenant Pope's to- 
pographical engineers, accompanied this col- 
umn; Major Mansfield being charged with 
its direction, and the designation of points of 
attack. In the mean time the mortar, served 
by Captain Eamsay, of the ordnance, and 
the howitzer battery under Captain Webster, 
1st Artillery, had opened their fire upon the 
citadel, which was deUberately sustained and 
answered from the work. General Butler's 
division had now taken up a position in rear 
of this battery, when the discharges of artil- 
lery mingled finally with a rapid fire of small 
arms, showed that Lieut. Col. Garland's com- 
mand had become warmly engaged. To 
support this attack, Taylor ordered the 4tli 
infimtry and the regiments of Butler's di- 
vision to march at once by the left flank in 
the direction of the advanced work at the 
lower extremity of the town, leaving one 
regiment (1st Kentucky) to cover the mortar 
and howitzer battery. By some mistake, two 
companies of the 4th infantry did not receive 
this order, and consequently did notjoin the ad- 
vanced companies until some time afterward. 
Garland's command had approached the 
town in a direction to the right of the ad- 
vanced work (No. 1) at the north-eastern 
angle of the city, and the engineer oQicer, 
covered by skirmishers, had succeeded in en- 
tering the suburbs and gaining cover. The 
remainder of this command now advanced 
and entered the town under a heavy fire of 
artillery from the citadel and the works on 
the left and of musketry from the houses and 
small works in front. A movement on tlie 
right was attempted with a view to gain the 
rear of No. 1, and carry that work ; but the 



MONTEREY. 



393 



troops were so much exposed to a fire which 
they could not effectually return, and had al- 
ready sustained severe loss, particularly in offi- 
cers, that it was deemed best to withdraw them 
to a more secure position. Captain Bacchus, 
1st infantry, however, and a portion of his 
own and otlier companies, had gained the 
roof of a tannery which looked directly into 
the gorge of No. 1, and from which he poured 
a most destructive fire into that work and 
upon the strong building in the rear. Tliis 
fire happily coincided in point of time with 
the advance of a portion of the volunteer di- 
vision upon No. 1, and contributed largely 
to the fall of that strong and important work. 
The three regiments of the volunteer divis- 
ion under the immediate command of Major 
G-eneral Butler, had in the mean time, ad- 
vanced in >the direction of No. 1. The 
leading brigade, under Quitman, continued 
its advance upon that work, preceded by 
three companies of the 4th infantry, while 
Butler with the 1st Ohio regiment, entered 
the town to the right. The companies of the 
4th infantry had advanced within shot range 
of the work, where they were received by a 
fire that almost in one moment struck down 
one third of the oflficers and men, and ren- 
dered it necessary to retire and eflect a con- 
junction with the two other companies then 
advancing. General Quitman's brigade, 
though suffering most severely, particularly 
in the Tennessee regiment, continued its ad- 
vance, and finally carried the work in hand- 
some style, as well as the strong building in 
its rear. Five pieces of artillery, a consider- 
able supply of ammunition, and thirty prison- 
ers, including .three officers, fell into their 
hands. Butler, with the first Ohio regiment, 
after entering the edge of the town, dis- 
covered that notliing was to be accomplished 
in his front, and, at this point, yielding to 
the suggestions of several officers, Taylor 
ordered a retrograde movement ; but learning 
almost immediately, that the battery No. 1 
was captured, the order was countermanded, 
and he determined to hold that battery, and 
defenses already gained. General Butler, 
with the 1st Ohio regiment, then entered the 
town, at a point further to the left, and 
marched in the direction of battery No. 2. 
While making an examination, with a 
view to ascertain the possibihty of carrying 
this second work by storm, the general was 
first wounded, and soon after compelled to 
quit the field. As the strength of No. 2, and 
the heavy musketry fire flanking the approach, 
rendered it impossible to carry it without 
great loss, the 1st Ohio regiment was with- 
drawn from the town. Fragments of the 
various regiments engaged, were now under 
cover of the captured battery, and some 
buildings in its front on the right. The field 



batteries of Captains Bragg and Eidgely were 
also partially covered by the battery. An 
incessant fire was kept up on this position 
from battery No. 2, and other works on its 
right, and from the citadel on all our ap- 
proaches. General Twiggs, though quite 
unwell, joined me at this point, and was in- 
strumental in causing the artillery captured 
from the enemy to be placed in battery, and 
served by Captain Ridgely against No. 2, un- 
til the arrival of Captain Webster's howitzer 
battery, which took its place. In the mean 
time, Taylor directed such men as could be 
collected of the 1st, 3d, and 4th regiments, 
and Baltimore battahon, to enter the town, 
penetrating to the right, and carry the 2d 
battery if possible. This command, under 
Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, advanced beyond 
the bridge " Purisima," when, finding it im- 
practicable to gain the rear of the 2d battery, 
a portion of it sustained themselves for some 
time in that advanced position ; but as no 
permanent impression could be made at that 
point, and the main object of the general 
operation had been effected, the command, 
including a section of Captain Ridgely's 
battery, which had joined it, was withdrawn 
to Battery No. 1. During the absence of 
this column, a demonstration of cavalry was 
reported in the direction of the citadel. 
Captain Bragg, who was at hand, immediate- 
ly galloped with his battery to a suitable 
position, from which a few discharges effect- 
ually dispersed the enemy. Captain Miller, 
1st infantry, was dispatched with a mixed 
command, to support the battery on this 
service. The enemy's lancers had previously 
charged upon the Ohio and a part of the 
Mississippi regiment, near some fields at a 
distance from the edge of the town, and had 
been repulsed with a considerable loss. A 
demonstration of cavahy on the opposite side 
of the river was also dispersed in the course 
of the afternoon by Captain Ridgely's battery, 
and the squadrons returned to the city. At 
the approach of the evening, all the troops 
that had been engaged were ordered back to 
camp, except Captain Ridgely's battery, and 
the regular infantry of the 1st division, who 
were detailed as a guard for the works dur- 
ing the night, under command of Lieutenant- 
Colonel Garland. One battahon of the 1st 
Kentucky regiment was ordered to reinforce 
this command. Intrenching tools were 
procured, and additional strength was given 
to the works, and protection to the men, by 
working parties during the night, under the 
direction of Lieutenant Scarritt, engineers. 

The main object proposed in the morning 
had been effected. A powerful diversion 
had been made to favor the operations of the 
2d division, one of the enemy's advanced 
works had been carried, and we now had a 



394 



MONTEEEY. 



strong foot-hold in the town. But this had 
not been accomplished without a heavy loss, 
embraciuij: soiiie of our gallant and promising 
officers. The number of killed and wounded 
incident to the operations in the lower part 
of the city on the 21st was 394. 

Early in the morning of the 21st, the ad- 
vance of the second division encountered the 
enemy in force, and after a brief but sharp 
conflict, repulsed him with heavy loss. Gen- 
eral Worth, then succeeded in gaining a 
position on the Saltillo road, thus cutting off 
the enemy's line of communication. Prom 
this position the two heights south of the 
Saltillo road Avere carried in succession, and 
the gun taken in one of them turned upon 
the Bishop's Palace. These important suc- 
cesses were fortunately obtained with com- 
paratively small loss ; Captain McKavett, 8th 
infantry, being the only officer kiUed. 

The 22d day of September passed without 
any active operations in the lower part of 
the cit3^ The citadel and other works con- 
tinued to fire at parties exposed to their 
range, and at the work now occupied by our 
troops. The guard left it in the preceding 
night, except Captain Ridgely's company, 
which was relieved at mid-day by General 
Quitman's brigade ; Captain Bragg's battery 
was thrown under cover in front of the town 
to repel any demonstration of cavalry in that 
quarter. At dawn of day, the height above 
the Bishop's Palace was carried, and soon 
after meridian, the Palace itself was taken 
and its guns turned upon the fugitive garri- 
son. The object for which the second divis- 
ion was detached had thus been completely 
accomphshed, and General Taylor felt confi- 
dent that with a strong force occupying the 
road and heights in his rear, and a good 
position below the city in our possession, 
the enemy could not possibly maintain the 
town. 

During the night of the 22d, the enemy 
evacuated nearly all lus defenses in the lower 
part of the city. Tliis was reported to me 
early in the morning of the 23d, by General 
Quitman, who had already meditated an as- 
sault upon those works. Taylor immediately 
sent instructions to that officer, leaving it to 
his discretion to enter the city, covering his 
men by the houses and walls, and advance 
carefully as far as he might deem prudent. 
After ordering the remainder of the troops as 
a reserve, under the orders of Brigadier Gen- 
eral Twiggs, Taylor repaired to the aban- 
doned works, and discovered that a portion of 
General Quitman's brigade had entered the 
town, and were successfully forcing their 
way toward the principal plaza. The second 
regiment of Texas mounted volunteers was 
then ordered up, who entered the city, dis- 
mounted, and, under the immediate orders of 



General Henderson, oo-operated with Gen- 
eral Quitman's brigade. Captain Bragg's 
battery was also ordered up, supported by 
the 3d infantry ; and after firing for some 
time at the cathedral, a portion of it was 
likewise thrown into the city. Our troops 
advanced from house to house, and from 
square to square, until they reached a street 
but one square in rear of the principal plaza, 
in and near which the enemy's force was 
mainly concentrated. This advance was con- 
ducted vigorously, but with due caution, and 
although destructive to the enemy, was at- 
tended with but small loss on our part. Cap- 
tain Ridgely, in the mean time, had served a 
captured piece in battery number one, against 
the city, until the advance of our men ren- 
dered it imprudent to fire in the direction of 
the cathedral. Taylor was now satisfied that 
he could operate successfully in the city, and 
that the enemy had retired from the lower 
portion of it to make a stand behind liis bar- 
ricades. As General Quitman's brigade had 
been on duty the previous night, he deter- 
mined to withdraw the troops to the evacuated 
Avorks, and concert with General Worth a 
combined attack upon the town. The troops 
accordingly feU back dehberately in good order, 
and resumed their original positions. General 
Quitman's brigade being relieved after night- 
fall by that of General Hamer. On his re- 
turn to camp, Taylor met an officer with the 
intelligence that General Worth, induced by 
the firing in the lower part of the city, was 
about making an attack at the upper extremi- 
ty, wliich had also been evacuated by the 
enemy to a considerable distance. He re- 
gretted that this information Ijad not reached 
him before leaving the city, but still deemed 
it inexpedient to change liis orders, and ac- 
cordingly returned to the camp. A note from 
General Worth, Avritten at eleven o'clock, 
P.M., informed Mm that he had advanced 
to within a short distance of the principal 
plaza, and that the mortar (which had been 
sent to his division in the morning) was doing 
good execution within effective range of the 
enemy's position. 

Desiring to make no further attenipt upon 
the city without complete concert as to the 
fines and mode of approach, Taylor instruct- 
ed that officer to suspend his advance until 
he could have an interview with him on the 
following morning at his head-quarters. 

Early on the morning of the 24th, Taylor 
received, through Colonel Moreno, a commu- 
nication fi-om General Ampudia, proposing 
to evacuate the town ; which, Avith tlie an- 
swer, were forAvarded with my first dispatch. 
He arranged with Colonel Moreno a cessa- 
tion of firing until twelve o'clock, at which 
hour he would receive the answer of the 
^Mexican general at General Worth's head- 



MONTGOMERY— MONTMIRAIL. 



395 



quarters, to wliich he soon repaired. In the 
mean time, General Ampudia had signified to 
General Worth his desire for a personal in- 
terview with him, to which he acceded, and 
which finally resulted in a capitulation, plac- 
ing the town and the material of war, with 
certain exceptions, in our possession. 

Upon occupying the city it Avas discovered 
to be of great strength in itself, and to have 
its approaches carefuUy and strongly fortified. 
The town and works were armed with forty- 
two pieces of cannon, well supi^lied with 
ammunition, and manned with a force of at 
least 7,000 troops of the hne, and from 2,000 
to 3,000 irregulars. The force under Taylor's 
orders before Monterey, was 425 officers, and 
6,220 men. Our artillery consisted of one 
ten-inch mortar, two twenty-four pounder 
howitzers, and four fight field-batteries, of 
four guns each — the mortar being the only 
piece suitable to the operations of a siege. 
Our loss was twelve officers and 108 men 
killed ; thirty-one officers and 337 men 
wounded. That of the enemy was not 
known, but is befieved considerably to ex- 
ceed our own. 

General Worth's operations against the 
western side of the^ town were briefly as 
follows : on the 20th of September he moved 
toward the Saltillo road, and having discov- 
ered that the heights west of the Bishop's 
Palace, were strongly occupied and fortified, 
and that besides these two, the eminence on 
which the palace stands was occupied above 
that building, wliich, with a fort adjoining it, 
was also strongly defended, he resolved that 
the two heights first mentioned should be 
taken the next day, before assailing the Palace 
itself. On the next day, therefore, the Texan 
rangers, and Louisiana volunteers, with the 
regular troops, were ordered to the assault, 
and the heights were carried in fine style. 
The United States troops immediately took 
possession of the heights, and the guns of 
the one nearest the palace were immediately 
turned upon that edifice and its defenders. 

Early the next morning, a detachment 
consisting of artillery, infantry, and Texans, 
under the general command of Colonel Childs, 
was ordered to take possession of the heights 
above the Palace. With such secresy was 
this movement made, that the troops had 
arrived within 300 feet of the enemy's works 
before they were discovered. 

The assailants carried the works gallantly, 
and the Mexicans fled in dire confusion down 
the steep dechvity to the palace. A howitzer, 
with great labor, was dragged to the sum- 
mit of the eminence above the Palace, and 
was opened upon the building, which was 
now crowded with Mexicans. The Mexicans 
made a gallant charge up the hill against the 
enemy, but were repulsed, and the howitzer 



sent its hghtning upon the Palace vdth visible 
eifect, wliile volley after volley of musketry 
was poured upon its defenders. At. about 
twelve o'clock, the Mexican cavalry advanced 
before the Palace and charged the skirmishers 
furiously; but Captain Vinton, with some 
light troops, received them with so much 
warmth, that they were hurled back, and 
many endeavored to re-enter the palace, in 
vain. At tins moment. Colonel Cliilds or- 
dered a general assault. The Americans 
rushed down the hill, and through a breach 
made by the howitzers, and attacked the 
Mexicans with a fierceness which they could 
not withstand. In a short time, the assail- 
ants were in full possession of the Palace, 
with the adjoining fort. On the morning of 
the 23d, General Worth opened the guns of 
the Palace and fort upon the city. Having 
driven the Mexicans from their works outside 
the city. General Worth now entered the 
city from the western side. The Mexicans 
met the Americans in the street, contesting 
every inch of ground with the utmost per- 
tinacity. From windows and house-tops, the 
Americans were assailed by their numerous 
foes; but they fought their way over every 
obstacle, until they reached a square, where 
they remained for the night, occupying the 
houses on both sides, and pouring forth in- 
cessant and destrucrive showers of grape- 
shot, shell and musketry. The Mexican 
defensive works were all in the hands of the 
Americans, except the citadel near the cen- 
ter of the town. The Mexican troops were 
concentrated in or around the grand plaza, 
near the citadel. Worth now set his sappers 
and miners at work, and in the same manner 
that was afterward so successfully pursued 
by the same general in the capture of the 
city of Mexico. The Texans and Mississip- 
pians, with pick-axe and crow-bar, worked 
their way through the houses, until they had 
reached the vicinity of the enemy. A bat- 
tery was erected, unknown to the enemy, 
and nothing remained but to hurl down a 
slight wall which masked it, to enable the 
Americans to pour a tempest into the unsus- 
pecting Mexicans, which would undoubtedly 
have astonished them ; but at this point, fur- 
ther operations were suspended by the con- 
ference between Taylor and the Mexican 
general. 

MONTGOMERY, a.d. 1294.— Montgom- 
ery, a town of north Wales, formerly con- 
tained a castle, which, from its size and 
strength, was frequently an object of conten- 
tion during the wars between England and 
Wales. The last battle, which decided the 
fate of Wales, was fought near Montgomery, 
between the English and Welsh, in 1294. 

MONTMIRAIL, a.d. 1814.— A battle was 
fought near Montmirail, in France, on the 



396 



MONTMORENCI— MORAT. 



11th and 12th of February, 1814, between 
the French army under Napoleon, and the 
allied Russian and Prussian army under 01- 
soofief and Sacken, wliich resulted in the 
total destruction of the allies, with a loss of 
6,000 men, in the battle and retreat, seven- 
teen guns, and five standards. The French 
lost about 1,000 men. 
MONTMORENCI.— See Quehec. 
MOODKEE, A.D. 1845.— Near Moodkee, 
a village of western Hindostan, in 1845, was 
fought the first battle between the Siklis and 
the British forces, in wliich the latter were 
victorious. 

MOORE'S CREEK BRIDGE, a.d. 1776. 
— Moore's Creek is a small stream in North 
CaroUna, running from north to south, and 
emptying into the South river, about twenty 
miles above Wilmington. 

Donald McDonald, an influential and loyal 
Highlander, at Cross Creek (now Fayette- 
ville), North Carolina, having received from 
Martin, the British governor of the province, 
a brigadier-general's commission, with a 
large number of copies of a proclamation 
calling on all the loyal subjects of the King of 
England, in North Carohna, to join his 
standard, set up a recruiting-station at Cross 
Creek, and issued the proclamation. The 
loyal Scotchmen of the district answered the 
call in considerable numbers ; and in a few 
days more than 1,000 had enrolled them- 
selves under his colors. Some other of the 
inhabitants joined them, so that McDonald's 
force consisted of about 1,500 men. At this 
time. Colonel James Moore of Hanover, had 
under his command a body of regular troops, 
and a detachment of New Hanover mUitia, 
in all about 1,100 men ; and having received 
inteUigence of the gathermg of the loyalists 
under McDonald, advanced toward Cross 
Creek, and encamped about twelve miles 
soutli of the enemy's head-quarters. The 
patriots fortified their camp, and by exercis- 
ing the utmost vigilance, cut off all means of 
communication between McDonald and Gov- 
ernor Martin, who was at Wilmington. 
McDonald saw the necessity of dislodging 
the enemy, and marched with his troops to 
attack them. Upon arriving within about 
four miles of the patriots, he halted, and sent 
a proclamation and a letter to Colonel Moore. 
In the letter he firmly, but in a friendly man- 
ner, urged the patriot commander to prevent 
bloodshed by joining the royahsts ; at the 
same time assuring him that refusal would 
subject him to the treatment due to rebels. 
Moore replied in the same spirit; inviting 
McDonald to espouse the holy cause of Free- 
dom, and threatening, in case of non-com- 
phance, to attack him at once. McDonald, 
on this, thought fit not to hazard an engage- 
ment, but to attempt to join Martin at Wil- 



mington. He hastily decamped, and pushed 
forward rapidly toward the South river, 
closely pursued by the patriots under Moore. 
As the royalists approached the mouth of 
Moore's Creek, they stumbled upon the camp 
of Colonels Littington and Caswell, who, with 
the minute-men of Wake, Craven, Johnson, 
and Dobbs counties, and battalions from Wil- 
mington and Newbern, were seeking for 
McDonald's army. The patriots were about 
1,000 strong. McDonald was thus placed in 
an awkward position. Before him were the 
minute-men, whose very name struck terror 
to tlie heart of the Tory ; and his rear was 
threatened by Moore with his regulars. On 
the night of the 26th of February, both par- 
ties were in sight of each other. They 
awaited the dawn before commencing the 
action. During the night the patriots 
strengthened their position by casting up a 
breast-work, and removing the planks from 
the bridge across the creek, and prepared to 
dispute the passage to the last. The day 
broke, and from the Scottish camp arose the 
clear blast of a score of bag-pipes calhng the 
HiglJanders to arms. The command of the 
royahsts was intrusted to Captain McLeod, 
McDonald being too Ul to leave his tent. 
The Highlanders rushed gallantly toward the 
river ; but when arriving within thirty paces 
of the enemy's works, they were greeted by 
a fire of musketry wliich checked them in 
their career, and the Americans, leaping fi-om 
behind the breastwork, sprang into the midst 
of the enemy, and for ten minutes a bloody 
conflict raged. Captain McLeod was killed 
at the very first attack ; and the second in 
command. Captain John Slocum, fell mortally 
wounded. At tlus moment an American 
detacliment gained the rear of the Highland- 
ers, and assailed them so fiercely that they 
were put to rout and dispersed, and many 
were made prisoners. The royalists lost 70 
killed and wounded. The American loss 
was trifling ; one man killed and one wound- 
ed. Soon after the close of the engagement. 
Captain Moore arrived, and the united forces 
spent the day in rejoicing over their victory. 
MORAT, A.D. 1476.— On the 22d of June, 
1476, a bloody battle was fought in the im- 
mediate vicinity of Morat, in Swizerlandj be- 
tween the Swiss and the army of Charles the 
Bold, Duke of Burgundy. The invaders were 
defeated with great loss. Byron thus cele- 
brates this victory : 

" Mor.at ! the proud, the patriot field, where man 
May gaze on ghastly trophies of the slain, 
Nor blush for those who conquered on that plain, 
Here Burgundy bequeathed his tombless host, 
A bony heap through ages to remain, 
Themselves their monnmenV—Childe Harold. 

The losses of the Burgundians were enor- 
mous ; 15,000 soldiers, it is said, were left on 
the field, exclusive of those who were 



MORELLA— MOSCOW. 



397 



drowned in their flight, in the lake of Morat. 
The bones of the slain were afterward col- 
lected in memory of the battle, in a square 
building called the ossuary. This strange 
monument stood three hundred years, when, 
in 1798, it was destroyed by the Burgundian 
soldiers in the French army. But though 
noticing could surpass the courage and devo- 
tion exhibited by the Swiss at Morat, it is 
evident tliat the defeat of Charles on tliis oc- 
casion was owing quite as much to his rash- 
ness and folly as to the bravery of his enemies. 
The principal strength of the duke's army 
consisted in liis cavalry ; and yet he chose for 
liis field of action a ground so rugged and 
broken that they could not operate. 

MORELLA, A.D. 1838.— Morella, in Spain, 
in 1838, was taken by surprise by the troops 
of Cabrera, during a violent snow-storm ; and 
in 1840 it was recaptured by Espartero, after 
a very gallant resistance. 

MOROARTEN, a.d. 1315.— On the 15th 
of November, 1315, a battle took place on 
Morgarten, a mountain of Switzerland, be- 
tween the Swiss and the Austrians. The 
Austrian army consisted of 20,000 men, and 
was commanded by the Archduke Leopold ; 
the Swiss army numbered only 1,300 men, 
yet this gallant little band attacked the Aus- 
trians with such vigor that the troops of Leo- 
pold were defeated and put to flight. This 
was the first battle fought for Swiss inde- 
pendence. In 1798 a French force was also 
defeated at tliis place by the Swiss. 

MOSCOW, A. D. 1812.— Moscow in Rus- 
sia is one of the largest cities of Europe. It 
was taken by Tamerlane in 1382, and afl:er- 
ward fell into the hands of the Tartars, whose 
last attack upon it was in 1571, when they 
set it on fire. 

The disasters of Napoleon's campaign in 
Russia have been portrayed by French writ- 
ers, who were eye-witnesses of this signal de- 
feat of the once favored child of fortune. 
With an immense army Napoleon entered 
the Russian territory in June, 1812. The 
battle of Borodino was fought on the 7th of 
September; on the 9th of September Mos- 
cow was burned, and on the 6th of Novem- 
ber commenced the horrors of that retreat 
which were so awfully increased by the 
bloody passage of the Beresina. The foUow- 
ing account of the burning of Moscow, and 
of the retreat, is taken from the narrative of 
Segur, who was an eye-witness of the one, 
and a participant in the other : 

At day-break our corps left the village, 
where it had encamped, and marched upon 
Moscow. As we drew near the city, we 
observed that it had no walls, and that a 
simple parapet of earth was the only work 
which formed the outer inclosure. We had 
hitherto seen nothing to indicate that the 



capital was inhabited, and the road by which 
we arrived was so deserted that we did not 
see a single Muscovite, nor even a French 
soldier. No noise, no cry, was heard amid 
this imposing solitude ; anxiety alone guided 
our footsteps, which was redoubled when we 
perceived a column of thick smoke arising 
from the center of the city. At first we 
imagined that it only proceeded from some 
magazines, to which the Russians, as usual, 
had set fire in their retreat. Eager to know 
the cause of this conflagration, we sought in 
vain for some one who could tranquilhze our 
restless curiosity; but the impossibility of 
satisfying it redoubled our impatience and 
increased our alarm. 

In conformity with the desolating plan of 
the campaign, the ruin of the ancient capital 
of the czars had been determined. The 
criminals confined in the different prisons 
received their liberty on condition of setting 
fire to the city, as soon as it should be in the 
possession of the French army. In order to 
insure its destruction, the engines, and every 
means by which the fire might have been 
extinguished, were removed or destroyed. 
The exchange was the first building that fell 
a prey to the flames. The stores contained 
an immense cjuantity of the most valuable 
commodities of Europe and Asia ; the cellars 
were filled with sugar, oils, and resin, which 
burned with great fury. The French endeav- 
ored to check the progress of the devouring 
element, but they soon discovered that their 
efibrts were useless. The fire breaking out 
in different quarters of the city, and increased 
by a high wind, spread with dreadful rapid- 
ity. So great a calamity impressed even the 
most hardened minds with the presentiment 
that the wi-ath of divine justice would one 
day fall on the first authors of this frightfiil 
devastation. 

A great part of the population had con- 
cealed themselves in their houses, from the 
terror caused by our arrival, but they left 
them as the flames reached their asylums. 
Fear had rendered their grief dumb, and as 
they tremblingly quitted their retreats, they 
carried ofl^ their most valuable effects, while 
those who were possessed of more sensibihty, 
actuated by natural feelings, sought only to 
save the lives of the parents or the children. 
On one side we saw a son carrying a sick 
father ; on the other, women who poured the 
torrent of their tears on the infants whom 
they clasped in their arms. They were fol- 
lowed by the rest of their children, who, 
fearful of being lost, ran crying after their 
mothers. Old men, overwhelmed more by 
grief than by the weight of years, were sel- 
dom able to follow their families ; many of 
them, weeping for the ruin of the country, 
lay down to die near the houses where they 



398 



MOSCOW. 



were born. The streets, the public squares, 
and especially the churches, were crowded 
with these unhappy persons, who mourned 
as they lay on the remains of their property, 
but showed no signs of despair. The victors 
and the vanquished were become equally 
brutish ; the former by excess of fortune, the 
other by excess of misery. 

The hospitals, containing more that 12,000 
wounded, began to burn. The heart, frozen 
with horror, recoils at the fatal disaster which 
ensued. Almost aU these wretched victims 
perished. The few who were still living 
were seen crawling half burned, under the 
smoking ashes, or groaning imder the heaps 
of dead bodies, maldng ineffectual efforts to 
extricate themselves. 

It is impossible to depict tlie confusion and 
tumult that ensued when the whole of tliis 
immense city was given up to pillage. Sol- 
diers, sutlers, galley-slaves, and prostitutes 
ran through the streets, penetrated the de- 
serted palaces, and carried off every thing 
that could gratify their insatiable desires. 

Dismayed by so many calamities, I had 
hoped that the shades of night would vail 
the dreadful scene ; but darkness, on the 
contrary, rendered the conflagration more 
terrible. The flames, which extended from 
north to south, burst forth with greater vio- 
lence, and agitated by the wind, seemed to 
reach the sky. Clouds of smoke marked the 
track of the rockets that were hurled by the 
incendiary criminals from the tops of the 
steeples, and wliich at a distance resembled 
falling stars. But nothing was so terrific as 
the dread that reigned in every mind, and 
which was heightened in the dead of the 
night by the shrieks of the unfortunate crea- 
tures who were massacred, or by the cries of 
young females, who fled for refuge to the 
palpitating bosoms of their mothers, and 
whose ineffectual struggles only served to 
inflame the passions of their violators. To 
these heart-piercing groans were added the 
bowlings of the dogs that were chained to 
the gates of the palaces, according to the 
custom of Moscow, and were unable to es- 
cape the flames that enveloped them. 

Many of our soliUers fell victims to their 
own rapacity, which induced them, heedless 
of the extreme risk, to brave every danger ; 
excited by the love of plunder, they rushed 
into the midst of the fire and smoke ; they 
waded in blood, trampling on the dead 
bodies, while the ruins and pieces of burning 
wood Ml upon their murderous hands. Per- 
haps all would have perished had not the in- 
supportable heat at length compelled them 
to take refuge in their camp. 

On tlie Gth of November the sky declared 
itself Its azure disappeared. The army 
marched enveloped in cold vapors, which 



soon tliickened into a vast cloud, and de- 
scended in large flakes of snow upon us. It 
seemed as if the sky were coming down and 
uniting with this hostile land and people to 
complete our ruin. AU tilings are indis- 
tinguishable ; while the soldier struggles to 
force his way through the drifting whirlwind, 
the driven snow fills up aU hollows, and its 
surface conceals unknown depths which 
yawn under our feet. The men are swal- 
lowed by them, and the weakest, resigning 
themselves to fate, there find a grave. Those 
who follow turn aside, but the storm dashes 
in their faces the snow from heaven and the 
drift from the earth, and seems to oppose it- 
self rancorously to their march. The Kussian 
winter, under this new form, attacks them 
from all sides ; it pierces their thin dress and 
torn shoes. Their wet clothes freeze on 
them, a sharp and strong wind impedes their 
breath, which at the instant of expiration 
forms round the mouth icicles depending 
from the beard. The wretches, shivering, 
still draw themselves on, tiU the snow which 
clogs their feet, or some chance obstacle, 
causes them to stumble and faU. There they 
groan in vain ; the snow soon covers them ; 
shght elevations alone distinguish them ; be- 
hold their graves I Everywhere the road is 
strewn with these undulations hke a burial- 
ground ; the most fearless, the most unfeeUng 
are moved, and turn aside their eyes as they 
pass in haste. But before, around, every 
thing is snow — the sight is lost in this im- 
mense and sad uniformity ; the imagination 
is astounded ; it is like a huge winding-sheet, 
with which nature envelopes the army, 
The only objects which appear from out it, 
are sombre pines, trees of the tombs, with 
their funereal verdure, and the gigantic fix- 
edness of their black trunks, and their deep 
gloom, completes this desolate aspect of a 
general mourning, and of an army dying 
amid the decease of nature. * * * Then 
comes the night, a night of sixteen hours ! 
But on that snow which covers all things, 
one knows not where to stop, where to rest, 
where to find roots for food, or dry wood for 
firing. However, fatigue, darkness, and re- 
peated orders stop those whom their own 
physical and moral force, and the efforts of 
their officers have retained together. - They 
seek to establish themselves; but the ever 
active storm scatters the first preparations 
for a bivouac. The pines, laden with hoar 
frost resist the flames ; and the snow upon 
them, mixed with that which falls continual- 
ly from the sky, and that lying on the earth, 
which melt with the efforts of the soldier, 
and the first efiect of the fires, extinguishes 
those fires and the strength and courage of 
the men. 

When the flame at length is raised, offi- 



MOTTA— MOUNT TABOR. 



399 



cers and soldiers prepare around it their sad 
meal, composed of lean and bloody fragments 
of flesh, torn from worn-out horses, and, for 
a very few, some spoonfuls of rye flour 
diluted with snow-water. The next day 
soldiers, laid stone-dead in circles, mark the 
bivouac, and the ground about them is 
sti-ewed with the bodies of many thousand 
horses. 

From this day, men began to reckon less 
upon each other. In this army, hvely, sus- 
ceptible of all impressions, and incHned to 
speculate from its advanced civilization, dis- 
order soon gained footing, discouragement 
and insubornination spread rapidly, the 
imagination wandering without bounds in 
evn as well as good. Henceforward at 
every bivouac, at every difficult passage, 
some portion of the yet organized troops 
detached itself, and fell into disorder. Yet 
there were some who resisted this mighty 
contagion ; they were the officers, subalterns, 
and seasoned soldiers. These were extraor- 
dinary men ; they encouraged themselves by 
repeating the name of Smolensk, which they 
felt they were approaching, and where every 
thing had been promised to them. 

Thus since this deluge of snow, and the 
redoubled cold which it announced, all, offi- 
cers and soldiers aUke, preserved or lost their 
strength of mind, according to their age, 
their character or temperament. He of our 
chiefs, whom till then we had seen the strict- 
est in maintaining discipline, now found him- 
self no longer in his element. Thrown out 
of all his fixed ideas of regularity, and meth- 
od, he was reduced to despair by so uni- 
versal a disorder, and judging sooner than 
others that all was lost, he felt himself ready 
to abandon all. 

The Russians upon the evacuation of Mos- 
cow by the French army, re-entered the city. 
It has been since rebuilt. 

MOTYA, B.C. 404.— In the year 412, e.g. 
Dionysius the tyrant, made a treaty of peace 
with the Carthaginians, with no other object 
than to make the necessary preparations for 
the war wliich he meditated against them. 
He turned all Syracuse, as it were, into a 
common workshop. In all parts of the city 
men were to be seen making swords, helmets, 
shields, and military engines, and the enor- 
mous ship-yards Avere active with carpenters 
busily engaged in building vessels for the 
fleet. In the year 404, e.g., after all things 
were ready, Dionysius opened the campaign 
with the siege of Motya, a city in Sicily 
which the Carthaginians occupied as a maga- 
zine. The Syracusans advanced upon the 
city with huge battering-rams, and with 
towers six stories high. Each story of these 
towers was crowded with armed men, who 
discharged furious voUeys of arrows, and 



stones from catapults, upon the inhabitants of 
the city. At length after a long and desper- 
ate resistance, the city was taken by storm, 
and its inhabitants put to the sword, except 
those who took refuge in the sanctuary. 
The city was then plundered by the soldiers, 
and Dionysius, after strongly garrisoning it, 
left it to the governship of one whom he 
could trust, and returned to Syracuse. In 
the following year the Carthaginians under 
command of Imilcon re-took Motya by force 
of arms. 

MOUNT TABOR, a.d. 1799.— On the 9th 
of April, Kleber, at the head of a division of 
the French army, resolved to make an attack 
on the Turldsh camp at Tabor, in Egypt. 
His intention was to take them by surprise, 
but liis design was anticipated bj'^ the en- 
emy, and they advanced to meet him with 
15,000 horse, and as many infantry, as far as 
the village of Fouri. Kleber instantly formed 
his little army in squares, with the artillery 
at the angles, and he had hardly done this, 
when the immense number of the Turks 
came thundering down, threatening to tram- 
ple the handful of French under their horses' 
feet. The steady aim and the rolling fire of 
the French brought down the foremost of 
the assailants, and a rampart was soon formed 
of dead bodies of men and horses, behind 
which they fought bravely for six hours, 
until Napoleon arrived with a fresh division, 
on the height which overlooked the field of 
battle, and among the multitudes with which 
the field was covered, distinguished his troops 
by the regularity of the fire which came from 
the ranks, forming steady flaming spots amid 
the moving mass by which they were sur- 
rounded. His plans were~ formed in a 
moment. 

General Letourcq was dispatched with the 
cavalry and two pieces of hght artillery, 
against the Mamelukes who were in reserve 
at the foot of the mountain of Naplouse, 
while the division of Bon, divided into two 
squares, advanced to the attack of the flank 
and the rear of the large force which was 
surrounding Kleber's division ; and Napoleon, 
with the cannon and guides, pressed them in 
front. A twelve-pounder was fired from the 
heights, to convey the intelligence that reUef 
was at hand ; and Kleber, resuming the of- 
fensive, extended his ranks, and charged the 
mass that had so long annoyed him, with the 
bayonet. The immense superiority of Euro- 
pean discipline was then apparent ; the 
Turks, attacked in so many quarters at once, 
and exposed to a concentric fire from all the 
squares, were unable to make any resistance ; 
no measures to stop the enemy or secure a 
retreat were taken, and the confused troops, 
mowed down by the discharges of grape-shot, 
fled in great disorder behind Mount Tabor ; 



400 



MOWBRAY— MYL^. 



and finding the Bridge of Jacob occupied by 
Murat, rushed in desperation, in tlie night, 
through tlie river Jordan, and many were 
drowned. This great victory gained by 6,000 
veterans over a brave but undisciplined mass 
of 30,000 oriental militia, completely secured 
the flank and rear of Napoleon's army. The 
defeat was complete ; the Turkish camp, with 
all their baggage and ammunition, had fallen 
into the hands of the victorious army, and 
the Mamelukes were dispersed, never again 
to return. 

MOWBRAY, A.D. 1644.— In 1644, during 
the civil war, a battle occurred at Melton 
Mowbray, in England, between the royahsts 
and the troops of parliament, in which the 
latter, after a bloody action, were signally de- 
feated. 

MOXACAR, A.D. 1488.— This place, a city 
of Spain, was captured from the Moors by 
the army of Ferdinand and Isabella in 1488. 
MUNDA, B.C. 45. — Munda is the ancient 
name of a town of Spain 28 miles west of 
Malaga. 

In the month of March in the year 45 B.C., 
the armies of Caesar and Pompey were drawn 
up in hostile array in the plain of Munda, 
about five miles from each other. The army 
of Pompey was composed of natives of 
Spain, Roman citizens, and many veterans of 
the Roman legion. They were all filled with 
the courage of men who expected no mercy 
from a victorious army, and awaited Cesar's 
approach with a firm countenance. At the 
first onset the troops of Csesar were routed 
and put to flight. In this extremity that 
general ran into the ranks of his own men 
crying " You are giving me up to hoys I" and 
■WTesting a sword and shield from a soldier, 
and saying that here he should end his life 
and services, he took a place in the ranks as 
a common soldier. His men animated by 
these words and the undaunted bearing of 
their general returned to the fight with such 
impetuosity that the enemy were put to flight 
with fearful slaughter : 30,000 fell on the field 
and in the flight. Among them were 3,000 
Roman citizens of high condition, with Sa- 
bienus and Accius Varus at their head. 
Seventeen officers of rank were taken, with 
thirteen Roman eagles. Caesar lost 1,000 
men killed, and 500 men wounded. 

MUOLTA, A.D. 1799.— The village of 
Mnolta stands in the valley of Muoltan in 
Switzerland, in which in 1799 a bloody battle 
was fought between the French array, under 
Massena, Mortier, and Lecourbe, and the 
Russians under Suwarrow. The Russians 



were nearly surrounded by their enemies; 
but by a master-stroke on the part of their 
general they cut their way through, and suc- 
ceeded in effecting a retreat in good order. 

MYCALE, B.C. 479. — On the same day that 
the Greeks won the battle of Platiea, their 
naval forces obtained a memorable victory 
in Asia over the Persian fleet. The Persians 
had retreated with their fleet to Mycale, a 
promontory of the continent of Asia, where 
their land army consisting of 100,000 men, 
who were the remainder of those that Xerles 
had carried back from Greece the year before, 
was encamped. Here thej^ drew their vessels 
ashore, which was a common practice among 
the ancients, and surrounded them with a 
strong rampart. The Grecians followed them 
to the very place, and with the help of the 
lonians defeated their laud army, forced their 
rampart, and burned all their vessels. 

MYL^.— In the year 259 before Christ, 
the Roman and Carthaginian fleet met near 
the coast of ilylie and prepared for an en- 
gagement. As the Roman galleys, by their 
being clumsily and hastily built, were neither 
nimble nor easy to work, this inconvenience 
was supplied by a machine invented for the 
purpose, and al'tersvards known by the name 
of Corvus (crow or crane), by the help of 
which they grappled the enemy's ships, 
boarded them and immecUately came to close 
engagement. The signal for fighting was 
given. The Roman fleet consisted of 100 
galleys of five benches of oars, and twenty 
of three benches, while the Carthaginian 
fleet consisted of 130 ships of war, under the 
command of Hannibal, who was on board a 
large galley of seven benches of oars. The 
Carthaginians boldly advanced toward the 
enemy, Uttle tliinking that they should meet 
with resistance. They were surprised that 
their first appearance did not cause the enemy 
to fly, but their astonishment was increased 
when they saw men stationed at the prow 
of each Roman galley, waiting for an oppor- 
tunity of casting the corvuses. As soon as 
the Carthaginian vessels had arrived at a 
proper distance, the grappling-hooks were 
thrown upon them, and in spite of all resist- 
ance the vessels were drawn together. Now 
the Romans leaped into the enemy's vessels, 
and engaged them in a close hand-to-hand en- 
gagement. The Carthaginians were unable 
to sustain the attack of the Romans, and a 
terrible slaughter ensued. The Carthaginians 
lost eighty ships, among which was the ad- 
miral's galley. Hannibal, however, barely 
escaped in a small boat. 



NAMUR— NAPLES. 



401 



NAMUR, A.D. 1692.— Namur, in Belgium, 
like other cities in tlie Low Countries, lias fre- 
quently suffered from the ravages of war. 
In modern times it has sustained several sieges 
worthy of mention. In 1692 it was taken 
by the troops of Louis XIV. of France ; in 
1695 it was re-taken by the English and 
Dutch, under William III., and in 1701 and 
1746 it was again taken by the French. In 
1792 it was again taken by the French, who 
were compelled to evacuate it the follovnng 
year, but they regained possession of it in 
1794. In 1814, however, they delivered it 
up to the allies. The siege of 1692 is the 
subject of Boileau's famous ode, " Sur la 
Prise de Namur." 

NANTES, A.D. 445.— The celebrated city 
of Nantes, in France, has sustained two mem- 
orable sieges. In 445 it was besieged by the 
Huns ; but it was so gallantly defended that 
after a sieg^ of sixty days, the Huns were 
obliged to withdraw with great loss. In the 
middle of the ninth century it was taken and 
sacked by the Normans. 

NANCY, A.D. 1475. — Nancy, in France, 
has sustained several sieges. In 1475 it was 
besieged and taken by Charles the Bold, 
Duke of Burgundy. On the 6th of October, 
1476, Nancy surrendered to the army of the 
Dulce of Lorraine, and Charles at the first in- 
formation of this event, marched to take the 
city from its new captors. The Count of 
Campo-Basso was intrusted with the first 
attack ; but this ofiicer proved a traitor, and 
protracted the siege, so that Rene, with 
20,000 French troops had time to come up. 
On the approach of this army the count 
deserted, leaving Charles an army of only 
4,000 men. On the 5th or 6th of Jan., 1477, 
(historians differ respecting the day) the two 
armies met; the shock was terrible; the 
wing of the Burgundian army was pierced, 
and the French attacked the center with the 
utmost impetuosity. As Charles was fasten- 
ing on lois helmet, tlie golden Uon which 
served as a crest, dropped to the ground, and 
in surprise he exclaimed : " Ecce magnum 
Signum Dei I" The Burgundians soon fell 
back in disorder before the repeated and 
furious attacks of the enemy, and Charles 
was carried along with the fugitives until his 
horse fell, and he was precipitated into a 
ditch, where he was slain by the tlirust of a 
lance. His head, covered with blood and 
filth, was not found until the third day after 
the battle. It was so much disfigured, that 
it was not recognized. Tlie body at length, 
however, was recognized by the length of his 
hail- and nails, which he had allowed to grow 
since his defeat by the Swiss at Morat, as 

26 



well as by the scar of a sword-cut which he 
had received in another battle. In 1634, 
Nancy was taken by the troops of Louis 
XIII. 

NAPLES.— First Siege, a.d. 537.— BeH- 
sarius besieged Naples. That city, admirably 
situated, was defended by good ramparts and 
a numerous garrison. Its inhabitants had 
resolved to perish rather than surrender, and 
for twenty days all the assaults of the Roman 
general were in vain. He was about to 
abandon the enterprise, when a happy chance 
offered liim the success he had ceased to hope 
for. An Isaurian soldier was curious to see 
the structure of an aqueduct which Belisarius 
had caused to be cut off at a considerable 
distance from the city, and there found a 
rock pierced vdth a channel large enough to 
allow water to flow through it, but not suffi- 
ciently wide to enable a man to pass. He 
thought that by enlarging this channel it 
would be possible to gain entrance into the 
city, and hastened to inform his general of 
the discovery. Belisarius secretly charged 
some Isaurians with the task, which they 
performed in a few hours, making a passage 
for an armed man. Behsarius, with his 
usual humanity, anxious to save life, had an 
interview with one of the principal citizens, 
and in vain endeavored to persuade him to 
escape the cruelty of the soldiery by a sur- 
render. Reduced to employ force, the Ro- 
man general selected that evening a body of 
four hundred men, completely armed, and as 
soon as it was dark led them, each being 
provided with a lantern, toward the aqu(^- 
duct. They were preceded by two trumpets, 
which were to be sounded as soon as they 
were in the place. Behsarius ordered the 
ladders to be ready for an escalade at the 
same time, all the troops being under arms. 
"When the detacliment had entered the aque- 
duct, the greater part of them were seized 
with a painc, and retraced their steps, in 
spite of the efforts of their conductors to urge 
them on. Belisarius had them replaced by 
200 of the bravest men of his army, when 
the others, ashamed of their cowardice, fol- 
lowed close upon their heels. The aqueduct, 
covered by a brick vault, penetrated far into 
the city ; and the soldiers, without knowing 
it, were already beneath the streets of Naples, 
when they arrived at the mouth of the chan- 
nel, in a basin, whose sides were high, and 
impracticable to armed men. Then- embar- 
rassment was extreme ; more continued com- 
ing, and there was not sufficient rooni for 
them in so small a place. One of the soldiers, 
more active and bold than the rest, took off 
his arms, climbed to the top, and found him- 



402 



NAPLES. 



self in the miserable ruins of an old building, 
inhabitated by an old woman: he threatened 
to kill her if she opened her mouth. He 
then threw a cord down, the end of which 
he fastened to an old oUve-tree, and by this 
species of ladder the band of soldiers gained 
the top of the basin two hours before day. 
They advanced toward the wall on the 
northern side, surprised the guards of two 
towers, and put them to the sword. Masters 
of this part of the wall, they gave the signal 
agreed upon with the trumpets, and Belisarius 
immediately had the ladders planted. They 
were found to be too short ; but he ordered 
two to be tied together, and by that means 
repched the parapets. The Eomans spread 
themselves tlirough the city, where they met 
with httle resistance. The soldiers gave 
themselves up to bhnd indiscriminate cruelty. 
Belisarius succeeded at length in putting a 
stop to this frightful course, by threatening 
some, and entreating others. After having 
abandoned the booty to them as a recom- 
pense for their valor, he re-estabhshed quiet 
in the city, and caused children to be restored 
to their parents, and wives to their hus- 
bands. 

Second Siege, a.d. 543. — Totila laid siege 
to Naples. To intimidate the garrison, the 
King of the Goths caused Demetrius, the 
Eoman general, taken prisoner in a convoy, 
to be led close to the walls, loaded with 
chains and a cord about his neck, and com- 
pelled him to cry aloud to the besieged, that 
the emperor was not in a condition to send 
them any succors. This speech, but still 
more the famine which raged in the city, in- 
duced the Neapalitans to surrender. 

Third Siege, a.d. 818. — Sicon, the Prince 
of Beneventum, declared war against the 
Neapalitans, and after a long siege, reduced 
them to the rank of tributaries. 

Fourth Siege, a.d. 1253. — ^Naples had 
yielded itself up to the Pope, upon which, the 
Emperor Conrad laid siege to it, and shortly 
brought it back to a sense of its duty. 

Fifth Siege, a.d. 1381.— Pope Urban VI. 
having excommunicated Joan, the first Queen 
of Naples, intrusted the execution of the sen- 
tence to Charles de Duras, whom that queen, 
a few years before, had declared her legiti- 
mate heir. The prince appeared at the gates 
of Naples, in which city he had many par- 
tisans. A great number of the inhabitants 
came over the walls to bring refreshments to 
his troops, by Avhom he learned that the city 
was divided into three factions, the most 
powerful of which demanded him for king. 
Two NeapoUtan knights serving in Charles's 
army, took a novel means of obtaining en- 
trance to a besieged city. It had always 
been deemed that the sea formed a sufficient 
defense at what was called the Gate Conci- 



ara, and it was neither closed nor guarded. 
The knights, under the guidance of some de- 
serters, swam close under the ramparts, and 
entered the open gate withont obstruction. 
They then advanced into the market-place, 
crying aloud, "Long Uve Charles Duras and 
Pope Urban!" Followed by the populace, 
they opened the market gate, and admitted 
Charles and his army. The next day he laid 
siege to the castle, in which the queen had 
taken refuge. Joan, reduced to the last ex- 
tremity by famine, having no vessel in which 
to escape, and no resource but in her husband, 
Otho of Brunswick, who was made prisoner 
by Charles, was obhged to surrender. 

Sixth Siege, a.d. 1442. — Alphonso, King 
of Arragon, the implacable enemy of Rene 
of Anjou, who was a kind of titular king of 
Naples, laid siege to the capital of that coun- 
try. Tills Rene is a character spmewhat 
associated with English historica' recol- 
lections, being the father of Margaret of An- 
jou, one of the most remarkable of their 
queens. Alphonso was pressing the siege 
warmly, when a mason, named Anello, in- 
formed him that he was acquainted with an 
aqueduct by which it would be possible to 
penetrate to a house close to the gate of 
Capua; and if a number of soldiers and 
officers were introduced into that house, they 
could easily render themselves masters of that 
gate. The king determined to make the 
attempt, and appointed two companies of 
infantry for the service. Anello, stimulated 
by the hope of a great reward, placed him- 
self at their head, and conducted them to the 
regard (opening) of the aqueduct, more than 
a mile from the city. They proceeded in 
single files, with large lanterns, and armed 
■with crossbows and partisans. Whilst Al- 
phonso drew nearer to the walls to watch 
the event of this expedition, Anello and his 
troops followed the aqueduct till it brought 
them to the house of a tailor, near the gate 
of St. Sophia, where they issued, by means 
of a dry well, to the number of forty. Not 
daring to force the guard, they were com- 
pelled to terrify the wife and daughter of the 
owner of the house, in order to keep them 
quiet. While they were so engaged, the 
taUor came home, and, surprised at seeing 
his house filled with soldiers, he turned 
sharply round and ran out, exclaiming, " The 
enemies are in the city I" The forty adven- 
turers then, judging they could no longer hesi- 
tate, attacked the guard of the gate of St. 
Sopliia ; but they met with such resistance, 
that Rene had time to come up, when he 
killed part of them and forced the rest to re- 
treat. Alphonso, not seeing the signal agreed 
upon, imagined that the enterprise had failed, 
and was returning to his camp, when he 
heard the noise of a conflict carried on in the 



NAPLES. 



403 



city, and retraced his steps toward the walls. 
Reae had reinforced the guard and placed 
the gate of St. Sophia in safety ; but 300 
Genoese charged with the defense of that of 
St. Januarius, abandoned their post the mo- 
ment they heard the enemy was in the city. 
A gentleman named Marino Spezzicaso, a 
partisan of the house of Arragon, threw down 
several cords from the walls, by means of 
which, Pierre de Cardonna, general of the 
army of Alphonso, climbed up the walls, and 
was soon followed by a great number of his 
bravest men. While he was traversing the 
streets, shouting the war-cry of Arragon, he 
met an officer named Brancazzo, going on 
horseback to join King Rene. He stopped 
liim, made him prisoner, took from him his 
horse, and mounting it, led on a party of Ar- 
ragonese to attack Reme. That prince, on 
beholding him, believed that the enemy really 
had possession of the city, and hstening to 
nothing but the dictates of his courage, he 
attacked the advancing troop and put them 
to flight. But they soon rallied and returned 
to the charge. Rene, obhged to give way 
to numbers, opened with his sword a passage 
for himself to the New Castle. So the King 
of Arragon made himself master of Naples 
by means of an aqueduct, as Belisarius had 
done when he took it from the Goths, ten 
centuries before. Rene, being without hope 
or resources, embarked for Provence, while 
Alphonso entered Naples in triumph, in im- 
itation of the ancient Romans — in a chariot 
drawn by four white horses. All paid hom- 
age to his good fortune and his valor, and the 
kingdom of Naples was reunited to that of 
Sicily, from which it had been separated a 
hundred and sixty years. 

Seventh Siege, a.d. 1503. — Ferdinand, 
King of Castile and Arragon, having, in con- 
tempt of treaties of the most solemn kind, 
invaded the part of the kingdom of Naples 
and Sicily that beloged to France, charged 
his great captain, Gonsalvo, with the siege of 
the capital of that state. At the approach of 
the Spaniards, the French, who placed no 
confidence in the inhabitants, retreated to the 
fortresses of the Chateau-neuf and the (Euf. 
Gonsalvo attacked the first of these, and it 
made a vigorous resistance. The garrison had 
resolved to bury themselves under the ruins 
of the place rather than surrender ; and with- 
out doubt the Spanish general would have 
faUed in his enterprise if he had only em- 
ployed orcUnary means. But he had in his 
army a solcUer called Peter of Navarre, from 
the name of his country, who opened the 
gates and destroyed the ramparts of the cas- 
tle by the help of a new species of thunder, if 
we may so term it. This soldier, a very in- 
telligent man, had been, in 1487, with an 
expedition in which the Genoese employed, 



but without success, those terrible volcanoes 
called mines. He examined the fou7-neau of 
one of these mines, and observed that the 
Avant of effect in this invention did not arise 
from any fault in the art, but from that of 
the workmen, who had not taken their di- 
mensions correctly. I|e perfected this secret, 
and communicated it to Gonsalvo, who 
begged him to put it to the test. Peter of 
Navarre took his measures so well, that his 
mine had all the effect he could expect ; he 
then pierced several others, which succeeded 
with such precision that the New Castle was 
blown up, and all its defenders were either 
cut to pieces or buried under the ruins of the 
walls. The governor of the castle of the 
ffiuf, a brave gentleman from Auvergne 
named Chavagnac, was not discouraged by 
the melancholy fate of his compatriots ; he 
was in vain summoned to surrender : he re- 
plied that nothing more glorious could happen 
to him than to die for his master, with his 
sword in his hand. Peter then commenced 
some fresh mines, wliich were sprung with 
the same terrible consequences as the former : 
the walls crushed the greater part of the sol- 
diers, and the rest perished in sight of a 
Genoese fleet which came to their succor. 

Eighth Siege, a.d. 1557. — The greatest 
captains have often been reproached with 
avoiding engagements. Their firmness in 
despising the railleries of the multitude and 
the scoffing opinions of their rivals, have in 
almost all cases placed the seal upon their 
reputations. Francis, Duke of Guise, at the 
head of a French army and some troops fiir- 
nished by Pope Paul IV., undertook the con- 
quest of Naples. This general, too skillful not 
to be certain that the expedition could not 
succeed if it were not begun with some com- 
plete advantage, did all in his power to bring 
the Spaniards to a general action : he offered 
them so many favoraljle opportunities, that 
their officers could not pardon their leader, 
the Duke of Alva, for neglecting them. The 
duke called a council of war, in which he said, 
in an animated yet haughty tone, " I have al- 
ways prayed God, gentlemen, to inspire my 
soldiers with a determined firmness and a fiery 
courage, so that, without fearing or reasoning, 
they would rush headlong to meet death, and 
expose themselves to any danger when com- 
manded to do so. But I ask other quaUties of 
officers: much prudence and great phlegm, to 
moderate the impetuosity of the soldiers — that 
is the way by which they attain the rank of 
great captains. I will not conceal from you 
that I have been displeased with your ardor, 
because I have thought it immoderate and 
opposed to reason. To point out to you the 
occasions on which a great general should 
give battle, I wiU tell you it is when his ob- 
ject is to succor a strong place reduced to 



404 



NARVA. 



extremity, wliich may fi^rm the security of a 
province; when he knows that the enemy 
must receive succors which will render them 
his superior, or even his equal ; when, at the 
beo'inning of a war, it is desirable to give 
reputation to his arms, to strengthen the 
fidelity of wavering subjects, retain allies, and 
prevent covert enemies from declaring them- 
selves ; when fortune, not discontinuing to 
favor us, our enemies are in such consterna- 
tion that they dare not stand before us ; and, 
lastly, when, pressed by famine and disease, 
and hemmed in on all sides, we must either 
conquer or die. 

" A great captain will never hazard a con- 
siderable action if he is not sure of drawing 
great advantages from it, or unless he is 
forced into it: tell us what the dangers are 
which surround us, or what fruit our country 
can derive from the loss of our hves or of our 
blood ? Suppose we are victorious over the 
Duke of Guise, and the French are cut to 
pieces, what shall we be the better for it ? 
Is it that the cities of the dominions of the 
Pope will be united to those of Phihp ? Is 
it that the baggage of the French will enrich 
us ? If, on the contrary, the always uncer- 
tain fate of arms should prove to be against 
us, what misfortunes would not our rashness 
bring upon us ? Do not, then, let us trouble 
ourselves about conquering Gruise ; he is 
flying before us. Could a nmrderous battle 
procure us any thing more sohd or more 
glorious? We gain a complete victory with- 
out shedding a drop of blood. Our name 
alone serves as a defense and a rampart to all 
Italy. 

" If this manner of making war did not 
appear to me suited to circumstances, I 
should remember what I did in Saxony ; I 
would cross the greatest rivers, I would not 
shrink from wetting my feet with the sea ; 
but while I find victory in the retreat of my 
enemy, I will remain faitliful to my maxims, 
and win endeavor to combat your audacity 
and rashness. In a word, I will not risk a 
kingdom against a cassock of cloth of gold 
which is all Guise can lose." 

The conjectures of the Spanish general 
were all verified. The French expedition 
had the most fatal issue. 

It may be said that this speech contains 
the history of no siege ; but Fabius Maximus 
was no less admirable than Scipio ; and he 
who consumes his enemy in vain enterprises, 
is not a less able general than he who anni- 
hilates him in a battle. Military men will 
fiuil more instruction in the motives which 
determined the Duke of Alva not to risk a 
battle, than they would by the description of 
a siege. 

Since the commencement of the French 
revolution, Naples has been the scene of sev- 



^•lal important poUtical events, and has more 
liuiu once succumbed to the power of the 
French ; but there has been no regular siege. 
— Rohson. 

NAISSUS.— In the year 269, a.d., a bat- 
tle was fought between the Romans, under 
Claudius, and the Goths, in which the former 
were victorious. The Goths numbered 
320,000. Fifty thousand men are reported 
to have been slain in the battle of Naissus. 

NARVA, A.D. 1700.— Narva is a town of 
European Russia, eighty-one miles south- 
Avest of St. Petersburg, and is memorable 
only on account of the famous battle fought 
in its vicinity, on the 30th of November, 
1700, between Charles XII., King of Swe- 
den, and the army of Peter the Great, Em- 
peror of Muscovy. We can furnish our 
readers no better account of this battle than 
that given by Voltaire, in liis History of 
Charles XII. 

With an army of 80,000 men, Peter 
Alexiowitz, Emperor of Muscovy, appeared 
on the 1st of October, 1700, before the city 
of Narva, in Ingria. The season at that time 
of year is more severe in that climate than 
the month of Januaiy in Paris. The czar, 
who in such weather would sometimes ride 
post for four hundred leagues, to see a mine 
or a canal, was not more sparing of his men 
than of himself. He also knew that the 
Swedes, ever since the days of Gustavus 
Adolphus the Great, could make war as well 
in the depths of whiter as in the summer, 
and he desired to accustom the Russians 
likewise to forget all changes of seasons, and 
to render them one day equal to the Swedes. 
Thus, in a time when frost and snow compel 
other nations in a more temperate climate to 
agree to a suspension of arms, the Czar Peter 
besieged Narva, within thirty degrees of the 
pole, and Charles XII. advanced to its reUef. 
The czar no sooner arrived before the place 
than he put into practice what he had learned 
during has travels. He marked out his camp, 
fortified it on all sides, raised redoubts at 
certain distances, and opened the trenches 
himself. He had given the command of his 
troops to a German, the Duke de Croi, who 
was an able general, but who was at that 
time httle assisted by the Russian officers. 
As for himself, he had no other rank in the 
army than that of a private heutenant. He 
thereby gave an example of military obe- 
dience to his nobility, hitherto unacquainted 
with disciphne, and accustomed to march at 
the head of ill-armed slaves, without experi- 
ence and without order. There was nothing 
strange in seeing him who had turned car- 
penter at Amsterdam, in order to procure 
himself fleets, serve as heutenant at Narva, 
to teach his subjects the art of war. 

The Muscovites are strong and indefatiga- 



NAISSUS— NARVA. 



405 



ble, and perhaps as courageous as the 
Swedes ; but it requires time and discipline 
to render troops warlike and invincible. The 
only regiments that could be depended upon 
were commanded by some German officers, 
but their number was very inconsiderable. 
The rest were barbarians forced from their 
forests, and covered with the skins of wild 
beasts, and others with clubs. Few of them 
had fusees; none of them had ever seen a 
regular siege ; and there was not one good 
cannoneer in the whole army. A hundred 
and fifty cannon, which one would have 
thought must have soon reduced the httle 
town of Narva to ashes, were hardly able to 
make a breach, while the artillery of the city 
mowed down at every discharge whole ranks 
of the enemy in their trenches. Narva was 
almost without fortifications; the Baron de 
Hoorn, who commanded there, had not a 
thousand regular troops; and yet this im- 
mense army could not reduce it in ten 
weeks. 

It was now the 5th of November, when 
the czar learned that the King of Sweden had 
crossed the sea with two hundred transports, 
and was advancing to the relief of Narva. 
The Swedes were not above 20,000 strong. 
The czar had no advantage but that of num- 
bers. Far, therefore, from despising his en- 
emy, he employed every art in order to crush 
him. Not content with 80,000 men, he 
resolved to oppose to him another army still, 
and to check liis progress at every step. He 
had already given orders for the march of 
about 30,000 men, who were advancing fi-om 
Pleskow with great expedition. He then 
took a step that would have rendered him 
contemptible, could a legislator who had per- 
formed such great and glorious actions incur 
that imputation. He left his camp, where 
his presence was necessary, to go in quest of 
this new army, which might have arrived 
well enough without him, and seemed by 
this conduct to betray his fear of engaging in 
his intrenchments a young and inexperienced 
prince who might come to attack him. 

Be that as it will, he resolved to shut up 
Charles XII. between two armies. Nor was 
this all : a detachment of 30,000 men from 
the camp before Narva were posted at a 
league's distance from the city, directly in the 
King of Sweden's road ; 20,000 Strelitz were 
placed fiirther off", upon the same road ; and 
5,000 others composed an advanced guard ; 
and he must necessarily force his way 
through aU these troops before he could 
reach the camp, which was fortified with a 
rampart and double fosse. The King of 
Sweden had landed at Pernau, in the Gulf of 
Riga, with about 16,000 foot, and little more 
than 4,000 horse. From Pernau he made a 
flying march to Revel, followed by all his 



cavalry, and only by 4,000 foot. He always 
marched in the van of his army, without 
waiting for the rear. He soon found himself 
with his 8,000 men only, before the first 
posts of the enemy. He inmaediately re- 
solved, without the least hesitation, to attack 
them, one after another, before they could 
possibly learn vdth what a small number 
they had to engage. The Muscovites, seeing 
the Swedes come upon them, imagined they 
had a whole army to encounter. The ad- 
vanced guard of 5,000 men, posted among 
rocks, a station where 100 resolute men 
might have stopped the march of a large 
army, fled at their first approach. The 
20,000 men that lay behind them, perceiving 
the flight of their fellow-soldiers, took the 
alarm, and carried their terror and confusion 
with them into the camp. All the posts 
were carried in two da5's ; and what upon 
other occasions would have been reckoned 
three distinct victories, did not retard the 
king's march for the space of one hour. He 
appeared then at last with his 8,000 men, 
exhausted with the fatigues of so long a 
march, before a camp of 80,000 Muscovites, 
defended by 150 pieces of cannon, and scarce 
allowing his troops any time for rest, he in- 
stantly gave orders for the attack. The sig- 
nal was two fusees, and the word in German, 
Mit Oottes Hidfe ! A general officer, having 
represented to him the greatness of the dan- 
ger, " What," said he, " do you not tliink 
that with my 8,000 brave Swedes I may 
easily beat 80,000 Russians?" But soon 
after, fearing that what he had said might 
savor too much of gasconade, he ran after the 
officer; "And are not you," said he, "of the 
same opinion ? Have not I a double advan- 
tage over the enemy ? One, that their cav- 
alry can be of no service to them ; the other, 
that the place being narrow, their number 
will only incommode them ; and thus, in 
reality, I shall be stronger than they." 
The officer did not care to differ from him ; 
and thus they marched against the Musco- 
vites, about midday, on the 30th of Novem- 
ber, 1700. 

As soon as the cannon had made a breach in 
the intrenchments, the Swedes advanced with 
screwed bayonets, having a furious shower 
of snow on their backs, which drove fuU in 
the faces of their enemy. The Russians 
stood the shock for half an hour without 
flinching. The king made his attack upon 
the right of the camp where the czar's quar- 
ters lay, hoping to come to a renconter with 
him, as he did not know he had gone in 
quest of the 40,000 men, who were daily ex- 
pected to arrive. At the first discharge of 
the enemy's muskets he received a shot in 
his neck ; but as it was a spent ball, it lodged 
in the folds of his black neck-cloth, and did 



406 



NARVA. 



him no harm. His horse was killed under 
him. M. de Spar told me that the kitig 
mounted tiuotlier horse with great agility, 
saying, " These fellows make me go through 
my exercises," and continued to fight and 
give orders with the same presence of mind. 
After an engagement of three hours, the in- 
trenchments were forced on all sides. The 
king pursued the right of the enemy as far 
as the river Narva, with his left wing ; if we 
may be allowed to call by that name aliout 
4,000 men, who were in pursuit of near 
40,000. The bridge broke under the fugi- 
tives, and the river was immediately filled 
with dead carcases. The rest returned to 
their camp, without knowing wliither they 
went ; and finding some barracks, they took 
post behind them. There they defended 
themselves for a wliile, as they were not able 
to make their escape; but at last their gen- 
erals Dolgorouky Gollofkin, and Federowitz, 
surrendered themselves to the king, and laid 
their arms at his feet ; and, while they were 
presenting them to liim, the Duke de Croi 
came up and surrendered himself with thirty 
officers. 

Charles received all these prisoners of dis- 
tinction with as much civility and poUteness 
as if he had been paying them the honors of j 
an entertainment in his own court. He de- , 
tained none but the general officers. AU the j 
subalterns and common soldiers were dis- 
armed and conducted to the river Narva, 
where they were supplied with boats for 
passing over, and allowed to return to their 
own country. In the mean time night came 
on, and the right wing of the Muscovites 
still continued the fight. The Swedes had 
not lost above 600 men. Eight thousand 
Muscovites had been killed in theii" intrench- 
ments; many were drowned; many had 
crossed the river; and yet there stiU re- 
mained in the camp a sufficient munber to 
cut off the Swedes to the last man. But the 
loss of battles is not so much owing to the 
number of the killed as to the timidity of 
those who survive. The king employed the 
small remains of the day in seizing upon the 
enemy's artillery. He took possession of an 
advantageous post between the camp and 
the city, where lie slept for a few hours upon 
the ground, wrapped up in his cloak, intend- \ 
ing at daybreak to fall upon the left wing of 
the enemy, which was not yet entirely routed. 
But at two o'clock in the morning. General 
Wade, who commanded that wing, having 
heard of the gracious reception the king Imd 
given to the other generals, and of his having ; 
dismissed all the subaltern officers and sol- 
diers, sent a messenger to him, begging he ' 
would grant him the same favor ; the con- | 
queror repUed, that he should have it, pro- 
vided he would come at the head of his troops, I 



and make them lay tlieir arms and colors at 
his feet. Soon after the general appeared 
with his Muscovites, to the number of about 
30,000. They marched, both soldiers and 
officers, with their heads uncovered, through 
less than 7,000 Swedes. The soldiers, as 
they passed the king, tlirew their guns and 
swords upon the ground, and the officers pre- 
sented hrm with then- ensigns and colors. 
He caused the whole of this multitude to be 
conducted over the river, without detaining 
a single soldier. Had he kept them, the num- 
ber of prisoners would at least have been 
five times greater than that of the con- 
querors. 

After this, he entered victorious into Narva, 
accompanied by the Duke de Croi, and other 
general officers of the Muscovites. He or- 
dered their swords to be restored to them all ; 
and, knowing that they wanted money, and 
that the merchants of Narva would not lend 
them any, he sent a thousand ducats to the 
Duke of Croi, and 500 to every Muscovite 
officer, who could not sufficiently admire the 
civility of this treatment, of which they were 
incapable of forming the least conception. 
An account of this victory was immediately 
drawn up at Narva, in order to be sent to 
Stockholm, and to the allies of Sweden : but 
the king expunged with his own hand every 
circumstance in the relation that tended too 
much to his honor, or seemed to reflect upon 
the czar. His modesty, however, could not 
hinder them from striking at Stockholm sev- 
eral medals to perpetuate the memory of 
these events. Among others they struck one 
which represented the king on one side, 
standing on a j^edestal, to which were chained 
a Muscovite, a Dane, and a Polander ; and 
on the reverse a Hercules, holding his club, 
and treading upon a Cerberus, with the in- 
scription : Tres uno contudit idu. 

Among the prisoners taken at the battle 
of Narva, there was one whose fate exhibited 
a remarkable instance of the great incon- 
stancy of fortune. He was the eldest son 
and heir of the king of Georgia ; his name the 
czarafis Arteschelou. This title of czarafis, 
among the Tartars, as well as in Muscovy, 
signifies prince, or son of the czar ; for the 
word czar, or tzar, signified king among the 
ancient Scythians, from whom all these peo- 
ple are descended, and is not derived from 
the Caesars of Eome, so long unknown to these 
barbarians. His father Mittelleski, czar, and 
master of the most beautiful part of the coun- 
try, lying between the mountains of Ararat 
and the eastern coasts of the Black Sea, hav- 
ing been expelled from his kingdom by his 
own subjects, in 1G68, had rather chosen to 
throw himself into the arms of the Emperor 
of Muscovy, than to apply to the Turks for 
assistance. His son, a youth of nineteen 



NASEBT. 



407 



years of age, followed Peter the Great in liis 
expedition against the Swedes, and was taken 
fighting by some Finland soldiers, who had 
already stripped him, and were upon the 
point of killing him. Count Renscliild res- 
cued him from their hands, supplied him with 
clothes, and presented him to his master. 
Charles sent him to Stockholm, where the 
unfortunate prince died in a few years after. 
The king, upon seeing him depart, could not 
help making in the hearing of his officers, a 
very natural reflection on the strange fate of 
an Asiatic prince born at tlie foot of Mount 
Caucasus, and going to Hve a prisoner among 
the snows of Sweden. " It is just," says he, 
" as if I were one day to be a prisoner among 
the Crim Tartars." These words made no 
impression at that time ; but, in the sequel, 
there was but too much occasion to remem- 
ber them, wlien the event had proved them 
to be a prediction. 

The czar was advancing by long marches 
with a body of 40,000 Russians, in full hopes 
of surrounding his enemy on all sides ; iDut 
before he had proceeded half way, he re- 
ceived intelligence of the battle of Narva, 
and of the dispersion of his whole army. 
He was not so Ibolish as to think of attacking 
with his 40,000 raw and undsciplined troops, 
a conqueror, who had lately defeated 80,000 
men in their intrenchments. He returned 
home with a determined resolution of dis- 
ciplining Ms troops, at the same time that he 
civilized his subjects. " I know," says he, 
" that the Swedes will beat us for a long time ; 
but, at last, they will teach us to beat them." 
Moscow, his capital, was in the utmost terror 
and consternation at the news of this defeat. 
Such was the pride and ignorance of the peo- 
ple, that they actually imagined they had 
been conquered by a power more than hu- 
man, and that the Swedes were so many 
magicians. Tliis opinion was so general, that 
pubUc prayers were ordered to be put up to 
St. Nicholas, the patron of Muscovy, on the 
occasion. The form of these prayers is too 
singular to be omitted. It runs thus : 

" O thou who art our perpetual comforter 
in all our adversities, great St. Nicholas, in- 
finitely powerful, by what sin have .we 
oflfended thee, in our sacrifices, kneehngs, 
bowings, and thanksgivings, that thou hast 
thus abandoned us ? We implored thy assist- 
ance against these terrible, insolent, enraged, 
dreadful, unconquerable destroyers, when hke 
lions and bears robbed of their young, they 
fell upon, terrified, wounded, and slew by 
thousands, us who are thy people. As it is 
impossible that this should have happened 
without sorcery and witchcraft, we beseech 
thee, great St. Nicholas, to be our cham- 
pion, and standard-bearer, to dehver us from 
this troop of sorcerers, and to drive them far 



from our frontiers, with the recompense they 
deserve." 

Wliile the Muscovites were thus complain- 
ing of their defeat to St. Nicholas, Charles 
XII. returned thanks to Grod, and prepared 
himself for new victories. 

NASEBY, A.D. 1645.— This httle town, in 
Northampton county, England, will be ever 
memorable in British history for the battle 
fought near it, on the 14th of June, 1645, 
between the royalists, under Charles I., and 
the army of Generals Cromwell and Fairfax. 
Early in May Charles, with an army of 
10,000 men, marched from Oxford, toward 
Chester, for the purpose of reheving that 
place, wliich was closely besieged by the 
parliamentary forces under Sir Willian Bere- 
ton. On the approach of the royalists, the 
besiegers raised the siege and withdrew ; and 
the king having effected his purpose with re- 
gard to Chester, returned southward, and in 
his way sat down before Leicester, an im- 
portant place garrisoned by the enemy. 
Having made a breach in the wall, he stormed 
the town on all sides; and, after a furious 
assault, the soldiers entered sword in hand, 
and committed all those disorders to which 
their natural violence, especially when in- 
flamed by resistance, is so much addicted. A 
great booty was taken and distributed among 
them; 1,500 prisoners fell into the king's 
hands. Tliis success, wliich sti-uck a great ter- 
ror into the parliamentary army, determined 
Fairfax to abandon Oxlbrd, which he was 
beginning to approach ; and he marched to- 
Avard the king with an intention of offering 
him battle. On the evening of the 13th of 
June, his van overtook the rear of the royal- 
ists at Naseby, between Daventry and Har- 
borough. Fairfax and liis officers hailed with 
joy the prospect of a battle. They longed to 
refute the bitter taunts and sinister predic- 
tions of their opponents in the two Houses ; 
to prove that want of experience might be 
supplied by the union of zeal and talent ; and 
to estabUsh, by a victory over the king, the 
superiority of the independent over the 
presbyterian party. Charles, on the contrary, 
had sufiicient reason to decline a combat. 
His numbers had been diminished by the ne- 
cessity of leaving a strong detachment in 
Leicester, and several reinforcements were 
still on their way to join the royal standard. 
But in the presence of the round-heads, the 
cavahers never listened to the suggestions of 
prudence. Early in the morning of the 14th 
of June, the royal army formed in order of 
battle about a mile south of Harborough. 
They patiently waited until eight o'clock, the 
expected charge of the enemy ; but Fairfax 
refused to move fi-om his strong position at 
Naseby, and the king, yielding to the impor- 
tunities of his officers, gave the word to ad- 



408 



NAVAS DE TOLOSO— NEERWINDEN. 



vance. The hostile armies were about equal 
in point of numbers. The main body of the 
royalists was commanded by the king in per- 
son ; the right wing by Prince Rupert ; the 
left by Sir Marmaduke Langdale. Fairfax, 
seconded by Skippon, placed himself in the 
main body of the opposite army ; Cromwell 
in the right wing ; Ireton, Cromwell's son-in- 
law, in the left. The battle was opened by 
Prince Rupert, who, at the head of liis men, 
charged furiously on the right wing of the 
enemy ; Ireton made a stout resistaijce, and 
even after he was run through the thigh with 
a pike, still maintained the combat till he was 
taken prisoner, when his troops broke and 
fled precipitately, and six pieces of cannon 
feU into the hands of the victors. Prince 
Rupert, whose boiUng ardor prevented him 
from heeding the lessons of experience, urged 
the pursuit with his characteristic impetuosity, 
and as at the battle of Marston Moor, by 
wandering from the field, suffered the \'ic- 
tory to be won by the masterly conduct of 
Oliver Cromwell. Charles led on the main 
body of liis army, and displayed in this ac- 
tion, all the conduct of a prudent general 
and all the valor of a stout soldier. Fairfax 
and Skippon encountered him vnth. the main 
body of the parUamentary army, and sup- 
ported that reputation which they had ac- 
quired. Skippon being dangerously wound- 
ed, was desired by Fairfax to leave the field ; 
but he declared that he would remain there 
as long as one man maintained his ground. 
The infantry of the parliament was broken 
and pressed upon by the troops of the king ; 
till Fairfax, with great presence of mind, 
brought up the reserve, and renewed the 
combat. . Meanwhile the troops of Cromwell 
received the charge of the royahsts under Sir 
Marmaduke Langdale. By both the fight 
was maintained with obstinate valor, but 
superiority of numbers enabled the former to 
press on the flanks of the royalists who began 
to waver, and at last turned their backs and 
fled. Cromwell prudently checked the pur- 
suit, and leaving three squadrons to watch 
the fugitives, directed the remainder of his 
force against the rear of the royal infimtry 
which was engaged with the troops of Fair- 
fax and Skippon. That body of men, only 
3,500 in number, had hitherto fought with 
the most heroic valor: but this unexpected 
charge broke their spirit; they threw down 
their arms and entreated quarter. One 
regiment alone preserved its order unbroken, 
though twice desperately assailed by Fairfax ; 
and that general, excited by so steady a re- 
sistance, ordered Doyle}^, the captain of his 
Life Guard, to give them a third charge in 
front, while he himself attacked them in 
rear. The regiment was broken, Fairliix, 
with his own hands, killed an ensign, and 



having seized the colors, gave them to a sol- 
dier to keep for him. The soldier afterward 
boasting that he had won this trophy, was 
reproved by Doyley who had seen the ac- 
tion. " Let him retain that honor," said Fair- 
fax, " I have to-day acquired enough beside." 
Prince Rupert, sensible too late of his error, 
abandoned the pursuit and joined the king, 
whose infantry was now totally discomfited. 
Charles exhorted this body of cavalry not to 
despair, and cried aloud to them: "One 
charge more, and we recover the day." But 
the disadvantages under which they labored 
were too evident, and they could not be in- 
duced to renew the combat. Charles was 
obliged to quit the field and leave the vic- 
tory to the enemy. The slain on the side of 
the parliament exceeded those on the side of 
the king; they lost 1,000 men; he not over 
800. But Fairfax made 500 officers, and 
4,000 private men, prisoners ; took all the 
king's artillery and ammunition, and totally 
dissipated his infantry. The victory was 
complete and decisive. The king retreated 
with that body of horse which remained en- 
tire, first to Hereford ; then to Abergaven- 
ny, and remained some time in Wales, in the 
vain hope of raising a body of infantry 
in those harassed and exhausted quarters. 
Fairfax, having first retaken Leicester, which 
was surrendered upon articles, began to de- 
liberate upon his future enterprises. 

NAVAS DB TOLOSO, a.d. 1212.— Near 
this village in Spain was fought, in 1212, 
a famous battle between the armies of the 
kings of Castile, Arragon and Navarre, and 
the Moorish army under Mahomet Ibn Ab- 
dallah, King of Morocco. The Spaniards 
were aided by over 100,000 foreign crusad- 
ers, cliiefly French and EngUsh. The battle 
was most terrific ; blood flowed in torrents, 
and the Moors were totally defeated and put 
to rout. Nearly 200,000 Infidels were slain, 
while the Christians lost only 725 men. 

NAXERA, A.D. 1367. — On the 2d of 
April, 1367, an obstinate battle was fought 
between the troops of Peter the Cruel, and 
those of his brother Henry, at Naxera, a 
town of Sjxain, on the Naxerilla. 

NAZARETH, A.D. 1799.— See Acre, St. 
Jean d'. 

NEERWINDEN, a.d. 1693.— Neerwin- 
den in Belgium, has witnessed two import- 
ant battles. The first was fought on the 
29th of July, 1693, between the army of 
William III., of England, and the troops of 
the Marechal de Luxembourg. The battle 
was fiercely contested ; but after an obsti- 
nate struggle, victory declared itself against 
the troops of the English monarch; and 
added another laurel to the many trophies 
which Luxembourg had already won. 

The second battle of ' Neerwinden, wag 



NEHAWUND— NERO AND ASDRUBAL. 



409 



fought on the 18th of March, 1793, between 
the French and the Austrians. The Austrian 
army consisted of 39,000 men, of whom 
9,000 were cavalry. They occupied a posi- 
tion about iwo leagues in length near the 
village of Neerwinden. Their left wing, 
under the command of the Archduke Charles, 
was posted across the causeway leading to 
Tuelemont; their right, under Clairfait, ex- 
tended toward Landau, and their center di- 
rected by G-eneral Colleredo and the Prince 
of Wirtemberg was drawn up in two lines, 
in front of the village. 

The French army, commanded by General 
Dumourier, consisted of 35,000 foot and 5,000 
horse. It was divided into eight columns; 
three of which, on the left under General 
Valence, were to fall upon the Austrian right ; 
two columns under the Duke of Chatres were 
to force the center, and the three on the 
right commanded by Miranda were to crush 
the left. Miranda's troops commenced the 
attack. In dense columns they advanced to- 
ward the left wing of the enemy, and falUng 
upon the troops that were stationed in the 
vUlages in front of the army, speedily dis- 
lodged them; but the Austrians opening a 
heavy fire from all points upon the French, 
the latter were forced to retire with great 
loss. Meanwhile the troops of the Duke of 
Chatres, rushing forward to the assault with 
the utmost vigor, carried the village of Neer- 
winden in the center of the Austrian army. 
The Austrians, determined to regain the lost 
village, assaulted the French so furiously that 
they were compelled to relinquish the ground 
they had won. Again they advanced to the 
assault; again the Austrians were driven 
back, and again with renewed energy they 
attacked the French and drove them back. 
Thus the village was taken and re-taken 
several times. 

At length placing their immense artillery 
in position, the Austrians opened such a tre- 
mendous fire upon the French in the -village 
of Neerwinden, that they were compelled to 
evacuate finally. Dumourier now formed lais 
Une a hundred yards in the rear of the vil- 
lage, and opened a terrific fire of musketry 
and grape upon that quarter. And now two 
immense columns of Austrian cuirassiera ad- 
vanced toward the French line. They were 
received by volley after volley, and recoiled 
before the withering tempest of deadly mis- 
siles. Again they advanced to the charge : 
but Uke a bolt fi-om the bow, a body of 
French horse in a solid mass, rushed upon 
them, overwhelming them, and putting them 
to flight. The Austrians made no further at- 
tempts on the right and center ; but on the 
left they were making rapid progress. The 
French, under Miranda, after occupying the 
villages, were una,ble to debouch from the po- 



sition they had won ; for as fast as the heads 
of their columns presented themselves, they 
were exposed to the fire of the Austrian ar- 
tillery, posted on the heights in the rear, and 
melted away before the iron tempest. Upon 
this, the Archduke Charles, at the head of 
two battahons, stormed the village, and the 
Prince of Coburg, perceiving this to be the 
important point, fell upon the French columns 
with a large body of foot and horse. The 
left wing of the French attacked by superior 
numbers gradually fell back ; and their whole 
army distracted at this repulse, slowly retired 
and reoccupied their former position. Thus 
ended the battle ; neither party claiming the 
victory. The French lost about 3,000 men, 
killed, wounded, and made prisoners; the 
Austrians lost nearly the same number. 

NEHAWUND, A.n. 638.— Nehawund, a 
town in Persia, was in 638 the scqpe of a 
terrible battle between the Arabs and Per- 
sians. The Persians were defeated. 

NERO AND ASDRUBAL, b.c. 203.— One 
unforeseen event ruined all the measures, and 
blasted all the hopes, of Hannibal with regard 
to Italy. The Roman consuls, for this year, 
the eleventh of the second Punic war, were 
C. Claudius Nero, and M. Livius. The latter 
had for his pro^^nce the Cisalpine Gaul, 
where he was to oppose Asdrubal, Hanni- 
bal's brother, who, it was reported, was pre- 
paring to pass the Alps. The former com- 
manded in the country of the Britans, and 
in Lucania, that is, the opposite extremity of 
Italy, and was there making head against 
Hannibal. After Asdrubal had crossed the 
Alps, he dispatched couriers with letters to 
Hannibal, informing him that he was hasten- 
ing to join liim in Umbria. These letters 
were intercepted by Nero. In a conjunction 
of so Important a nature as this, Nero thought 
liimself set at hberty to dispense with the 
estabhshed rule, that no general should leave 
his own province to go into that of another, 
and at once determined to march and join 
his colleague, in order that they might charge 
Asdrubal unexpectedly with their united 
forces. From his army, which consisted of 
42,000 men, he drew out 7,000, the flower of 
his troops, for his own detachment, leaving 
the balance to guard his camp, which was 
advantageously situated and strongly fortified. 
Nero set out without giving his soldiers the 
least notice of his design. But when he had 
advanced so far that he could communicate it 
to them without danger, he told his soldiers 
that he was leading them to certain victory ; 
that the bare rumor of their arrival woidd 
disconcert all the measures of the Carthagin- 
ians, and that the whole honor of the battle 
would fall to them. 

The soldiers, stimulated by his words and 
by the hope of a speedy and glorious vie- 



410 



NEWAEK— NEW LONDON. 



tory, marched with extraordinary diligence. 
They joined the army of the other consul in 
the night. The better to impose upon the 
enemy, they did not pitch separate camps; 
but the newly arrived troops encamped with 
those of Livius. The army of Porcius the 
prastor was encamped near that of the con- 
sul. In the morning the generals held a coun- 
cil of war, and it was decided that the army 
sliould immediately march to give battle to 
the enemy. Asdrubal had felt himself pre- 
pared to engage the forces under the com- 
mand of Livius, wliich had been sent to con- 
test his entrance into Italy; but when he 
discovered by several circumstances that 
fresh troops had arrived, he did not doubt 
but that they belonged to the other consul, 
and he feared that his brother had sustained 
a heavy defeat, and that he had come too 
late to his assistance. He now caused a sig- 
nal for retreat to be sounded, and his army 
began to march in great disorder. Night 
came on, and his guides deserting him, he 
was uncertain what way to go. He marched 
at random along the banks of the river Me- 
taurus, now called Metaro, and was prepar- 
ing to cross it, Avhen the three armies of the 
enemy overtook liim. He saw that it would 
be impossible for liim to avoid coming to an 
engagement, and therefore at once prepared 
for the battle. Choosing an advantageous 
post, he di-ew up his army on a narrow spot, 
by which he gained the opportunity of post- 
ing his left wing (the weakest part of his 
army) in such a manner that it could neither 
be attacked in front nor charged in flank. 
He thus gave to his maui battle and right 
wing a greater depth than front. He now 
placed liimself in the center of his army, and 
knowing that all was at stake, he gave the sig- 
nal of battle to his soldiers, and charged upon 
the Roman army which was drawn up in 
battle array to receive them. The fight that 
followed was most obstinate and bloody. 
Asdrubal signalized liimself by the most dar- 
ing personal exploits. He animated his sol- 
diers by voice and example — he cheered on 
the brave and menaced the cowardly. But 
the most of his soldiers were dispirited : they 
trembled when they saw the superior force 
of tlie enemy. The carnage committed on 
their ranks by the Romans was terrible. At 
length Asdrubal seeing that victory belonged 
to the Romans, and being unable to survive 
the loss of so many thousands of his coun- 
trymen, ruslied at once into the midst of a 
Roman cohort, and there died in a manner 
worthy of the son of Hamilcar, and the 
brother of Hannil)al. In this most bloody 
battle, the Carthaginians lost 55,000 men 
slain on the field of strife, and 6,000 were 
taken prisoners. The Romans lost 8,000. 
They were so weary of slaying, that upon 



Livius being told that he might very easily 
cut to pieces a body of the enemy who were 
flying, he rephed : " It is fit that some should 
survive in order that they may carry the 
news of this defeat to the Carihaginians." 
Nero immediately after the battle set out 
upon his march. He arrived in his camp on 
the sixth day ; Asdrubal's head was thrown 
into the Carthaginian camp, and it was shown 
to Hannibal. " All is over," said he, " I 
shall no longer send triumphant messages to 
Carthage. In losing Asdrubal I have lost at 
once all my hope, all my good fortune." — See 
Battle of Cannce. 

NEWARK, A.D. 1643.— Newark stands on 
a lateral stream of the Trent in Nottingham 
CO., England. It was one of the chief garri- 
sons of the royalists during the civil wars of 
Charles I. It was besieged by the parlia- 
mentary forces in 1643 ; but both the town 
and castle were held by the royal army till 
the 11th of May, 1646, when it was surren- 
dered to the Scotch, by order of the king 
who was then a prisoner. The castle was 
then demolished by order of parliament. 

NEWBURY, A.D. 1643.— Tliis town stands 
on the river Kennett, in Berks co., England, 
53 miles west of London. The vicinity is 
remarkable for the two battles fought during 
the civil wars between the royahsts and par- 
hamentary forces, Charles I., commanding 
the royal army in person. The first was 
fought on a common called the Wash, on the 
20tli of September, 1643 ; the second on the 
27th of October in the following year ; but 
neither had any decided results. 

NEW LONDON, a.d. 1781.— New Lon- 
don is situated on the west bank of the 
Thames river, three miles from its mouth, in 
New London co.. Conn. 

On the evening of the 5th of September, 
1781, a British fleet, consisting of 24 sail, un- 
der Captain Beasley, bearing a strong land 
and marine force, under the general command 
of Benedict Arnold, the traitor, set sail from 
the easten extremity of Long Island, and at 
daybreak on the following morning appeared 
off the harbor of New London. The troops 
were landed in two divisions of about 800 
each; the first under Lieutenant-Colonel 
Eyre, landed on the east or the Groton side 
of the Thames ; and the second, commanded 
by Arnold himself, on the New London side. 
Tiie American militia hastened in small bodies 
to oppose them ; but were not of sufiicient 
strength to produce much effect, and the 
British advanced almost unmolested to the 
to-\vn. The torch was immediately appUed, 
and nearly the whole of the place was laid in 
ashes. Several vessels were also burned. 
Meanwhile the American mihtia were aroused 
on all sides, and collected in great numbers. 
Arnold, perceiving his danger, hastUy re- 



NEW ORLEANS. 



411 



treated to his boats, closely pursued by the 
enraged inliabitants. The British lost 5 killed 
and about 20 wounded. The Americans lost 
4 killed and 10 or 12 wounded. 

Colonel Eyre meanwhile advanced against 
Fort Griswold, a strong work on the west 
bank of the Thames, which was garrisoned 
by about 150 men, under Colonel Ledyard. 
After a desperate conflict, the assailants forced 
their way into the fort, which was surren- 
dered unconditionally. Colonel Eyre was 
mortally wounded in the assault, and Major 
Montgomery was slain wliile mounting the 
parapet. The British lost 187 men killed and 
wounded. The Americans lost about 12 men 
killed before the fort was carried. When 
that was effected. Colonel Ledyard ordered 
his men to cease firing, and lay down their 
arms. The gates were opened, and the To- 
ries and Hessians, led on by Major Bromfield, 
on whom the command had devolved, rushed 
into the fort. " Who commands this fort ?" 
cried Bromfield. " I did, sir," replied Ledyard, 
"but you do now;" and he presented his 
sword to the victor. Bromfield seized the 
weapon, and murdered Ledyard by running 
him through the body with the sword he had 
just surrendered. The victors gave no quar- 
ter, but kept up the work of destruction until 
70 men were killed, and 35 mortally or dan- 
gerously wounded. The victors then plun- 
dered the fort and garrison of every thing 
valuable; and after treating the survivors 
with every indignity and cruelty which their 
barbarous natures could invent, they departed, 
taking away about 40 of the inhabitants pris- 
oners. 

NEW ORLEANS, a.d. 1815.— The city 
of New Orleans is situated on the east bank of 
the Mississippi river, about 100 miles from its 
mouth. The city is built around a bend of 
the river, from which circumstance it has 
been called the " cresent city." 

New Orleans, at the time of the second 
war with England, contained a population of 
nearly 30,000 inhabitants. The city had 
been recently purchased by the Government 
of the United States from France, and the 
people were mostly of Spanish and French 
origin. It was not a military place ; but it 
was a wealthy city, and lured by the antici- 
pations of a rich booty, the Britith resolved 
to capture it. Accordingly the expedition, 
wliich had been defeated at Baltimore, was 
directed against New Orleans. The city was 
accessible through the various mouths of the 
river Mississippi, and also with small vessels 
through lakes Borgue and Ponchartrain. 
Jackson, with the American army, was at 
Mobile, when he received inteUigence of the 
intentions of the enemy, and instantly has- 
tened to the protection of New Orleans, 
where he arrived on the 2d of December, 



1814. The city was a scene of universal 
alarm and excitement ; but by vigorous 
measures he soon quieted the inhabitants 
and put the city in a state of comparative 
security. The English fleet entered lake 
Borgue, and on the 9th of December, captured 
a flotilla of American gun-boats, which had 
been sent to oppose the landing of the troops. 
The attack on these boats was made by a 
detachment of 1,200 British seamen and 
marines, in forty barges, under Captain 
Lockyer. The American boats, six in num- 
ber, endeavored to escape from the enemy, 
but after a hard chase of nearly thirty-six 
hours, the British flotilla came up with the 
enemy, and an obstinate conflict ensued. 
The Americans numbered 200 men, and 
were commanded by Lieutenant (afterward 
commodore) Jones. The Americans at length, 
after inflicting on the enemy a loss of about 
300 in killed and wounded, yielded to the 
superior numbers of their assailants, with a 
loss of about forty men killed and wounded ; 
and the six gun boats with their crews fell 
into the hands of the EngUsh. The British 
now were in complete possession of lakes 
Borgue and Ponchartrain ; and on the 23d 
of December, about 2,400 British troops 
effected a landing on the levee, about eight 
miles from New Orleans. This levee is an 
embankment raised in order to prevent the 
river from overflowing the island, which is 
considerably lower than the surface of the 
water. It is Uned on the west side by the 
river, and on the east by an impassable 
swamp ; and varies in width from a few 
hundred yards to two or three miles. Jack- 
son no sooner heard of the landing of the 
British, than he resolved to attack them be- 
fore they could bring forward their heavy 
artillery, and the main body of the army. 
On the same day of the landing of the in- 
vaders, he put his column in motion, and 
arrived by evening within two miles of the 
enemy. His dispositions for the attack were 
soon made. He ordered the schooner of war 
Caroline^ under the command of Commodore 
Patterson, to drop down the river after dark, 
and anchor opposite the British position. 
Six hundred men, under General Coffee, 
were ordered to advance along the edge of 
the swamp, and gain unobserved the rear of 
the enemy; while Jackson himself with 
1,300 troops, was to advance along the levee, 
and attack the enemy in front. The first 
gun fired from the Caroline was to be the 
signal for a general attack. The schooner 
glided quietly down the river, and having 
gained her position, anchored, and opened a 
cannonade upon the enemy. Coffee ad- 
vanced silently, when he was suddenly met 
by a body of the enemy, which was retiring 
before the shot of tlie schooner. A hot con- 



412 



NEW ORLEANS. 



flict ensued, and the British, after a desperate 
struggle, were driven down the levee, behind 
which they made a stand in spite of the most 
strenuous efforts of the Americans to dislodge 
them. 

Jackson, meanwhile, advanced in front, 
and soon came upon the enemy, in- 
trenched behind a deep ditch. A deep fog 
had arisen since nightfall, and although the 
moon was out, yet the misty clouds arising 
from marsh and river soon enveloped all ob- 
jects in deep obscurity. After repeatedly 
charging the enemy, and driving them from 
one ditch to another, Jackson halted. The 
guns of the Caroline had nearly ceased their 
fire ; Coffee's volleys were feeble and few, 
and Jackson, finding his troops crowded in 
confusion on the levee in the darkness, con- 
cluded to withdraw. The Americans lost in 
this attack in killed, wounded, and prisoners 
240 men, the British about 400. The American 
general now posted his troops (about 3,000 
in number) behind a deep ditch which stretch- 
ed across the levee from the river to the swamp, 
and commenced strengthening his position by 
every means in his power. The ditch was deep- 
ened and widened ; and where it entered the 
marsh, the trees were cut down, thus extend- 
ing the line fin-ther into the swamp. Coffee 
with his troops, was stationed on this, the 
left of the American line. General Morgan 
was detached with a strong body of troops, 
with orders to take and fortify a position on 
the west bank of the Mississippi, opposite 
Jackson's line ; and Major Reynolds was 
dispatched to oljstruct and defend the pass of 
Barotaria — the charmel through wliich the 
enemy would probably attempt to approach. 
The Americans labored diligently in strength- 
ening their breastwork. The earth was 
thrown up still higher on the edge of the 
ditchj and cotton-bales were added to the 
work to increase its breadth and depth. The 
British, meanwhile, were not idle. All hands 
had been set to deepen a canal in rear of the 
British position, by which boats with the 
heavy artillery might be brought up to the 
Mississippi. A battery was erected opposite 
the Caroline, and on the morning of the 27th 
of December, was opened on the schooner 
with shells and red-hot shot. The vessel 
was soon wrapped in flames; the crew 
abandoned her, and escaped to the shore, and 
shortly afterward her magazine exploded 
with terrific violence. 

On the 28th Sir Edward Packenham, the 
British general, ordered his columns to ad- 
vance against the American works. The Brit- 
ish troops, with their artillery, advanced in ex- 
cellent order, and having arrived within half 
a mile of the American hne, opened their 
batteries, sending bomb-shells and Congreve 
rockets in rapid succession among the Amer- 



icans ; but the latter worked their guns ad- 
mirably, and their shot told with fearful effect 
upon the exposed ranks of the enemy, and 
the sloop of war, Louisiana, swinging broad- 
side to the advancing columns, sent forth 
such destructive volleys upon them that they 
were obliged to retire widi a loss of over one 
hundred men. The Americans lost seven 
killed and eight wounded. Among the slain 
was Colonel Henderson of the Tennessee 
militia. UntU the 1st of January the British 
occupied their whole time in bringing for- 
ward heavier artillery. At length, having 
completed their arrangements, they resolved 
on another attack on the enemy's line. 
Under cover of a dense fog the- British col- 
umn advanced to the attack ; but the muffled 
tread of the soldiers aroused the Americans, 
and every man was ready. The sun at 
length partially disjiersed the fog, and the 
British having advanced their batteries with- 
in six hundred yards of the American hne, 
opened them with the utmost vigor. The 
Americans rephed with equal spirit, and the 
cannonade was maintained on both sides till 
noon, when the British ceased their fire and 
withdrew to their camp. The British sus- 
pended hostilities for a week. Meanwliile 
Jackson was reinforced by nearly three thou- 
sand Kentuclcians ; so that his army now 
consisted of almost six thousand men. At 
length the British general resolved on an at- 
tack on the American works with his entire 
army, which now consisted of more than 
twelve thousand men. At this time tlie 
Americans were drawn up as follows : Coffee 
^vith his troops was posted in the swamp, on 
the left; the center was composed of the 
Tennesseeans, under Carroll ; and Jackson, 
with the regulars, occupied the right, resting 
on the river. The Kentuckians were posted 
behind Carroll ; and on the opposite bank of 
the river, General Morgan, with his detach- 
ment, occupied a strongly fortified position. ' 
The British general's plan of attack was as 
follows : A detachment under Colonel Thorn- 
ton' was to cross the river in the night to 
attack Morgan, and if successful, to advance 
up the west bank of the Mississippi, till he 
came opposite the city of New Orleans. 
The main attack on the breast-work in front 
was to be made in two columns, the first 
under General Gibbs, tlie second under Gen- 
eral Keane. Under cover of the night the 
British erected heavy batteries witliin eight 
hundred yards of the American works. 

Morning came ; it was the Sabbath. A 
thick fog enveloped both armies; but the 
rising sun soon lifted the misty curtain, and 
disclosed to the eyes of the Americans the 
preparations of the enemy. Every American 
was at his post, awaiting in deep silence the 
approach of the enemy. The rising of the 



NIAGARA. 



413 



fog was the signal of battle, and instantly 
every gun of the British battery opened its 
grim mouth, and vomited forth flame and 
smoke. The iron tempest swept madly 
across the plain, and plunged into the Amer- 
ican works. The thunders of the artUlery 
shook the ground and aroused the people of 
New Orleans from their slumhers. Two 
fiery rockets, the one from the shore, the 
other from the edge of the swamp, gave the 
signal for the attack, and two deep columns, 
each nearly five thousand strong, advanced 
toward the American hne. The first was 
directed against the center, the second against 
the left of the American hne. The Amer- 
icans greeted the approach of the enemy with 
three loud cheers, and then all was silent save 
the measured tread and clanking weapons of 
the advancing columns. The levee at this 
point was contracted to four hundred yards 
in width, and as the British troops crowded 
over this causeway the Americans opened a 
concentrated fire of all their batteries upon 
the moving wall of crimson. The murderous 
tempest swept through the mass of flesh, 
making frightful gaps in its passage, and cov- 
ering the earth with dead and wounded. 
But on, on, through the terrific storm the 
British pressed, closing up their ranks with 
admirable coolness. As they neared the 
ditch the columns swiftly deployed, and un- 
der cover of a tremendous fire from the bat- 
teries, rushed to the assault. The American 
troops had reserved the fire of their musket- 
ry ; but now the word, " Fire," ran along 
their line. Instantly the breast-work was 
illumined with a vivid sheet of flame, and a 
hurricane of bullets rushed into the bosoms 
of the assailants, scattering them to the earth 
like seed from the sower's hand. But amid 
the blaze of musketry, the leaden sleet, the 
thunders of cannon, the fiery tempest of 
shells and rockets, and the whirUng storm of 
grape and round-shot, came loud and distinct 
over the roar of battle, the orders of com- 
mand, and the assailants recovering from their 
momentary confusion again advanced. But 
falling like leaves in autumn, the British 
troops again wavered. Their officers urged 
them forward. They nobly obeyed, but un- 
able to breast the fiery blast, suiik down by 
hundreds. 

Packenham galloped to the front; he 
urged his horse in the very face of the fire, 
calling upon his men to falter not. For a 
moment the gallant Britons moved through 
the storm ; but their brave general sank dead 
before their eyes, and G-enerals Gibbs and 
Keane also falling, the assailants turned and 
fled in wild confusion, leaving behind them 
gory evidences of their valor. General Lam- 
bert, on whom the command now devolved, 
vainly endeavored to rally the fiagitives ; they 



fled madly to a ditch, where, safe fi-om the 
fire of the enemy, they halted. Lambert at 
length succeeded in reviving the hopes of his 
troops, and strengthened by a reserve, the 
British columns again advanced to the attack. 
They entered the fearful tempest ; they took 
the enemy's fire into their very bosoms, but 
sank beneath it in bloody heaps. Again they 
halted; they wavered, turned, and fled in 
wild despair. Lambert saw that it was im- 
possible to carry the enemy's works, and 
wishing to spare the lives of his soldiers, 
withdrew his army. 

Meanwhile, Colonel Thornton, with the 
British division on the west bank of the Mis- 
sissippi, had been eminently successful ; the 
Americans, under General Morgan, were de- 
feated after a short struggle, and retired from 
their works, Avhich fell into the possession of 
the British. This stroke of good fortune on 
the part of the invaders, might have proved 
very disastrous to the Americans, but for the 
fearful slaughter of the British on the oppo- 
site shore, for the guns of the captured fort 
commanded the interior of Jackson's Hne. 
But after the overthrow of the main body of 
the army, Thornton's detachment was with- 
drawn to the east bank, and the troops at all 
points returned to their camp. The British 
were allowed to retreat unmolested ; they 
embarked in then- fleet, and set saU for En- 
gland with all possible speed. 

The Americans lost in this battle 7 killed, 
and 6 wounded, on the east side of the river, 
and 58 killed and wounded on the west side. 
The British lost 700 killed, and nearly 1,500 
wounded. Among the slain was General 
Packenham ; and Generals Gibbs and Keane 
were both severely wounded. The battle of 
New Orleans was tlie last battle of moment 
of the second war between the United States 
and England, commonly knovra as the war 
of 1812. 

NIAGARA, A. D. 1814.— The Americans 
rested but two days after the battle of Chip- 
pewa, and then crossed the Chippewa river 
with the determination to pursue the British 
who had retreated to Burhngton Heights, near 
the head of lake Ontario. On the 25th of 
July intelligence was received that 1,000 of 
the enemy's troops had crossed the Niagara 
river to Lewiston, for the evident purpose of 
seizing the American magazines at Fort 
Schlosser, and the supphes on the way to 
the American camp, from Buffalo. Brown, 
in order to force them to return, detached 
Scott with about 1,200 men to threaten the 
forts at the mouth of Niagara river. Scott 
had proceeded but two miles when he came 
in sight of an army of 2,000 men, drawn up 
in order of battle. The British were under 
the command of General Eiall, and were 
posted just below the Falls, on a ridge at the 



414 



NIAGARA. 



head of Lundy's Lane.* Their left was in 
the highway, and separated from the main 
body by an interval of two hundred yards, 
covered with brushwood, etc. General Drum- 
mond had landed a short time before with 
reinforcements, which were rapidly marching 
up to the aid of Riall. Scott, however, would 
not turn his back on the enemy, and gallantly 
led in person liis little army into the fire. His 
bearing and words inspired confidence, and 
officers and men forgot the odds that were 
against them. Major Jessup was ordered to 
fling himself in the interval between the Brit- 
ish center and left, and turn the latter. In 
the mean time, the enemy discovering that he 
outflanked the Americans on the left, ad- 
vanced a battahon to take them in rear. The 
brave McNeil stopped, with one terrible blow, 
its progress, though his own battahon was 
dreadfully shattered by it. Jessup had suc- 
ceeded in his movement, and having gained 
the enemy's rear, charged back through his 
line, captured the cpmmanding general Riall, 
with his whole staff. When this was told to 
Scott, he announced it to the army, and three 
loud cheers rang over the field. The Enghsh 
replied with a destructive discharge from their 
battery of seven pieces. 

It was night now, and a serene moon rose 
over the scene, but its hght struggled in vain 
to pierce the smoke that contained the com- 
batants. The flashes from the batteries that 
crowned the heights, and from the infantry 
below, alone revealed where they were 
struggling. Scott's regiment were soon all 
reduced to skeletons — a fourth of the whole 
brigade had fallen in the unequal conflict. 
The Enghsh battery of twenty-four pounders 
and howitzers, sent destruction through his 
ranks. He, however, refused to yield a foot 
of ground, and heading almost every charge 
in person, moved with such gay spirits and 
reckless courage through the deadhest fire 
that the troops caught the infection. But the 
British battery, now augmented to nine guns, 
made frightful havoc in his uncovered brig- 
ade. Lawspn's few pieces being necessarily 
placed so much lower, could produce but httle 
effect, while the enemy's twenty-four pound- 
ers, loaded with grape, swept the entire 
field. The 11th and 22d regiments, de- 
prived of their commanders, and destitute of 
ammunition, were withdrawn, and Leaven- 
worth, ^vith the gallant 9th, was compelled 
to withstand the whole shock of the battle. 
With such energy and superior numbers did 
the British press upon this single regiment, 
tliat it appeared amid the darkness to" be en- 
veloped in flame. Its destruction seemed 
inevitable, and in a short time one half of its 

* The vivid description of the brittle which follows, is 
extracted from J. T. Meadley's admirable work, "The 
Second War with England." 



number lay prostrate on the plain. Leaven- 
worth sent to Scott, informing him of liis 
critical condition. The latter soon came up 
at a gallop, when Leavenworth, pointing to 
the bleeding fragment of his regiment, said, 
" Your rule for retreating is fulfilled," allud- 
ing to Scott's maxim that a regiment might 
retreat when every third man was killed. 
Scott, however, answered buoyantly, cheered 
up the men and officers by promising victory, 
and spurring through a tempest of bullets, 
animated them by his daring courage and 
chivalric bravery to still greater efibrts. Still, 
he could not but see liis case was getting 
desperate, and unless aid arrived soon, he 
must retreat. Only 500 or 600 of the 1,200 
he at sunset had led into battle, remained to 
him. General Brown, however, was hurry- 
ing to the rescue. The incessant cannonachng 
convinced him that Scott had a heavy force 
on his hands ; and without awaiting the ar- 
rival of a messenger, he directed Ripley to 
move forward with the second brigade. Meet- 
ing Scott's dispatch on the way, he learned 
how desperate the battle was, and imme- 
diately chrected Porter with the volunteers 
to hurry on after Ripley, while he, in advance 
of all, hastened to the field of action. The 
constant and heavy explosions of artillery, 
rising over the roar of the cataract, an- 
nounced to the excited soldiers the danger 
of their comrades, and no sooner were they 
wheeled into marcliing order than they 
started on a trot along the road. Lieutenant 
Riddle, who was off on a scouring expedition 
in the country paused as he heard the thun- 
der of cannon, and waiting for no dispatch, 
gave orders to march, and his men moving 
at the charge dejMS, soon came with shouts 
on the field. At length the head of Ripley's 
column emerged into view, sending joy 
through those gallant regiments, and a loud 
huzza rolled along their line. Brown, seeing 
that Scott's brigade was exhausted, ordered 
Ripley to form in advance of it. In the 
mean time, Drummond had arrived on the 
field with reinforcements, swelling the En- 
glish army to 4,000 men. At this moment 
there was a lull in the battle, and both armies 
prepared for a decisive blow. It was evident 
the deadly battery on the heights must be 
carried, or the field be lost, and Brown, turn- 
ing to Colonel Miller, asked him if he could 
take it. ^^ I will try, sir," was the brief re- 
ply of the fearless soldier, as he coolly scan- 
ned the frowning heights. Placing himself 
at the head of the 21st regiment, he prepared 
to ascend the hill. Major McFarland with 
the 23d was to support him. Not having 
arrived on the field of battle till after dark, 
he was ignorant of the formation of the 
ground, or the best point from which to com- 
mence the ascent. General Scott who had 



NIAGARA. 



415 



fought over almost every foot of it since sun- 
set, offered to pilot him. Passing by an old 
church and grave-yard, that showed dimly in 
the moonlight, he took the column to the 
proper place, and then returned to his post. 
In close order and dead silence the two regi- 
ments then moved straight for the battery. 
It was by their heavy mufSed tread that 
General Drummond first detected their ap- 
proach. But the moment he caught the dark 
outlines of the swiftly advancing columns, he 
turned his battery upon them with terrible 
effect. The 23d staggered under the dis- 
charge, but soon rallied and pressed forward. 
Smitten again it reeled backward down the 
liill ; but the 21st never faltered. " Close 
up, steady, men!" rung from the lips of their 
leaders, aud taking the loads of grape-shot 
unshrinkingly into their bosoms, they marched 
sternly on, their bayonets gleaming red in the 
fire that rolled in streams down the slope. 
Every explosion revealed the whole hiU aud 
that dark column winding through the flame 
and smoke up its sides. At length it came 
within range of musketry, when the carnage 
became awful ; but still on through the sheets 
of flame, over their dead comrades, this in- 
vincible regiment held its stubborn course 
toward the very vortex of the battle. The 
Enghsh gazed with amazement on its steady 
advance. No hesitation marked its move- 
ment ; closing up its ranks after every dis- 
charge, it kept on its terrible way, till at last 
it stood face to face with the murderous bat- 
tery, and within a few steps of the gunners. 
A sudden flash, a deafening explosion, and 
then "close up, steady, charge," rung out 
from the sulphurous cloud that rolled over 
the shattered regiment, and the next instant 
it swept with a thrilling shout over guns, 
gunners and all. The struggle became at 
once close and fierce — bayonet crossed bay- 
onet — weapon clashed against weapon ; but 
nothing coidd resist that determined onset. 
Tlie British were driven down the hiU, and 
the remnants of tliat gallant regiment, to- 
gether with McFarland's which had again 
rallied, formed between the guns and the 
foe. Ripley then moved liis brigade to the 
top of the hill, in order to keep what had 
been so heroically won. 

Stung with rage and mortification at this 
unexpected defeat, Drummond resolved to re- 
take the height and his guns, cost what it 
might ; and soon the tread of his advancing 
columns was heard ascending the slope. 
With their uniforms glittering in the bright 
moonhght the excited troops came on at the 
charge step, until within twenty yards of the 
American line, when they halted and delivered 
their fire. " Charge !" then ran along the line 
but the order had scarcely pealed on the 
night air before they were shattered and torn 



in fragments by the sudden and destructive 
volley of the Americans. Rallying, however, 
they returned to the attack, and for twenty 
minutes the conflict around those guns was 
indescribably awful and murderous. No 
sounds of music drowned the death cry ; the 
struggle was too close and fatal. There 
were only the fierce tramp and the clash of 
steel, the stifled cry and wavering to and fro 
of men in a death grapple. At length the 
British broke and disappeared in the dark- 
ness. Major Ripley again formed liis line, 
while Scott who had succeeded in getting a 
single battahon out of the fragments of his 
whole brigade was ordered to the top of the 
hill. In about half an hour the sound of the 
returning enemy was again heard. Smote 
by the same fierce fire Drummond with a 
desperate effort, threw liis enthe strength on 
the center of the American line. But there 
stood the gallant 21st, whose resistless 
charge had first swept the hill ; and 
where they had conquered they would not 
yield. Scott in the mean time led his column 
so as to take the enemy in flank and rear, 
and but for a sudden volley from a concealed 
body of the enemy, cutting liis command in 
two, would have finished the battle with a 
blow. As it was, he charged and charged again 
with resistless energy, and the disordered 
ranks of the British for the second time 
rolled back and were lost in the gloom. 
Here Scott's last horse fell under him, and he 
moved on foot amid his battalion. Jessup 
was also severely wounded, yet there he 
stood amid the darkness and carnage, cheer- 
ing on his men. The soldiers vied with the 
officers in heroic, daring, and patient suffer- 
ing. Many would call out for muskets as 
they had none, or for cartridges as theirs 
were all gone. On every side from pallid 
lips and prostrate bleeding forms came the re- 
ply, " Take mine, and mine, my gun is in good 
order, and my cartridge-box is full." There 
was scarcely an officer at this time un wound- 
ed, yet, one and all refused to yield the com- 
mand while they could keep their feet. Jes- 
sup's flag was riddled witli balls, and as a ser- 
geant waved it amid a storm of bullets, the 
staff was severed in three pieces in his hand. 
Turning to his commander, he exclaimed as 
he took up the fragments, "Look, colonel, 
how they have cut us ?" the next moment a 
ball passed through his body. But stiU he 
kept his feet, and stUl waved his mutilated 
standard, until faint with loss of blood he 
sunk on the field. After being driven the 
second time down the liill, the enemy for a 
while ceased their efforts, and sudden silence 
fell on the two armies, broken only by the 
groans of the wounded and dying. The 
scene and the hour combined to render that 
Ml-top a strange and fearful object in the 



416 



NICE— NINEVEH. 



darkness. On one side lay a wilderness, on 
the other rolled the cataract, whose solemn 
anthem could again be heard pealing on 
tlirouoh the night. Leaning on their heated 
guns that gallant band stood bleeding amid 
the wreck it had made. It was midnight — 
the stars look quietly down from the sky — 
tlie summer wind swept softly by, and nature 
was breathing long and peacefully. But all 
over that hill lay the brave dead, and down 
its sides in every direction the blood of men 
was rippling. Nothing but skeletons of regi- 
ments remained, yet calm and stern were the 
words spoken there in the darkness. " Close 
up the ranks," were the heroic orders that 
still fell on the shattered battalions, and they 
closed with the same firm presence, and 
dauntless hearts as before. It was thought 
that the British would make no further at- 
tempt to recover their guns, but reinforce- 
ments having arrived from Fort G-eorge, they, 
after an hour's repose and refreshments, pre- 
pared for a final assault. Our troops had all 
this time stood to their arms, and faint with 
hunger, thirst and fatigue, seemed unequal to 
a third conflict against a fresh force. But as 
they heard the enemy advancing, they forgot 
their weariness and met the onset firmly as 
before. But this time the ranks of the enemy 
did not yield under the fire that smote them, 
they pressed steadily forward, and delivering 
their volleys as they advanced, at length 
stood on the summit of the hill breast to 
breast with the American line. The conflict 
now became fearful, and more Uke the mur- 
derous hand-to-hand fights of an old than a 
modern battle. Battalions on both sides 
were forced back till the ranks became 
mingled. Bayonet crossed bayonet, and men 
lay transfixed side by side. Hindman, whose 
artillery had been from the first served with 
surpassing skill, found the enemy amid his 
guns, across which he was compelled to 
fight them. The firing gave way to the clash 
of steel, the blazing hill-top subsided into 
gloom, out of which the sound of this noc- 
turnal combat arose in strange and wild con- 
fusion. Scott, charging like fire at the head 
of his exliausted battalion received another 
wound wliich prostrated him, but his last 
words to Leavenworth were " Charge again ! 
Charge again, Leavenworth," he cried, as 
they bore him apparently dying from that 
fierce foughten field. General Brown, sup- 
ported on his horse, and suffering from a 
severe wound, was slowly led away. Jespup 
was bleeding from several wounds; every 
regimental officer in Scott's brigade was killed 
or wounded. Only one soldier out of every 
four stood vp unhurt. 

The annals of war rarely record such a 
slaughter in a single brigade, but it is rarer 
stiU a brigade has such a leader. The 



of regiments alone remained, yet before these, 
the veterans of England were at last com- 
pelled to flee, and betake themselves to the 
darkness for safety. Sullen, mortified, and 
badly wounded, Drummond was carried from 
the field, and all further attempts to take the 
liill were abandoned. The Americans, how- 
ever, kept watch and ward around the can- 
non that had cost them so great a sacrifice 
till near daybreak, when orders were received 
to retire to the camp. No water could be 
obtained on the heights, and the troops 
wanted repose. Through the want of drag- 
ropes and horses the cannon were left behind. 
This was a sad drawback to the victory, and 
Major Ripley should have detailed some men 
to have taken at least the lightest ones away. 
Tropliies won with the blood of so many 
brave men were worth more effort than he 
put forth to secure them. A bloodier battle 
in proportion to the number engaged, was 
never fought than this. Nearly 800 Amer- 
icans, and as many EngUsh had fallen on and 
around that single hill. It was Uterally 
loaded with the slain. Seventy-six ofiicers 
were either killed or wounded out of our 
army of some 3,000 men, and not a general on 
either side remained unwounded. 

The Americans, after the battle of Niagara, 
retired to Fort Erie, and set about strength- 
ening its defenses. In the month of August 
the British advanced to Fort Erie, and com- 
menced a regular siege of that fortification. 
See Chippewa and Fort Erie. 

NICE, A.D. 1097.— The siege of Nice_ is 
only memorable from the fact that tliis city 
was the first conquest of the Crusaders in the 
East. It was taken in the year 1097. 

NICOPOLIS, A.D. 139G, — Nicopolis, in 
Turkey, is memorable for the great battle 
fought in its vicinity on the 28th of Septem- 
ber, 1396, between the Ottoman army, nnder 
Bojazet, and the Hungarians and their allies, 
under King Sigismund. The Hungarians 
were totally defeated. Their defeat is ascriba- 
ble as much to the rashness and presumption 
of the Count de Nevers, and other French 
officers, as to the bravery of the Turks. 

NINEVEH, B.C. 747. — We now turn our 
eyes upon a city, the name of which wUl ever ^^ 

be famous on its own account, and from its 
connection with the Scriptures. And yet 
the siege of Nineveh furnishes but few par- 
ticulars for narration: it is, however, a re- 
markable circumstance, that, according to the , 
best chronologers, Rome Avas founded the 
very year that Nineveh was destroyed. 

Sardanapalus, King of Assyria, surpassed 
all his predecessors in effeminacy, luxury, and 
cowardice. He never went out of his palace, 
but spent all his time among his women, 
dressed and painted in the same manner as 
they were, and employed, in imitation of 



NISIB.— NORFOLK. 



417 



them, in the labors of the distaff. His whole 
glory consisted in his treasures, and all his 
time was devoted to the indulgence of infam- 
ous and criminal pleasures. 

Arbaces, governor of Media, having found 
means to get into his palace and behold Sar- 
danapalus in the midst of his infamous serag- 
lio, was so cUsgusted with the idea tliat so 
many brave men should be subject to such an 
effeminate being, that he immediately formed 
a conspiracy against him. Belesis, governor 
of Baljylon, and several others entered into 
it. On the rumor of this revolt, the king hid 
himself in the innermost recesses of his pal- 
ace. Being afterward obliged to take the 
field with some forces his captains had got 
together, he at first gained three successive 
victories over the enemy, but was in the end 
overcome and pursued to the gates of Nine- 
veh- He here shut himself up, convinced 
that the rebels would never be able to take a 
city so wonderfully fortified by nature and 
art, and so abundantly stored with provisions. 
The siege proved of very great length. It 
has been declared by an ancient oracle, that 
Nineveh could never be taken unless the 
river became an enemy to the city. This 
buoyed up Sardanapalus, because he looked 
upon the thing as impossible. But when he 
saw that the Tigris by a violent inundation 
had thrown down twenty stadia of the city 
wall, and by that means opened a passage to 
the enemy, he understood the meaning of the 
oracle, and looked upon himself as lost. He 
resolved, however, to die in such a manner 
as, in his opinion, would cover the infamy of 
his scandalous life. He ordered a vast pile of 
wood to be collected in his palace, and setting 
fire to it, burned himself, liis women, his 
eunuchs, and his treasures. Athengeus makes 
tliese treasures amount to a thousand myriads 
of talents of gold, and ten times as many 
talents of silver (about fourteen hundred 
milhons sterUng), which, wthout reckoning 
any tiling else, appears to exceed credibility. 

We can not wonder that the Assyrian em^ 
pire should fall under such a man ; but it was 
not tUl after it had passed through various 
augmentations, diminutions, and revolutions, 
common to most great states during a course 
of ages. Tliis empire had subsisted above 
1,450 years. Of the ruins of this vast empire 
were formed three considerable kingdoms: 
that of the Medes, which Arbaces, the head 
of the conspiracy, restored to its hberty; that 
of the Assyrians of Babylon, which was given 
to Belesis, governor of that city ; and that of 
tlie Assyrians of Nineveh, whose first king 
took the name of Ninus the Second. 

One hundred years after the death of Sarda- 
napalus, under the reign of Saracus, named 
Oyndauladanus, Nebopalassar, general of liis 
armies, revolted against him, for the purpose 

27 



of obtaining his throne. He allied himself 
with Cyaxares, king of the Medes. Their unit- 
ed forces besieged Saracus in Nineveh ; they 
took the city, killed the monarch, and en- 
tirely destroyed that celebrated place, e.g. 648. 

NISIB, A.D. 1839.— Near Nisib, a village 
of northern Syria, in June, 1839, the army of 
Ibrahim Pacha defeated a Tuikish force under 
Hafiz Pacha. 

NORDLINGEN, a.d. 1634.— In 1634, 
during the celebrated Thirty Years' War, a 
battle was fought near Nordhngen, in Bava- 
ria, between the Austrian and Bavarian 
army under the Archduke Ferdinand, and 
the Swedes and their allies under the famous 
Bernard, Duke of Weimar. The latter were 
defeated, with considerable loss. In 1796, a 
battle was also fought here, in which the 
French defeated the Austrians. The town 
hall of Nordlingen is ornamented with fresco 
paintings of the first battle. 

NORFOLK, A.D. 1776.— Norfolk is situated 
on the right or north bank of the Elizabeth 
river, eight miles from Hampton roads, and 
thirty-two miles from the sea, in the State of 
Virginia. 

In the latter part of the year 1775, Nor- 
folk was occupied by Lord Dunmore, with a 
force of about GOO men, consisting of British 
regulars, Tory volunteers, negroes, and va- 
grants. Dunmore, with this motley army, 
had ravaged the country along the shores of 
the EUzabeth river, and had endeavored to 
bring the Indians upon the American colo- 
nists. When this was made known, the 
people burned with fierce indignation. Col- 
onel Woodford was sent with a detachment 
of minute-men into Norfolk county, and the 
militia of that section were called to arms. 
Dunmore became alarmed on learning of these 
preparations, and constructed batteries and 
intrenchments at Norfolk. Learning that the 
patriots were approaching by way of the 
great bridge, which crosses the Elizabeth 
river about nine miles from that point, Dun- 
more resolved to dispute the passage of the 
river at Norfolk. The bridge crosses the 
main stream from two islands, which are 
connected with the main land by causeways 
and smaller bridges. Dunmore cast up breast- 
works upon the island on the Norfolk side of 
the river, and furnished them with a sufficient 
number of cannon. The patriots could only 
approach the batteries upon the narrow 
causeway, and therefore constructed a breast- 
work at its western extremity. On the 9th 
of December, 1775, before daybreak, Dun- 
more, who remained in Norfolk, having heard 
that the patriots were weak in numbers, or- 
dered Captains Fordyce and Leslie to attack 
the American redoubt. Early in the morn- 
ing of that day. Captain Fordyce, at the head 
of about sixty JBritish grenadiers, and a corps 



418 



NORTHMEN, BATTLES OF THE. 



of regulars, advanced across the bridge, and 
made an attack upon the breast-work. The 
Americans received him with a warm fire, 
which threw the assailants into disorder. 
Fordyce rallied his troops, and having brought 
forward two pieces of cannon, placed them 
in a position to command the enemy's works, 
and under cover of a heavy fire from the 
cannon, led Ms men, about 120 in number, 
across the causeway. The British maintained 
a constant fire of musketry as they advanced ; 
but the Americans reserved their fire until 
the British troops came within fifty yards of 
the breast-work. Then, Lieutenant Travis, 
who commamled in the redoubt, the main 
body of the patriots being posted about 400 
yards in the rear, gave the signal, and the 
breast-work was instantly encircled by a 
blaze of fire. Volley after volley was 
poured upon the assailants. Captain For- 
dyce, who was the especial target of the 
Virginia riflemen, fell, pierced with f;:)urteen 
bullets, within fifteen feet of the American 
works. His men fled in wild terror, followed 
by a scathing tempest of bullets. Captain 
LesUe, who, with about 230 Tories and ne- 
groes, had remained at the west end of the 
bridge, now ralUed the regulars, and kept up 
the firing of the two cannon. Woodford, 
with the main body of the patriots, advanced 
to the relief of Travis, and Colonel Stevens 
of the Culpepper battalion outflanked the 
enemy on the left. The Virginians steadily 
advanced along the causeway, and attacked 
the British with such impetuosity that they 
were soon put to flight, leaving their cannon, 
spiked, behind. The loss of the British in 
this affair, in killed and wounded, was sixty- 
two. The patriots lost none in kiUcd, and 
one man only was slightly wounded. On the 
14th of December, Woodford entered Nor- 
folk in triumph. Dunmore, meanwhile, had 
abandoned the intrenchments at Norfolk, with 
twenty pieces of cannon, which were spiked, 
and with the Tories and their famihcs had 
retreated to the ships of the British fleet. 
The Americans in the town kept up a desult- 
ory fire upon the ships. Distress soon pre- 
vailed in the fleet; famine stared them in the 
face. The foraging parties were cut off by 
the Virginians, and the sufferings of the 
British became intolerable. At tliis juncture, 
the frigate Liverpool, from Great Britain, 
entered the harbor of Norfolk, and Dunmore, 
emboldened by her presence, sent a flag to 
Colonel Howe, who commanded in the town, 
commanding him to cease firing upon the 
fleet, and supply the ships with provisions, or 
he would bombard the town. Colonel Howe 
returned a decided refusal, and Dunmore 
prepared to put his threat into execution. 
On the morning of the 31st of December, 
Dunmore gave notice of his intention, in or- 



der that the loyalists stiU remaining in Nor- 
folk might retire to a place of safety ; and, 
early in the morning of the 1st of January, 
177G, the Liverpool, the Dunmore, and two 
sloops of war, opened a heavy cannonade on 
the town, and bodies of marines and sailors 
were sent on shore and set fire to the ware- 
houses. 

The wind was blowing from the water, 
and soon the greater part of the town was 
in flames. The conflagration lasted fifty 
hours, and during its continuance the fleet 
maintained an incessant cannonade upon the 
place. Parties of British troops were sent 
on shore ; but were immediately driven back 
by the patriots with loss. In these repulses 
Colonel Stevens was peculiarly conspicuous. 
During the three days of terror, while the flames 
spread devastation on all sides, and the air was 
filled with cannon-balls, not one of the patriot 
army was killed, and only three or four women 
and children were slain in the streets. Seven 
persons were wounded. Colonel Stevens and 
his httle band remained in Norfolk until 
February 1776, when, having removed the 
families, and appraised the dwellings still re- 
maining, he caused them to be destroyed, 
in order that they might not shelter the en- 
emy ; and thus the most flourishing town of 
Virginia was turned into a barren waste. 
Howe divided his troops ; some were sta- 
tioned at Kemp's landing, some at Great 
Bridge, and others in Suffolk while most of 
the fugitives from the city fled. After Howe 
abandoned the site of Norfolk, Dunmore 
erected barracks there, but being prevented 
from obtaining suppUes from the adjacent 
country, he destroyed them, and sailed down 
the Elizabeth river, finally landing upon 
Groyn's Island in Chesapeake Bay, near the 
mouth of the Piankotank river. Norfolk, 
phenix-hke, has arisen from its ashes, and is 
now one of the most beautifiil and flourishing 
cities of Virginia. 

NORTHMEN, BATTLES OF THE— In 
order to diversify the contents and add to the 
general interest of this volume, the editor has 
thought fit to give an account of the discoveries 
and battles of the Northmen on this continent, 
prior to the advent of Columbus. This account, 
although not strictly historical, has neverthe- 
less a strong foundation for belief. Mr. J. 
A. Blackwell, who edited Mallet's Northern 
Antiquities, believes that however Uttle faith 
may be placed on the truth of the account, 
it can be said with certainty that the North- 
men were tolerably well acquainted with the 
coast of America from Labrador to Massa- 
chusetts ; and had a vague tradition that it 
extended much further south. 

Almost at the very time of the massacre 
of the Danes in England, their brothers of 
the north were prosecuting their discoveries 



NORTHMEN, BATTLES OF THE. 



419 



in the western continent. Tliis may appear 
a startling assertion, yet there are proof's to 
be brought forward, which are sufficient al- 
most to convince the most skeptical. At the 
time of the conquest of Britain by the Danes, 
the Scandinavian race was the most power- 
ful of the nations of Europe. Enterprising, 
and ambitious for territorial acquisition, 
they spread themselves throughout all Europe. 

They carried their arms from the North, 
to the South and East; why, therefore, 
should they have not extended themselves 
toward the West. That they did so seems 
almost verified ; not only by analogy, but by 
history. 

It is universally acknowledged that in the 
year 860 the Norwegians discovered and setled 
in Iceland ; and it was proved beyond a doubt 
that the Icelanders, about a century after the 
island was first settled, discovered Greenland, 

The accounts of the discovery of Iceland, 
Greenland, and also of a western continent, 
are preserved in Old Icelandic sagaSj which 
were committed to written form from oral 
tradition, two, or three, or even four genera- 
tions after the events narrated are said to 
have taken place. The sagas relating to Ice- 
land and Greenland have been fully corrobor- 
ated. This warrants the conclusion that those 
which tell us in the same artless manner of 
the discovery of a western continent are also 
true, though their statements have not as yet 
been confirmed by the same kind of palpable 
evidence. 

In the year 1705 Torfacus published a his- 
tory of the discoveries of the Northmen in the 
western hemisphere. Other writers have 
also given ample information on tlie subject ; 
but stiU the world refuses to believe the 
startling assertion. In the year 1837, the 
Royal Society of Northern Antiquarians of 
Copenhagen, pubhshed, under the able super- 
vision of Professor Rafn and Finn Magnusen, 
the original narratives of the voyagers, under 
the title of "Antiquitates Americarioe." So 
clear and concise are the arguments used by 
the talented editors to corroborate the ac- 
counts given in the sagas, and thus substan- 
tiate the claims of the Northmen as the first 
discoverers of America, that the unpre- 
judiced reader can not but acknowledge 
them to be true. 

The sagas of Eirek the Red, and of Thor- 
firm Karlsefui, are the two most important, 
pubhshed by Mr. Rafn. They were first 
committed to writing in the twelfth century, 
about four generations after the events re- 
corded took place. The manuscript of the 
latter saga, made use of by Mr. Rafn as the 
basis of his text, is written on vellum, and 
bears internal evidence of having been writ- 
ten at the close of the thirteenth or the be- 
ginning of the fourteenth century. The saga 



of Eirek the Red forms a part of the beauti- 
ful " Codex Flatoiensis," which is a collecton 
of sagas transcribed from olden manuscripts, 
between the years 1337 and 1395 ; that is to 
say, a century before the discovery of Amer- 
ica by Columbus. 

Eirek the Red, according to the sagas re- 
lating to Greenland, was the son of Thor- 
vard, a Norwegian chieftain, who, being 
banished for the crime of homicide, about the 
year 975, retired to Iceland. Several years 
afterward, probably in 982, Eirek the Red, 
having committed the same crime, was ban- 
ished from Iceland. He manned a vessel, 
and set sail toward the West, in search of a 
country which — according to tradition — had 
been descried by a former navigator. His 
search proved successful. He landed on an 
island west of Cape Farewell. There he 
passed his first winter. In the spring he 
visited the mainland for the purpose of ex- 
ploring it. He found the land clothed with 
verdure, and he named it Greenland, for, 
said he, a good name will attract emigrants 
liither. He spent his term of banishment in 
Greenland, and then returned to Iceland, 
where he represented the excellent quahties 
of the newly discovered country in the most 
glowing terms. Attracted by the descrip- 
tions given by Eirek, many were persuaded 
to accompany him thither, and, accordingly, 
in the year 986, he again set sail for Green- 
land with a number of emigrants, and settled 
there. Constant accessions were made to 
the colony ; new settlements sprang up along 
the coast, and a thriving trade was driven 
between the colonies and the northern coun- 
tries. 

Among the emigrants who accompanied 
Eirek the Red to Greenland was Herjulf, 
whose son Bjarni, at the time of his depar- 
ture, was on a trading voyage to Norway. 
Upon his return to Iceland, Bjarni, finding 
that his father had emigrated with his family, 
resolved to follow them, although neither lie 
nor any of his crew were acquainted with 
the Greenland seas. But his course was 
pointed out to him by those with whom 
Eirek had conversed, and he was told that 
he could recognize Greenland by its lofty 
snow-capped mountains. He had been out 
of port but a short time when a heavy gale 
from the north, accompanied by thick fogs, 
sprang up, and drove his vessel he knew not 
whither. At length the storm abated, and 
the weather cleared, and in a short time he 
discovered land, moderately elevated, and 
covered with wood. He was convinced 
that it was not Greenland, and therefore 
changed his course, leaving the land to his 
right, and standing out to sea. After sailing 
two days, he again discovered land, lower 
than the former, but also covered with wood. 



420 



NORTmiEN, BATTLES OF THE. 



Proceeding on his voyage, vnth a south-west 
wind, he, three days afterward, djiscried a 
lofty island, whose shores presented numer- 
ous icebergs and glaciers. The barren and 
unattractive appearance of the country pre- 
vented him from landing, and he again stood 
out to sea, and arrived at a colony in Green- 
land where his father was settled, four days 
afterward. Several years subsequent, Bjarni 
again visited Norway. While there he re- 
lated his adventures to Eirek, one of the 
principal chieftains of the country, who 
blamed liim exceedingly for not having more 
closely examined the country which he had 
discovered. After his return to Greenland, 
the chief topic of conversation was the newly 
discovered country toward the south-west. 
Thus was the spirit of enterprise kept awake, 
and the desire to visit the strange lands in- 
creased. 

In the spring of the year 1000, Leif, the 
son of Eirek the Ked, purchased Bjarni's ves- 
sel, which he fitted out with every requisite 
for a long voyage ; and set sail toward the 
west with a crew of thirty-five men. He 
first descried the country which Bjarni had 
seen last. Having landed with his crew, he 
found no herbage of any kind, but a bare, 
rugged plain of broad flat rocks, extending 
from the foot of a chain of ice and snow-clad 
mountains to tlie sea side. He called this 
country HeUuland, or Shistland, the land of 
stones.* 

Returning to their vessel the navigators 
proceeded on their voyage, and arrived at 
a low, level coast with numerous white sandy 
cliffs, and thickly covered with wood, from 
which circumstance he called it Marhland, 
which means the land of wood.f 

* Helluland was probably the south-eastern extremity 
of Newfoundland, which is nearly separated from the 
main by two deep bays, so as easily to be mistaken for 
an island. The distance from Cape Broil on this coast, 
to Cape Farewell in Greenland, is 600 nautical miles, 
which, with a fair wind, might easily be run in four 
days. The description given by modern travelers of 
the coast of Newfoundland fully corresponds with that 
of the sagas ; and Anspach, a modern German writer, 
speaks of the bare and large flat rocks without a tree or 
shrub. In tlic old Icelandic geographical treatises New- 
foundland is called Little (Litta) Helluland, and the 
name of Helluland, hit mik'a, or Great Helluland, is 
given to Labrador and the whole coast of the American 
continent west of Baffin's Bay. The Helluland of Thor- 
firm was probably the south-western extremity of La- 
brador. A writer in the " Philosophical Transactions" 
Bays : " The surface is everywhere uneven, and covered 
loith large atones, some of which are of amazing dimen- 
sions. The mountains are almost devoid of every sort 
of herbage ; a blighted shrub and a little moss is some- 
times to be seen upon them, but in general the bare rock 
is all you behold. In a word, the whole country is 
nothing more tlian a prodigious heap of rocks. This 
writer also notices the great number of foxes that are 
found in the country. — Dlarkwell. 

+ Markland can be no other than Nova Scotia. The 
following descriptions of the coast from modern works 
on navigation correspond to the letter with those of the 
Northman : " The land is low in general, and not visi- 
ble twenty miles off, Aspotogon hills have a long level 
appearance. Between Capo La Have and Port Med- 
way, the coast to the seaward it level and Icnc, and the 



With a north-east wind the voyagers again 
continued on their way, and after saiUng two 
days, they came to an island between which 
and a point projecting northward from the 
mainland, was a channel. They entered the 
channel, and hokhng their course westwards 
along the shores of the mainland, they ob- 
served that a great extent of ground was 
left dry at ebb-tide. After proceeding thus 
a short distance, they landed near the mouth 
of a river, which rising in a lake emptied into 
the sea. They were so well pleased with the 
appearance of the country, that they brought 
their vessel up the river with the flood-tide 
and moored her in the lake. They found 
tlie country exceedingly productive ; the 
soil appeared fruitful ; both the river and the 
lake aiibrded them an abundant supply of 
salmon; and the pasturage was excellent. 
Struck with the beauties and fruitfulness of 
the spot, they determined to make it their 
winter abode, and erected some large and 
commodious dwellings or booths, known 
afterward under the appellation of Leifshudir, 
or Leifsbooths.* 

After completing his buildings, Leif divided 
his crew into two companies to be employed 
alternately in exploring the country and 
guarding the dwellings. On one occasion, a 
German, returning from an exploring expecU- 
tion, announced with a countenance beaming 
with satisfaction that he had been feasting on 
grapes. His companions eagerly requested 
him to lead them to the spot, which, upon ex- 
amination, they found covered with wild vines. 
It was soon ascertained that wild grapes 
grew in abundance in most parts of the 
country. From tliis circumstance Leif was 
induced to give it the appropriate name 
of Vineland. Having spent the winter in 
this deUghtful place, Leif and liis companions 
in the spring set sail for Greenland, where 
they arrived in safety.! 

shores marked with white rocks, with low barren points ; 
from thence to Shelburne and Port Roseway arc woods. 
From Port Haldimand to Cape Sable the land is low 
with white sandy cliffs, particularly visible at sea. Capo 
Sable is a low woody island at the south-eastern ex- 
tremity of a range of sand-cliff^, which arc very re- 
markable at a considerable distance in the offing."— 
New American Pilot. 

"From Port Haldimand to' Cape Sable the land appears 
level and low, and on the shore are some cliff^i of ex- 
ceedingly white sand, particularly in the entrance of 
Port Haldimand, and on Cape Sable, where they are 
very conspicuous from sea." — Lwurie and Whittle's 
New Sailing DirecUons for the Coasts of North Amer- 
ica. — Blackwell, 

■' Mr. Rafn supposes that the course here described 
was through Nantucket Bay and Vineyard Sound ; and 
thence up the Seaconnet reach and Pocasset river to 
Mount Hope Bay, where Leif fixed his booths on the 
Taunton river. 

t It should be observed that in all the sagas relating 
to America, they invariably state that the ships of the 
Northmen first passed Helluland, the land of stone ; 
next Woodland, and finally arrived at Vinland, the land 
of vines. These facts of themselves seem sufficient to 
prove that the countries so designated, were respectively 
the projecting lands of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and 



NORTHMEN, BATTLES OF THE. 



421 



Upon arriving in Greenland, Leif and his 
companions circulated glowing descriptions of 
the beauties and fertility of the newly dis- 
covered country. Thorwald, the brother of 
Leif, was excited in a high degree by the 
favorable accounts ; and thought that the 
country had not been sufficiently explored. 
Therefore, in the year 1002 he set sail for 
Vinland, with a crew of thirty men. He 
passed Helluland and Woodland, and finally 
arrived without accident in the lake on the 
shores of which Leif had erected his winter 
buildings. The booths were in an excellent 
condition, and Thorwald and crew passed the 
winter in them comfortably. 

Upon the coming of spring they set forth 
on an exploring expedition toward the south. 
Their road led them through a beautiful and 
well- wooded country, diversified by hills and 
dales, and watered by gushing streams and 
rivulets. Along the coast they observed 
numerous shoals and islands. Having satis- 
fied their curiosity, the explorers returned to 
Leif 's booths, where they spent the winter. 
During the succeeding summer, 100-4, Thor- 
wald sailed toward the east from Vinland, 
and then northerly past a remarkable head- 
land, which with an opposite headland in- 
closed a bay. They here encountered a 
violent gale of wind wliich drove the vessel 
upon a shoal, by which its keel was so much 
damaged that it was found necessary to make 
a new one. To do this they were obUged to 
remain here a considerable season. Thor- 
wald planted the old keel upon one of the 
headlands, which, from this circumstance, he 
called Cape Keel.* 

After repairing the vessel the voyagers 
proceeded along the coast eastwardly until 
they arrived at a finely wooded headland. 
They landed and Thorwald, struck with ad- 
miration by the beauty of the spot, exclaimed, 
" Here should I Uke to make my home !" 
Near the shore they discovered three canoes, 
under which, upon closer examination, they 
found concealed several Exquimaux, or 
SJcraelUngs, as they are styled in the saga. 
Thorwald's men endeavored to capture the 
natives, and in the struggle wlaich ensued 
three or four of the Exquimaux were slain. 
The remainder hastily launched a canoe, 
sprang into it, and swiftly paddled aAvay. 
" Now," continued the saga, " a deep sleep 
fell upon Thorwald and his crew ; but sud- 
denly he was awakened by a voice saying : 

Massachusetts. Modern geographers, as befftre observed, 
describe these countries in almost the same language 
used by the Sagasman. That vines grow in the New 
England States spontaneously, is a fact well attested. 
The island of Martha's Vineyard obtained its name from 
the first English settlers, on account of their finding 
wild grapes growing there in abundance. 

* Cape Keel was probably the headland now called 
Cape Cod. The opposite headland, Garnet Point, which 
with Cape Cod forms the entrance to Cape Cod Bay. 



"Arise, Thorwald, hasten to thy ship, and if 
thou wilt save thine own, and the Uves of 
thy crew, delay not in sailing.' " Hastily 
awaking his men, Thorwald bade them to 
return to the vessel with the utmost speed. 
They had scarcely gained the deck when a 
swarm of canoes, filled with natives, issued 
fi'om the interior of the bay, and rapidly ap- 
proached the ship. Arriving within a proper 
distances the canoes stayed their course, and 
the savages arising, discharged a great cloud 
of arrows into the ship. Then resuming their 
paddles they retreated precipitately. The 
Northmen did not pursue ; they had met with 
an irretrievable loss. Their brave companion 
and commander, Thorwald, was mortally 
wounded. Before he died he directed his com- 
rades to cause his body to be buried on the spot 
which he had so prophetically desired as his 
abiding-place. He died, and his crew obeyed 
him. They buried him in a beautiful spot of 
ground on the headland, and erected a cross 
at either extremity of the mound which cov- 
ered the remains of the first European buried 
in the soil of the western hemisphere. The 
headland was named by Thorwald's crew. 
Cape Cross. Thus sadly ended the first bat- 
tle fought in America by Europeans. Thor- 
wald's men returned to Vinland, where they 
spent the winter, and early in the spring of 
1005 they set sail for Greenland with a cargo 
of timber and vine cuttings. The burial- 
place of Thorwald is not precisely indi- 
cated, but it may perhaps have been the 
bluff head of Alderton, at the south-east of 
Boston Bay. 

During the absence of Thorwald and his 
companions, Christianity had been introduced 
into the Greenland colonies from Iceland. 
In the fall of 1006 two ships, the one com- 
manded by Thorfinn, who was surnamed 
Karlsefni, the man of ability, and the other 
by Thorhall Gamlason, and Bjarni Grimolfs- 
son, left Iceland for Greenland where they 
arrived in due season. Thorfinn was a man 
of great power and wealth, belonging to a 
distinguished family who traced their origin 
to Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Irish and 
Scotch ancestors. He was accompanied by 
Snorri Thorbrandsson, also of good extrac- 
tion. Thorfinn and his companions spent 
the winter at the hospitable house of old 
Eirek the Eed. Upon the arrival of Yule, or 
Christmas, the festivities were celebrated by 
old Eirek and his guest with a magnificence 
never before witnessed in Greenland. Dur- 
ing this festal season, and the long winter 
nights that succeeded, Thorfinn and his com- 
panions were regaled with accounts of the 
newly discovered country. The beauties, 
fertility, and especially the finely grained 
woods, excellent salmon, and delicious wild 
grapes, which Vinland produced in such 



422 



NORTmiEN, BATTLES OF THE. 



abundance formed the topics of the conversa- 
tion on all occasions. Animated by the nar- 
ratives and eager to develop the resources of 
this country of apparently inexhaustible fer- 
tility, Thorfinn, who appears to have been 
one of the most enterprising merchant rovers 
of his day, determined to found a colony 
there. Accordingly, in the spring of 1007, 
he caused his own vessel and that belonging 
to Bjarni and Thorhall to be fitted out for a 
voyage to Vinland. A third ship belonging 
to Thorvard, a son-in-law of Eirek the Red, 
was also fitted out. Thorvard, who com- 
manded this vessel, was accompanied by 
Thorhall the huntsman. ThorhaU the hunts- 
man was a favorite of old Eirek, because he 
was a pagan; for Eirek himself had not 
adopted Christianity. 

The three vessels were manned with a 
crew of more than fifty men each, number- 
ing in all one hundred and sixty men, the 
greater number of whom were accompanied 
by their wives and children. A suitable sup- 
ply of cattle and other hve stock was taken 
on board, and amid the good wishes of their 
friends the emigrants set sail. Arriving at 
the forest crowned shore of Woodland, some 
of the men landed on an island near the 
coast. While on this island they killed a 
bear, from which circumstance they named 
it " Bear's Island."* 

Leaving this place they continued on their 
voyage toward the south-west, and passing 
Cape Keel, they touched at an island at the 
mouth of a bay. The island swarmed with 
eider-ducks, whose eggs covered the ground 
to such an extent that the seamen could 
scarcely walk without treading upon them. 
A strong current ran past this island, from 
wMch circumstance they named it Stream 
Isle. Further up the Bay there was also a 
strong current. The Northmen hence named 
the bay Stream Frith.f 

The ships were here unladen, and the voy- 
agers spent the winter on the island. Upon 
the arrival of spring, their provisions being 
exhausted, famine stared them in the face. 
The weather was too stormy for fisliing ; and 
had driven away the eider-ducks. At length, 
however, after endurmg gi-eat privation, the 
weather became milder, and they were no 
longer in want of provisions, being able to hunt, 
fish, and gather eggs in the island. Shortly af- 
terward Thorhall the huntsman, with eight 
men, left Thorfinn and sailed northward 
in search of Vinland ; but after passing Cape 
Keel, they were driven out to sea, and were, 
according to the account of traders, cast on 

• Probably Cape Sable Island, now called. 

t Stream Bay is supposed to be Buzzard's Bay, and 
Stream Isle, either Martha's Vineyard or the islands of 
Cuttyhuuk and Nashewenna, which, in the eleventh 
century, were probably conni;cted. The gulf stream 
will sufficiently account for the Btrmij currents noticed 
above. 



the coast of Ireland, where they were made 
slaves. 

Thorfinn and his companions now sailed 
south, and came to a river that floived through 
a lake on its way to the sea ; and the mouth 
of which was so beset with sand-banks as to be 
only accessible at high water. To this place 
Thorfinn gave the name of Hop (Eastward).* 
Pleased with the general aspect of the coun- 
try, Thorfinn resolved to make it his winter 
quarters. The rivers and creeks actually 
teemed with fish ; and corn grew wild on the 
low grounds, and vines on the hills. The set- 
tlers erected their winter buildings at a short 
distance from the lake or bay. 

One morning a short time after their arri- 
val, a number of natives in skin canoes came 
up the bay, bramlishing their poles, and 
making a great noise. The Northmen re- 
sponded to them by elevating a white shield 
in token of peace. The natives approached 
the shore, and landed without evincing any 
signs of hostility. They were of a sallow 
and swarthy appearance, with long coarse 
hair, and high cheek bones. After gazing for 
some time at the strangers in mute amaze- 
ment, the natives re-entered their canoes, and 
rowed away around the headland. The set- 
tlers spent the winter without molestation; 
but early in the spring the natives came 
again. So great were their numbers that the 
surface of the bay seemed actually covered 
with their canoes. The Northmen immedi- 
ately elevated a white shield, and, thus en- 
couraged, the natives landed in scores. Their 
canoes were loaded with fine gray fur, and 
squirrel skins, which they eagerly bartered 
with the Northmen for bits of red cloth, and 
milk porridge, which they seemed to rehsh 
higlily. The swords and spears of the North- 
men attracted their strongest attention ; but 
Thorfinn prudently forbade his people to sell 
them. While this lucrative traffic was going 
on, and the Northmen were dealing out 
their cloth in smaller shreds, a buU which 
they had brought with them, suddenly issued 
from the woods and began to bellow vigor- 
ously. The natives, terrified at the unusual, 
and to them unearthly sound, rushed precipi- 

* If Thorfinn passed the first winter at Buzzard's 
Bay, Hop may possibly be the present Mount Hope Bay. 
This locality in fact perfectly corresponds to the descrip- 
tion given in the narrative. There is a river— the Taun- 
ton Tiver—Jlowing through a lake— Mount Hope Bay 
might almost be termed a lake — on its loaij to the sea — 
by the Pocasset river and Seaconnet reach, which ow- 
ing to their sandy shoals are only navigable at high wa- 
ter. It woul4 appear that this Mounit Hope is only a 
corruption of the Indian name haup (pronounced like 
the Icelandic hop), which the place bore when the first 
English settlers arrived there. Haup was the residence 
of the famous Metacomet, or king Philip, as he was 
called, the last sachem of the Wampanoag Indians. And 
some of the Rhode Island antiquarians have hazarded 
the supposition that the name may have been transmit- 
ted to the Imlians by the descendants of the Northmen 
who had s.-ttled in the place, and were gradually merged 
into the tribe of the Wampauoags. — BlackweU. 



NORWALK— NOVI. 



423 



tately to their canoes, and rowed off in the 
utmost trepidation. 

Three weeks afterward, they again ap- 
peared in numbers even greater than before. 
Tliis time their visit was evidently no friendly 
one. As they approached the shore, they 
brandished their poles, and with wild gesticu- 
lations shouted forth their defiance to the in- 
vaders of the soil. The Northmen perceiving 
their hostile intentions, elevated a red sliield ; 
and the exasperated savages beached their 
canoes and hastened on to the attack. A hot 
skirmish ensued. The natives used their 
slings with such dexterity that the Northmen 
were obliged to give ground. Showers of 
stones fell upon them, killing and sorely 
wounding them, and throwing them into com- 
plete confusion. Fancying themselves sur- 
rounded, they were at length seized with a 
panic, and turning from the furious discharges 
of the enemy, they fled ingloriously. With a 
shout of triumph the savages would have 
pursued ; but at this critical moment Freydisa, 
the wife of Thorvard, rushed from one of the 
boats, exclaiming in a voice that resounded 
above the tumult of the battle, 

" Valiant men, why do you run before 
such caitiffs, you should knock them down 
like cattle ! Give me a sword, I can wield it 
better than the best of you." 

The fugitives heeded her not; but con- 
fmued their flight into the forest. Freydisa 
endeavored to follow them ; but being in fee- 
ble health was overtaken by the natives. 
Picking up the sword of Thorband Suorra- 
son, who had been killed by a stone, she sud- 
denly turned around and faced her enemies. 
They rushed on to slay her ; but she wielded 
her sword with such deadly effect, and gestic- 
ulated and screamed so franticly, that the 
natives were terrified or bewildered, and 
turning from her they hastily retreated to- 
.ward the canoes. The Northmen recovering 
their courage at the sight of the bravery of 
their countrywoman, resumed the offensive, 
and eagerly pursued the flying savages, kilHng 
great numbers of them. The balance regain- 
ing their canoes, hastily put off from shore 
and paddled away in the utmost terror. 

After this engagement Thorfinn and his 
people were convinced that it would be im- 
possible for them to remain in the country in 
which they would be constantly exposed to 
the attacks of the natives. They therefore 
returned to Stream Frith, where they spent 
the third winter, and in the ensuing spring 
they sailed homeward, toucliing at Wood- 
land where they captured two native child- 
ren whom they carried off with them. On 
the voyage Bjarni's ship was driven west- 
ward into a sea so infested with worms, 
which penetrated the bottom until it was in 
a sinkin.s: condition. The small boat was not 



of sufficient capacity to hold the whole crew, 
and they had therefore no other alternative but 
to cast lots who should enter it. Bjarni him- 
self was among the fortunate. The bottom 
of the boat was smeared with blubber-oil to 
preserve it from the ravages of the worms, 
and the fortunate ones were about to push 
off from the vessel, and leave their compan- 
ions to their fate, when a man from the ship 
reminded Bjarni that he had sacredly promised 
his father, when he left Ireland, that they 
should both share the same fate, whatever it 
might be. The noble Bjarni could not resist 
this appeal ; he mounted the vessel's side and 
gave his place in the boat to the young man. 
The vessel was never heard of afterwards. 
Those in the boat succeeded in reaching Dub- 
lin where they related what had taken place. 
Thorfinn and his companions reached Green- 
land in safety in 1011, 

Freydisa, the woman whose heroism had 
saved the Northmen, in their last battle with 
the natives, visited Vinland again during the 
year 1011, in company with two Norwegian 
brothers Helgi and Finnbogi. They spent 
the winter at Leifsbooths, but a coolness 
sprung up between Freydisa and the two 
brothers, and she persuaded her husband 
Thorvard to murder tliem while they were 
asleep. But as she could not prevail eithor 
on her husband or any of liis men to lay 
their hands on the five women of the Norwe- 
gian party, she seized a hatchet and killed 
them herself. After the perpretration of this 
base deed, they returned to Greenland in 
1013, when Leif, having heard of the crime, 
he put three of Freydisa's followers to the 
torture and obtained a full account of the san- 
guinary transaction. Freydisa was left un- 
punished but became an object of great 
abhorrence. 

" Such is the account transmitted to us," 
says Mr. Blackwell, " of the discovery of Vin- 
land, wliich we have attempted to show in 
the explanatory remarks, there is every reason 
to suppose, was that part of the American 
continent that, six centuries later, became 
known under the appellation of New En- 
gland." 

NORWALK, A.D. 1779.— Norwalk,onthe 
Norwalk river, in Connecticut, was burned by 
the British and Tories, under Governor Tryon, 
on the 12th of July, 1779. Two houses of 
worsliip, 80 dwellings, 87 barns, 17 shops, 
4 mills, and 5 ships were laid in ashes in the 
course of a few hours. Only six houses were 
spared. 

NO VI, A.D. 1799.— No vi, a town of Italy, 
is situated at the foot of the Apennines. On 
a plain adjoining a battle took place in 1799, 
between the French republican army, and 
the Austro-Russian army. Suwarrow, on 
the 4th of August concentrated his army 



424 



NOVI. 



near Novi, and assigned them the follovring 
positions: Kray, with the divisions of Belle-' 
garde and Ott, was encamped in two lines 
on the right, near the road from Novi to 
Bosco; the center, comprising the divisions 
of Forster and Schwiekousky, commanded by 
Derfelden, were in the rear of Pozzolo-Formi- 
garo, while Melas, with the left, consisting of 
the Austrian divisions of TraeUch and Lichton- 
stein, occupied Rivolta. The French army of 
Joubert occupied the plain in the rear of Novi, 
his right on the Scrivia, his center at Novi, 
and his left at Basaluzzo; a position which 
enabled him to cover the march of his col- 
umns, detached from his right, which were 
to advance by Cassano. The French also 
occupied a semicircle on the northern slopes 
of the Monte Rotondo; the left, composed 
of the divisions of Grouchy and Lemoine, 
under the command of Perignon, extended 
in a circular form around Pasturana ; in the 
center, the division Laboissiere, under St. Cyr, 
covered the heights on the riglit and left of 
Novi ; while the division of Watrin, on the 
right, guarded tlie approaches to the Monte 
Rotondo from the side of Tortona, and Dom- 
brousky, with the division of Poles, blockaded 
Seravaile. Their position was one of great 
strength, and the concentrated masses of the 
French presented a formidable front among 
the woods, ravines, slopes, and vineyards 
with which the foot of the Apeninnes was 
covered. On the side of the republicans, 
43,000 men were assembled ; while the allies 
numbered 55,000; the French Avere desirous 
to engage upon the rugged ground at the 
foot of the hills, on account of the superiority 
of the enemy, while the aUies were anxious 
to draw their opponents into the plain, where 
their cavahy might give them a decisive ad- 
vantage. Joubert, who had entirely disbe- 
heved the rumors of the fall of Mantua, and 
gave no thought to the repeated assertions of 
St. Cyr, that he would have the whole allied 
army to contend with, was astonished to be- 
hold th(r immense force of Kray encamped 
opposite his left wing. His situation was one 
of great perplexity. Retreat was difficult in 
presence of such an army, and to engage 
with a force so much superior he deemed 
the height of temerity. Consequently, he 
resolved, late on the night of the 14th, after 
much irresolution, on retiring into the fast- 
nesses of the Apeninnes, and only waited 
for the arrival of his scouts in the morning 
to give orders for carrying it into effect, 
when the commencement of the attack by 
the Austrians obliged him to accept battle in 
the position in place he then occupied. The 
plan of Suwarrow, was to force back the right 
of the French by means of the corps of Kray, 
while Bagrathion was to turn their left, and 
unite in their rear, being covered by the can- 



non of Serravalle, while Derfelden attacked 
Novi in the center, and Melas commanded 
the reserve, ready to support any part of 
them which might need his aid. In accord- 
ance with these orders, Kray commenced 
the attack at five in the morning ; Bellegarde 
attacked Grouchy, and Ott, Lemoine; the 
republicans were at first taken by surprise ; 
and their masses, in great part in the act of 
marching, or entangled in the vineyards, re- 
ceived the fire of the Austrians without being 
able to deploy or return it. Some of the 
brigades resisted heroically, yet the imperi- 
ahsts gained ground, and the heads of their 
colunms were already advancing upon the 
plateau, when Joubert hurried in person to the 
spot, and received a ball in his breast when 
in the act of waving his hat, and encoiu-aging 
his men. He instantly fell, and with his last 
breath exclaimed. " Advance, my fi-iends, ad- 
vance !" The confusion occasioned by his fall 
would have proved fatal to the French army, 
probably, had the rest of the allies been so 
far advanced as to have been aware of it; 
but by a strange fatality, though tlie attacks 
of the Austrians were all combined and con- 
centric, they were calculated to take place 
at diflerent times; consequently, while tliis 
advantage on their left was obtained, the 
Russians in the center were at Pozzolo-For- 
migaro, and Melas had only dispatched a 
detachment from Rivolta to observe the coursS 
of the Scrivia. This, combined with the ar- 
lival of Moreau, who assumed the command, 
restored order, and the Austrians were at 
length driven to the foot of the hill, on their 
second line. While this encounter was taking 
place, Bellegarde endeavored to gain the rear 
of Pasturana by a ravine which encircled it, 
and nearly succeeded in doing so, when ho 
was charged so furiously by the grenadiers 
of Partonneaux and the cavalry of Riche- 
paun, that they were driven back in disorder, 
and the whole left wing rescued fi-om danger. 
As yet, the right of the repubhcans had not 
been attacked, and St. Cyr employed the 
time in completing his defensive arrange- 
ments. Kray, finding the whole weight of 
the engagement on his hands, pressed Bagra- 
thion to commence an attack on Novi ; and 
though he was desirous to wait till the hour 
assigned by his commander for his moving, 
he agreed to commence, when it was evident 
that, unless soon supported, Kray would be 
compelled to retreat. 

The Russians advanced with great gallant- 
ry to the attack ; but a discharge from the 
division Laboissiere, of musketry and grape, 
at half gunshot, threw them into confusion ; 
and after a severe engagement they were 
finally broken by a charge by Watrin, with a 
brigade of infantry on their flank, and driven 
back with great loss to Pozzolo-Formigaro. 



NYEBORG. 



425 



All their partial attacks having failed, it 
seemed evident on the part of tlie imperial- 
ists, that a combined effort of all the columns 
was necessary. It was now the middle of 
the day, and the French line was unbroken, 
notwithstanding the superiority of numbers 
on the part of the allies was nearly 15,000 
men. Suwarrow now determined to combine 
all his forces for a decisive movement. Kray, 
who was never intimidated, received orders 
to prepare for a fresh attack ; Derfelden was 
to support Bagrathion on the center, Melas 
was directed to break up from Rivolta to 
form the left of the Hne, while Rosenberg was 
commanded to advance as soon as possible 
from Tortona to support his movement. The 
battle, after a pause, began again furiously at 
all points. It was for a long time most ob- 
stinately maintained. Although Kray exert- 
ed liis utmost in opposing the enemy, return- 
ing as many as ten times to the charge, the 
imperiaUsts could not make any impression 
on the French left; in vain, column after 
column advanced to their death; nothing 
could break the firm array of the republicans, 
while Bagrathion, Derfelden, and Milara- 
dowitch in the center were compelled to fall 
back before the incessant fire of the infantry 
and batteries which were disposed around 
Novi. For more than four hours the combat 
raged with great fury, without the French 
infantry being anywhere displaced, till at last 
the fatigue on both sides caused a temporary 
pause, and the two armies rested on their arms 
amid a field covered with the dead and dying. 
Suwarrow was a man of indomitable 
courage, or he would have been disheartened 
by so terrible a combat without any result. 
At four o'clock, the left wing of the allies 
came up, under Melas, and preparations were 
instantly made to take advantage of this re- 
inforcement. Melas was ordered to attack 
the repubUcans' right, and by turning it, to 
menace the road from No\a to Genoa, while 
Kray again assailed the left, and Suwarrow 
himself, with the whole weight of the Rus- 
sians pressed the center. The resistance on 
the left was so great, that although Kray led 
on his troops vnth the utmost courage, he 
could not gain a foot of ground ; but the center 
was more successful, and succeeded in driving 
the French into Novi, where they kept up a 
murderous fire fi-om the old walls and ruined 
towers. During this time, Melas on the 
right was making rapid progress. While one 
of his columns ascended the right bank of the 
Scrivia, and reached Serravalle, another, by 
the left bank, had already turned the Monte 
Rotondo, and was fast ascending its sides ; 
while the general himself, with a third, was 
advancing against the eastern flank of the 
plateau of Novi. To guard against so many 



dangers, Moreau ordered the division of "Watrin 
to move toward the threatened plateau ; but, 
finding itself attacked during its progress, 
both in front and rear, by the divisions of 
Melas, it fell into confiision, and fled in great 
disorder, with difficulty cutting its way 
through the enemy on the road in the rear 
of the republicans' position. 

It now seemed absolutely necessary for a 
retreat on the part of the French, for Lich- 
tenstien, at the head of the imperial horse, 
and three brigades of grenadiers, was estab- 
Ushed on the road to G-avi ; his triumphant 
battalions, with great noise, were sweeping 
round the rear of the republicans, wliile the 
guttering helmets of horsemen were beheld 
on every hill, behind their lines, and no other 
Une of communication remained open, but 
that which led by Pasturana to Ovada. 
Suwarrow, who saw this advantage, was on 
the point of making a last and simultaneous 
assault on the front and flank of his enemy, 
when Moreau anticipated him by retreating. 
At first it was conducted in good order, but 
the furious attacks of the allies soon changed 
it into a rout. Novi, being left nearly de- 
fenseless, could no longer withstand the 
Russians, who, sure of victory, and seeing 
the standards of the alUes in the rear of the 
French position, rushed forward with great 
fury, over the dead bodies of their fellow 
soldiers, to the charge ; Lemoine and Grouchy 
sustained themselves with great difficulty, in 
retiring, against the attacks of the unwearied 
Kray, when the village of Pasturana, in their 
rear, was carried by the Russians, and the 
only road practicable for their artillery was 
thus cut off. They were now filled with 
despair; infantry, cavaby, and all, disbanded, 
and fled in the greatest disorder across the 
vineyards and orchards, which adjoined the 
Une of retreat. The whole brigade of Colli 
were made prisoners; and Perizion and 
Grouchy, nearly cut to pieces with saber- 
wounds, were taken prisoners. The army 
reached Gavi in great confusion, where, by 
the efforts of Moreau it was ralUed, the im- 
perialists being too much fatigued to continue 
the pursuit. The battle of Novi was fought 
with great obstinacy. The loss of the alUea 
was 1,800 killed, 5,200 wounded, and 1,200 
taken prisoners; that of the French was 
somewhat greater, amounting to 1,500 killed, 
5,500 wounded, and 3,000 prisoners, besides 
thirty-seven cannon, twenty- eight caissons, 
and four standards. 

NYEBORG, A.D. 1659.— A battle was 
fought between the Danes and Swedes at 
Nyeborg, a strong town in Denmark, in 
which the Swedes were defeated, and Den- 
mark Uberated from the dominion of a foreign 
power, in 1659. 



426 



OCTOLOPHOS— OGDENSBUKG. 



OCTOLOPHOS.— See CynocephaloB. 
ODESSA, A.D. 1854. — The city of Odessa 
is situated on the north-west shore of the 
Black Sea, in Russia. It is inclosed by a wall 
and a fosse, and is otherwise strongly forti- 
fied. The line of chffs upon which the town 
of Odessa stands has a slight curve inward, 
forming a shallow bay with a radius of some 
thi-ee miles. These cUfls face the north-east, 
and toward the north they sink into low 
sandy mounds and steppes. Stretching out 
from below them, at the lower or south-east- 
ern end cf the town runs a long fortified 
mole, at the end of which is a hght-house. 
This is called the Quarantine mole, and it 
usually shelters a crowd of trading-vessels of 
all nations. The bombardment of Odessa 
by the allied fleet in 1854, although in itself 
an action of no great magnitude, is neverthe- 
less worthy of record as being the first scene 
in the bloody drama which followed. 

On the afternoon of the 21st of April, 
1854, the French and EngUsh fleet, consist- 
ing of six three-deckerSj tliirteen two-deck- 
ers, and nine steam frigates under Admirals 
Hamelin and Dundas, cast anchor at a dis- 
tance of two miles from the town of Odessa. 
At four o'clock, p.m., a flag of truce was sent 
from the fleet, demanding the surrender of ■ 
the Russian, English, and French sliips lying 
in Quarantine harbor. To this summons the 
Russians not only refused to reply, but, it is 
asserteil, fired on the flag of truce. Osten 
Sacken, the commander of the Russian gar- 
rison at Odessa, however, positively denied 
having fired upon the flag. The allies, at aU 
events, received no reply to their summons, 
and at once made preparations to bombard the 
town. At half past six on the morning of 
the 22d, nine steamers of the fleet advanced 
toward the town. On that day the harbor 
was very much crowded, and each vessel had 
her colors at the mast-head, as if appealing 
for succor and protection against cannon-balls 
intended for the Russians. The attacking 
force had orders to give the Quarantine mole 
as wide a berth as possible, in order to be out 
of reach of its fire, and so as to avoid the ne- 
cessity of returning the fire and injuring any 
of the vessels within. The attack was strict- 
ly confined to the forts, batteries, and milita- 
ry store-houses. In addition to the works 
on the Quarantine mole, the tovra was 
defended by four batteries, and there 
were three other batteries in the suburbs 
which could sweep the bay with a cross fire. 
The citadel on the west side of the town also 
commands the fort, and mounts some very 
heavy guns. The following steamers formed 
the attacking force : Mogaclore, Vauban, Des- 



cartes, Caton (French) ; Sampson, Terrible, 
Tiger, Retribution, Furious (English) ; and a 
detachment of rocket-boats. The Sanspariel 
and High/Iyer acted as a reserve. This force 
proceeded to the northern extremity of the 
cliffs, called the Imperial mole, incasing a 
mass of Russian ships of all sorts, and some 
very large barracks. The steamers had 
orders to go as far as possible in shore so as 
to rake and destroy the Imperial mole and 
the shipping it covered. About twenty 
minutes before seven they opened their fire ; 
the Sampson taking the lead. When within 
2,000 yards each steamer dehvered the fire of 
her enormous guns, then wheeled round in 
a circle of about half a mile in diameter, each 
taking up the fire in succession. "Thus," 
says an eye-witness, "they kept wheeling 
and twisting about Hke so many waltzers 
without ever touching or getting into scrapes. 
The guns on the mole answered steadily, and 
for a long time the terrific fire from the steam- 
ers could not silence the Russian batteries. 
Toward one, p.m., a shed at the rear of the 
battery took fire, and in a few minutes the 
whole of that part of the Russian works blew 
up. The Russian fire then slackened, wliile 
the steamers continued to ply the ships 
within the mole with shot and shell until they 
were nearly all either on fire or riddled and 
sinking. Suddenly the Russians opened a 
battery of six horse artillery guns from be- 
hind some sheds on the low sandy shore, 
upon the British rocket-boats, wliich were at 
the moment witliin musket-shot. None of 
the British were hurt, tliough a shower of 
balls fell around them, knocking the oars 
about and plowing up the water in all direc- 
tions around them. As soon as the steamers 
opened upon this artillery it speedily retired. 
A few minutes after their disappearance the 
buildings which had afforded them cover fiurst 
into flames. The steamers kept up their 
sharp practice until about five o'clock. Some 
of them were damaged considerably by the 
Russian shot. Only one Englishman was 
Idlled; nine were wounded. The French 
lost two men, killed by the bursting of a gun. 
The Russians lost four men killed. 

OGDENSBURG, a.d. 1812.— This city is 
situated on the river St. Lawrence, at the 
mouth of the Oswegatchie, in St. Lawrence 
county, N. Y., directly opposite Prescott, 
in Canada. On the 2d of October, 1812, the 
British, having erected batteries at Prescott, 
commenced a cannonade on Ogdensburg, 
which they maintained for two days without 
effect. Finding their cannonade ineflectual, 
they resolved upon an assault. GOO men 
were embarked, in forty boats, and under 



OLDMUTZ— OTUMBA. 



42^ 



cover of the battalion, pulled steadily across 
the river. General Brown, with 400 miUtia, 
was waiting to receive them, and posted his 
men so advantageously that they were able 
to keep up a deadly fire on the enemy, which 
eflfectuaUy prevented them from landing, and 
the whole detachment was withdrawn to 
the Canada shore, with considerable loss. 
Another attack was planned, and was carried 
into effect in February following. On the 
21st of that month, the British, 1,200 strong, 
advanced against the place in three columns. 
The Americans, under Captain Forsyth, after 
a gallant resistance, were driven out, and the 
British took possession of the village. The 
Americans lost twenty, in killed and wound- 
ed, the British about sixty. 

OLDMUTZ, A.D. 1758.— Oldmutz, in Mo- 
ravia, was taken by the Swedes during the 
Thirty Years' War, and in 1758 was unsuc- 
cessfully besieged by Frederic the Great. 

OLP^, B.C. 424.— In the sixth year of the 
war, a battle was fought between the Pelo- 
ponnesians and the Athenians, near Olpse, a 
city situated on an eminence on the seaside, 
about two miles and a half from the city of 
Ayos. The Peloponnesians, although more 
numerous, were defeated with great loss, 
and their commander, Eurylochus, was 
slain. , 

OLTENITZA, a.d. 1853. — Oltenitza, a 
town of European Turkey, on the Danube, 
was the witness of a bloody encounter be- 
tween the Turks and Eussians, on the 4th 
of November, 1853. The Turks numbered 
about 13,000 men, and were commanded by 
Omar Pacha. They had succeeded in in- 
trenching themselves at Oltenitza, on the 2d 
of November, and were attacked on that day 
by 8,000 Russians, whom they easily repulsed. 
On the 3d, the Eussians made a second at- 
tack on the Turkish hues, but were again 
repulsed. On the 4th, however, the third 
and greatest attack was made. Both parties 
had received reinforcements; the Eussians 
now numbered 30,000 men, the Turks 18,000; 
but the position of the latter was strong, and 
was protected by a number of field pieces. 
An obstinate struggle ensued, but the Eus- 
sians were again driven back with loss. On 
the 11th of November, the Eussians again 
attacked the stubborn works, and were again 
repulsed. All the attempts of the Russians 
proved fruitless, and they were obUged to fall 
back and look more to defense than attack. 

OTUMBA, A.D. 1520.— For seven days 
after their disastrous defeat on the causeway,* 
the Spaniards advanced on their painful 
journey toward the territory of the Tlasca- 
lans, under the guidance of their faithful 
allies. On the seventh day (July 7th), they 
arrived at a ridge of mountains that rose hke 



a barrier between them and the plain of 
Olumba, wliich, stretching far away toward 
the land of the Tlascalans, held in their 
bosom the beautiful Indian city from which 
they derived their name. During the march 
of the Spaniards, the Mexicans, in strong 
bodies, had hung upon their rear, harassing 
them by occasional discharges of stones and 
arrows, but w"ithout making any decided 
movement. The Spaniards, however, were 
reduced to such extremity by the want of 
provisions, that they were obhged to feed on 
the carcases of such of their horses as were 
killed by the enemy, and on roots, berries, 
and the stalks of Indian corn. They found 
every Indian village in their path deserted, 
and the inhabitants, anticipating their ap- 
proach, had carried away all the provisions. 
As the army was ascending the mountain, 
Cortez was informed by the videttes that an 
immense body of the enemy was encamped 
in the valley of Otumba, and when the army 
reached the summit, a spectacle met their gaze 
which filled them with astomshment and dis- 
may. As far as the eye could reach, the 
plains were covered with armed men. De- 
termined to strike a decisive blow, the Mex- 
icans, drawing levies from the adjacent 
territories, had concentrated their forces in 
the valley of Otumba, where they were 
awaiting the approach of the enemy. Cuil- 
tahua, Montezuma's successor, had adopted 
the most effectual measures for the entire 
destruction of the invaders. The standards 
of all the noted chieftains of the empire were 
unfurled in the cause of patriotism, and the 
thousands of their followers gladly enrolled 
themselves in the service of the new emperor. 
The number of warriors thus called toge- 
ther is estimated at 200,000 ; and to oppose 
this mighty host Cortez could count upon 
only about 1,500 men, of whom 400 were 
Spaniards. His cavalry was greatly weak- 
ened, consisting only of twenty men, but the 
horses, however, were in tolerable condition. 
Having lost their muskets, artiUery, and 
crossbows, in their late disastrous retreat, 
the Spaniards now were armed only with 
the sword, and as they gazed upon the 
masses of the enemy before them, they felt 
that their doom indeed was sealed. Cortez, 
going from man to man, exhorted them with 
encouraging words, and reminding them of 
their former glorious victories, bade them go 
into the fight with the determination to con- 
quer or die. As he spoke, the eyes of his 
brave soldiers kindled with renewed anima- 
tion, and at his signal they followed with a 
firm tread as he led them toward the enemy. 
As the Mexicans saw the httle band ap- 
proaching, they rushed forward in a mass to 
meet them, darkening the air as they came 
with incessant volleys of deadly missiles. 



428 



OPORTO— ORLEANS. 



Cortez, at the head of his little troop of horse, 
dashed into the very faces of the front ranks 
of the enemy, which, recoiling before the 
charge, fell back upon their companions in 
disorder. The charge of the cavalry vv-as 
followed up by the advance of the infantry, 
which, piercing into the swaying mass, with 
sturdy strokes mowed its way toward the 
center. The Mexicans fell back on all sides 
before the desperate charges of the Spanish 
horse andv foot, until a wide line was opened 
in their ranks ; but in a moment they return- 
ed, and the Christians were engulfed in an 
overwhelming flood of enemies; yet they 
stood firm, wrestUng with their foes hke a 
giant pine which the hurricane vainly strives 
to uproot. Their Tlascalan alUes fought with 
the ferocity which despair can only arouse. 
Hour after hour passed, and yet the battle 
raged. The noonday sun poured his scorching 
rays upon the battle-field, yet the Christians, 
though weakened by loss of blood, and from 
hunger, maintained their ground. At length, 
however, completely worn out by fatigue, 
they began to relax in their exertions. The 
cavalry fell back on the infantry, which in 
turn crowded back, vainly seeking a passage 
through the dense throngs of the enemy who 
now closed up their rear. Victory seemed 
about to declare in favor of the Mexicans. At 
this crisis, Cortez, rising in his saddle, glanced 
rapidly round the field in search of some 
egress of escape. His eye flashed with joy 
as it fell on the banner, which he at once re- 
cognized as that of the Mexican commander. 
He quickly called Alvarado, Sandoval, OUd, 
and others of his officers to his side, and 
pointing out the cliieftain, cried in a voice of 
exultation, " Follow and fight for me !" Then 
with a shout which rose above the din of 
battle, he dashed into the tliickest of the en- 
emy, and with his lance and horse opened a 
path before him. Close behind him followed 
his brave companions, dealing deadly blows 
on all who strove to stay their progress. On 
like a whirlwind they dashed, while the 
Mexicans fell in bloody swathes before their 
terrible strokes. They neared the person of 
the Indian commander. He was sitting in 
a Utter borne on the shoulders of six men, 
and was surrounded by a body-guard of In- 
dian nobles. As he approached the object of 
his desires, Cortez dashed over the guards, 
and spurring: his horse upon the very fitter, 
hurled the Mexican chieftain to the ground, 
and transfixed Mm to the sod with a single 
thrust of his lance. A cavalier sprang to tlie 
ground, and tearing away the banner from 
the chieftain, gave it to Cortez. The Mex- 
ican guards, panic-stricken at the fate of their 
commander, fled in all directions, conveying 
the dismal tidings to their conipauions. Like 
wild-fire the news spread over the plain. 



The Mexicans, struck witli terror, turned 
to fly. 

The Spaniards, reinvigorated by the sudden 
change in the aspect of affairs, renewed the 
fight with tlieir former vigor. The Indians 
in the wildest disorder, rushed pell-mell 
across the plain. The Tlascalans, panting 
for vengeance, glutted themselves in the 
blood of the fugitives. The Spaniards, equal- 
ly as vengeful, pursued the enemy for niiles, 
regardless of their wounds and their fatigue. 
Hunger, thirst, and pain, were all forgotten 
in their insatiable longing for the blood of 
their enemies. The fugitives crowded to- 
gether in a confused mass, and unprotected 
by defensive armor, oflFered no resistance to 
the thrust of the lance or the sword ; and the 
horrible carnage was kept up until they were 
driven from the plain, and the ground groan- 
ed beneath thousands of the slain. Then 
returning from the pursuit the Spaniards 
found in the aljundant booty with which the 
bloody field was strewn, partial indemnifica- 
tion for their recent disasters. They halted 
a brief season for repose, and then resumed 
their march toward Tlascala. 

In this furious battle, the Mexicans lost in 
killed alone 20,000 men. Of the Spaniards, 
a few only were killed ; but they were to a 
man wounded more or less seriously. The 
Tlascalans, less experienced than their Eu- 
ropean allies, suffered a heavy loss in killed, 
and like the Spaniards, none escaped without 
wounds. — Prescott. 

OPORTO, A.D. 1805.— Oporto, the second 
city of Portugal, stands on the right bank of 
the Douro, 175 miles north-east of Lisbon. 

Oporto in 1805 was taken and sacked by 
the French, in whose possession it remained 
until 1809. On the 11th of May, 1809, the 
English, under Wellesley, crossed the Douro, 
and after a brief conflict the French were 
obhged to retire, with a loss of 500 men in 
killed and wounded. The inhabitants of 
Oporto having sided with' Don Miguel, the 
city was besieged in 1831-32. The siege 
lasted over a year, and during its continuance 
a large portion of the city was destroyed, 
and its trade for the time was annihilated. 

ORISKANY.— See Fort Schuyler. 

ORLEANS, A.D. 451.— The city of Or- 
leans is situated on the right bank of the 
Loire in France, fiifty-eight miles south-west 
of Paris. 

Attila, King of the Huns, entered Gaul in 
451, with fire and sword, followed by a 
countless host of barbarians. After spread- 
ing everywhere terror, death, and carnage, 
he appeared before Orleans. The only de- 
fense of this city consisted in the valor of its 
people and the active zeal of Saint-Agnan, its 
bishop. Before the Huns had crossed the 
Seine, he hastened to raise the walls on that 



OELEANS. 



429 



side, he collected as much provision as pos- 
sible, flew to Aries to press the Roman gen- 
eral Jitius to succor Orleans, and then shut 
himself up within its walls, determined to 
perish with his flock if the Romans did not 
second their courage. The Huns arrived 
and attacked the part of the city situated on 
the right bank of the Loire, with fury. They 
reiterated their assaults, they multiplied their 
eflforts, wlaile Agnan, having employed aU 
human means, was prostrate at the foot of 
the altar, imploring the AU-powerful. Hea- 
ven appeared to Usten to his prayers; a 
tempestuous rain, which lasted three days, 
interrupted the attacks. When it had ceased, 
the barbarians recommenced their assaults, 
and were already rushing into the city, when 
the Roman trumpets were heard. J^tius and 
Theodoric entered Orleans from the other 
side of the Loire at the same instant that 
Attila entered the opposite gate. The Huns, 
imagining they were conquerors, dispersed 
themselves in the wild disorder of pillage, 
through the streets and houses. The barba- 
rians were stopped, surrounded, pursued, and 
massacred in all dhections. In vain Agnan 
endeavored to excite pity for these ferocious 
men ; their character was too well known ; 
they gave none ; they met with none. Attila, 
conquered at the moment he thought himself 
victorious, retired darting upon the prey 
which had escaped him, furious but power- 
less glances of disappointment and rage. 

Second Siege, a.d. 1428. — The miserable 
condition into wliich France had fallen at the 
period of the unjust invasion of Henry V., 
of England, can scarcely be conceived. An 
insane king, ambitious, grasping princes, bold, 
poor, and selfish nobles, all conspired to op- 
press a sunken and degraded people. 

At the period of tliis siege, the two great 
actors in the late events, Henry V. of En- 
gland and Charles VI. of France, were dead. 
Henry's son was an infant ; Charles's was stUl 
worse : the infant was under the good tutel- 
age of his uncles, wliile Charles's son, for a 
long time called only the dauphin, was a 
weak, dissipated, indolent youth, a wiUing 
prey to mistresses and favorites. By the 
treaty of Troyes, signed by Henry V. . and 
Charles VI., the crown belonged to Henry 
VI. ; but the bulk of the French nation 
deemed such a compulsory engagement bind- 
ing upon no one, and all eagerly waited the 
opportunity for throwing off the odious for- 
eign yoke. 

For a long time the council of the King 
of England, to assist in ruining the party of 
Charles VII., disinherited, as they said, by 
the treaty of Troyes, had fixed their eyes upon 
Orleans ; but numberless considerations had 
retarded the siege of that city. At length, 
on the 8th of October, 1428, 10,000 EngUsh 



approached to reconnoiter the environs of the 
place, after having rapidly conquered Cha.- 
teau-Neuf, RambouUlet, Betancourt, Roche- 
fort, and all the neighboring places. Gau- 
court, the governor of the city, made a vig- 
orous sortie, and repulsed the enemy. They 
went and sacked some more places, and ou 
the 12th of the same month reappeared be- 
fore Orleans, on the side of the Sologne. 
The garrison was weak, but it had as leaders 
intrepid warriors, the Gaucourts, the Dunois, 
the Laliires, the Xaintrailles, a crowd of 
noblesse of that name and merit, who all in- 
spired the lowest soldiers with the heroic 
valor wliich animated them. The inhabitants 
even, resolved to bury themselves under the 
ruins of their city rather than submit to a 
foreign yoke, had become so many heroes. 
The women partook of this martial ardor, 
and devoted themselves enthusiastically to 
the service of their country. 

The ttte-du-po7it, on the side of Sologne, 
was defended by a fortress called Les Tou- 
relles, in front of wliich a bulwark had been 
commenced. It was by this intrenchment 
the Earl of Salisbury, the general of the En- 
gUsh army, made his first attacks. The fau- 
bourgs, set fire to on the approach of the 
enemy, were not yet entirely consumed. 
Tills barrier stopped them at first, but they 
soon elevated a bastille upon the ruins of the 
convent of the Augustines, and erected bat- 
teries, which kept up a constant discharge 
against the walls of the city, the Touselles, 
and the boulevard, of which they wished to 
make themselves masters. The cannon made 
a large breach, and it was resolved to mount 
it sword in hand. On the 21st of October, 
the trumpets sounded the signal, and, as if 
by one motion, the warriors planted their lad- 
ders at the foot of the ramparts. They 
sprang up with incredible intrepidity ; but 
they were received with a firmness equal to 
it, and both sides fought with the same fiiry. 
National hatred and a desire for vengeance 
added to the natural desire to conquer. While 
the besieged hurled their foes into the fosses, 
launched fire-pots, rolled stones of an enor- 
mous size upon them, encircled them with 
rings of red-hot iron, poured torrents of boil- 
ing oil, and burning ashes, the women of the 
city, not less active, in the words of a chron- 
icler, " brought them every tiling that could 
assist in the defense; and to refi-esh their 
great labor, bread, wine, meats, fruits, and 
vinegar, with white towels to wipe them. 
Some were seen, during the assault, repuls- 
ing the Enghsh with lance-thrusts from the 
entrance to the boulevard, and beating them 
down into the fosses." Such a furious resist- 
ance disconcerted Sahsbury; he sounded a 
retreat, and ordered a mine to be instantly 
commenced. It was soon finished, and they 



430 



ORLEANS. 



were preparing to spring it. The besieged 
perceived it, and despairing of maintaining a 
post tlireatened on all sides, tliey set fire to it 
in the sight of tlie Enghsli, and retired into 
the fortress of the Tourelles. To defend this 
for a short time, they raised a new boulevard 
on the bridge even, of which they destroyed 
two arches. Notwithstanding aU this, they 
could not long withstand the multiplied ef- 
forts of the English. The fort of the Tou- 
relles was carried, and that advantageous post 
offered the besiegers a commodious and re- 
doubtable position. The Orleannais then di- 
rected all their batteries against that part of 
their city for which they had so boldly fought. 
The enemy, on their side, neglected no means 
to maintain it, and both exhausted, in attack 
or defense, all the resources the most heroic 
valor could furnish. 

It was then the middle of autumn. Sahs- 
bury foreseeing that the siege would be long, 
resolved to encircle the place with a belt of 
many forts, which, placed at regular distances, 
would render the entrance of succors or con- 
voys next to impossible. To draw up his 
plan according to the situation of the city, he 
repaired to the Tourelles, from whence a 
view could be obtained of the whole environs 
6f Orleans. He was earnestly employed on 
this examination, when a cannon-ball carried 
away one of his eyes and half of his face. 
After having exliorted the principal officers 
to continue the siege according to the plan he 
had traced for them, he was transported to 
Meun, where he soon after died. The Earl of 
Suffolk, the Lord Pole liis brother, Talbot, 
Glansdale, and other leaders, were clothed 
with his authority ; and these captains, full 
of respect for their general, continued their 
operations according to the instructions he 
had given them. 

Every day the besiegers and the besieged 
received reinforcements. The garrison, which 
at first scarcely amounted to 1,200 men, was 
now composed of 3,000 combatants ; and the 
English army, which at the commencement 
only reckoned 10,000 warriors, was increased 
to 23,000 soldiers, who thought themselves 
invincible. The city, which had been attacked 
on the side of the Sologne alone, was now in- 
vested almost entirely on that of the Beauce. 
Opposite to the principal avenues of Orleans 
were erected six large bastilles, which com- 
municated with each other by sixty less con- 
siderable redoubts,- constructed in the inter- 
vals. It was impossible to enter the place 
without passing under the artillery of the forts. 
More than once the French leaders forced the 
quarters of the enemy's army to introduce 
convoys. The rigor of the season did not at 
all interrupt the works. Only on Christmas- 
day the English proposed a suspension of 
arms, and begged the besieged to send them 



some musicians, to celebrate that great festi- 
val with proper solemnity. The generals 
made each other presents. The Earl of Suf- 
iblk sent the Bastard of Orleans some refresh- 
ments in exchange for a plush robe which he 
had given him. Up to the beginning of Lent 
nothing remarkable took place. Having des- 
olated the country round, the English began 
to be in want of provisions. In the early 
part of February, the Duke of Bedford sent a 
convoy, escorted by 2,500 men, under the 
conduct of the brave Fastolfe. The Count de 
Clermont having collected nearly 3,000 sol- 
diers, to whom he added a detachment of the 
garrison of Orleans, resolved to carry off this 
convoy. He came up with the English at 
Rouvray, a village of the Beauce. Fastolfe* 
halted, made an intrenchment of the wagons 
wliich contained the provisions, and only left 
two issues, at one of which he placed his 
archers. The French army, more courageous 
than prudent, wished that same night to force 
tliis intrenchment, with an impetuosity that 
has often proved fatal to their countrymen. 
The French insisted upon fighting on horse- 
back; the Scots would only fight on foot. 
This deficiency of discipline produced the ef- 
fect that might have been expected. After 
an obstinate conflict, the English were con- 
querors. A hundred and twenty nobles of 
high rank were left dead upon the field ; and 
the other leaders returned to the city, quite 
crest-fallen, with scarcely 500 followers. This 
battle was called " La journee des harengs," 
because the convoy conducted by Fastolfe 
consisted principally of barrels filled with this 
fish, which, being broken by the French ar- 
tillery, their savory contents were strewed 
over the field of battle. 

In proportion with the triumph of the 
EngHsh in this httle battle was the depression 
of the feeble and voluptuous Charles, then 
lying encamped at Cliinon. Despairing of 
his fortunes, the timid monarch deliberated 
whether he had not better seek refuge in 
Dauphiny. It was his own opinion, and his 
servile counselors concurred in it. He was 
already about to carry this resolution into 
effect, when two heroines roused the courage 
of the prince from its effeminate slumbers. 
The queen, a princess above her sex and her 
rank, and the fair Agnes Sorel, employed the 
influence their charms had over him to detain 
the king, who could but blush to think he 
had less magnanimity than his wife or his 
mistress. 

In the mean tune Orleans seemed daily 

• Following Hale and Holinshed, Shakspeare has 
made Fastolfe a coward, and, it is supposed, borrowed 
from him the name for his inimitable Falstaff. But the 
historical Fastolfe vindicated his good name, and was 
restored to his honors. Dr. Heylin, in his " St. George 
for England," says, " Without doubt, this Sir John Fas- 
tolfe was a valiant and wise captain." 



ORLEANS. 



431 



sinking into tlie last extremity. The besieged 
could no longer look for relief to a prince 
who was in no condition to assist them, and 
who, indeed, scarcely preserved a shadow of 
royalty. There only remained one chance 
of saving the city, and that was to place it in 
sequestration in the hands of the Duke 
of Burgundy. The envoys, among whom 
was Xaintrailles, went at once to the 
duke, who agreed to the proposal, and came 
with them to Paris, with the design of per- 
suading the Duke of Bedford to accept it. 
But the regent replied that he would only 
treat with the city upon the condition of its 
surrender to the English. This intelligence 
roused the indignation and revived the cour- 
age of the Orleannais ; they resolved to de- 
fend themselves to the last breath. 

"While terrified France looked for nothing 
but the blow which was to consummate its 
ruin, that Invincible Power wliich sometimes 
seems to attach the greatest events to the 
most apparently weak causes, prepared her 
an avenger. A girl, of about seventeen years 
of age, was strongly persuaded that God 
destined her to be the preserver of her coun- 
try. Born near the banks of the Meuse, at 
Dom-Eemy, a village of Lorraine, her poor 
but honest parents had given her an educa- 
tion conformable to the simplicity of her 
situation. Jeanne d'Aro, or, as she is called 
Joan of Arc, had from her childhood been 
brought up with a horror for the English ; 
'she constantly made it the subject of her 
prayers that the monarchy should be delivered 
from the eternal enemies who tyrannized 
over it. Her zeal becoming more ardent 
with her years, at thirteen she had trances, 
in wliich she declared she had conversed 
with St. Michael, St. Marguerite, and St. 
Catharine, who told her that God had ap- 
pointed her to drive out the English, and 
bring about the coronation of the dauphin. 
With this enthusiasm she possessed all the 
virtues of which a simple mind is susceptible : 
innocence, piety, candor, generosity, and 
courage. Her rustic life had strengthened 
her naturally robust frame ; she had the ex- 
terior, and even the natural grace?s of her 
sex, . without experiencing the infirmities 
which characterize the weakness of it. 

After several years of revelations, Joan, 
urged more and more by that inward voice 
wliich excited her to arm for her country, 
formed the resolution of presenting herself to 
Baudricourt, governor of Vaucouleurs, a 
small city of the neighborhood : — " Master 
captain," said she, " know that God has for 
some time past often given me to know, and 
has commanded me to go to the gentil dau- 
phin, who ought, it is true, to be King of 
France, and that he should place under me 
men-at-arms, and that I should raise the siege 



of Orleans, and lead him to be crowned at 
Rheims." The astonished Baudricourt sup- 
posed her to be mad, and wanted to have 
her exorcised by the cure of the place. Joan 
continued to lu-ge him for six months, and at 
length the governor, subdued by her impor- 
tunities, armed her at all points, gave her in 
charge to two gentlemen with their servants, 
and dismissed her, saying, " Go, come of it 
what may !" Toward the end of February 
she arrived at Chinon, where the dauphin 
then was. It was precisely the moment 
when the vacillating Charles appeared to be 
sinking under the weight of his ill fortune. 
She announced herself at the court of the 
monarch. During two days it was dehberat- 
ed whether she should be heard or not ; but 
at length curiosity prevailed, and she was 
admitted. The king, without any mark of 
superior dignity, mingled with the crowd of 
courtiers, on purpose to prove her. Joan 
distinguished him, pointed him out, and in 
spite of the cries " You are mistaken ! you are 
mistaken!" continued to exclaim, '■'■That is 
he/ that is he/" They all admire her noble 
boldness; they surround her, and gaze on 
her with astonished looks. Charles laimself 
can not explain what passes in his heart at the 
aspect of this unknown girl : " Gentil dauphin," 
said the heroine, without being the least 
disconcerted, " my name is Jeanne la Pucelle. 
The King of Heaven has sent me to succor 
you ; if you wiU please to give me men of 
war, by divine grace and force of arms I wUl 
raise the siege of Orleans, and will lead you 
to Rheims to be crowned, in spite of all your 
enemies. This is what the King of Heaven 
has ordered me to tell you, and it is His will 
that the Enghsh should return to their own 
country, and leave you peaceful in yours, as 
being the only true and legitimate heir of it ; 
that if you make tliis offering to God, He 
will make you much greater and more flour- 
ishing than your predecessors have ever been ; 
and He will take it ill of the EngHsh if they 
do not retire." 

Thus spoke La Pucelle; the fire of her 
words, the naivete of her manner, her simple 
but precise repUes, convinced every body. 
The king caused her to be examined by 
matrons, by theologians, and by his parlia- 
ment. Yoland of Arragon, Queen of Sicily, 
accompanied by the ladies De Gaucourt, De 
Tienes, and several others of the first distinc- 
tion, visited Joan, and pronounced her to be 
as pure as she had described herself The 
theologians, after many interrogations, decided 
that she was inspired. The parliament of 
Poitiers, after the most scrupulous observa- 
tions, required that she should manifest the 
truth of her revelations by some prodigy. 
" I did not come to Poitiers," she haughtily 
replied, "to perform miracles; but conduct 



432 



ORTHES. 



me to Orleans, and I •will give you certain 
signs of my mission." This firm reply so 
astonished her judges, that all with one voice 
declared that tliis heavenly instrument v^hich 
the All-powerful had sent to their country 
ought to be instantly employed. Charles 
ordered a splendid and complete suit of ar- 
mor to be made for her, gave her a standard, 
squires, pages, an intendant, a chaplain, and 
a train becoming the state of a great warlike 
leader. The new Amazon placed herself at 
the head of a considerable convoy destined 
for Orleans ; and her warriors soon felt 
themselves inspired with her enthusiasm. 
She set out, followed by Marshal De Boussac, 
Gilles de Rais, the Admiral De Couland, 
Ambroise de Lote, and Lahire, and arrived 
on the 29 th of April, within sight of the 
place. Dunois came to meet her ; he begged 
her to satisfy the desire the inhabitants had 
to behold their hberator : she yielded to liis 
entreaties, and she entered the city as if in 
triumph. A thousand cries of joy were 
heard ; at that moment the Orleannais be- 
lieved themselves invincible, and in fact were 
so. Every thing was changed ; the EngUsh 
trembled at the name of Joan of Arc ; they 
as firmly behoved her to be a sorceress, as 
the French believed her to be celestially 
inspired. " English," wrote the heroine to 
them, " you who have no right to this king- 
dom of France, Grod commands you by me, 
Jeanne la Pucelle, to abandon your forts and 
to retire." The couriers were arrested, and 
no reply was made to this awful summons 
but insults. Joan, outraged, but dreaded, 
now prepared to prove her mission. On 
Wednesday, the 4th of May, she selected a 
body of troops, and, filled with an ardor more 
than human, she precipitated herself upon 
the enemy's forts, and carried them after an 
assault of four hours. She then thought of 
gaining possession of the boulevard and fort 
of the Tourelles, where the illte of the En- 
ghsh were cantoned, under the orders of the 
celebrated Glansdale. After having made 
her dispositions during the night, she gave the 
signal as the first rays of day appeared. The 
ready troops follow her, mount with her to 
the breach, fight with ardor, press, pierce 
through, and overthrow the English, who, 
nevertheless, defend themselves with great 
courage. The French were on the point of 
carrying all before them, when Joan, wound- 
ed in the neck, was obhged to retire to put a 
dressing to her wound. Her absence extin- 
guished the courage of the assailants; the 
soldiers missed the warhke illusion which 
rendered them victorious. Each began to 
desire to place liimself in safety : even Dunois 
judged it most prudent to do so. All at 
once La Pucelle reappears! She rushes to 
the foot of the fort, and there plants her 



standard. Her intrepidity passes into all 
hearts ; the eflbrts of her followers are re- 
doubled, then- fatigues and fears are forgotten, 
the Enghsh fly, the boulevard is carried I 

On the morrow the vanquished English 
draw up in order of battle on the side of La 
Beauce ; the French, still led on, stiU animat- 
ed by their heroine, present themselves in 
the same order, resolved to fight, although 
inferior in numbers. But their enemies, till 
that time so proud and so terrible, did not 
dare to stand before them ; they precipitately 
retreated, leaving behind them their sick, 
their baggage their provisions, their artillery, 
and nearly five thousand dead. Thus, con- 
trary to aU hopes and expectations, the city 
of Orleans was reUeved on the 8th of May, 
1419. PubHc gratitude exliausted itself, so 
to say, to prove to Joan of Arc how deeply 
the greatness of her benefits was felt ; the 
king ennobled her, with her father, her three 
brothers, and aU her posterity. A statue was 
erected to her on the bridge of the city she 
had saved, and, to eternize the memory of 
this fortunate event, a festival was established, 
which is stOl celebrated every year on the 
8th of May. At this festival a eulogy is 
pronounced on Joan of Arc, who, from the 
period of the raising of the siege, has been 
styled tlie Maid of Orleans. During the 
troubles of the Revolution, ignorant and bar- 
barous men overthrew, in Orleans, the statue 
of a heroine who had preserved their city 
from the yoke of the English, and roused the! 
spirit in France wliich shortly afterward ex- 
pelled the invaders fi-om their soil ; it was, 
however, reinstated by Bonaparte, during his 
consulsliip. See Compiegne. 

Third Sikge, a.d. 1563. — During the civil 
wars which agitated France in the time of 
the Huguenots, the Duke of Guise laid siege 
to Orleans, one of the strongest cities of their 
party. A first attack made him master of 
the faubourg of Portereau, and of the boule- 
vard which protected it ; he gained posses- 
sion of the bridge, approached the Tourelles, 
and cannonaded that fortress warmly. The 
duke was flattering himself with the cer- 
tainty of a speedy success, when a gentleman 
named Poltrot, a fanatical Calvinist, shot him 
with a pistol, and he died of the wound, in a 
very short time. The king, very much dis- 
concerted, made peace with the Huguenots. 
— Rohson. 

ORTHES, A.D. 1814. — Near Orthes in 
France, the French army under Marshal 
Soult was defeated by the Anglo-Saxon army 
under the Duke of WeUington, on the 27th 
of February, 1814. Welhngton's army con- 
sisted of 37,000 men, of whom 4,000 were 
cavalry with forty-eight gims; the French 
army consisted of about 35,000 men, with 
forty guns. In this battle the French lost 



OSTEND— OSWEGO. 



433 



3,900 men, killed and wounded, and prison- 
ers, and the allies lost 2,300. 

OSTEND, A.D. 1601-1604.— On the shore 
of the North sea, in Belgium, hes Ostend, 
famous for one of the most memorable sieges 
recorded in history. In a work of this kind 
it would be impossible for us to pass over 
tliis siege in silence ; but our space forbids us 
from doing the subject justice ; the details of 
. this siege would make a volume of them- 



Tliis celebrated siege, undertaken by the 
Spaniards, lasted three years and seventy- 
eight days, and, up to the moment of its ter- 
mination, doubts were entertained of their 
success. The besieged, constantly succored 
both by sea and land, were unable to tire out 
the courage and patience of the besiegers, 
who pushed on their attacks without relaxa- 
tion, amid the greatest obstacles. It would 
be difficult to count the number of batteries 
they erected, the assaults they made, or the 
mines they sprung. The last was so frequent, 
that they might be said to work more be- 
neath the earth than upon its surface. All 
the resources of art were exhausted in the 
attack and defense. Machines were invented. 
The earth and the ocean by turns favored the 
two parties, seconding and destroying alter- 
nately the works of the Sjianiards and the 
Dutch, who advanced no work upon the land 
which the sea did not appear to hasten to 
destroy. The slaughter was terrible on both 
sides. Both parties were more eager to inflict 
death upon their enemies than to save their 
own lives. At length the besieged, after hav- 
ing seen nine commanders perish successively, 
did not abandon the little heap of ruins on 
which they had concentrated themselves, and 
which they contested foot by foot, until it 
seemed to disappear from under them: an 
honorable capitulation was gi-anted. The 
enemy was surprised to see march from un- 
tenable ruins more than 4,000 vigorous sol- 
diers, whom the abundance they had hved in 
during the whole siege had kept in the best 
health. In addition to a numerous artillery, 
a prodigious quantity of provisions and mu- 
nitions was found in the city. The archduke, 
who had begun this celebrated expedition, 
with the infanta his wife, had the curiosity to 
go and view the melancholy remains of Os- 
tend. They found nothing but a shapeless 
heap of ruins, and could trace no vestige of 
the besieged place. Spinola, who had taken 
it, was loaded with honors and elevated to 
the highest dignities. The Dutch, who dur- 
ing the siege had taken Rhenberg, Grave, and 
Ecluse, very easily consoled themselves for 
their loss ; and to mark by a pubUc monu- 
ment that tliey thought they had received 
full amends, had a medal struck, with the in- 
scription, Jehova plus dederai quam j^erdidi- 

28 



mm : — God has given us more than we have 
lost. 

This siege cost the Dutch 50,000 men, and 
10,000,000 of French money. The besiegers 
lost over 80,000 men. 

OSTROLENKA, a.d. 1831.— Ostrolenka, 
a village of Poland on the Narew, 86 miles 
north-east of Block, was on the 26th of 
May, 1831, the scene of a terrible conflict 
between the Poles under Skrzynecki, and 
the Russians under Diebitch. After a most 
desperate fight the Russians withdrew to the 
opposite side of the river with a loss of 10,000 
men. The Poles lost 7,000 men killed and 
wounded. See Warsaw. 

OSTROK, A.D. 1768.— The siege of Os- 
trok, a convent of Montenegro, is memora- 
ble from the fact that it was defended in 
1768 by 30 men against 30,000 Turks. 

OSTROVNO, A.D. 1812.— On the 25th or 
26th of July, 1812, a battle was fought near 
Ostrovno between the French under Murat, 
and the Russians under Count Ostermann, 
in which the latter were defeated. 

OSWEGO, A.D. 1755.— This beautiful city 
is situated upon the shore of Lake Ontario, 
occupying both banks of the Oswego river, 
in the State of New York. 

In the month of August, 1755, Oswego 
was occupied by 1,500 British troops under 
General Shirley of Massachusetts. Sliirley 
strengthened the place by repairing the 
old fort and erecting two new ones. He 
also constructed a fleet, and made active 
preparations to proceed against Niagara, then 
in the occupation of the French. The weath- 
er, however, prevented him from carrying 
his intended operations against Niagara into 
effect ; and leaving a number near to garrison 
the forts at Oswego, he returned to Albany, 
where the remainder of his army was dis- 
banded. During the winter, the garrison at 
Oswego occupied themselves in strengthening 
their works In the spring of 1758, the Mar- 
quis de Montcalm, the French governor of 
Canada, made active preparations to resume 
the offensive; and early in the month of 
August he set sad from Fort Frontenac, 
with about 5,000 men, and, unobserved by 
the enemy, landed at a woody point a few 
miles below Oswego. Meanwhile, Sliirley, 
at Albany made vigorous preparations to re- 
inforce Oswego ; and soon an army of 7,000 
men, was gathered at that city, waiting the 
arrival of the commander-in-chief, Lord Lou- 
don. He did not arrive at Albany, however, 
tiU late in the summer ; too late to be of any 
assistance to the garrison at Oswego. The 
French under Montcalm were on the point 
of marching against Fort Ontario, in Oswego, 
when they were discovered by the English. 
The British commandant, Colonel Mercer, 
sent out three vessels to annoy the French ; 



434 



OTCHAKOV— OTTERBURN. 



and was driven ashore in a heavy gale, and | under Sir James Yeo, appeared before Oswe- 
the others were forced to return to the harbor ' go, and began to bombard the place. Fort 
by the heavy guns of the enemy. The French 1 Oswego was garrisoned by about 300 Amer- 
steadily advanced through the woods, and at icans, under Colonel Mitchell, with five guns, 
noon, on the 11th of August, appeared be- two of which only were in a serviceable con- 
fore Fort Ontario, and invested it with about dition. Oswego at that time contained about 
40 pieces of cannon. Montcalm's force con- ■ 500 inhabitants. Finding that the bombard- 
sisted of about 2,500 Canadians, and the same ment produced no effect, about 300 seamen 
number of Indians. The British garrison and marines, under General Drummond, in 
consisted of about 1,400 men; the greater ! fifteen barges, led by gun-boats, were sent 
portion of whom were stationed under Mer- forward to carry the fort by storm. When 
cer himself, in the fort on the west side of ! the boats came within range of the American 
the river. The troops of Montcalm com- ! artillery, a spirited fire was opened on them, 
menced the assault with small arms, but they ! driving them back finally to seek shelter 
were forced to retire by a severe fire from ^ under the guns of the ships. The next day 



the guns of Fort Ontario, and from the mor- 
tars of the small fort on the opposite side of 
the basin. Finding it impossible to carry the 
place by an open assault, Montcalm, during \ troops 
tlie night of the 11th, commenced making | landed, 
regular approaches by parallels. The next 
day he maintained a brisk fire of musketry 
upon the fort, and on the following morning, 
havang completed his last parallel, within 60 
yards of the work, opened a battery of can- 
nons upon it. Upon tliis Mercer sent word 
to the garrison, to destroy their cannon, am- 
munition, and provisions, and retreat to the 
west side of the river. Tliis movement was 
effected without the loss of a single man. On 
the morning of the l-lth, Montcalm, opened a 
battery of 12 guns on the fort on the west side 
of the river, and under cover of these pieces 



the fleet approached nearer the shore, and 
a furious cannonade was opened on the place. 
Under cover of this bombardment, 2,000 
under General De Watteville were 
and advanced in perfect order to- 
ward the fort. Colonel Mitchell seeing that 
resistance was hopeless, retired, throwing 
volley after volley upon the enemy as he 
withdrew, with terrible effect. He retired to 
Oswego Falls, where the naval stores had all 
been removed, demoUshing the bridges as he 
went. The British took possession of the 
fort, and having raised the Growler, a 
schooner which the Americans had sunk in 
the harbor, retired to Sackett's Harbor. In 
this affair the British lost about 200 in killed 
and wounded. 
OTCHAKOV, A.D. 1737.— Otchakov, a 



2,500 French and Indians crossed the stream, town of Russia, was besieged and taken from 
in three divisions. The British garrison assailed ! the Turks by the Russians in 1737; and in 
the enemies with constant discharges of can- 1788 was again besieged and taken by the 
non and musketry ; and the French replied Russians. 

vigorously both from their battery and their j OTRANTO, a.d. 1480. — Otranto, a sea- 
army. The British commandant, Colonel port town of Naples, was taken and sacked 
Mercer, was killed ; and the besiegers having by tlie Turks in 1480. 

erected a mortar battery, and disposed their OTRICOLLI, a.d. 1798. — In the vicinity 
forces so that the works of defense were : of Otrieolli, in Italy, in 1798, the French, 
completely enfiladed, Colonel Littlehalls, on ' under Marshal Macdonald, gained a complete 
whom the command of the garrison had de- j victory over the Neapolitan army, under 

OTTERBURN, a.d. 1388.— The battle of 



volved, called a council of war, in which it 
was decided that a defense was no longer 
practicable. A parley was beaten by the 
drums of the fort, and the firing ceased on 
both sides. A capitulation was agreed upon, 
on honorable conditions; and the fort, the 
whole garrison, 120 cannons, fourteen mor- 



Otterburu was fought on the 15th of August, 
1388, between the English under the Earl of 
Northumberland and his two sons, and the 
Scots under Sir WiUiam Douglas, who was 
slain by Henry Piercy, surnamed Hotspur. 



tars, three chests of money, and the whole j The victory remained undecided ; but the two 
British fleet, consisting of six vessels of war, Piercys were made prisoners. On this battle 
in the harbor, were surrendered to the victors, j the ballad of Chevy- Chase is founded.* Accord- 
The forts were dismounted, t^ie prisoners ' ing to the ballad the English brought 1,500 
were placed on vessels, and Montcalm, with- [ to the battle field, and the Scotch 2,000. The 



out garrisoning the place, set sail for Fort 
Fronton ac. 

The British lost 45 killed, and a number 
wounded. Twelve of the killed were slain 
by the savages when endeavoring to escape 
through the woods. 

On the 5th of May, 1814, the British fleet 



English kept the field with fifty-three ; the 
Scotch with fifty-five : all the rest on each 
side being slain. Douglas challenged Hot- 
spur to decide the day by single combat 
"One of us two," said he, "must die. I am 
an earl as well as yourself, so that you can 
* Walsingham. 



OUDENARDE— PALMYRA. 



435 



have no pretense for refusing the combat; 
however," said he, "'tis a pity and indeed 
would be a sin that so many innocent men 
should perish for our sakes, rather let you 
and I end our quarrel in a single fight." 

" Ere thus I will out-braved be, 
One of us two shall die ; 
I know thee well, an earl thou art, 
Lord Piercy, so am I. 

"But trust me, Piercy, pity it were. 
And great otTense, to kill 
Any of these harmless men 
For they have done no ill. 

" Let thou and I the battle try, 
And set our men aside. 
Accurst be he. Lord Percy said. 
By whom this is deny'd." 

The two earls instantly engaged in a sin- 
gle combat ; they ceased awhile, and during 
a generous parley full of heroic sentiments, 

" There came an arrow keen 
Out of an English bow. 
Which struck Earl Douglas to the heart 
A deep and deadly blow ; 



" Who never spoke more words than these 
' Fight on my merry men all. 
For while my life is at an end, 
Lord Piercy sees me fall.' " 

Hotspur was deeply grieved at the unfor- 
tunate death of his antagonist.* 

" Earl Piercy took 

The dead man by the hand. 

And said, ' Earl Douglas, for thy life 

Would I had lost my land. 

" ' O, Christ I my very heart doth bleed 
With sorrow for thy sake : 
For sure a more renowned knight 
Mischance did never take.' " 

Both parties then prepared for the battle 
which followed. 

OUDENARDE, a.d. 1708.— On the 11th 
of July, 1708, a battle was fought between 
the army of Prince Eugene of Savoy, and 
the forces of the Duke of Burgimdy, near 
Oudenarde, or Audenarde, on the Scheldt in 
Belgium. After a desperate struggle the 
latter were defeated with great slaughter. 



PALERMO, B.C. 250.— Palermo, the capi- 
tal of Sicily, called by the ancients Panor- 
muSj was founded by the Phoenicians. It 
afterward fell into the hands of the Cartha- 
ginians, and in the year 250 B.C., shortly 
after the commencement of the first Punic 
war, it was captured by the Romans. In 
1072 Palermo was taken by the Normans, 
and in 1282 it was the scene of the massacre 
called the " Sicihan Vespers." Charles of 
Anjou had established himself by his influ- 
ence with the pope in possession of Naples 
in Sicily. The unfortunate Conradin, had 
died on the scafibld, on the 29th of October, 
1268; and the haughty Charles ruled the 
people with an iron rod. In vain did the 
inhabitants plead for relief to the pope. At 
length John of Procida, a distinguished 
nobleman of Palermo, resolved to hberate the 
Sicihans. He planned the massacre of the 
French, and on the 30th of March, 1282, at 
the hour of vespers, on Easter Monday, the 
inhabitants of Palermo fled to arms, and fell 
upon tlie French and massacred them all — 
women or children were not spared, and 
even Sicilian women with child hy French- 
men, were murdered. Before the end of 
April, Messina followed the example of Pa- 
lermo, and the French were either murdered 
or driven from the city. This massacre put 
an end to the sway of the Duke of Anjou. 

PALMYRA, A.D. 273.— Palmyra, the Tad- 
mor of Scripture, is a ruined city in an oasis 
of the Syrian deserts. The siege, of Palmyra 
forms one of the most interesting chapters in 
the history of the Roman empire. 



After the victories of Trajan, the little re- 
public, • grown wealthy by its commerce, 
sank peacably into the bosom of Rome, and 
flourished more than one hundred and fifty 
years in the subordinate though honorable 
rank of a colony. It was during that peace- 
ful period, if we may judge from a few re- 
maining inscriptions, that the wealthy Pal- 
myrenians constructed those temples, palaces, 
and porticoes of Orecian architecture, whose 
ruins, scattered over an extent of several 
miles, have deserved the curiosity of our 
travelers. The elevation of Odenathus and 
Zenobia appeared to reflect new splendor on 
their country, and Palmyra, for a while, 
stood forth the rival of Rome ; but the com- 
petition was fatal, and ages of prosperity 
were sacrificed to a moment of glory. 

Modern Europe has produced several 
women who have sustained with glory the 
weight of empire; but if we except the 
doubtftil acliievements of Semiramis, Zenobia 
is perhaps the only female whose superior 
genius broke through the servile indolence 
imposed on her sex by the climate and man- 
ners of Asia. She claimed her descent from 
the Macedonian kings of Egypt, equaled in 
beauty her ancestor Cleopatra, and far sur- 
passed that princess in chastity and valor. 
Zenobia was esteemed the most lovely as 
well as the most heroic of her sex. She was 
of dark complexion (for in speaking of ladies 
such things are not trifles), her teeth were of 
pearly whiteness, and her large black eyes 

* Hotspur was killed at the battle of Shrewsbury by 
an unknown hand. 



436 



PALilYRA. 



sparkled with uncommon fire, tempered with 
the most attractive sweetness. Her voice 
was strong and harmonious ; her understand- 
ing was strengthened and adorned by study ; 
she was not ignorant of the Latin tongue, 
but possessed in equal perfection the Greek, 
the Syriac, and tlie Egyptian languages. 
She had drawn up for her own use an epi- 
tome of oriental history, and familiarly com- 
pared the beauties of Homer and Plato, 
under the tuition of the sublime Longinus. 

This accomplished woman gave her hand 
to Oilonathus, who, from a private station, 
raised himself to the dominion of the East. 
She soon became the friend and compan- 
ion of a hero. In the intervals of war, 
Odenathus passionately delighted in the ex- 
ercise of hunting ; he pursued with 'ardor the 
wild beasts of the desert — lions, panthers, 
an 1 bears — and the ardor of Zenobia in that 
dangerous amusement, was not inferior to 
his own. She had inured her constitution 
to fatigue, disdained the use of a covered 
carriage, generally appeared on horseback in 
a military habit, and sometimes marched sev- 
eral miles on foot at the head of the troops. 
The success of Odenathus was, in a great 
measure, ascribed to her incomparable pru- 
dence and fortitude. Their splendid victo- 
ries over the Great King, whom they twice 
pursued as far as the gates of Ctesiphon, laid 
the foundation of their united fame and 
power. The armies wliich they commanded, 
and the provinces which they had saved, 
acknowledged not any other sovereigns than 
their invincible chiefs. The senate and peo- 
ple of Rome revered a stranger who had 
avenged their captive emperor; and even the 
insensible son of Valerian accepted Odena- 
thus for his legitimate colleague. 

After a successful expedition against the 
Gothic plunderers of Asia, the Palmyreniau 
prince returned to the city Emessa, in Syria. 
Invincible in war, he was there cut ofl' by 
domestic treason, and his favorite amusement 
of hunting was the cause, or at least the oc- 
casion of liis death. His nephew Mgeonius 
presumed to dart his javelin before that of his 
uncle ; and, though admonished of his error, 
repeated the same freedom. As a monarch 
and as a sportsman, Odenathus was pro- 
voked, took away his horse, a mark of igno- 
miny, and chastised the rash youth by a 
short Confinement.. 

The offense was soon forgotten, but the 
punishment was remembered; and Miconius, 
with a few daring associates, assassinated his 
uncle in the midst of a great entertainment. 
Herod, the son of Odenathus, though not of 
Zenobia, a young man of a soft and efieniin- 
ate temper, was killed with his father. But 
Mseonius obtained only the pleasure of re- 
venge by this bloody deed. He had scarcely 



time to assume the title of Augustus, before 
he was sacrificed by Zenobia to the memory 
of her husband. 

With the assistance of his most faithful 
friends, she immediately filled the vacant 
throne, and governed with manly counsels, 
Palmyra, Syria, and the East, above five 
years. By the death of Odenathus, the 
authority was at an end, which the senate 
had granted him only as a personal distinc- 
tion ; but liis martial widow, disdaining both 
the senate and Galhenus, obliged one of the 
Roman genemls who was sent against her to 
retreat into Europe, with the loss ol' liis army 
and his reputation. Instead of the petty 
passions which so frequently perplex a female 
reign, the steady administration of Zenobia 
was guided by the most judicious maxims of 
policy. If. it was expedient to pardon, she 
could calm her resentment ; if it was neces- 
sary to punish, she could impose silence on 
the voice of pity. Her strict economy was 
accused of avarice ; yet on every proper oc- 
casion she appeared magnificent and hberal. 
The neighboring states of Arabia, Armenia, 
and Persia, dreaded her enmity and solicited 
her alliance. To the dominions of Odena- 
thus, which extended from the Euphrates to 
the frontiers of Bithynia, his widow added 
the inlieritance of her ancestors, the populous 
and fertile kingdom of Egypt. The Emperor 
Claudius acknowledged her merit, and was 
content that, while he pursued the Gothic 
war, she should assert the dignity of the em- 
pire in the East. The conduct, however, of 
Zenobia, was attended with some ambiguity, 
nor is it unlikely that she had conceived the 
design of erecting an independent and hostile 
monarchy. She blended with the popular 
manners of Roman princes the stately pomp 
of the courts of Asia, and exacted from 
her subjects the same adoration that was 
paid to the successors of Cyrus. She bestow- 
ed on her three sons a Latin education, and 
often showed them to the troops adorned 
with the imperial purple. For herself she 
reserved the diadem, with the splencUd but 
doubtful title of Queen of the East. 

When Aurehan passed over into Asia, 
against an adversary whose sex alone could 
render her an object of contempt, his pres- 
ence restored obedience to the provinces of 
Bithynia, already shaken by the arms and in- 
trigues of Zenobia. Advancing at the head 
of his legions, he accepted the submission of 
Ancyra, and was admitted into Tyana, after 
an obstinate siege, by the help of a treacher- 
ous citizen. The generous though fierce 
temper of Aurehan abandoned the traitor to 
the rage of the soldiers ; a superstitious rev- 
erence induced him to treat with lenity the 
countrymen of ApoUonius, the pliilosopher. 
Antioch was deserted on his approach, till 



PALMYRA. 



437 



the emperor, by his salutary edicts, recalled 
the fugitives, and granted a general pardon 
to all who, from necessity rather than choice, 
had been engaged in the services of the Pal- 
myrenian queen. The unexpected mildness 
of such a conduct reconciled the minds of the 
Syrians, and, as far as the gates of Emessa, 
the wishes of the people seconded the terror 
of his arms. 

Zenobia would have ill deserved her repu- 
tation had she indolently permitted the em- 
peror of the West to approach within a hun- 
dred miles of her capital. The fate of the 
East was decided in two great battles, so 
similar in almost every circumstance, that we 
can scarcely distinguish them fi-om each 
other except by observing that the first was 
fought near Antioch, and the second near 
Emessa. In both, the Queen of Palmyra 
animated the armies by her presence, and 
devolved the execution of her orders on 
Zabdas, who had already signalized his miU- 
tary talents by the conquest of Egypt. The 
numerous forces of Zenobia consisted, for the 
most part, of Ught archers and of heavy cav- 
alry, clothed in complete steel. The Moorish 
and Illyrian horse of Aurelian were unable 
to sustain the ponderous charge of their an- 
tagonists. They fled in real or aflfected dis- 
order, engaged the Palmyrians in a laborious 
pursuit, harassed them by a desultory com- 
bat, and at length discomfited this impene- 
trable but unwieldy body of cavalry. The 
light infantry, in the mean time, when they 
had exhausted theh quivers, remained with- 
out protection against a closer onset, their na- 
ked sides exposed to the swords of the legions. 
Aurelian had chosen these veteran troops, 
who were usually stationed on the Upper 
Danube, and whose valor had been severely 
tried in the Alemannic war. After the de- 
feat of Emessa, Zenobia found it impossible 
to collect another army. As fur as the front- 
ier of Egypt, the nations subject to her em- 
pire had joined the standard of the conquer- 
or, who detached Probus, the bravest of his 
generals, to possess himself of the Egyptian 
provinces. Palmyra was the last resource 
of the widow of Odenathus. She retired 
within the walls of her capital, made every 
preparation for a vigorous resistance, and 
declared with the intrepidity of a heroine, 
that the last moment of her reign and her 
life should be the same. 

In his march over the sandy desert be- 
tween Emessa and Palmyra, the emperor 
Aurehan was perpetually harassed by the 
Arabs; nor could he always defend his army, 
and especially his baggage, from those flying 
troops of active and daring robbers, who 
watched the moment of surprise, and eluded 
the slow pursuit of the legions. The siege 
of Palmyra was an object far more difficult 



and important, and the emperor, who with 
incessant vigor pressed the attacks in person, 
was himself wounded with a dart. "The 
Roman people," says Aurehan, in an original 
letter, " speak with contempt of the war 
which I am waging against a woman. They 
are ignorant both of the character and the 
power of Zenobia. It is impossible to enu- 
merate her warhke preparations, of stones, 
of arrows, and of every species of missile 
weapons. Every part of the walls is provid- 
ed with two or three bahstJB, and artificial 
fires are thrown from her mihtary engines. 
The fear of punishment has armed her with 
a desperate courage. Yet still I trust in the 
protecting deities of Rome, who have hitherto 
been favorable to aU my undertakings." 
Doubtful, however, of the protection of the 
gods and of the events of the siege, Aurehan 
judged it more prudent to offer terms of an 
advantageous capitulation; to the queen, a 
splendid retreat ; to the citizens, their ancient 
privileges. His proposals were obstinately 
rejected, and the refusal was accompanied 
with insult. 

The firmness of Zenobia was supported by 
the hope that famine would soon compel the 
emperor to repass the desert ; and by the 
reasonable expectation that the kings of the 
East, and particularly the Persian monarch, 
would arm in defense of their most natural 
ally. But fortune, and the perseverance of 
Aurehan, overcame every obstacle. The 
death of Sapor, which happened about tliis 
time, distracted the councils of Persia, and 
the inconsiderable succors that attempted to 
reheve Palmyra, were easily intercepted, 
either by the arms or the hberaUty of the 
emperor. From every part of Syria, a suc- 
cession of convoys safely arrived in the camp, 
which was increased by the return of Probus, 
with his victorious troops, from the conquest 
of Egypt. It was then that Zenobia resolved 
to fly. She mounted the fleetest of her 
dromedaries, and had aheady reached the 
banks of the Euphrates, about sixty miles 
from Palmyra, when she was overtaken by 
the pursuit of Aurehan's hght horse, seized, 
and brought back a captive to the feet of the 
emperor. Her capital soon after surrendered, 
and was treated with unexpected lenity. 
The arms, horses, and camels, with an im- 
mense treasure of gold, silver, silk, and pre- 
cious stones, were all delivered to the con- 
queror, who, leaving only a garrison of six 
hundred archers, returned to Emessa, and 
employed some time in the distribution of 
rewards and punishments at the end of so 
memorable a war, which restored to the obe- 
dience of Rome those provinces that had re- 
nounced their allegiance since the captivity 
of Valerian. 

When the Syrian queen was brought into 



438 



PALMYRA. 



the presence of Aurelian, he sternly asked 
her how she had presumed to arise in arms 
against the emperors of Rome ? The answer 
of Zenobia was a prudent mixture of respect 
and firmness. "Because I disdained to con- 
sider as Roman emperors an Aureolus or a 
Gallienus. You alone I acknowledge as my 
conqueror and my sovereign." But as fe- 
male fortitude is commonly artificial, so it is 
seldom steady or consistent. The corn-age 
of Zenobia deserted her in the hour of trial ; 
she trembled at the angry clamors of the sol- 
diers, who called aloud for her immediate 
execution ; she forgot the generous despair 
of Cleopatra, which she had proposed as her 
model ; and ignominiously purchased Ufe by 
the sacrifice of her fame and her friends. It 
was to their counsels, which governed the 
weakness of her sex, that she imputed the 
guilt of her obstinate resistance ; it was on 
their heads she directed the vengeance of the 
cruel Aurelian. The fame of Longinus, who 
was included among the perhaps innocent 
victims of her fear, will survive that of the 
queen who betrayed, or the tyrant who con- 
demned him. Genius and learning were in- 
capable of moving a fierce unlettered soldier, 
but they had served to elevate and Jiarmon- 
ize the soul of Longinus. Without uttering 
a complaint, he calmly followed the execu- 
tioner, pitying his unhappy mistress and be- 
stowing comfort on his afflicted friends. 

Returning from the conquest of the East, 
Aurelian had already crossed the straits which 
divide Europe from Asia, when de was jiro- 
voked by the intelligence that the Palmyren- 
ians had massacred the governor and garrison 
which he had left among them, and again 
erected the standard of revolt. Without a 
moment's deliberation, he once more turned 
his face toward Syria. Antioch was alarmed 
by his rapid approach, and the helpless city 
of Palmyra felt the irresistible weight of his 
resentment. We have a letter of Aurehan 
himself, in which he acknowledges that old 
men, women, and children, and peasants had 
been involved in that dreadful execution, 
which should have been confined to armed 
rebellion ; and although his principal concern 
seems directed to the rc-estabUshment of a 
temple of the Sun, he discovers some pity for 
the Palmyrenians, to whom he grants the 
permission of rebuilding and inhabiting their 
city. But it is easier to destroy than to re- 
store. The seat of commerce, of arts, and of 
Zenobia, gradually sunk into an obscure 
town, a trifling fortress, and at length a mis- 
erable village.^ The present citizens of Pal- 
myra, consisting of tliirty or forty families, 
have erected their mud cottages within the 
spacious court of a magnificent temple. 

Since the foundation of Rome, no general 
had more nobly deserved a triumph than 



Aurelian, nor was a triumph ever celebrated 
with superior pride and magnificence. The 
pomp was opened by twenty elephants, four 
royal tigers, and above 200 of the most cu- 
rious animals from every climate of the north, 
the east, and the south. They were fol- 
lowed by 1,600 gladiators, devoted to the 
cruel amusements of the amphitheater. The 
wealth of Asia, the arms and ensigns of so 
many conquerered nations, and the magnifi- 
cent plate and wardrobe of the Syrian cpeen, 
were exposed in exact symmetry or artful 
disorder. The embassadors of the most re- 
mote parts of the earth — of Etliiopia, Arabia, 
Persia, Bactriana, India and Cliina, all re- 
markable by their rich or singular dresses, 
displayed the fame and power of the Roman 
emperor, who exposed likewise to the public 
view the presents that he had received, and 
particularly a great number of crowns of 
gold, the offerings of grateful cities. The 
victories of Aurelian were attested by the 
long train of captives who reluctantly at- 
tended his triumph — Goths, Vandals, Sarma- 
tiaus, Alemanni, Franks, Gauls, Syrians, and 
Egyptians. Each people was distinguished 
by its pecuhar inscription, and the title of 
Amazons was bestowed on ten martial 
heroines of the Gothic nation who had been 
taken in arms. But every eye, disregarding 
the crowds of captives, was fixed upon the 
Queen of the East and the Emperor Tetricus. 
The latter, as well as liis son, whom he had 
created Augustus, was dressed in Gallic 
trousers, a saffron tunic, and a robe of purple. 
The beauteous figure of Zenobia was con- 
fined by fetters of gold; a slave supported 
the gold chain wliich encircled her neck, and 
she almost fainted under the intolerable 
weight of jewels. She preceded, on foot, 
the magnificent chariot in which she once 
hoped to enter the gates of Rome. It was 
followed by two other chariots, still more 
sumptuous, of Odenathus and of the Persian 
monarch. The triumphal car of Aurelian (it 
had formerly been used by a Gothic king) 
was drawn on tliis memorable occasion either 
by four stags or by four elephants. The most 
illustrious of the senate, the people, and the 
army, closed tlie solemn procession. L"n- 
feigned joy, wonder, and gratitude, swelled 
the acclamations of the multitude; but the 
satisfaction of the senate was clouded by the 
appearance of Tetricus ; nor could they sup- 
press a rising murmur that the haughty em- 
peror should thus expose to public ignominy 
the person of a Roman and a magistrate. 

The triumph over, Aurelian behaved gen- 
erously to his beautiful and royal captive. 
He presented Zenobia with an elegant villa 
at Tibur or Tivoli, about twenty miles from 
the capital ; the Syrian queen insensibly sunk 
into a Roman matron, her daughters married 



PALO ALTO. 



439 



into noble families, and her race was not ex- 
tinct in the fifth century. — Oihhon. 

PALO ALTO, A.D. 1846.— The battle-field 
of Palo Alto is situated near the southern ex- 
tremity of Texas, between Matamoras and 
Point Isabel, about nine miles north-east of 
the former. At this place the American army 
under General Taylor, encountered the Mex- 
ican army, under General Arista, and the first 
battle of the late Mexican war ensued. 

The American army, consisting of about 
2,300 men, occupied an intrenched camp on 
the north bank of the Rio Grande, opposite 
the city of Matamoras, in wlaich was concen- 
trated about 6,000 Mexicans, under the com- 
mand of General Arista. The Mexican 
general resolved to cut off General Taylor's 
communication with Point Isabel, his depot, 
and striking to right and left, overwhelm 
both positions by numbers. For this purpose, 
he crossed the river in force, and took up a 
position between the American camp at 
Matamoras and Point Isabel. But General 
Taylor had anticipated his design, and leaving 
the camp on the Rio Gi'ande under the com- 
mand of Major Brown, set out in person with 
the greater part of his force for Point IsalDel, 
where he arrived on the 2d day of May. The 
next day the sound of cannon was heard 
from the direction of the camp opposite Mat- 
amoras, and Captains May and Walker were 
sent to gain intelUgence. 

On the 6th Captain Walker returned with 
the information that the position of Major 
Brown was secure, being entirely uninjured 
by the enemy's fire. The Mexican general 
now hastened the movements of his army, 
and concentrated his force across the work at 
Palo Alto about twenty-five miles from Point 
Isabel. On the 7th of May, General Taylor 
with his little army advanced from Point 
Isabel, and the next day arrived within sight 
of the enemy at Palo Alto. Here the Amer- 
ican general halted and made his dispositions 
for the approaching battle. The right wing 
of his army was composed of Major Ring- 
gold's artillery, and the tliird and fifth infant- 
ry ; the left consisted of Duncan's battery 
and the fourth and 8th infantry. The Mex- 
ican right was composed of light artillery and 
the infantry ; the left consisted of the heavy 
artillery supported by a strong body of infant- 
ry. The Americans advanced in two columns, 
the right under Major Ringgold moving along 
the road. As the Americans approached, the 
Mexicans opened their artillery upon them. 
Ringgold's battery replied with terrible effect. 
The cannonade was maintained on both sides 
incessantly ; the infantry standing idle. The 
Mexican cavalry in attempting to attack the 
right flank of the Americans, were repulsed 
with considerable loss by Lieutenant Ridgely, 
with a detachment of Ringgold's artillery, the 



fifth infantry, and Captain Walker's Texans, 
Meanwhile the guns of Ringgold told with 
fearful effect upon the enemy. At length the 
gallant major fell, mortally wounded ; but Lieu- 
tenant Shover, on whom the command devolv- 
ed, skillfully managed the batteries during the 
day. Captain Duncan, meanwhile, on the 
American left, worked his battery incessantly 
and with good efiect. During this time the 
infantry on both sides stood firm, the battle 
being almost entirely in the hands of the 
artUlery. The tall grass of the prairie having 
taken fire from the discharges of the cannon, 
soon enveloped both armies in a cloud of 
smoke which produced a temporary cessation 
of hostilities. In the interval, the Mexican 
artillery retreated before the fire of Ring- 
gold's artillery, and Shover pushed forward 
his pieces to the ground they had abandoned. 
The fourth regiment was ordered to support 
these guns, and while making this movement 
suffered severely from the fire of the enemy. 
Captain Page was mortally wounded, and a 
number of men were struck down. The 
Mexican cavalry now made a strong demon- 
stration on the American right ; the artillery 
of Lieutenant-Colonel Cliilds was pushed for- 
ward to that quarter, and a heavy fire was 
opened upon the advancing column of the 
enemy. The infentry was formed in square, 
to receive the charge ; but the Mexicans could 
not withstand the tempest of cannister-shot 
which was hurled through their ranks, and 
turned and fled, followed by a destructive fire 
of musketry. Night was rapidly approach- 
ing, and the Mexicans made no further 
attempt on the American right. . 

Meanwhile, the Mexicans on their right 
made a sudden movement against the Amer- 
ican left ; but they were met promptly by a 
detachment of Duncan's artillery under Lieu- 
tenant Bell^nap, and were forced to halt be- 
fore they had fired a single shot. A strong 
body of Mexican infantry supported by two 
squadrons of horse, at the same time de- 
bouched from the chapparel and advanced to 
the attack. The Americans opened a section 
of their battery upon them, with such effect, 
that the whole advance, foot and horse, fell 
back in disorder to the bushes ; the Mexican 
cavalry which had come to a halt were also 
greeted with a destructive fire from the other 
section, which although it tore through their 
ranks, making frightful gaps, was unable to 
shake them. The column of infantry and 
cavalry, having re-formed in the chapparel, 
again advanced to the attack. But they had 
scarcely emerged from the bushes, ere they 
were greeted by a fire from the American 
battery which hurled them back to their 
cover; and the Americans uniting the two 
sections of Duncan's battery, followed up 
their flight with such destructive discharges, 



440 



PA:MPELUNA— PARIS. 



that the Mexicans, both horse and foot, re- 
treated tuniultuously and could not be rallied. 
The Americans pursued their advantage with 
the utmost tniertry, and maintained their fire 
until the Mexicans had disappeared. The 
action was now at an end. The American 
army bivouacked on the ground occupied by 
the enemy, while the Mexicans were dis- 
persed in various directions in the chapparel in 
the rear of their former position. In this 
battle the Americans lost four men killed, and 
forty wounded, several of the latter mortally. 
Major Ringgold died sixty hours after the 
battle. Lieutenant Luther was slightly wound- 
ed. Captain Page survived to reach the United 
States, but died from the effects of his wound 
soon after his arrival. 

PAMPELUNA, A.D. 1813.— In the year 
778, Pampeluua, in Spain, was taken by the 
army of Charlemagne the Great. In June, 
1813, a battle took place for the possession of 
Pampeluna, between the English and French 
armies, at the close of the Peninsular war. 
While on their retreat from Vittoria, the 
French army hastily garrisoned and provis- 
ioned this fortified tdwn. It was immedi- 
ately invested by the British; but the ap- 
proach of Marshal Soult, with an army, 
toward the close of July, promised it an early 
dehverance. On the 27th and 29th of July 
a series of obstinate confhcts took place near 
this place, but the French were finally driven 
across the Pyrenees, and the garrison of Pam- 
peluna, cut off from all supplies, was forced 
to surrender on the 31st of October. See 
Pyrenees. 

PARIS, A.D. 52. — We now come to treat 
of one of the most conspicuous cities the 
world has ever seen. Upon opening such a 
subject, we feel strongly tempted to dilate 
upon all that belongs to this great city ; but 
our business is with battles and sieges, and 
we shall find enough of them to fill more 
than the space allotted to us. 

Julius Caisar had made the conquest of a 
part of G-aul, and Labienus, his lieutenant, 
keeping along the banks of the Seine, deter- 
mined to take possession of Lutetia, the cap- 
ital of the Parisians. It was not then the 
vast city which astonishes by its extent, its 
population, its wealth, its luxury, and its 
pleasures. Confined to that which is now 
called L'lle du Palais, or Le Cite, it then 
presented nothing to the eye but a collection 
of rustic cabins; but it^ situation, in the mid- 
dle of a river ; its natural fortifications, which 
made the approach to it difficult and danger- 
ous, with the well-known valor of its inhab- 
itants, who preferred death to slavery, ren- 
dered it quite worthy of the efibrts of the 
Romans. At tlie~report of their approach, 
all the neighboring peoples assemljled in 
arms, under the orders of a distinguished per- 



sonage, named Camulogenes. Notwithstand- 
ing his extreme old age, he knew and prac- 
ticed all the duties of a great captain. He at 
first avoided a pitched battle, in order to give 
his troops, Avho were much more courageous 
than disciphned, time to be formed. He took 
every advantage of his knowledge of the 
ground, to make himself master of favorable 
opportunities. There was at that time upon 
the left bank of the Seine, above Lutetia, a 
large marsh, whose waters flowed into the 
river, of which he made a rampart. Labie- 
nus endeavored to force him, but was re- 
pulsed ; he might, indeed, have lost all his 
legions tJiere, had he not made a speedy re- 
treat. Irritated at this check, the Roman 
general fell upon Melun, whose inhabitants 
were in the army of Camulogenes, sacked 
that hamlet, crossed the Seine there, and fol- 
lowing the right bank of the river, presented 
liimself again before Lutetia. The Gauhsh 
general, in order to prevent his taking the 
city and fortifying himself in it, set fij-e to it, 
and destroyed the bridges. Protected by 
the marsh, he remained in his camp opposite 
to the Romans, from whom he was separated 
by the river. In the mean time the nations 
who peopled the fi-ontiers of the Parisii took 
up arms, for the purpose of overwhelming the 
Romans at once. Labienus had brought 50 
large boats with him from Melun. At night- 
fall he dispatched them, with orders to de- 
scend the river as silently as possible till they 
came below Lutetia, nearly at the spot where 
noAV stands ihe village of Anteuil, and to wait 
there Avithout making the least movement. 
His design was to cross the Seine at that 
place. In order to deceive the Gauls, he 
sent toward the confluence of the Seine and 
the Maine five cohorts, who had charge of 
all the baggage, and were attended by some 
barks filled with sailors. These soldiers 
marched with as much noise as possible, and 
the rowers struck the water with all their 
strength, in order to attract the attention of 
the Gauls. This stratagem was successfiil, 
and the Parisians had no idea of the move- 
ment of Labienus, until at daybreak they 
perceived that general advancing toward 
them on their side of the river. They were 
immediately in motion, and rushed forward 
to meet the Romans. The battle was fought 
in the plain where now stand the villages of 
Issi and Vangirard. It was warm and obsti- 
nate. The Gauls fought with a courage 
worthy of greater success. Camulogenes set 
them the example ; though bent beneath the 
weight of years, this hero appeared, in the 
midst of his warriors, to regain all the vigor 
of youth ; he was ever found at the post of 
danger, and threw himself fearlessly into the 
tliickest of the mClte. This first defender of 
Parisian Uberty met with the death great men 



PARIS. 



441 



desire ; he expired fighting for his country, 
amid a heap of dead which his arm had im- 
molated. The victory of the Romans was 
complete, and Labienus derived much glory 
from his acliievement. 

Second Siege, a.d. 885. — From that time 
Lutetia, or Paris, became a famous city. 
Rome brought tliither its intelUgence and its 
errors, its wisdom and its vices, its wealth 
and its luxury, its laws and its abuses. But 
the Parisians, formerly so simple and so 
brave, changed all at once into sages, lost 
with their rustic virtue that intense love of 
liberty which had animated them. During 
nearly nine centuries they were no longer 
known tlian by the different masters they 
submitted to, and by the consideration they 
enjoyed among the peoples of Gaul. They 
were the head of them. Paris was the cen- 
ter of the Roman dominions in that part of 
the empire; the Roman governors resided 
there. Emperors even preferred Lutetia to 
the most brilliant cities ; Juhan the Apostate, 
who embehshed it with monuments, never 
called it any thing but his " dear Lutetia." 
When Clovis had laid the foundation of the 
French monarchy, Paris became the capital 
of his states. Under the reign of tliis prince 
and his successors, its extent was so enlarged 
as to comprise all the space contained be- 
tween the two arms of the Seine. The 
irruptions of the barbarians rendered the forti- 
fication of it necessary. No entrance could 
be had to it but by two bridges : each of 
these was defended by a strong tower, situ- 
ated nearly where the great and little Chatelet 
have since been built. In 885 the importance 
of these precautions was recognized ; a swarm 
of Normans, eager for booty and thirsting 
for blood, besieged Paris, wliich they had 
often before uselessly attacked. Their army 
consisted of 40,000 men, and more than 700 
boats covered the Seine for two leagues; 
fire-ships, towers, cavaliers, all the machines 
invented for the destruction of cities, were 
employed by these barbarians. They gave 
six assaults. The Parisians received them 
with the greatest courage, were animated by 
the example of the Count Eudes, whose 
great quaUties afterward raised him to the 
throne of the Franks, and by the exhorta- 
tions of Bishop Gauzlin. This prelate, with 
helm on head, a quiver at his back, and an 
axe in liis girdle, fought in the breach, within 
sight of a cross he had planted upon the ram- 
■ part. He met with death while immolating 
a host of enemies. Anscheric, who succeeded 
bim upon the episcopal seat, inherited his 
courage and his love of his country. He 
continued to lead the besieged, ably seconded 
by Ebole, the nephew of G-auzlin. This in- 
trepid abbot spread astonishment and terror 
wherever he directed his arms, nature having 



endowed him 'with prodigious strength. In 
the second assault he rushed to the breach, 
armed with a javehn which looked like a 
great spit, with which he pierced the Nor- 
mans, crying out to his compatriots, " Take 
these to the kitchen, they are all ready spit- 
ted." At length, after eighteen months of 
successless efforts, the barbarians made a last 
attempt ; they came in crowds to the foot of 
the walls ; they were not expected, and many 
had aheady gained the parapets, and were 
crying victory. At that moment a soldier of 
moderate height, but of extraordinary valor, 
named Gerbaut, followed only by five men 
as brave as himself, killed the first, hurled the 
others into the ditch, snatched up the ladders, 
and saved the city. Charles le Gros, who 
had made but Uttle effort to succor his faith- 
ful subjects, treated with the Norn^ans, and 
induced them to retire, upon promising to 
pay them 700 pounds' weight of silver in the 
course of a few months. This cowardly 
composition, made by a king at tlie head of 
an army, excited the general disgust of the 
Franks. He allowed the Normans to pillage 
his finest provinces. He was deposed at the 
diet of Tibur, in 888, and died the same 
year in indigence, deserted by every body. 

Third Siege, a.d. 1411. — Paris became in 
after-ages the sanguinary theater of civil wars, 
wMch under the reign of weak princes, deso- 
lated the kingdom. These unhappy times 
commenced under the administration of 
Charles VI. The hatreds which divided the 
nobles broke out openly : France was divided 
into two factions, almost equally powerful — 
that of the Duke of Orleans, which was 
called the Armagnacs ; and that of the Duke 
of Burgundy, called the Burgundians. Al- 
most all of the Parisians were of the latter 
party. The first wore, as a distinctive mark, 
a wMte cross at right angles ; the second a 
red cross obUque, called the cross of St An- 
drew. These two parties soon made cruel 
war- upon each other. The Armagnacs 
marched toward Paris : the hopes of plunder- 
ing that great city excited the ardor and cu- 
pidity of the troops. Every thing yielded to 
their first efforts : at their approach, most of 
the garrisons distributed in the neighboring 
places sought safety in flight. St. Denis was 
the only city that defended itself for a few 
days. Jean de Chalons, Prince of Orange, 
commanded in the place; the fear of its be- 
ing carried by assault obliged him to capitu- 
late ; he marched out with his garrison, under 
a promise of not bearing arms for four years. 
The treachery of Colonel De Paysieux ren- 
dered the Orleannais masters of St. Cloud, and 
of the passage of the Seine above Paris. 
That city entirely closed in on the north side, 
already experienced a scarcity of provisions ; 
the troops spread about the environs daily 



442 



PAEIS. 



perpetrated the most horrid cruelties. Houses 
of pleasure, villages, fields of corn, were all 
on fire ; massacres and violences of every 
kind the most horrible sacrileges, the most 
guilty excesses, were the sports of these pit- 
iless destroyers. Among these brigands was 
Montagu, archbishop of Sens, who, instead 
of a mitre, wore a bassinet ; for a dahnaique, 
a habergeon ; for a chasuble, a steel gorget ; 
and instead of a cross, carried an axe. Never- 
theless, with the danger from without, the 
fury of the Parisians increased daily, excited 
above aU by the fanaticism of the priests of 
the capital. All the pulpits resounded with 
declamations against the Armagnacs. The 
besiegers were excommunicated. The Or- 
leannais, in reply to this anathema, struck the 
Duke of Burgundy and his adherents with 
excommunication. The Archbishop of Sens, 
the bishops of Paris, Orleans, and Chartres, 
with several doctors of this age of ignorance, 
had dictated this dreaded decree. It was 
thus they sported with religion to justify the 
horrors committed on both sides. People 
did not dare to appear in the streets without 
the red scarf and the cross of St. Andrew. 
They carried theh madness so far as to make 
the sign of the cross according to the form 
of the crucifixion of St. Andrew. The peo- 
ple murmured at being shut up within the 
walls, while the enemy triumphed at then- 
gates; seditious cries announced that they 
wanted to fight; and' it became necessary to 
obey this blinded populace. The Count de 
St. Paul and the prevot Des Essarts, at the 
head of a detachment of Parisians, badly 
armed and without order, made a sortie by 
the gate of St. Denis ; they were beaten, al- 
though six times more numerous than their 
adversaries, and precipitately re-entered the 
city by the gate of St. Honor e, after having 
lost 400 of their men. This humiliating dis- 
grace completed the despair of the van- 
quished : in a transport of rage, they made 
a second sortie from the other side of the 
city. 

Goi, one of the officers of miUtia, led 
them to the castle of Wicestre (now Bicetre), 
a pleasure-house, which the Duke de Berry 
prided himself with having ornamented with 
all the embeUishments the art of that age 
could furnish. As no troops appeared to 
stop these contemptible warriors, they gave 
free way to the madness wliich governed 
them: the gates of this palace were broken 
open ; they plundered the valuable furniture ; 
they even took away the glass windows, 
which were then an object of luxury reserved 
for the houses of the great. This brutal ex- 
hibition was crowned by the firing of the 
building. Among the inestimable loss caused 
by the conflagration, persons of taste par- 
ticularly regretted a chronological series of 



the portraits of the kings of France of the 
third race, most of them original. 

While both parties were giving themselves 
up to these horrible excesses, the Duke of 
Burgundy formed the idea of deUvering the 
capital. This prince, at the head of liis own 
troops, and a few companies of Enghsh, 
headed by the Earl of Arundel, crossed the 
Seine at the bridge of Melun, where 3,000 
Parisians awaited him, and made his entree 
into Paris, surrounded by 15,000 horsemeru 
The streets, filled with an innumerable mul- 
titude, resounded with acclamations; all 
were eager to load liim with honors and to 
evince their gratitude. Amid their trans- 
ports of joy, however, the Parisians beheld 
with much pain, squadrons of English mixed 
with the French troops. Secretly indignant 
at seeing the conservation of the capital, the 
security of the king, and the safety of the 
state, committed to the suspicious protection 
of a rival nation, not one of them would give 
lodging to these foreigners, who were obhged 
to pass the night upon their horses. The 
next day they were distributed with much 
trouble among the bourgeois, and principally 
among those whose attachment was doubt- 
ful. The appearance of every thing was 
changed by the arrival of the Burgundian 
prince. The numbers of the Orleannais dimin- 
ished daily ; in the frequent sorties that were 
made, they hardly sufficed to guard their 
posts, till at length St. Cloud, the most im- 
portant of them, was carried by assault. In 
this aifair they lost 900 of their best soldiers, 
while only 20 of the Burgundians were Idlled. 
The Duke of Orleans lost all hopes of enter- 
ing Paris : his army was melting away ; win- 
ter was coming on, and he had notliing left 
but a disgraceful retreat. He called a coun- 
cil of war, in which the necessity for raising 
the blockade was acknowledged by all. On 
the very evening of the day of the taking of 
St. Cloud, the Orleannais army loaded them- 
selves with all the booty they could carry 
away, they pillaged the treasures of the 
queen, deposited for safety in the abbey of 
St. Denis, which they had till that time re- 
spected, crossed the Seine, and marched 
without halting to Etampes. Information of 
this nocturnal retreat was not conveyed to 
Paris tiU it was too late to pursue them. 

Fourth Siege, a.d. 1429. — Paris, which, 
since the invasion of the English, had been a 
prey to their tyranny, did not dare to declare 
in favor of Charles TIL, who had just been 
crowned at Rheims. The king attempted to 
enter the capital, followed by his whole 
army. All the small neighboring places vied 
with each other in their eagerness to receive 
him. He took possession of St. Denis, and 
occupied the posts of La Chapelle, Auber- 
villiers, and Montmartre. His generals, con- 



PARIS. 



443 



fiding in the intelligence they maintained 
with some in the city, resolved to attempt an 
assault on Sunday, 8th of September, 1429. 
They approached the gate of St. Denis with 
the design of persuading the EngUsh that 
they meant to attack the capital at that 
point; at the same time, a considerable de- 
tachment presented itself before an intrench- 
ment which the enemy had raised before the 
rampart of the hog-market, upon which is 
built the quarter now called La Butte-Saint- 
Roch. The boulevard was carried at once. 
While the English, led by the Bishop of 
Therouanne, L'lle-Adam, Crequi, and Bonne- 
val, were hastening thither, numerous voices 
shouted out in various quarters of Paris, for 
the purpose of terrifying the people — " All is 
lost 1 all is lost I The royalists are masters 
of the city I Let every one look to himself." 
This ruse produced the effect the EngUsh had 
expected ; the people, in a state of conster- 
nation, precipitately sought refuge in their 
houses, and delivered the English from the 
suspicions they had conceived. In the mean 
time, the royalists, finding the people made 
no movement in their favor, judged it pru- 
dent to retreat. Joan of Arc, who had 
joined the party in order to animate the 
French by her presence, accustomed by her 
successes never to recede, would not consent 
to give up the affair ; she persisted in wish- 
ing to fill up the ditch filled with water, of 
which she did not at all know the depth. 
She was crying aloud for fascines to be 
brought to her, when she was wounded by 
an arrow from a cross-bow, in the thigh. 
Obliged by the pain of the wound and the 
quantity of blood she lost, to recline behind 
the shelter of a little eminence, she remained 
there till evening, when the Duke of Alen- 
9on was compelled to force her to return to 
St. Denis. Charles, conceiving the canture 
of Paris impossible, thought it best to retreat. 
His army decamped, and took the road to 
Lagni-sur-Marne, which had declared for 
him. 

Fifth Siege, a.d. 1465. — The Duke de 
Berry, brother of Louis XL, at the age of 
sixteen, escaped from the court, and joined 
the Duke of Brittany, for the purpose of ex- 
citing a revolution which might prove favor- 
able to him. The princes of the blood and 
the nobles, who waited for some outbreak to 
make war against the king, immediately 
issued manifestoes, in which they invited the 
noblesse, and all good citizens " to take up 
arms to obtain relief for the poor distressed 
people I" This specious pretext procured for 
this union of rebels the name of " The League 
for the Public Good." The princes soon 
found themselves at the head of a pretty con- 
siderable army ; and in order to commence 
by something brilliant, capable of giving 



credit to the revolt, after having gained sev- 
eral small places, they resolved to make a 
general assault upon the capital. But Paris 
was too well fortified to make the success of 
such an enterprise at all probable. The 
Count de Charolais, the head of the leagued 
troops, drew up his soldiers in order of battle 
within sight of the ramparts. He believed 
this display would disconcert the zeal and 
fidelity of the inhabitants ; but notliing could 
shake them. The Marshal De Rohan made 
a sortie, and did not return until he had 
skirmished long and successfully. Some 
days after, the enemy attacked the faubourg 
Saint Lazare, the barriers of which were 
upon the point of being forced, when the 
citizen -militia coming up, courageously re- 
pulsed the rebels, who, harassed at the same 
time by the artillery from the ramparts, re- 
tired in disorder. 

The battle of Montlhery suspended for a 
time the project of the princes. But scarcely 
was that celebrated contest decided, than 
the Count de Charolais made fresh attempts 
upon the capital. Our readers will the bet- 
ter understand the hardihood and persistency 
of the count's attacks, when reminded that 
he was the son of the Duke of Burgundy, 
and was afterward known as " Charles the 
Bold." As the royalists were masters of St. 
Cloud and Charenton, the leader of the en- 
emy's troops caused bridges of boats and 
casks tied together to be hastily constructed, 
upon which his army crossed the Seine at 
various times. He thus inclosed within a 
half-circle all the northern part of the envi- 
rons of Paris, extending from St. Cloud to 
Charenton, of which he took possession with- 
out much trouble. Louis XL and his troops 
were encamped on the southern side. The 
loss of Charenton might have intercepted the 
supply of provisions to the capital, but such 
prudent measures had been taken, that dur- 
ing the whole of the siege no deficiency in 
food was felt. The princes at first had re- 
course to negotiations, but they proved use- 
less; and both sides renewed hostilities, 
which were warm and frequent. Sorties 
were made every day, and these combats 
generally terminated in favor of the king's 
troops. The honor of this was principally 
due to the fair sex of the capital ; " for the 
warriors," says Pliilip de Commines, " beheld 
the ladies at all times ; giving them a desire 
to show their prowess in their sight." The 
enemy had placed their advanced posts at 
Bercy, which was then called " La Grange- 
aux-Merciers." They were obliged to aban- 
don them, and retire to Conflans, the head- 
quarters of the Count de Charolais. The 
royal army occupied the opposite bank of the 
Seine. Several batteries which defended the 
access to it, were erected there. The 



444 



PARIS. 



leagued princes undertook to throw a bridge 
of boats across the river, opposite the Port-a- 
I'Anjjlais. The king immediately constructed 
a bulwark, from which artillery, incessantly 
hurling its mortal thunders, prevented them 
from advancing. At the same time, a Nor- 
man archer, whose name history ought to 
have preserved, threw himself into the Seine, 
and contrived to reach the head of the 
bridge, of which he cut the cables that fast- 
ened it to the shore, and abandoned it to the 
current. This series of ill-fortune induced 
the League general to resume the interrupted 
negotiations, and at length, after numerous 
contentions and delays, a treaty of peace was 
concluded at Conflans, which dehvered Paris 
from its besiegers. The capital signified its 
joy by brilliant festivals. The king, to re- 
ward its fidelity, confirmed all its privileges ; 
he honored with liis presence a banquet at 
the Hotel de Ville, at which many citizens 
and their wives were admitted to the table 
of the monarch with the princes and nobles. 
Sixth Siege, a.d. 1589-1594.— The flame 
of civil war, of wliich Francis II. had beheld 
the first sparks, had set all France in a blaze 
during the minority of Charles IX. Religion 
was the motive of these wars among the 
people, and the pretext among the great. 
The queen-mother, Catherine de Medici, who 
joined to the most boundless ambition the 
artful policy of her country, had more than 
once hazarded the safety of the kingdom to 
preserve her authority ; arming the Catholics 
against the Protestants, and the G-uises against 
the Bourbons, that they might destroy each 
other. In this age of troubles, the great, 
who had become too powerful, were factious 
and formidable; and the French, animated 
by that party fury which a false zeal inspires, 
were, for the most part, fanatics and barba- 
rians. Passions or interests armed every 
hand: one half of the nation made war 
against the other half. The greatest cities 
were taken, retaken, and sacked, in turn. 
Prisoners of war were put to death in a 
manner till that time unheard of The 
churches were reduced to ashes by the Re- 
formers, the temples by the Catholics. Pois- 
onings and assassinations were looked upon 
as only the legitimate vengeance of clever 
enemies. The crowning horror of all these 
excesses was the massacre of St. Barthol- 
omew. On that ever-execrable day, a young 
king of twenty-throe commanded, in cool 
blood, the death of more than a million of 
his subjects, and himself set the example 
of murder. Charles IX. did not long survive 
this abuse of sovereign power. Henry III. 
quitted furtively the throne of Poland, to re- 
turn to his country and plunge it once more 
into troubles. Of the two brothers, notwith- 
standing what we have said of Charles IX., 



Henry III. was the worse : there is no more 
detestable character in history than tlais 
prince, who rather resembles a Heliogabalus 
or a Commodus, than a king of chivalric 
France : in the great massacre he had been, 
if possible, more active than his brother. 

He found in his states two dominant par- 
ties; that of the Reformers, reviving from 
its ashes, more violent than ever, and having 
at its head Henry the Great, then King of 
Navarre ; and that of the League, a powerful 
faction, formed by the princes of the house 
of Guise, encouraged by the pope, fomented 
by Philip II. of Spain, whose dangerous 
policy procured him the name of the Demon 
of the South, increasing every day by the 
artifices of the monks, under the vail of zeal 
for the Cathohc rehgion, but whose principal 
aim was rebeUion. Its leader was the Duke 
of Guise, surnamed le Balafre, fi-om a scar 
on his cheek, a prince of a brilhant reputation, 
and who, having more shining qualities than 
good ones, seemed, in this season of confii- 
sion, born to change the destinies of France. 
Henry III., who perhaps might have crushed 
both these parties by a judicious exercise of 
the regal power, absolutely strengthened 
them by his own weakness. He thought to 
exhibit a great feat of poUcy by declaring 
himself the head of the League ; whereas he 
only proved himself the slave of it. He was 
forced to make war for the interests of the 
Duke de Guise, whose object was to dethrone 
him against the King of Navarre, his brother- 
in-law and presumptive heir, who only wished 
to re-establish him in all the rights of his 
rank. Some successes against the Reformers 
carried the credit of the too-powerful Balafre 
to its height. This prince, inflated with his 
own glory, and strong in the weakness of the 
king, came to Paris in opposition to the 
roy4 command. Then arrived tlie celebrated 
day of the harricades, in which the people 
defeated the guards of Henry, and obhged 
him himself to fly from his capital. Guise 
did still more ; he forced the king to hold the 
States-General of the kingdom at Blois, and 
took his measures so well, that he was near 
sharing the royal authority, with the consent 
of the representatives of the nation, and with 
an appearance of the most respectable for- 
m ah ties. Roused by a danger so pressing, 
Henry III. caused this redoutable enemy, 
and the Cardinal de Lorraine, his brother, 
still more violent and ambitious than the 
duke, to be assassinated at the castle of Blois. 
That which happened to the Protestant party 
after the St. Bartholomew, now happened to 
the League ; the death of the leaders rean- 
imated the faction. On all parts the leaguers 
threw off the mask. Paris closed its gates : 
nothing was thought or talked of buf ven- 
geance. Henry III. was considered as the 



PARIS. 



445 



assassin of the defenders of religion, as an 
odious, insupportable tyrant, and not as a king 
who had punished too audacious subjects. 
The king, pressed on all sides, was at leugth 
obliged to seek a reconciliation with Henry 
of Navarre ; in the course of 1589 these two 
princes encamped in conjunction before Paris. 

Words can scarcely describe the excesses to 
which the capital gave itself up on learning 
the death of the Duke de Guise : the shops 
closed, the people in crowds in the streets, 
arms in hand, seeking everywhere the Duke 
d'Aumale, to place him at the head of the 
League, knocking down the king's arms 
wherever met with, and imprisoning every 
one suspected of fideUty to him. A kind of 
vertigo or spirit of fmy took possession of all 
the citizens without exception ; they willingly 
allowed themselves to be dragged into open 
rebellion. The churches were hung with 
mom-ning, and the depositaries of the Word 
of God proclaimed aloud the martyrdom of 
the Balafre and his brother. 

The leaders of the sedition sought, how- 
ever, to color the public excesses with some 
specious pretexts. They caused a request to 
be presented to the faculty of theology at 
Paris, in whicli it was said " that the princes 
of the house of Lorraine had always deserved 
well of the Catholic church during their hves, 
and that, being protectors of the faith, the 
king had put them to death ; that the mon- 
arch must be declared to have forfeited his 
crown, and liis subjects be released from their 
fideUty; that the prince was a hypocrite, a 
favorer of heresy, a persecutor of the Church, 
having bathed his hands in the blood of a 
cardinal, without respect to liis person or his 
sacred character." The Sorbonne, on the 7th 
of January, issued a decree, which allowed 
and even ordered aU that tliis request stated. 
Lefebvre the dean, and several other doctors, 
refused to sign tliis abominable sentence ; but 
the majority prevailed, and gave it all the 
authority that was desired. The principal 
leaguers, armed with this fatal document,- 
tried to lay the foundation of an authority, 
which the same caprice which gave it to them 
might deprive them of an instant after. The 
heads of the sixteen quarters of Paris, all 
scoundrels, and for the most part the issue of 
low families, were revered like so many sov- 
ereigns. These monsters governed Paris; 
they were its oracles, and put in motion the 
arms of all tlie rebels. They also determined 
to have the parliament. Bussy le Clerc, 
governor of the Bastille, who had been a 
master-at-arms, took upon liimself the task 
of ordering that august company to enregis- 
ter the decree of Sorbonne. On the 16th of 
January he entered the assembly of French 
senators with fifty of his satellites, and, pistol 
in hand, presented to them a request, or 



rather an order, no longer to recognize the 
royal house. The refusal being unanimous, 
he selected the most conspicuous and led 
them away at once to the Bastille, where the 
barbarous manner in wluch he treated them 
procured him the soubriquet of " Grand Pen- 
itentiary of the Parliament." 

Very shortly, the Duke de Mayenne, 
brother and heir to the power of the Duke 
de Guise, arrived in Paris with a reinforce- 
ment of troops. This prince, intrepid and 
inteUigent, but indolent, was stLh employed 
in placing the capital in a state of defense, 
when the two kings of France and Navarre 
appeared at its gates with an army of 40,000 
men. Henry III., took possession of the 
bridge of St. Cloud, and formed the blockade 
of the faubourg St. Honore and the whole 
quarter of the Louvre as far as the river ; the 
King of Navarre, on the other side, besieged 
the faubourg St. Marceau to that of St. Ger- 
main. The consternation and the fury of the 
Parisians were extreme when they found 
themselves surrounded in this manner by the 
royal troops. The priests recommenced their 
seditious declamations ; to strike the vulgar, 
they caused httle figures of wax to be made, 
representing the two monarchs, which they 
placed upon the altar during mass, and pricked 
them with knives. All priests carried arms, 
and mounted guard with the other citizens. 
But this aimless and blind fury could not have 
protected the capital from the just anger of 
the king, had it not been prevented by the 
most infamous of crimes. Jacques Clement, 
a priest and Dominican, devoted himself, as 
he said, to tlie task of kilhng the tyrant. He 
communicated his project to the doctors, the 
Jesuits, the leaders of the League, and the 
principals of the Sixteen; all encouraged 
liim, all promised liim the greatest dignities, 
if he survived this generous action ; and if 
he became a martyr to it, a place in Heaven, 
above the apostles. On the 31st of July he 
went to St. Cloud, where the king's quarters 
were. He was arrested by the Sieur de 
Coublan, and conducted to the procureur- 
general De la Guesle. This magistrate intro- 
duced liim the next day into the king's apart- 
ment. With a simple and respectful air he 
presented the Idng an intercepted letter to 
the President De Harley. The monarch hav- 
ing read it, and being separated from the 
Dominican by La Guesle, asked him if he 
had nothing else to say to him. " I have 
many important things to reveal to the king," 
repHed Clement, " but I can only do it in a 
whisper to his own ear." "Speak out!" 
cried the procureur-gcneral two or three 
times, as he began to mistrust the good father. 
" Speak aloud, and before me ; there is no 
one here in whom the king has not confi- 
dence." Henry then told liim to approach. 



446 



PARIS. 



The villain obeyed, and instead of communi- 
cating secrets, plunged a knife, expressly 
forged for the purpose, into his bowels, and 
left it sticking in the wouml. The astonished 
king immediately drew out the knife, and 
springing upon the assassin, stabbed him in j 
the forehead. La Guesle put the finishing 
stroke with his sword. His body was thrown 
out at the window, torn in pieces, burned, and 
his ashes cast into the Seine. 

In proportion as this parricide spread con- 
sternation in the army, so did it give cause 
of triumph to the Parisians. A relation of 
the martyrdom of Brother Jacques Clement 
was printed ; he was canonized, and lauded 
at Rome from the very pulpit in which the 
funeral oration of Henry III. ought to have 
been pronounced. The object was by such 
means to incite fresh assassinations. The 
king died of his wound on the 2d of August, 
at two o'clock in the morning ; and Henry of 
Bourbon, King of Navarre, whom he had 
proclaimed his successor as he was dying, was 
acknowledged by a part of the army, and by 
all who deserved the name of Frenchmen. 
The new monarch was obhged to interrupt 
the attacks upon Paris to disperse the differ- 
ent armies of the League ; and it was not till 
after he had rendered himself master of the 
places which served as magazines to the cap- 
ital, that he formed the blockade of it with 
less than 20,000 men. He commenced by 
attacking the faubourgs: his army, divided 
into ten bodies, attacked ten different quar- 
ters of Paris. In order to witness the opera- 
tions, he placed himself in the abbey of Mont- 
martre, and at midnight gave the signal. 
The artillery was immediately heard to roar 
on both sides. " There is nobody," says 
SuUy, " who would not have supposed that 
that immense city was about to perish by 
fire, or by an infinite number of mines ignit- 
ed in its entrails ; there perhaps never was 
a spectacle more capable of inspiring horror. 
Dense masses of smoke, tlirough which 
pierced at intervals sparks or long trains of 
flame, shrouded all the surface of that sort of 
world which, by the vicissitudes of light and 
darkness, appeared either plunged in black 
night or covered with a sea of fire. The 
roar of the artOlery, the clash of arms, the 
cries of combatants, added every thing to this 
scene that can be imagined that is terrifying ; 
and the natural horror of night redoubled it 
Still more. This lasted two wliole hours, and 
ended by the reduction of all the faubourgs, 
even of that of St. Antoinc, though, from its 
extent, it was obliged to be attacked from a 
great distance." 

The king's success did not relax the mad 
courage and the blind fury of the Parisians ; 
the leaders set the same springs to work that 
had been employed the preceding year ; sacri- 



legious sermons, the confirmation of the Sor- 
bonne, and the excommunication of the king. 
As soon as Henry IV. had closed all the 
issues from the city, provisions began to foil, 
and more than 200,000 persons of all condi- 
tions were reduced to the most awful ex- 
tremity, but without losing any of that fac- 
tious ardor which had seized all minds. To 
animate the people stUl further, a kind of 
regiment of ecclesiastics was formed, to the 
number of 1,300 ; they appeared on the bridge 
of Notre Dame in battle-array, and made a 
general review, which was called the proces- 
sion of the League. The leaders carried in 
one hand a crucifix, and in the other a halbert, 
the rest having all sorts of arms. 

The pope's legate, by his presence, approved 
of a proceeding at once so extraordinary and 
so laughable ; but one of these new soldiers, 
who was no doubt ignorant that his arque- 
buss was loaded with ball, wishing to salute 
the legate in his carriage, fired into it, and 
killed his almoner. The legate, in conse- 
quence of this accident, made as speedy a re- 
treat as possible ; but the people exclaimed 
that it was a great blessing for the almoner 
to be killed in such a holy cause. Such was 
the frightful persuasion of this populace, 
whom impunity had rendered formidable. 
They believed themselves invincible under 
the orders of the Duke de Nemours, a skillful, 
courageous, and prudent general, whom the 
Duke de Mayenne, his brother, had left in 
Paris during his absence ; they were backed 
by 3,000 or 4,000 good troops, and by several 
nobles of high courage. They every day 
skirmished against the royal army, or fought 
small battles ; the Chevalier d' Aumale, of the 
blood of Lorraine, being always at the head 
of their sorties, and imparting liis impetuous 
valor to liis followers. Henry IV. satisfied 
himself with repulsing these attacks, con- 
vinced that famine would soon open the gates 
of the capital to him. 

In fact, this terrible scourge began to make 
rapid progress; there was neither wheat, 
barley, nor oats left ; more than 50,000 per- 
sons had already died of want ; the sad re- 
mains of this numerous population, nobles, 
plebeians, rich or poor, languidly crawled 
through the streets to seek for and devour 
the grass and weeds that grew in them. 
Mules, horses, cats, dogs, all the domestic 
animals — even beasts that are reckoned un- 
clean — served for food. The leather of shoes 
was sold for its weight in gold ; it was boiled 
and devoured in secret, for fear some wretch, 
stronger and more hungry, should tear it 
from the mouth of the purchaser. Mothers 
were seen feeding upon the flesh of tlieir 
children, and miserable beings flew like vul- 
tures upon a newly-dead body that had fallen 
in the streets. The Spanish embassador to 



PARIS. 



447 



the League advised that bread should be made 
of the ground bones of the dead, and his plan 
was eagerly adopted ; but this shocking aU- 
nient cost the lives of most of those who 
partook of it. In this general desolation, the 
priests and monks enjoyed the comforts of 
abundance ; on visiting their abodes, there 
was generally enough for the present discov- 
ered, and, in many instances, a good provis- 
ion for the future. At length the leaders of 
the League, to appease the people, who now 
never ceased crying, " Bread or peace !" 
charged the Bishop of Paris and the Arch- 
bishop of Lyons with proposals to the king. 
" I am no dissembler," said the monarch, " I 
speak plainly and without deceit what I think. 
I should be wrong if I told you I did not 
wish for a general peace ; I do wish for it, I 
ardently desire it, that I may have the power 
of enlarging and settling the hmits of my 
kingdom. For a battle I would give a finger, 
for a general peace I would give two. I love 
my city of Paris ; it is my eldest daughter ; 
I am jealous of her. I am anxious to confer 
upon her more good, more kindness, more 
pity than she could ask of me ; but I desire 
that she should owe them to me and to my 
clemency, and not to the Duke de Mayenne 
or the King of Spain. When you ask me to 
defer the capitulation and surrender of Paris 
till a universal peace, which can not take place 
till after many journeys, backward and for- 
ward, you ask for a thing highly prejudicial 
to my city of Paris, which can not wait so 
long. So many persons have already died of 
hunger, that if a further delay of ten or 
twelve days took place, vast numbers must 
die, which would be a great pity (;une estrange 
piiie). I am the father of my people, and I 
am like the mother of old before Solomon, I 
would almost prefer having no Paris at all to 
having it ruined and dissipated by the death 
of so many Parisians. You, Monsieur le 
Cardinal, ought to have pity on them ; they 
are your flock. I am not a remarkably good 
theologian ; but I know enough of divinity 
to be able to tell you that God is not pleased 
that you should treat thus the poor people he 
has consigned to you. How can you hope 
to convert me to your religion, if you set so 
little store by the safety and Uves of your 
flock ? It is giving me but a poor proof of 
your holiness ; I am but little edified by it." 
" Such," says tlie historian, " were the 
.'words and sentiments of this generous prince ; 
'' the evils which oppressed his people pene- 
trated his compassionate and tender heart. 
He could not endure the idea," says SuUy, 
*• of seeing that city, of which Providence 
had destined him the empire, become one 
vast cemetery ; he held out his hands to all 
he could secretly assist, and shut his eyes 
upon the supplies ofprovisions which his offi- 



cers and soldiers frequently stole in, whether 
out of compassion for relations or friends, or 
for the sake of the heavy prices they made 
the citizens pay for them." 

He could have carried Paris by the sword ; 
and his soldiers, the Huguenots in particular, 
demanded that favor of him with loud cries ; 
but he resisted all their entreaties. The Duke 
de Nemours having turned out a vast number 
of useless mouths, the council advised the 
king to refuse them a passage. Henry, deep- 
ly affected by their melancholy fate, gave 
orders to let them go where they Uked. 

" I am not astonished," said he, " that the 
chiefs of the League, or the Spaniards, should 
have so Uttle compassion on these poor peo- 
ple, they are but their tyrants; but as for 
me, I am their father and their king, and I 
can not behold them without being moved to 
my inward heart." But he was deceived if 
he tliought these kindnesses would make any 
impression upon the Parisians. They availed 
themselves of his benevolence without ceas- 
ing to regard him as the author of all the pub- 
he calamities ; and when, a short time after, 
the Prince of Parma and the Duke de May- 
enne, at the head of an army, obliged him to 
pause in his enterprise, they insulted him who 
had only raised the siege because he was too 
sensible to the misfortunes of the besieged. 

Paris persisted in its revolt to the month 
of March, 1594, when the Duke de Brissac, 
who had joined the League because Henry 
III. had told him that he was good for 
nothing, either by land or sea, negotiated 
with Henry IV. and opened the gates of 
Paris to him, for the reward of the baton of 
the Marshal of France. Henry IV. made his 
entree, which only cost the lives of a small 
body of lansquenets, and of two or tliree cit- 
izens, who endeavored to induce the people 
to take up arms against a king who was will- 
ing to treat them as a father. 

When Brissac had thrown open the gates, 
Henry's troops marched in in silence, keep- 
ing close and careful order, and took posses- 
sion of the squares and public places, and 
great thoroughfares. After the prevot des 
marchands and de Brissac had presented the 
keys to him, he advanced at the head of a 
large troop of the nobility, with lances low- 
ered. His march was a triumph, and from 
that day, he considered himself among the 
Parisians, as in the midst of his children. 

The ridiculous yet bloody war of the 
Fronde, though it maddened, and for a time 
half starved the Parisians, and although its 
two parties were headed by a Conde and a 
Turenne, does not furnish us with a regular 
siege. — Robson. 

The French Revolution, a.d. 1789. — The 
most important epoch in the history of Paris • 
is unquestionably the French Revolution of 



448 



PARIS. 



1789 ; and we hope that in consideration of 
the interest of the subject, our readers will 
pardon us for devoting so much space to the 
descriptions of events, which caused many 
of the battles which are recorded in this vol- 
ume, and which shook all Europe to its very 
center. 

That a long continued series of abuses un- 
redressed will at last become unendurable, is 
a truth which all history attests ; and also, 
that before a nation can enjoy the blessings 
of freedom, its moral character must be liigh. 
The French people, before the Revolution 
broke out, had many grievances to complain 
of, such as the weight of taxes, the too gen- 
eral wortlilessness of the clergy and nobility, 
and the remaining pressure of the feudal 
system. This aroused the people to actio«. 
They shook off all restraint. Infidelity 
strode hand in hand with blood. The whole 
land streamed with gore, and the leading 
actors in tliis awful scene of carnage appear 
possessed of the spirit of demons. There is 
no page of history fuU of greater excitement 
and instruction — none wliich gives a hveher 
picture of the evils of anarchy. The follow- 
ing extracts contain an account of some of 
the chief among this remarkable series of 
events : 

It is fortunate for the memory of Louis 
XVI., that no authentic documents have been 
produced to prove that the court intended to 
assail the new legislative assembly of the 
French people. The democratic writers 
affirm, that a plan was actually concerted for 
the chssolution of the assembly, and the full 
resumption of despotic authority. They 
assert that the night of the l-ith or 15tli of 
July was fijxed upon for the attack of the 
metropoUs, which was already besieged by 
fifty thousand men, and one hundred pieces 
of cannon. They describe the arrangement 
which was planned for the assault ; and some 
of them add, that not only the dissolution of 
the assembly, but a dreadful and sanguinary 
execution of its most distinguished members 
was to succeed. We are not disposed to 
credit tliis wild statement, though, perhaps, 
agreeably to the declaration iu the royal ses- 
sion of the 23d of June, the authority of the 
States-General was to be lessened ; and that 
some change was intended was evident from 
the dismission of M. Neckar, wliich took place 
on the 11th of July. He was at dinner when 
the letter of the king, ordering him to quit 
the kingdom in twenty-four hours, was 
brought him by the Count de la Luzerne. 
Without appearing in the least concerned, he 
had the presence of mind to tell the count, 
as he went out of the room, " We shaU meet 
again at the council ;" and continued to con- 
. verse with the Archbishop of Bourdeaux and 
the rest of the company that were dining 



with him, as if nothing had happened. About 
five o'clock in the afternoon he complained 
of a pain in liis head, and asked Madame 
Neckar, if she would accompany him in an 
airing. He was not more than a league from 
Versailles when he desired the coachman to 
drive on more quickly to St. Ouen, his coun- 
try house. He passed the night there, and 
prepared for the journey ; and this was tlie 
first opportunity he had of acquainting his 
daughter, the Baroness de Stael, with the 
event, though she was present when he re- 
ceived the order of the king to quit the coun- 
try. He took the road to Brussels as the 
nearest frontier. 

The new arrangements in the ministry 
were the Marshall Brogho, minister of war ; 
the Baron de Breteuil, president of finance ; 
M. de la Galezieri, comptroller-general; M. 
de la Porte, intendant of the war depart- 
ment ; and M. Foulon, intendant of the 
navy. 

It is impossible to describe the sensation 
wliich pervaded Paris on the receipt of this 
intelligence. The person who first reported 
it at the Hotel de Vdle was considered as a 
lunatic, and with difficulty escaped some 
harsh treatment. It was no sooner confirm- 
ed, than tlie shops and places of public 
amusement were all shut up. A body of the 
citizens ran to the warehouse of a statuary, 
and having procured the busts of M. Neckar 
and the Duke d'Orleans, dressed them in 
mourning, and carried them about the streets. 
In their progress they were stopped by a 
German regiment, the royal Allemand, when 
the busts were broken by the soldiers ; one 
man lost his Ufe, and others of the populace 
were wounded. The army now came for- 
ward in force, with the Prince de Lambesq, 
grand ecuyer of France, at their head, who 
was ordered to take post at the Tuilleries. 
Irritated, perhaps, at the spirit of resistance 
which he observed in the citizens, he impru- 
dently Avounded with his saber a man who 
was walking peaceably in the gardens. This 
unfortunate circumstance proved the signal 
of revolt ; an instantaneous alarm was spread 
through the city, and the cry of " To arms" 
resounded in every quarter. The Germans 
were vigorously attacked by the populace, 
who were joined by the French guards, and, 
oveipower-ed by numbers, were obliged to 
retreat. From that moment the guards took 
leave of their officers, they set fire to their 
several barracks, and formed themselves into 
companies with the citizens to patrol the 
streets. 

The citizens of Paris at this moment con- 
ceived themselves in an alarming and critical 
situation. The reports of the intended attack 
upon the city were eagerly listened to ; and 
it was thought that the mysterious and im- 




TORMING THE CAblILL 



PARIS. 



449 



politic proceedings of the court gave counte- 
nance to every suspicion. On tlie other hand, 
troops of banditti, the pests of a populous city, 
such as are ever ready to take advantage of 
public commotion, were beginning to collect ; 
and, either from these on the one hand, or 
the foreign soldiery on the other, a general 
pillage was feared. Covered by the darkness 
of the night, several bands of ruffians, doubt- 
less apostles of freedom, paraded the streets, 
and even set fire to the city in different 
places: the horrid silence was interrupted 
only by confused shouts, and occasional dis- 
charges of musketry. In this disastrous 
night sleep only sealed the eyes of infants ; 
they alone reposed in peace, while their 
anxious parents watched over their cradles. 

Versailles was not more tranquil ; but the 
court party rejoiced at the altered appearance 
of things. Their joy, however, was not of 
long duration ; a false report of 100,000 
armed citizens being on the road to Versailles, 
joined to their mistrust of the national troops, 
checked their happiness. 

The morning of the 13th displayed at Paris 
a spectacle of confusion and dismay ; a band 
of villains had already pillaged the charitable 
house of St. Lazare ; at six o'clock the alarm 
bells sounded throughout the city, and the 
terror became universal. Many citizens as- 
sembled at the Hotel de Ville, and no alter- 
native appeared for the protection of their 
lives and property, but that of embodying 
themselves, and forming a regular militia for 
the defense of the capital. Sixty thousand 
citizens were soon enrolled, and marshaled 
under different commanders : tlie French 
guards spontaneously offered their services, 
and were distributed among the different 
companies. The standards of the city were 
displayed; trenches were thrown up, and 
barricadoes formed in different parts of the 
suburbs. Regulations were next established 
for the preservation of order, and a perma- 
nent council or committee, to sit night and 
day, was appointed. At about half past five 
in the afternoon this committee dispatched a 
deputation to acquaint the National Assembly 
with the occurrences which had taken place 
at Paris. 

The Assembly had been engaged, from the 
day when they presented their address to the i 
king, in framing a declaration of rights, and j 
the plan of a constitution ; and even in the 
midst of these alarms they continued their [ 
labors. In the disgrace of M. Neckar they I 
apprehended their punishment. In their 
debates they endeavored to distinguish be- | 
tween the prerogatives and functions of the ! 
legislative and those of the executive powers ; ! 
and on receiving the intelligence that Paris ' 
was in a state of uproar and confusion, a 
deputation was dispatched to the king, in- | 



forming him once more of the danger which 
threatened the state fi-om the presence of the 
troops that invested the metropolis ; demand- 
ing their removal ; and offering to proceed to 
Paris to assist, by their persuasion and au- 
thority, in the re-estabhshment of order and 
peace. The king adhered to his determina- 
tion ; he might well distrust them ; he repUed, 
" that he was the only judge of the necessity 
of removing the troops ; that the presence of 
the deputies could be of no service in Paris ; 
on the contrary, they were necessary at Ver- 
sailles, to prosecute there those important 
labors which he should continue to recom- 
mend." 

This reply was by no means agreeable to 
the Assembly. It was therefore no sooner 
communicated than the Marquis de la Fayette 
demanded an immediate declaration of the 
responsibility of ministers, and the assembly 
unanimously resolved : 

" That M. Neckar and the rest of the late 
ministry carried with them the confidence 
and the regret of the Assembly; that they 
would not cease to insist on the removal of 
the troops ; that no intermediate power can 
exist between the king and the representa- 
tives of the nation ; that the ministers and 
agents of authority, civil and military, are 
responsible to the people for their conduct ; 
that the present ministers and counselors of 
his majesty were personally responsible for 
the impending calamities, and, all those which 
might be the consequences of their advice ; 
that the Assembly having placed the pubUc 
debts under the safeguard of the honor and 
loyalty of the French nation, no power has a 
right even to pronounce the infamous word 
hanhruptcy ; that they persisted in all their 
former decrees ; and that these minutes should 
be presented to the king and the late ministry, 
and committed to the press." 

The boldness of the Parisians was propor- 
tionably increased by the position of the 
National Assembly. By the accession of the 
French guards, they had obtained a supply of 
arms and ammunition, and a considerable 
train of artillery ; the shops of the armorers 
were ransacked for weapons, and the soldier- 
citizens were even trained to some appear- 
ance of discii^line. The night of the 13th 
passed without any event of consequence : 
the morning discovered that, taking advan- 
tage of the darkness, the troops encamped in 
the Champs Elysees had moved off. The 
people, however, were ignorant of the causes 
of this removal, and an immediate attack was 
expected. The national guard, for that was 
the name wliich the mixed band of soldiers 
and citizens now assumed, amounted to the 
number of 150,000 men ; but the majority 
were still without arms. The Marquis de la 
Salle was named commander-in-chief; the 



450 



PARIS. 



green cockade, which they had at first adopt- 
ed, was changed for the since famous national 
colors, red, blue and wliite; the new army 
was now more regularly officered ; and va- 
rious deputations were dispatched in quest of 
arms and implements of war. M. de Fles- 
selles, the prevot des marchands (or mayor), 
made many promises on this subject ; which 
do not seem to have been verified. 

In the course of their inquiries after arms, 
a party of more than 30,000, conducted by 
M. Ethis de Corny, repaired to the Hotel des 
Invalides. M. Sombreuil, the governor, had 
received orders so early as on Sunday the 
12th, to hold himself in readiness for an at- 
tack, and his men had remained during the 
whole of Monday under arms, and on the 
morning of Tuesday he permitted them to 
take a few hours' rest» At this moment M. 
de Corny arrived ; and, on making known to 
the governor the object of his mission, he 
was answered, that the invalids had not any 
arms. M. Corny was reconducted by M. 
Sombreuil to the gate ; but it was no sooner 
opened than the multitude rushed in, in an 
irresistible torrent, and in a few minutes ran- 
sacked every part of the Hotel. More than 
30,000 muskets, and 20 pieces of cannon, 
were the fruit of this expedition. On the op- 
posite side of the Seine a similar event oc- 
curred ; there another party attacked the 
garde-meuhle de la couronne, and from that 
ancient store an immense number of weapons 
of different kinds were procured. 

Capture of the Bastille. — It has been gen- 
erally believed that the taking of the bastille 
was a preconcerted matter ; but this was really 
not the case. Some of the most important ac- 
tions have been originated by that impercepti- 
ble chain of events which human bUndness 
terms accident or chance. Like the Hotel des 
Invalides, the bastille had, from the first mo- 
ment of the alarms in Paris, been put in a state 
of defense. Fifteen pieces of cannon were 
mounted on the towers; and three field- 
pieces loaiied with grape and case-shot, 
guarded the first gate. A large quantity of 
powder and military stores had been brought 
from the arsenal, and distributed to the dif- 
ferent corps; the mortars had been exer- 
cised; the draw-bridge and gates strength- 
ened and repaired ; the house of the governor 
himself was fortified, and guarded by hght 
pieces of artillery. The shortness of the 
time had not permitted liim to be equally 
provident in laying in a sufficient store of 
provisions. The forces which the fortress in- 
cluded were chiefly foreigners. On the morn- 
ing of the 14th, several deputations had 
waited on the Marquis de Launay, the gov- 
ernor, to demand arms and peace. They 
were courteously received by him, and he 
gave them the strongest assurances of his 



good intentions. Indeed, it is said that he 
was himself averse to hostile measures, had 
Ms resolution not been altered by the coun- 
sels of the Sieur Louis de Flue, commander 
of the Swiss guards, by the orders of the 
Baron de Bezenval, and by the promises of 
M. de Flesselles. The Swiss soldiers had 
even been engaged by oath to fire on the in- 
vahds who were in the fortress, if they re- 
fused to obey the governor ; and the invalids 
themselves, it was vaguely reported, were 
intoxicated with a profusion of hquor which 
had been distributed among them. 

At about eleven o'clock in the morning, M. 
de la Rosiere, a deputy of the district of St. 
Louis de la Culture waited on the governor, 
and was accompanied by a mixed multitude 
of aU descriptions. He entered alone into 
the house of the governor, and the people re- 
mained in the outer court. " I come, sir," 
said the deputy, " in the name of the nation, 
to represent to you, that the cannons which 
are leveled against the city from the towers 
of the bastille have excited the most alarm- 
ing apprehensions, and I must entreat that 
you will remove them." The governor re- 
plied, " that it was not in his power to re- 
move the guns, as they had always been 
there, without an order from the king ; that 
he would, however, dismount them, and turn 
them out of the embrasures." The deputy 
having Avith difficulty obtained leave from 
M. de Losme, major of the fortress, to enter 
into the court, summoned the officers and sol- 
diers, in the name of honor and their country, 
to alter the directions of the guns, etc., and 
the whole of them, at the desire even of the 
governor, engaged themselves by oath to 
make no use of their arms, unless attacked. 
M. de la Rosiere, after having ascended one 
of the towers with M. de Launay, went out 
of the castle, promising to engage the citizens 
to send a part of the national guard to the 
duty of the bastille in conjunction with the 
troops. 

The deputy had scarcely retired before a 
number of citizens approached the gate, and 
demanded arms and ammunition. As the 
majority of them were unarmed, and an- 
nounced no hostile intention, M. de Launay 
made no difficulty of receiving them, and 
lowered the first drawbridge to admit them. 
The more determined of the party advanced 
to acquaint him with the object of their mis- 
sion ; but they had scarcely entered the first 
court, when the bridge was drawn up, and a 
general discharge of musketry destroyed the 
greater part of them. 

The motives of the governor for this act 
have never been explained, and it can not be 
sufficiently regretted that the intemperate 
fury of the maddened populace did not allow 
him to be heard on his defense, though prob- 



PARIS. 



461 



ably his enemies would have drowned his 
voice with insults. Its immediate effect was 
to raise the resentment of the people almost 
to frenzy. The instantaneous determination 
was to storm the fortress, and the execution 
was immediately prosecuted. An immense 
multitude, armed with muskets, sabers, etc., 
rushed at once into the outer courts. A sol- 
dier of the name of Tournay climbed over the 
corps-de-garde, and leaped alone into the in- 
terior court. After searching in vain for the 
keys of the draw-bridges in the corps-de- 
garde, he called out for a hatchet ; he soon 
broke the locks and the bolts ; and, being 
seconded by the efforts of the people on the 
other side, the two draw-bridges were imme- 
diately lowered. The mob lost no time in 
making good their station, where for more 
than an hour they sustained a fire from the 
garrison, and answered it with equal vigor. 

During the contest, several deputations 
from the Hotel de Ville appeared before the 
walls with flags of truce, as if to persuade the 
besieged to a peaceful surrender. But more 
probably, M. de Launay despaired of finding 
mercy at the hands of the rabble, and deter- 
mined to maintain his post to the last. The 
guards, who now acted openly with the peo- 
ple, proved of essential service ; and, by the 
advice of some of the veterans of this corps, 
three wagons loaded with straw, were set on 
fire under the walls, the smoke of which in- 
terrupted the view, and consequently inter- 
cepted the aim of the besieged ; while the 
assailants, being at a greater distance, were 
able to direct their fire to the battlements 
with an unerring aim. In the mean time the 
arsenal was stormed, and a most dreadful 
havoc was prevented there by the prudence 
and courage of M. Humbert, who first 
mounted the towers of the bastille : a hair- 
dresser was in the very act of setting fire to 
the magazine of powder, when M. Humbert, 
whose notice was attracted by the cries of a 
woman, knocked the ruffian down with the 
butt end of his musket; next, instantly seiz- 
ing a barrel of saltpetre which had already 
caught fire, and turning it upside down, he 
extinguished it. 

Nothing could equal the ardor of the be- 
siegers : an immense crowd, as if unconscious 
of danger, filled the courts of the fortress in 
spite of the um-emitted fire of the garrison, 
and even approached so near the towers, that 
M. de Launay himself frequently rolled large 
masses of stone from the platform on their 
heads. Within all was confusion and terror ; 
the ofiicers themselves served at the guns, 
and discharged their firelocks in the ranks. 
But when the governor saw the assailants 
take possession of the first bridge, and draw 
up their cannon against the second, his cour- 
age then was changed into despair, and even 



his understanding appeared to be deranged. 
He rashly sought to bury himself under the 
enormous mass which he had in vain at- 
tempted to defend. While a turnkey was 
engaged in distributing wine to the soldiers, 
he caught the match from one of the pieces 
of cannon, and ran to the magazine with an 
intention to set it on fire ; but a subaltern of 
the name of Ferrand repulsed him with his 
bayonet. He then went down to the Tower 
de la Liberie, where he had deposited a 
quantity of powder ; but here also he was 
opposed by the Sieur Beguard, another 
subaltern officer, who thus prevented an act 
of insanity which must have destroyed thou- 
sands of citizens, and, with the bastUle, 
would have infallibly blown up all the ad- 
jacent buildings, and a considerable part of 
the suburb of St. Antoine. De Launay at 
length proposed seriously to the garrison to 
blow up the fortress, as it was impossible 
that they could hope for mercy from the 
mob. But he was answered by the soldiers, 
that they would rather perish than destroy 
such a number of their fellow-citizens. He 
then hung out a white flag, intimating his 
desire to capitidate; and a Swiss officer 
would have addressed the assailants through 
one of the loop-holes of the draw-bridge ; 
but the exasperated populace would attend 
to no offers of capitulation. Through tlie 
same opening he next displayed a paper, 
which the distance prevented the besiegers 
from reading. A person brought a plank, 
which was rested on the parapet, and poised 
by a number of others. This individual ad- 
vanced upon the plank ; but just as he was 
ready to seize upon the paper, he received a 
musket-shot, and fell into the ditch. He was 
followed by a young man of the name of 
Maillard, son to an officer of the ch&telet, 
who was fortunate enough to reach the 
paper, the contents of which were, "We 
have 20,000 pounds weight of gunpowder, 
and will blow up the garrison and all its en- 
virons, if you do not accept the capitulation." 
M. Elie, an officer of the queen's regiment, 
who was invested with a kind of spontane- 
ous authority, was for agreeing to terms; 
but the mob rejected the very word capitu- 
lation, and immediately drew up to the spot 
three pieces of artillery. 

The enemy now perceiving that the great 
bridge was going to be attacked, let down 
the small draw-bridge, wliich was to the left 
of the entrance into the fortress. Messrs. 
Elie, Hulin, Maillard, Reole, Humbert, Tour- 
nay, and some others, leaped instantly on the 
bridge, and, securing the bolts, proceeded to 
the door. In the mean time the French 
guards, with coolness and discipline, formed 
a column on the other side of the bridge, to 
prevent the citizens from rushing upon it in 



452 



PARIS. 



too great numbers. An invalid came to 
open the gate behind the draw-bridge, and 
asked the "invaders vi^hat they wanted 1 " The 
surrender of the bastille," they cried; and 
he permitted them to enter. The conquerors 
immediately lowered the great bridge, and 
the multitude entered without resistance — 
the invahds were ranged to the right, and 
the Swiss on the left hand, with their arms 
piled against the wall. They took off their 
hats, clapped their hands, and cried out 
bravo! as the besiegers entered. The first 
moments of this meeting passed in peace and 
reconciliation ; but some soldiers on the plat- 
forms, ignorant of the surrender, fired upon 
the mob, who instantly fell upon the invalids, 
two of whom, the unfortunate Beguard, who 
had prevented the governor from blowing up 
the bastille, and another equally innocent, 
were dragged to the place de Gr^ve, and 
hanged. 

The Sieurs Maillard, Cholat, Arne, and 
some others, dispute the honor of having first 
seized ^L de Launay. He was not in a uni- 
form, but in a plain gray frock ; he had a 
cane in his hand, and it was reported would 
have killed himself with the sword that it 
contained, but the grenadier Arne wrested it 
out of liis hand. He was escorted by Messrs. 
Hulin, Arne, Legris, Elie, and some others, 
who attempted to save liis life, but in vain : 
they had scarcely arrived at the Hotel de 
Ville before his defenders were overpowered, 
and even wounded by the enraged rabble, 
and he fell under a thousand wounds. M. 
de Losme Salbrai, his major, a gentleman 
distinguished for liis virtues and his humanity, 
was also the victim of the popular fury. The 
Marquis de Pelleport, who had been five 
years in the bastille, and during that time 
had been treated by liim with particular 
kindness, interposed to save him at the risk 
of his fife, but was struck down by a hatchet, 
and M. de Losme was instantly put to death. 
The heads of the governor and the major 
were struck off, and carried on pikes through 
the streets of the city. The rage of the 
populace would not have ended here — the 
invaUds of the fortress would all have been 
sacrificed, had not some of the French guards 
interposed, and insisted on their pardon. 

The k(;ys of the bastiUe were carried to 
M. Brissot de Warville, who had been a few 
years before an inhabitant of its cells ; and a 
guard of 3,000 men was appointed over the 
fortress till the council at the Hotel de Ville 
should decree its demolition. In the intoxi- 
cation of success the prisoners were forgot- 
ten; and as the keys had been carried to 
Paris, the dungeons were forced open — seven 
prisoners only were found, three of whom 
had lost their reason, having been detained 
there as state prisoners from the reign of 



Louis XV. Thus, in a few hours was re- 
duced that fortress wliich armies had con- 
sidered as impregnable, and wliich had been 
in vain besieged by the force of the great 
Conde for upward of tliree weeks. 

The fate of M. de Launay involved that of 
M. de Flesselles, the prevot des marchands. 
He had long been an object of suspicion to 
the people. In the pocket of M. de Launay 
a letter from liim was said to be discovered, 
which contained these words : — " I will 
amuse the Parisians with cockades and prom- 
ises. Keep your station till the evening, you 
shall then have a reinforcement!" At the 
sight of this letter the unfortunate De Fles- 
selles was struck dumb. A voice was heard 
in the hall — "Begone, M. de Flesselles, you 
are a traitor." "I see, said he, "gentlemen, 
that I am not agreeable to you — I shall re- 
tire." He hastened down the stairs ; but as 
he crossed the Greve, accompanied by a num- 
ber of persons to defend him, a young man, 
who had waited an opportunity, shot him 
with a pistol. His head was cut off, placed 
on a pike, and carried through the streets 
along with that of M. de Launay. 

A tumultuous night succeeded this day ; 
and the songs of joy and triumph which had 
celebrated the victory of the rabble, were 
converted into confused murmurs, expressive 
only of anxiety and alarm. A report was 
spread that the troops were about to enter 
the city at the Barrier d'Enfer; thither the 
citizens crowded under the conduct of the 
French guards, and preceded by a train of 
artillery — the body of troops, however, that 
appeared in that quarter were dispersed by a 
single volley. The alarm-bells were then 
sounded ; barricades were formed at the bar- 
riers ; deep holes were dug in different parts, 
to prevent the approach of the cavalry ; the 
tops of the houses were manned ; a general 
illumination was ordered ; and the silence of 
the night was interrupted by discharges of 
artillery, and by the warning voice of the 
patrols — "Citizens, do not go to bed; take 
care of your lights ; we must see clearly this 
night." 

The first news of the taking of the 
bastille was regarded by the court as un- 
founded : it was, however, at length irresist- 
ibly confirmed. The first resolves of the 
ministry are said to have been for immediate 
action, and orders were issued to the com- 
manders to push the projected movements 
with all possible vigor. In the dead of the 
night, Marshal Broglio is said to have arrived 
to inform them that it was impossible to obey 
the mandate he had received of investing the 
hall of the National Assembly with a train of 
artillery, as the soldiers would not comply 
with his orders. " Press then the siege of 
Paris," was the answer. The general replied, 



PARIS. 



453 



he could not depend on the army for the 
execution of that project. 

The king was the only person in the 
palace who was kept totally ignorant of these 
transactions. The Duke de Liancourt, who 
was then master of the wardrobe, forced his 
way in the middle of the night into the king's 
apartment, informed him of every circum- 
stance, and announced to the Count d'Artois 
that a price was set upon his head. The in- 
teUigence of the duke was supported by the 
authority of Monsieur, who accompanied him, 
and the king was immediately convinced of 
his error. Early the next morning the mon- 
arch appeared in the Assembly. His address 
was affectionate and conciliatory. He lament- 
ed the disturbances at Paris ; disavowed all 
consciousness of any meditafed attack on the 
persons of the deputies ; and added, that he 
had issued orders for the immediate removal 
of the troops from the vicinity of the metrop- 
olis. An expressive silence first pervaded 
the Assembly, which presently was succeeded 
by a burst of applause and acclamation. The 
king rose to return to the palace, and the 
deputies accompanied him to the royal apart- 
ments. 

Paris, which had been a scene of commo- 
tion, of terror, and of bloodshed, from the 
12th of July, began on the 15th to assume 
some shght appearance of order and tranquil- 
lity. The livid and bloody heads were still 
carried about the streets as tropliies of pop- 
ular vengeance : but on the morning of that 
day a citizen persuaded the multitude to 
hsten to the voice of humanity, and they 
were thrown into the Seine. The electors at 
the Hotel de ViUe were busied in the organ- 
ization of the civil estabhshment, and in the 
regulation of the city militia. The odious 
name of prevot was abolished ; the more an- 
cient and honorable appellation of mayor was 
substituted in its place ; and to this office 11. 
Bailly, who had been president of the tiers 
etat, was called. 

The Marquis de la Fayette was unan- 
imously nominated vice-president. He was 
also intrusted with the cormnission of gen- 
eral and commander-in-chief of the national 
guard. 

The troops, which had assembled on the 
Champ de Mars, had decamped during the 
night, leaving then- tents and the greater part 
of their baggage behind them : but a specta- 
cle still more interesting to the citizens soon 
presented itself: tliis was a deputation of 
eighty-four of the most distinguished mem- 
bers of the National Assembly, accompanied 
by an immense crowd, who covered the road 
from Versailles to the capital, and, with feel- 
ings too suddenly changed to be lasting, 
loaded them with blessings and semblance of 
affection. On their arrival at the Hotel de 



Ville, the Marquis de Lafayette, Count Lally 
ToUendal, the Marquis Clermont Tonnerre, 
the Due de Liancourt, and the Archbishop of 
Paris, addressed the people. From this place 
they adjourned to the Church of Ni'itre 
Dame, where Te Deum was sung in celebra- 
tion of the anticipated return of peace, ac- 
companied with liberty. As they returned 
from the church, the acclamations of the pop- 
ulace were occasionally interrupted by the 
expression of two further demands — the wish 
of seeing their sovereign in Paris, and the 
recall of the patriotic ministry. The deputies 
returned in the evening to Versailles. 

Public tranquillity, however, was far from 
being restored as ever. The ministry, an 
object of pecuhar hatred, were not yet dis- 
missed, nor had the troops yet evacuated the 
environs of Paris ; two fresh regiments had 
arrived at St. Denis ; and a convoy of flour, 
it was said, had been intercepted by the or- 
ders of a person well known. The night of 
the 15th, therefore, was spent in anxiety, 
and with the same warlike preparations as 
the preceding ; and in the morning a fresh 
deputation was sent to the Assembly, en- 
treating them to interest themselves in pro- 
curing the dismission of the ministry, and the 
recall of M. Neckar. 

After a short debate, which chiefly re- 
spected the decorum of interfering with the 
appointments of the executive power, the 
Assembly were on the point of voting an ad- 
dress to the king, which had been proposed 
by Mirabeau, when they were informed that 
the ministers themselves had resigned. The 
same evening, a letter from his majesty to 
M. Neckar, inviting him to return, was read 
by the president. It was received by the 
loudest acclamations, and was seconded by 
an adulatory address from the Assembly them- 
selves to that minister. The king having at 
the same time intimated his intention of 
visiting Paris the following day, the Assembly 
immediately decreed a deputation to convey 
the intelUgence, and to disperse it throughout 
the metropoHs. 

The King's Visit. — It was not without 
consternation that the king's determination 
to visit Paris was received at the palace of 
Versailles. Those who really loved him were 
apprehensive for his safety. Rumors of pro- 
jected assassinations were spread, and the 
least consequence that could ensue was sup- 
posed to be the detention of the sovereign 
in Paris. The king, however, with a degree 
of courage and patriotism which does honor 
to his character, remained immovable in his 
determination. On the morning of the 17th 
he left Versailles, in a plain dress, and with no 
other equipage than two carriages with eight 
horses each; in the first of which he rode 
himself— a part of the National Assembly 



454 



PARIS. 



ia their robes, accompanied him on foot ; and 
the militia of Versailles composed liis only 
guard till the procession arrived at the Seve, 
-wliere they were relieved by the Paris militia, 
witli the Marquis de la Fayette at their 
head; and from this place the suite of the 
monarcli amounted to about 20,000 men. 
The horse-guards led the procession; these 
were followed by the city cavalry; some 
battaUons of the French guards and other 
soldiers, wlio had fought in defense of the 
nation, succeeded; then the different com- 
panies and corporations ; and M. de la Faj'- 
ette, with a large body of militia, brought up 
the rear. A quarter of an hour before the 
arrival of the king, a woman was shot by a 
musliet-ball from the opposite side of the 
river. The king looked pale and melancholy, 
and an expression of anxiety was even appar- 
ent in the faces of the National Assembly. 
The progress was remarkably slow, and no 
shout was to be heard but Vive la nation/ 
At the Barrier© des Conferences, the king 
was met by Bailly, who acted as mayor, 
with the other magistrates. M. Bailly, on 
presenting the keys of the city, addressed his 
majesty in a short speech, the exordium of 
which was, "These, sir, are the keys wliich 
were presented to Henry IV. He came to 
reconquer his people ; it is our happiness to 
have reconquered our king." At the Pont 
Neuf the passage was lined by a numerous 
train of artillery ; but, in the true spirit of 
French theatrical effect, the mouths and 
touch-holes of the cannon were adorned with 
bouquets of flowers. On their arrival at the 
Hotel de Ville, the Idng confirmed the elec- 
tion of M. Bailly and the Marquis de la Fay- 
ette; and on receiving the complimentary 
addresses of the mayor, the president of 
electors. Count LaUy ToUendal, etc, he ex- 
claimed with an air of pathetic emotion 
which scarcely allowed him utterance, " My 
people may always rely upon my aflfection." 
He received from the hands of the mayor the 
national cockade ; and when he showed him- 
self at the window with this revolutionary 
badge, the joy of the people could no longer 
be restrained ; the shout of Vive le roi! which 
had scarcely been heard in the former part of 
the day, filled the whole atmosphere, and re- 
sounded from one extremity of the city to 
the other. The return of the king to Ver- 
sailles had the air of a triumph. The citizens 
surrounded his carriage ; his countenance, 
which in the morning bore the aspect of mel- 
ancholy, was even cheerful and smiling. 

Proceedings against the Royalists. — 
The royal visit to Paris was the signal for the 
dispersion of the ministry. Marshal Broglio 
retired to Luxembourg ; Madam Polignac, in 
the habit of a waiting- woman, took the route 
to Brussels; the Count d'Artois, with his 



family, withdrew during the stillness of the 
night, and was followed by the Princes of 
Conde and Conti, the Duke de Luxembourg, 
and others of the 'nobility. But of all who 
were connected with the court, none was 
more obnoxious to the populace than M. 
Foulon. This unfortunate person had risen 
from a very low situation in life to the pos- 
session of immense riches. He had been 
commissary to the army in the war of 1755. 
It was alleged against him that he made a 
common boast of despotic principles ; that his 
favorite maxim was, that "that country 
would be best governed, where the common 
people should be compelled to feed upon 
grass;" that he had boasted, "that if ever it 
should be his good fortune to be minister, he 
would make the people Uve upon hay." On 
the fh-st news of the riots in Paris, he had 
withdrawn himself from the pul^Uc eye, and 
had caused a report of his death to be indus- 
triously circulated, and his funeral had even 
been performed in a manner suitable to his 
immense riches. In the mean time, he had 
secretly retired to Very, an estate belonging 
to M. de Sartines, Avhere he was in hopes of 
remaining concealed. His own ungrateful 
vassals were the first to pursue and detect 
him ; and on the 22d of July he was brought 
to Paris with a bundle of hay at his back, in 
allusion to the language which he is said to 
have employed in expressing his contempt 
for the people. The committee at the Hotel 
de Ville determined to send him to the prison 
of the abbey of St. Germain, where he might 
be detained tiU he underwent the form of a 
trial; but the immense crowd which was 
assembled in the Place de Grt-ve resisted the 
determination. It was with difficulty M. 
Bailly could make himself heard, when he 
spoke to them of the injustice of condemning 
a citizen to death without hearing him in his 
own defense. The Marquis de la Fayette 
took still more popular ground by urging the 
detention of the criminal, in the hope of ob- 
taining from him a discovery of his accom- 
plices. To this demand the populace appear- 
ed to assent by their tokens of applause ; but 
the unhappy Foulon, whether in testimony 
of his innocence, or by a mechanical move- 
ment, clapped his hands at the same time in 
approbation. A general exclamation was 
immediately raised : " They are conniving at 
his guilt ; they intend to save him." He was 
immediately seized, and dragged under the 
fatal lamp-iron, which, during the Revolution, 
the populace had employed as the instrument 
of their vengeance. Every circumstance of 
horror attended his execution ; the rope by 
which he was suspended broke twice; and 
he was detained for a quarter of an hour in a 
half-expiring state, before a new one could 
be procured. His head was cut off and 



PARIS. 



455 



placed upon a pike, with the mouth stuffed 
with hay, and was carried tlirough the streets 
of Paris. This victim of popular fury was 
seventy-four years of age. 

M. Berthier, who had married the daugh- 
ter of M. Foulon, was implicated in the fate 
of his father-in-law, and was odious to many 
of the people from his office of intendant of 
poUce. He had been seized at Compeigne, 
and one of the electors, with 400 horse, had 
been dispatched to conduct liim to Paris. 
He was accused of peculation and extortion, 
of being the principal agent in regulating the 
movements of the camp at St. Denis, and of 
the still more unpopular crime of speculating 
in grain, and contributing to the general 
scarcity. Unhappily for this unfortunate 
gentleman, he arrived in Paris the very even- 
ing in which the populace had imbrued their 
hands in the blood of his relation ; his death 
was therefore inevitable. He suffered inno- 
cently, and sustained his unhappy fate with 
courage and dignity. During the greater 
part of the way he conversed tranquilly with 
M. Riviere, the elector who accompanied 
him. When he entered the city, however, 
the bloody head of his father-in-law was pre- 
sented to him, and at this dreadful sight he 
is said to have turned pale, and to have lost 
his fortitude. When interrogated at the 
Hdtel de Ville as to his conduct, he answered 
calmly : " That he had obeyed the orders of 
his superiors, and that the inspection of his 
papers would instruct them as to the extent 
of his guilt." It was determined to send 
him immediately to the abbey ; but it was 
impossible to penetrate the concourse of peo- 
ple that surrounded the hotel. It was in 
vain that M. Bailly opposed his eloquence to 
the fury of the multitude ; in vain the com- 
mander-in-chief prostrated himself on his 
knees to entreat that the popular cause 
should no more be defiled with blood. Nu- 
merous as his escort was, they were soon 
dispersed, and he was dragged to the fatal 
lamp-iron, where a new cord was already 
prepared for him. His despair inspired him 
with new courage ; and snatching a bayonet 
out of the hands of one of the guards, he at- 
tempted to defend himself, if not from death, 
at least from ignominy. He feU, pierced 
with innumerable wounds. A monster of 
inhumanity, a dragoon, plunged his hands 
into his reeking entrails, and, tearing out his 
heart, and fixing it on the point of his cutlass, 
carried it about as a trophy through the 
streets. The head was also cut off, and car- 
ried about with that of M. Foulon. 

The mob in this instance were superior to 
the crime of theft. The bodies of the Mar- 
quis de Launay and of the major of the bas- 
tille lay exposed in the Place de G-reve for a 
number of hours, and neither their watches 



nor any one of their valuables were even 
touched by the mob ; and when M. Foulon 
was massacred, his pockets were full of 
money and bank-notes, which were taken 
carefully out by some of the multitude, and 
deposited before the committee on the table 
of the Hotel de Ville. It has been apologiz- 
ed by the popular party, that, with respect to 
MM. Foulon and Berthier, the people were 
made the blind instruments of private en- 
mity ; who probably saw no other means of 
conceahng the atrociousness of their own 
conduct from public inquiry. From the win- 
dows of the Hotel de YiUe, a number of per- 
sons of superior appearance were said to 
have been observed exciting the populace to 
outrage, and appeared to be tlie main-springs 
of aU their motions. But this is improbable. 
This day of horror and of blood might have 
filled every good citizen with disgust and 
apprehension ; and many condemned in the 
strongest terms these gusts of inhumanity, 
these bloody proscriptions, these outrages 
against public justice. The Marquis de la 
Fayette in particular, was so much exasper- 
ated by this contempt of all authority, that 
he determined at once to resign his office of 
commander-in-chief; but M. Bailly had suffi- 
cient influence to prevail with him to resume 
it. 

The example of the capital gave the signal 
for revolt in all the provinces ; and it was no 
sooner promulgated that a conspiracy had 
been formed against the hberties of the na- 
tion, than all the citizens became soldiers, 
and aU the soldiers citizens. 

At Rennes, the capital of Brittany, the 
young men took up arms about the 20th of 
July, seized the arsenal and the principal 
posts, and raised at once the standard of lib- 
erty. The Count de Langeron, who com- 
manded there, marched out against them at 
the head of the regiment d'Artois and Lor- 
raine, and the dragoons d'Orleans ; but the 
soldiers were no sooner drawn up in order 
of battle than they unanimously shouted Vive 
la nation ! Eight hundred immediately 
joined the popular standard, and the rest re- 
turned to their barracks, after having taken 
a solemn oath not to stain their hands in the 
blood of their fellow-citizens. In the mean 
time the principal people being assembled at 
the Hotel de Ville, they decreed the suspen- 
sion of all levies and contributions on the 
part of the king or the feudal lords ; deputa- 
tions were sent to every town in Brittany ; 
the whole province was presently in arms to 
support the cause, and all declared them- 
selves ready to march, if necessary, to the 
rehef of the National Assembly. The com- 
manding officer, finding aU liis efforts in vain, 
retired from the province. 

At St. Malo, the younger citizens deter- 



456 



PARIS. 



mined to form two divisions, one of horse 
and the other of foot, and to proceed imme- 
diately to the National Assembly. As they 
were without artillery, their first step was to 
take possession of the city fort, and that of 
the Chateau Neuf, in order to obtain a sup- 
ply of arms and ammunition. The command- 
ant reinforced each of the fortresses, but in 
vain; the soldiers declared they would not 
act, and the citizens by some stratagem got 
possession of the keys. 
/ The city of Bordeaux has been always 

distinguished by its democratic feelings. On 
the present occasion, the members of the 
parhament enrolled themselves voluntarily in 
the city militia, and mounted guard along 
with the other inhabitants ; and the governor 
of the castle presented the keys to a deputa- 
tion of citizens. A statue of M. Neckar was 
elevated on a pedestal hastily erected for the 
purpose, and was crowned with a garland of 
laurel 

Among the victims cast into the prison at 
Bordeaux, by the revolutionists, was the cel- 
ebrated naturalist LatreUle. The physician 
of the prison was one day struck by the at- 
tentive manner in which the captive natural- 
ist was contemplating an insect on the wall 
of his prison, and entering into conversation 
with him, he was so interested on his behalf, 
that he never remitted his exertions tUl he 
had succeeded in procuring his release. 

An incident wliich occurred at Versailles 
caused renewed animosity. The Count d'Es- 
taing, who commanded the national guai-d of 
Versailles, requested an additional regiment 
to assist Mm in preserving tranquillity and 
order at the palace ; and the regiment of 
Flanders dragoons was accordingly ordered 
for this service. On the 1st of October an 
entertainment (the first that was ever given 
in public at Versailles by that body) was 
given by the gardes-du-corps, or king's body- 
guard, to the officers of the regiment of Flan- 
ders ; and to augment the unpopularity of 
the circumstance, it was given in the royal 
saloon. Several of the officers of the nation- 
al guard, with others of the military, were 
invited. At the second course, four toasts 
were given : " The king, and the queen, the 
dauphin, and the royal family." " The na- 
tion" was proposed, but was said to have 
been rejected by the gardes-du-corps. 

The king was just returned from hunting ; 
and the queen, having been informed of the 
gayety of the scene, persuaded his majesty 
to accompany her with the heir-apparent to 
the saloon, which was now filled with sol- 
diers — the grenadiers of Flanders and the 
Swiss chasseurs having been admitted to the 
dessert. The queen appeared with the dau- 
pliin in her arms, affiictionate as she was 
lovely, and carried the royal infant through 



the saloon, amid the acclamations and mur- 
murs of the spectators. Fired with enthu- 
siasm the soldiers drank the health of the 
king, the queen, and the dauphin, with their 
swords drawn; and the royal guests bowed 
respectfully, and retired. 

The entertainment, which had hitherto 
been conducted with some degree of order, 
now became a scene of entire confusion. 
Nothing was omitted to inflame the passions 
of the military. The music played the favor- 
ite air, " Eichard, my king, the world 
abandons thee ;" the ladies of the court dis- 
tributed xvldte cockades, the roj-al ensign ; and 
some of the national guard were said to have 
accepted them. In the height of this polit- 
ical banquet, it was affirmed, probably with 
httle truth, that many expressions of marked 
disrespect toward the Assembly and the na- 
tion escaped from the officers of the gardes- 
du-corps, and others of the military. This 
however might easily have happened in such 
circumstances, without the least premedita- 
tion or evU design. 

During these transactions the city of Paris 
was afflicted with all the evils of famine. 
Either no bread was to be obtained, or bread 
of so bad a quality that the populace, always 
mistrustful and suspicious, were not without 
their alai'ms of a criminal design upon the 
lives, or at least the health of the inhabitants. 
Such was the state of things when the news 
arrived of the banquet at Versailles. The 
circumstances which we have related were 
strangely magnified, and all the suspicions 
which were entertained respecting the design 
of dissolving the Assembly, and carrying off 
the sovereign, were added in exaggeration. 
At the same time the mutual resentment of 
the contending parties augmented ; and the 
minority were exposed to every insult. 
White and black cockades were worn as sig- 
nals of defiance. They were torn out of the 
hats of the wearers by the mob ; but such 
was the enthusiasm of one of the royahsts, 
that he is said to have picked up from the 
ground this rehc of loj^alty, and to have 
kissed it respectfully, and attempted to re- 
place it in liis hat. Some measures were 
taken by the three hundred directors of the 
municipality to prevent the spreading of the 
insurrection — in vain! 

Early on the morning of the memorable 
5th of October, a woman salUed out from the 
quarter of St. Eustacia, and entering the 
corps-du-garde, and seizing a drum, paraded 
the adjacent streets beating an alarm, and ex- 
citing the people by clamors respecting the 
scarcity of bread. She was soon joined by a 
numerous mob, chiefly of women, and re- 
paired immediately to the Hotel do Ville. A 
few of the committee of the commune, and 
M. Gouvion, at the head of the national guard, 



PARIS. 



457 



endeavored to prevent their entrance; but 
the soldiers, swayed either by gallantry, hu- 
manity, or disaffection, gave way, and per» 
mitted them to pass. Some of the women, 
who, by their air and manner appeared of a 
superior class, entered with good humor into 
a conversation with the committee, and 
pleaded eloquently the cause of their compan- 
ions, who, under various circumstances of 
misery, came to ask for relief. But the greater 
number, both by their appearance and their 
conduct, showed that they were collected 
from the lowest ranks of indigence and de- 
pravity. With horrid imprecations they de- 
manded bread and arms; they exclaimed 
with violence against the pusillanimity of the 
men, and threatened the Hves of the whole 
committee, and particularly of M. Bailly and 
the Marquis de la Fayette. Others penetrated 
the magazine of arms ; and a third troop as- 
cended the belfry, where they attempted to 
strangle the Abbe Lefevre. In one of the 
halls two furies endeavored to set fire to the 
pubUc papers, but were happily prevented by 
Stanislaus Maillard, who had rendered him- 
self so famous at the taking of the bastille. 
Finding all endeavors to resist the fury of the 
mob in vain, he employed a new stratagem 
to presei-ve them. He applied to the com- 
manding officer for his authority ; and having 
obtained it, he proceeded down the stairs of 
the Hotel de Ville, wdiich were fiUed with 
women, and seizing a drum which lay at the 
door, he offered to put himself at the head of 
the insurgents, the universal clamor of whom 
was to proceed to Versailles. By a unani- 
mous shout of applause Maillard was chosen 
captain of tliis turbulent troop ; and by his 
authority the assembly was adjourned to the 
Champs Elysees. When arrived at tliis gen- 
eral rendezvous their number amounted to 
upward of 8,000; and their first measure 
was to surround their chief, and to insist 
upon his leading them to the arsenal to equip 
themselves completely with arms. He had 
still authority enough to make himself heard, 
and to convince them that the arms had been 
removed from the arsenal ; and he had even 
sufficient address to engage them to lay aside 
the weapons with which they had provided 
themselves, by representing to them, that 
since their object was to supplicate the As- 
sembly for justice and for bread, they would 
operate more forcibly on the compassion of 
that body, by appearing as distressed peti- 
tioners, than witli arms in their hands. They 
departed for Versailles about noon, preceded 
by a company of armed men, and guarded in 
the rear by the volunteers of the bastille, 
whom Maillard had prepared for that pm- 
pose. 

The fanaticism of the moment was commu- 
nicated to the grenadiers. They not only 



declared, "that they could not turn their 
bayonets against the poor women who came 
to ask for bread," but intimated an inchnation 
themselves to proceed to Versailles. Their 
spokesman declaimed loudly against the com- 
mittee of subsistence, against the gardes-du- 
corps, and concluded, " that the people were 
miserable, and the source of the evil was at 
Versailles ; that they must go and find out 
the king, and bring him to Paris." Wliile 
the Marquis de la Fayette reasoned, insisted, 
threatened, the tumult increased from all 
quarters; an immense crowd, armed with 
sticks, pikes, guns, etc., rushed from the sub- 
urbs; and though the national guard ap- 
peared not in the most tractable disposition, 
the mayor and the municipaUty probably con- 
ceived it to be the only means of preventing 
mischief at Versailles, to permit theh depart- 
ure vfith their commander at their head. 
The Marquis, therefore, received an order to 
depart for Versailles, and it was most cheer- 
fully obeyed by the national guard. 

The representatives of the nation, the ma- 
jority of whom, at least, were totally uncon- 
scious of what was passing in Paris, were 
assembled on the 5th, in expectation of re- 
ceivmg back the constitutional articles sanc- 
tioned by the king. M. Mounier was then 
president. The sitting opened with reading 
a letter from the king, in which he pleaded 
" the difficulty of judging partially of the con- 
stitution;" adding, however, that in the con- 
fidence that the new articles were calculated 
to establish the happiness and prosperity of 
the kingdom, he accepted them ; but with one 
positive condition, that from the spirit of the 
whole system the executive power should 
have its entire effect in the hands of the mon- 
arch. He concluded with observing, that 
though these constitutional articles did not at 
all indiscriminately present him with the idea 
of perfection, yet he thought it proper to pay 
his respect to the wish of the Assembly, and 
to the alarming circumstances which so 
strongly pressed him to desire the re-estab- 
hshment of peace, order, and confidence. 

This letter by no means proved acceptable 
to the Assembly ; the democratic members 
strongly denounced this provisional assent, 
which only seemed to be given in conse- 
quence of the alarming circumstances of the 
nation. In the course of the debate many 
allusions were made to the festival of the mil- 
itary at Versailles on the preceding week. 
The reported insults offered to the nation and 
the national cockade were dwelt upon, as 
well as the menaces of the soldiery. A mo- 
tion was at length made, that the guilty per- 
sons on that occasion should be delivered up 
to the rigor of the law, and that the accusa- 
tions which had been now insinuated should 
be formed into a criminal process. At these 



458 



PAEIS. 



•words the Count de Mirabeau rose. " I be- 
gin," said he, " by declaring that I consider 
the motion as supremely impohtic; never- 
theless, if it is persisted in, I am ready to pro- 
duce the details, and to sign them with my 
own hand. But this Assembly must first de- 
clare that the person of the king alone is sa- 
cred, and that all other individuals, whatever 
their station, are equally subjects, and respon- 
sible to the laws." The president and the 
Assembly prevailed over both parties. The 
motion was withdrawn, and it was decreed, 
that the president should wait on the king to 
request a simple acceptance of the constitu- 
tional articles. The Assembly was frequently 
alarmed, during the course of this discussion, 
by repeated intelligence that all Paris was 
advancing to Versailles. Maillard conducted 
his tumultuous troop with considerable ad- 
dress. When he came within sight of Ver- 
sailles he arranged them in three ranks ; and 
admonished them, that as they were entering 
a place where they were not expected, they 
must be careful, by the cheerfulness of their 
appearance and the regularity of their con- 
duct, to excite no alarm in the inhabitants. 
When arrived at the gate of the National As- 
sembly, Maillard undertook to speak for 
them. He entered attended by fifteen of the 
women, and persuaded the rest to wait for 
his return at the gate. His address had two 
objects : " to entreat that the Assembly would 
devise some method of relieving the dreadful 
scarcity of bread wliich prevailed at Paris, 
and which he said had been occasioned by 
the interception of convoys, and by the mo- 
nopoHsts; and to sohcit that the gardes-du- 
corps might be ordered to assume the national 
cockade." He had scarcely finished, when a 
national cockade was presented to liim on 
the part of the gardes-du-corps, as a proof 
that they had already adopted it. MaiUard 
showed it to the women, who immediately 
answered by loud acclammations of Vive le 
rot, et MM. les gardes-du-corps I A deputa- 
tion was immediately appointed to wait on 
the king Avith this intelligence. 

The king had gone that morning to take 
the diversion of shooting in the woods of 
Meudon ; and in the midst of his sport intel- 
ligence was brought, " that a most formidable 
band of women were on their way from Paris, 
exclaiming for bread." "Alas!" answered 
the king, " if I had it I should not wait to 
be asked." On his return, as soon as he 
mounted his horse, a chevalier of St. Louis 
fell upon his knees and beseeched his majesty 
not to be afraid. " I never was afraid in my 
life," returned the Icing. 

On his arrival at Versailles, he found the 
gardcs-du-corps and the national guard under 
arms, and the palace surrounded by a mob. 
With the deputation fi:om the Assembly five 



of the women were introduced to his majesty, 
who, on hearing of the distresses of the me- 
tropoUs, was extremely moved, and the 
women sympathized in the feehngs of the 
monarch. Louisa Chabry, a young woman 
who was employed in some of the branches 
of sculpture, and was only seventeen years 
of age, fainted. When she recovered she 
desired leave to kiss the king's hand, who 
embraced her, and dismissed her with an 
elegant comphment. The women without 
doors could scarcely beheve the report of 
those who had been admitted. In the mean 
time the king signed an order for bringing 
corn from Senhs and de Lagni, and for re- 
moving every obstacle which impeded the 
supply of Paris. This order was reported to 
the women, and they retired with acclama- 
tions of gratitude and joy. 

This band of Amazons was no sooner dis- 
persed than it was succeeded by another, 
headed by M. Brunout, a soldier of the Pa- 
risian guard, whom they had compelled to 
assume the office of their leader. It is un- 
certain upon what provocation M. Savouieres, 
a lieutenant in the gardes-du-corps, and two 
other officers, imprudently singled out Bru- 
nout from his company, and chased him along 
the ranks with their drawn sabers. The un- 
happy man was upon the point of being cut 
to pieces with their sabers, when one of the 
national guard of Versailles fired upon M. 
Savonieres, and broke his arm, and by that 
means saved the hfe of Brunout: and this 
incident is said to have greatly increased that 
antipathy which the populace afterward man- 
ifested by atrocious acts of cruelty to the 
gai des-du-corps. 

Whether there was indeed a concerted 
plan to carry off" the king to Metz, or whether 
the court was really terrified by the accident 
wliich we have recounted, it is impossible to 
determine ; but the king's carriages were or- 
dered to the gate of the castle wliich com- 
municates with the orangery. The national 
guard of Versailles however, who occupied 
the post, refused to permit them to pass; 
and the king himself was resolute in his de- 
termination to stay, declaring, " that he would 
rather perish, than that the blood of the peo- 
ple should be spilled in his quarrel." 

The Assembly continued sitting ; but the 
session was tumultuous, and interrupted by 
the shouts and harangues of the Parisian 
fish-women, who filled the galleries. A let- 
ter, however, from the king was read, de- 
ploring the scarcity of provisions, and recom- 
mending that effectual means might be taken 
to remedy that calamity ; and in a little time 
after M. Mounier entered with the pure and 
simple assent of the king to the constitutional 
articles. The Assembly was then adjourned; 
but the applause which was bestowed on its 



PARIS. 



459 



proceedings was mingled with affecting mur- 
murs and complaints, the multitude crying out 
that they were actually starving, and that the 
majority of them had eaten nothing for up- 
ward of twenty-four hours. The president 
therefore ordered that provisions should be 
sought for in every part of the town, and 
the hall of the Assembly was the scene of a 
miserable, scanty, and tumultuous banquet. 
Indeed, such was the dreadful famine, that 
the horse of one of the gardes-du-corps being 
killed in a tumult, he was immediately roasted, 
and greedily devoured by the mob. Previous 
to the adjournment of the assembly, Maillard 
and a number of women set off in carriages, 
provided by the king, for Paris, carrying with 
them the king's letter, and the resolves of the 
National Assembly, in the hopes of restoring 
peace to the metropoHs. 

Darkness and a deluge of rain added to 
the horrors of the night. The wretched 
multitudes who had traveled from Paris 
were exposed, almost famished, to the in- 
clemences of the weather in the open streets: 
within the castle all was trepidation; nothing 
was to be heard from without but impreca- 
tions, and the voice of enraged multitudes 
demanding the Hves of the queen and of the 
gardes-du-corps. Toward midnight, how- 
ever, all appeared tolerably still and peace- 
able, when the beating of the drums, and the 
light of innumerable torches, announced the 
approach of the Parisian army. The Marquis 
de la Fayette, on his arrival, repaired to the 
royal closet, and informed the king of the 
whole proceedings of the day ; a part of the 
national guards were distributed in posts 
agreeably to the orders of his majesty ; the 
rest were entertained by the inhabitants of 
Versailles, or retired to lodge in the churches 
and pubhc edifices, for the remainder of the 
night; and tranquillity appeared once more 
perfectly restored. 

The troops of vagabonds who had accom- 
panied Maillard, or who had followed the 
Parisian militia, were cliietly disposed of in 
the hall of the Assembly, and in the great 
corps-de-garde ; and at about five in the 
morning the Marquis de la Fayette, after 
having visited all the posts, and found every 
thing perfectly quiet, retired to his chamber 
to write to the municipahty of Paris, and 
perhaps in the hope of snatching a few hours' 
repose. 

The day began to break at about half-past 
five ; and at this period, crowds of women 
and other desperate persons, breathing ven- 
geance and thirsting for blood advanced to 
the castle, which, in the fatal security that 
the arrival of the Parisian mihtia inspired, 
was left unguarded in several places. Some 
of the iron gates were shut, and some left 
open. An immense crowd found its way 



into the cour des minisires, and immediately 
proceeded to the royal gate, which was shut, 
and a number of the invaders attempted to 
scale it. Another troop of ruffians proceeded 
to the chapel court and another to that of 
the princes, and by both these avenues pen- 
etrated into the royal court. Some dispo- 
sitions of defense were made by a M. Agues- 
seau ; the gardes-du-corps were soon under 
ai'ms, and one man was wounded by them 
in the arm, and another shot dead. The 
crowd immediately mounted the grand stair- 
case where one of the gardes-du-corps, M. 
Miomandre, endeavored to dissuade them 
from their attempt, but he narrowly escaped 
with lais life. M. Tardivet du Repaire hasted 
to the queen's apartment, in order to prevent 
the entrance of the banditti ; but he was as- 
sailed by thousands, and felled to the ground. 
A villain with a pike attempted to pierce him 
to the heart, but he had the good fortune to 
wrest the weapon from his hand, with which 
he parried the attacks of his enemies, and at 
length effected his escape. M. Miomandre, 
in the mean time, made liis way to the queen's 
apartment. lie opened the door, and cried 
out to a lady whom he saw in the inner 
chamber — " Save the queen, madam her life 
is in danger; I am here alone against 2,000 
tigers." He shut the door, and after a few 
minutes' resistance was desperately wounded 
with a pike, and left for dead, though he af- 
terward recovered. 

The queen had been awakened a quarter 
of an hour before, by the clamors of the wo- 
men who assembled upon the terrace, but 
her waiting-woman had satisfied her by say- 
ing, "that they were only the women of 
Paris, who, she supposed, not being able to 
find a lodging, were Avalking about." But 
the tumult approaching, and becoming appa- 
rently more serious, she rose, dressed herself 
in haste, and ran to the king's apartment by 
a private passage. In her Avay she heard the 
noise of a pistol and a musket, which re- 
doubled her terror. "My friends," said she 
to every person she met, " save me and my 
cliildren.'' In the king's chamber she found 
the dauphin, who had been brought there by 
one of her women, but the king was gone. 
Awakened by the tumult, he had seen from 
the window the multitude pressing toward 
the great stair-case; and, alarmed for the 
queen, he hastened to her apartment, and 
entered at one door in the moment she had 
quitted it by the other. He returned with- 
out loss of time, and having, with the queen, 
brought the princess royal into the chamber, 
prepared to face the multitude. 

In the mean time the noise and tumult in- 
creased, and appeared at the very door of the 
chamber. Nothing was to be heard but the 
most dreadful exclamations, with violent and 



460 



PARIS. 



repeated blows against the outer door, a pan- 
nel of which was broken. Nothing but in- 
stant death was expected by the royal com- 
pany. Suddenly, however, the tumult seemed 
to cease — every tiling was quite, and a mo- 
ment after a gentle rap was heard at the door. 
It was opened, and in an instant the apart- 
ments were filled with the Parisian guard. 
The officer who conducted them ordered 
them to ground their arms. "We come," 
said he, " to save the king ;" and turning to 
such of the gardes-du-corps as were in the 
apartment — " We will save you also, gentle- 
men ; let us from tliis moment be united." 

Unfortunately the national guard arrived 
too late to prevent all the mischief. Two of 
the gardes-du-corps were murdered by the 
mob before the troops could be ralhed, and 
their heads, fixed on spikes, served as the 
standards of this detestable banditti. From 
the first moment of the alarm the Marquis de 
la Fayette had even exceeded liis usual ac- 
tivity. He appeared in every quarter: — 
" Gentlemen," said he to the Parisian soldiers, 
" I have pledged my word and honor to the 
king that nothing belonging to him shall re- 
ceive injury. If I break my word, I shaU be 
no longer worthy to be your commander." 
Captain Gondran, the officer who had driven 
the ruffians from the king's apartment, was 
not less conspicuous for liis activity. The 
Parisians forced their way in every part 
through the almost impenetrable mass — sur- 
rounded the gardes-du-corps, and placed them 
in safety under their own colors. 

Plunder is however commonly one great 
object of a mob. The banditti had already 
begun to strip the palace, and to throw the 
fiirniture to each other out of the windows. 
M. Gondran pursued them from place to place, 
till the castle was at length completely cleared. 
Expelled from the palace, they repaired to the 
stables ; but here a sudden stop was put to 
their depredations by M. Doazon, a farmer- 
general, and captain of the Paris militia. The 
horses were all recovered, and brought back 
in safety to their stalls. Disappointed at 
length in every view, they departed in a body 
to Paris ; and left Versailles entirely free, and 
under the protection of the national guard. 
The most generous expressions of kindness 
and gratitude took place between the gardes- 
du-corps and the national guard. The former 
considered the others as their deliverers; 
while the latter evinced every inclination 
that they should in future form one united 
corps. 

The royal family now ventured to show 
themselves at a balcony, and received the 
most lively acclamations of respect fi-om the 
soldiers and the people. But whether it had 
been planned by the popular party, or wheth- 
er it was the immediate impulse of the mul- 



titude — though the former is most probable, 
at tlie first a single voice, or a few voices, ex- 
claimed, "The king to Paris!" and this was 
instantly followed by a universal acclamation 
enforcing the same demand. After some 
consultation with the Marquis de la Fayette, 
the king addressed them : — " You wish me to 
go to Paris — I will go, on the condition that 
I am to be accompanied by my wife and 
children." he was answered by reiterated 
acclamation of Vive le roil 

Before the departure of the king, the Na- 
tional Assembly was convened ; and, on the 
motion of M. Mirabeau, passed a solemn de- 
cree, " that the Assembly was inseparable 
from the person of the king." A deputation 
of 100 members was also appointed to accom- 
pany the king to Paris. During the prepara- 
tions for the journey the gardes-du-corps 
changed hats and swords with the grenadiers 
and national guards, and both they and the 
regiment of Flanders desired leave to mix 
indiscriminately in the ranks. It was two 
o'clock in the afternoon before the procession 
set out. During the progress all was gayety 
and joy among the soldiers and the spectators f 
and such was the respect in which many of 
the French nation stiU held the name and 
person of their king, that the multitude were 
superstitiously persuaded that the royal pres- 
ence would actually put an end to the 
famine. On his arrival, the king was con- 
gratulated by the municipality, and declared 
his approbation of the loyalty wliich the city 
of Paris manifested. On this occasion he 
gave one proof, among several others which 
he had before given, that however he might 
be wrought upon by misrepresentation and 
evil counsels, liis character was in general 
neither deficient in good sense nor firmness. 
As they ascended the stairs of the Hotel de 
Ville, the Marquis de la Fayette requested 
the king that he would either assure the peo- 
ple himself, or permit some other person to 
assure them in his name, that he would fix 
his abode in Paris. " I feel no objection," 
repUed the monarch, " to fix my abode in my 
good city of Paiis : but I have not yet formed 
any determination on the subject; and I will 
make no promise wliich I do not positively 
mean to fulfill." 

Trial of the King. — The republic, in its 
career of change and blood, had at length a 
most important matter to consider — How the 
dethroned king was to be disposed of! The 
proceedings which terminated in the trial and 
death of the unfortunate Louis for a time di- 
verted the attention of the two great rival 
factions, the Mountain and Girondists, who 
were engaged in a struggle, which daily be- 
came more implacable. The moderate party 
wished to save the life of the dethroned sov- 
ereign, and this was a sufficient reason for 



PARIS. 



461 



their opponents being bent on his destruction. 
A committee was appointed to investigate his 
conduct, and a variety of charges having been 
brought forward, the Convention resolved to 
constitute itself at once prosecutor and judge. 
The report was brought up, exhibiting a 
loathsome tissue of confusion and falseliood. 
All acts that had been done by the ministers 
in every department, which could be twisted 
into such a shape as the times called criminal, 
were charged as deeds for which the sovereign 
was himself responsible ; and the burden of 
the whole was to accuse the king, when he 
had scarcely a single regiment of guards, even 
at his nominal disposal, of nourishing the in- 
tention of massacring the Convention, de- 
fended by 30,000 national guards, besides the 
federates, and the militia of the suburbs. Of 
this report the Convention seemed almost 
ashamed, and would scarcely permit it to be 
printed. So soon as it appeared, two or 
three persons who were mentioned in it as 
accomplices of particulars charged against the 
king, contradicted the report upon their oath. 

On the 11th of December, the ill-fated 
monarch was ordered to the bar of the Con- 
vention, and when the act of accusation had 
been read, Barriere, the president, summoned 
him to give separate answers to the several 
questions. These consisted of an enumera- 
tion of the whole crimes of the Revolution, 
from its commencement in 1789, all of wlaich 
were imputed to him. 

Valaze, who sat near the bar, presented 
and read some papers, asserted to contain 
plans of a counter-revolution, which the king 
disowned ; also a number of other papers, 
which the king also disowned. His enemies 
admitted that Louis's answers were brief, 
firm, and judicious; liis presence of mind 
being unshaken, in most cases dictated satis- 
factory repUes to the accusations. The afFarr 
of Nancy, the journey to Varennes, the 
suppression of the revolt in the Champ de 
Mars, were justified by the decrees of the 
Assembly ; and the catastrophe of the 10th of 
March, by the power of self-defense conferred 
on him by the laws. To every question, in 
fact, he repUed with clearness and precision ; 
denying some, showing that the matters re- 
ferred to in others were the work of his 
ministers, and justifying all that had been 
done by the powers coiiferred on him by the 
constitution. In a loud voice he repelled the 
charge of shedding the blood of the people on 
the 10th of August, exclaiming, " No, sir, it 
was not I who did it." But he was careful 
in his answers not to implicate any members 
of the Constituent and Legislative Assemblies; 
and many who now sat as his judges, trem- 
bled lest he should compromise them with 
the dominant faction. The deep impression 
made on the Convention by the simple state- 



ments, and temperate but firm demeanor of 
the monarch, struck the Jacobins with such 
dismay, that the most violent of the party 
proposed that he should be hanged that very 
night. But the majority, composed of the 
Girondists, and the Neutrals, decided that he 
should be formally tried and defended by 
counsel. He then returned to the Temple, 
where the resolution of the municipality, tliat 
he was no longer to be permitted to see his 
family, was communicated to him ; in other 
words, that a consolation which is never 
withheld from the most atrocious criminals, 
was denied him. Next day, however, the 
Convention, less inhuman than the commune, 
decreed that the unfortunate father might 
enjoy the society of his children ; but the 
king, thinking them more necessary to the 
queen's comfort than his own, dechned to 
take them from her, and after a struggle with 
feehngs which even demons might have re- 
spected, he submitted to the separation with 
a resignation which nothing could shake. 

In pursuance of the resolution of the ma- 
jority of the municipaUty, the king chose as 
his counsel Trouchet and Target. The former 
accepted the office, but the latter dechned 
the dangerous task. But Malesherbes, though 
eighty years of age, and oppressed with 
infirmities, in spite of personal risk, offered 
his services, which the king gratefully ac- 
cepted. The old man had been twice 
nominated by the king, in the day of his 
prosperity, to be a member of his counsel, 
and he now magnanimously claimed a right 
to a similar office when it was attended with 
danger. De Lege, another lawyer of genius, 
was permitted to add his name to those of 
the king's counsel, from whom he was 
doomed to experience no effectual aid. Nor, 
indeed, did he expect it; and therefore he 
prepared to meet his approaching fate. 

When the king returned, his faitliful valet, 
Cleret, alone was suffered to approach Mm. 
Louis directed his counsel to abstain from all 
appeals to the passions, and restrict them- 
selves to deductions from tlie evidence. The 
king was again conveyed to the Convention on 
the following morning. De Lege was per- 
mitted to read without interruption his de- 
fense, which was an able appeal to justice as 
a private citizen, and to his rights as a con- 
stitutional sovereign, while it was denied that 
he could have intended to direct his small 
force against the liberties of his country. 
When he had finished, Louis added a few 
words, expressive of his conviction that he 
now addressed the members for the last time, 
and solemnly avowed that he had the witness 
of conscience to his innocence. The king 
was removed : a long and fierce debate en- 
sued, on Manuel's motion for three days' ad- 
journment, that the king's defense might be 



462 



PARIS. 



printed, and sent to the departments. The 
Jacobins expelled Manuel, and insisted that 
judgment should be pronounced that day. 
Vergniaut ably pleaded that the king's fate 
should be decided by the people. He de- 
nounced the Jacobins as having caused the 
preceding bloodshed, and prophesied the 
horrors that would ensue from their rule. 
His voice was disregarded ; and a final appeal 
was demanded, while the fierce emissaries of 
the Jacobins surrounded the hall, and terrified 
the members with threats of vengeance if they 
did not pronounce sentence of death; they 
swore, that if Louis was acquitted, they 
would go to the Temple, and murder the 
royal family, and all who favored them. 
Their earnestness was unquestionable ; the 
votes were instanly taken; but amid the 
utterance of the fatal sentence, every eye 
was fixed upon the recreant Duke of Orleans, 
and when he pronounced the word " Death," 
even that assembly seemed shocked. A 
majority of fifty-three decreed the king's 
execution. 

All the late histories of the French Revolu- 
tion, and most of the memoirs of the time, 
contain a sufficiency of details on the horrible 
excesses of the 10th of August, 1792, which 
overthrew the French monarchy. The at- 
tack of the ferocious mob on the Tuilleries — 
the massacre of the Swiss guards, and of the 
male inmates of the palace, and the dangers 
of the royal family, have all been described 
with a minuteness and truth which make us 
shudder. But something still was wanting 
to complete the appalling picture. None of 
the memoirs of that period, with the excep- 
tion of a short passage in Madam Campane, 
describe the state of the Tuilleries on the 
night after the massacre. The following 
sketch, written by an eye-witness, and com- 
municated to the author of the Esquisses 
Historiques de la Revolution Fran^aise, in 
the 8 th number of which it was published, 
will supply the deficiency : 

I was one of the secretaries of the section 
of the Theater Franrais. About eleven 
o'clock at night the members of the board, 
feehng alarm respecting the state of Paris, 
ordered me to repair to the corps-de-garde 
of the section, and to request the command- 
ant of the station to send out a patrol, with 
instructions to examine principally the quar- 
ter of the Tuilleries, to range myself in that 
patrol, and to return Avith a report of what I 
should observe. I went accordingly to the 
corps-de-garde. I procured the formation of 
a patrol of fifty men. I armed myself with a 
pike, and away we proceeded. Having ar- 
rived at the extremity of the Pont Neuf, we 
met another patrol as ntimerous as our own ; 
we joined it, and then followed the quay as 
far as the arches called Guichet de Marigny, 



without meeting any thing remarkable. On 
our reaching the Place de Carrousel we were 
struck with a horrid spectacle. It was now 
near midnight. On our right we perceived 
on different points of the place, four or five 
mounds, each about twenty feet high, com- 
posed of dead bodies entirely naked. In the 
center of the square {place) was an immense 
blazing fire, standing round which we re- 
marked three or four men, who appeared to 
be unmoved and insensible in the midst of 
the numerous and deplorable efiects of carnage. 
At our right a long building (occupying the 
place where the railing now is), composed of 
a ground-floor and an upper story, which 
served as a barrack to the Swiss guard, was 
a prey to the flames. Over this scene of 
conflagration and dead bodies, there reigned 
a profound silence, which was only disturbed 
by the noise of our slow march, and the 
craclding of the planks and beams, which 
detaching themselves from the walls, fell into 
the building, and each fall caused torrents of 
flames to issue from the windows. The two 
patrols having united to proceed to the court 
of the TuiUeries, passed by the door of this 
burning lodge with a rapidity which the dan- 
ger of the fire inspired. 

Having arrived in the court, we were 
obliged to make a long halt, because some 
guards, recently placed in the palace, opposed 
the entrance of our double patrol. This halt 
gave us time to observe the frightful scenes 
which surrounded us. The light of the great 
fire, blazing in the midst of the court, togeth- 
er with that of the burning buildings, dis- 
covered to us an overwhelming picture. On 
one side were dead bodies collected into 
masses ; on the other, dead bodies scattered 
over the pavement, mixed with human forms 
still animated, but asleep from intoxication. 
We could only distinguish the dead from the 
living by the clothes with which the latter 
were covered. In the fire we saw bodies 
half consumed, and the stench which pro- 
ceeded from this combustion of human flesh, 
added to the horrer which the other parts of 
the spectacle excited. In turning our eyes 
toward the chateau, we saw through the 
vestibule in the garden, flitting Ughts similar 
to those igneous meteors which dance at 
night about marshy ground in the heats of 
the summer. While stationed in the court, 
our imagination busied itself in painful and 
fruitless efforts to discover the cause of this 
phenomenon. A superstitious mind, placed 
in this abode of the dead, and in the midst of 
the devouring flames, would have taken 
those flitting gleams for spirits endeavoring 
to unite themselves to the bodies from which 
they had been so lately separated. When 
we were allowed to pass into the vestibule, 
our impatient curiosity was gratified, and to 



PARIS. 



463 



vague conjectures succeeded a frightful real- 
ity. The wandering fires were lighted 
torches which we perceived in the darkness, 
without perceiving the persons who carried 
them. These persons, who were denied ad- 
mission into the palace by the guard, were 
still making vain attempts to get into the 
vestibule. The double action of the parties 
produced the agitation of the lights. The 
torches of these men were intended to ena- 
ble them to penetrate into obscure places for 
the purpose of pillage. In passing through 
the vestibule into the garden, we found that 
the space on both sides of the great staircase 
was filled with dead bodies, stripped entirely 
naked. We ascended to the rooms on the 
outer side of the chapel, and entered the 
chapel, where the most horrid sacrilege had 
been committed. The aisle was literally 
choked full with the dead and dying. We 
hastily descended, and returned at three in 
the morning to the section of the Theater 
Fran^ais, and after a few hours' rest awoke 
to see not only Paris, but the whole of 
Prance in a much more deplorable condition, 
for Robespierre had gained the ascendancy 
in power. 

Reign op Terror. — From general details, 
the great outhne of the calamitous state of 
France, at the period in question, may be 
collected; but more minute particulars are 
requisite to understand clearly the portion of 
suffering which fell to the lot of every family 
and often of every individual in it. "A 
sketch of the situation of one family with 
whom I was particularly acquainted at Mar- 
seilles," says a writer of the period, "shall be 
given as a specimen by which that of most 
others may fairly be judged. 

" It consisted of the father, the mother, 
and four children, two sons and two daugh- 
ters, all groAvn up. The father and the 
eldest son were in the law, the youngest son 
was what is called at Marseilles a Courtier 
de Commerce, that is, an agent for negotiat- 
ing commercial transactions. The eldest son 
was the first who was involved in the revo- 
lutionary troubles ; he had been a member 
of one of the sections, and was enrolled 
among the proscribed, at the time when 
most of those who had belonged to the sec- 
tions fell under proscription. For several 
months did he remain concealed in his 
father's house by means of a place contrived 
•for the purpose, in a room at the very top of 
it. In the day-time he generally sat in the 
room; but as the domiciHary visits were 
more frequently made by night than by day, 
his bed was, for greater security, made up in 
his place of asylum ; hither he could, at any 
time, retreat in a moment, upon a signal 
agreed on being made below, and shut him- 
self up within; and the door was so well 



contrived, that any one searching the room 
ever so accurately, unless previously ac- 
quainted with the secret, was not likely to 
discover it. 

" As a suspicion was always entertained 
that he was in the house, frequent domicil- 
iary visits were made to search for him, but 
he fortunately escaped them aU. His eldest 
sister, between whom and himself a particu- 
lar affection had always subsisted, and who 
entertained in consequence a double share of 
anxiety for his safety, was the person on 
whom he principally reUed for giving him 
timely notice to conceal himself in time of 
alarm ; and she has many times passed the 
whole night at the window, to watch wheth- 
er any one approached the house, afraid to 
lie down, lest, exhausted by fatigue, sleep 
should overtake her, and her brother be sur- 
prised unawares. 

" In this situation he continued for seven 
months, the family all that time not daring 
to attempt removing him, as they well knew 
that a constant watch was kept upon the 
house. But the vigilance of the revolution- 
ists beginning at length to abate, wearied 
with the many fruitless searches they had 
made, an opportunity was taken to convey 
him by night on board a Genoese vessel, the 
owner of which had agreed to carry him to 
Leghorn. He was covered over with a heap 
of cords, sacks, and rubbish of different 
kinds, and as soon as the entrance of the 
port was open in the morning, the vessel was 
put in motion. But at tliis very moment, 
when it was hoped all danger was over, a 
party of the national guards appeared, and 
calling on the mariners to stop, came on 
board to visit her. They asked a thousand 
questions of the master, and even kicked 
some of the cords about, but fortunately 
without discovering what they concealed ; at 
length departing, they left the vessel to pur- 
sue its course, and the fugitive was finally 
landed in safety at the place of his destina- 
tion. To provide the means of satisfying the 
exorbitant demands of the G-enoese captain, 
the two sisters made a sacrifice of many little 
objects of value which they possessed in per- 
sonal ornaments. 

" The youngest son, whose name was 
equally on the Hst of the proscribed, saved 
himself by escaping to Paris, where, lost 
among the crowd, he remained unknown 
and unregarded till the death of Robespierre. 
He then returned to Marseilles, and resumed 
liis former occupation. 

" Very soon after the eldest son's depart- 
ure, the father was menaced with imprison- 
ment, perhaps with death, as having two 
sons in emigration; on which the youngest 
daughter presented herself before the muni- 
cipality, entreating that her father might be 



464 



PARIS. 



suffered to remain at liberty, and offering 
herself as a hostage that he would commit no 
act contrary to the interests of the repubhc. 
Her offer of becoming a prisoner was accept- 
ed, and she was conveyed to the convent of 
Ignorantins, wliich was set apart for confin- 
ing the women who were arrested, and 
where 800 were then immured. But though 
she was detained, her, father was not left at 
large ; he was arrested a few days after, and 
sent witli a number of proscribed to confine- 
ment in another convent. The prison of the 
father was at a difierent end of the town 
from that of the daughter, and both were 
equally removed from their own house. 
During eight months that elapsed from tliis 
period, to the conclusion of the reign of ter- 
ror, the eldest daughter's, daily occupation 
was to visit her father and sister in their re- 
spective prisons, which she was permitted to 
do, being always searched at her entrance, 
lest she should convey any tiling which 
might assist their escape. Her anxiety for 
her sister's life was not very great, as few 
women were led to the scaflbld ; but she 
daily entered the prison of her father uncer- 
tain whether she might still find liim, or 
whether he might not liave been among the 
number who were daily immolated. While 
at home, her sole occupation was to endeavor 
to soothe and console her mother. How 
miserable, how painful, wfis such a state of 
existence ! And yet, painful as it was, this 
family was ultimately among the number of 
the fortunate, since no member of it was cut 
off." 

A.D. 1814. — When Napoleon opened the 
campaign on the 25th of January, he confided 
the command of the capital to liis brother 
Joseph. His enemies were numerous and 
powerful. The English advanced on the 
south ; 150,000 men, under Schwartzenberg, 
poured into France by way of Switzerland ; 
a large army of Prussians, commanded by 
Blucher, arrived from Franlifort; and 100,000 
Swedes and Germans penetrated into Bel- 
gium, under Bernadotte. Here was work 
cut out for even the genius of a Hannibal ; 
and Bonaparte seemed to be duly roused 
by the perils which surrounded liim. He re- 
doubled his activity and energy, and never 
had his strategic calculations been more skill- 
ful. He was near destroying the two most 
formidal^le armies of his enemies by isolating 
them, and attacking them by turns. Wher- 
ever he did not command in person the allies 
triumphed; the English entered Bordeaux, 
which declared for the Bourbons ; the Aus- 
trians occupied Lyons; and the united 
armies marched toward Paris. 

Joseph received orders to defend Paris to 
the last extremity ; the emperor depended 
upon him, and conceived the almost wildly 



brave project of cutting off the retreat of 
the aUies, by marching rapidly behind them 
to St. Dizier. By this march he lost precious 
time ; but by it, if he had been seconded. 
Napoleon might have saved liis crown. The 
two grand armies of the allies had effected 
their junction, and drew near to the capital. 
To secure the success of the emperor's man- 
euvers, it ought to have been defended till 
his arrival ; but timid counselors surrounded 
the regent, Maria Louisa, and persuaded her 
to retire to the Loire. In vain Talleyrand 
and MontaUvet expressed a courageous opin- 
ion, and represented to the empress that the 
safety of France was in Paris : fear alone was 
listened to ; Maria Louisa quitted the capital, 
and transported the regency to Blois. In the 
mean time Napoleon approached Paris by 
forced marches ; but it was no longer time ; 
Marshals Marmont and Mortier, on the 30th 
of March, fought a desperate battle under the 
waUs of the city with forces very inferior to 
the allies'. Ignorant of the emperor's prox- 
imity, Joseph gave orders for a capitulation ; 
he abandoned liis post, and set out for Or- 
leans. On the 31st of March, the aUies en- 
tered Paris. Napoleon was hastening to the 
defense of his capital, when, on the 1st of 
April, he received this terrible news ; he im- 
mediately fell back upon Fontainebleau,where 
his army took up a position. There he learned 
that the senate, guided by Talleyrand, de- 
clared Napoleon deposed from the throne, the 
hereditary right of his family aboUshed, and 
the French people and the army Uberated 
from their oath of fidelity to him. 

The victory of Paris cost the allies 9,000 
men; the French lost 4,000 besides the 
prisoners and 109 cannon. 

A.D. 1815. — When, after a series of the 
grossest blunders on the part of the Bour- 
bons, Napoleon returned from Elba in 1815, 
and lost the battle of Waterloo, Davoust re- 
ceived the command of about 60,000 men fot 
the defense of Paris. The city Avas difficult 
of access from the north and east, because 
the villages and heights were fortified, and 
well suppUed with artillery. The Prussians, 
therefore crossed the Seine to attack Paris 
from Versailles, while the Enghsh remained 
in front of the fortified heights and villages. 
On this side the city is weakest, and might 
also be forced to surrender by intercepting sup- 
plies of provisions which came from Normandy. 
On the 30th of June the Prussians under Zei- 
then marched through Versailles, and after a 
short conflict succeeded in establisliing them- 
selves on the heights of Meudon, and in the 
village of Issy. A council of war held in Paris, 
almost unanimously determined that Paris 
was untenable ; but in order to make a last 
attempt, Vandamme advanced on the morning 
of the 3d of Julv with 10,000 men, and at- 



PARIS. 



465 



tacked the Prussians inlssy ; but after several 
hours' fighting they were repulsed with the 
loss of 1,000 men. A bridge was begun to be 
erected at Argenteuil to establish the com- 
munication between the British and Prussian 
armies, and an EngHsh corps moved to the 
left bank of the Seine by the bridge Neuilly. 
Upon this the surrender of Paris was re- 
solved on. The capitulation was conducted 
at St. Cloud, the same day. It was stipulated 
that the French army should, on the follow- 
ing day, commence the evacuation of the 
capital, with their arms, artillery, caissons and 
whole personal property ; that within eight 
days, they should be entirely estabhshed to 
the south of the Loire ; Montmartre was to 
be surrendered, July 5th, and all the barriers 
on the 6th. July 7th the Prussian army en- 
tered the barrier of the military school, and 
part of the English that of St. Denis. On 
the 8th, Louis XVIII., who had followed in 
the rear of the English army from Ghent, 
made his public entrance, escorted by the 
National Guard. The star of Napoleon had 
paled before the fortunate sun of the Bour- 
bons. The battle of Waterloo had destroyed 
an emperor and elevated a king ; the one was 
doomed to lonely exile on a rock-bound 
island ; the other ascended the throne of one 
of the most magnificent kingdoms of Europe. 
Revolution of July, a.d. 1830. — The 
several causes which led to this revolution, 
and to the consequent dethronement of 
Charles X., having been so ably treated by 
celebrated French and EngUsh historians, 
and besides it being impossible in the limits 
of a work like the present to enter into these 
details, we will content ourselves with mere- 
ly glancing at one or two of the immediate 
causes. 

The Chamber of Deputies was convened 
by the king on the 2d of March, 1830 ; in 
the usual address to the throne, the ministers 
headed by .the Prince Pohgnac, counseled his 
majesty to adopt vigorous measures, to co- 
erce the liberty, or rather the licentiousness 
of the press, and, with other important 
changes, so to alter the constitution of the 
Chambers, that the liberal element might 
not be so predominant. They were defeated 
in tliis address by a majority of forty, and on 
the 19th the king prorogued the session to 
the 1st September, intending in the mean 
time to dissolve the present Chamber. Tliis 
measure excited great consternation among 
the liberal members, and the journals in their 
interest proceeded to attack the king and his 
ministers with the coarsest vituperations it 
was possible to conceive of Tliis was fol- 
lowed by the arrest and conviction of several 
leading journaUsts, and as the people espoused 
their cause, this only served to fan the flame 
of the popular discontent. On the 16th of 

30 



May the king, with the advice of his minis- 
ters, issued a decree dissolving the Chambers, 
and appointing the time for the elections to be 
held. 

After the elections had commenced the 
ministers gave up all hope of a majority in 
the new Chamber. The report, industriously 
circulated, that the king had in contempla- 
tion a covp cVitat, tended greatly to swell the 
majorities of the Liberal party. 

On the 25th July the king, by the advice 
of Prince Polignac and his colleagues, signed 
the famous " ordinances," which may be 
said to have been the immediate cause of the 
revolution which followed. The first of 
these ordinances destroyed the liberty of the 
press by proliibiting the publication of any 
journal or small pamplilet, without a license 
from the government, which might at any 
time be recalled. The second dissolved the 
new Chamber of Deputies on the ground 
that the intentions of the ministers were un- 
fairly represented to the people ; and the 
tliird entirely changed the principle of the 
representation of the people, and established 
the Chamber upon a difierent basis. There 
were several others, all aflbcting, either 
directly or indirectly, the rights of the people. 
The populace of Paris were thunderstruck at 
such an assumption of " doubtful powers" by 
the man who had sworn to maintain inviolate 
the charter by which his brother had ascend- 
ed the throne ; and a large body of men, rep- 
resenting the literature, talent, and wealth 
of France, openly denounced the measures, 
wliich, they maintained, were a breach of 
the letter and spirit of the charter which 
Louis XYIII. had given to them. During 
the 26th there was no attempt at insurrection 
made ; but there was an ominous appearance 
in the groups of men who assembled at the 
cafes and club-houses, discussing in an ani- 
mated voice the events of the last two days, 
and it was clear to those who had passed 
through the stormy days of 1789 that an out- 
break of the people was at hand. Nor were 
they disappointed in their calculations; for 
on the next day (the 27th) matters were 
brought to a crisis. The opposition journals 
appeared without any license from govern- 
ment, and having in their columns the protest 
of some of the leading men of Paris, against 
the coup cUetat of the ministers. This open 
defiance of the king was immediately followed 
by an order to seize the journals and close 
the printing-offices, which was efiected with 
much difficulty by the gens-d'armes and 
police. 

Marshal Marmont had been appointed by 
the king, commander of the garrison of Paris, 
and he had entered on his duties on the 
morning of the 27tli; but he found, to his 
astonishment, tliat he had only 11,500 men 



466 



PARIS. 



under bis command, with twelve pieces of 
artillery, and six rounds of grape-shot to each 
gun. Of this small force only the guards, 
4,600 strong, could be reUed on in a conflict 
witli the people. The king and his ministers 
reposed in fancied security at St. Cloud, and 
to ifarrnont was committed the more than 
herculean task of defending the city of Paris 
against an insurrection of the people, smart- 
ing under imaginary or real wrongs, and de- 
termined to redress their own grievances. 
The national guard, 40,000 strong, had been 
disbanded some time before, but they had 
been allowed to retain their arms, and they 
all, with very few exceptions, joined the 
ranks of the insurgents. Those who had no 
weapons broke open several armorers' shops 
in the city, and supplied themselves. 

Marmout's plan for the defense of the city 
was similar to that adopted by Napoleon in 
1795, in repelling the attack of the sections ; 
he determined to concentrate his troops upon 
the defense of the TuiUeries, the Louvre, and 
the Plice Carrousel, as an immense fortress 
in the center of the city. Three battahons of 
the guards were stationed in the Place Car- 
rousel and in the Palais Royal ; two in the 
Place Louis XV., with two guns, and one in 
the Rue Capucius, in front of the hotel of 
the minister of foreign affairs ; and three bat- 
tahons of the line on the Boulevards from the 
Madeline to the Place of the Bastille. Find- 
ing that the insurgents were making rapid 
progress in the erection of barricades in some 
of the narrowest and most crowded districts, 
be sent out detachments to overturn them, 
and disperse the crowds. The first barri- 
cade, at the Rue St. Honore, where it passed 
the Palais Royal, was carried by the troops, 
after one point-blank discharge, which killed 
one man and Avounded several. The body 
of the dead man was carried off by his 
friends, who paraded it through the streets 
for the purpose of exciting their fellow-citizens 
to immediate action; the other barricades 
were carried with httle difficulty, and the 
troops succeeded in restoring a degree of 
tranquillity to the city. The insurgents re- 
tired from the streets, but only to make vig- 
orous preparations for renewing the conflict 
on the morrow ; and the only measure of 
government was to proclaim Paris in a state 
of siege, a measure in itself calculated only 
to inflame the pubUc mind, as it Avas not fol- 
lowed up by any reinforcements to Marmont's 
army, although there were 15,000 infantry 
antl 3,400 cavalry of the guards stationed at 
a short distance from Paris. 

Early on the next morning (the 28th) the 
people appeared in the Faubourg St. Antoine 
and St. Marceau, so well known in the worst 
days of the former revolution, armed with 
muskets, swords, bayonets, pickaxes, etc., 



gathering strength as they rolled onward 
through the Rue St. Denis, to the station oc- 
cupied by the mihtary. They were every- 
where to be seen tearing up the pavement, 
overturning omnibusses, dragging furniture 
from the houses, and proceeding to erect bar- 
ricades. Their operations continued almost 
unmolested, and with a degree of order and 
rapidity one would not expect to find in such 
an incongruous multitude. The arsenal was 
soon broken into and its contents distributed 
among the people ; the powder manufactory 
des deux moulius, and the artUlery deput of St. 
Thomas Aquinas shared the same fate. Em- 
boldened by their successes they approached 
the Hotel de ViUe, which was carried with- 
out any resistance, as the garrison retired be- 
fore any attack was made. Instantly the 
tri-color flag was displayed from its summit, 
and the tocsin sounded amid the deafening 
cheers and cries of the populace. The church 
of Notre Dame was next broken open, and 
the republican standard planted upon it, 
while at the same time the dismal clang of 
the tocsin recalled vividly to the minds of 
those who had witnessed it, the appalling 
commencement of the memorable 10th of 
August, 1792. 

The government was soon awakened from 
their trance of fancied security. Four fifths 
of Paris was already in the hands of the in- 
surgents, and it Avas high time that some 
measures should be adopted to stop their 
progress. Marmont accordingly chvided his 
slender army into columns with orders to 
advance into the interior of the city, which 
was by this time wholly in the hands of the 
insurgents. The first column, commanded by 
G-eneral Talon, advanced along the quays 
preceded by two pieces of artillery, to clear 
that part of the city and re-take the Hotel dc 
Ville ; he opened fire at the entrance of the 
Place de Greve, which was crowded with in- 
surgents, and after a few discharges effectually 
cleared the square ; he next attacked the 
Hotel de Ville, Avhich AA^as almost immediate- 
ly carried by the troops of the guard, but liis 
success Avas of short duration, for the soldiers 
of the line refused to support tiieir comrades, 
the officers breaking their swords and the 
men draAving their cartridges in the presence 
of the people. The scholars of the Polytech- 
nic school noAvtook the lead, and lent to the 
cause of insurrection not only the ardor and 
intrepidity of youth, but also their mihtary 
skill. They formed in a body and soon re- 
filled the square, the troops taking refuge in 
the Hotel de Ville from wliich they kept up 
a vigorous fire upon the people. 

Meantime, the second column bad advanced 
by the Boulevards toward the Place de la 
Bastille, where it was met by a torrent of peo- 
ple rolling to the eastward from the Faubourg 



PARIS. 



467 



St. Antoine. These gave way after a few 
discharges, which killed a large number of 
people, but it was only to take refuge behind 
the barricades erected at no great distance, 
whence they poured a murderous fire upon 
the flank of the troops advancing in that di- 
rection. However, notwithstanding all the 
force arrayed against them, they succeeded 
in storming six of the barricades, but the 
ranks of the insurgents were momentarily in- 
creasing, and it was impossible to follow up 
their success, as almost all the houses on each 
side were occupied, and a steady fire was 
kept up which greatly thinned the ranks of 
the troops. They determined to retire, and 
taking advantage of a squadron of cuirassiers 
then passing through the Place de la Bastille, 
they succeeded in forcing their way across 
the center of Paris to the Place de la Gr^ve, 
where they found General Talon making a 
desperate defense with his faithful guards, at 
the Hotel de VUle. Cheers of " Vive la ligne" 
" Vivent les/reres et enfants du peuple" greeted 
this corps on its arrival here, symptoms of 
wavering manifested themselves in their ranks, 
and to the great delight of the populace the 
50th regiment refused to act, and took refuge 
in the court of the hotel, where they deliv- 
ered up their ammunition to General Talon, 
who was now left to prolong a hopeless 
defense. 

The third column, composed almost en- 
tirely of Swiss, under the command of Gen- 
eral Quinsonnus, was directed to march by 
the Pue St. Honore to the ^larche des Inno- 
cens, through the most densely populated 
parts of the city. He succeeded in storming 
all the barricades till he arrived at the Marche 
des Innocens, where the streets were so nar- 
row and the houses so liigh, that a plunging 
fire could be kept on the soldiers, who were 
compelled to advance in single file ; but, after 
losing a large number of men he succeeded 
in establisliing himself in the square, from 
whence he could reply to the fire from the 
windows, which had caused him such heavy 
loss ; and in a few minutes he had effectually 
silenced it. Determined to take advantage 
of his success, he sent a battalion with two 
pieces of artillery to clear the Rue St. Denis ; 
it succeeded in doing so, though with a very 
heavy loss, the colonel himself being severely 
wounded. After remaining for several hours 
at the Porte St. Denis expecting assistance 
fi'om the second column, who had taken 
refuge in the Hotel de Ville, the colonel 
thought it expedient to retire, but as the Rue 
St. Denis was again in the hands of the in- 
surgents, who had by this time erected a suffi- 
cient number of barricades to hold the street 
against the small force he could bring against 
them, the only way left open was by the 
Boulevards, where the felling of trees greatly 



impeded his progress. However, after great 
difficulty and considerable loss he succeeded 
in making Ins way back to the Place Ven- 
dome. 

The situation of Quinsonnus, left in the 
Marche des Innocens with his diminished 
force, was becoming every moment more 
critical. After four hours' incessant firing 
the ammunition of his troops gave out, there 
was no communication with the TuUleries, as 
the streets leading in that direction were 
closed by barricades, and it was only by dis- 
guising one of the officers, that he succeeded 
in informing Marmont of his perilous posi- 
tion. The marshal had only one battalion at 
his disposal, and this he immediately dis- 
patched to his assistance ; with this reinforce- 
ment, Quinsonnus was able to cut his way 
back to the central position around the palace. 
Marmont issued orders for the concentration 
of all the troops on the Tuilleries ; this move- 
ment was effected under cover of the dark- 
ness of the night. 

While these signal successes were attend- 
ing the arms of the populace, their leaders 
saw the necessity of organizing a provisional 
government, as the authority of the king was 
virtually at an end in Paris : with this view, 
a meeting was convened at the hotel of M. 
Andry de Puyravan on the evening of the 
same day as that on which the above events 
transpired. The meeting was attended by 
almost all the liberal deputies, some of^vhom 
counseled moderation, and obedience to the 
king ; who, they were persuaded, would recall 
the odious ordinances as soon as he found 
they were opposed by the people, and dis- 
miss his ministry, who, by their acts had be- 
come obnoxious. But General Lafayette, 
whose age, and also whose experience in 
revolutionary matters entitled his voice to 
great weight, opposed any temporizing meas- 
ures on the ground that it was too late, that 
arms had already been taken up, and that it 
should be decided by the fate of those 
arms. 

These measures we re adopted, though MM. 
Guizot, ViUemair, and Thiers counseled more 
moderate ones. It now remained to appoint 
a provisional government, and General La- 
fayette, General Gerard, and the Duke de 
Choiseul, were appointed dictators by the 
street leaders, and proclamation issued bear- 
ing their names, but without their knowledge. 
As the office of dictator would be attended 
with considerable danger in case of the fail- 
ure of the revolution, there was some doubt 
whether these gentlemen would accept it ; it 
was therefore conferred upon General Delon- 
ny, who at once accepted it, and proceeded 
to install himself in the Hotel de Ville which 
had been evacuated by the royal troops, from 
which he issued an edict concerning the pres- 



468 



PARIS. 



ervation of the public monuments, taking 
care of the wounded, etc. 

This rapid marcli of events created con- 
siderable consternation at the Palace of St. 
Cloud. The king immediately sent orders 
that the troops stationed in towns near Paris 
should repair at once to the support of Mar- 
mont, but Prince Polignac treated the whole 
matter very coolly, not beheving there was 
any serious danger, although Marmont told 
him that the whole city was in the hands of 
the insurgents except the grounds around the 
Tuilleries where the royal guard was sta- 
tioned. 

Early on the morning of the 29th, 1,500 
infantry, and 600 horse, arrived, but these 
did httle more than compensate for the losses 
of the previous day. Marmont's total force 
to defend liis position, which would evidently 
be assailed at day-break, was 5,000 effective 
men and eight guns. A number of the 
deputies met at the house of M. Lafitte, tlie 
bauker, and agreed to make an effort to 
win Marmont over to their cause, which was 
in secret that of the Duke of Orleans. M. 
Arago was dispatched on this mission, but 
tlie marshal indignantly rejected his proposal, 
for, although he was convinced that longer 
defense was useless, yet he had been intrust- 
ed by his king with the defense of Paris, 
and he was determined to do his duty to the 
last. 

When M. Arago returned to the deputies 
with Marmont's answer, their decision was 
at once taken : they determined to put them- 
selves at the head of the movement, and hoist 
the tri-color flag, and thus close the door 
against all hope of accommodation, by declar- 
ing the king and his ministers public enemies. 
General Sebastiani alone protested against 
this, as it was a virtual detlironement of 
Charles X. Orders were immediately issued 
to prepare for an attack on Marmont's posi- 
tion at the Tuilleries. The military command 
of Paris was offered to Lafayette, and ac- 
cepted. He more eagerly did so as he had 
learned that the greater number of the depu- 
ties had resolved to call the Duke of Orleans 
to the throne, while he himself wished for a 
republic. 

In a short space of time, an immense 
armed multitude gathered in front of the 
Tuilleries, and occupied all the barracks ad- 
joining, from wliich they kept up an unceas- 
mg fire upon the royal troops, but the soldiers 
of the line gave way, and opened their 
ranks so that the people rushed through the 
garden of the Tuilleries, broke open the 
doors and windows, and so carried tlie inner 
court of the Louvre ; then, forcing their way 
through the interior, they penetrated into the 
gallery of the museum, from the windows of 
which they opened a plunging fire upon the 



Swiss soldiers in the Place Carrousel. These, 
finding themselves attacked at once in front 
and flank, were seized with a sudden panic, 
and they fled in wild disorder through the 
gardens of the palace. Marmont did all in 
his power to arrest the disorders of the re- 
treating soldiers, and he succeeded in draw- 
ing them off" with some degree of regularity. 
He was the last man who left the gardens. 
This success of the insurgents decided the 
fate of the king. The only other posts in 
possession of the royal troops — the Invalides 
and the barracks of Babylone — were evacu- 
ated ; and the troops, after a severe conflict, 
succeeded in joining Marmont at the Champs 
Elysees. This universal triumph was dark- 
ened by a melancholy event, which cast a 
heroic and a tragic air over the last days of 
the monarchy. A hundred Swiss soldiers 
who had been stationed in a house at the 
junction of the Rue Richelieu and the Rue 
St. Honore, had been forgotten : they were 
attacked by the multitude, and made a most 
gallant defense, but they were all cut to 
pieces, and perished to the last man, like 
their predecessors on the 10th August, 1789, 
in the defense of their king. Several Swiss, 
found in different parts of the city, were mas- 
sacred, but with these exceptions they made 
a good use of their victory. However, men 
paraded through the apartments of the Tuil- 
leries, and evinced their hatred of royalty by 
firing at the pictures, and destroying the fur- 
niture. The royal cellar, too, was emptied 
of its contents. The municipal authorities 
acted most praise wortliily in the vigorous 
efforts they used to preserve the pubUc 
monuments from spohation, and they were, 
with one or two exceptions, successful. The 
royal guard continued their retreat to the 
Bois de Boulogne, where all hostiUties ceased, 
and Marmont galloped on to St. Cloud to lay 
the state of affairs before the Iving, directing 
his troops to continue their retreat thither. 
When he had related to the king the circum- 
stances of the fall of the Louvre, and the 
final evacuation of Paris, Charles immediately 
called his cabinet togetlier ; some counselled 
bold measures; but he resolved to submit 
witliout any more bloodshed, and according- 
ingly issued a decree revoking the ordinances, 
and dismissing his ministers. He appointed 
M. Montemarte president of the council, and 
General Gerard minister at war. The other 
members were equally Uberal. It was with 
the greatest reluctance that the king prevailed 
upon M. Montemarte to accept this perilous 
office, but he at length accepted, and pro- 
ceeded to the Hotel de Yille to negotiate 
with the provisional government ; but Lafay- 
ette's words were again uttered to liim : " It 
is too late — the throne of Charles X. has 
melted away in blood." The popular party 



PARIS. 



469 



now published a proclamation — the sentence 
of death against the French monarchy — 
which was received with vehement demon- 
strations of delight by the people. 

At this crisis the Duke of Orleans arrived 
in Paris, and the king determined to make 
one more effort to preserve the throne of his 
ancestors for his grandson. The Orleans 
family had received many acts of kindness 
from the king ; among others, he had restored 
to them their estates which had been confis- 
cated to the crown ; and for this and others 
favors the duke had professed himself un- 
boundedly grateful to Charles X. 

The king offered him the lieutenancy-gen- 
eral of the kingdom, in order to guard the 
crown during his minority for the Duke de 
Bordeaux, in whose favor the king and the 
Duke d'Angouleme offered to renounce it. 
The duke refused the offer, and this failure 
of the attempt to enlist the Duke of Orleans 
among the supporters of the royal cause, and 
the increasing pressure of the revolutionary 
forces, induced Marmont to enter into a sort 
of capitulation for the royal troops, in virtue 
of which hostilities were immediately to cease 
between them; and a proclamation to that 
effect was issued by liim. The Duke d'An- 
gouleme was aroused to the highest pitch of 
indignation. He openly accused Marmont of 
treachery, and in attempting to snatch from 
him Ms sword, wounded liimself in the hand. 
Marmont was immediately put under arrest ; 
but the king soon after ordered him to be set 
free, and restored his sword to him. The 
near approach of the revolutionary forces 
which were close to St. Cloud, induced the 
king to withdraw himself to Trianon, where 
he assembled a council of his former minis- 
ters, as M. de Montemarte had not yet re- 
turned from Paris, and had not been heard 
from for 24 hours. But while the council 
was still in session, the Duke d'Angouleme 
arrived with the disheartening intelUgence 
that the regiments of the first hne, posted at 
the bridge, had refused to fire upon the in- 
surgents, who had consequently crossed the 
bridge, and were making preparations to ad- 
vance against Trianon. On receipt of this 
inteUigence, it was resolved to fall back at 
all points on Rambouillet, where the court 
arrived ^vith the royal guard, still 12,000 
strong, at midnight, in the deepest state of 
depression. 

Charles arrived at Rambouillet fully deter- 
mined to abdicate for himself in favor of his 
grandson ; he saw that the people would no 
longer submit to his control. The Duke d'An- 
gouleme was strongly opposed to the abdica- 
tion of the king, preferring rather the chances 
of a conflict to constrain the people to submis- 
sion. But on the following morning (August 
1st), the king assembled his family around 



him, and announced his intention of abdicat- 
ing in favor of his grandson, the Duke de 
Bordeaux, as his son, the Duke d'Angouleme, 
showed his sentiments, and renounced his 
right of succession to the throne. He dis- 
patched a letter containing this resolution to 
the Duke of Orleans, and requiring him in 
the character of heutenant-general of the 
kingdom, conferred on him by the revolu- 
tionary authorities, and confirmed by the 
king by royal appointment, to proclaim Henry 
V. to the throne. But the Duke of Orleans 
did not feel himself obhged to obey, and is- 
sued in its place an order that the revolution- 
ary forces should prepare to the utmost to 
resist the king's wishes, and to march out of 
Paris on Rambouillet. At the same time 
Marshal Maison, Schonen, and Odillon Bar- 
rott, were sent forward to the king as depu- 
ties to impress upon him the necessity of an 
immediate and unqualified resignation for 
himself and his descendants, and every prep- 
aration was made to compel his embarkation 
for England. 

The revolutionary army took up their line 
of march from Paris on the 3d of August. 
The advanced guard consisted of veterans 
and the national guard ; the remainder con- 
sisted of mihtia, who, although poorly armed, 
were inflamed with an ardor which rendered 
them almost equal to regulars. The whole 
was under the command of General Pajol. 
When the three commissioners who preceded 
the army were admitted to the king, he asked 
them, " What do you wish with me ?" The 
commissioners impressed upon him the ne- 
cessity of his immediate resignation, with all 
his descendants, and added, that in case he 
should refuse, there was a sufiicient force on 
its way from Paris to compel him to do so. 
Being assured of this, the king rephed, 
" Enough ! I consent to any thing to spare 
the Ufe of my guards." With that he gave 
orders for the departure of the court for 
Cherbourg, to embark for England. On the 
16th of August, 1830, Charles X., with those 
that attended him, embarked in the Great 
Britain packet-boat, and in melancholy si- 
lence the vessel plowed through the sea, 
steering for Scotland. 

Thus fell the dynasty of the Bourbons — 
and fell, to all appearance, never again to be 
restored. The Duke of Orleans became 
Louis Philippe, King of the French, amid 
the transports of a people, who, eighteen 
years later, ignominiously expelled him fi-om 
France. 

The revolution of 1848, which gave Louis 
Napoleon, first the Presidency of the French 
Republic, and next the imperial throne of 
the French empire, is of so recent a date, 
that most of our readers are familiar with its 
details. Therefore, as we have already de- 



470 



PAOLI— PAYIA. 



voted more space to the narration of events 
which have transpired in Paris, which^ after 
all, is the heart, hfe, and soul of France, than 
^ye can afibrd, we will content ourselves with 
simply referring to it. i 

PAOLI, A.D. 1777.— In September, 1777, j 
the American troops under General Wayne, j 
were surprised near Paoli, in Pennsylvania, by 
a greatly superior British force under General 
Gray, and defeated. On this occasion a num- 
ber of the Americans Avere butchered in cold 
blood, after they had laid down their arms. 

PARMA, A.D. 173-1. — An indecisive battle 
was fought near Parma, in Italy, on the 29th 
of June, 1734, between the confederate ar- 
mies of England, France, and Spain, and the 
army of the Emperor of Austria. Both par- 
ties claimed the victory. 

PATAY, A.D. 1429.— Patay is a town 
of France, fourteen miles north-west of Or- 
leans, and is celebrated for the victory gained 
there in 1429, by the French under Joan of 
Arc, over the English under Talbot. The 
battle was fought on the 10th of July, and 
resulted in the signal defeat of the EngUsh. 
The redoubted hero Sir John Fastolfe fled in 
the commencement of the action, and Talbot 
was made prisoner. The EngUsh lost in this 
battle 1,200 men. In consequence of this 
victory, Charles of France entered Ptheims in 
triumph, and on the 17th of July in the same 
year was crowned ; Joan of Arc, taking 
part in the ceremony, in full armor, and 
holding the sword of state. As soon as the 
ceremony was over, the Maid of Orleans 
threw herself upon her knees before the king, 
and embracing his feet, declared her mission 
accompHshed, and with tears entreated that 
she might return to her former station. But 
Charles did not wish to lose the services of 
such a useful servant, and at his earnest 
request she consented to remain in the army. 
See Orleans and Compeigne. 

PAVIA, A.D. 476.— Pavia "the city of a 
Hundred Towers," stands on the left banlc of 
the Ticino, in Austrian Italy. It is sur- 
rounded by walls, and contains numerous 
pubUc edifices ; but its magnificence and fame 
belong to former ages ; now, nothing remains 
but decay and paralysis. 

Orestes having undertaken to dethrone 
Nepos, the Emperor of the West, raised an 
army, merely showed himself, and the weak 
monarch abandoned the diadem. The for- 
tunate rebel encircled the head of his son 
Romulus Augustulus with it. The Roman 
empire of the West was in its last period of 
decay. Odoacer, at the head of an army of 
Goths, Heruli, Scyrri, and Thuringians, came 
to give it the last blow, and to reign over its 
vast wreck. Terror and confusion preceded 
him. All fled, all dispersed at his approach. 
The plains were deserted, the cities opened 



their gates to him. Orestes, too weak to 
withstand him, shut himself up in Pavia. 
Odoacer pursued him thither, carried the city 
by storm, made a frightful carnage, and set 
fire to the churches and houses. Orestes 
was taken and decapitated on the 28th of 
August, 476, the very day on which, one 
year before, he dragged Nepos from his 
tlirone. Augustulus, abandoned by every 
body, stripped himself of his dangerous dig- 
nity, and dehvered up the purple to his con- 
queror, who, out of compassion for liis ago, 
left him his life, with a pension of six thou- 
sand golden pence, that is, about £3,300 
sterling. Thus disappeared the empu-e of 
the West, after having subsisted 506 years 
from the battle of Actium, and 1,229 from 
the foundation of Rome. Scarcely was its 
fall perceived, scarcely a look was fiied upon 
its last moments ; it might be compared to an 
old man who dies of caducity. 

Second Siege, a.d. 572. — Albion, King of 
Lombards, entered Italy for the purpose of 
founding a state. Pavia alone ventured to 
oppose him. The new conqueror laid siege 
to it; and that city, after a vigorous resistance 
of three years, reduced to the last extremity, 
was forced to surrender at discretion. The 
conqueror, exasperated by the obstinacy of 
the defense, had resolved to put all the in- 
habitants to the sword, but their submission 
disarmed his vengeance. He entered Pavia, 
not as a conqueror, but as a pacific Idng; 
forbade murder, violation, or pillage, and 
made that important place the capital of his 
new empire. 

Third Siege, a.d. 774. — Two centuries of 
profound peace had rendered Pavia one of 
the most flourisliing cities of the universe, 
when it beheld the standards of Didier, King 
of the Lombards, floating at its gates. This 
grasping prince, jealous of the power of Pope 
Adrian, sacked every place belonging to the 
pontiff. The holy father fulminated horrible 
excommunications ; but these arms were too 
weak to stop the usurper, and the pope had 
recourse to Charlemagne. That monarch 
crossed the Alps, combated the enemies of 
the court of Rome, and made such a carnage 
of them, that the field of battle took the 
name of the Plain of the Dead. Didier 
sought refuge in Pavia. He had provided 
that capital with every thing necessary for a 
long resistance. Charlemagne blockaded it, 
and left the command of his troops to his 
Uncle Bernard; he then took the road to 
Rome, wliere he was received as the Uberat- 
or of the Holy See. After having made a 
sojourn there, he returned to his army before 
Pavia, and pressed the siege so vigorously, 
that it opened its gates after a heroic defense 
of six months, Didier, his wife and children, 
were made prisoners, and banished to Liege. 



PAVIA. 



471 



Thus finished the kingdom of the Lombards, 
which had subsisted 206 years. Charlemagne 
added to the titles of Emperor of the Franks 
and Patrician of the Eomans, that of King of 
the Lombards. 

Fourth Siege, a.d, 1525. — Francis I. of 
France, after a brilliant campaign, in -which 
he drove back the imperiaUsts from Provence 
to the Milanese, very unwisely employed his 
army in sieges, instead of pursuing his enemies 
with vigor to the other side of the Carnic 
Alps. Accumulating errors, he weakened an 
army of 40,000 men by dividing it ; detach- 
ing from it a body of 10,000 soldiers upon an 
expedition into the kingdom of Naples. He 
thus left his enemy time to recover, and to 
remain master, by means of the armies he 
was able to raise in Germany and Naples. 

After having taken Milan, he commenced 
the siege of Pavia. That city, well fortified, 
had for governor Antonio de Leva, a great 
captain, commanding a numerous and warlike 
garrison. The French monarch attacked the 
place with vigor, but he evinced indecision 
in his points of attack. The siege was pro- 
tracted ; Pavia was reduced to extremity ; 
the garrison mutinied more than once for 
want of pay; the governor was even in 
dread of seeing the city delivered up to the 
French by liis unruly troops ; but his genius, 
equally firm and fertile in resources, contrived 
to keep them to their duty. Lannoi, viceroy 
of Naples for Charles V., was informed of 
the distresses of Pavia. The taking of that 
place might complete the disbanding of the 
imperial troops for want of money and sub- 
sistence ; he felt that this was the moment 
to venture to attack his enemy, and to at- 
tempt an action, hazardous without doubt, 
but which might re-estabUsh the afiairs of 
Charles V. in Italy. He set out then, ac- 
companied by the Marquis de Pescara and 
the constable de Bourbon. At liis approach, 
the French monarch called a council; pru- 
dence would have commanded him to avoid 
an engagement, to raise the siege, and to re- 
fi-esh and enlarge his army : " Sire," said La 
Tremouille to liim, " the true honor in war is 
to succeed. A defeat can never be justified 
by a battle ; you risk your army, your person, 
and your kingdom, and you risk nothing by 
raising the siege." The monarch was deaf 
to the councils of wisdom; his romantic 
spirit fancied that his honor would be com- 
promised. The Admiral Bonnevet promised 
so to dispose his troops that he should con- 
quer his enemies, that the imperiaUsts should 
not dare to attack him, and that Pavia should 
fall into his hands. The king followed this 
fatal and pernicious advice. The troops were 
nearly equal in numbers on both sides, each 
reckoning about 30,000 men. The imperi- 
alists first fell upon the rear guard of the 



French, placed at the castle and in the park 
of Mirabel. They expected to carry it if the 
king did not come to its assistance ; and, 
if he did come, they should make him lose 
the advantage of the position in wliich he 
was fortified. What Lannoi anticipated, hap- 
pened. Scarcely did the French monarch 
perceive the danger of his brother-in-law the 
Duke of Alencon, who commanded the rear 
guard, than, impatient to signalize himself, 
he rushed forward at the head of his cavalry, 
and fell upon the imperialists. His artillery, 
placed with much skill by Gaillon de Genou- 
illac, and served with great spirit, fired at 
first with such success, that every volley car- 
ried away a file. The Spanish infantry, being 
unable to resist this terrible fire, precipitately 
broke their ranks, to seek shelter, in great 
disorder, in a hollow way. Such a brilliant 
commencement dazzled Francis; he forgot 
that he owed all his success to his artillery, 
believed himself already the conqueror, and 
came out from liis lines. This inconsiderate 
movement placed the prince between his own 
artillery and the fugitives, and rendered his 
cannon useless. The face of the battle was 
changed in a moment ; the viceroy advanced 
with the gend'armerie and a body of arque- 
busiers ; the king was pressed on all sides. 
The French gend'armerie did not, in this 
battle, sustain its ancient reputation ; it was 
beaten and almost destroyed by 2,000 Bis- 
cayans, of astonishing agility, who, separating 
by platoons of ten, twenty, or thirty men, 
attacked it with inconceivable celerity and 
address. They were seen, all at once, making 
a discharge, disappearing at the moment they 
should be in turn attacked, and re-appearing 
unexpectedly, again to disappear. It is said 
that Antonio de Leva had, for some time, 
trained these arquebusiers to figlit thus in 
platoons, between the squadrons of the Span- 
ish cavalry, and that he had borrowed the 
maneuver fi-om the Greeks. A stratagem 
of Pescara's contributed stiU further to the 
success of the day. This general having ap- 
proached the enemy's camp a little before the 
commencement of the battle, returned to his 
own to announce that the King of France 
had just pubUshed in his army a prohibition, 
under a capital punishment, to grant quarter 
to any Spaniard. This information, although 
false, produced so strong an impression upon 
Ills troops, that almost all the imperialists 
swore to spare the life of no Frenchman, and 
to die sooner than surrender. This oath ren- 
dered the Spaniards equally invincible in fight, 
and ferocious after victory. The French 
monarch sustained the powerful charges of 
the enemy Uke a hero. Francis of Lorraine, 
and Richard de la Pole, the last heir of the 
house of Suffolk, endeavored, with some 
companies of Lansquenets, to disengage him; 



472 



PENSACOLA. 



but they were killed, and the soldiers instantly 
turned their backs. Bonnevet perished fight- 
ing, and was regretted by nobody. Louis de 
la Tremouille shared the same fate ; nearly 
9,000 warriors, all gentlemen, were left hfe- 
less on the field of battle. The mtlke was 
terrible around the king. Left almost alone 
in the midst of a host of enemies, he inspired 
terror in all who ventured to approach him. 
He had already immolated five of his assail- 
ants, when his horse was killed, the monarch 
fell, and a rush was made to seize him. 
Springing up, he recovered himself, and killed 
two more Spaniards. At this moment. Mo- 
lac de Kercado, first gentleman of the cham- 
ber, perceived the peril of his master, and 
dispersed or killed all Avho stood in the way of 
his zeal. He placed himself before his ex- 
hausted sovereign, protected him with his 
sword, and checked the savage impetuosity of 
the Spanish soldiery ; but Kercado fell while 
defending the king, Avho refused to surrender 
to any body but the viceroy of Naples : "Mon- 
sieur de Lannoi," said he, " there is the sword 
of a king who deserves consideration, since 
before parting with it, he has employed it in 
shedding the blood of several of your people, 
and who is not made prisoner by cowardice, 
but by a reverse of fortune." Lannoi fell on 
his knees, received the arms of the king with 
respect, and kissed liis hand, while presenting 
him with another sword, saying, " I beg your 
majesty to accept of mine, which has spared 
the blood of many of your subjects. It is 
not becoming in an officer of the emperor to 
behold a king disarmed, although a prisoner." 
Francis was conducted, after the action, 
across the field of battle, to the place he was 
to be confined in. The imperiaUsts made 
him observe that aU the Swiss guards had 
fallen in their ranks, and that they lay dead 
close to one another. " If all my troops had 
done their duty," said he, much affected by 
this spectacle, " as weU as these brave fel- 
lows, I should not be your prisoner, but you 
would be mine." Francis announced this 
defeat to his mother in the energetic words : 
" Madame, all is lost but honor." 

Wliile the king's wounds were being 
dressed, a Spanish soldier, approaching him 
respectfully, said : " Knowing we should 
have a battle, sire, I cast a golden bullet, 
which I destined for your majesty, and six 
silver ones for the principal officers of your 
army. The six have been used, but yours is 
left, because I could not find the opportunity 
I watched for. I implore of you, sire, to 
accept of it, and to keep it to form part of 
your ransom." The king took it, thanked 
the Spaniard, and praised his intelligence and 
generosity. The emperor issued a decree by 
which he forbade any rejoicings on account 
of the victory ; but this moderation was only 



apparent. Francis was taken to Madrid. 
Charles assembled a council to consider how 
the captive king ought to be treated. " As 
your brother and your friend," rephed the 
bishop of Osma, " he must be restored to lib- 
erty without any otlier condition than that 
of becoming your ally." Charles did not fol- 
low this wise counsel; he behaved toward 
the king hke a Corsair with a rich prisoner. 
Francis recovered his hberty thirteen months 
after, by an onerous treaty, in which he gave 
up his claims to the Milanese, G-enoa, and 
Asti. He was also to have ceded his rights 
to the Duchy of Burgundy, but when Lannoi 
came to demand that province in the name 
of the emperor, Francis, as his only reply, 
required him to be present at an audience of 
the deputies of Burgundy, who told the king 
that he had not the power to dismember a 
province of the French monarchy. Francis I. 
preserving a continual desire to avenge him- 
self for the disgrace before Pavia, entered 
into all the leagues that were formed against 
Charles V. The emperor derived but little 
advantage from this event, the most decisive 
and glorious of his reign. A modern writer 
has discovered the reason of this. Money 
constitutes the sinews of war, and the em- 
peror could not pay his troops. He assem- 
bled the cortes of Castile -at Madrid, and aU 
orders refused him assistance; the clergy, 
because they had no power to dispose of the 
goods consecrated to reUgion ; the nobihty 
would have derogated from their privilege, 
if they had paid a tribute ; and the third es- 
tate, because, not having yet had in their 
power to pay a gratuitous gift which had 
been demanded of them of four hundred 
thousand ducats, it was impossible for them 
to furnish fresh sums. The emperor, although 
very much dissatisfied, pretended to find 
these reasons good, although they de- 
feated all his designs. Napoleon, with 
that jealousy which he always professed 
to have for the honor of France, when mas- 
ter of S]iain, caused the unfortunate king, 
CharlesIV, to restore the sword and armor of 
Francis I., wliich were preserved at Madrid 
as a monument of this victory. 

Pavia experienced something approaching 
to sieges in 1G55, 1733, and 1745, but they 
furnish no details worth relating. In 1796, 
likewise it was captured without any trouble 
by Bonaparte, who on this occasion said : 
" If the blood of a single Frenchman had 
been shed, I would have caused a column to 
be erected oA^er the ruins of the city, upon 
\yhich should have been inscribed. Here 
STOOD TnE City of Pavia !" 

PENSACOLA, A.D. 1814.— This place is 
the capital of Escambia co., Florida, and 
is situated on the west shore of Pensacola 
Bay, about twelve miles from the Gulf of 



PERMASIN— PEQUOT HILL. 



473 



Mexico. In 1814 Pensacola was a Spanish 
city, and as the governor of the place held 
communication with the British, Jackson, 
the American general, resolved to take pos- 
session of the town. The governor refusing 
to give up the town, the Americans, on the 
20th of November, advanced against it. 
At the entrance to the town two can- 
non were planted, which opened on the 
Americans as they advanced. These were 
speedily taken, and the Americans in a 
few minutes were masters of the place. The 
British in the town fled. Having thus chas- 
tised the Spanish governor, Jackson took 
up his march for New Orleans, against which 
a strong British force was approaching. See 
Fort lioyer. 

PERMASIN, A.D. 1793.— On the 14th of 
September 1793, the French army, under 
General Moreau, commenced an attack upon 
the Prussian corps stationed at Permasin, on 
the Rhine, in Germany. The republican 
forces advanced with the utmost intrepidity 
to the attack ; but when they reached the 
Prussian redoubt such a terrific fire of grape 
was hurled upon them that their advance 
was arrested. At the same time they were 
attacked in flank by the Duke of Brunswick, 
who with heavy and continuous discharges 
of artillery threw their ranks into disorder, 
and finally compelled them to retire with the 
loss of nearly four thousand men killed and 
wounded, and made prisoners; twenty-two 
pieces of cannon also fell into the hand of the 

PERSEPOLIS, B.c. 330.— Ever insatiable 
of glory, Alexander had laid siege to Perse- 
poUs, the capital of the Persian empire. At 
his approach the inhabitants deserted the 
city, and fled away into the deserts, and the 
conqueror entered without the least obstacle. 
The Macedonian soldiery, greedy of booty, 
pillaged the city, and destroyed the few in- 
habitants they met with. But Alexander 
stopped the carnage, and gave orders that the 
virtue of the women should be respected. 
Almost all of the treasures and magazines of 
the Persians were collected in Persepolis, 
which had been their capital from the time 
of Cyrus. The amount of wealth is so enor- 
mous, that a modern historian is afraid to re- 
peat what the ancients have stated ; it ap- 
pears to be a subject for the imagination 
rather than of calculation or comparison. So 
rich a booty gave rise to the idea of celebrate 
ing this event by a festival. Tables were 
spread in the streets ; the soldiers gave them- 
selves up to rejoicings and the enjoyment of 
good cheer, while their prince presided at a 
grand banc^uet given to his officers and friends. 
ThaYs, an Athenian courtezan, the mistress 
of Ptolemy, who was afterward king of 
Egypt, had gained the privilege of bemg ad- 



mitted to the royal table by her wit and gay- 
ety, and was accustomed to address the con- 
queror of Asia with the utmost freedom. 
When wine had sufficiently Avarmed the 
guests, Thais exclaimed, " Noble lord ! 
thanks to your invincible courage, Greece is 
avenged ; you are master of Persia, and we 
are quaffing the wines of Darius in the pal- 
ace of the Persian kings. The pleasures I 
enjoy in tliis superb abode make amends for 
the fatigues I have endured while you sub- 
dued Asia. There is only one tiling wanting 
to complete my fehcity. Great prince, why 
will you not permit the women who have 
had the honor to follow your warriors, to 
make one glorious blaze of the dwelling of 
Xerxes, the barbarian who burned and de- 
stroyed my country ? I should consider my- 
self a thousand times too fortunate if I could 
myself set fire to it in your presence, and to 
let it be known to all ages, that a woman in 
the train of the great Alexander had more 
nobly avenged Greece than Miltiades or 
Themistocles had done!" The guests ap- 
plauded this boastful appeal. The king rose 
from table with his head crowned with flow- 
ers, and seizing a blazing torch, rushed to the 
execution of the suggested sacrifice. The 
Macedonians, following the example of their 
king and Thais, spread themselves in all di- 
rections with their flaming brands, and soon 
produced an awful conflagration. But scarce- 
ly had the first flame cast its glare around, 
than Alexander became aware of his foUy, 
and gave earnest orders for the extinguishing 
of the fire ; but it was too late — the palace 
was consumed. 

PETERWARDEN, a.d. 1716.— In the 
year 1716 a battle was fought between the 
Austrian army under Prince Eugene, and the 
Turks, near Peterwarden', on the Danube, in 
Sclavonia, in which the latter were defeated, 
and thus lost their last foothold in central 
Europe. 

PEQUOT HILL, a.d. 1637.— This hill is 
eight miles north-west from New London, 
Conn., was the scene of a terrible conflict be- 
tween the early English settlers in Connecti- 
cut and the Pequots, a tribe of Indians who 
scorned every overture of peace from the 
white men. On the contrary, they murdered 
and insulted the colonists at every opportu- 
nity. Aroused to action by the continued 
outrages of the Pequots, the settlers set sail 
from the Bay State to the number of 79 
men, under Captain John Mason; and on 
the 21st of May, 1637, entered a harbor near 
Wickford, in the Narraganset bay. On Pe- 
quot Hill (now called), 700 Pequots with 
their wives and children occupied a strong 
position. The little village on the hill was 
defended by a slight pallisade work, which 
the Indians, in their ignorance of the strength 



474 



PERPIGNAN— PHARSALIA. 



of the white man, considered a sufBcient pro- 
tection. As Captain Mason advanced tlirough 
the country on his march of forty miles 
through the forest toward the Mystic river, 
his force was swelled by friendly Indians, 
until he counted 500 men under his com- 
mand. On the evening of the 4th of June, 
Mason arrived in the vicinity of the enemy. 
The Pequots, all unconscious of his approach, 
Avere engaged in dancing, and the whole 
night was spent in revelry. The morning 
came, and the English with their aUies, 
moved rapidly up the acclivity. Overcome 
by the flitigues of the night, the Indians were 
Avrapped in sleep. The English broke 
through the feeble defenses of the Indian 
camp ; the savages, aroused by the fierce 
barking of a dog, sprang to their arms and 
resisted vahantly. Lilve a huge cataract they 
poured down upon the assailants, and seem- 
ed on the point of overwhelming them by 
their very weight, when Mason shouted 
"We must burn theml" A dozen fire- 
brands were thrown to windward upon the 
mat roofings of the Indian lodges. The fire 
spread from point to point, till the whole 
camp Avas in a blaze. The EngUsh surround- 
ing the hill stood with pieces ready, watch- 
ing Uke hunters for the first appearance of 
their prey. No sooner did the unfortunate 
Indians climb the palUsades, than they were 
pierced by the balls of the unerring marks- 
men ; and when they attempted a sally, they 
fell beneath the broadswords of the enemy. 
The carnage was fearful. Six hundred In- 
dians, men, women, and children, perished, 
most of them in the flames. The work of 
destruction was finished in an hour. Three 
hundred Pequots advanced at early dawn 
from their other fort, on the Pequot (Thames) 
and rushed upon the English. They were 
received by a well directed fire of musketry, 
which drove them back in disorder, and a 
fierce charge scattered them far and wide. 
The victory was won; and the conquerors 
marched in triumph to the Enghsh fort at 
Saybrook. 

PERPIGNAN A.D. 1474.— Perpignan, in 
France, was taken in 1474, by the army of 
Louis XL, and in 1642 by Louis XIIL In 
1793 a battle was fought near Perpignan be- 
tween the French and the Spaniards, in 
which the latter were defeated. Philip the 
Bold died in this town in the year 1285. 

PERTH.— Perth, in Scotland, Avas cap- 
tured and its records carried ofi" by Edward 
I, of England, in 1228; in 1644 it Avas taken 
by the troops of Montrose ; and it capitulated 
to Ohver Cromwell in 1651. James I. of 
England was murdered in P(>rth in 1437. 

PHARSALIA, E.G. 48.— The modern city 
of Satalge, in Thessaly, occupies the site of 
the famous ancient toAvn of Pharsalia. On 



some eminences toward the east of the toAvn, 
was fought a battle between the Romans, 
under Quintus Flaminus, and Macedonians, 
under Philip ; but the celebrated battle of 
PharsaUa, in which CaBsar defeated Pompey, 
Avas fought on the plain immediately adjoin- 
ing the city. 

Pompey 's army greatly exceeded that of 
CaBsar in point of numbers, especially in 
horse, archers, and slingers ; and he trusted 
that by this part of liis army he should pre- 
vail on the Avings, and carry his attack to the 
flank, and even to the rear of the enemy. 
Having the Enipeus, a small river with steep 
banks, on his right, which sufiiciently cover- 
ed that flank, he drew aU the cavalry, 
amounting to 7,000, Avith the archers an<i 
slingers, to his left, expecting that the event 
of the battle Avould be determined on tliis 
wing. He himself, therefore, took post, to 
second the operations of the cavalry, at the 
head of the tAvo famous legions wliich he had 
called ofi" from Csesar at the beginning of the 
war. Scipio Avas posted in the center with 
the legions from Syria, having the great body 
of the infantry divided' on liis right and left. 
The right of the whole Avas covered by a 
Cilician legion, and the remains of the Span- 
ish army wliich had joined Pompey under 
Afranius. The whole amounted to 100 
cohorts, or about 45,000 foot, draAvn up in a 
line of ten men deep. 

Ctesar observing this disposition, formed 
his army in three divisions ; the left was com- 
manded by Antony, the right by Sylla, and 
the center by Cn. Domitius. The tenth 
legion was posted on the right, and the ninth 
on the left of the whole. He had eighty 
cohorts in the field ; but these so incomplete 
as not to exceed above 21,000 men. He saAV 
the disparity of his horse and irregulars on 
the right, having no more than 1,000 horse 
to oppose 7,000 of the enemy. In order to 
reintbrce and sustain them, he draughted a 
cohort from each of the legions in the night 
to form a reserve, which he placed in the 
rear of his cavalry with orders to sustain 
them, or to repel the enemy's horse, when 
they should attempt, as he expected, to turn 
his flank. This body formed a fourth divis- 
ion of his army, not placed in the same Hne 
Avith the other divisions ; but facing oblique- 
ly to the right, in order to receive the cavalry 
that Avas expected to turn the flank and fall 
obliquely on the rear. He himself passed 
along the front of the right wing, and earn- 
estly entreated them not to engage till they 
got the signal from himself. He reminded 
them of Ms continual attention to the welfare 
of the army, desiring them to recollect with 
Avhat earnestness he had endeavored to bring 
about a treaty, in order to save both armies 
1 to the republic, and how far he had always 



PHARSALIA. 



475 



been from any desire to shed the blood of his 
soldiers wantonly, Loud shouts testified the 
desire of his hearers to be led to battle. 
Pompey had directed the cavahy and archers 
assembled on his left to begin the attack ; 
and instructed them to fall upon the flank and 
rear of Csesar's infantry as soon as they had 
driven his cavalry from the field. 

A solemn pause ensued. The two armies 
gazed at each other in sorrowful silence. 
Clothed in the same guise, armed with the 
same weapons, they did not appear hke two 
hostile armies drawn up in battle array ; but 
like two great divisions of one army. The 
trumpets sounded, and the notes on each side 
were aUke ; it seemed as if brother were 
about to contend against brother. At the 
sound of the trumpets, Ceesar's troops rushed 
forward ; they had only space enough be- 
tween them if both sides advanced to acquire 
that velocity with which they were usually 
shocked ; but Pompey had ordered his men 
to stand firm in the expectation that the ene- 
my's soldiers if they were made to run a 
double space in coming to the shock, would 
be disordered or out of breath. But Caesar's 
veterans, suspecting the intention of this un- 
usual method of receiving an enemy, made a 
fuU stop; and having drawn breath, came 
forward again with the usual rapidity. They 
were received with perfect order ; but not 
with that resistance and equal force which 
motion alone could give. The action became 
general near about the same time along the 
whole front. Pompey's horse, as was ex- 
pected, in the first charge, put Caesar's caval- 
ry to flight ; and together with the archers 
and sUngers were hastening to turn the flank 
of the enemy. But as soon as they opened 
their view to the rear, being surprised at the 
sight of a body of infantry, which was drawn 
up to receive them, and being, probably, from 
their confidence of victory neghgent of order, 
in their attempts to recover it they were 
thrown into the utmost confusion, and al- 
thojgh there was not any enemy in condition 
to pursue them, fled to the heights. The 
archers being thus deserted by the horse, 
were put to the sword. And Pompey's left, 
on which he expected the enemy could not 
resist him, being flanked by the cohorts who 
had defeated the cavalry, began to give way. 
Caesar, in order to increase the impression he 
had made, brought forward fresh troops to the 
front of his own line ; and while his reserve 
turned upon the flank, made a general charge, 
which the enemy no longer endeavored to 
withstand. 

Pompey, on seeing the flight of his cavalry, 
an event he so little expected, either thought 
himself betrayed, or despairing the event of 
the day, put sjiurs to his horse and returned 
into camp. As he entered the praetorian 



gate, he called to the guards to stand to their 
arms, and to provide for the worst. " I go 
the rounds," he said, " and visit the posts." 
It is lilvely that surprise and mortification had 
unsettled his mind. He retired to his tent in 
the greatest dejection, and yet he awaited 
the issue. His army, meanwhile, being 
routed, fled in great confusion through the 
lanes of their own encampment. It was 
noon, and the victors as well as vanquished, 
were greatly fatigued ; but Caesar seldom left 
any refuge to a flying enemy, not even be- 
hind their intrenchments. He ordered Pom- 
pey's lines to be stormed ; met with some 
httle resistance from the guards that were 
placed on the parapet, but soon prevailed. 
The rout and the carnage continued through 
the streets and alleys of the camp, to the rear 
gate passages through which the vanquished 
crowded to recover the fields, and from which, 
without any attempt to rally, they continued 
their flight to the neighboring hills. 

When Pompey's army went forth to battle, 
their tents were left standing, as in full con- 
fidence of victory, and the plate, furniture, 
and equipage of the officers were stiU dis- 
played, as if intended for show. 

Notwithstanding this circumstance, Csesar 
had authority enough to restrain his troops 
from plunder, and continued the pursuit. 
Seeing crowds of the vanquished had occu- 
pied a hill in the rear of their camp, he made 
haste to surround them and cut olT their 
further retreat. But they themselves, hav- 
ing observed that the place was destitute of 
water, abandoned it before they could be 
surrounded, and took the road to Larissa. 
Caesar, having ordered part of the army to 
keep possession of the enemy's camp, another 
part to return to their own, he himself, with 
four legions, endeavored to intercept the 
fugitives on their way to Larissa. He had 
the advantage of the ground ; so that after a 
hasty march of six miles, he got before 
them ; and, having thrown himself in their 
way obliged them to halt. They took pos- 
session of a height over a stream of water, 
from which they hoped to be supplied. Night 
was fast approaching, and the pursuers were 
spent with fatigue ; but Caesar yet prevailed 
on his men to prevent the access of the en- 
emy to the brook. When overwhelmed 
with fatigue and distress, these remains of 
the vanquished army, offered to capitulate; 
and while the treaty was in dependence, 
many among them, senators and persons of 
rank, withdrew in the night and made their 
escape; the rest surrendered at discretion. 
Persons of distinction who had been former- 
ly prisoners, and who had been set at liberty, 
were now put to death. Some were spared 
at the intercession of their friends, to whom 
Caesar permitted that each should save one 



476 



PHILIPPI. 



of the prisoners. The private men took 
oaths of fidelity to the victor, and were 
enlisted in liis army. Caesar, having ordered 
such of his men as had been on service all 
night, to be released from the camp, he liim- 
seif marched the same day vs^ith a fresh body 
of Larissa. 

In the famous battle of Pharsaha, CiEsar, 
by liis own account, lost no more than 200 
men, among whom were thirty centurions, 
officers of distinguished merit. Of Pompey's 
army, 15,000 were slain, and 24,000 made 
prisoners. One hundred and eighty stands 
of colors, and nineteen Roman eagles, and 
legionary standards, fell into the hands of 
tlie victors. Among the slain were many 
senators, and many of the equestrian order, 
tlie flower of the Roman nobility, who were 
the most Ukely to bear up the sinking for- 
tunes of the commonwealth. Pompey, after 
liis defeat, fled into Egypt, where he was 
shortly afterward murdered by the order of 
Ptolemy, the younger. His body was thrown 
naked on the strand, and exposed to the 
view of all those whose curiosity led them 
that way, till it was burned by his faithful 
freed man Pliilip. The battle of Pharsalia 
was fought on the 12th of May, 48 B.C. 

PHILIPPI, 42 B.C.— PhiUppi is a ruined 
town of European Turkey, in Macedonia, 
ten miles south-east of Drama. The mem- 
orable battles between the troops of Octavius 
and Marc Antony, and those of Brutus and 
Cassius, took place in the month of October, 
B.C. 42, in a plain west of the town. 

The army of Brutus and Cassius first took 
post at Philippi, on the dechvity of the 
mountains, two miles from the town, on two 
separate eminences, about a mile asunder. 
Brutus commanded the right wing, Cassius 
the left. On their right was Philippi, cov- 
ered by the mountains, on the left an impass- 
able marsh, which reached about nine miles 
from their camp to the sea. Octavius and 
Antony took two separate stations in the 
plain, opposite those of the enemy. Octavius 
opposite to Brutus, and Antony to Cassius. 
The number of legions on both sides was 
equal; but those of Octavius and Antony 
were not complete. In cavalry they were 
unequal ; that of Brutus and Cassius amount- 
ing to 20,000, while that of Octavius and 
Antony was no more than 13,000. Antony 
and Octavius, in order to force their antago- 
nists to a battle, or to cut off their commu- 
nication with their fleet which was in harbor 
at Neapolis, near where the marsh which 
covered the left of Cassius's camp terminated 
in the sea, formed a design to pierce the 
morass, and to seize upon the heights beyond 
it on the left of the camp of Cassius. In the 
Avork which they carried on for this purpose, 
they were covered by the reeds, which grew 



to a great height in the marsh ; and in ten 
days, without being observed, by means of 
timbers, hurdles, and earth, which they sunk 
as they advanced, accomphshed a passage, 
and sent in the night a party of their army 
to occupy the opposite heights, to make 
lodgments and to intercept the communica- 
tion of their antagonists with Neapolis fi'om 
which they received their daily supplies. 

As soon as Brutus and Cassius perceived 
this advantage gained by the enemy, they 
took measures to recover it, and to re-open 
their own access to the sea. For this purpose, 
they, in their turn, traversed the marsh in a 
line wliich crossed the passage already made 
by the enemy, and pierced Octavius and 
Antony's highway with a deep and impass- 
able ditch. Having in this manner cut oS 
the enemy's parties that had passed the mo- 
rass from any succors or supplies from their 
own main body, they were about to force 
them, when Octavius and Antony endeavored 
to recover their passage ; and to divert the 
attention of the enemy from what they were 
doing in the marsh, drew forth their armies 
on the plain. While Octavius was still con- 
fined by sickness, his lieutenant, or next in 
command, took his place in this movement, 
and advanced toward the intrenchment of 
Brutus. The light troops began to skirmish 
on the ascent of the hills, and notwithstand- 
ing it was the resolution of both leaders in 
the republican army, not to hazard a battle, 
except in defense of their own intrenchments, 
the legions of Brutus, observing from then- 
parapets what was passing between the ad- 
vanced parties in fi-ont, were so animated or 
incensed as not to be restrained. They ac- 
cordingly quitted their hnes, attacked the 
wing wliich Octavius was supposed to com- 
mand, drove them back to their ground, and 
continuing the pursuit, even forced them into 
their camp. Octavius himself, having been 
carried from his bed to a Utter, narrowly 
escaped falling into the enemy's hands. 

On the other wing, likewise, Antony had 
advanced toward the camp of Cassius ; but 
as he was observed, at the same time, begin- 
ning to work in the morass, this movement 
of his army was considered no more than a 
feint to favor the other design. Cassius, to 
divert him from his operation in the marsh, 
drew forth his army hkewise; and having 
greatly the advantage of the ground, did not 
suppose that the enemy in such circumstances 
would venture upon a general action. In 
this, however, he was disappointed. Antony, 
seeing Cassius expose his front, discontinued 
his work in the morass, mounted the height 
in his presence, forced him to retire, and even 
took and pillaged his camp, thus showing, in 
his turn, what are the effects of an impetuous 
attack upon an enemy who are disposed to 



PHILIPPI. 



477 



think themselves secure. These separate ac- 
tions, or the preparations which' were made 
for them, had filled up the greatest part of 
the day. It was already dusk, and the field, 
for the most part, was covered with clouds of 
dust, so that no one could see to a distance. 
Those who commanded on the right in both 
armies, having put those who were opposed 
to them to flight, thought that the event was 
decisive in their own favor. But Brutus and 
Antony being informed of what had passed 
on the other wings of their respective armies, 
neither attempted to keep the advantage he 
had gained. Disqualified by fatigue or sur- 
prise from renewing the contest, they passed 
each other on the plain, and hastened back to 
their former stations. 

Cassius, after the rout of his division, with 
a few who adhered to him, had halted on an 
eminence, and sent Titinius to the right, with 
orders to learn the particulars of the day on 
that side. This oflScer, whUe yet in sight, 
was met by a party of horse emerging from 
the clouds of dust on the plain. This party 
had been sent by Brutus to learn the situa- 
tion of his friends ; but Cassius supposing 
them to be enemies, and believing that Ti- 
tinius, whom he saw surrounded by them, 
was taken, he insolently, with that precipi- 
tant despair which on other occasions had 
proved so fatal to the cause of the republic, 
presented his breast to a slave to whom he 
had allotted, in case of any urgent extremity, 
the office of putting an end to his life. Ti- 
tinius, upon Ms return, imputing this fatal ca- 
lamity to his own neglect in not trying sooner 
to undeceive his general by proper signals, 
killed himself, and fell upon the body of his 
friend. Brutus, soon after, arrived at the 
same place, and seeing the dead body of 
Cassius, shed tears of vexation and sorrow 
over the eSects of an action so rash and pre- 
cipitant, and which deprived the repubhc and 
himself, in tliis extremity, of so necessary and 
so able a support. 

After the death of Cassius, the surviving 
republican general seemed resolved not to 
hazard a battle. Antony and Octavius, for 
many days successively, drew out their army, 
but could not entice the enemy from their 
strong position. Brutus, to hasten the effects 
of the season, which was beginning to give 
the enemy great annoyance, turned the 
course of a river from the hills, and laid un- 
der water part of the plain on which they 
were encamped. The troops of Octavius and 
Antony began to suffer greatly for want of 
provisions, and a calamity befell them at sea 
which increased their distresses, and dimin- 
ished their hopes of reUef. On the same day 
on which the late battle was fought at Phil- 
ippi, Domitius Calvinus had sailed from Brun- 
dusium, having on board of transports two 



legions, of which the Martia was one, witli 
2,000 men of the Praetorian bands, and a 
body of horse, convoyed by some gaUeys or 
ships of war. Being met at sea by the fleet 
of Brutus, consisting of 130 sail, under Mar- 
cus and Ahenobarbus, a few of the headmost 
and best saihng sliips escaped ; but the re- 
mainder being surrounded, had no resource 
but in the valor of the troops, who endeav- 
ored to defend themselves with their swords, 
grappUng and lashing their transports to the 
ships of the enemy ; but in this attempt, be- 
ing galled with missiles from the armed gal- 
leys, particularly with burning darts, by 
which some of the transports were set on fire, 
the others to avoid the flames, were obhged 
to keep at a distance ; and the greater part 
of them, suffering extremely, without being 
able to annoy the enemy, were sunk or de- 
stroyed. Calvinus, himself, having been five 
or six days at sea, escaped to Brundusium. 

These tidings had their effect in both ar- 
mies. In that of Brutus they inspired an 
unseasonable ardor, and a disposition to com- 
mit the cause of the party to the hazard of a 
battle ; in that of Antony and Octavius, they 
impressed the necessity of a speedy decision. 
These leaders, to amuse their own troops, 
and to provoke the enemy, had seized, in the 
night, a post on the dechvity below the 
ground wliich was lately occupied by Cassius. 
They were suffered to make a lodgment 
upon it by Brutus, who had not any appre- 
hension that he could be annoyed from a sit- 
uation that was so much lower than his own. 
From tills new position they endeavored, by 
frequent alarms, and by exposing their own 
parties on the plain, to engage IBrutus in a 
general action. Meanwhile the republican 
general, having secured his own communi- 
cation with Neapohs, by a proper disposition 
of posts from his present encampment to the 
sea, and trusting that his enemies must, 
upon the approach of winter, be obliged to 
evacuate Macedonia, or to separate their 
army for the convenience of finding subsist- 
ence, persisted in his resolution to protract 
the war. His troops, however, could not be 
reconciled to this dilatory plan ; they began 
to complain that a victorious army should be 
cooped up beliind intrenchments to be in- 
sulted like women ; and Brutus, in about 20 
days after the former action, overcome by 
mere importunities, drew forth his army 
on the declivity before his camp ; the enemy 
at the same time, according to theh custom, 
were forming on the plain ; and both sides 
foresaw the approach of a general engage- 
ment. 

Historians prefix their accounts of the last 
action at Philippi, with a detail of forms and 
solemnities, wliich, on other occasions, they 
have either omitted to mention, or which 



478 



PINKEY. 



were not equally observed. As soon as the 
parole, or word for the day, was given out 
to the different divisions of the respective 
armies, a single trumpet sounded the signal 
of battle, and v?as followed by a numerous 
band, which played an air, while the legions 
were dressing their ranks, and while the men 
were trying and handling their arms. 

Brutus, being on horseback, passed along 
the lines of his own army, and exhorted his 
men not to quit the advantage of the ground 
on which they stood by advancing too far to 
meet the enemy. " You have promised me 
a victory," he said; " you have forced me to 
snatch it now, rather than to wait for a more 
secure possession of it hereafter. It is your 
business to fulfil your own expectations and 
mine." 

On the other side, Antony and Octavius 
were happy in having their fortunes, hitherto 
desperate, brought to the chance of a battle. 
They put tlieir army in mind, that this was 
what all of them wished. " You are poor 
and distressed," they said, "but in the enemy's 
camp you will find an end to your sufferings, 
and the beginning of riches and plenty." 

In these preparations, the day being far 
spent, and noon about three hours already 
past, the trumpets on both sides having 
sounded a general charge, made a, sudden 
pause, and sounded again, wliile both armies 
being in motion, struck upon their bucklers, 
advanced with a mighty shout, and, under a 
shower of missiles, and weapons of every sort, 
closed with their swords. They continued 
long with all the fury that kindles in the use 
of short weapons, to struggle on the same 
spot. The places of those that fell in the 
first rank were continually supplied from the 
ranks behind them ; and the place of action 
began to be encumbered with the heaps of 
tlie slain. No stratagem is said to have been 
practiced, or any accident to have happened 
to determine the fate of the day on either 
side ; but after a severe contest, the army of 
Brutus began to give way, at first, slowly, 
and almost insensibly; but being pressed 
with growing violence, they were thrown 
into some confusion, and gave up the day 
without hope of recovery. In the disorder 
that followed, num!)ers, who had fled to the 
camp, finding the entrance obstructed by the 
crowds that struggled for admission, despaired 
of safety there, and passed on to the heights 
in its rear. Octavius advanced to the ene- 
my's camp to secure, or to keep in awe those 
that had taken refuge within it. Antony 
pursued those who were dispersed on the 
heights, and, at the approach of night, made 
the necessary dispositions to prevent those 
who were witliin tlie intrenchment, or who 
were in the fieM, from rallying or assembling 
again ; and employed detached bodies of 



horse all night to scour all the avenues in 
search of prisoners. Brutus himself being 
cut off from the camp, and closely followed, 
Lucilius, one of his company, to give him 
time to escape, affecting to personate his 
general, and falling behind, was taken, and 
conducted to Antony, who recognizing him, 
said to his captors, " You intended to bring 
me an enemy, but you have brought me a 
friend." Brutus, meanwhile, endeavored to 
reach the camp ; but reflecting upon the 
improbabihty of rallying his dispersed troops 
in sufficient numbers to defend his lines 
against a victorious enemy, gave way to 
despair, and Avith Strato and several others, 
put an end to his own life. Brutus, at the 
time of his death, was about forty years of 
age. Of aU the Romans, Brutus, next to 
Cato, is supposed to have been actuated by 
the purest motives of public virtue. On 
learning of the death of his formidable an- 
tagonist, Octavius ordered his head to be 
conveyed to Italy, and exposed on Caesar's 
tomb. The part of the vanquished army 
which fled to the heights, being about 14,000 
men, hearing of the death of the last of their 
leaders, surrendered themselves, and were 
equally divided between Antony and Octa- 
vius. Those who remained in the camp, or 
at any of the outposts of the army, likewise 
laid down their arms. Of the persons of 
rank who partook in the wreck of their party 
at PhiUppi, some escaped by sea, and joined 
Sextus Pompeius in Sicily, now the sole 
refuge of those who adhered to the com- 
monwealth ; others kdUed themselves, or in 
the late battle refused quarter, and fought 
till they were slain. Among the immechate 
consequences of the event at Philippi, was 
the death of Porcia the wife of Brutus, and 
the daughter of Cato, who destroyed herself 
by swallowing burning coals. The defeat of 
Brutus decided the fate of the Roman repub- 
hc ; by their decisive A-ictory, Octavius and 
Antony had removed the last pillars of the 
commonwealth; and the cause of the repub- 
licans fell with the death of Brutus. — Fer- 



PINKEY, A.D. 1547.— The battle of Pin- 
key took place in the vicinity of Musselburg, 
formerly Eskmouth, in Scotland, and derived 
its name from a nobleman's seat near the spot 
on which it was fought. This battle was 
fought on the 10th of September, 1547, be- 
tween the English under the Duke of Somer- 
set, and the Scots under the Earl of Arran. 
Early in September, Somerset, with 20,000 
men, crossed the Tweed and directed his 
march upon Edinburg; while the EngUsh 
fleet of twenty-four galleys, and an equal 
number of store-ships, under Lord Clinton, 
crept along the shore without losing sight of 
the army. To meet this invasion the Earl of 



PIRNA— PLAT^A. 



479 



Arran had dispatched the fire-cross from clan 
to clan, and had ordered every Scotchman to 
join his standard at Musselburg. The Scots 
flocked to the place of rendezvous in such 
numbers that the multitude became too nu- 
merous for any useful purpose, and having 
selected 30,000 men, Arran dismissed the 
rest to their homes. The two armies arrived 
within sight of each other on the 9th of Sep- 
tember, and a bloody renconter took place 
between the Scottish and Epglish cavalry at 
Falside in which each party lost about 1,000 
men. The next morning Arran passed the 
Eske, a movement which led to the battle of 
Pinkey. The Scottish army was divided 
into three bodies, each of which, marching in 
close order, presented a dense forest of pikes. 
Arran commanded the main body, the Earl 
of Angus the vanguard, and Huntly the rear. 
Their cavalry was stationed on their left 
wing, strengthened by some Irish archers 
whom Argyle had brought over for their 
service. The Duke of Somerset was much 
pleased when he saw this movement of the 
enemy. He was confident that in a pitched 
battle the English were superior. He ranged 
his van on the left, farthest from the sea ; and 
ordered them to remain on the high grounds 
on which he placed them till the enemy should^ 
approach ; he placed his main battle and his 
rear toward tlie right, and beyond the van he 
posted Lord Grey at the head of the English 
men-at-arms, and ordered liim to assail the 
Scottish van in flank, but not until they 
should be engaged in close fight with the van 
of the English. While the Scots were ad- 
vancing on the plain, they were galled with the 
artillery from the English ships ; the eldest 
son of Lord Graham was killed ; the Irish 
archers were thrown into disorder, and even 
the other troops began to stagger, when Lord 
Grey, hoping to take advantage of the con- 
fusion, ordered his troops to charge the van- 
guard of the enemy in flank. Ho paid 
severely for his temerity. On advancing he 
found a slough and ditch in his way, and be- 
hind were ranged the enemy, on a fallow 
ground broken with ridges which lay across 
their front, and disordered the movements of 
the Enghsh horse. The Scots, with their 
long spears, received the feeble charge of the 
Enghsh horsemen, who were in a moment 
pierced, overthrown, and disordered. The 
bravest of them fell, their commander was 
•wounded with a pike in the mouth, and the 
colors were nearly captured. Lord Edward 
Seymour had his horse killed under him. 
Somerset, meanwliile, assisted by Sir Ralph 
Sadler, and Sir Ralph Vane, employed him- 
self with diligence and success in rallying the 
cavalry. Warwick displayed great presence 
of mind in maintaining the ranks of the foot, 
on which the horse had recoiled : he ordered 



Sir Peter Mentas, captain of the foot arque- 
bussers, and Sir Peter Gawbaa, captain of 
some Italian and Spanish arquebussers, to 
advance, and assail the Scottish infantry. 
They marched to the slough, and discharged 
their pieces full in the face of the enemy ; 
the ships galled the Scots from the flank ; the 
artillery planted on a height infested them 
from the front ; the English archers poured 
in a shower of arrows upon them, and the 
vanguard descenchng from the hill, advanced 
leisurely and in good order toward them. 
The Scots dismayed by all these circum- 
stances, wavered, broke, and retreated. The 
retreat was soon changed into flight Avhich 
was begiui by the Irish archers. The panic of 
the van communicated itself to the; main 
body, and passing thence to the rear, render- 
ed the whole field a scene of terror, confu- 
sion, flight, and consternation. . The English 
army perceived from the heights the condi- 
tion of the Scots, and began the pursuit with 
loud shouts and acclamations, which added 
still more to the dismay of the vanquished. 
The cavalry in particular, eager to avenge the 
affront they had received in the beginning of 
the day, did the most bloody execution on 
the flying enemy, and from the field of battle 
to Edinburg, for the space of five miles, the 
whole ground was strewn with dead bodies. 
The priests, above all, and the monks, re- 
ceived no quarter; and the English made 
sport of slaughtering men, who, from their 
extreme zeal and animosity, had engaged in 
an enterprise so ill-befitting their profession. 
Few victories have been more decisive, or 
gained with smaller loss to the victors. There 
fell not 200 of the Enghsh ; and according to 
the most moderate computation, over 10,000 
of the Scots perished on the field of battle 
or in the flight. 

PIRNA, A.D. 1756.— The battle of Pima, 
in Saxony, was fought in the year 1756, be- 
tween the army of Frederic II. (the Great) 
and the Saxons. The battle was hotly con- 
tested ; but resulted finally in the defeat of 
the Saxons who were put to rout with great 
slaughter. 

PLACENCIA, B.C. 219.— The modern city 
of Placenza, in north Italy, occupies the site 
of the ancient city of Placencia. In the vi- 
cinity of this town, in the year 219 b.c, an 
obstinate battle was fought between the 
army of Hannibal, and the Romans. The 
Romans were defeated. 

PLAINS OF ABRAHAM. See Quebec. 

PLAT^A, B.C. 479.— This city of ancient 
Greece, in Boeotia, is now wholly in ruins. 
It is situated at the northern foot of Mount 
Cithferon, about seven miles south-west from 
Thebes. 

Mardonius, the Persian general, whom Xerx- 
es had commanded to remain in Greece with 



480 



PLATJEA. 



300,000 men, was on his return with his 
troops from Attica to Boeotia. Upon his ar- 
rival in Boeotia he encamped by the river 
Asopus. The Grecians followed him thither 
under command of Pausanias, king of Sparta, 
and of Aristides, general of the Athenians. 
The Persian army consisted of 300,000 men. 
That of the Grecians did not amount to 
70,000 ; of which there were but 5,000 Spar- 
tans; but as these were accompanied by 
35,000 helots, viz : seven for each Spartan, 
they made up together 40,000 ; the latter of 
these were light-armed troops. The Athenian 
forces consisted of but. 8, 000, and the troops 
of the alUes made up the remainder. The 
right wing of the army was commanded by 
the Spartans, and the left by the Athenians. 
Mardonius, in order to try the Grecians, sent 
out his cavalry, in which he was strongest, to 
skirmish with them. They charged upon 
the Megarians who were encamped in the 
open country, and who, unable to stand 
against the superior numljers of the enemy, 
dispatched a messenger to Pausanias for as- 
sistance. Pausanias hearing their request, 
and seeing the camp of the Megarians dark- 
ened with the showers of darts and arrows, 
was at a loss what to do, for he knew that 
his heavy-armed Spartans were not fit to act 
against cavalry. But Aristides immediately 
made an offer of his Athenians to go to the 
assistance of the Megarians; and gave im- 
mediate orders to Olympiodorus, one of the 
most active of his officers, to advance with 
his select band of three hundred men, inter- 
mixed with archers. In a moment they ran 
to the attack of the Persians. Their ap- 
proach was seen by Masistius, the general of 
the Persian horse, a man distinguished for 
his strength and noble mien. Putting spurs 
to his horse he dashed against them, followed 
by his troops. Like a thunder-laolt they 
dashed into the midst of the Athenians, who 
withstood the shock with great firmness, and 
a sharp conflict ensued, for both parties con- 
sidered this skirmish as a specimen of the 
success of the whole battle. At last the 
horse of the Persian general was wounded, 
and threw his rider who, encumbered by the 
weight of liis armor, could not rise. The 
Athenians almost fought with each other in 
their eagerness as to Avliich should be the 
first who shouUl slay him. But to slay him 
was a difficult task, for not only his body 
and liis head, but ids legs and arms were 
covered with plates of gold, brass, and iron. 
But the vizor of his helmet leaving part of 
his face exposed, one of the Athenians thrust 
a spear into his eye, and thus dispatched him. 
The Persians then left the body, and fled. 
The news of the <leath of Masistius filled the 
Persian camp with grief They cut off their 
hair, and the manes of their horses and mules. 



and filled the air with then- cries and groans. 
For ten days after this skirmish both sides 
forbore the combat, because the soothsayers 
equally assured both armies of victory if they 
stood upon the defensive, and threatened the 
aggressor with total defeat. But at length 
Mardonius, seeing but a few days' provisions 
left for his troops, and that the Grecian army 
daily increased in numbers by the arrival of 
reinforcements, became uneasy, and resolved 
to pass the river the next morning by break 
of day, and if possible to take the Greeks by 
surprise. But at midnight a man on horse- 
back rode into the Grecian camp. He was 
hailed by a sentinel. " Call Aristides, the 
Athenian, hither," said he, and soon Aristides 
stood before him. " I am Alexander of Mac- 
edon," said the horseman, " and for the sake 
of the fi-iendship I bear you, I have exposed 
myself to the greatest danger, that I may 
prevent you from being surprised by your 
enemy's. Mardonius will give you battle to- 
morrow ; not that he is induced by any well- 
grounded hope or prospect of success, but 
his men are famishing. Although his sooth- 
sayers endeavor to divert liirti from doing so, 
yet necessity compels him either to hazard 
a battle, or to sit still and see his whole army 
starve to death before his eyes." Alexander 
then took a solemn promise of Aristides not 
to communicate the intelligence to any other 
person, except Pausanias, the commander- 
in-chief. Aristides immediately went to the 
tent of Pausanias, and laid the whole matter 
before him. Pausanias forthwith gave orders 
to the officers to prepare for battle. He 
changed his order of bettle by placing the 
Athenians on the right wing instead of the 
left which they before occupied. This he did 
in order to oppose the Athenians to the Per- 
sians who formed the lefi; wing of the Persian 
army. But Mardonius upon learning this 
movement, made a Httle change in his army ; 
the Atlienians again moved from the right to 
the left ; the Persians made a like morvement, 
so that they still faced the Lacedemonians, 
and in this manner the whole day passed 
without any action at all. 

In the evening the Grecians held a council 
of war, in which they determined to decamp,' 
and take possession of a place more commo- 
dious for water, because the springs of their 
present camp were disturbed and spoiled by 
the enemy's horse. After nightfiiU the Gre- 
cian army was put in motion ; but the sol- 
diers marched very unwillingly, and could not, 
without great difficulty, be kept together. 
At length they halted near the city of Pla- 
t£ea. As soon as Mardonius heard that the 
Grecians had decamped, he drew his army 
into order of battle, and pursued them with 
the hideous shouts and howls of his barbarian 
forces. They thought they were not going 




^&^->^ J ^■mwf^:\:^^>^^. 



PLAT^A. 



481 



to fight an enemy, but to strip and plunder a 
mass of flying fugitives. Wliile in hot pur- 
suit, the Persians encountered the LacedaB- 
monians, who were alone and separated from 
the main body of the Grecian army. They 
were about 50,000 strong. The encounter 
was exceedingly fierce; on both sides the 
men fought with the courage of hons, and 
the barbarians perceived that they were con- 
tending with men who had resolved to con- 
quer or die on the field. The Athenians 
hastened to their assistance, but the Greeks 
who were on the side of the Persians, to the 
number of 60,000 men, went out to meet 
them, and prevented them from joining the 
Lacedaemonians. Aristides, with his brave 
men, bore up firmly against them, and with- 
stood the attack. His 8,000 men of courage 
were moie formidable than the 20,000 Gre- 
cian renegades who opposed him. The bat- 
tle was thus divided into two parts, and the 
Lacedsemonians first broke through the Per- 
sian ranks. Now the barbarians fled before 
the vengeful swords of the Spartans. In vain 
did Mardonius ride through their ranks urg- 
ing them back upon the enemy. He himself 
rode into the thickest of the fight, and with 
his own sword brought many a Spartan to 
the ground. But a stone from the hand of a 
Spartan named Arimnestus struck him on the 
head, and crushing through his helmet broke 
his skull, and he fell upon his horse a corpse. 

The barbarians, flying to their camp, 
were pursued tliither by the Spartans. 
Shortly afterward the Athenians routed the 
Thebans, killing 300 persons of the first dis- 
tinction on the spot. But now they learned 
that the Persians had shut themselves up in 
their camp, which was strongly fortified. 
They suffered the flying Thebans to escape, 
and hastened to assist their aUies in besieging 
the camp. They stormed and took the 
camp, and then the work of slaughter com- 
menced. Out of 300,000 Persians only 
40,000 escaped, and these men escaped only 
through the discretion of Artabazus, a Per- 
sian general, who foresaw by Mardonius's 
imprudent conduct that he would be defeat- 
ed, and, after having distinguished himself in 
the engagement, made a timely retreat with 
the 40,000 men he commanded, and safely 
conveyed them into Asia. Of the Grecian 
army only 1,360 were slain, and of these 
only 52 were Athenians. The Lacedaemo- 
nians lost 91. This battle was fought on the 
4th of Boedromion, wliich day answers to the 
19th of our September, and by it Greece was 
totally delivered forever from the continual 
alarms to which she was exposed on account 
of Persian invasions. Prom that time none 
of the princes of Persia dared to appear with 
a hostile force beyond the Hellespont. 

B. C. 431. — TuE Peloponnesian "War. — 

31 



The first act of hostilities by which the 
Peloponnesian war was begun, was com- 
mitted by the Thebans, who besieged Platsea, 
then in alliance with Athens. The Thebans 
gained their entrance into the city through 
treachery ; but the citizens fell upon them in 
the night, and killed them all, with the excep- 
tion of about 200, who were taken prison- 
ers ; but shortly afterward they were all put 
to death. The Athenians, as soon as they 
heard of the action at Plataea, sent men and 
provisions thither, and cleared the city of 
aU persons who were incapable of bearing 
arms. 

B. C. 428. — This siege of Plataa is 
one of the most famous of antiquity, on 
account of the vigorous efibrts of both par- 
ties, but especially for the glorious resist- 
ance made by the besieged, and their bold 
and industrious stratagem, by which several 
of them made their escape from the city, 
and from the fury of the enemy. The 
Lacedsemonians besieged this place in the 
beginning of the third campaign. As soon a3 
they had encamped around the city, in order 
to lay waste the surrounding country, the Pla- 
tasans sent deputies to Archidamus, the com- 
mander of the Lacedasmonians, to represent 
that he could not attack them with the shght- 
est shadow of justice, because, that, after the 
battle of Plat£ee, Pausanias, the Grecian 
general, offering up a sacrifice, in their city, 
to Jupiter the DeUverer, in presence of all 
the allies, had given them their freedom, to 
reward their valor and zeal ; and, therefore, 
they ought not to be disturbed in the en- 
joyment of their hberties, since it had been 
granted them by a Lacedaemonian. Archi- 
damus answered that their demands would 
be very reasonable, had they not joined with 
the Athenians, the professed enemies to the 
liberties of Greece ; but that, if they would 
disengage themselves from then present alli- 
ance, or at least remain neuter, they then 
should be left to the full enjoyment of their 
privileges. The deputies replied that they 
could not possibly come to any agreement 
without the cognizance of the Athenians, to 
whose city they had sent their wives and 
children. The Lacedgemonians permitted them 
to send thither. The Athenians, however, 
promised solemnly to send aid to the utmost 
of then- power to the Platasans, and the latter 
resolved to suffer the last extremities, rather 
than surrender. Accordingly their deputies 
mounted the walls of the city, and informed 
the LacedaBmonians that they could not com- 
ply with their desires. 

This was no sooner heard than Archida- 
mus called the gods to bear witness, that he 
did not first infringe the alliance, and wa3 
not the cause of the calamities which might 
befall the Platajans, for having refused the 



482 



PLAT^A. 



just and reasonable conditions offered them. 
He then aroused his arnay to action. | 

He first of all surrounded the city with a j 
circumvallation of trees, which were laid i 
lengthways, very close together, with their j 
boughs interwoven, and turned toward the i 
city, to prevent any person going out of it. 
He afterward set up a platform to set the 
batteries on, in hopes that, as so many I 
hands were employed, they should soon take 
the city. He therefore caused trees to be j 
felled on Mount Cithgeron, and interwove 
them with fascines, in order to support the 
terrace on all sides : he then threw into it 
wood, earth, and stones, in short every thing \ 
that could help to fill it up. The whole army | 
worked day and night, incessantly, during 
seventy days ; one half of the soldiers repos- 
ing themselves, w^iile the other half were at 
work. The besieged, observing that the 
work began to rise, threw up a wooden wall 
upon the walls of the city opposite to tlie 
plattbrm, in order that they might always 
out-top the besiegers. They filled the hollow 
of the wooden wall with the bricks they 
took from the rubbish of the neighboring ' 
houses, which they had pulled down for that 
purpose. The wooden case was designed to 
keep the wall from falling as it was carrying j 
up. It was covered on the outside with i 
hides, both raw and dry, to defend the work- I 
men from missive weapons, and to prevent 
the wood from being fired by the enemy, i 
This work, within, was raised to a great ! 
height, and the platform, without, was raised i 
with equal expedition. But the besieged j 
made a hole in the opposite wall, in order to 
carry off the earth that sustained the plat- 
form ; but they were perceived by the be- ' 
siegers who put baskets of reeds, filled with 
mortar, in the place of the earth which had 
been removed, because they could not be 
so easily carried off. The besieged, there- 
fore, finding their first stratagem defeated, 
made a mine underground as far as the plat- 
form, in order to work under cover, and to 
remove from it the earth and other materials 
of which it was composed, and which they j 
passed from hand to hand as far as the city, j 
These operations long escaped the discovery , 
of the besiegers. At length, however, they 
found that their work did not go on forward ; I 
and that the more earth they laid on, the 
lower it sunk. But the besieged were 
apprehensive that, as they were so few in 
number, they should not be able long to hold 
out against such numerous besiegers, and had 
recourse to another project. They desisted 
from carrying up the great pile which was 
to counterwork the platform, and beginning 
at each end of their wall where it Avas low, 
they ran another wall in the form of a cres- 
cent along the inside of the city, that if the 



great wall should be taken this might after- 
ward hold out. The enemy would then be 
under the necessity of throwing up a a sec- 
ond platform against it, and that thus the 
further they advanced their difficulties would 
be doubled, and the siege be carried on with 
increase of danger. 

In the mean time, the besiegers having 
completed their platform, set up their batter- 
ing machines, and played away against the 
wall. One of these engines was worked so 
dexteriously from the platform against the 
great pile witliin, that it shook it from top to 
bottom, and threw the Platseans into great 
consternation, although it did not discourage 
them. They employed every art that their 
imagination could suggest against the enemy's 
batteries. They prevented the effects of the 
battering-rams by ropes, the lower ends of 
wliich were formed into nooses with which 
they caught the heads of the machines and 
thus turned aside their strokes. They also 
employed another artifice : the two ends of 
a great beam were made fast by long iron 
chains to two large pieces of timber, support^ 
ed at due distance from the wall in the 
nature of a balance ; so that whenever the 
enemy plied their machine, the besieged 
hffced up this beam, and let it fall on the head 
of the battering-ram, which quite deadened 
its force, and consequently made it of no 
effect. Upon this tlio besiegers determined 
to try whether it was not possible to set the 
town on fire, and burn it down, as it was not 
large, by help of a brisk gale of wind. Pro- 
curing for this purpose a quantity of faggots, 
they tossed them from the platform into the 
void space between the wall and the inner 
fortification. As many hands were employed 
in this business, they soon filled it up, and 
then proceeded to toss more of them into 
the other parts of the city lying beyond, as 
far as they could, by the advantage which 
the eminence gave them. Upon these they 
tlirew fiery balls made of sulphur and pitch, 
which ignited the faggots, and soon kindled 
such a flame as before tliis time no one had 
ever seen kindled by the hand of man. This 
invention was very nearly carrying the city, 
which had baffled aU the others, for the 
Platffians could not make head at once 
against the fire and the enemy in several 
parts of the town, and, had the weather 
favored the besiegers, as they had hoped it 
would, it would certainly have been taken ; 
but as history informs us, a heavy rain sud- 
denly fell, attended with claps of thunder, 
and extinguished the flames. The last effort 
of the besiegers having been defeated as suc- 
cessfully as all the rest, they now turned the 
siege into a blockade, and surrounded the 
city with a brick wall strengthened on each 
side by a deep ditch. The whole army was 



PLA.T.EA. 



483 



engaged successively in this work, and when 
it was finished, they left a guard over half of 
it; the Boeotians ofiFering to guard the rest, 
and the Lacedagmonians returned to Sparta 
in the latter part of October. There were 
now in Platsea only 400 inhabitants, and 
eighty Athenians with 110 women to dress 
their food, all the rest having been sent to 
Athens before the siege. 

During the winter the PlatEeans, finding 
themselves much distressed by the failure of 
their provisions, giving up all hope of succor 
from the Athenians, and quite destitute of all 
other means of preservation, formed a project 
now in concert with those Athenians who 
were shut up witli them in blockade ; " first 
of all to march out of the town in company, 
and to compass their escape, if possible, over 
the works of the enemy. But half of them, 
struck with the greatness of the danger, and 
the boldness of the enterprise, refused to 
share in the attempt. But the others, to the 
number of 220, resolutely adhered to attempt 
an escape through the enemy.'* 

The works of the besiegers was composed 
of two circular walls ; one toward Platffia, and 
the other outward, to prevent any attack 
from Athens. The walls were at the distance 
of sixteen feet one from the other ; and this 
intermediate space of sixteen feet was built 
into distinct lodgments for the guards. 
These lodgments, however, standing tliick 
together, gave to the whole work the appear- 
ance of one thick center wall, with battle- 
ments on both sides. At every ten battle- 
ments were lofty turrets of the same breadth 
with the whole work, reaching from tlie face 
of the inward wall to that of the outward ; 
so that there was no passage by the sides of 
a turret, but the communication lay open 
through the middle of them all. By night 
when the weather was rainy, the guards 
quitted the battlements, and sheltering them- 
selves in the turrets, as near at hand, and 
covered over head, they there continued 
their watch. Such was the work by wliich 
the Platasans were entirely surrounded. 
On each side of this work was a deep ditch, 
the earth of which had been employed in 
making the bricks of the wall. The besieged 
first ascertained the height of the wall, by 
counting the rows of bricks which composed 
it This they did at different times, and 
employed several men for the purpose, in 
order that they might not mistake the calcu- 
lation. This was the easier, because as the 
wall stood at a small distance, every part of 
it was distinctly visible. They then made 
ladders of a proper length. When every 
thing was ready, the enterprising body, 
taking advantage of a dark night, tempestuous 
with wind and rain, marched out of the city. 
Th^anetus and Eumolpidas, the authors of 



the project, were now the conductors. After 
crossing the first ditch, they approached 
quite up to the wall of the enemy, unper- 
ceived by the guards. The darkness of the 
night prevented their being seen, and the 
noise they made was drowned in the loud- 
ness of the storm. They advanced also at a 
considerable distance from one another, to 
prevent any discovery f-om the mutual 
clashing of their arms. They were further 
armed in the most compact manner, and 
wore a covering only on the left foot, to keep 
them from sUding so easily into the mire. 
The bearers of the ladders marched first, and 
applied them to the walls, at a space between 
the turrets, where they knew no guards .were 
posted, because it rained. That instant, 
twelve men, armed only with a breastplate, 
and a dagger, mounted the ladders, and 
marched directly to the turrets, six on each 
side. They were followed by soldiers armed 
only with javelins, that they might mount 
the easier. Beliind them followed their com- 
panions bearing the bucklers of those before 
them, ready to dehver them into their hands, 
should they be obhged to charge. When 
most of them had reached the top of the wall, 
they were discovered by the falling of a tile, 
which one of their comrades in seizing upon 
the parapet to keep himself steady, had dis- 
lodged and thrown down. The alarm was 
immecUately given from the towers, and the 
whole camp hastened to the wall ; but the 
darkness was so intense, that the besiegers 
could not discover the cause of the outcry. 
At this crisis, the Plataeans who were left 
behind in the city, sallied forth and assaulted 
the besiegers' works, in a quarter opposite to 
that where tlieir friends were attempting to 
pass. The besiegers were thus thrown into 
a state of the utmost perplexity and confiasion ; 
each was afraid to quit his post to run to the 
place of alarm, for he did not know how 
soon it would be attacked. But a body of 
300 men who were kept as a reserve for any 
unforeseen accident that might occur, hast- 
«ied to the spot whence the noise proceeded. 
Torches were immediately elevated on the 
side of the wall toward Thebes, to show the 
Thebans that the besiegers needed assistance. 
But the Plataeans who were in the city, also 
lighted torches, and elevated them in various 
quarters at the same time, and thus rendered 
the besiegers' signal useless. 

In the mean time, those Plataeans who had 
first mounted the walls, possessed themselves 
of the two towers which flanked the intervals 
where the ladders were planted, and having 
killed the guards, they posted themselves 
there to defend the passage, and keep off 
the besiegers. They defended their position 
with so much energy, that none of the 
enemy were able to reach them. Two lad- 



484 



PLATTSBURG. 



ders were then placed against the two towers, 
and a large number of the Platseans mounted 
them to discharge then- arrows upon those of 
the enemy who were advancing to the wall, 
as well as those who were hastening from 
the neighboring towers. Their companions 
now had time to set up several ladders, and 
to throw down the parapet, that those 
Platteans who had not yet gained the summit 
of the wall might come up with greater ease. 
As fast as they came up, they went down on 
the other side, and drew up near the ditch 
on the outside to shoot at those of the enemy 
who appeared. After they had passed over, 
the men who were in the towers descended, 
and hastily followed their comrades to the 
ditch. At that instant the guard of 300, 
with torches appeared, to intercept theh 
passage. But as the Platteans could see their 
enemies by the hght of their torches, better 
than they themselves could be seen, they 
took sure aim, and finally succeeded in 
forcing their way through the ditch, though 
not without great difficulty and toil. For 
the water in the ditch was frozen, and the 
ice was not of sufficient thickness to bear 
their weight. Having succeeded in gaining 
the opposite side of the ditch, they took their 
way toward Thebes, the better to conceal 
their retreat, because it was not likely that 
they would flee toward the city of the enemy. 
In fact the besiegers were deceived, for the 
fugitives soon saw them hastily pursuing 
them with torches on the road which led to 
Athens. The Platseans continued on the 
road toward Thebes for about half a mile, and 
tlien flew to the mountains. After which 
they turned their steps toward Athens, where 
212 out of 220 who had quitted Platajse, 
arrived in safety. The rest had returned to 
the besieged city, tln-ough fear, except one, 
an archer who was taken by the enemy 
while crossing the ditch. The besiegers after 
having pursued the fugitives to no purpose, 
returned to their camp. In the mean time, 
the Platceans who remained in the city, hav- 
ing been informed by those who returned, 
that their companions had been slain, sent a 
herald to demand the dead bodies for burial ; 
but on being informed of the true state of the 
affair the herald withdrew. 

During the following summer the Platse- 
ans who remained in the blockaded city, be- 
coming in absolute want of provisions, and 
unable to make the least defense, surrendered 
upon condition that they should not be pun- 
ished till they had been tried by the due 
forms of justice. Five commissioners were 
sent from Sparta for this purpose, and these, 
without charging the Platteans witli any 
crime, merely asked them whether they had 
done the Lacedajmonians and the allies any 
service during the war. The Plat^ans were 



both embarrassed and surprised at this ques- 
tion. They well knew that it had been sug- 
gested by tlieir inveterate enemies the 
Thebans, who had vowed their destruction. 
They therefore reminded the Lacedaemonians 
of the services they had done for Greece in 
general, both at the battle of Artemisium, 
and that of Platsea. They declared that they 
had only joined the Athenians to protect 
themselves from the hostihties of the Theb- 
ans, against whom they had implored the as- 
sistance of the LacedEemonians to no purpose. 
They intreated the Lacedaemonians to remem- 
ber their former bravery and former services, 
and they concluded by saying, "We may 
venture to say that our interest is inseparable 
from your glory ; you can not dehver up 
your ancient friends and benefactors to the 
unjust hatred of the Thebans, without over- 
whelming yourselves with eternal infamy." 

To these just remonstrances, however, the 
LacedEemonians paid no attention. They ad- 
hered entirely to their first question, " Have 
you done us any service during the war ?" 
and making them pass, one after anotlier as 
they severally answered, " No," they were 
immediately butchered. Not one escaped. 
About 200 Platseans were thus killed, and 
twenty-five Athenians who were with them 
met with the same fate. In the following 
year Platsea was entirely destroyed by the 
Thebans, into whose hands the Lacedaemo- 
nians had committed tliis ill-fated city. 

PLATTSBURG, a.d. 1814.— Plattsburg, 
the capital of Clinton co., N. Y., is sit- 
uated on both sides of the Saranac river, at its 
entrance into Cumberland Bay, on Lake 
Champlain, about one hundred and sixty 
miles north-east from Albany. 

In the third year of the second war be- 
tween the United States and England, Sir 
George Prevost, governor-general and com- 
mander-in-chief of the British forces in Can- 
ada, made preparations in Lower Canada to 
invade the territories of the United States on 
Lake Champlain. A body of fourteen thou- 
sand men was collected on the frontier of 
Lower Canada, with a formidable train of 
artillery, and commanded, under Prevost, by 
several generals and officers who had ac- 
quired durable renown in the Peninsular 
campaigns. " If any tiring could have added 
to the well-founded expectations entertained 
by tills noble force," writes a British histo- 
rian, " it was the circumstance of its being 
in great part composed of the veterans who 
had served with Welhngton in Spain and 
France." With tliis magnificent army Pl'e- 
vost invaded the country, and advanced 
toward Plattsburg, which was occupied by 
three thousand American troops under Gen- 
eral Macomb. The British force crossed the 
Canada line at Champlain, twenty-four nailes 



PLATTSBURa. 



485 



north of Plattsburg. Prevost left a detach- 
ment of one thousand men at Chazy, fourteen 
miles, and another detachment of the same 
strength at Cumberland Head, six miles from 
Plattsburg, and with twelve thousand troops 
arrived before Plattsburg on the 6th of Sep- 
tember, 1814. During the spring and sum- 
mer both the Enghsh and the Americans had 
constructed a fleet on Lake Ohamplain, and 
these were now ready for active operations. 
The American fleet consisted of four ves- 
sels and ten galleys, and was commanded by 
Commodore McDonough ; the British fleet 
was commanded by Captain Downie, and 
consisted of four large vessels and thirteen 
galleys. The American fleet mounted 86 
guns and carried 850 men ; that of the Brit- 
ish mounted 96 guns and carried about 1,000 
men. The American fleet, which, early in 
the season, lay in Otter Bay, was got into 
the lake, and sailed for the Bay of Plattsburg, 
to assist Macomb in the defense of the town. 
On the 20th of September McDonough 
anchored his fleet just within the mouth of 
the bay, nearly opposite where the Saranac 
empties into it. A large shoal and an island 
lay between liim and the main land, efiect- 
ually blocking the approach of an enemy on 
that side. Prevost, meanwhile, was busily 
engaged in erecting his batteries before 
Plattsburg, and by the 10th of September 
they were all completed ; but stiU the En- 
glish general did not deem it expedient to 
make the attack till the fleet should arrive. 
At length, on the morning of the 11th, the 
British fleet hove in sight. The American 
vessels were immediately cleared for action, 
and the British squadron, under easy sail, 
advanced one after another round Cumber- 
land Head, and hauhng up to the wind, 
waited the approach of the galleys. It 
was a bright Sabbath morning ; but the in- 
habitants of Plattsburg and vicinity deserted 
their churches, and thought only of the fear- 
fial drama which was so soon to be enacted. 
What a gorgeous spectacle was presented to 
the eyes of the beholders on that day. Ly- 
ing cahnly at anchor in the bay were the 
four American ships, the Eagle, the Saratoga, 
the Ticonderoga, and the Preble, with their 
attendant galleys; while the four English 
ships, the Chubb, the Linnet, the Confiance, 
and the Finch, were lying with flapping 
saUs, between Cumberland Head and the 
American fleet awaiting the arrival of their 
galleys.* Prevost's army, with banners 
flying and music sounding, was drawn up in 
battle array before Plattsburg, where three 

♦American — 1, Eaqle, mounted 7 guns ; 9,, Saratoga 
(flag ship), mounted '^6 guns ; 3, Ticonderoga, mounted 
17 guns ; 4, Preble, mounted 7 guns. English — 1, Chubb, 
mounted 11 guns ; 2, Linnet, mounted 16 guns ; 3, Con- 
fiance (flag ship), mounted 37 guns ; 4, Finch, mounted 
11 guns. 



thousand Americans were awaiting with 
beating hearts the signal for battle. 

As the British fleet approached, McDon- 
ough (hsplayed his flag. On it was inscribed, 
" Impressed seamen call on every man to do 
his duty." The American seamen hailed the 
motto with loud cheers. McDonough's ves- 
sels were anchored in a hne running north 
and south ; his galleys formed a second hne 
in the rear ; the English ships advanced from 
the south-east, with bows on. The Eagle, 
which lay nearest the shore, opened her 
broadsides on the enemy ; the Saratoga, how- 
ever, reserved her fire. The British ship 
Confiance boldly advanced. When she came 
within range McDonough himself sighted a 
long twenty-four pounder, and fired into her. 
The ball swept the deck from stem to stern, 
kilhng many of her men, and dashing her 
wheel into fragments. Upon this every 
American vessel opened its fire. The Confi- 
ance, which was greatly superior to any sin- 
gle vessel in the American flotilla, did not 
return a shot, but held steadily on in spite 
of the tempest of balls which went crashing 
through her rigging and spars, which fell in 
showers under the well-directed shots of the 
American fleet Having arrived within two 
cable-lengths of the Saratoga, she let go her 
anchors, and brought her broadsides to bear 
on the enemy. Instantly she appeared a 
sheet of flame : all her guns were discharged 
at once into the Saratoga. The effect of this 
broadside was terrible ; nearly half of the 
crew of the Saratoga were struck down, and, 
for a moment, the seamen were completely 
stunned. The Americans, however, soon re- 
covered from the eflfects of tlie blow, and 
springing to theh guns, poured broadside af- 
ter broadside into the Confiance with fatal 
effect. The battle now raged fearfully. The 
decks of the Saratoga and Confiance were 
strewn with the dead and dying. Captain 
Downie was killed, and Commodore McDon- 
ough sUghtly wounded. At length when re- 
duced to a perfect wreck, the Confiance sur- 
rendered; and with her defeat the battle, 
which had lasted two hours and a half, was 
terminated. The other vessels struck their 
flags ; but the galleys took to their sweeps 
and escaped. The Americans lost in this 
fight 110 killed and wounded. Of these all 
but 20 fell on board the Saratoga and Eagle. 
The English loss- was never fully ascertained. 
It is supposed, however, to have been nearly 
double. 

While this desperate conflict was raging 
on the lake, the British batteries on the shore 
were pouring their discharges fast and furious 
into the town. At length, finchng the can- 
nonade produced no effect, the British gen- 
eral resolved to carry the place by assault. 
The British advanced in three columns ; but 



486 



POICTIERS. 



they were received by the Americans with 
such a furious fire of muslietry and artillery, 
tliat they were obliged to fall back to their 
iiitrenchments, leaving the ground behind 
them strewn with dead and wounded, and 
when they saw the flags of the British fleet 
strike successively to the Americans, they 
were so much disheartened that they dimin- 
ished their fire, and at nightfall it ceased en- 
tirely. Sir George Prevost now ordered a 
retreat, and that army of 12,000 men, "in 
great part composed of the veterans who had 
served witli Wellington in Spain and France," 
ignominiously fled before Macomb's gallant 
little army of 3,000. Macomb would have 
pursued, but a furious storm of wind and 
rain arose, and the British were alloAved to 
retire unmolested. Prevost lost 250 in killed 
and wounded. So hasty was his flight that 
he abandoned his wounded, commending 
them to the humanity of the victors, and 
continued Ids retreat toward the St. Law- 
rence. 

POICTIERS, A.D. 1356.— Poictiers is situ- 
ated on the Clain, in France, 58 miles south- 
west of Tours. It is inclosed by ancient walls. 
For three centuries Poictiers was attached to 
the English crown. The famous battle of 
Poictiers was fought on the 19th of Septem- 
ber, 1356, between the English under Edward, 
Prince ol^ Wales, called the Black Prince, and 
the French under king John, of France. 

The Black Prince, with an army of 12,000 
men, of whom about 4,000 were Enghshmen, 
had penetrated into the very heart of Franco. 
The King of France, provoked at the insult of- 
fered him by this incursion, collected an army 
of above 60,000 men, and advanced by hasty 
marches to intercept his enemy. The French 
army came within sight of the EngHsh at 
Maupertuis, five miles from Poictiers, on the 
17th of September, and the Prince of Wales 
saw that he must hazard a battle. He ac- 
cordingly prepared for battle with all the 
courage of a young hero, and with all the 
prudence of the oldest and most experienced 
commander. 

But the utmost prudence and courage 
would have proved insufficient to save him 
in this extremity had the King of France 
known how to make use of his present ad- 
vantages. His great superiority in numbers 
enabled him to surround his enemy ; and by 
intercepting all provisions, wl^ch were already 
become scarce in the English camp, to reduce 
tills small army, without a blow, to the ne- 
cessity of surrending at discretion. But such 
was the impatient valor of the French nobil- 
ity, and so much had their thouglits been bent 
on overtaking the English as their sole object, 
that this idea never struck any of the com- 
manders ; and they immediately took meas- 
ures for the assault, as for a certain victory. 



While the French army was drawn up in 
battle array, they were stopped by the ap- 
pearance of the Cardinal of Perigord ; who, 
having learned the approach of the two 
armies to each other, had hastened, by inter- 
posing his good offices, to prevent any further 
efiusion of Christian blood. By John's per- 
mission, he carried proposals to the Prince of 
Wales; and found him so sensible of the bad 
posture of his affairs, that an accommodation 
seemed not impracticable. Edward told him, 
that he would agree to any terms consistent 
with his own honor, and that of England ; 
and he offered to purchase a retreat, by 
ceding all the conquests which he had made 
during this and the former campaign, and by 
stipulating not to serve against France during 
the course of seven years. But John, im- 
agining that he had now got into his hands a 
sufficient pledge for the restitution of Calais, 
then in the possession of the English, re- 
quired that Edward should surrender himself 
prisoner with a hundred of his attendants ; 
and offered on these terms a safe retreat to 
the English army. The prince rejected the 
proposal with disdain; and declared that, 
whatever fortune might attend him, England 
should never be obliged to pay the price of 
his ransom. This resolute answer cut off" all 
hopes of accommodation; but as the day 
was already spent in negotiating, the battle 
was delayed till the next morning. 

The Cardinal of Perigord bore a great at- 
tachment to the French interest ; but the 
most determined enemy could not, by any 
expedient, have done a greater prejudice to 
John's affairs, than he did by this delay. 
The Prince of Wales had leisure, during the 
night, to strengthen, by new intrenchments, 
the post wlrich he had before so judiciously 
chosen ; and he contrived an ambush of 300 
men-at-arms, and as many archers, whom he 
put under the command of the Captal de 
Buche, and ordered to make a circuit, that 
they might fall on the flank or rear of the 
French army during the engagement. The 
van of his army was commanded by the Earl 
of Warwick, the rear by the Earls of Salis- 
bury and Suffolk, the main body by the prince 
in person. Tlie Lords Chandos, Audeley, 
and many other brave and experienced com- 
manders, were at the head of the different 
corps of his army. 

John also arranged his forces in three di- 
visions ; the first commanded by the Duke 
of Orleans, the king's brother ; the second 
by the dauphin, attended by his two younger 
brothers ; the third by the king himself, who 
had by his side Philip, his fourth son and 
favorite, then about fourteen j^ears of age. 
There was no reaching the English army, but 
through a narrow lane, covered on each side 
by hedges ; and in order to open this passage. 



PORTO NOVO— PKAOA. 



487 



the Marshals Andreken and Clermont, were 
ordered to advance with a separate detach- 
ment of men-at-arms. While they marched 
along the lane, a body of Enghsh archers, 
who lined the hedges, plied them on each 
side with arrows ; and being very near them, 
yet placed in perfect safety, they coolly took 
their aim against the enemy, and slaughtered 
them with impunity. Tiie French detach- 
ment, much discouraged by the unequal com- 
bat, and diminished in their number, arrived 
at the end of the lane, where they met on 
the open ground the Prince of Wales, himself, 
at the head of a chosen body, ready for their 
reception. They were discomfited and over- 
thrown ; Clermont was slain, and Andreken 
unhorsed and made prisoner; and the re- 
mainder of the detachment, who were still 
in the lane, and exposed to the shot of the 
enemy, without being able to make resistance, 
recoiled upon their own army, and put every 
thing into disorder. In this citical moment, 
the Captal de Buche, unexpectedly appeared, 
and attacked in flank the dauphin's line, which 
fell into some confusion. Landas, Bodenai, and 
St. Vevant, to whom the care of that young 
prince and his brothers had been committed, 
too anxious for their charge, or for their own 
safety, carried them off the field, and set the 
example of flight, which was followed by that 
whole division. The Duke of Orleans seized 
with a like panic, and imagining all was lost, 
thought no longer of fighting, but carried off 
his division by a retreat, which sooned turned 
into a flight. Lord Chandos called out to the 
prince, that the day was won ; and encour- 
aged him to attack the division under King 
John, which, though more numerous than 
the whole English army, were somewhat dis- 
mayed at the precipitant retreat of their 
companions. 

" Sir," said Sir John Chandos to the prince, 
" the field is won — let us mount, and charge 
the French king. I know him for an intre- 
pid knight who will never flee from an ene- 
my. It may be a bloody attempt, but please 
God and St. George, he shall be our prison- 
er." The advice was approved, and the army 
advanced to the moor which had become the 
theater of battle. 

The Duke of Athens, Constable of France, 
was the first to throw himself in their way ; 
his shout of " Mountjoy and St. Denis 1" was 
answered by the national cry of " St. George 
for Guienne !" and in a few minutes the 
duke, with the greater part of Ms followers, 
were slain. The German cavalry next 
charged the English; but were easily dis- 
persed with the loss of the three earls, their 
commanders. Lastly, John himself, animated 
by despair, led up his division on foot, and 
fought for lienor, when it was evidently too 
late to fight for victory. John maintained 



the unequal contest with the most heroic 
valor. But at length, after receiving two 
wounds in the face, he was beaten to the 
ground, and was surrounded by a host of 
adversaries, each of whom was anxious to 
secure so noble a prize. A young knight, 
bursting through the crowd, bent his knee, 
and requested him to surrender or he would 
lose his life. He asked for his cousin, the 
Prince of Wales. " He is not here," replied 
the knight, " but surrender to me and I will 
conduct you to liim." "But who are you?" 
inquired the king. " Denis de Morbecque," 
he rephed, " a knight of Artois, but compelled 
to serve the King of England because I have 
been banished from France." John surren- 
dered to him, and his son Philip was made 
prisoner at the same time. Thus ended the 
battle of Poictiers. Edward's treatment of 
the conquered king stands forth in golden 
relief on the page of history. John, in cap- 
tivity, received the honors of a king ; and all 
the EngUsh and Gascon knights imitated the 
generous example of their prince. Edward 
conducted his prisoner to Bordeaux, whence 
he concluded a two years' truce to France, 
and conducted liis prisoner into England. 
On the 5th of May, 1357, a great assemblage 
of people of aU ranks and stations gathered 
at Southwark to welcome the conqueror. 
John was clad in royal attire, and mounted 
on a white steed, distinguished by the rich- 
ness of its caparisons. The conqueror rode 
by his side in a meaner attire, and on the 
back of a black pon}^ In this situation, more 
glorious than all the parade of a Roman tri- 
umph, he passed through the streets of Lou- 
don, and presented the King of France to 
his father, Edward III., King of England. 
Edward received the royal prisoner with the 
same courtesy as if he had been a neighbor- 
ing potentate that had voluntarily come to 
pay him a friendly visit. By a treaty ratified 
between Edward and John in 1359, the latter 
was set at Uberty, and he returned to France 
the same year. 

PORTO NOVO, A.D. 1782.— In the year 
1782, a battle was fought near Porto Nqvo, 
in India, between the troops of Hyder Ali 
and the British force under Sir Eyre Coote, 
in which the former were defeated. 

PORTSMOUTH, A.n. 1377.— About the 
year 1377 a battle was fought near Ports- 
mouth, in England, between the Enghsh and 
French. The French, in 1377, landed at 
Portsmouth, in an attempt to invade En- 
gland. They were \ngorously attacked by 
the British, who, after an obstinate conflict, 
succeeded in driving back the invaders with 
great loss ; but not before the French had 
succeeded in burning a large part of the 
town. 

PRAGA.— Praga is situated directly op- 



488 



PEAGUE— PEENCETON. 



posite "Warsaw, in Poland, on the Vistula, 
which is here crossed by a bridge. In the 
year 1G56, a battle took place here between 
the army of Gustavus of Sweden and the 
Poles, in Avhich the latter were defeated; 
and a bloody battle also took place near this 
town, in the latter part of the mouth of 
February, 1831, between the forces of the 
Emperor of Russia, under Diebitch, and the 
Polish insurgents, under General Radziwil. 
The battle commenced on the morning of the 
24th of February, and continued with the 
utmost obstinacy and various success for two 
days. The Poles were at length defeated 
with a loss of about 4,000 men, and retired 
into Warsaw. The Russian loss was nearly 
5,000 men, killed and wounded. See War- 
saw. 

PRAGUE, A.D. 1741.— In tlie year 1741, 
Prague, one of the most ancient and interest- 
ing cities of Europe, was taken by the 
French; under its walls in 1744 a battle 
was fought between the Austrians and the 
Prussians, under Frederic tlie Great, who 
won a complete victory, but was soon after- 
ward obliged to evacuate the city. Since 
then it has belonged to Austria. 

PRE3T0XPAXS, a.d. 1745.— Near this 
village, in Scotland, was fought on the 21st 
of September, 1745, a battle between the 
royal army of England, under Sir John Cope, 
consisting of about 2,100 regular troops, and 
the Highlanders, under Charles the Pre- 
tender. The battle was short ; nearly at the 
first fire the royalists were struck with a 
panic, and throwing away their arms, fled in 
wild terror. The Highlanders jjursued 
eagerly, slaughtering the fugitives almost 
without resistance. 

PRIXCETON, A.D. 1777.— Princeton is a 
pleasantly situated town in Mercer county, 
New Jers(\y, forty miles north-east of Phila- 
delphia. Here, on the 3d of January, 1777, 
was fought a battle between the American 
army under General Wasliington, and the 
British army commanded by Colonel Maw- 
hood. 

The situation of the American army, after 
the action of Assunpink, or Trenton bridge, 
was extremely critical. If Wasliington main- 
tained his position on the south side of the 
Assunpink, it was certain that ho would be 
attacked by a superior force, with the prob- 
able result of the destruction of liis little 
army. Fires having been hghted immediately 
after dark, a council of war was convened. 
Washington, by the advice of General St. 
Clair, Colonel Reed, and others, "formed 
the bold and judicious design of abandoning 
the Delaware and marching silently in the 
night, by a circuitous route, along the left 
flank of the British army, into their rear at 
Princeton, where he knew they could not be 



very strong. After beating them there, he 
proposed to make a rapid move to Bruns- 
wick, where their baggage and principal 
magazines lay under a weak guard." 

The more effectually to mask the move- 
ment (says General Wilkinson, in his me- 
moirs), "\\'ashington ordered the guards to be 
doubled, a strong fatigue party to be set at 
work on the intrenchment across the road 
near the mill, witliin distinct hearing of the 
enemy, the baggage to be sent to Burhngton, 
the troops to be silently filed off by detach- 
ments, and the neighboring fences to be used 
as fuel by the guards to keep up blazing fires 
until toward day, when tliey had orders to 
retire. The night, though cloudless, was 
dark, and, though calm, exceedingly cold, 
and the movement was so cautiously con- 
ducted as to elude the vigilance of the enemy. 
Taking the lower road by Sandtown, across 
the Quaker bridge, the Americans reached 
Stony creek, which having crossed, they 
came to a small wood south of the Friends' 
meeting-house in the vicinity of Princeton, a 
little before sunrise. Here the main column 
wheeled to the right, and turning the south- 
east corner of the wood, marched diretly for 
Princeton. General Mercer, having under 
him Captains Stone, Fleming, Neal and 
others, with about 350 men, were detached 
to take possession of the bridge on the old 
Trenton road, for the double purpose of inter- 
cepting fugitives from Princeton, and to cover 
the rear of the army against Lord Cornwal- 
lis, from Trenton. 

The morning was bright, serene, and ex- 
tremely cold, vdth a hoar-fi-ost, which be- 
spangled every object. A brigade of the en- 
emy under Lieutenant-Colonel Mawhood, 
consisting of the 17th, 40th, and 55th regi- 
ments, with three troops of dragoons, had 
quartered at Princeton the preceding night. 
The 17th regiment on their march to join 
Lord Cornwallis at Trenton, had passed the 
bridge over Stony creek before they discov- 
ered the Americans. Colonel Mawhood im- 
mediately repassed the bridge, when he first 
discovered General Mercer's detachment 
marching up the creek at a distance of about 
500 yards from the bridge. Both parties 
then endeavored to get possession of the 
high ground on their right. The Americans 
reached the house and orchard of WiUiam 
Clark, but perceiving the British line advan- 
cing on the opposite side of the height, and 
a worm fence between them, they pushed 
through the orchard, and anticipated the en- 
emy about forty paces. The first fire was 
deUvered by General Mercer, which the 
enemy returned with a volley, and instantly 
charged. The Americans being armed only 
-with rifles, were forced, after the third fire, 
to abandon the fence, and fled in disorder. 



PEINCETON. 



489 



On hearing the firing, G-eneral Washington 
directed the Pennsylvania miUtia to support 
General Mercer, and in person led them on 
with two pieces of artillery, under Captain 
WilHam Moulder, who formed in battery on 
the right of Thomas Clark's house. The 
enemy had pursued the detachment of Gen- 
eral Mercer as far as the brow of the de- 
clivity, when they discovered for the first 
time the American army. They thereupon 
halted, and brought up their artillery. En- 
couraged by the irresolution of the militia, 
they attempted to carry Captain Moulder's 
battery ; but being galled by his grape-shot, 
and perceiving Hitchcock's and another con- 
tinental regiment advancing from the rear of 
the American column, they, after a few long 
shot with the militia, retreated over the fields 
up the north side of Stony brook. This ac- 
tion, from the first discharge of firearms to 
the retreat of the enemy, did not last more 
than fifteen or twenty minutes. They left 
their artillery on the ground, which the 
Americans, for want of horses, could not 
carry off". The 55th and 40th regiments of 
the enemy made some show of resistance at 
the deep ravine, a short distance south of 
the village of Princeton, and at the college, 
into which they precipitated themselves on 
the approach of the Americans. It was, 
however, soon abandoned, and many of them 
made prisoners. In this engagement up- 
ward of 100 of the enemy were killed, 
among whom was Captain Leslie, whose loss 
they much regreted, and nearly 300 taken 
prisoners. The numerical loss of the Amer- 
icans was inconsiderable, not exceeding 
thirty, fourteen only being buried in the 
field ; but it was of great magnitude in worth 
and talents — Colonels Haslet and Potter, 
Major Morris, Captains Shippen, Fleming, and 
Neal, were officers of much promise. 

In the death of General Mercer, the 
Americans lost a chief who, for talents, edu- 
cation, integrity, and patriotism, was quaUfied 
to fill the liighest trusts of the country. " The 
manner in which he was wounded," says 
General Wilkinson, "is an evidence of the ex- 
cess to which the common soldiery are Hable, 
in the heat of action, particularly when ir- 
ritated by the loss of favorite officers. Being 
obstructed, when advancing, by a post and 
rail fence, in front of the orchard it may be 
presumed, the general dismounted voluntari- 
ly; for he was on foot when the troops gave 
way. In exerting himself to rally them, he 
was thrown into the rear; and, perceiving 
he could not escape, he turned about, some- 
where near William Clark's barn, and sur- 
rendered, but was instantly knocked down 
and bayoneted thirteen times ; when feigning 
to be dead, one of his murderers exclaimed, 



D — n him I he's dead — let 



leave him. 



After the retreat of the enemy, he was con- 
veyed to the house of Thomas Clark, to whom 
he gave this account, and languished till the 
12th, when he expired." 

The foUovnng, relative to the conflict at 
Princeton, was derived from persons Uving in 
Princeton ; one of whom was an eye-witness 
of some of the scenes described. Mr. Joseph 
Clark states that General Mercer was knocked 
down about fifty yards from his barn; and, 
after the battle, was assisted by his two aids, 
into the house of Thomas Clark — a new 
house then just erected, which is still stand- 
ing, now owned and occupied by Mr. John 
Clark, about one and a quarter miles from 
the college, and about one fourth of a mile 
from the house of Mr. Thomas Clark. The 
late Miss Sarah Clark, of the society of 
Friends, with a colored woman for an assist- 
ant, took care of General Mercer, while he 
lived ; and after his death his body was taken 
to Philadelphia, where, after laying in state, 
it was interred with military honors. The 
killed were buried about 200 yards north of 
Mr. Joseph Clark's barn, in a kind of drift- 
way. Their bodies, frozen stiff, with their 
clothing mostly stripped off" by the American 
soldiers, were piled into a wagon and thus 
carried to the grave. 

The British being routed, the greater part 
retreated back to Princeton, about a mile and 
a quarter distant, where they had for some 
time previously occupied the college, and the 
large brick Presbyterian church, as barracks. 
Washington pushed on to Princeton, placed 
a few cannon a short distance from those 
buildings, and commenced firing upon them. 
The first ball is said to have entered the 
prayer-hall, a room used as a chapel in the 
college, and to have passed through the head 
of the portrait of George II., suspended on 
the wall. After a few discharges. Captain 
James Moore, one of the militia, a daring 
officer (late of Princeton), aided by a few 
men, burst open a door of the building, and 
demanded their surrender; which they in- 
stantly compUed with. In the building were 
a number of invalid soldiers ; but Washing- 
ton, having no time to spare, left those unable 
to travel, on their parole of honor, and hurried 
off" with the rest toward Brunswick. On 
reaching Kingston, about three miles distant, 
a consultation of general officers was hastily 
held on horseback ; when a wish was gen- 
erally expressed, to move on to New Bruns- 
wick, fall on the British troops, and secure 
the large suppUes there laid up for their 
winter's consumption. But the American 
troops had, besides the action in the morn- 
ing, been fighting at Trenton the day pre- 
vious, and marching aU night over rough and 
frozen roads : not half of them had been 
able to obtain breakfast or dinner; many 



490 



PUENTE NACIOXAL— PULTOWA. 



were destitute of either shoes or stockings, 
and the whole were worn down with fatigue. 
Under these circumstances, Washington was 
reluctantly compelled to file off to the left, 
toward Rocky HiU. By going down the 
valley of the Millstone, he would avoid the 
army under Cornwallis, then in hot pursuit, 
from Trenton. Although the prize at Bruns- 
wick was rich and tempting, yet the danger 
of being held at bay there till the over- 
whelming force of Cornwallis, rapidly ap- 
proaching in his rear, should overtake his 
worn-out troops, prevented him from making 
the attempt. Cornwallis arrived at Kingston 
shortly after the Americans had left ; but, 
supposing they were still on the road to 
Brunswick, he pushed on through Kingston, 
and over little Rocky Hill, on the main road 
to Brunswick, which, from rocks and frozen 
ground, was almost impassable. Here his 
baggage- wagons broke down ; but such was 
his anxiety to reach Brunswick, he pressed 
on, leaving them in charge of a guard of 200 
or 300 men, to bring them on the next 
morning. A small company of fifteen or 
twenty militia, from the neighborhood, having 
learned the situation of this baggage, soon 
after dark assembled and arranged them- 
selves among the trees, m a semicircular 
form, around where the soldiers lay guarding 
their wagons. On a concerted signal, they 
set up a tremendous shout, and commenced 
firing. The British were taken completely 
by surprise ; and having found, by experience 
of the last ten days, that when they sup- 
posed their enemies were the farthest off, 
they were nearest at hand, and their fears 
magnifying the number of their assailants, 
they hastily drove off what few wagons were 
in a traveling condition, and left the rest a 
prize to the militia-men, who took them the 
next morning to the American camp. Here 
they were opened, and found to contain 
what proved the most acceptable of all arti- 
cles to the American troops — namely, Avoolen 
clothing. 

About the close of the action at Princeton, 
Washington detached a small party to de- 
stroy the bridge over Stony brook, at Worth's 
mills, on the road from Princeton to Tren- 
ton. This party l>ad scarcely half completed 
their work, before the British troops from 
Trenton made their appearance on a hill a 
short distance west of the dwelling of Mr. 
Worth, and commenced firing on them. The 
Americans, however, pushed on their work 
with renewed vigor, until the cannon-balls 
began to strike around them, by which time 
they had thrown off the loose planks into the 
stream, and then hastily retreated. The bag- 
gage and artillery of the British troops were 
detained at the bridge nearly an hour before 
it could be made passable. The troops, how- 



ever, were ordered to dash through the 
stream (then swollen and filled with running 
ice, and about breast high), and press for- 
ward as rapidly as possible toward New 
Brunswick. The officer who commanded 
the detachment ordered to destroy the bridge, 
is said to have been Major, (afterward Col.) 
John Kelly, of Pennsylvania, who died about 
the year 1835. After the British appeared 
in sight, it was necessary that some part of 
the bridge should be cut away, which was an 
extremely hazardous service under the fire 
of the enemy. Major Kelly, disdaining to 
order another to do what some might say he 
would not do himseff, bravely took the axe 
and commenced cutting off the logs on which 
the planks of the bridge were laid. Several 
balls struck into the last log he was chopping, 
and on which he stood, when it broke down 
sooner than he expected, and he fell with it 
into the swollen stream. His men not be- 
lieving it possible for him to escape, imme- 
diately fled. Major Kelly, by great exertion, 
got out of the water and followed them ; but 
being unarmed and encumbered with frozen 
clothing, he was taken prisoner by a British 
soldier. 

On the near approach of the British troops 
to Princeton, their advance cUvision was sud- 
denly brought to a stand by the discharge of 
a large 32-pounder. Tliis piece, now in the 
central part of the college grounds, formerly 
belonged to the British ; which Washington 
was unable to take with him when he left 
Princeton, on account of its carriage being 
broken. It was left on a temporary breast- 
work in the vicinity of the present residence 
of Dr. Samuel Miller, near the west end of 
the town ; and was loaded by two or three 
persons, and pointed toward the British army. 
As their advance guard was coming up the 
rising ground, within 300 or 400 yards, it 
was discharged, which brought them instant- 
ly to a halt. The enemy, supposing that 
Washington had determined to make a stand 
under cover of the town, sent out their re- 
connoitering parties of horsemen, and in the 
mean time cautiously approached the breast- 
work with their main body, determined to 
carry it by storm. By these movements 
they were delayed nearly an hour ; and 
when arrived at the breast-work and the 
town, were astonished to find them destitute 
of defenders. 

PUENTE NACIONAL, a.d. 1847.— On 
the 11th of August, 1847, an engagement 
took place at Puente Nacional, a village of 
Mexico, between a body of American troops 
and a party of Mexicans; the latter were 
defeated. The Americans lost 11 men killed 
and 40 wounded. 

PULTOWA, A.D. 1709.— Pultowa, or Pol- 
tava, as it is also written, is situated on the 



PULTOWA. 



491 



river Vorskla, in Russia. It is built on an 
eminence, and is inclosed by planted walks 
on the site of its former ramparts. 

The history of Charles XII's conquests and 
reverses possesses all the interest of a ro- 
mance. He was born at Stockholm on the 
27th of June, 1682. He checked the designs 
of Denmark, defeated the Russians in a great 
battle, on the 30th November, 1700, at Nar- 
va, after which he gained possession of 
Poland. His next great enterprise was the 
invasion of Russia, but the tide of fortune 
turned against him, and he was defeated by 
Peter the Great in the decisive battle of Pul- 
towa, on the 9th of July, 1709. Voltaire, in 
the following extract, has given us a most 
vivid account of the battle and his retreat. 

It was on the 9th of July, 1709, that the 
decisive battle of Pultowa was fought be- 
tween the two most famous monarchs that 
were then in the world. Charles XXL, illus- 
trious for nine years of victories; Peter 
Alexiowitz for nine years of pains taken to 
form troops equal to those of Sweden ; the 
one glorious for having civilized his own ; 
the other fighting for glory alone ; Alexio- 
witz scorning to fly danger, and never mak- 
ing war but from interested views; the 
Swedish monarch, liberal from an innate great- 
ness of soul ; the Muscovite never granting 
favors, but in order to serve some particular 
people; the former a prince of uncommon 
sobriety and continence, naturally magnani- 
mous and never cruel but once ; the latter 
not having yet worn off the roughness of his 
education, nor the barbarity of his country, 
as much the object of terror to his subjects as 
of admiration to strangers, and too prone to 
excesses, which even shortened his days. 
Charles had the title of" Invincible," of wliicli 
a single moment might deprive liim; the 
neighboring nations had already given Peter 
Alexiowitz the name of " Great," which, as 
he did not owe to his victories, he could not 
forfeit by a defeat. 

In order to form a distinct idea of this bat- 
tle, and the place where it was fought, we 
must figure to ourselves Pultowa on the 
north, the camp of the King of Sweden on 
the south, stretching a little to the east, his 
baggage about a mile behind him, and the 
river of Pultowa on the north of the town, 
running from east to west. 

The czar had passed the river about a mile 
from PultoAva, toward the west, and was be- 
ginning to form his camp. 

At break of day the Swedes appeared be- 
fore the trenches with four iron cannons for 
their whole artillery ; the rest were left in 
the camp, with about 3,000 men, and 4,000 
remained with the baggage ; so that the 
Swedish army, which advanced against the 
enemy, consisted of about 21,000 men, of 



which about 16,000 only were regular 
troops. 

The Generals Renschild, Roos, Levenhaupt, 
Slipenbak, Hoorne, Sparree, Hamilton, the 
Prince of Wirtemberg, the king's relation, 
and some others who had most of them seen 
the battle of Narva, put the subaltern officers 
in mind of the day when 8,000 Swedes de- 
feated an army of 80,000 Muscovites in their 
intrenchments. The officers exhorted the 
soldiers by the same motive, and as they ad- 
vanced they all encouraged one another. 

Charles, carried in a htter at the head of 
his infantry, conducted the march. A large 
body of horse advanced by his order to at- 
tack that of the enemy ; and the battle began 
with this engagement, at half-past four in 
the morning. The enemy's horse was posted 
toward the west on the right side of the 
Russian camp. Prince Menzikoff and Count 
Gollowin having received them at certain 
distances between the redoubt lined with 
cannon. General Slipenbak, at the head of 
the Swedes, rushed upon them. All those 
who have served in the Swedish troops are 
sensible that it is almost impossible to with- 
stand the fury of their first attack. The Mus- 
covite squadrons broke and routed. The 
czar ran up to rally them in person ; his hat 
was pierced with a musket-ball ; Menzikoff 
had three horses killed under him, and the 
Swedes cried out victory. 

Charles did not doubt but the battle was 
gained. About midnight he sent General 
Creutz, with 5,000 horse or dragoons, to take 
the enemy in flank, while he attacked them 
in front ; but as his ill-fortune would have it, 
Creutz mistook liis way, and did not make 
his appearance. The czar, who thought he 
was ruined, had time to rally his cavalry, and 
in his turn fell upon that of the king, which, 
not being supported by the detachment of 
Creutz, was likewise broken. Slipenbak 
was taken prisoner in this engagement. At 
the same time 72 pieces of cannon played 
from the camp upon the cavalry ; and the 
Russian foot, opening their lines, advanced to 
attack Charles's infantry. 

After this the czar detached Menzilvoff to 
go and take post between Pultowa and the 
Swedes. Prince Menzikoff executed liis mas- 
ter's orders with dexterity and expedition. 
He not only cut off the communication be- 
tween the Swedish army and the camp be- 
fore Pultowa, but having met with a corps de 
reserve, he surrounded them and cut them to 
pieces. If Menzikoff performed this exploit 
of his own accord, Russia is indebted to him 
for its preservation ; if it was by the orders 
of the czar, he was an adversary worthy of 
Charles XII. Meanwhile the Russian in- 
fantry came out of their lines, and advanced 
into the plain in order of battle. On the 



492 



PULTOWA. 



other hand, tlie Swedish cavalry rallied 
within a quarter of a league from the enemy ; 
and the king, assisted by Field-marshal Rens- 
child, made" the necessary cUspositions for a 
general engagement. 

He ranged the few troops that were left 
him in two lines, the infantry occupying the 
center, and the cavalry forming the two 
wings. The czar disposed Ms army in the 
same manner. He had the advantage of 
numbers, and of 72 pieces of cannon, while 
the Swedes had no more than four to oppose 
to him, and began to be in want of powder. 

The Emperor of Muscovy was in the center 
of his army, having then only the title of 
major-general, and seemed to obey General 
Sheremetoflf. But he rode from rank to rank 
in the character of emperor, mounted on a 
Turkish horse, which had been given him in 
a present by the Grand Seignior, animating 
the captains and soldiers, and promising re- 
wards to them all. 

At nine o'clock in the morning the battle 
was renewed. One of the first discharges of 
tlie Russian cannon carried off the two horses 
of Charles's litter. He caused two others to 
be immediately put to it. A second dis- 
charge broke the Utter in pieces, and over- 
turned the king. Of 24 Drabants who 
mutually relieved each other in carrying him. 
21 were killed. The Swedes, struck with 
consternation, began to stagger; and the 
cannon of the enemy continuing to mow 
them down, the first line fell back upon the 
second, and the second began to fly. In this 
last action it was only a single Hne of 10,000 
Russian infantry that routed the Swedish 
army ; so much were matters now changed ! 
All the Swedish writers allege, that they 
would have gained the battle, if they had not 
committed some great blunders ; but all the 
ofiicers affirm, that it was a great blunder to 
give battle at all, and a still greater to shut 
themselves up in a desert country, against the 
advice of the most prudent generals, in oppo- 
sition to a warlike enemy, three times stronger 
than Charles, both in number of men, and in 
many resources from which the Swedes were 
entirely cut off. The remembrance of Narva 
was the chief cause of Charles's misfortune at 
Pultowa. 

The Prince of Wirtemberg, General Rens- 
child, and several principal officers, were al- 
ready made prisoners ; the camp before 
Pultowa was stormed, and all was thrown 
into a confusion which it was impossible to 
rectify. Count Piper, with some officers of 
the chancery, had left the camp, and neither 
knew what to do, or what was become of 
the king ; but ran about from one corner of 
the field to another. A major, called Bere, 
offered to coaduct them to the baggage ; but 
the clouds of dust and smoke which covered 



the plain, and the dissipation of mind so nat- 
ural amid such a desolation, brought them 
straight to the counterscarp of the town, 
where they were all made prisoners by the 
garrison. 

The king scorned to fly, and was.unable to 
defend himself. General Poniatowsky hap- 
pened to be near him at that instant ; — ^he 
was a colonel of Stanislaus's guards, a man of 
extraordinary merit, and had been induced, 
from his extraordinary attaclmient to the per- 
son of Charles, to follow him into the Ukraine 
without any post in the army. He was a man, 
who, in all the occurrences of fife, and amid 
those dangers, when others would at most 
have displayed their courage, always took his 
measures with dispatch, prudence, and suc- 
cess. He made a sign to two Drabants, who 
took the king under the arm, and placed him 
on his horse, notwithstanding the exquisite 
pain of his wounds. 

Poniatowsky, though he had no command 
in the army, became on this occasion a gen- 
eral through necessity, and drew up 500 
horse near the king's person ; some of them 
Drabants, others officers, and a few private 
troopers. This body being assembled, and 
animated by the misfortunes of their prince, 
forced their way through more than ten 
Russian regiments, and conducted Charles 
through the midst of the enemy for the space 
of a league, to the baggage of the Swedish 
army. 

Charles, being closely pursued in his flight, 
had his horse killed under liim ; and Colonel 
Gieta, though wounded and spent with the 
loss of blood, gave him his. Thus, in the 
course of the flight, they twice put this con- 
queror on horseback, though he had not been 
able to mount a horse during the engage- 
ment. 

This surprising retreat was of great conse- 
quence in such distressful circumstances; but 
he was obliged to fly to a still greater dis- 
tance. They found out Piper's coach among 
the baggage ; for the king had never used 
one since he left Stockholm : they put him 
into his vehicle, and fled toward the Boris- 
thenes with great precipitation. The king, 
who, from the time of his being set on horse- 
back, till his arrival at the baggage, had not 
spoke a single word, at length inquired, what 
was become of Count Piper? They told him 
he was taken prisoner, with all the officers 
of the chancery. " And General Renschild 
and the Duke of Wirtemberg?" added the 
king. "Yes," said Poniatowsky, "Prison- 
ers to the Russians," resumed Charles, shrug- 
ging up his shoulders. " Come, then, let us 
rather go to the Turks." They could not per- 
ceive, however, the least mark of dejection in 
his countenance ; and had any one seen him 
at that time without knowing his situation, 



PULTOWA. 



493 



he never would have suspected that he was 
wounded and conquered. 

While he was getting o£f, the Russians 
seized his artillery in the camp before Pul- 
towa, his baggage, and his military chest, in 
which they found six millions in specie, the 
spoils of Poland and Saxony; 9,000 men, 
partly Swedes and partly Cossacks, were 
killed in the battle, and about 6,000 taken 
prisoners. There still remained about 16,000 
men, including the Swedes, Poles, and Cos- 
sacks, who fled toward the Boristhenes, un- 
der the conduct of General Levenhaupt. He 
marched one way with his fugitive troops, 
and the king took another with some of his 
horse. The coach in which he rode broke 
down by the way, and they again set him on 
horseback ; and, to complete his misfortune, 
he wandered all night in the wood ; where, 
his courage being no longer able to support 
his exhausted spirits, the pain of liis wound 
became more intolerable through fatigue, and 
his horse falhng under him through excessive 
weariness, he lay some hours at the foot of a 
tree, in danger of being surprised every mo- 
ment by the conquerors, who were searching 
for him on all sides. 

At last, on the 9th or 10th of July, at 
night, he found himself on the banks of the 
Boristhenes. Levenhaupt had just arrived 
with the shattered remains of his army. It 
was with an equal mixture of joy and sorrow 
that the Swedes again beheld their king, 
whom they thought to be dead. The enemy 
was approaching. The Swedes had neither 
a bridge to pass the river, nor time to make 
one, nor powder to defend themselves, nor 
provisions to support an army, which had eat 
nothing for two days. But the remains of 
this army were Swedes, and the conquered 
king was Charles XII. Most of the officers 
imagined that they were to halt there for the 
Russians, without flinching; and that they 
would either conquer or die on the banks of 
the Boristhenes. Charles would undoubtedly 
have taken tliis resolution, had he not been 
exhausted with weakness. His wound was 
now come to a suppuration, attended with a 
fever ; and it has been remarked, that men 
of the greatest intrepidity, when seized with 
the fever that is common in a suppuration, 
lose that impulse to valor which, Mke aU other 
virtues, requires the direction of a clear head. 
Charles was no longer himself. This, at least, 
is what I have been well assured of, and what 
indeed is extremely probable. They carried 
him along Hke a sick person in a state of in- 
sensibility. Happily there was left a sorry 
calash, which by chance they had brought 
along with them ; this they put on board a 
little boat; and the king and General Ma- 
zeppa embarked in another. The latter had 
saved several coffers of money ; but the cur- 



rent being rapid, and a violent wind begin- 
ning to blow, the Cossack threw more than 
three fourths of his treasures into the river to 
lighten the boat. Mullem, the king's chan- 
cellor, and Count Poniatowsky, a man more 
necessary to the king than ever, on account 
of his admirable dexterity in finding expe- 
dients for all difficulties, crossed over in some 
barks with some officers. 300 troopers of 
the king's guards, and a great number of 
Poles and Cossacks, trusting to the goodness 
of their horses, ventured to pass the river by 
swimming. Their troop, keeping close to- 
gether, resisted the current, and broke the 
waves ; but all those who attempted to pass 
separately a httle below were carried down 
by the stream, and sunk in the river. Of all 
the foot who attempted to pass, there was 
not a single man that reached the other side. 
While the shattered remains of the army 
were in tliis extremity. Prince Menzikoff 
came up with 10,000 horsemen, having each 
a foot-soldier behind him. The carcases of 
the Swedes who had died by the way of their 
wounds, fatigue, and hunger, shewed Prince 
Menzikoff but too plainly the road which the 
fugitive army had taken. The Prince sent a 
trumpet to the Swedish general to offer him 
a capitulation. Four general officers were 
presently dispatched by Levenliaupt to receive 
the commands of the conqueror. Before 
that day, 16,000 soldiers of King Charles 
would have attacked the whole forces of the 
Russian empire, and would have perished to 
a man rather than surrender ; but, after the 
loss of a battle, and the flight of two days, 
deprived of the presence of their prince, who 
was himseff constrained to fly, the strength 
of every soldier being exhausted, and their 
courage no longer supported by the least 
prospect of rehef, the love of hfe overcame 
their natural intrepidity. Colonel Troutfetre 
alone, observing the Muscovites approach, 
began to advance with one Swedish battalion 
to attack them, hoping by this means to in- 
duce the rest of the troops to follow his ex- 
ample. But Levenhaupt was obliged to 
oppose this unavailing ardor. The capitula- 
tion was settled, and the whole army were 
made prisoners of war. Some soldiers, re- 
duced to despair at the thoughts of falling 
into the hands of the Muscovites, threw them- 
selves into the Boristhenes. Two officers of 
the regiment commanded by the brave Trout- 
fetre killed themselves, and the rest were 
made slaves. They all filed off in presence 
of Prince Menzikoff, laying their arms at his 
feet, as 30,000 Muscovites had done nine 
years before at those of the King of Sweden, 
at Narva. But whereas the king sent back 
all the Russians, whom he did not fear, the 
czar retained the Swedes that were taken in 
Pultowa. 



494 



PULTOWA. 



These unhappy creatures were afterward 
dispersed through the czar's dominions, par- 
ticularly in Siberia, a vast province in great 
Tartary, which extends eastward to the fron- 
tiers of the Chinese empire. In tliis barbar- 
ous country, where even the use of bread 
was unknown, the Swedes, who were become 
ingenious through necessity, exercised the j 
trades and employments of which they had | 
the least notion. All the distinctions which ! 
fortune makes among men were then banished. ' 
The officer, who could not follow any trade, j 
was obliged to cleave and carry wood for the 
soldier, now turned tailor, clothier, joiner, 
mason, or goldsmith, and Avho got a subsis- 
tence by his labors. Some of the officers be- 
came painters, and others architects; some 
of them taught the languages and mathe- 
matics. They even established some public 
schools, which in time became so useful and 
famous that the citizens of Moscow sent their 
children thither for education. 

Count Piper, the King of Sweden's first 
minister, was for a long time confined in 
prison at Petersburg. The czar was persuad- 
ed, as well as the rest of Europe, that this 
minister had sold his master the Duke of 
Marlborough, and drawn on Muscovy the 
arms of Sweden, which might have given 
peace to Europe ; for which reason he ren- 
dered his confinement the more severe. 
Piper died in Muscovy a few years after, 
^little assisted by his own family, which lived 
in opulence at Stockholm, and vainly lament- 
ed by his sovereign, who would never conde- 
scend to offer a ransom for his minister, 
which he feared the czar would not accept 
of; for no cartel of exchange had ever been 
settled between them. 

The Emperor of Muscovy, elated with a 
joy which he was at no pains to conceal, re- 
ceived upon the field of battle the prisoners, 
whom tliey brought to him in crowds ; and 
asked every moment, " Where, then, is my 
brother Charles ?" 

He did the Swedish generals the honor of 
inviting them to dine with him. Among 
other questions which he put to them, he 
asked General Renschild what might be the 
number of his master's troops before the bat- 
tle! Renschild answered, that the king 
always kept the muster-roll himself, and 
would never show it to any one ; but that, 
for his own part, he imagined the whole 
might be about 30,000, of which 18,000 were 
Swedes, and the rest Cossacks. The czar 
seemed to be surprised, and asked how they 
durst venture to penetrate into so distant a 
country, and lay siege to Pultowa with such 
a handful of men. " We were not always 
consulted," replied the Swedish general, " but, 
like faithful servants, we obeyed our master's 
orders, without ever presuming to contradict 



them." The czar, upon receiving this answer, 
turned about to some of his courtiers, who 
were formerly suspected of having engaged 
in a conspiracy against him : " Ah !" says 
he, " see how a king should be served ;" and 
then taking a glass of wine, " To the health," 
says he, " of my masters in the art of war." 
Renschild asked him who were the persons 
whom he honored with so high a title? 
" You, gentlemen, the Swedish generals," re- 
plied the czar. " Your majesty, then," re- 
sumed the count, " is very ungrateful, to treat 
your masters with so much severity." After 
dinner the czar caused their swords to be 
restored to all the general officers, and be- 
haved to them like a prince who had a mind 
to give his subjects a lesson of generosity and 
pohteness, with wliich he was well acquaint- 
ed. But this same prince, who treated the 
Swedish generals with so much humanity, 
caused all the Cossacks that fell into his hands 
to be broke upon the wheel. 

Thus the Swedish army, which left Saxony 
in such a triumphant manner, was no more. 
One half of them had perished with hunger, 
and the other half were either massacred or 
made slaves. Charles XII. had lost in one 
day the fruit of nine years' labor, and of 
almost a hundred battles. He made his escape 
in a wretched calash, attended by Major- 
General Hord, who was dangerously wound- 
ed. The rest of his little troop followed, 
some on foot, some on horseback, and others 
in wagons, through a desert, where neither 
huts, tents, men, beasts, nor roads were to be 
seen. Every thing was wanting, even water 
itself It was now the beginning of July; 
the country lay in the forty-seventh degree 
of latitude ; the dry sand of the desert rend- 
ered the heat of the sun the more insupport- 
able ; the horses feU by the way, and the men 
were ready to die with thirst. A brook of 
muddy water which they found toward even- 
ing was all they met with ; they filled some 
bottles with this water, which saved the lives 
of the king's little troop. After a march of 
five days, he at last found himself on the 
banks of the river Aypanis, now called Bogh 
by the barbarians, who have spoiled not only 
the general face, but even the very names of 
those countries, which once flourished so 
nobly in the possession of the Greek colonies. 
This river joins the Boristhenes some miles 
lower, and falls along with it into the Black 
Sea. 

On the other side of the Bogh, toward the 
south, stands the little town of Oczakow, a 
frontier of the Turkish empire. The inhabit- 
ants, seeing a body of soldiers approach, to 
whose dress and language they were entire 
strangers, refiised to carry them over the 
river, without an order from Mehemet Pasha, 
governor of Oczakow. The king sent an 



PULTIJSK 



495 



express to the governor, demanding a pass- 
age ; but the Turk, not knowing what to do, 
in a country wliere one false step frequently 
costs a man his life, durst not venture to take 
any thing upon himself, without having first 
obtained permission of the seraskier of the 
province, who resided at Bender, in Besara- 
bia. While they were waiting for tliis per- 
mission, the Russians, who had made the 
king's army prisoners, had crossed the Boris- 
thenes, and were approaching to take him 
also. At last the pasha of Oczakow sent 
•word to the king, that he would furnish him 
with one small boat to transport himself and 
two or three attendants. In this extremity 
the Swedes took by force what they could 
not obtain by gentle means ; some of them 
went over to the further side in a small skiff, 
seized on some boats, and brought them to 
the hither side of the river ; and happy was 
it for them that they did so ; for the masters 
of the Turkish bark, fearing they should lose 
such a fiivorable opportunity of getting a good 
freight, came in crowds to offer their services. 
At that very instant arrived the favorable 
answer of the seraskier of Bender, and the 
king had the mortification to see 500 of liis 
men seized by the enemy, whose insulting 
bravadoes he even heard. The Pasha of 
Oczakow, by means of an interpreter, asked 
his pardon for the delays which had occasion- 
ed the loss of 500 men, and humbly en- 
treated him not to complain of it to the grand 
seignior. Charles promised him that he 
would not ; but at the same time gave him 
a severe reprimand, as if he had been speak- 
ing to one of his own subjects. 

The commander of Bender, who was like- 
wise seraskier, a title which answers to that 
of general, and pasha of the province, wliich 
signifies governor and intendant, forthwith 
sent an aga to compliment the king, and to 
offer him a magnificent tent, with provisions, 
baggage, wagons, and all the conveniences, 
officers, and attendants, necessary to conduct 
him to Bender in a splendid manner ; for it 
is the custom of the Turks, not only to de- 
fray the charges of embassadors to the place 
of their residence, but Ukewise to supply, 
with great Uberality, the necessities of those 
princes who take refuge with them, during 
the time of their stay. — Voltaire. 

PULTUSK, A.D. 1703.— Pultusk is built 
on an island in the river Narew, in Poland, 
sixty miles nearly north-east of Plock. 
' In the year 1703, Charles XII., King of 
Sweden, marched against the Saxon army 
with an army of 10,000 men. The Saxons 
were commanded by General Stenau, and 
were 10,000 strong. Stenau avoided the 
Swedish army, and retired toward Prussia to 
the north-west of Warsaw. The river Bug 
separated the two armies. On the 1st of 



May, 1703, Charles overtook the Saxons at 
Pultusk. So great was the terror of his 
army that one half of the Saxon troops fled 
at his approach, without waiting for the battle. 
General Stenau with two regiments, kept his 
ground for a moment, but was soon hurried 
along in the general flight of his army, which 
was dispersed before it was vanquished. 
The Swedes took about 1,000 prisoners, and 
killed over 600 of the enemy, having more 
difficulty in pursuing than in defeating them. 

A.D. 1806.— In 1806, on the 26th of 
December, a battle was fought near Pultusk, 
between the French and the Russians. 

An open and cultivated plain lies to the 
south and east of the town of Pultusk, a 
succession of thickets surround this plain on 
every side, with the exception of that of the 
town ; and on the inside of them the ground 
rises to a semicircular ridge, and then slopes 
down to the town on one side, while the 
forest is on the other ; so that, until this bar- 
rier is surmounted, to get even a glimpse of 
the buildings is impossible. Here the Rus- 
sian army was drawn up in two hnes — their 
left resting on the town of Pultusk, their 
right on the wood of Moszyn, which skirted 
the plain ; the artillery was placed in advance, 
while in front of the whole army was placed 
an immense number of Cossacks, so that the 
enemy could not even discover the force or 
composition of those they were to attack. 
The left was commanded by Sacken, the 
right by Count Osterman Tolstoy ; a copse- 
wood in front of the right, was occupied by 
Barclay de Tolly, with twelve battalions, and 
ten squadrons; while Bennmgsen was sta- 
tioned in the center. Lannes, the commander 
of the French forces, consisting of about 
35,000 men, resolved to force the enemy in 
tliis position, and accordingly on the morning 
of the 26th of December, advanced to the 
attack. The woods occupied by the Russian 
hght troops were forced by the French vol- 
tigeurs, not without an obstinate resistance, 
however; Lannes, encouragad by this success, 
surmounted the ridge, and advanced into the 
open plain, when instantly the Cossacks dis- 
persed to the right and left, and displayed to 
view the Russian army in two lines, in ad- 
mirable order, with 220 gims placed along its 
front. Lannes was astonished, but not panic- 
stricken by this sight; he still pressed forward, 
and as his divisions successively cleared the 
thickets, and reached the top of the ridge, 
they deployed into line. This was done with 
admirable discipline, being performed under 
the fire of the Russian cannon, to which they 
had as yet none to oppose. It was attended 
with dreadful loss, and by the time the line 
was formed sufficient for a general charge, 
the ground was covered with dead bodies. 
They charged with very little success ; the 



496 



PUNA. 



soil being soft, was cut up by the passage of 
so many horses and carriages, and in many 
places the mud was up to the knees of the 
French soldiers, the snow at intervals, ob- 
scured the heavens, the gunners could not 
discover the enemy's range ; whUe the Rus- 
sian batteries in light and darkness sent their 
fatal storm of grape and round-shot through 
their ranks. In spite, however, of all these 
obstacles, the French advanced with great 
intrepidity to the attack, and after a httle 
time tlie arrival of their batteries rendered 
the fire more equal. The first line com- 
manded by Suchet, slowly gained ground on 
the right, where the division of Barclay was 
stationed, but Benningsen seeing his danger, 
soon reinforced him with fresh troops ; a 
battalion of the French infantry was routed 
and cut to pieces by the cavalry of the enemy, 
and the disorder was such, that Lannes was 
obliged to advance in person to restore the 
confused troops. By this movement, the 
Russians were arrested in that direction, 
their victorious columns being also charged in 
flank, were compelled to give ground, and 
resume their old position in front of Pultusk. 
Suchet had, meanwhile, commenced an at- 
tack on the post in the woods occupied by 
Barclay de Tolly. After a severe contest, the 
Russians were forced back ; but being rein- 
forced from the town, they again recovered 
their former position, and drove the French 
in disorder out of the wood. Lannes at the 
head of the 34th regiment, immediately flew 
to their rescue, and in some degree restored 
the combat, but Barclay kept his post, and 
threatened the extreme left of the enemy. 
The Russian reserve was now brought up, 
and after a terrible struggle, which lasted 
until long after nightfall, the combatants were 
separated by a frightful storm. Neither party 
were victorious, but the Russians remained 
masters of the battle-field till midnight, and 
then crossed the Narew by the bridge of 
Pultusk, and retreated in the most orderly 
manner; the repubhcan army also retreated 
to such a distance, that the next day the 
Cossacks could discover no traces of them 
within eight miles of the scene of action. 
The losses on both sides were great; the 
French loss amounting to 6,000 men, the 
Russian to nearly 6,000, and the twelve guns 
which were lost in the morning were never 
regained. 

PUNA, A.D. 1531.— Puna, an island which 
lies in the mouth of the river Guayaquil, in 
Peru, is about 24 miles in length, and at the 
widest part 10 in breadth. 

The thirst for gold alone, seemed to impel 
the Spanish navigators of the sixteenth cen- 
tury to extend their discoveries on the west- 
em continent. Dazzled by the successes of 
Cortez in Mexico, many adventurers set forth 



on exploring expeditions in the New "World, 
and among these was Francisco Pizarro the 
discoverer and afterward the conqueror of 
Peru. Having received from the crown of 
Spain the right of discovery and conquest in 
the province of Peru, or New Castile as the 
country was then called, Pizarro, with 180 
men, set sail in three vessels from the bay of 
Panama, on his voyage of conquest to Peru. 
He had provided himself with 27 horses ; and 
his men were armed with muskets, swords and 
long pikes or lances. Without molestation 
the little army, sometimes by land and some- 
times by water, proceeded on their way, untQ 
they land(>d on the island of Puna, in the 
mouth of the river now called the Guayaquil, 
a short distance from the Tumbez, which 
Pizarro considered as the gate of the Peru- 
vian empire. During his march Pizarro had 
been reinforced until they numbered about 
200 men. The Spaniards were hospitably 
received by the inhabitants of Puna ; and 
Pizarro determined to make the island his 
quarters until the reinforcements he expected 
should arrive. The inhabitants of Tumbez, 
which city Pizarro had visited during a for- 
mer expedition ; upon hearing of the arrival 
of the Spaniards, came over to the island in 
considerable numbers to visit their old friends. 
But the inhabitants of Puna and the citizens 
of Tumez, were on terms of enmity with 
each other. The islanders had long opposed 
the arms of the Peruvian incas, and, though 
finally conquered, yet they were still at feud 
and often at open war with the people of 
Tumbez. Under these chcumstances no one 
can wonder that they received the visit of 
their detested rivals with much dissatisfaction. 
Pizarro's suspicions were aroused against the 
islanders, not only by their conduct, but by 
his interpreters, who assured liim that they 
were plotting his destruction as well as that 
of their new visitors. Being informed that 
a number of the chieftains were assembled 
together to take measures for the carrying 
out of their design, he surrounded the place 
of meeting with a number of his soldiers, 
and caused the insurgents to be arrested. 
Satisfied of their guilt, Pizarro placed the 
prisoners in the hands of the citizens of Tum- 
bez, who butchered them on the spot. The 
news of this outrage spread through the 
island hke wild-fire. The natives with one 
accord rushed to arms, and with yells of de- 
fiance and rage, fell on the Spanish camp 
with barbaric fury. They numbered several 
thousand warriors, and to all appearances the 
army of the Spaniards was doomed to cer- 
tain destruction. But with muskets pre- 
sented, and lances firmly set, the httle army 
awaited the coming of the enemy. In one 
body the Indians rushed toward the Span- 
iards, darkening the air with missiles and 



PYRAMIDS. 



497 



shouting forth their terrible battle-cry. But 
the Spaniards met their charge with rapid 
and well-directed thrusts of the lance, and 
brisk discharges of musketry, which checked 
them in their career. Then Hke a bolt from 
the bow, the Spanish horse sprung forward 
into the midst of the enemy, tramphng them 
under foot, and throwing them into the ut- 
most disorder. Stunned by the deafening 
reports of the musketry, and appalled by the 
terrible havoc committed by the Spanish cav- 
alry, the Indians for a moment remained 
inactive. Then, with cries of terror and dis- 
may, they scattered in every direction, and 
sought shelter in the labyrinths of the for- 
ests. In this engagement the Spaniards lost 
only four men killed , but many were seri- 
ously wounded. — Prescott. 

PYRAMIDS, A.D. 1798.— The battle of 
the Pyramids occurred on the 21st of July, 
1798. The French army was commanded 
by Napoleon, and that of the Mamelukes by 
Mourad Bey. The latter had collected all his 
forces, numbering some 6,000 Mamelukes, 
and double that number of Fellahs, Arabs, 
and Copts, and had encamped in the village 
of Embabeh, on the left bank of the Nile. 
The place was fortified by rude field-works, 
and forty pieces of cannon, but in conse- 
quence of the guns not being mounted, they 
could fire in only one direction. A large 
sandy plain lay between their camp and the 
Pyramids, and on this was stationed above 
8,000 of the finest horsemen in the world, 
with their right resting on the village, and 
their left stretcliing toward the Pyramids. A 
few thousand Arabs, whose business it was 
to rob the vanquished of either party, filled 
up the space, quite to the foot of these great 
monuments. 

Napoleon, by means of his telescope, soon 
ascertained that the enemy's cannon were 
stationary, and could only fire in one direc- 
tion, and accordingly moved his army to the 
right, in order to be out of the direction of 
their guns entirely. The columns began 
their march ; Dessaix commanded the one in 
front, next Regnier and Dugua, and those in 
the rear were headed by Vial and Bon. 
The French general seemed inspired with 
more than usual ardor ; the army shared his 
enthusiasm, as they marched on toward the 
huge and indestructable masses of stone 
winch formed the Pyramids. Napoleon, 
with his usual sagacity, had taken extraordi- 
nary precautions to insure success against 
the formidable army of the desert. The 
divisions were drawn up in hollow squares, 
six deep, the generals and baggage in the 
center, and the artillery at the angles. 
When they were in mass, the two sides ad- 
vanced in column ; those in front and rear 
moved forward in their ranks, but as soon as 

32 



they were charged, the whole were to halt, 
and face outward on every side. When they 
were to charge, themselves, the three front 
ranks were to break off and form the attack- 
ing column, those in the rear remaining be- 
hind still in square, but only three deep, to 
constitute the reserve. The French general 
was confident of the result of these opera- 
tions, if the infantry were steady ; his only 
fear was that his soldiers, accustomed to 
charge, would give way to their impetuosity 
too soon, and not have the necessary firm- 
ness which this kind of warfare required. 
Mourad Bey no sooner perceived the lateral 
movement of the French army, than with 
great promptness he resolved to attack their 
columns while in the act of completing it. 
An extraordinary movement was observed 
in the Mameluke line, and 7,000 men de- 
tached themselves from the remainder of the 
army, and bore down upon the French 
columns. When this immense body of horse 
came rushing at full gallop upon the squares 
of infantry, it was a terrible sight, and one to 
fill the bravest heart with terror. The 
horsemen, admirably mounted, and dressed 
with great magnificence, filled the air with 
their shouts. The glittering of spears and 
cimeters dazzled the sight, while the earth 
seemed shaken liy the thunder of the horses' 
feet. The French soldiers seemed struck 
with awe, but stood firm, and waited, with 
their pieces ready, the order to fire. The 
division under Dessaix was delayed, by being 
entangled in a wood of palm-trees, and was 
not completely formed, when the swiftest of 
the enemy came upon them ; consequently, 
they were partly broken, and thirty or forty 
of the bravest of the assailants penetrated, 
and died in the midst of the square at the 
feet of the officers; but before the mass 
arrived, the movement was completed, and a 
rapid fire of musketry and grape drove them 
from the front, around the sides of the 
column. With the greatest intrepidity they 
forced their way through the space between 
Dessaix's and Regnier's divisions, and riding 
round both squares, strove to find an en- 
trance; but an incessant fire from every 
front cut them down as fast' as they rushed 
in at the opening. This unexpected resist- 
ance made them furious; they dashed their 
horses against the ramparts of bayonets, and 
threw their pistols at the heads of the grena- 
diers, while many whose horses had been 
killed crept along on the ground, and with 
their cimeters, cut off the legs of those occu- 
pying the front ranks. 

In vain thousands followed, and rode 
round the flaming walls of steel ; the fire was 
incessant, and multitudes perished ; at last 
the survivors, in despair, fled toward the 
camp which they had lately left. Here they 



498 



PYRENEES. 



were charged in flank by Napoleon, at the 
head of Dagua's division, while Vial and 
Bon, on the extreme left, stormed the in- 
trenchment. The utmost confusion now pre- 
vailed in the camp, the horsemen, driven 
back in disorder, trampled under foot the in- 
fantry, who, panic-struck at the rout of the 
Mamelukes, on whom their hopes depended, 
abandoned their ranks, and fled to their 
boats to escape to the other side of the Nile. 
The desperation of the Mamelukes was such, 
that seeing no means of escape, they fell upon 
the approaching columns, at the right, with 
their wings extended in order of attack, but 
with inconceivable rapidity they formed in a 
square, repulsed them with great slaughter, 
and drove them back in the direction of the 
Pyramids. The intrenched camp fell into 
the hands of the victors, with all its artillery, 
stores, and baggage. Many thousands of 
the Mamelukes were drowned or killed, and 
of those who had appeared in such splendor 
in the morning, not more than 2,500 escaped 
with Mourad Bey into Upper Egypt. The 
French hardly lost 200 men in the action, 
and several days were employed after the 
battle in stripping the Idlled of their magnif- 
icent apparel, or fishing up the rich spoUs 
from the banks of the Nile. 

PYRENEES.— The Pyrenees, renowned 
in ancient and modern history, is a chain of 
mountains which separates France from Spain, 
and wliich, in its largest extent, stretches 
from Cape Creux in Spain on the Mediterra- 
nean, near the frontier of France, westward 
to the coast of Galicia, a distance of nearly 
650 miles. It is more usual, however, to 
confine the term to that portion of the chain 
which separates Spain from France. 

The Pyrenees, which seem to have been 
known to the Greeks, under the name of 
UvprivT}, are connected with many important 
historical events. Hannibal crossed them on 
his way to Italy, at the beginning of the 
second Punic war.* Julius Caesar also tra- 
versed them with his army when marching 
into Spain against Pompey. Charlemagne 
carried his victorious arms over these mount- 
ains, and added Spain to the empire of the 
Franks.! Edward the Black Prince led his 
army over one of the western passes, while 
fighting in defense of Peter the Cruel, against 
Henry of Trastamare ; and these mountains 
have obtained a more recent celebrity from 
having been the scene of several obstinate 
struggles between the French and EngUsh at 
the close of the Peninsular War. 

After the battle of Vittoria (fought June 
21st, 1813), Napoleon sentSoult to supersede 
Jourdan, with instructions to drive the allies 
across the Ebro. The allies mustered in all 
72,000 combatants of the Anglo-Portuguese 
• See Saguntum. t See Boncesvalles. 



army, of whom 7,000 were cavalry, besides 
25,000 Spaniards. The entire French army 
consisted of about 70,000 men. Both armies 
occupied a line about forty miles in length 
from the sea on the left to the pass of Bon- 
cesvalles, on the extreme right. The British 
were posted on the high grounds, and occu- 
pied passes in the mountains difficult of access, 
yet the columns had the disadvantage of 
being separated from each other by inaccess- 
ible ridges, and could only communicate 
with, or receive support from each other, by 
a round-about march of some days in the 
rear. The French were grouped in the plain, 
from which access was easy from any one 
part of the line to the other, and could at 
pleasure throw the weight of their force 
against the weakest part of the allied hne, 
and overwhelm it by a vehement irruption 
with superior forces, before succor could by 
possibility be obtained. 

Having concentrated his troops, and se- 
lected his point of attack, Soult, at daybreak 
on the 25th of July, with 35,000 combatants 
ascended the French side of the pass of 
Roncesvalles, while D'Erlon, with the center, 
20,000 strong, threatened the British center 
by Puerta de Mayor, at the head of the valley 
of Basten ; and Villatte with the remainder 
of the army remained in observation on the 
Bidassoa. Soult's object in this measure was 
to accumulate forces on Wellington's right, 
more rapidly than the EngUsh general could 
collect forces to oppose him ; to reheve 
Pampeluna which was occupied by 6,000 
French troops, who had been thrown into 
that fortress by the army during its retreat 
from Vittoria, and wliich was blockaded by 
the British army under O'Donnell; and then 
turning to his own right, descend upon St. 
Sebastian, which was also blockaded by the 
British. While he was performing this part 
of his plan, his center and right were to force 
the allied positions in their front. To facih- 
tate these operations, great efforts had been 
made in the preceding days to smooth the 
ascent to the pass of Roncesvalles, and 300 
bullocks were in readiness to assist in drag- 
ging the guns up the long and toilsome 
ascent. Sixty pieces of artillery accompanied 
the center and left, and the troops each car- 
ried provisions for four days' consumption. 
At daybreak on the 25th, Clausen with three 
divisions suddenly commenced an attack upon 
the British and Spaniards who occupied an 
elevated position 5,000 feet above the level 
of the sea, and on the summit of a craggy 
ridge of rock at Altobiscar, commanding the 
higher parts of the pass of Roncesvalles. 
The steep ascent soon rung with louder notes 
than the bugles of Charlemagne, for the 
British troops, undismayed by the multitude 
of assailants, made a vigorous resistance : the 



PYRENEES. 



499 



musketry pealed sharp and long among the 
rocks, and the advancing columns, fell fast 
beneath the deadly fire which issued from 
above the clouds. But the French, electrified 
by the presence of Soult, and burning to 
efface the recollection of their recent defeat, 
advanced with the utmost intrepidity, and 
toiled far up the steep, and finally forced the 
allies to abandon the strong position of the 
Altobiscar, and retreat toward the general 
rendezvous of the troops in that quarter, in 
the valley of ZubirL 

While the pass of Roncesvalles was thus 
forced on the allied right, the Puerta de Maya 
in the center had also been the scene of a 
sanguinary conflict. D'Erlon had, early in 
the morning, put himself in motion on the 
same day, to attack that pass at the head of 
the valley of Bastan, and thus pour down 
another road on the British blockading force 
at Pampeluna. Hill was there vidth the 
second division, and the ground at the sum- 
mit of the pass was exceedingly strong, con- 
sisting of an elevated valley three miles 
broad, flanked by Iqfty rocks and ridges on 
either side, and presenting scenery of the 
grandest description. The better to conceal 
his real intentions. Count d'Erlon, early on 
the morning of the 25th, made some demon- 
strations against the small passes of Espegne 
and Lareta, which lie to the right of that of 
Mayor, and were guarded by the Portuguese ; 
and under cover of these movements, he 
brought forward his main body, long conceal- 
ed from view by the great wood leading 
direct from Urdax up the pass, and they were 
near the summit before they were perceived. 

The alarm-guns were instantly fired ; the 
pickets were driven in with heavy loss, and 
the light companies slowly retired, firing 
quickly as they fell back, with the utmost 
steadiness. Breathless with running up the 
Spanish side, from the bivouacs a little below 
the summit, the British regiments now came 
up. A fierce fight ensued. The French 
rushing up the rocky acchvity, were met by 
the enemy with the utmost gallantry. The 
cries of the combatants ; the sharp ringing 
volleys of musketry, and the screams of the 
wounded, resounded through that rock-in- 
closed avenue with tenfold effect. The French 
pushed the enemy back to the last ridge of 
the pass, and the English were about to 
abandon the crest of the mountain altogether ; 
but Barnes with a fi-esh brigade came up 
from Echallar, and thus reinforced, the En- 
glish drove the French back to the first sum- 
mit of the range. But like a returning wave 
the French troops again rushed upon the en- 
emy, and driving them back finally remained 
in possession of the important pass. Thus 
far the most brilliant success had attended 
Soult's operations; he had won the two 



principal passes leading to Pampeluna, and 
final success seemed inevitable. 

On the morning of the 26th, Soult's march 
was retarded by a thick fog which himg on 
the higher parts of the mountains; he at 
length, however, got into motion, and de- 
scended the valley in pursuit of the British, 
who were retreating to Zubiri. The next 
day the British continued their retreat to- 
ward Pampeluna, and took up a position at 
Sauroren, about four miles in front of that di- 
vision. The garrison of Pampeluna mean- 
while taking advantage of the alarm created 
in the rear of the allies by the retreat of the 
army, made a sortie ; O'Donnell, who com- 
manded the blockading force, immediately 
spiked his guns, and destroyed liis magazines, 
to prevent their falling into the enemy's 
hands ; and he would have raised the block- 
ade entirely had not Don Carlos d'Espana 
come up at the moment with his corps, and 
restored some sort of order in the besieging 
force. 

Wellington was on his way from St. Se- 
bastian when he received intelligence of 
Soult's irruption, and he immediately ordered 
Graham to raise the siege of St. Sebastian, 
embark the stores and guns, and hasten with 
all his disposable force to the support of Gri- 
ron, in a defensive position previously selected 
for battle on the southern side of the Bidas- 
soa. These orders were punctually executed ; 
and, meanwliile, WeUington set out on horse- 
back with the utmost speed to join Picton's 
and Cole's divisions in their position in front 
of Pampeluna. As he entered the village of 
Sauroren, he saw Clausen's division moving 
along the crest of the mountain opposite, 
which made an alteration of his dispositions 
advisable. He immediately dispatched Lord 
Fitzroy Somerset (afterward Lord Raglan), 
with the necessary orders to his generals, and 
spurred his horse up the ascent to join the 
British troops. When he arrived at their po- 
sition, he and Soult were so near that their 
features, with the aid of a telescope, were 
visible to each other. The French general 
resolved to attack the British position the 
next day ; and although a sharp fire of mus- 
ketry along the front of the line, commenced 
at six o'clock in the evening, no important 
operation took place on either side until the 
following morning. 

Early on the morning of the 28th, the al- 
lied army having received considerable rein- 
forcements during the night, were under 
arms. The position which they occupied 
was very strong. Their troops were drawn 
up in two lines ; the first on the summit of 
the ridge of Oricain, stretched in the form of 
a convex semicircle, from the village of that 
name on the left, to Zaboldica on the right, 
and was about two miles in length, covered 



500 



PYRENEES. 



on the right flank by the river Guy, and on 
the left by the torrent Lanz. On this ridge 
the guns of which commanded the roads 
down the valleys on either side, stood a Brit- 
ish division under Cole ; while another divis- 
ion was drawn up across the Lanz in the 
valley on the left, and entirely blocked up the 
approach to Pampeluna in that direction. 
The Spaniards under Murillo held in strength 
the crest of the ridge on the extreme left, 
above the Estreiba, the valley where the 
river Lanz flows. The second Une was posted 
on a still more rugged ridge, which runs en- 
tirely across the valley, and is cleft asunder 
by two narrow openings, tlirough the left of 
wliich the Lanz makes its way between over- 
hanging rocks, while through the one on the 
right the Guy descends ; and these two 
streams, uniting in the rear of the ridge, form 
the Arga river, which, a mile further on, 
washes the ramparts of Pampeluna. On 
this strong ground, the front of which is un- 
commonly bold and abrupt toward the north, 
Picton's division was placed; liis right in 
front of Huarte — which village lies immedi- 
ately behind the opening through which the 
Guy flows — his left, communicating with the 
Spaniards under O'Donnell, who had been 
hurried up from the lines before Pampeluna, 
stretched on the heights across the gap 
formed by the Lanz, and in front of the vil- 
lage of Villaba. 

The rocks on which the first Hne stood, 
consisted of huge piles, standing one above 
the other, Uke the ruins of gigantic castles, 
half gone to ruin ; and none but the troops 
inured to the perils of the Peninsular war- 
fare, would have thought of assaiUug them. 
But Soult's men were equal to the task. 
Having minutely surveyed the ground, he 
resolved upon an attack. Both armies were 
nearly equal, each being about 30,000 strong. 
Of the allies 10,000, however, were Span- 
iards ; but the great strength of the position 
compensated for the inferiority in the quality 
of these troops. About mid-day on the 28tli 
of July (the anniversary of the battle of Tal- 
avera) the French tirailleurs with the most 
admirable gallantry began to swarm up the 
steep ; while Clausen's division, in the valley 
of Lanz, burning with ardor, poured down 
the sides of the stream in one impetuous 
mass, even before the signal for attack was 
given. Butjust asithad turned Cole's left, 
and was preparing to double upon his rear, 
a Portuguese brigade appeared on the heights 
on its right flank, while the broad hues of the 
English uniforms emerging from behind the 
same ridge, stood in battle array in its front I 
Time there was none either for deUberation 
or retreat. The Britisli in front opened a 
heavy fire on the head of the column ; the 
, Portuguese on the right poured in their shot 



on the one flank, while two British brigades, 
descending from their rocky fastness on the 
left, smote the other with redoubled fury. 
Thus fiercely assailed at once in front and 
both flanks by an enemy heretofore invisible, 
the French colunms recoiled, still bravely 
combating, and strewed their numerous slain 
along their line of retreat. 

While this bloody action was going on 
upon the British left, in the valley of Lanz, a 
conflict of unequaled severity was raging 
along the top of the ridge in the center and 
right. With surpassing valor Clausen's other 
divisions rushed up the steep face of the 
mountain, and, undismayed by a plunging 
fire, which in many cases swept off" half their 
battalions, worked their toilsome way up to 
the top. In some instances their extraordi- 
nary gallantry met with deserved but tem- 
porary success. The Portuguese caeadores 
shrunk from the terrible encounter on the 
summit, and the French estabhshed thetn- 
selves for a few minutes on their part, on the 
left of the ridge ; but Ross's brigade, instant- 
ly advancing, charged them with a loud 
shout, and hurled them down the steep. 
Again they returned, however, reinforced, to 
the charge. Another Portuguese regiment on 
Ross's right having given way, the French 
penetrated in that opening, and that brigade 
Avas compelled to give ground. Instantly the 
assailants stood on his position on the sum- 
mit ; the hne began to deploy to a consider- 
able breadth on either side, and the crest of 
the mountain, enveloped in cloud and flame, 
seemed already won. In this extremity 
Welhngton ordered up Byng's brigade, M^hich 
advanced in double-quick time; two regi- 
ments were brought down from the higher 
gi'ound in the center ; and thus strengthened 
the British with indescribable fiiry charged 
the crowded masses of the enemy on the 
summit, and the whole were rolled in wild 
confusion over the rocks. Meanwhile Reille's 
division, on the left of Clausen's division, had 
environed the right of the position above the 
Guy stream, where Murillo's Spaniards were 
placed, and mounting fiercely the hill-side, 
dislodged them from their ground. A Por- 
tuguese battalion gallantly advancing, took its 
place in their room on the left of the British 
regiment, which waited in stern silence until 
the French set their feet on the broad sum- 
mit ; but when their glittering arms appeared 
over the brow of the mountain, the charging 
cry was heard, the crowded mass was broken 
to pieces, and a tempest of bullets followed 
its flight. Four times this assault was re- 
newed, and the French oflicers were seen to 
pull up their tired men by the belts, so fierce 
and resolute were they to win. But their 
eflbrts were fruitless. The alUes, posted in a 
favorable position, hurled back the French 



QUAKER HILL— QUEBEC. 



501 



with ease; and at length, with thinned 
ranks and weary limbs, the assailants were 
obhged to retire. The French general now 
saw that the position of his enemy was too 
strong to be forced. He therefore rehn- 
quished his design of relieving Pampeluna, 
and resolved to throw the weight of his forces 
towards St. Sebastian and raise the siege of 
that fortress. During the night after that 
battle, Wellington was reinforced by the ar- 
rival of General Hill's three divisions ; and 
having now over fifty thousand men, deter- 
mined to assume the offensive. An indecis- 
ive battle was fought the next day, and both 
armies spent the night of the 29th on the 
field of battle ; but Soult, finding him- 
self pressed by superior numbers, the next 



day retreated with aU possible expedition, 
up the valleys of Lanz and Guy, and closely 
pursued by the enemy, with whom he fought 
as he retreated, finally, on the 1st of August 
reached the French side of the Pyrenees. 
The French lost in this vain attempt, 20,000 
men. The allies lost 7,096 men, of whom 
4,756 were British soldiers. 

The two armies, after Soult's retreat to the 
French side of the mountains, occupied 
nearly the same position that they had held 
before the irruption took place. The first 
object which occupied the attention of the 
British general, after the defeat of Soult's 
irruption, was the renewal of the siege 
of St. Sebastian, which had been so rudely 
interrupted. 



QUAKER HILL, a.d. 1778.— On the 29th 
of August, 1778, an engagement took place 
between the American patriot army under 
General Sullivan, and the British under Gen- 
eral Pigot, near Quaker Hill, about twelve 
miles from Newport, Rhode Island. The 
American army consisted of about 5,000 
men ; and that of the English was of about 
the same strength ; but only about 1,200 on 
either side were engaged. The action com- 
menced at nine o'clock in the morning, and 
continued until three in the afternoon, when 
the British were forced to retire. The Amer- 
icans lost thirty killed, 132 wounded, and 
forty-four missing. The British lost in killed 
and wounded 210, and twelve missing. 

QUATRE BRAS, a.d. 1815.— The httie 
village of Quatre Bras ("four arms,") in 
Belgium, ten miles from the village of Water- 
loo, was the theater of an action between 
the French and English on the 16th of June, 
1815, two days before the battle of Waterloo. 
See Waterloo. 

QUEBEC, A. D. 1759.— On the north bank 
of the river St. Lawrence, 340 miles from its 
mouth, stands the city of Quebec, the capital 
of the two Canadas, and one of the most 
beautiful and populous places in the British 
North American provinces. The city con- 
sists of an Upper and Lower Town, the 
former within fortified walls, upon the top 
and declivities of a high peninsula ; the latter 
occupying a narrow beach at the margin of the 
water. Upon the heights is a level plateau, 
called the plains of Abraham. The river St. 
Charles enters the St. Lawrence a httle north 
of the city. 

In July, in the year 1759, Quebec was 
strongly garrisoned by French regulars, and 
Montcalm, with the main body of the French 



army, occupied a fortified camp along the 
north bank of the St. Lawrence, between 
the St. Charles and Montmorenci rivers. 
William Pitt, the great statesman of England, 
had conceived the magnificent scheme of 
putting an end to French dominion in Amer- 
ica by conquering all Canada. General Am- 
herst was appointed commander-in-chief in 
place of Abercombie, and early in the spring 
of 1759, he found liimself at the head of 
20,000 provincial troops. A large land and 
sea force was also sent from England to co- 
operate with the Americans ; and Amherst 
at once made preparations to carry the war 
forward to a successful termination. A 
strong naval and land force under General 
Wolfe was to ascend the St. Lawrence and 
attack Quebec; a second force under Am- 
herst was to expel the French from Lake 
Champlain, and fall upon Montreal, after 
which he was to join Wolfe at Quebec, and a 
tliird expedition under General Prideaux was 
to attack fort Niagara, and then to proceed 
with all possible speed down lake Ontario to 
Montreal. In the month of June Wolfe, 
with 8,000 troops under convoy of twenty- 
two fine of battle ships, and as many frigates 
and other armed vessels, under Admiral 
Saunders, left Louisburg, on the St. Law- 
rence, and arrived on the 26th at the Isle of 
Orleans, a few miles below Quebec. Wolfe 
disembarked on the island on the 27th of 
June. The two armies were within sound 
of each others' arms ; and the scene present- 
ed must have been indeed magnificent. The 
island of Orleans, with its emerald surface 
dotted with the tents of Wolfe's encamp- 
ment; the placid waters of the St. Law- 
rence reflecting the sails of the ^ritish fleet ; 
. the army of Montcahn stretching between 



502 



QUEBEC. 



two rivers, with its center at Beauport, and 
the city of Quebec reposing in tranquillity at 
the extreme verge of the horizon, all formed 
a picture worthy of an artist's pencil. Mont- 
calm's army consisted in all of about 5,000 
men, a small force indeed when compared 
with the army and fleet of Wolfe. On the 
30th of July, a British detachment of about 
2,000 men, took possession of Point Levi, 
opposite Quebec. The river at this point is 
about a mile in width ; and the Enghsh, by 
the discharge of red-hot balls and shells, 
almost destroyed the Lower Town. But the 
citadel which stands in the Upper Town, 
crossing Cape Diamond, was beyond their 
reach, and every approach from the river was 
80 strongly protected that an assault was 
impracticable. 

Wolfe was eager for battle, and seeing 
that the eastern bank of the Montmorenci 
was more elevated than the ground occupied 
by Montcalm, resolved to remove his army 
thither, and on the 9th of July he crossed 
the river with the troops of generals Towns- 
hend and Murray from Orleans Island and 
encamped on the east shore of the Mont- 
morenci, directly opposite the left flank of 
the French army. The river Montmorenci 
is a very rapid stream ; precipitating itself 
tlirough rocky gorges in impassable eddies 
and rapids. A ford was formed tliree miles 
in the interior; but the opposite shore was 
high, woody, and strongly fortified. The 
vigilant Montcalm had not left a spot for 
miles along the Une of the river unprotected. 
Wolfe now proceeded to reconnoiter the 
shore above the town. With six ships he 
sailed along the strongly protected bank, 
from the Montmorenci to the St. Charles ; 
passed the high clifif of Cape Diamond, and 
coasted along the blufi" precipice wliich ex- 
tends beyond the citadel, and saw every- 
where a place strongly protected by nature 
and art; inaccessible heights, crowned with 
cannon ; and intrenchments and floating bat- 
teries guarded every approach. He attempted 
however to land at St. Michael's Cove three 
miles above the city ; but the enemy prevented 
him from so doing by planting a mortar and 
some cannon to play on the ships. On the 
28th of July, the French sent down an im- 
mense raft of five stages, to destroy the 
British fleet; but they proved ineffective. 
Meanwhile Wolfe returned to his camp on 
the Montmorenci. Weary with inactivity he 
resolved on an engagement. Three hundred 
yards above its mouth, the Montmorenci 
plunges over a rocky precipice, and then 
flows calmly and smoothly toward the St. 
Lawrence. Near the junction of the two 
rivers, the Montmorenci at certain hours, 
is very shallow, and may be crossed on foot. 
Wolfe decided that Murray and Townshend, 



with about 4,000 men, should ford the Mont- 
morenci at tills place, at the proper hour, 
while Monckton's troops should cross the St. 
Lawrence from Point Levi in boats. 

Battle of Montmorenci. — The signal was 
given, and the British troops were put in 
motion. The boats rapidly advanced toward 
the Canadian shore; but some of them 
grounded on a ledge of rocks wliich extends 
into the river. The French poui'ed forth in- 
cessant discharges of shot and shell upon the 
enemy ; and in the midst of this iron tem- 
pest, Wolfe, with a number of naval officers, 
calmly selected a landing-place. The seamen 
meanwhile were busily engaged in getting 
off the grounded boats. At length 13 com- 
panies of grenadiers effected a landing, and 
without waiting for the arrival of Murray 
and Townshend, who were fording the river, 
rushed furiously toward the French intrench- 
ments ; but they were received by such a 
terrific discharge of musketry and artillery, 
that they were thrown back in the utmost 
disorder, and could not again be rallied. 
Wolfe saw the impossibihty of success, and 
ordered a retreat, and the British returned 
to their camps on the east shore of the Mont- 
morenci, and at Point Levi, having lost in 
this fruitless attack, nearly 500 men, while 
the enemy was uninjured. Eight weeks 
elapsed and the British troops had yet, ob- 
tained no decided advantage. Wolfe burning 
with impatience, and filled with anxiety and 
care, sickened beneath his load of trouble, 
and at the beginning of September lay pros- 
trate in liis tent. Yet his mind was active, 
and he called a council of war at liis bedside, 
and on the suggestion of Townshend it was 
decided to scale the heights of Abraham, 
above the town, and assail the place on its 
weakest side. Wolfe acquiesced in his pro- 
posal, and prepared to carry it into eflect. 
Attended by the admiral, Wolfe, feeble as 
he was, examined in person the citadel once 
more ; and the camp on the Montmorenci 
was removed to Point Levi, as a preparatory 
movement. Having secured the posts on 
Orleans Island, and opposite Quebec, on the 
5th and 6tli of September Wolfe marched 
with the army from Point Levi, and embarked 
them in transports. On the 7th, 8th and 9th, 
Admiral Holmes, with the ships ascended the 
river to amuse De Bougainville, who had 
been sent up the St. Lawrence with about 
1,500 men to watch the movements of the 
enemy, and succeeded in allaying the sus- 
picions of that officer. In fact Montcalm, 
and the whole French army with the citizens 
of Quebec, believed that the worst dangers 
of the siege were over. Meanwhile Wolfe 
made diUigent preparations to attack the 
place. He applied himself closely to the ex- 
amination of the north shore above Quebec. 



QUEBEC. 



503 



" Nature has given me good eyes as well as 
a warmth of temper to follow first impres- 
sions," wrote Wolfe on the 1st of December, 
1758, and on this occasion he used his eyes 
to a good purpose. He himself discovered 
the cove which now is called by his name, 
and he saw the ravine which breaks the 
steepness of the rocky shore, and which al- 
though narrow, nevertheless wound up to the 
summit, and was, as he discovered by count- 
ing the tents, protected only by about 100 
men. This ravine is now called Wolfe s Ra- 
vine. He resolved to land at this point; 
push up with his men through the ravine, 
in the face of the troops who guarded it, and 
take the enemy by surprise. On the even- 
ing of the 12th of September, having made 
all liis preparations, Wolfe with his troops 
ascended the river in several vessels of the 
fleet to a point some distance above the ra- 
vine. At midnight the troops embarked in 
flat boats, and with muffled oars stole down 
the river, to the mouth of the ravine, which 
is about a mile and a half above the city. 
The ships silently dropped down with the 
tide, and reached the cove in time to cover 
the landing of tlie troops. Wolfe and his 
men leaped to the shore ; the light infantry 
landed a short distance below him, and the 
whole force clambered up to the top of the cUfF, 
some through the ravine, and some up the 
very face of the precipice, clinging, as they 
went, to the roots and boughs of the trees 
that covered the declivity. By daybreak 
Wolfe's entire force had gained the summit 
of the rock, and stood on the Plains of Abra- 
ham in battle array. The news of tliis bold 
movement on the part of the enemy filled 
Montcalm with astonishment. He at first 
beUeved it to be but a small party come to 
burn the houses and retire ; but he soon re- 
ceived rehable information and resolved to 
give battle at once. He immediately marched 
from his encampment with his whole army 
and crossing the St. Charles river, confronted 
tlie British army at about ten o'clock in the 
morning of the same day. 

The Battle of the Plains orABRAHAJr. — 
The ground between the two armies was 
crossed by ravines and rail fences. The 
British troops were all regulars, and filled 
with enthusiasm : and proud of their morn- 
ing's achievement panted with the desire to 
engage the enemy. Montcalm's army con- 
sisted chiefly of mihtia; only about 2,000 
were regular troops. The French had two 
pieces of cannon; the EngUsh two. The 
battle commenced with a sharp cannonade 
from both parties, which lasted about an hour. 
Montcalm now resolved to gain the left flank 
of the enemy and crowd him down the high 
bank of the river. Accordingly he called De 
Bougainville to his aid, and sent messenger 



after messenger, for De Yandreuil, who with 
1,500 men remained at the camp, with orders 
to join him before he was driven from the 
ground. Wolfe saw through Montcalm's in- 
tention, and covered his left flank with the 
regiment of Amherst under Townshend, and 
a detachment of the royal Americans. Mont- 
calm waited anxiously for De Vandreuil ; he 
came not, and the French general led his 
army impetuously to the attack. The Enghsh 
reserved their fire until the enemy was within 
forty yards of their Hne ; then with regularity 
and precision tliey deUvered volley after volley 
of musketry, which checked the progress of 
the Canadians and threw them into disorder. 
Montcalm flew from rank to rank, urging his 
men on to the fight. Although grievously 
wounded he maintained his place in their 
front, encouraging them both by words and 
example. The gallant though unpracticed 
Canadians, bewildered by the carnage which 
was committed on their ranks, wavered ; they 
saw the brave De Lennezergues, the second 
in command, fall dead from his horse, and 
terror was rapidly spreading through their 
ranks. Wolfe placing himself at the head of 
the 28th and Louisburg grenadiers, led them 
forward to a bayonet charge. Like a hurri- 
cane they dashed upon the affrighted Cana- 
dians scattering them in all directions ; but 
before they fled, the Canadians had deUvered 
their fire with terrible effect : the British ofii- 
cers Barre, and Carlton, were severely 
wounded, and Wolfe himself received a mus- 
ket-ball in his wrist. The British pressed for- 
ward, and Wolfe was again wounded; and 
at the very moment of victory he received a 
third ball in the breast, and fell, mortally 
wounded. "Support me," he exclaimed to 
an officer near him ; "let not my brave fellows 
see me drop." They carried him to the rear. 
" They run, they run!" cried an ofiicer who 
was holding his loved commander in Ills 
arms. " Who run ?" inquired Wolfe. " The 
French are giving way in every quarter," re- 
pHed the officer. "What!" said Wolfe, and 
his eye lighted for an instant, " do they run 
already?" Then after murnmring a few 
words of directions as to the pursuit, he fell 
back in the arms of his friend and with the 
exclamation, " I die content," expired. Gen- 
eral Monckton was shot through the lungs, 
and the command devolved upon Townshend. 
This general recalled the army from the pur- 
suit and dechned to engage with De Bougain- 
ville, who now appeared in view with fresh 
troops. Montcalm was struck twice during 
the action ; first at the beginning of the bat- 
tle, and next and mortally while attempting 
to rally a body of fugitives in a copse near 
St. John's gate. On being informed by the 
surgeon that he could not live, he cried, " I 
am glad of it ; how long shall I sia"\dve ?" 



504 



QUEBEC. 



" Ten or twelve hours, at the furthest," was 
the reply. " So much the better ; I shall not 
live to see the surrender of Quebec." Towns- 
hend now prepared to besiege the city ; and 
De Vandreuil, on whom now the command 
of the army fell, wrote to De Eamsay at 
Quebec, not to wait for an assault, but sur- 
render, as soon as his provisions were ex- 
hausted. The citizens fearing a famine, and 
dreading the horrors of an assault, urged a 
surrender ; and on the 18th of September, 
five days after the battle, Quebec, with its 
fortifications, people, stores, and shipping, was 
surrendered to the EngUsh. The English lost 
in the battle of the Plains of Abraham, 600 
in killed and wounded ; the French lost 500 
killed, and 1,000 made prisoners including the 
wounded. The French although disheartened 
by the loss of Quebec, were not conquered ; 
tliey still held Montreal, and had a large land 
and naval force above Quebec. 

Siege of 1760. — Early in the year 1760, 
Vandreuil, the French Governor-Greneral of 
Canada, sent De Levi, Montcalm's successor, 
with about 10,000 men, to besiege Quebec. 
•Quebec was garrisoned by about 7,000 Brit- 
ish troops, under the command of Greneral 
Murray. De Levi, with a fleet of six vessels, 
besides his land army, went down the St. 
Lawrence, and arrived within a few miles of 
Quebec, on the 28th of April. Murray went 
out to meet him, and on the same day the 
two armies came in colhsion at Sillery wood, 
three miles above Quebec. The British 
troops rushed precipitately on the vanguard 
of tlie French, who received them with so 
much ardor that they fell back. In danger 
of being surrounded by the enemy, Murray 
was compelled to retreat to the city, aban- 
doning "his very fine train of artillery," and 
losing 1,000 men. The French lost about 
300 men. De Levi laid siege to Quebec, and 
the English garrison, reduced by death during 
the winter, sickness, and the disastrous bat- 
tle, was reduced to about 2,000 effective 
naen. The condition of the garrison was be- 
coming perilous, when it was rescued by the 
foresight of Pitt, who, at his bidding, was on 
its way to Quebec. On the 18th of May the 
fleet approached in the St. Lawrence, and 
De Levi at once raised the siege, and fled to 
Montreal. In June Pitt thus wrote to his 
wife, the sister of Lord Temple and George 
Grenville : " Join, my lo ve, with me in most 
humble and grateful thanks to the Almighty. 
The siege of Quebec was raised on the 17th 
of May, with every happy circumstance. 
The enemy left their camp standing, and 
abandoned forty pieces of cannon. Swanton 
arrived there in the Vanguard on the 15th, 
and destroyed all the French shipping, six or 
seven in number. Happy, happy day 1 My 
joy and hurry are inexpressible." 



The fall of Montreal, which occurred in 
1760, completed the conquest of Canada, and 
Quebec remained in the firm possession of 
the British. 

Siege of 1775. — The American patriots 
had cordially invited the Canadians to join 
them in their efforts for hberty; but their 
proffers of friendship were repulsed, and the 
Americans could not but consider the Cana- 
dians as positive supporters of the cause of 
the king. The Americans, therefore, in 1775, 
resolved to take possession of Canada, and 
prevent its being used by the British as a 
place of rendezvous and supply. To carry 
this resolution into effect, a body of New 
York and New England troops, under 
Schuyler and Montgomery, were ordered to 
proceed to Montreal and Quebec, by the way 
of Lake Champlain ; and Colonel Benedict 
Arnold, with about 1,000 men, was to march 
through the wUderness by the Kennebec and 
Chaudiere rivers, and join Montgomery before 
the walls of Quebec. Arnold left Cambridge 
early in September, 1775, and after enduring 
incredible hardships in his long and weary 
march through the deep forests, arrived at 
Point Levi, opposite Quebec, on the 9th of 
November. Arnold was well acquainted 
with the locahties in and around Quebec, 
having visited the place several times in 
earlier life, and many of the inhabitants were 
his personal friends. The people of Quebec 
were filled with astonishment and fear at the 
sudden appearance of the American army in 
the vicinity of their city ; the drums beat to 
arms, and the whole town was in a state of 
tumult. Arnold found means to apprise his 
friends in the city of liis instructions, and was 
upon the point of crossing the river, when a 
violent tempest of wind and snow arose, and 
he was compelled to await tUl it abated. 
Meanwhile, the garrison of the city was rein- 
forced by troops from Sorel, and a frigate 
(the Ldzzard), with a sloop, was placed in the 
river to intercept the Americans, should they 
attempt a passage. The wind at length 
abated; and on the night of the 13th of No- 
vember, the Americans, leaving 150 at Point 
Levi, embarked in thii-ty or forty birch 
canoes, and crossed the river, and rendez- 
voused at Wolfe's Cove. Arnold immediate- 
ly led his men up the rugged path, which 
Wolfe had trodden sixteen years before, and 
at daybreak stood on the plains of Abraham. 
His whole force consisted of only 750 men ; 
and after having vainly endeavored to draw 
out the garrison by hostile displays on the 
heights, he sent a flag to McLean, the com- 
mander of the garrison, and summoned him 
to surrender. McLean, however, not only 
refused to admit the message, but ordered 
his men to fire upon the bearers. Arnold, at 
the same time, was informed that Carlton 



QUEBEC. 



505 



and his troops, who had escaped the discom- 
fiture of Montreal, was coming down tlie 
river, and finding that nearly all his cartridges 
were spoiled, and hearing also that the gar- 
rison meditated a sortie, felt constrained to 
retire. He retreated to Point-aux-Trembles, 
twenty miles above Quebec, to await the 
arrival of Montgomery. 

On the 1st of December, Montgomery ar- 
rived with Ms troops at Point-aux-Trembles, 
and the united forces amounted to about 900 
men. The next day they started for Quebec, 
and arrived in sight of the city on the 5th. 
Meanwhile Carlton had arrived at Quebec, 
and the garrison thus augmented was con- 
siderably stronger in point of numbers than 
the American army. The English, however, 
considered the Americans much stronger. 
On the morning of the 6th, Montgomery 
sent a letter to Carlton, by a flag, demanding 
an immediate surrender. The governor 
ordered Iris troops to fire upon the bearer. 
Montgomery then resorted to the agency of 
an inliabitant to bear a second letter to Carl- 
ton; in which after magnifying his own 
strength, the weakness of the garrison, and 
the impossibility of defense, he demanded 
an immediate surrender, threatening an as- 
sault, and all the calamities which an irritated 
and victorious soldiery are apt to inflict upon 
places taken by storm. Carlton imagined 
the American army much larger than it really 
was, yet he was not easily frightened. Like 
Arnold, Montgomery had friends in the 
town, but, overawed by the presence of the 
British troops, they dared not do anything 
in favor of the besiegers. The Americans 
finding that all attempts to persuade Carlton 
to surrender were fruitless, resolved to annoy 
the people into submission, by continual and 
harassing attacks on the city, and according- 
ingly endeavored to throw shells over the 
walls. These attempts proved unavailing, 
and Montgomery then erected a six gun 
battery upon some heaps of ice and snow 
within 700 paces of the walls, and opened a 
fire from it ; but his pieces were too light to 
be of service, and for three weeks the Amer- 
icans remained before the walls without gain- 
ing any advantage. At length a council of 
war was called, and a general assault on the 
town at several points was decided upon. 
Accordingly at two o'clock on the morning 
of the 31st of December the troops were 
ordered to parade in three divisions. The 
New York mihtia and a portion of Easton's 
militia, were under the immediate command 
of Montgomery ; the Cambridge detach- 
ments, Captain Morgan's riflemen, and Col- 
onel Lamb's artillery corps, with one piece, 
were commanded by Arnold ; and the third 
division, which consisted of the troops of 
Livingston and Brown, paraded under their 



respective commanders. Montgomery re- 
solved to assail the town at four points. The 
troops of Livingston and Brown were to dis- 
tract the attention of the enemy by feigned 
attacks on the Upper Town, firom the Plains 
of Abraham, the one against the St. Louis 
and St. John's gates, and the other against 
the Diamond Bastion, while his ovsoi divis- 
ion and that of Arnold, should assail the 
Lower Town on opposite sides. Montgom- 
ery was well aware that if he should carry 
the Lower Town, the conquest of the other 
part of the place, would still be difficult ; but 
he hoped that the inhabitants, on finding the 
enemy in possession of so much of their 
property, would force Carlton to surrender. 
The month of December, 1775, departed in a 
howHng storm of wind and snow, and in the 
midst of this bhnding tempest the American 
army advanced toward the city. The first 
division under Montgomery descended from 
the Plains of Abraham, to Wolfe's Cove, and 
advanced upon the bank of the river. The 
lofty heights and the grim guns of Cape 
Diamond frowned over their heads; and the 
whirhng tempest beat fiercely lapon their 
breasts, and piled huge snow-drifts in their 
path. The second division under Arnold ad- 
vanced around the north side of the place on 
the river St. Charles. Montgomery and 
Arnold were to meet at Mountain-street, and 
the united forces were to assail Prescott 
gate. The columns of Brown and Living- 
ston, impeded by the snow and other obsta- 
cles, were prevented from executing their 
feints. Montgomery and his men arrived at 
a point, under Cape Diamond, called Pres-de- 
Ville. Here the huge cUfi" on which stands 
the bastion, advances abruptly toward the 
river; and the narrow path between the 
rocky wall and the water was defended by a 
battery, in charge of a captain of CanacUan 
militia, with tliirty-eight men. The guns 
were manned by nine British seamen, under 
Captain Barnsfare. The Americans cautious- 
ly approached the battery ; the enemy re- 
mained inactive. Montgomery halted to 
reconnoiter. The silence of the British 
caused him to believe that his approach was 
unobserved ; but Barnsfare had seen through 
the gloom of the storm, the advance of the 
enemy, and was prepared to receive them. 
Montgomery sprang forward Avith the thrill- 
ing exhortation, " Men of New York, you 
will not fear to follow where your gen- 
eral leads. March on !" The Americans 
followed their gallant commander, rushing 
over heaps of ice and snow, and through the 
bUnding storm which beat fast and furious in 
their faces. 

Captain Barnsfare reserved his fire until 
the Americans had arrived witliin about forty 
yards of his battery, then he gave the signal, 



606 



QUEENSTOWN. 



the match was applied, and a terrific tempest 
of grape-shot swept through the American 
column, committing fearful havoc. Mont- 
gomery and both his aides, Captains Mac- 
pherson and Cheeseman, were killed on the 
spot, and a number of privates were also 
slain. The rest, appalled at the death of their 
general, shrunk back, and fled in wild disor- 
der back to Wolfe's Cove. Colonel Campbell 
here assumed the command, but made no 
further attempts to join the troops of Arnold. 
Meanwliile, Arnold at the head of his men 
was slowly working his way along the St. 
Charles, through immense drifts of snow, to- 
ward the city. He finally reached the nar- 
row street called Sault au Matelot, when his 
progress was checked by a battery of two 
guns, which the besieged had erected under 
a liigh projecting rock. The battery was 
well manned. The Americans halted for a 
moment and then Arnold led liis men for- 
ward at a rapid pace. The besieged appear- 
ing upon the walls, poured incessant volleys 
of musketry on the assailants, and a musket- 
ball struck Arnold in the knee, injuring liim 
so seriously that he was completely disabled, 
and was carried back to the hospital. Mor- 
gan now assumed the command, and for 
more than an hour the Americans stood 
against the tempest of bullets and grape-shot 
which was hurled upon them from the bat- 
tery and the walls. At length by a bold 
charge they carried the first battery, and 
rushed on the second, which commanded the 
streets of St. Peter and Sault au Matelot. 
The day began to break, and as the Amer- 
icans approached the barrier they encountered 
a detacinnent of the enemy who had saUied 
out from the battery under Captain Anderson. 
The EngUsh officer summoned Morgan to 
lay down lois arms. Morgan rephed by 
leveling a musket and shooting the officer 
dead. The Eaghsh retired within the bar- 
rier and a fierce conflict which lasted nearly 
three hours ensued. The Americans, assailed 
in front, flanlc, and rear by musketry from 
the battery, walls, and houses, suffered fear- 
fully. At length the besiegers took shelter 
from the fire of the enemy in the neighbor- 
ing houses, and a brisk fire was maintained 
through the windows by the Canadians and 
English who occupied other houses in the 
vicinity. The Americans at length drove 
back the enemy and carried the second bar- 
rier, and were preparing to rush into the 
town, when Carlton detached a large body 
of troops from the garrison, and sent them 
through Palace gate to attack the besiegers 
in the rear. Captain Dearborn with some 
American troops was posted near Palace gate. 
Suddenly the gates were flung open, and the 
British poured forth in overwhelming num- 
bera on the Americans. Dearborn being en- 



tirely surrounded, was forced to surrender, 
Morgan with his riflemen was pressing for- 
ward into the town when he heard the news 
of Dearborn's surrender and Montgomery's 
defeat and death, and finding his retreat cut 
off on every side, he yielded and surrendered 
himself and troops as prisoners of war. The 
remainder of Morgan's division effiicted their 
escape and retreated to their camp. The 
Americans on tliis occasion lost in killed and 
wounded one hundred and sixty men. The 
British loss was only about twenty killed and 
wounded. Arnold, after the death of Mont- 
gomery, took the command of the army, and 
feeling unsafe under the walls of the city, re- 
treated about three miles above the place, 
and took up a fortified position. He here 
assumed the attitude of a blockade, scouring 
the country, and cutting ofi^ supphes for the 
city in the hopes of bringing the enemy to 
terms. Carlton, on his part, feeling secure 
within the walls, and trusting in the hope of 
success, remained peaceably within the city, 
waiting for a more favorable season, and re- 
inforcements from England. The beUiger- 
ents remained in this relative position until 
the 1st of April 1776, when Arnold was 
joined by General Wooster and his troops 
from Montreal. Wooster, being senior in 
rank, took command, and the whole army 
now amounted to near three thousand men. 
Eight hundred of these, however, were sick 
with the small-pox. Wooster made imme- 
diate preparations to renew the siege. A 
battery was erected on the Plains of Abra- 
ham, and a cannonade was opened on the 
place. But all the efibrts of the besiegers 
were fruitless, and Carlton having received 
reinforcements under Burgoyne, the Amer- 
icans hastily raised tlie siege and retreated 
toward the Sorel, leaving the stores and sick 
behind them. Burgoyne followed them, and 
they were finally driven out of Canada. 

QUEENSTOWN, a.d. 1812.— Queenstown 
is situated on the north bank of the Niagara 
river, in Lower Canada, directly opposite 
Lewiston, about seven miles below the Ni- 
agara Falls. 

On the 13th of October, 1812, a battle 
occurred on Queenstown heights, between 
the American army under General Stephen 
Van Rensselaer, and the British under the 
command of General Sir Isaac Brock. The 
American army consisted of about 1,200 men; 
the British army numbered more than 2,500 
men, besides hordes of Chippewa Indians. 
Early on the morning of the 13th, Colonel 
Solomon Van Rensselaer, with 300 militia, 
and Colonel Chrysler, with 300 regular 
troops, made preparations to cross the river 
from Lewiston. The British troops occupied 
a strong position on Queenstown heights, 
and while the Americans were crossing the 



KAAB. 



507 



river, they were assailed by a terrific and 
incessant fire from the British batteries. As 
there was not a sufficient number of boats to 
convey all the troops over at once, the 
Americans were obliged to cross in detach- 
ments. Colonel Van Rensselaer at length, 
with about 100 men, effected a landing. 
These troops were led up the bank, where 
they halted to await the arrival of the others 
who were landing every moment, a few 
boat-loads at a time. It was now daybreak, 
and the British turned their fire upon this 
detachment, which, so much exposed, suffered 
greatly. In a few moments every commis- 
sioned officer was either killed or wounded. 
Colonel Van Rensselaer, being himself wound- 
ed in four places. He resolved, however to 
storm the heights, and ordered Captains 
Ogilvie and Wool to advance with the little 
band. The Americans rushed impetuously up 
the hill, and carried the heights and the 
enemy's works. The British retired into a 
strong stone house, whence they made an 
unsuccessful attempt to regain the ground 
they had lost. General Brock in person, 
attempted to rally his troops, and while en- 
deavoring to lead on the grenadiers of the 
49th, fell mortally wounded. On the fall of 



their leader, the British fled in dismay. At 
this time. Colonel Winfield Scott with one 
piece of artillery, and about 600 men, of 
whom 350 were regular troops, crossed over. 
The British also received a reinforcement of 
troops from Fort George, and 500 Chippewa 
Indians. Thus reinforced, the British far 
outnumbered the Americans, and the mihtia 
remaining at Lewiston cowardly refused to 
cross over to the assistance of their friends. 
Like the billows of a tempestuous ocean, the 
British columns rushed upon the American 
army, which stood in their midst like a wave- 
beaten rock, firm and unyielding. For eleven 
hours that little band contended against their 
foes, but at length they were compelled to 
surrender. The Americans lost on this oc- 
casion, about ninety killed, and 900 wounded, 
missing, and prisoners. The British did not 
suffijr so much ; but they met with an irre- 
parable loss in the death of their gallant 
commander. General Brock. The behavior 
of some of the American militia during this day 
was disgraceful. Several hundred who had 
crossed over were found concealed along the 
shores, and were dragged out of their hiding- 
places by the heels by the British soldiers 
after the surrender. 



RAAB, A.D. 1809. — Raab is a town in 
Hungary, and is situated on the river Raab, 
at its confluence with an arm of the Danube. 
The battle of Raab was fought on the 14th 
of June, 1809, between the French and the 
Austrians. The Austrian army consisted of 
about 40,000 men, and was commanded by 
the Archduke John. This army was posted 
upon the high grounds in front of the village 
of Raab. Their right rested on the village of 
Szabadhegi, and the heights bearing the 
same name, then- left was covered by a 
morass ; their center ran through the farm of 
Kismeyger : numerous hght horse were dis- 
persed along the front of the line, while a 
thousand picked troops occupied a square 
stone house, stiU further in advance of the 
center, which was loopholed, and strengthen- 
ed by a few works, besides a deep rivulet, 
which formed a sort of natural fosse to the 
post. In this position, the Archduke John 
resolved to await the attack of the French, 
who, under Eugene Beauharnois were now 
approaching from the west. Prince Eugene 
resolved to attack the enemy on the 14tli of 
June, the anniversary of the battle of Maren- 
go. At ten o'clock in the morning of that 
day, the French army advanced to the strug- 
gle. Their left was commanded by Baraguay 
JD'HiUiers ; their center by Gremier, and 



their right was composed of the light infantry 
of Montbrun, and the heavy dragoons under 
Grouchy. Practhod, with several divisions, 
was in reserve behind the left and center. 
Eugene formed his troops in colums of divis- 
ions of echelon, the right in advance ; but 
before the action had become serious, that 
order was abandoned by the rapid advance 
of the center and left, and the battle became 
general in parallel lines. The French army 
consisted of about 30,000 men. The troops 
of Serras first came into action. They at- 
tacked fiercely the square building in front 
of the Austrian position. The Austrians 
were speedily driven within their stronghold, 
but not before inflicting considerable loss on 
the assailants. Meanwhile, Durutte with a 
chosen division of infantry had advanced 
toward the village of Kismeyger, in the rear 
of the square house. But he was met by 
the fire of a battery of twelve pieces, under 
cover of which the Austrians made an onset, 
which for a moment checked the advance of 
the French. 

Meanwhile, the Austrians in the square 
building maintained a furious fire through 
the loopholes upon the French, who were 
unable to dislodge them. 

Baraguay d'Hilliers with his Italian division 
on the left, attacked the village of Szabadhey, 



608 



RABASTENS— RAMALES. 



but were checked by the murderous fire 
which issued from that village. 

Eugene saw that the decisive moment had 
arrived, and hastened to the spot. He in- 
. stantly addressed a few words to the discom- 
fited Italians, exhorting them to j-emember 
their victories and their glory ; and brought 
forward the reserves under General Pacthod, 
to their support. The Italians returned to 
the charge, the center and right of the enemy 
were forced, and the village of Szabadhegi 
carried. Upon tliis the Archduke John 
brought up his reserve, consisting of the 
flower of the army. The French reserves 
and the ItaUans, overpowered by numbers, 
were driven from the village ; again and 
again the French renewed the fight, and for a 
third time they were obliged to fall back. 
But at length the French returned to the 
charge for a final effort, and drove back the 
enemy, and threw their whole center and 
right wing into irretrievable confusion. In 
the mean time a furious combat was going on 
on the Austrian left, between the troops of 
Montbrun and Grouchy, and the whole 
weight of the Hungarian cavalry. This for- 
midable body of horse, 7,000 strong, in the 
first instance overwhelmed Montbrun, with 
his division, who had advanced to the sup- 
port of Colbert's brigade which was endeav- 
oring to turn the square from a house in front 
which still prolonged its defense ; but Grou- 
chy came up with his terrible cuirassiers, 
and charged the Hungarians with such vigor 
that they were driven back so far as to leave 
the defenders of the house entirely to their 
own resources. 

"Though thus left in the middle, as it 
were, of the French army, Hammel and the 
heroic defenders of the farm-house abated 
nothing of their resolution. Irritated at this 
prolonged opposition, Serras combined a new 
attack; he himself with his whole division, 
assailed it on one side, while Roussel, with a 
fresh brigade, recommenced the attack in 
front. Nothing could resist this last attack ; 
surrounded on all sides, the walls of the 
building were carried by escalade, the doors 
cut down with redoubled strokes of the 
hatchet, and an infuriated soldiery rushed 
into the building. A frightful scene ensued. 
In the tumult the building took fire ; the 
flames spread with extraordinary rapidity, 
and, amid the death-struggle between the 
French and Austrians, the roof fell in with a 
tremendous crash, and all within, friends and 
foes, perished. This decisive success estab- 
lished Eugene in a sohd manner in the vil- 
lage of Kismeyger and center of the enemy, 
who now fought only to secure his retreat. 
It was conducted in disorder, and the arch- 
duke sought refuge under the cannon of Kos- 
nour, abandoning the intrenched camp of Raab, 



wliich was immediately evacuated by some 
battaUons of Hungarian troops by whom it 
was occupied. In this battle the Austrians 
lost about 6,000 men. The French lost about 
2,000. Raab was shortly afterward besieged 
in due form, by the French under Lauriston, 
with heavy cannon drawn from the arsenal 
of Vienna, and on the 2'ith of June, taken, 
with its garrison of 2,000 men, and 18 guns. 

RABASTENS.— This city of France suf- 
fered greatly during the religious wars which 
have ravaged that country at various periods. 
But it was reserved for Mouluc to complete 
the sufferings of the people of this unfortu- 
nate town. In revenge for a wound which 
he had received in the face, which obhged 
him ever afterward to wear a mask, he caused 
a general massacre of its inhabitants, regard- 
less of age or sex ; cast about 60 Protestant 
deputies headlong from a tower, and laid the 
town in ashes. 

RAGAN, B.C. 625. — A great battle was 
fought between the Medes and Assyrians in 
the plain of Ragan, in Persia, about the year 
625 B.C. Phraortes, the King of the Medes, 
was defeated ; his chariots were overthrown, 
his cavalry put to flight, and his whole army 
thrown into disorder. Nebuchadnezzar tak- 
ing advantage of the defeat and confusion 
of the Medes, entered their country ; took 
their cities, and pushed on his conquests even 
to Ecbatana, which he took by storm, and 
gave over to be pillaged by his soldiers. The 
unfortunate Phraortes who had escaped into 
the mountains of Ragan, where he at last fell 
into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, who 
cruelly caused him to be shot to death with 
darts. The mountains of Ragan are sup- 
posed to have been those now called Mazun- 
deran near Teheran, the modern capital of 
Persia. 

RAISIN, RIVER. See Frenchiown. 

RAJDEER, A.D. 1818.— Raj deer, in Hin- 
doostan, was besieged in 1818, by the British. 
The place is strongly situated on a steep 
mountain, and is accessible only by one nar- 
row path cut through the rocks and well 
protected by gates, yet, though plentifully 
supplied with provisions and water, the gar- 
rison evacuated the place at the first sound 
of the besiegers' cannon, and the British 
troops entered the place without losing a 
single man. 

RAMALES, A.D. 1837.— Ramales in Spain 
was, in 1837, a scene of an obstinate and pro- 
tracted struggle between the Carlists under 
General Maroto, and the troops of General 
Espartero. Maroto held the town, and the 
neighboring fort of Guardamino, and received 
the assaults of the enemy with the utmost 
coolness. The Carhsts fought with dogged 
courage ; but at length were obhged by the 
superior force and arms of the assailants, to 



RAMILLIES— RAMSOUE'S MILLS. 



509 



evacuate the place. But before leaving the 
town they set fire to the buildings and Rama- 
les vras reduced to a heap of ruins, in w^hich 
condition it still remains. 

RAMILLIES, A.D. 1706.— The viUage of 
Ramillies in Belgium, is famous in history 
from being the scene of the battle fought on 
the 23d of May, 1706, between the EngHsh, 
and the alHes, under the Duke of Marlborough, 
on the one side, and the French under Mar- 
shal Villenoi, on the other. The French army 
consisted of about 80,000 men, being superior 
in numbers to that of the aUies. The latter, 
however, owing as it is alleged, to the bad 
dispositions and incapacity of Villenoi, gained 
an easy as well as a complete victory. Tli* 
French lost about 8,000 men, killed and 
wounded, and nearly 7,000 prisoners, includ- 
ing 600 officers, with all their artillery and 
baggage. The alUes lost about 3,000 men. 
The Duke of Marlborough, whose gallantry 
was as conspicuous as his great talents as a 
general, had a horse shot under him in the ac- 
tion; and the head of Colonel Brierfield, 
who was assisting the duke to remount, was 
carried off by a canon-ball ! This victory 
accelerated the fall of Louvain, Brussels, and 
other important places, and the British par- 
liament rewarded the victor by settling the 
honors which had been conferred on liimself 
upon the male and female issues of liis 
daughters. 

RAMSOUR'S MILLS, a.d. 1780.— Early in 
June, 1780, G-eneral Rutherford was stationed, 
with about 500 American mihtia, in the 
vicinity of Charlotte, North Carolina. In- 
telligence having reached liim that the Tories 
were assembling beyond the Catawba in 
Tryon county, he called upon the militia of 
the adjoining country, to collect for the dis- 
persion of those men. The Tories' place of 
rendezvous was at Ramsour's Mills, in the pre- 
sent county of Lincoln, on the south fork of 
the Catawba. Having received intelligence 
that the British under Lord Rawdon had re- 
turned toward Camden, Rutherford marched 
toward Ramsour's Mills. The force of the 
Tories amounted to about 1,300 men, and 
was commanded by Colonel John Moore, 
and Major Welch. On the 18th of June, 
Rutherford, having concentrated the militia 
of the neighboring towns, advanced to the 
Catawba; and on the 19th, crossed that river 
at Tuckesege Ford. He sent a messenger to 
Colonel Locke, of Rowan, ordering him to 
join Ills forces at a point on the Catawba six- 
teen miles from Ramsour's. Locke, with 400 
militia, was encamped on the 19th of June, 
on Mountain Creek, higher up on the Cataw- 
ba, about sixteen miles from Ramsour's. On 
the arrival of Rutherford's messenger, he 
called a council of his officers, and it was de- 
cided that it was not prudent to form a junc- 



tion with that general's forces; but that a 
decided blow should be struck at once. It 
was resolved therefore, to attack the Tories 
without delay. Colonel Johnson was sent to 
apprise Rutherford of the state of aifairs. 
He arrived at Rutherford's camp late in 
the same night. On the evening of the 
19th Colonel Locke and his troops com- 
menced their march, and arrived within a 
mile of the enemy's camp early the follow- 
ing morning. The Tories occupied a lofty 
eminence, about 300 paces from Ramsour's 
Mills, and half a mile from the present village 
of Lincolnton. The slope of the hill was 
almost entirely devoid of trees ; and the posi- 
tion of the Tories was most advantageous, 
for, occupying an elevated ground which com- 
manded the surrounding country, they could 
fire without impediment upon an approach- 
ing foe in any direction. Three mounted 
companies of the patriots, under Captains 
Falls, McDowell, and Brandon, led on to the 
attack, followed closely by the footmen Avho 
were under the immediate command of Col- 
onel Locke. The patriots rushed up the hUl 
with the utmost impetuosity. Tlie Tories 
were taken by surprise. Their pickets fired, 
and immediately retreated to the camp. The 
Tories soon recovered from their confusion, 
and poured such a terrible fire upon the as- 
sailants that they were compelled to retire. 
Rallied by their officers at the foot of the 
hill, the patriots again advanced to the attack, 
and the action became general. It was a 
fierce and cruel fight. Children of the same 
soil were opposed in deadly conflict to each 
other. There was no martial pomp on either 
side ; the soldiers of both parties were clothed 
in citizen's guise. They fought in stern si- 
lence with that anmiosity for which civil war 
alone is distinguished. Brother against 
brother, neighbor against neighbor, regardless 
of the calls of mercy, and tliinking only of 
mutual destruction. 

The patriots under Captain Hardin gained 
the right flank of the Tories, while the action 
in the center was at its height, and fell fiercely 
on the enemy in that quarter. The troops 
were so close that they beat each other with 
the butts of their guns. After a desperate 
resistance the Tories were driven from their 
position and the patriots took possession of 
the heights. The Tories rallied at the foot of 
the hill; and fearing an immediate attack, 
Locke dispatched messengers to urge Ruther- 
ford forward. They met him within six 
miles of Ramsour's, advancing with all pos- 
sible speed. A body of horse under Major 
Davie, started forward at full gallop, followed 
by Colonel Davidson's foot. Arriving within 
six miles of the scene of action they received 
intelligence that the Tories had retreated, 
Rutherford marched to the height and there 



610 



RANSBECK— RATISBON. 



encamped. The fight had been brief but 
bloody. Seventy men were stretched dead 
upon the plain. Side by side lay the Tories I 
and Whigs, clothed in the same raiment, I 
and it was difficult to distinguish one from 
the other. It is thought that an equal num- 
ber was slain on both sides. Fifty Tories were 
made prisoners. The next day the battle j 
field presented a sad spectacle. Hundreds ' 
of the relatives of the slain were congregated j 
on the plain, filling the air with pitiable i 
lamentations as they recognized the bodies of ' 
fathers, husbands, sons and brothers. May 
Grod preserve our country firom such another 
day! 

RANSBECK, a.d. 1143.— The battle of ^ 
Ransbeck, (a village of Belgium), was fought 
in 1143, between the soldiers of the lords of 
Deist Beribeck, Wesermael, and Wemmel, 
and the troops of those of Gimberghen and 
Mechlin. The prize for which they fought 
was the territory of Godfrey III. The battle 
was bloody and obstinate but at length re- 
sulted in the defeat of the lords of Gim- 
berghen and MechUn. | 

RAPHIA, B.C. 217.— In the year 217 b.c. \ 
Ptolemy, King of Egypt, caused his army of i 
70,000 foot, 5,000 horse, and 73 elephants to 
advance toward Pelusium. Placing himself at 
the head of these forces, he marched through 
the deserts which divide Egypt from Palestine, 
and encamped at Raphia, between Rhinaco- 
rura and Gaza, at which latter city the armies 
met. The army of Antiochus, King of Syria, 
was somewhat more numerous than the other. 
His forces consisted of 72,000 foot, 6,000 
horse, and 102 elephants. He at first en- 
camped within ten furlongs, and soon after, 
within five of the enemy. The two armies 
thus remained almost witliin sight of each 
other for a considerable length of time, and 
continual skirmishes took place between 
individuals who wished to distinguish tliem- 
selves, and the parties who went to fetch 
water, or to forage. At length the two kings 
determined to decide their quarrel, and drew 
up their armies in battle array. They both 
rode along the lines of their troops to cheer 
and animate them to the utmost. Ptolemy's 
wife and sister Arsinoe, not only exliorted 
the soldiers before the battle to behave man- 
fully, but she remained with her husband 
throughout the whole engagement. The 
right wing of the Syrians charged down upon 
the enemy's left hke a hurricane, carrying 
every thing before them. The Egyptians 
turned and fled, and the Syrians, flushed with 
victory, warmly pursued the fugitives ; but 
in the mean time the right wing of the 
Egyptian army had successfully charged upon 
the left wing of the enemy, and Ptolemy, 
perceiving that their center was uncovered, 
dashed upon it, and before Antiochus could i 



come to its relief, it was broken, and his men 
were flying in disorder over the plain. In 
vain did he endeavor to rally his men ; the 
overwhelming numbers of the Egyptians; 
the fearful slaughter which had already been 
committed upon their ranks, appalled them, 
and Antiochus was obliged to provide for 
his own retreat. He returned to Rapliia 
with a loss of 10,000 men killed, and 4,000 
taken prisoners. Shortly afterward, finding 
that it would now be impossible for him to 
maintain himself in that country against 
Ptolemy, he returned to Antioch with the bal- 
ance of his army. The battle of Raphia 
was fought at the same time with that in 
yhich Hanuibal defeated Flaminus the con- 
sul, on the banks of the lake Thrasymenus in 
Etruria. 

RATISBON, A.D. 1809.— In the year 1809. 
Ratisbon, on the Danube, in Bavaria, was 
taken from the French by the Austrian?, 
who having been defeated by Napoleon at 
the battle of Echmuhl, sought shelter within 
its walls, closely pressed by their victorious 
enemies. AHson thus describes the capture 
of Ratisbon by the French emperor : 

"No sooner did Napoleon discover that 
the Archduke Charles had withdrawn the 
bulk of his forces during the night, than 
he moved forward the whole cavalry to at- 
tack the rear guard, drawn up in front of 
Ratisbon. Notwithstanding all their efforts, 
the Austrian generals could not prevent 
great confusion occurring as the host of the 
carriages withdrew into the town ; and nearly 
a thousand brave horsemen there sacrificed 
themselves for the safety of the army. The 
screen of cavalry which was drawn up around 
the bridge of boats happily concealed its ex- 
istence from the enemy till the troops were 
aU over ; but the pontoons themselves were 
burned or fell into the hands of the victors. 
At length the rear guard was all withdrawn 
within the walls of Ratisbon, the gates closed, 
and the ramparts lined with infantry. 

" Napoleon arrived on the spot at noon on 
the 23d of April, the da}^ after the battle of 
Echmuhl, and in his anxiety to press the 
assault, approached so near the walls that a 
musket-ball struck him on the right foot, and 
occasioned a considerable contusion. The 
pain obliged him to dismount from his horse ; 
the report spread that the emperor was 
wounded, and instantly the soldiers broke 
from their ranks, and leaving their muskets, 
their guns, their horses, crowded round their 
beloved chief. Regardless of the cannon- 
balls which fell in the dense group, 15,000 
men of all arms hastened to the spot, every 
one forgetting his own danger in the iritense 
anxiety concerning their general's welfare. 
After a few moments, the wound was found 
so inconsiderable that the emperor again 



RAVENNA. 



511 



I mounted his horse ; a rapturous cheer from 

' the warlike multitude announced the joyful 

event to the army, and soon the rolUng of 

the drums, and the clang of trumpets recalled 

the soldiers in all directions to their arms. 

" This perilous incident retarded only for a 
few minutes the progress of the attack. 
Lannes, who directed the operations, per- 
ceiving a large house, which rested against 
the ramparts, pointed several guns against 
the walls, which speedily reduced them to 
ruins, and formed a sort of breach, by which 
access might be obtained to the summit. A 
heavy fire, however, was kept up from the 
rampart, which rendered the crossing of the 
glacis highly dangerous, and for a long time 
no soldiers could be found who would incur 
the hazard. Impatient of delay. Marshal 
Lannes seized a scaling-ladder, and himself 
ran forward over the perilous space, swept in 
every part by the enemy's balls. Animated 
by this example, the troops rushed on, clear- 
ed the glacis, leaped into the ditch, and 
crowding up the breach formed by the 
ruined house, forced their way into the 
house. Labedoyere, reserved for a melan- 
choly fate in future times,* was the first man 
who was seen on the summit. The troops 
now followed rapidly into the town; the 
gates attacked in flank were seized and open- 
ed, and the streets filled with a ferocious 
multitude of assailants. Still the Hungarian 
grenadiers maintained their resistance. Slow- 
ly retiring toward the bridge, they kept up 
an incessant discharge upon their pursuers ; 
the houses took fire in the conflict ; the am- 
munition-wagons were only rescued from the 
flames by the united efforts of friends and 
foes, and after losing half their number in the 
desperate strife they reached the barricades 
of the bridge, where the cannonade of artil- 
lery fi^om the opposite side was so violent 
as to render all further pursuit impossible. 
The French head-quarters were estabUshed 
for the night in the convent of Prull, under 
the walls ; in the course of it the bridge was 
evacuated, and next day the Austrian rear 
guard was discovered beyond Stadt-am-Hofi", 
covering the retreat of the army to the woody 
heights of the Bohmervald." 

The advantages gained by these brilliant 
operations to Napoleon were very great. 
Twelve days had only elapsed since he left 
Paris, and already he had combatted the 
Austrians on four successive days, and had 
taken a multitude of prisoners, over a hun- 
dred pieces of cannon, six hundred ammuni- 
• tion-wagons, two pontoon trains, and an 
incalculable quantity of baggage. Over 
30,000 Austrians had fallen or had been 

• Ney and Labedoyere were tried for treason, declared 
guilty, and put to death by the allied powers alter the 
fell of Napoleon. — Ed. 



made prisoners, and the spirit of the van- 
quished so thoroughly broken as to render 
them incapable of engaging in active opera- 
tions. The French had lost between 15,000 
and 20,000 men ; but what was such a loss 
when compared to the brilliant path he had 
opened before him. The road to Vienna lay 
open to the conqueror. "If ever," says 
Alison, "the words of Cassar, 'Veni, vidi, 
vici,' were applicable to a modern conqueror, 
they might have been used by Napoleon on 
this occasioa" 

EAVENNA, A.D. ^88. — Theodoric be- 
sieged Odoacer in Eavenna, a city of central 
Italy ; but, too weak to carry the city by 
force, he resolved to reduce it by famine. 
Eavenna, being well supplied vdth provis- 
ions, and its port being accessible to light 
barks, the siege was protracted to two years 
and a half Odoacer made frequent sorties 
by night, and never returned without having 
signalized his courage. Theodoric, master of 
all the neighboring country, at length suc- 
ceeded in closing the port. Famine then be- 
gan to be sensibly felt ; a bushel of wheat 
was worth six pieces of gold (more than three 
pounds sterling) ; and the inhabitants were 
reduced to the extremity of eating every 
thing that could be converted into aliment. 
Odoacer, obliged to treat with his rival, con- 
tented himself with sharing with Theodoric 
the title of Icing. On the 5th of March, 491, 
the King of the Goths entered Eavenna. 
Such was, in Italy, the foundation of the 
kingdom of the Ostrogoths, which only sub- 
sisted 60 years. Odoacer was treated for 
some time with all the respect due to his dig- 
nity, but that prince, worthy of a better fate, 
was massacred soon after, with his son Si- 
loenes, by Theodoric himself, in the midst of 
a banquet. 

Second Siege, a.d. 550. — Behsarius, after 
having deprived Vitiges of the greater part 
of the places which that prince possessed in 
Italy, besieged him in Eavenna, which he 
soon reduced to a state of famine. It was 
here Behsarius was so near losing his life by 
an arrow, which was intercepted by a devot- 
ed follower, who sacrificed himself to save 
his master. The city was on the point of 
surrendering, when two senators arrived from 
Constantinople, charged with a message fi-om 
Justinian to his victorious general, directing 
him to make peace with the King of the 
Groths. Behsarius was indignant at being 
thus deprived of the honor of conquering It- 
aly. Under different pretexts he amused the 
senators, and pressed the siege more closely. 
Behsarius is one of the fine characters of his- 
tory upon whom the young imagination loves 
to dwell. He was of the stamp of Plutarch's 
heroes ; he was brave, magnanimous, good ; 
and after being eminently successful, was as 



612 



RED BANK 



eminently unfortunate, not from any falling 
off in himself, but from his master's weakness 
and ingratitude. Such being our feeling for 
Belisarius, we experience regret in being told 
that, in his eagerness to take Ravenna, he 
condescended to practices we think unworthy 
of such a man : he poisoned the waters ; cir- 
culated, by means of miscreants, reports in 
Ravenna disadvantageous to Vitiges; and 
contrived to have the city granaries set on 
fire by an incendiary. These may come 
within the line of the proverb, " All is fair in 
war ;" but there is nothing heroic in them ; 
they would have become Justinian better 
than his really great general. The Goths, 
believing themselves betrayed by their prince, 
offered not only to give up the city, but even 
proposed to Belisarius to become their king. 
Although this extraordinary man might have 
accepted the crown without dishonor, he 
only affected to listen to it that he might the 
more speedily terminate the war. Embassa- 
dors came from Vitiges with offers of surren- 
dering on any terms he would please to 
impose. Belisarius entered Ravenna, secured 
the person of Vitiges, and sent him and his 
treasures to the emperor. — Rohson. 

RED BANK, a.d. 1777.— The village of 
Red Bank is situated on the east bank of the 
Delaware, in Gloucester co,, N. J., about five 
miles below Philadelphia. 

Soon after open war commenced between 
the colonies and England, the Americans 
turned their attention to the mouth of the 
Delaware river. To prevent a British fleet 
from capturing Philadelphia, extensive forti- 
fications were erected at various ehgible 
points along the river shores. On a low 
reedy island, where the beach was only a 
few feet above tide, stood Fort Mifflin, a 
strong fortress built of earth, stones, and huge 
logs. 

On the Jersey shore, just opposite, was 
Fort Mercer, a similarly constructed fortifi- 
cation, armed with heavy cannon. Further 
down the river were other works, wliile un- 
der the lee of small islands, floating batteries 
commanded the river in every direction. Nor 
was this all; for in the main channel the 
Americans sunk huge chevaux-de-frize^ or 
frames of timber fiUed with stones and logs. 
Upon these defenses, principally, the patriots 
relied for the protection of the city of Pliila- 
delphia. 

Soon after the battle of Brandywine, Sir 
William Howe, with a large fleet of frigates 
and store-ships, appeared in the mouth of the 
Delaware river, and opened fire upon the first 
line of batteries. Being able to bring many 
heavy guns to bear upon the American works, 
Howe soon silenced them, and taking advan- 
tage of a strong wind, sailed in one night 
nearly to the sunken obstruction near Billing's 



Island. Under cover of a heavy fire from the 
ships, the British labored to break a passage 
through the cheveaux-de-frize. By great ex- 
ertions, a channel eight feet deep, and just 
wide enough for a Uttle frigate, was delved 
out, and six vessels sailed through. Mean- 
time, the British army, which had defeated 
Washington at Brandywine, rapidly neared 
Philadelphia, and, in fact, received stores 
from the six ships that broke through the 
sunken obstructions. With a determination 
to destroy Forts Mercer and Mifflin, Howe 
sent Donop, with 1,200 picked men, to make 
an attack by land, while the fleet assaulted a 
large flotilla of American batteries, galleys, 
gunboats, and schooners, which caused the 
British much annoyance. The fleet was also 
to bombard Fort Mifflin. 

Fort Mercer, commonly called Red Bank, 
was garrisoned by a regiment of Rhode Island 
troops under Colonel Greene, and Fort Mifflin 
by two regiments of Marylanders under Col- 
onel Smith. Colonel Donop, with his bri- 
gade, left the British camp on the morning of 
October 21, and the first night rested atHad- 
donsfield. New Jersey, for several hours. 
Getting under arms about midnight, they 
marched brisldy across the country, and at 
four o'clock on the morning of the 22d, came 
within cannon-shot of the fort. They were 
discovered by the sentry about dayhght, 
slowly forming in the edge of a belt of forest. 
The garrison was instantly under arms, and 
preparations made to fight until the last. Al- 
though Colonel Greene had only 400 men, he 
declared that Fort Mercer should never be 
surrendered. With only 14 pieces of cannon, 
the brave officer, heartily supported by his 
gallant men, hastily made ready for battle. 

Soon a stir was observed in the British 
ranks, and an officer, riding up to the in- 
trenchments, protected by a white flag, made 
a proclamation : " The King of England 
orders liis rebellious subjects to lay down 
their arms, and they are warned that if they 
stand battle, no quarters whatever will be 
given !" To this insulting message. Colonel 
Greene replied : " We ask no quarters, nei- 
ther will we give any I" The officer retired, 
and very soon a party of artillerists com- 
menced the erection of a battery within easy 
cannon-shot of the fort. The works of Fort 
Mercer consisted of a strong citadel, loop- 
holed, and supplied with strong embrasures 
for cannon. The citadel was surrounded by 
ramparts, flanked with batteries; there was 
also a ditch and abatis. Besides these de- 
fenses, a strong masked battery occupied an 
angle of the ramparts, its guns completely 
raking the abatis and approaches. 

The battery being finished, a rapid fire wag 
commenced on the American works. The 
patriots replied for a time, but gradually 



RED SEA— RESACA DE LA PALMA. 



513 



slackened, and the men withdrew in small 
parties to the citadel, leaving a company to 
manage the masked battery. Colonel Donop, 
believing the enemy's guns dismounted and 
the men dismayed, ordered an assault from 
his whole force, in two columns of 600 men 
each. The column which first advanced 
cleared the outworks with loud shouts of de- 
rision,- under the impression that the Amer- 
icans had abandoned the whole fortress ; but 
their dreadful mistake was soon evident. As 
the Hessian soldiers chmbed upon the ram- 
part in great numbers, a vivid fire from can- 
non and musketry opened upon them from 
the citadel. It is said that nearly 100 men 
fell at the first volley. A storm of grape and 
chain-shot swept the glacis, while from every 
loop-hole they poured a stream of musket- 
baUs. 

As the enemy staggered back astonished 
and dismayed, the masked battery suddenly 
opened, and at point-blank range cut down 
the disorganized enemy, and the glacis was 
covered with dead and dying. The column 
of Colonel Donop assaulted the south side of 
the works just at this instant, charging at the 
head of his men. Donop led them over the 
abatis, across the ditch, and even upon the 
fort. Here Donop fell badly wounded, and 
his soldiers, unable to endure the terrible 
carnage made at every volley from the citadel, 
turned and fled. As they wheeled. Colonel 
Mingetode, the second in command, received 
a mortal wound. The Hessians, panic-struck, 
fled at once, nor did they for a moment halt 
until several miles from the scene of defeat. 
Under the ramparts of Fort Mercer they left 
over four hundred dead and wounded men, 
while the fort only numbered eight men 
killed and twenty-eight wounded. 

As a party of Americans, under the orders 
of a French engineer, were removing the 
wounded, a faint voice from among the 
heap of slain and mangled men called out, 
" whoever you are, draw me hence !" It was 
the voice of Colonel Donop. He was taken 
to a neighboring house and kindly cared for, 
but his wounds defied human skill. In three 
days he died. A few hours before his death 
he said : " It is finishing a noble career early 
(lie was thirty-seven), but I die a victim of 
my ambition and the avarice of my sove- 
reign!" The attack on Fort Mifflin by the fleet 
began at the moment of Donop's assault. For 
several hours a severe cannonade was kept 
up by six British frigates, upon the American 
fleet and fortifications. It was returned by 
the Americans in such a skillful and rapid 
manner, that very soon two of the frigates 
were set on fire by hot shot, and two others 
badly crippled. Finally the English com- 
mander abandoned the attack, and retired 
beyond cannon-shot. 

33 



A handsome monument commemorating 
the battle of Red Bank, was erected in 1829, 
near the site of Fort Mercer. About the 
lOtli of November, the British made a grand 
attack upon Fort Mifihn, which, after a long 
resistance, was destroyed and evacuated by 
the American forces. Its destruction cost the 
EngUsh a very heavy loss of men and mate- 
rial. — Richard Everett. 

RED SEA, B.C. 1491.— The first encamp- 
ment of the cliildren of Israel during their 
departure from out the land of Egypt was on 
the edge of a wilderness, on the verge of the 
Red Sea. Pharaoh was pursuing them with 
a force which he deemed adequate to compel 
their return or effect their destruction. They 
might easily have secured their escape in the 
fastnesses of the wilderness ; but Moses, who 
acted solely under divine instruction, led 
them into a defile between the mountains so 
that they were inclosed on all sides. The 
people murmured at this piece of bad man- 
agement, as it appeared to them, and taunt- 
ingly asked him if he had brought them hith- 
er because there were no graves in Egypt. 
But God had instructed Moses to draw them 
into this awkward position that Pharaoh 
might be incited to pursue them. The proud 
Pharaoh led liis mighty hosts toward the fee- 
ble band of fugitives and threatened to anni- 
hilate them; but Moses stretched forth his 
hand over the sea, and immediately the 
Avaters separated, and a dry and conmiodious 
passage was aflrbrded. The children of Is- 
rael passed over in safety, protected on either 
side by walls of water. The Egyptian forces 
eagerly pursued them ; but ere they had 
reached the middle of the sea Moses again 
stretched forth his rod, and the waters closed, 
and Pharaoh with all his forces, chariots, and 
horses were buried beneath the foaming 
waters. 

RENCHEN, A.D. 1796.— On the 28th of 
June, 1796, a battle was fought near Renchen, 
in Baden, between the French under Moreau, 
and the Austrians. The former were victo- 
rious, and Moreau and his army entered 
Swabia. 

RENNES, A.D. 1357.— Rennes, a beautiful 
and ancient town of France, was besieged in 
the year 1357, by the English under the Duke 
of Lancaster ; but the French made such a 
spirited resistance tliat the English were 
compelled to raise the siege. 

RESACA DE LA PALMA, a.d. 1846.— 
This noted battle-field is on the route from 
Point Isabel to Matamoras, about four 
miles north of the latter place, in Mexico. 

After the battle of Palo Alto, General Tay- 
lor pushed forward his army with all speed 
to relieve the American camp opposite Mata- 
moras, which he had left in charge of Major 
Brown, and wliich was closely besieged by 



514 



RESACA DE LA PALMA. 



the Mexicans. "The American army con- 
sisted of about 2,000 men, and the road to 
Major Brown's camp was obstructed by a 
Mexican army consisting of nearly 6,000 men. 
General Taylor at length, on the 9th of May, 
encountered the enemy witliin four miles of 
the fortified American camp, posted in and 
near a ravine called Resaca de la Palma. Tlie 
position of the Mexicans was strong, and 
with their overwhelming numbers they ex- 
pected to crush the enemy with ease ; but 
the undaunted valor of the Americans over- 
came all obstacles. Captain McCaU with the 
advance pushed forward, gallantly, and re- 
ceived the first fire of the Americans without 
wavering. Lieutenant Ridgely, who now 
commanded the lamented Ringgold's battery, 
was ordered to the front with his pieces, and 
Captain Walker, with the Texan volunteers, 
was sent to point put the enemy's position. 
Ridgely moved forward in the very face of 
tiie Mexican battery, and opened his guns 
upon the enemy. The Mexicans replied 
briskly, and for some tiine a fierce cannonade 
was maintained on both sides at the distance 
of about one hundred paces. The Mexican 
cavalry and infantry made frequent and fierce 
charges upon Ridgely's flanks, but were re- 
pulsed invariably with great slaughter. 

Meanwhile, the battle on the left and right 
of the road was rapidly increasing in warmth. 
The Americans steadily advanced on their 
two wings; but their efibrts were retarded 
by the effectual resistance made by the 
Mexicans to the attempts of Lieutenant 
Ridgely in the center. Ridgely worked his 
pieces incessantly ; but the Mexican gunners 
replied with a coolness and precision which 
prevented him from making any sensible 
impression on their position. Taylor saw 
that unless the Mexican battery in the center 
was silenced, all further efforts were useless ; 
and ordered Colonel May, with his dragoons 
to charge the battery. " Sir," said Taylor, 
" your command has done nothing yet — you 
must take that battery." "Men," said the 
gallant colonel, " we must take that battery. 
Follow 1" and Uke a whirlwind, that stalwart 
body of horse, headed by their brave leader, 
whose long hair streaming back from his 
head in the wind, served as their banner, 
dashed though the ravine, in the midst of a 
tempest of shot hurled upon them from the 
opposing battery, and with wild hurrahs 
urged their horses over the enemy's guns. 
So wild was their career, that the impetus 
carried them some distance in the rear of the 
battery; and when May halted he could 
rally but six of his men. With these, how- 
ever, he dashed upon the Mexican gunners, 
who had regained their pieces, and drove 
them off. General La Vega, who stood by 
the side of a cannon, which he was about to 



discharge, fincUng himself abandoned by his 
men, surrendered himself a prisoner to Colonel 
May. The dragoons cut their way back 
through the Mexican lines. The foUovdng 
graphic description of May's gallant charge is 
related by a participant : 

" At Resaca de la Palma, our troops stood 
anxiously waiting for the signal to be given, 
and never had I looked upon men upon 
whose countenances were more clearly ex- 
pressed a fixed determination to win. The 
lips of some were pale with excitement, and 
their eyes wore that fixed expression which 
betokens mischief; others with shut teeth, 
would quietly laugh, and catch a tighter grip 
of the rein, or seat themselves with care' and 
firmness in the saddle, while quiet words of 
confidence and encouragement were passed 
from each to his neighbor. All at once, 
May rode to the front of his troop — every 
rein and saber was tightly grasped. Raising 
himself, and pointing at the battery, he 
shouted, ' Men follow !' There was now a 
clattering of hoofs, and a rattling of saber- 
sheaths ; the fire of the enemy's guns was 
partly drawn by Lieutenant Ridgely, and the 
next moment we were sweeping Uke the 
wind upon the ra\'ine. I was in a squad of 
about nine men, who were separated by a 
shower of grape from the battery, and we 
were in advance. May leading. He turned 
his horse opposite the breastwork, in front of 
the guns, and with another shout ' to follow,' 
leaped over them. Several of the horses did 
follow, but mine, being new, and not well 
trained, refused ; two others bolted, and their 
riders started down the ravine to turn the 
breastwork, where the rest of the troops had 
entered. I made another attempt to clear 
the guns, with my horse, turning him around 
feeUng all the time secure at thinking the 
guns discharged. I put his breast toward 
them, and gave him spur, but he again balk- 
ed : so, turning his head down the ravine, I 
too started to ride roimd the breastwork. 

" As I came down, a lancer dashed at me 
with lance in rest. With my saber I parried 
his thrust, only receiving a slight flesh-wound 
from its point in the arm, which felt at the 
time like the prick of a pin. The lancer 
turned and fled ; at that moment a ball pass- 
ed through my horse on the left side and 
shattered my right leg. The shot killed the 
horse instantly, and he fell upon my left leg, 
fastening me by his weight to the earth. 
There I lay, right in the midst of the action, 
where carnage Avas riding riot, and every 
moment the shot, from our own and the 
Mexican guns, tearing up the earth around 
me. I tried to raise my horse, so as to ex- 
tricate my leg, but I had already grown so 
weak with my wound that I was unable, 
and, from the mere attempt, I fell back ex- 



RHEIMS— RHODES. 



515 



hausted. To add to my horror, a horse 
wliich was careering about, riderless, within 
a few yards of me, received a wound, and he 
commenced strugghng and rearing with pain. 
Two or three times he came near falHng on 
me, but at length, with a scream of agony 
and a bound, he fell dead — his body touching 
my own fallen steed. What I had been in 
momentary dread of, now occurred — my 
wounded limb, which was lying across the 
horse received another ball in the ankle. 

" I now felt disposed to give up ; and, ex- 
hausted through pain and excitement, a film 
gathered over my eyes, which I thought was 
the precursor of dissolution. From this hope- 
less state I was aroused by a wounded Mex- 
ican, calling out to me, ' Bueno Americana,^ 
and turning my eyes toward the spot, I saw 
that he was holding a certificate and calling 
to me. The tide of action now rolled away 
from me, and hope again sprang up. The 
Mexican uniforms began to disappear from 
the chapparal, and squadrons of our troops 
passed in sight, apparently in pursuit. While 
I was thus nursing the prospect of escape, I 
beheld, not far from me, a villainous-looking 
ranchero, armed with an American Serjeant's 
short-sword, dispatcliing a wounded Amer- 
ican soldier, whose body he robbed; the 
next he came to was a Mexican, whom he 
served the same way, and thus I looked on 
while he murderously slew four. I drew an 
undischarged pistol from my holsters, and, 
laying myself along my horse's neck, watched 
him, expecting to be the next victim ; but 
something frightened him from his vulture- 
like business, and he fled in another direc- 
tion. 

" I need not say that had he visited me I 
should have taken one more shot at the ene- 
my, and would have died content had I suc- 
ceeded in making such an assassin bite *the 
dust. Two hours after, I had the pleasure of 
shaking some of my comrades by the hand, 
who were picking up the wounded. They 
lifted my Mexican friend, too, and I am 
pleased to say he, as well as myself, Hves to 
fight over again the sanguinary fray of Resaca 
de la Palma." 

As soon as May had captured the battery 
in the center, Ridgely pushed forward his 
pieces to the edge of the ravine. The Mex- 
ican infantry poured a volley of musketry 
upon him ; and their cavalry made a furious 
charge ; but one discharge of cannister hurled 
them back. The battle now became warm 
and bloody. The Mexicans with the coolness 
of veterans ralUed in the ravine ; the Amer- 
icans rushed upon them, and a general conflict 
ensued. Our space wifl not permit us to 
enter into a detailed account of all the move- 
ments of the various troops; suffice it to 
say the Mexicans, after making a most obsti- 



nate resistance, finally gave way. Their re- 
treat became a perfect rout; the Mexicans 
fled in terror toward Matamoras. The 
Americans pursued ; and the sight of the fugi- 
tives and the sound of cannon gradually ap- 
proaching the American camp, assured its 
gallant defenders that succor had arrived. In 
this battle the Americans lost 121 men, in 
killed and wounded. The Mexicans lost 
about 500 men, killed and wounded, and 100 
prisoners, and eight pieces of artillery, with a 
great quantity of ammunition, three standards, 
and a large number of pack mules fell into 
the hands of the victors. The joy of the 
Americans was damped by the death of 
Major Brown, who with his small force had 
heroically withstood a cannonade and bom- 
bardment of 160 hours. He died on the 9th 
of May, from the effects of a wound inflicted 
by the bursting of a shell. The post opposite 
Matamoras, was now called Fort Brown, in 
honor of the gallant commander, who had 
fallen in its defense. 

RHEIMS, A.D. 1359. — Rheims is an ancient 
city of France, situated on the Vesle, twen- 
ty-five miles north-west of Ch&lons. In 1359, 
the troops of Edward III. of England, in- 
vested the city of Rheims ; but they were so 
obstinately resisted by the besieged that they 
were obliged to raise the siege, and abandon 
the attempt. In 1814 the Russians gained 
possession of the city of Rheims, but soon 
after they were attacked by the army of 
Napoleon, and driven from the city with 
immense slaughter. 

RHODES, B.C. 352.— The beautiful island 
of Rhodes, in the Mediteranean, with all ita 
delightful mythological associations, its roses 
and its splendid scenery, has not escaped the 
horrors of war ; it has been besiged several 
times, and in all instances in connection 
with great names and great events. 

The city of Rhodes it situated at the north- 
east extremity of the island. 

Mausolus, King of Caria, subdued Rhodes. 
After his death, the Rhodians revolted, and 
besieged Artemisia, his widow, in Halicar- 
nassus. The king and queen are rendered 
immortal in the European word mausoleum^ 
derived from the splendid monument so 
called, one of the seven wonders of the world, 
which she built to his memory. She gave 
prizes to poets for panegyrics written to com- 
memorate his virtues ; but stiU further did 
her grief carry her — she resolved to give him 
a yet more extraordinary tomb. Having col- 
lected his ashes left by the burning of his 
body, and caused the bones to be beaten in a 
mortar, she mingled some of the powder 
every day in her drink, tifl she had consumed 
it all, meaning by this to make her own body 
the sepulcher of her husband. Notwith- 
standing her active, energetic .spirit, her grief 



516 



RHODES. 



proved too strong for her, and she died 
lamenting him, two years after his decease. 

This princess ordered the inhabitants of 
Hahcarnassus to meet the Rhodians with 
open arms, as if they meant to deUver up their 
city to them. The deceived Rhodians landed 
their men, and left their ships empty, for tlie 
purpose of entering the place. In the mean 
time Artemisia ordered out her own galleys, 
which seized the fleet of the enemy, and, 
having thus deprived them of the means of 
retreat, she surrounded the Rhodians and 
made a general slaughter of them. This in- 
trepid queen then sailed toward Rhodes. 
The citizens, perceiving their vessels coming 
home crowned with flowers, admitted the 
Carian fleet into the port, amid cries and ex- 
clamations of joy. Their surprise may be 
supposed when they recognized their unwel- 
come visitors. Artemisia insisted upon hav- 
ing the authors of the revolt put to death, 
and returned home in triumph. We can not 
leave this remarkable princess without men- 
tiomng the extraordinary part she played in 
the immortal battle of Salamis. She, from 
her country, was of course against the Greeks, 
and, with her vessels, formed part of the 
fleet of Xerxes. She strongly advised Xerxes 
to avoid a naval engagement; the Greeks, 
she said, were more accustomed to the sea 
than the Persians were, and would have a 
great advantage upon that element. Although 
her advice was not hstened to, she did her 
duty so nobly in the fight, that Xerxes ex- 
claimed — " That if the men ' appeared hke 
women before the Greeks, the women fought 
like heroes." In order to escape the Greeks, 
who pursued her warmly, she hoisted a Greek 
flag, and to complete the deception, attacked 
a Persian vessel commanded by Clamasithy- 
mus, King of Calydna, her personal enemy, 
and sunk it. After this, the Greeks, beheving 
her to be of their party, offered her no more 
molestation. 

Second Siege, b.c. 303. — Upon the death 
of Alexander of Macedon, his dominions 
were divided among his generals. Of these, 
Antigouus, by force of arms, attained great 
power throughout the country, and Seleucus, 
Ptolemy, Lysimachus, and Cassander, four 
Macedonian princes, jealous of the rapidly 
increasing strength of Antigonus, formed a 
conspiracy against liim, and united their 
armies for the purpose of crushing hun. 
Demetrius, the son of Antigonus, invariably 
accompanied his father in his expeditions, 
and when Antigonus had arrived at an age 
which incapacitated him for active service, he 
made use of his son, who from the experi- 
ence he had already acquired, transacted the 
most important affairs with great ability. The 
war between Antigonus and the Rhodians, 
was occasioned by their alliance with Ptole- 



my, and the king, determined to punish them 
for their temerity in refusing to aid him in 
his war against that prince, sent Demetrius 
with a fleet and army, to reduce them to his 
obedience. The Rhodians, who foresaw the 
impending storm, had sent to all the princes 
their allies, and to Ptolemy m particular, to 
implore their assistance. They represented 
to Ptolemy that their attachment to his in- 
terest had drawn upon them the danger to 
which they were then exposed. The prep- 
arations on both sides were immense. De- 
metrius arrived before Rhodes with a numer- 
ous fleet. It consisted of 200 ships of war 
of various dimensions, and more than 170 
transports, which carried about 40,000 men, 
without including the cavalry. lie had like- 
wise near 1,000 small vessels loaded with 
provisions, and other necessary accommoda- 
tion for au army. Demetrius upon his arrival 
landed in order to take a view of the most 
commodious situation for assaulting the 
place. 

He also sent out parties to lay the country 
waste on all sides, and at the same time 
caused another body of his troops to cut 
down the trees, and demoUsh the houses in 
the parts adjacent to Rhodes, and then em- 
ployed them as materials to fortify his camp 
with a triple pallisade. The Rhodians on their 
part prepared for a vigorous defense. They 
dismissed from the city aU such persons as 
were useless. The number of those who re- 
mained, and were capable of bearing arms, 
amounted to about G,000 citizens and 1,000 
strangers. Among the latter were many of 
the most illustrious captains of the countries 
in alUance with the Rhodians. Liberty and 
the rights of denizens, were promised to such 
slaves as should distinguish themselves by 
their bravery, and the pubhc engaged to pay 
the masters the full price for each of them. 
It was likewise publicly announced that the 
citizens would bestow an honorable inter- 
ment on those who should lose their lives 
in any engagements, and would provide for 
the subsistence of their parents, wives, and 
cliildren, and that when the sous should be 
of an age capable of bearing arms, they 
should be presented with a complete suit of 
armor, on the pubUc theater, at the great 
solemnity of the Bacchanaha. This decree 
kindled an incredible ardor among all classes. 
The rich came in crowds with money to de- 
fray the expenses of the siege ; the work- 
men redoubled their industry in making 
heavy and light machines for casting arrows, 
darts, beams, and stones, called catapults 
and baUstas. and other weapons. The labor- 
ers repaired the breaches in the walls ; while 
others supplied them with stone. In short 
the whole city was full of bustle and activity ; 
every man from the highest to the lowest, 



RHODES. 



617 



strove with emulation to distinguish himself 
on this occasion. 

It had been mutually agreed upon, be- 
tween Demetrius and the Rhodians, that 100 
drachmas (about $125) should be paid as a 
ransom for every prisoner, and one half that 
sum for every slave, who should be taken pris- 
oner by either party during the continuance of 
hostihties. This siege affords the only ex- 
ample to be found in antiquity, of the establish- 
ment of a cartel for the exchange of prisoners. 

The besieged first sent out their galleys 
against a small fleet of sutlers and merchants 
who were bringing a supply of provisions to 
the enemy. The Rhodians sunk a great 
number of their vessels, burned several, and 
carried into the city such of the prisoners as 
were in a condition to pay their ransom. 
They gained a considerable sum of money 
by this expedition. Demetrius began to at- 
tack from the sea, in order to make himself 
master of the port and the towers which 
defended the entrance. He caused two tor- 
toises, or sheds of wood constructed so as to 
shelter the soldiers, to be erected on two 
fiat-bottomed vessels, joined together, in order 
to cover the men from the enormous masses 
of stones and beams, as well as the flights of 
darts and arrows which tlie besieged dis- 
charged from the towers and walls. He 
also caused two towers to be erected of 
greater height than those which defended the 
entrance into the port, and in these he placed 
machines for battering the latter with stones, 
heavy beams, and darts. Each of these 
towers were then placed upon two ships 
strongly bound together. He also caused a 
kind of floating barricado to be erected in 
front of the tortoises and towers on a long 
beam of timber, four feet thick, through 
which stakes, armed at the ends with large 
irons, were driven. These stakes were dis- 
posed horizontally, with their spikes project- 
ing forward, in order to prevent the Rhodian 
vessels from shattering the work with their 
beaks. Then selecting one of his largest gal- 
leys he erected on one of its sides a rampart 
of planks, which he pierced with loopholes. 
In this galley he placed his best archers and 
slingers, and furnished them with a multitude 
of bows, cross-bows, slings, and catapults, 
with other engines for shooting in order to 
gall the workmen of the city employed in 
raising and repairing the walls of the port. 
The Rhodians, seeing the besiegers turning 
all their efforts against the harbor, were no 
less industrious in defending it. They raised 
two machines upon an adjoining eminence, 
and planted three more on large ships at the 
mouth of the Uttle harbor. Both the emi- 
nence and the ships were provided with 
troops of archers and shngers, who had an 
abundant supply of arrows, darts, and stones 



of aU kinds. The ships in the great harbor, 
were also manned and armed. When De- 
metrius advanced with his ships and all his 
armament, to begin the attack on the ports, 
a violent tempest arose, and he was obliged 
to suspend his operations for that day ; but 
about night the wind went down, and the 
sea became calm. Demetrius again advanced, 
and made himself master of a neighboring 
eminence, about 500 paces from the wall of 
the ports, and posted there 400 men, who 
fortified themselves with pallisades. The next 
morning Demetrius caused his batteries to 
advance with the sound of trumpets, and the 
shouts of his whole army, and fiercely attacked 
the Rhodians who guarded the mole which 
covered the port. A great many of the 
Rhodians were slain, but the besiegers were 
at length repulsed, after a loss nearly equal 
on both sides, and were obliged to retire 
from the port with their ships and machines, 
to be out of reach of the enemy's arrows. 
The besieged, who had learned to their cost 
what advantage might be taken of the dark- 
ness of the night, caused several fire-ships to 
sail out of the port during the night, in order 
to burn the tortoises and wooden towers 
which the enemy had erected ; but as unfor- 
tunately they were not able to force the 
floating barricado, which protected the ma- 
chines, they were obliged to return into the 
port. 

The Rhodians lost some of their fire-ships 
in this expedition; but the mariners saved 
themselves by swimming. The next day 
the prince made a general attack against the 
port and the walls of the city, amid the 
sound of trumpets, and the shouts of his 
whole army. The Rhodians sustained the 
attack with incredible vigor, and for eight 
days they continually repulsed every assault 
made by the enemy. Deeds of surprising 
valor were performed on both sides. The 
besiegers discharged great stones from the 
eminence they had seized, against the walls 
and towers of the port, that the latter trem- 
bled with the shocks, and several breaches 
were made in the walls. They advanced 
with great fury against those who defended 
the mole, which guarded the entrance to the 
port; but the Rhodians, feeling the import- 
ance of that post, discharged such a quantity 
of stones and arrows upon the enemy that 
they were obliged to retire in confusion, after 
losing a great number of their men. The 
ardor of the besiegers was not diminished by 
this repulse. They began to escalade by sea 
and land at the same time, and employed the 
besieged so effectually that they scarce knew 
to what quarter to run for the defense of the 
place. Many of the Macedonian ofiicers 
gained the walls, where, covered by wounds, 
and overwhelmed with enemies, they were 



518 



RHODES. 



taken prisoners. Both parties fought with a 
desperation and valor unparalleled ; but at ; 
length Demetrius saw fit to retreat in order 
to repair his engines, whieh were almost en- 
tirely destroyed by so many attacks, as well 
as the vessels that carried them. In the in- 
terval of liis absence, the Rliodians buried 
their dead, and worked industriously in re- 
pairing the breaches of the walls. Seven 
days after his departure, Demetrius returned 
to renew the siege, with the determination 
of taking the post at all hazards. Upon his 
arrival he caused a great quantity of Hghted 
torches, flaming straw, and arrows to be dis- 
charged into the harbor in order to set fire to 
the vessels, while his engines battered the 
mole Avithout intermission. The besieged 
with difficulty extinguished the flames, jrfter 
which they caused three of their largest 
ships to sail out of the port, under the com- 
mand of Exacestes, one of their bravest offi- 
cers, with orders to attack the enemy, and 
destroy and sink, if possible, the vessels oia 
which the towers and tortoises were placed. 
These orders were executed with extraordi- 
nary expedition and address. They shattered 
the floating barricade, and driving the beaks 
of their galleys violently into the sides of the 
enemy's barks, on which the macliines were 
erected, they sunk two of them, but the 
third was towed along by the galleys, and 
joirfed Ijhe main fleet. The Ehodiaus, ani- 
mated to the liighest degree by their success, 
bUndly attacked the whole fleet of the en- 
emy. But overwhelmed by the superiority 
of numbers, Exacestes, with the ofiicers who 
commanded under him and their ship, fell 
into the hands of the enemy. The other two 
Rhodian galleys regained the port, after sus- 
taining many dangers, and most of the men 
also arrived there by swimming. In sjiite of 
this last repulse, Demetrius determined to 
make another attack. He caused a macliine 
to be built of thrice the size of those he had 
lately lost. But, at the very instant the ma- 
chine was ready to be worked against tlie 
port, a violent storm arose, and sunk it to 
the_ bottom of the sea, with the vessels on 
which it had been raised. In the mean time, 
the Rhodians had, after several repulses, re- 
gained the eminence, which the enemy had 
carried at the first onset, and the 200 troops 
that Demetrius had stationed there were 
taken prisoners. The Rhodians shortly after- 
ward received a reinforcement of 1,000 men 
— 500 fi-om Crassus, a city of Crete, and 500 
whom Ptolemy sent from Egypt. 

Demetrius now determined to attack the 
city by land. He was mortified and galled 
by his many repulses, and now resolved to 
employ such means as would insure him suc- 
cess. He therefore prepared materials of 
every kind, and formed an engine of greater 



size and power than any instrument of war 
that had ever been invented before. This 
machine was called helepolis. It stood on a 
square base, seventy-five feet wide on each 
side. The machine itself was an assemblage 
of large square beams, riveted together with 
iron, and the whole mass rested upon eight 
wheels of great soUdity and strength. The 
felloes of these wheels were three feet thick, 
and strengthened with large iron plates. In 
order to vary and facilitate the movements 
of the machine, casters had been placed 
under it, by which the machine was made 
movable in any direction. From each corner 
of the square arose a large column of wood. 
These columns inchned toward each other. 
The maclune was composed of nine stories, 
whose dimensions gradually lessened in the 
ascent. The first story was supported by 
forty-three cross-beams, and the last by no 
more than nine. Thi-ee sides of the machine 
were rendered fire-proof by a coating of iron 
plates. Each story was furnished in front 
with loop-holes, corresponding in shape and 
dimensions, with the nature of arrows and 
beams that were to be shot from the 
machine. Over each window was a kind 
of curtain of leather, stufied with wool, 
which could be let down at pleasure to break 
the force of such weapons as the enemy 
might direct against the machine. Each 
story had two large staircases, one for the 
ascent, and one for the descent of the men. 
This enormous machine was propelled over 
the ground by 3,400 of the most powerful 
and vigorous men of the entire Macedonian 
army. But it was constructed in all its parts 
with so much art that its movement was 
comparatively easy. Demetrius also caused 
a great number of other machines, large and 
small, for discharging arrows, stones, and 
pieces of timber, and for battering the walls 
of the city, to be made. He likewise leveled 
the ground over which the machines were to 
move, to the distance of one hundred fathoms. 
Tliirty thousand men were employed in these 
works, which consequently were completed 
with astonishing expedition. The Rhodians, 
in the mean time, were not indolent. They 
raised a counter-wall on the track of ground 
where Demetrius intended to batter the 
walls of the city with the helepolis, and made 
other preparations to repel liis assaults. 
While the Macedonians were busily engaged 
in making their machines, the Rhodians sent 
out a fleet of nine of their best ships of war, 
which scoured the sea, and returned with 
very rich booty, and a great number of pris- 
oners, having captured many of the enemy's 
ships. Shortly afterward, Demetrius ordereu 
a general assault against the walls of the 
city. The helepoHs was moved to a situa- 
tion where the city might be battered with 



EHODES. 



519 



the greatest effect. Each story of this for- 
midable machine was furnished with catapul- 
tas and cross-bows, proportioned in their 
size to the dimensions of the room. The | 
helepolis was supported on two of its sides 
by four small machines called tortoises, to 
protect those who should either enter the 1 
helepoUs, or issue out of it to execute various 
orders. On the two other sides was a bat- 
tering-ram of prodigious size, consisting of a 
piece of timber, one hundred and sixty-eight ; 
feet long, armed with iron terminating in a 
point, and as strong as the beak of a galley. 
These engines were mounted on wheels, and 
were driven forward to batter the walls dur- 
ing the attack, with incredible force, by nearly 
1,000 men. 

Every thing being ready, Demetrius gave 
the signal for the assault. The trumpets 
sounded, and the place was at once attacked 
both by sea and land. The battering-rams 
were applied with tremendous power; the I 
walls shaking and trembhng before their fre- | 
quent blows. In the heat of the attack, em- ! 
bassadors arrived from the Cnidians, and , 
earnestly soUcited Demetrius to suspend the 
assault, giving him hopes, at the same time, 
that they should prevail upon the Rhodians 
to submit to an honorable capitulation. A 
suspension of arms was accordingly granted ; ; 
but the Rhodians refusing to capitulate on the 
conditions offered them, the attack was re- 
sumed with so much fury, that a large tower, 
built with square stones, and the wal^ that 
flanked it, were battered down. The Rho- 
dians fought like tigers in the breach, and re- 
pulsed their enemies with great slaughter. 
In this conjuncture, the besieged received 
800,000 bushels of grain from several of their 
allies, notwithstanding all the efforts made 
by the enemy's fleet to intercept the vessels 
which brought this supply. This unexpected 
arrival of provisions was received by the 
citizens with joy, for their stock was almost 
exhausted. Inspired with new hopes and 
corn-age, they resolved not to surrender till 
the last extremity. The Rhodians now at- 
tempted to fire the enemy's machines, and 
with this view, ordered a numerous troop of 
soldiers to march out of the city with torches, 
and kindUng wood of all kinds. The troops 
advanced to the batteries, and set them on 
fire. At the same time myriads of arrows 
were shot from the wall to support the de- 
tachment against those who should endeavor 
to extinguish the flames. The besiegers lost 
great numbers of men on this occasion, being 
in the obscurity of night unable to avoid the 
volleys of arrows discharged upon them. 
The endeavors of the Rhodians, however, to 
burn the machines, proved fruitless, for as fast 
as they set fire to them, the enemy quenched 
the flames with water. But Demetrius, ap- 



prehensive that his machines might be con- 
sumed, caused them to be speedily removed. 
Curious to know the number of machines, 
employed by the enemy, Demetrius caused' 
all the arrows wliich had been shot from the 
place in the attack that night, to be gathered 
up. These were counted, and upon a proper 
computation, he found that the Rhodians 
must have used more than 800 large machines, 
for discharging heavy masses, and about 1,500 
for arrows. The prince was struck with con- 
sternation at this number, as he had not im- 
agined that the city had made such formidable 
preparations. 

The besieged opened a large and deep ditch 
behind the breach, to obstruct the passage of 
the enemy into the city. They then raised a 
substantial wall, in the form of a crescent, 
along the ditch ; which would cost the be- 
siegers a new attack. At the same time 
they sent a squadron of their best sailing 
vessels to sea. These ships took a great num- 
ber of vessels laden with provisions and am- 
munition, for Demetrius, and brought them 
into the port. Shortly afterward a numer- 
ous fleet of small vessels freighted with com 
and other necessaries, sent by Ptolemy with 
1,500 men, arrived. Demetrius, whose im- 
agination was fruitful of expedients for suc- 
cess in his projects, detached 1,500 of his 
best soldiers, under the command of Alcimus 
and Mancius, with orders to enter the breach 
at midnight, and force the intrenchments be- 
hind it. They were then to possess them- 
selves of the posts adjacent to the theater, 
where they would be in a condition to main- 
tain their ground, if they could but once 
make themselves masters of it. In order to 
facilitate the execution of so important and 
dangerous an expedition, and amuse the en- 
emy with false attacks, he, at the same time, 
caused all the trumpets to sound a charge, 
and the city to be attacked on all sides, by 
land and sea, that the besiegers finding suffi- 
cient employment, in all parts, the 1,500 men 
might have an opportunity of forcing the in- 
trenchments which covered the breach, and 
afterward of seizing all the advantageous 
posts about the theater. This feint had all 
the success the prince expected. With a 
general shout, and amid the sound of trum- 
pets, and the clang of arms, his forces rushed 
against the walls of the city on all sides. 
The detachment commanded by Alcimus en- 
tered the breach; vigorously attacking and 
repulsing those who defended the ditch, and 
the crescent-shaped wall, and finally after 
kilUng a great number of their enemies, they 
seized upon the posts adjacent to the theater, 
where they maintained theh position. The 
officers of the city quickly advanced at the 
head of a chosen body of their troops against 
the enemy, which had advanced as_ far as the 



520 



EHODES. 



theater ; but in the obscurity of the night 
tliey were unable to dislodge them from their 
advantageous posts. At the dawn of day 
the besiegers without the walls of the city, 
gave a general shout, to animate the courage 
of those who maintained their position 
within. 

This terrible cry inspired the populace, 
women and children, with horror and fear. 
But the besieged, roused to fury by the tears 
and complaints of the women and children, 
rushed with such vigor upon the Macedonians, 
near the theater, that tliey, after having seen 
Alcimus and Mancius slain on the spot, were 
obliged to abandon their post. The Rhodians 
pursued them eagerly, and a fierce and bloody 
struggle ensued ; the Macedonians defended 
themselves with the desperation of despair; 
but at length, overwhelmed with numbers, 
they surrendered themselves prisoners, after 
the greater part of them had been cut to 
pieces. The ardor of Demetrius was rather 
augmented than abated by this check, and 
he was maldng the necessary preparations 
for a new assault, when he received letters 
from his father Antigonus, dii'ecting him, by 
all means, to conclude a peace with the 
Rhodians. The Rhodians on their part were 
very desirous of an accommodation, provided 
it could be effected on honorable conditions. 
They therefore listened with pleasure to the 
proposals of peace made to them, and a treaty 
was concluded upon the following terms: — 
That the republic of Rhodes, and all its citi- 
zens, should retain the enjoyment of their 
rights, privileges, and liberty, without being 
subjected to any power whatsoever. The 
alliance they had formerly made with Anti- 
gonus should be renewed and maintained, 
with the obligations to take up arms for him 
in any war in which he should be engaged, 
provided it was not against Ptolemy. The 
city was also to deliver 100 hostages, to be 
chosen by Demetrius, for the effectual per- 
formance of the articles stipulated between 
them. When these hostages were given, the 
army decamped from before Rhodes, after 
having besieged it a year. Demetrius, now 
reconciled with the Rhodians, and desirous 
before his departure to give them a proof of 
his friendship, presented them with all the 
machines of war he had employed in the 
seige. Tliese the Rhodians afterward sold 
for 300 talents (about $330,000), which they 
employed, with an additional sum of their 
own, in making the famous Colossus, which 
was reputed one of the seven wonders of the 
world. 

Third Siege, a.d. 1521. — Rhodes, like the 
rest of Greece, submitted to the empire of 
the Romans, and, when that had been anni- 
hilated by the barbarians, it passed under the 
yoke of the all-conqueiing Mahometans. In 



1308, Foulques de Villard, grand master of 
the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, formed 
the project of conquering this island, in order 
to make it the head-quarters of his Order. 
Seconded by several of the sovereigns of 
Europe, he landed on the isle, beat the Sara- 
cens and the Greeks in several encounters, 
and after four years of fatigue and danger, 
made himself master of Rhodes. The knights 
placed the isle in a formidable state of defense, 
and under their auspices, it became happy 
and flourishing. These precautions were quite 
necessary, for Greeks, Saracens, and Turks 
were continually attempting to gain footing 
in this beautiful place. Mahomet the Second, 
the great conqueror of Constantinople, wish- 
ed to besiege it ; but his generals were 
beaten, and he himself died, while proceeding 
on this expedition. The glory of taking 
Rhodes was reserved for Soliman the Second, 
whose troops approached the isle in 1521. 
Villiers de I'lsle-Adam, grand master of the 
Knights of St. John, reigned there at that 
time : he was an intrepid, courageous, skillful 
captain, of great experience, and fertile in 
resources. He had, at most, 6,000 warriors 
to oppose to 200,000 men. But, like their 
leader, these warriors were filled with the 
most heroic valor, and preferred death to 
slavery. Rhodes was invested, and the 
trenches were opened out of the reach of the 
cannon. When the Turks ventured nearer, 
and erected a battery, theu* works were 
speedily destroyed by the artillery of the 
place. The frequent sorties of the knights 
filled up their works. The discouragement 
became so general among the Turks, that 
Soliman was obliged to show liimselt' to his 
troops, and animate their operations by his 
presence. 

What had been written to him of the 01- 
behavior of his soldiers, and what he learned 
of their cowardice on his arrival, determined 
him to make them appear before him dis- 
armed, and to surround them by the troops 
he had brought with him. " If I had," said 
he, in a haughty, contemptuous tone, and 
casting terrible glances on all around him, 
\" if I had to address soldiers, I would have 
permitted you to aj^pear before me with your 
arms ; but as I am reduced to the necessity 
of speaking to wretched slaves, more weak 
and more timid than women, it is not just 
that men so base should dishoner the marks 
of valor. I should like to know if, when you 
landed in the isle, you flattered yourselves 
that these crusaders would be still more 
cowardly than yourselves, and that they 
would servilely hold out their hands for the 
irons with which it would please you to load 
them? To undeceive you, please to learn 
that in the persons of these knights, we have 
to fight with the most intrepid among the 



EHODES. 



521 



Christians, and most thirsting for Mussulman 
blood. It is their courage that has excited 
ours ; in attacking them I have thought I had 
met with an enterprise and perils worthy of 
my valor. Is it to you, then, base and effem- 
inate troops, that I am to look for a conquest ; 
you who fly from an enemy before you have 
seen him, and who would abeady have 
deserted, if the sea which surrounds you had 
not presented an insurmountable obstacle? 
Before experiencing such a disgrace, I will 
inflict such severe justice upon aU cowards, 
that their punishment shall restrain within 
their duty such as might be tempted to imi- 
tate them." Scarcely had Soliman ceased to 
speak, than the soldiers drew their swords, as 
if to massacre those of their comrades who 
had excited the indignation of the Sultan. 

These unfortunate wretches, who saw 
death suspended over their heads, implored 
with loud cries the mercy of their sultan. 
Their commander, as agreed upon with him, 
supported their prayers. " Well," said Soli- 
man to Peri, the general, " I suspend, to your 
prayers, the punishment of the guilty ; it re- 
mains for them to find pardon on the bastions 
and bulwarks of the enemy." This mixture 
of severity and clemency affected all hearts ; 
the greatest perils appeared to be beneath the 
valor of the soldiers who had been the most 
discouraged. Officers and soldiers, to efface 
the least traces of their murmurs, hastened to 
signalize themselves under the eye of their 
master; and that armed multitude, till that 
time to be little dreaded, became at length 
most formidable. The soldiers and pioneers 
pushed on the trenches without relaxation ; 
tliey worked day and night ; the grand mas- 
ter, finding them supported by large detach- 
ments, did not think it prudent to continue 
the sorties, in which he lost more by the 
death of one knight, than Soliman did by 
that of fifty janizaries. Thus the infidels, 
having nothing to fear but from the fire of 
the place, behaved with so much spirit that 
they carried their works up to the counter- 
scarp ; and, to render their lines more solid, 
they covered them without with posts and 
planks, bound well together. The batteries 
were then increased, and continued incessant- 
ly playing against the city, but without suc- 
cess, for their balls scarcely grazed the para- 
pets of the walls. They were warned of 
this by a Jew, who served them as a spy in 
Rhodes. They immediately changed their 
batteries, which from that time fired more 
effectively. Seeing that the place might be 
said to be covered and buried under its forti- 
fications, the Turks resolved to build two 
cavaliers of a greater height than its works, 
which should command the city and its boule- 
vards. Soldiers and pioneers, by order of the 
general, brought, during several days, earth 



and stones, which they placed between the 
gates of Spain and Auvergne, opposite to the 
bastion of Italy. These two points lay open 
to the cannon of the place ; thousands of 
men perished here; but such loses were 
deemed nothing. At length two seeming 
hills appeared to rise up. higher by twelve 
feet than the walls, and which completely 
commanded them. The German post was 
the first attacked. The Turks pointed their 
cannon toward the walls, and it was thought 
impossible they could stand against these de- 
structive machines. The grand master went 
to the spot, and ordered the wall to be sup- 
ported within by earth, beams, posts, and 
fascines ; and, as the artillery placed over the 
gate of his palace, on an elevated spot, bore 
directly upon the infidels, the Christian can- 
noneers poured their shot upon them, and 
knocked to pieces their bastions and their 
parapets. New ones were obliged to be 
constructed ; the cannon of the city battered 
them down immediately, while the Turkish 
artillery, on the contrary, badly served and 
pointed, fired over the walls, Avithout doing 
any injury. Disheartened by the little effect 
produced by their batteries, the sultan's oflB- 
cers transported them against the tower of 
St. Nicholas. They played upon it with 
twelve guns ; but they had the mortification 
to see their cannon dismounted and their bat- 
teries ruined by those of the tower. To 
guard against this effect of the skill of the 
Christian cannoneers, they resolved to fire 
only by night, and during the day they buried 
their cannon under the gabions in the sand ; 
on the approach of darkness, they were 
placed upon the platform. More than 500 
balls were fired against the point of the wall 
looking toward the west, and brought it 
down into the ditch. The Turks congratulat- 
ed themselves upon the success of tliis noc- 
turnal battery, and felt certain of carrying 
the fort at the first assault ; they were as- 
tonished, however, to see beliind the ruins a 
new wall, terraced with its parapets, and 
bristling with artillery which prevented all 
approach to it. Soliman caused all the prin- 
cipal bastions of the place to be attacked, and 
the Ottoman cannon, which battered thena 
day and night during a whole month, did 
them considerable damage. The numbers of 
knights and citizens in Rhodes began to di- 
minish fast. They were in want of powder ; 
the grand master caused some to be made, 
and hopes were entertained that this feeble 
succor would enable them to hold out for a 
long time against the Mahometan emperor. 
Up to this time, the war had only been car- 
ried on by artillery ; and although that of the 
Turks, in the multitude of fiery mouths and 
abundance of powder, was very superior, 
they were not yet masters of an inch of 



522 



ERODES. 



ground in the bastions or advanced works of 
the place, The retirades and intrenchments 
dug by the knights, supplied the places of the 
battered-down walls. These new works 
could only be taken by assault ; and to mount 
to it, it was necessary to attempt the descent 
of the ditch, or to fill it up. Soliman having 
an immense number of pioneers in his army, 
formed several detachmc'nts of them, with 
orders to throw earth and stones into the 
ditch. But the knights, by means of case- 
mates, removed, by night, all the rubbish the 
Turks had brought during the day. Other 
Turkish pioneers were employed in digging 
mines in five different places, each one of 
which led to the bastion opposite to it. Some 
of these were detected by the vigilance of 
the famous De Martinengere, to whom is due 
the invaluable invention of discovering, by 
means of stretched skins, where mining is 
being carried on. The Turks had worked 
with so much address, that the different 
branches of these mines went from one to 
another, and all, to produce the greater effect, 
ended at the same place. Two of these 
mines sprang, one after the other, under the 
English bastion. Their explosion was so vio- 
lent, that they threw down mord than six 
toises of the wall, the ruins of which filled 
up the ditch. The breach was so large and 
so easy, that several battahons flew to the 
assault, with loud cries, saber in hand. They 
at once gained the top of the bastion, and 
planted seven flags, and would have rendered 
themselves masters of it, if they had not met 
with a traverse behind it, which stopped 
them. The knights, recovered from the as- 
tonishment caused by the fearful noise of the 
exploded mine, rushed to the bastion, and 
charged the Turks with muskets, grenades, 
and stones. 

The grand master, at the moment of the 
explosion of this volcano, was in a neighbor- 
ing church, imploring, at the foot of the altar, 
the aid of God. He judged, by the horrible 
noise he heard, that the explosion of the mine 
would be followed by an assault. He arose 
at the very moment the priests, to commence 
the oflice, were chanting tliis preliminary 
prayer — Deus, in adjutorium meum intende ! 
(Lord, come to my help !) " I accept the 
augury," cried the pious general ; and turn- 
ing toward some knights who accompanied 
him, " Come, my brothers," said he, " let us 
change the sacrifice of our praises into that 
of our fives, and let us die, if it be necessary, 
in defense of our holy faith." As he spoke, 
pike in hand, he advanced with a menacing 
air. He mounted the bastion, met the Turks, 
and struck down and kiUed all who came in 
his way or resisted him. He tore down the 
enemy's ensigns, and regained llie bastions in 
a moment. Mustapha, Soliman's general, 



raUied the fiigitives and led them back to- 
ward the enemy, by dint of blows as well as 
menaces. He marched forward himself with 
the greatest audacity. The combat was re- 
newed, and the meUe became bloody. Steel 
and fire were equally employed on both 
parts ; they slaughtered each other hand to 
hand, or at a distance, by musket-shots or 
sword-cuts. They even proceeded to strug- 
gle body to body, and the stronger or more 
adroit killed his enemy with dagger-thrusts. 
The Turks, at once exposed to arquebusses, 
stones, grenades, and fire-pots, at length 
abandoned the breach and turned their backs. 
In vain their chief, by menaces and pi'omises, 
endeavor to reanimate their valor. They do 
not listen to him. All fly, all disperse, and 
Mustapha himself turns unwillingly from the 
foe, after having lost more than 3,000 men. 
It was with such inveteracy that the superi- 
ority was contested up to the 24th of Septem- 
ber, when Soliman issued the order for a 
general assault. 

At daybreak the Mahometans, divided into 
four bodies, or rather four armies, advanced 
on four sides boldly toward the breach, in 
spite of the thunders which poured from the 
place, in spite of a deluge of balls, arrows, 
darts, and stones. Nothing could stop them. 
The knights crowded to the point of conflict ; 
they repulsed the assailants ; they precipitat- 
ed them from the walls; they overthrew 
the ladders. The infidels returned to the 
charge with more impetuosity than ever, but 
all their efforts were useless: the knights 
were invincible. The priests, monks, old 
men, and even the children, all insist upon 
taking their share of the peril, and at length 
repulse the enemy. The women do not yield 
in exertions to the pioneers, or in courage to 
the soldiers. Many lost their lives in defend- 
ing their husbands. A Greek woman, ex- 
ceedingly handsome, the mistress of an offi- 
cer who commanded in a bastion, and who 
was just killed, frantic at the death of her 
lover, and resolved not to outlive him, after 
having tenderly embraced two young children 
she had had by him, and imprinted the sign 
of the cross upon their brow — " It is better, 
my children," said she, with the tears stream- 
ing from her eyes, " it is better for you to 
die by my hands than by those of our piti- 
less enemies, or that you should be reserved 
for infamous pleasures, more cruel than 
death." Frantic with grief and rage, she 
seized a knife, slaughtered them, and threw 
their bodies into the fire ; then clothing her- 
self in the garments of her lover, stained 
with his blood, with his saber in her hand, 
she rushed to the breach, killed the first Turk 
who opposed her, wounded several others, 
and died fighting with the bravery of a hero. 
The ill success of so many assaults rendered 



RIMINI— RIO TAEASCO. 



523 



Soliman furious. He ordered Mustapha to 
be shot with arrows, and several other cap- 
tains would have undergone the same fate 
if they had not persuaded liim that he might 
still succeed in his undertaking. Incessant 
combats and attacks were carried on up to 
the middle of winter. At length the Otto- 
mans triumphed; Rhodes, almost entirely 
destroyed, had no means of resistance left. 
Most of the knights had been killed in de- 
fending the fortifications. The grand master, 
Villiers de I'lsle-Adam, seeing with the deep- 
est grief that all his resources were exhaust- 
ed, felt that it would be madness to resist 
longer. He resolved to surrender ; but his 
persuasion that he who makes the first pro- 
posals loses an advantage, made him positively 
determine to wait till the Turks should pro- 
pose capitulation. His project succeeded. 
Deceived by the continued brave defense, the 
Turks were ignorant of the real state of the 
place, and oflered the besiegers more honor- 
able conditions than they might have ex- 
pected. This famous isle which had been for 
nearly three centuries the bulwark of Chris- 
tianity, was wrested from the few surviv- 
ing defenders, the wreck of a society of 
heroes. As soon as the capitulation was 
signed, Soliman entered the city for the pur- 
pose of expressing to L'Isle-Adam his admi- 
ration of his noble defense. After a long 
conversation the conqueror retired, saying, 
" Although I came here alone, do not imag- 
ine I was without an escort; I had the 
parole of the grand master and the faith of 
his knights, a security stronger than a whole 
army." Soliman did not abuse his victory. 
He treated the grand master generously ; he 
visited him, pitied him, and consoled him 
as that last of a race of heroes deserved. 

RIMINI, B.C. 49. — CfBsar, forgetting his 
virtues in order to sacrifice every thing to his 
ambition, prepared to march against his 
country. But this was not done without a 
mental struggle. When he arrived on the 
banks of the Rubicon, he was a prey to a 
thousand conflicting thoughts ; he stopped all 
at once, and turning to his friends, said : 
" We have it stiO in our power to retract ; but 
if we cross this rivulet, the enterprise must 
be carried out by force of arms." According 
to Suetonius, there appeared at that moment 
a man of extraordinary height, playing upon 
a rustic flute, and the soldiers flocked round 
him to hsten to him. This wonderful man, 
seizing a trumpet, applied it to his mouth, 
and sounding a charge, crossed the river. 
Tliis was most likely a ruse of Caesar's to en- 
courage his troops ; be that as it may, he 
immediately cried out — " Forward I let us 
go whither the voice of the gods and the in- 
justice of our enemies call us; — the die is 
cast !" And he crossed the Rubicon. The 



short siege and the capture of Rimini were 
the consequences of this determination, fol- 
lowed by the civil war between Cassar and 
Pompey, which annihilated the hberties of 
Rome. 

Second Siege, a.d. 538. — Vitiges, King of 
the Ostrogoths, appeared before Rimini, and 
laid siege to it. He brought toward the 
walls an enormous tower, at the top of which 
was a large drawbridge, to be let down 
when within reach of the parapets. The in- 
habitants were in a terrible fright ; but the 
commander rendered the tower useless by 
having the ditch widened during the night ; 
and by a spirited and unexpected attack 
upon the enemy's camp, he raised as much 
dread among them as the machine had cre- 
ated in Rimini. Some of the bravest of the 
Goths fell in tliis sortie, and their leader 
turned the siege into a blockade. The arri- 
val of Behsarius compelled him to abandon 
the enterprise altogether. — Rohson. 

RIMNIK, A.D. 1789.— In 1789 a battle 
took place at Rimnik in Wallachia, between 
the allied armies of Russia and Austria, under 
General Suwarrow, and the Turks, in which 
the latter were defeated. 

RIO SECO, A.D. 1808. — The battle of 
Rio Seco, in Spain, was fought on the 14th 
of July, 1808, between the French army 
under Marshal Bessieres, and the Spanish 
army under Generals Blake and Cuesta. 
The French army consisted of 12,000 men; 
the Spanish army was 30,000 strong. Yet, 
in spite of their great inferiority of numbers, 
the French troops, after a brief but bloody 
battle, defeated the Spaniards, and put them 
to rout, with great slaughter. The Span- 
iards on this occasion lost 6,000 men in 
killed and wounded. Tlie French lost about 
1,800. The town of Rio Seco was taken in 
the pursuit, and sacked and plundered with 
merciless severity by the victors. 

RIO TABASCO— Battle of, a.d. 1519.— 
On the 10th of February 1519, Hernando 
Cortez set sail from the Havana in Cuba, 
Avith a fleet of eleven vessels, for the beau- 
tiful and wealthy country in the west, 
which the Spanish navigator Grivalja had 
discovered the year before. This country 
was Mexico, and the glowing accounts and 
rich products which Grivalja brought with 
him to Cuba from the newly-discovered coun- 
try excited the cupidity of the Spaniards in 
the highest degree. In every town and set- 
tlement, Mexico, its wealth, resources and 
beauty was the theme of discourse in all 
circles. 

The fleet of Cortez had been fitted out 
jointly by himself and Velasquez, the Spanish 
governor of Cuba, who resided at St. Jago. 
A few days before the ships were fully 
equiped for the voyage, however, Velasquez 



524 



RIO TAEASCO. 



becoming jealous of tlie rapidly-increasing 
popularity of Cortez, resolved to deprive him 
of the command of the expedition. But Cor- 
tez soon heard of the intended movement on 
the part of the governor, and determined to put 
to sea before it could be put into operation. 
Great was the astonishment of the v^orthy 
governor when one morning he was aroused 
from his bed by the news that the fleet which 
he thought was so ill prepared for the voyage, 
had left its moorings and was busily getting 
under way. But neither his astonishment 
nor his rage could avail. He arrived at the 
quay only in time to receive a* parting saluta- 
tion from the commander of the fleet. 

From St. Jago Cortez proceeded to Macaca 
where he laid in such stores as he could ob- 
tain from the royal farms ; and thence sailed 
to Trinidad, a town on the southern coast 
of Cuba. Having landed here he erected a 
standard in front of his quarters, and issued 
a proclamation offering liberal sums to vol- 
unteers. Among many others who joined 
him at this place were about one hundred of 
Grivalja's men who had just returned from 
their voyage, and were anxious to return to 
the country which, from their own experience, 
they kna,w to be rich in gold and silver. 
Many cavahers of famUy and distinction also 
joined the expedition ; among them Pedro de 
Alvarado and his brother Christoval de Olid, 
Alonso de Avila, Juan Valesques de Leon, a 
relative of the governor, Alonso Hernandes 
de Puertocarrero, and Gronzalo de Sandoval, 
may be mentioned as those who took the 
most important part in the conquest. From 
Trinidad Cortez proceeded to Havana where 
he again erected his standard and invited the 
citizens to volunteer. Here he caused all his 
large guns, arquebusses, and cross-bows to 
be examined and put in order, and had the 
jackets of his soldiers thickly quilted with 
cotton, as a defense against the Indian ar- 
rows from which the troops in the former 
expedition had greviously suffered. He dis- 
tributed his men into eleven companies, plac- 
ing each under the command of an experi- 
enced officer. 

His standard was of gold-embroidered vel- 
. vet, black, and bearing in the center a red 
cross surrounded by blue and white flames. 
It bore, in Latin, the following inscription : 
" Friends, let us follow the cross, and under 
this sign, if we have faith we shall conquer." 
Having fully completed his preparations 
he set sail, directing his course toward Cape 
St. Antonio. After arriving at the cape he 
mustered his forces and found that they con- 
sisted of eight hundred and sixty-three men, 
of whom one hundred and ten were mariners, 
five hundred and thirty-three were soldiers, 
and two hundred, Cuban Indians. His ar- 
tillery force consisted of ten heavy guns, and 



four falconets, and he was provided with a 
sufficient amount of ammunition. His cav- 
alry was only sixteen strong. 

On the 18th of February 1519, the fleet 
weighed anchor, and sailed for the coast of 
Yucatan. Upon his arrival in Yucatan, 
Cortez fell in with a number of Spaniards 
who had been taken prisoners by the Indians 
during Grivalja's visit. Among them was 
Jerome de Aguilar, who had learned the 
Indian language during his imprisonment, and 
therefore was of great use to the Spanish 
commander in the capacity of interpreter. 

The Spanish fleet continued on its course 
along the coast of Yucatan, and soon arrived 
at the mouth of the river Tabasco. Along 
the shores of that river Grivalja had driven a 
lucrative traffic with the Indians, and Cortez 
determined to ascend the river and visit the 
town on its banks before he visited the Aztec 
territories. The water being too shallow to 
allow the passage of his ships, Cortez and 
his soldiers, leaving a number of men to 
guard them while they lay at anchor, em- 
barked in small boats and proceeded up the 
river. The banks were lined with mangrove 
trees, behind whose closely interlocked shoots 
and branches the forms of the natives were 
seen gesticulating wildly and threateningly. 
They did not make any active demonstration, 
however, until the Spaniards had arrived at 
an open place, where they congregated in 
great numbers. Cortez, deeming it import- 
ant to land that evening, withdrew to an 
island in the vicinity, with the determination 
to effect a landing on the following moi-ning. 

At daybreak the Spaniards made prepara- 
tions to land on the main shore. The Indians 
had received large reinforcements during the 
night, and stood upon the opposite banks, a 
dense mass of armed men, apparently pre- 
pared to fight to the last to repel the intrud- 
ers. The Spanish commander detached 
Alonso de Avila with a hundred men to land 
at a point lower down the stream, near a 
thick grove of palms. From this point a 
road led to Tabasco. De Avila Avas instruct- 
ed to march immediately on Tabasco, and 
assail the place in flank while Cortez himself 
was to assail it in front. 

Cortez now embarked with the balance of 
his army, and crossed the river in the face of 
the enemy. As he approached the hostile 
shore he proclaimed through his interpreter 
to the Indians that all he desired was a fi-ee 
passage for himself and his men, and that 
should blood be spilt the sin would be their 
own. The natives replied with a shower of 
arrows, accompanied by shouts of derision 
and defiance. 

Embarking in their canoes, the Indians 
advanced to meet the enemy. The Span- 
iards brought their boats close alons:side of 



RIVAS. 



625 



the canoes, and grappling them, closed in a 
fierce struggle. The water was but waist- 
deep, and the combatants leaping from their 
boats fought in the water with desperate 
valor. But in spite of the overwhelming 
numbers of the enemy, the Spaniards forced 
them back, and effected a landing on the op- 
posite shore. The retreating natives were 
here supported by their countrymenwho show- 
ered down arrows, darts, and pieces of burn- 
ing wood upon the heads of the Spaniards. 
The conilict between the invaders and the 
natives upon the banks was hot and bloody. 
The natives, eager to push the enemy down 
the shppery banks, fought with the utmost 
ferocity, the Spaniards equally eager to as- 
cend the bank, strove with the enemy with 
the greatest resolution, and for a season vic- 
tory seemed to hang in a balance. At length 
with one tremendous effort, the Spaniards 
drove back the natives and gained the land, 
and having formed, opened a sharp fire from 
their smaU-arms and cross-bows. At the 
first rattle of the fire-arms, the natives as- 
tounded by the unexpected and apparently 
supernatural sound, and bewildered by the 
repeated flashes of fire from the weapons of 
their enemy, retreated hastily, and sought 
refuge behind a breast-work of timber thrown 
across the road. The Spaniards stormed these 
works at the first assault, and chased the re- 
treating natives to the town. Here the Ta- 
bascans established themselves beliind their 
palUsades. At tliis moment Avila arrived, 
and the natives finding themselves threaten- 
ed on two sides, precipitately retreated and 
abandoned the place to the invaders. But 
liaving taken the precaution to remove their 
families and effects, in season, nothing fell 
into the hands of the victors, save some pro- 
visions and a very little gold. 

Cortez, upon finding himself master of the 
town, took formal possession of it in the 
name of the crown of Castile. — Prescott. 

RIYAS, A.D. 1855.— The town of Rivas in 
Nicaragua, is situated on the east shore of 
Lake Nicaragua, about seven miles west from 
Virgin Bay. 

The first battle of Rivas was fought on the 
29th of June, 1855, between the forces of 
General William Walker, and the Nicara- 
guans under General Boscha. Walker's army 
consisted of 158 men, of whom 58 were na- 
tives of the United States. The Nicaraguan 
army consisted of 480 men. Before entering 
into an account of the battles of Rivas we 
will review briefly the immediate cause of 
the revolution in Nicaragua, of which they 
formed a portion. In the year 1855 the Con- 
stituent Assembly of Nicaragua met, and 
formed a new national Constitution, and, 
without making known its contents to the 
people, passed a decree, that it should go into 



effect on a certain day. Meanwhile, the 
day for an election of a President arrived, 
and Chamorro their President, again offered 
himself as a candidate for the office. The 
liberal or democratic party presented as 
their candidate against Chamorro, Castellon 
a repubUcan democrat of the purest ©rder. 
A two-third vote was essential to an election ; 
and as neither party could obtain a sufficiency 
of votes to elect their candidate, Chamorro 
claimed the seat by default of election. 
Shortly after tliis he caused Castellon and a 
number of his poUtical friends to be cast into 
prison — and this outrage was followed by 
another of still greater magnitude. The Su- 
preme Court was suppressed ; and this last 
act of lawless despotism deeply affected the 
pulse of the whole country, and ripened the 
democratic feeling into resistance. Castellon 
and his friends, were banished. They sought 
refuge in Honduras, and while there they 
conceived the noble and heroic design of 
liberating their native land from the thraldom 
of her aristocratic tyrants. They were aided 
in the prosecution of their design by Caba- 
iias, President of Honduras, who fiurnished 
them as far as he was able, with money and 
arms. Having called together the poUtical 
refugees in Honduras, Castellon bravely led 
them back to Nicaragua, and proclaimed 
revolution for the sake of democratic Uberty. 
Success attended them at every step, and 
they advanced against Leon, Castellon's na- 
tive city, with every evidence of triumph; 
their numbers increased hourly, and the heart 
of every patriot in the land beat light with 
the hope of freedom. The patriot army was 
commanded by MuHoz and Jerez, Castel- 
lon's companions in exile. Castellon was 
named Provisional Director of the republic, 
which office he held untU the day of his 
death, September 6th, 1855. Chamoros was 
defeated in two hotly contested battles, in 
which some 2,000 men participated, and was 
finally driven to the city of Grenada, where 
he fortified himself so strongly that the patri- 
ots failed to dislodge him after a siege of nine 
months. For six months after CasteUon had 
entered the country, the patriots were in 
possession of all Nicaragua, except the city 
of Grenada ; but the want of success at this 
place gradually disheartened the people. The 
cause of the revolutionists commenced de- 
chning, and the priesthood, a powerful auxil- 
iary in Central American warfare, using their 
influence in favor of Chamorro, his party be- 
came strengthened ; and by a series of pow- 
erful sallies, he not only defeated the besiegers, 
and obliged them to raise the siege, but ob- 
tained possession successively of Masalla, 
Managua and Rivas ; and finally regained the 
entire State, with the exception of the towns 
of Leon, Chinandega, and Realejo, with the 



626 



RIVAS. 



northern sea-coast, and the Bay of Fonseca. 
Chamorro, at this crisis, died ; but his chiefs 
took up the quarrel, and the war raged furi- 
ously, but indecisively, until the arrival of 
General Walker, vfhose indomitable charac- 
ter soon wrought a change in the aspect of 
affairs. Castellon had called this officer, of 
whose courage and experience he was well 
informed, to the assistance of the liberals, of- 
fering him, in case of success, a grant of 
52,0,00 acres of land. Walker had accepted 
the proposal, and set sail from San Francisco 
with a number of men well armed with ri- 
fles, revolvers, and knives. Walker and his 
troops arrived in Nicaragua on the 11th of 
June, 1855, and after some delay, they were 
formally enlisted in the army of Nicaragua, 
as did also all Americans residing in the coun- 
try. General Walker received orders to pro- 
ceed to Rivas and occupy the place. The 
first battle of Rivas took place immediately 
on his arrival in the vicinity of that place. 

For several hours the firing on both sides 
was incessant ; the Americans pHed their ri- 
fles with deadly effect : not a shot was thrown 
away. But early in the action, the natives, 
who formed a portion of Walker's force, and 
were under the command of Colonel Mendez, 
became panic-stricken, and fled into the 
woods. The Americans now were left to 
contend with a force nearly eight times their 
own number. They fought with the ut- 
most coolness, firing rapidly and accurately. 
Walker, however, finding his httle band ex- 
posed to such great odds, ordered them to 
storm a large building which was occupied by 
a great number of the enemy. The Cha- 
morrostas made but a slight resistance, and 
the Americans took possession of the house. 
There they were less exposed, and they 
could pick off at their leisure such of the en- 
emy as were brave enough to approach 
within range. The natives retired and held 
a council of war, in which it was decided that 
the only method of dislodging the Americans, 
was to burn the building. Great rewards 
were offered to any one who should succeed 
in firing the house ; and several of the na- 
tives made the attempt, but the unerring rifles 
of the Americans laid them in the dust ; and 
it was not until after numbers had been slain, 
and the night had set in, that, favored by the 
darkness, they succeeded in setting fire to the 
building. The Americans finding it impossi- 
ble to hold the building longer, burst out of 
the house, and charging through the enemy 
with the utmost fury, fought their way out 
of the town. They retreated slowly and in 
good order, checking every advance of the 
pursuers with deadly volleys, until they had 
effected their escape. The army retreated 
three miles toward Virgin Bay, and encamped 
for the night. The enemy did not pursue 



them beyond the limits of the town. In 
this battle Walker lost 22 men killed and 
wounded. The natives lost 180 men killed 
and wounded. "The effect of this battle," 
says the historian of the Central American 
War, " though immediately disastrous to the 
American cause, was to inspire the Nicara- 
guans with a dread and respect of General 
Walker's prowess, and a proper idea of the 
indomitable bravery of our riflemen. From 
that time forth it became generally known that 
in battle, to appear within 300 yards of our 
marksmen was to die ; and officers were the 
certain mark of the American sharp-shooters."* 

The battle of Rivas was followed by that 
of Virgin Bay, in wliich the democratic party, 
with the aid of the rifles of the Americans, 
was victorious. Grenada shortly afterward 
fell into the hands of Walker and his confed- 
erates, and with its surrender fell all the 
hopes of the legitimists. On the 23d of Oc- 
tober, 1855, a treaty of peace was formed 
between the belligerent parties, and a new 
government was organized. Thus, four 
months afi^er General Walker's entrance into 
the country, peace was restored, and the two 
parties seemed united by the strongest desire 
to maintain it. 

Second Battle of Rivas. — Although Gen- 
eral Walker had succeeded in restoring peace 
to Nicaragua, the efforts of the new govern- 
ment to establish fi^iendly commerce with the 
oth^r Central American States met with no 
success. By Costa Rica, especially, were 
their offers received by the most unequivocal 
indications of hostility. On the 10th of Feb- 
ruary, 1856, Colonel Louis Schelessinger was 
sent by the Nicaraguan government as a 
commissioner to the republic of Costa Rica. 
The mission was eminently peaceable, being 
simply to inquire the causes why Costa Rica 
had failed or refused to hold intercourse with 
the existing government of Nicaragua, and, 
if possible, to bring about a more favorable 
condition of affairs between the two States. 
This commission was received with contempt 
and insults by Costa Rica, and Colonel Schles- 
singer and suite were driven ignominiously 
from the country. General Walker, with his 
usual promptitude, resolved to resent this 
outrage ; and shortly afterward war was de- 
clared between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. 
This was followed by an order from General 
Walker to Colonel Schelessenger, directing 
that officer to prepare to march into Costa 
Rica. 

Meanwhile, the government of Costa Rica 
was making active preparations for the ap- 
proaching contest. The president on the 
27th of March, 1856, issued a decree calling 
out 9,000 of the militia, and on the 29th 
another proclamation was issued wliich de- 
* Wm. V. Wells. 



RIVAS. 



527 



nied the authority of the so-called provisional 
government of Nicaragua. A loan of $100,- 
000 was asked for, and the whole sum was 
immediately subscribed. The Costa Rican 
army were marched to Punta Arenas, whence 
they embarked for Liberia, accompanied by 
President Mora in person. Colonel Schles- 
singer with about 200 hundred men, on the 
13th of March, marched from Virgin Bay for 
Guancaste. On the morning of the 19th he 
reached the hacienda of Santa Rosa, about 
twelve miles from Guanacaste. Here, at 
at about three o'clock in the afternoon of the 
20th, he was suddenly attacked by the Costa 
Eicans. Colonel Schlessinger proved himself 
incapable of the trust reposed in him by his 
government. The Costa Ricans had scarcely 
made their appearance ere this redoubtable 
hero fled in the utmost terror, followed by a 
great portion of his army. Two companies 
of Americans alone maintained their ground ; 
but, deserted by their commander and opposed 
by an overwhelming force, they were obliged 
to retire. The company under Lieutenant 
Higgins, were the only Nicaraguan troops 
that fired a volley during the action. They 
had entered the battle with forty-four men, 
and left the field with twenty-two, and were 
the last to leave the ground. The Nicara- 
guans lost, in the battle and flight, forty-three 
men killed and missing, among whom nine- 
teen were captured by the Costa Ricans and 
summarily executed. 

Elated with their easy victory, the Costa 
Eicans resolved to invade Nicaragua, and 
drive the Americans fi-om Central America. 
The entire Costa Rican army consisted of 
about 3,000 men, and was commanded by 
Baron Bulow, a German officer of consider- 
able distinctien. The invading army marched 
to San-Juan-del-Sud, and thence continued 
their advance through the country, devastat- 
ing towns and butchering all Americans that 
came in their path. The defeat of Schles- 
singer seems to have paralyzed for a time the 
courage of the Nicaraguans, for with a single 
exception the advance of the invaders was 
not opposed. On the 10th of March, Lieu- 
tenant Green, with fifteen Americans, en- 
countered about 200 Costa Ricans, eighteen 
miles above the mouth of the Serapiqui. A 
skirmish ensued in which the Americans 
were victorious, putting the enemy to flight 
with a loss of twenty-seven men killed. The 
Americans lost only one man killed and two 
wounded. On the 7th of March the main 
body of the Costa Rican army arrived at 
Rivas, and took undisputed possession of the 
place. No sooner had General Walker, who 
was at Grenada, received intelligence of the 
occupation of Rivas by the Costa Ricans, 
than he made preparations to expel them ; 
and so speedily were his measures effected, 



that in one day after the receipt of the news, 
the Nicaraguan army was on its march for 
Rivas. The army consisted of about 500 
men, of whom 100 were natives, and was 
commanded by General Walker in person. 
This little band embarked in a lake steamer 
at dayhght on the 8th of April, and, arriving 
at San Carlos, it was resolved to attack the 
invaders immediately. The troops were dis- 
embarked to the southward of Rivas, and on 
the 10th, encamped within nine miles of the 
city. Walker here learned that the enemy's 
force amounted to no less than 2,700 men. 
The march was resumed early on the follow- 
ing morning; tlie army advancing by the 
road leading from Virgin Bay, instead of the 
usual route from Granada. The troops with- 
out halting, were assigned their respective 
positions, and instructed as to appropriate 
points of attack. The battalion under com- 
mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Sanders, was 
ordered to enter by the street leading along 
the west side of the plaza, and the east side 
was to be charged by the force under com- 
mand of Colonel Fry. 

With a whoop and a yell, a rush was made 
for the plaza, and as the troops were dis- 
covered by the enemy ascending the emi- 
nence which concealed the approach to the 
city, they were saluted with a volley of 
musketry, which gave evidence of a firm and 
obstinate resistance. On both sides of the 
plaza a brisk and incessant fire was main- 
tained by the Costa Ricans, but the fearless 
and undaunted forces of the democracy 
charged them with such vigor, that in a few 
minutes the assailants were in the entire 
possession of the plaza. The Costa Ricans, 
shunning an open fight, precipitately betook 
themselves to the barricades and fortified 
houses, and from these places of protection 
and concealment, kept up an unremitting fire. 
Their cannon was also brought into play, and 
galled the assailants with constant discharges. 
General Walker saw that until the cannon 
was silenced his advance would be effect- 
ually checked. The determination was in- 
stantly formed and carried into execution by 
Lieutenant-Colonel Sanders of taking the 
piece from the enemy. The order to charge 
was given, and the gallant Sanders, followed 
by his brave men, rushed into the face of the 
impending danger, and with the loss of four 
men succeeded in capturing the cannon. It 
was immediately brought and stationed at 
the south-east corner of the plaza, and 
placed under the control of Captain McArdle, 
an experienced and intrepid artillerist. The 
ammunition belonging to it was also seized, 
and a few minutes only elapsed before the 
weapon that was destined for the destruction 
of the democratic forces, was pouring a fa- 
tal fixe upon the discomfited Costa Ricana. 



628 



EIVAS. 



Chagrined and enraged at the loss of their 
gun, they made several bold attempts to re- 
gain the piece ; but its thundering voice, 
rapidly followed by the deadly discharges of 
the Mississippi rifles, di-ove them back to their 
hiding-places. In the mean time, fifteen or 
twenty American riflemen had stationed 
themselves on the roof of a building whence 
they could plainly discover a large body of 
the enemy in the back streets. A continuous 
fire was maintained by these men, and at 
least a hundred Costa Ricans fell before their 
unerring aim. 

The battle now became too hot for the 
Costa Eicans, and 300 of them in a body 
retreated rapidly in the direction of San Juan 
del Sud. At about 12 o'clock, however, the 
Costa Ricans in the town were reinforced by 
a body of 250 men from Virgin Bay. Cap- 
tain Waters of the rangers, who held pos- 
session of the tower surmounting the unfinish- 
ed cathedral on the north side of the plaza, 
immediately communicated to General Walker 
information of their approach, and a body of 
men was sent to protect that portion of the 
town. Meanwhile, Captain Waters and his 
rangers, from their advantageous position, 
opened upon them with their rifles, and did 
most signal execution. The intention of the 
enemy of completely surrounding the city, 
and hemming the democratic forces in the 
plaza, was thwarted ; but not without a long 
and fierce fire fi'om aU four of the corners of 
the plaza. 

The north-west corner was held by Colonel 
Don Bruno Natzmer, and Major O'Neil with 
their commands, and over 100 dead bodies 
of the enemy gave signal proof of the gallantry 
and skill of these officers and their troops. 
The south-west corner was in charge of 
Captains Rudler and Mason with then com- 
panies, and that, with the exception of the 
position held by Lieutenant-Colonel Sanders, 
was the end from which the greatest danger 
was to be apprehended. These brave ofiicers 
and their trusty men maintained their ground 
with a firmness and courage deserving of the 
highest commendation. From these corners 
of the plaza, a constant fire was maintained 
from 8 o'clock in the morning till noon. Four 
hours of unremitting service in the field, fol- 
lowing a tedious march of more than two 
days, had necessarily the effect of burdening 
the energies of the soldiers with irresistible fa- 
tigue. The Costa Ricans, also, seemed to be- 
come weary of the fight, and little firing for an 
hour was done on either side, except by 
sharp-shooters, adventuring chances at a long 
distance. This temporary cessation of hos- 
tilities by the Costa Ricans, was, however, a 
riise, for the purpose of secretly possessing 
themselves of the building on the north-east 
corner of the plaza, whence, unharmed, they 



could pour a destructive fire upon the Amer- 
ican troops stationed in every direction upon 
the plaza. This stratagem was discovered 
by Lieutenant Gray, and volunteers were 
solicited from among the troops to make a 
desperate charge and rout the enemy from 
their close approximation to the-position they 
coveted. 

Ten true and fearless men, armed with 
rifles and Colt's revolvers, were all that were 
required, and instantly, the requisite number, 
fully equiped for the perilous expedition, 
were ready to engage the foe. This number 
was composed of officers, among whom were 
Captains Hueston and Salter, of General 
Walker's staff ; Colonel Kewen ; Major 
Rogers; Major Webber; Captains Brecken- 
ridge, and Mahon ; and Lieutenants Win- 
ters, Stith, and Gray. A few privates also 
volunteered, increasing the number to thir- 
teen. Crossing the street under the fire of 
the enemy, they pressed through the corner 
building, wliich was the object coveted by 
the Costa Ricans, to the far end of the corri- 
dor, which was partially barricaded by an 
adobe wall or breastwork. From that posi- 
tion they cautiously surveyed the approaching 
enemy, and hastily determining the plan of 
operation, the order to charge was given, and 
with a shout and a bound, they rushed in the 
direction of the picket fence, beliind which 
the Costa Ricans were cautiously making 
progress. The shout was immediately an- 
swered by a volley of thirty muskets ; but as 
the attack was so sudden, the disconcerted 
foe were unable to aim with precision, and 
the only damage effected, was a single wound 
inflicted upon the head of Captain Brecken- 
ridge. The Americans gained the fence 
witliout loss, and thence opened a brisk fire 
upon the retreating enemy. The Costa 
Eicans fled for protection behind a neighbor- 
ing building, whence, with more security, 
they could prevent pursuit. It was necessary, 
however, that they should be driven entirely 
from that vicinity, and in order to gain a 
position to effect that object, the Americans 
were obliged to cross a street swept by the 
enemy's fire. 

It was a hazardous experiment, as the 
opposing force numbered more than 100 men; 
but nothing daunted, the gallant thirteen 
essayed the perilous adventure; and, although 
the bullets whistled in fearful proximity to 
them, not a man was kiUed or wounded. 
The position they sought, was gained, and 
then in earnest the crack of the rifle became 
the death-knell of the foe. The Costa Ricans, 
with great obstinacy, sought to maintain their 
ground, and returned the fire with zeal and 
eagerness. In this conflict, Captain Hueston 
fell mortally wounded. The remaining 
twelve, maddened to fury by the death of 



RIVAS. 



529 



their comrade, fired so fast and furious, that 
in a few minutes thirty of the enemy were 
slain, and unable to sustain the fearful storm, 
tlie Costa Ricans were compelled again to 
relinquish their position, and seek greater 
security elsewhere. 

They retreated precipitately; and were 
hotly pursued by the assailants. Fortifying 
themselves behind a broken adobe wall, they 
again turned upon their pursuers, and opened 
a determined fire. In this assault. Lieutenant 
Gray was slightly wounded. To drive the 
Costa Ricans from the wall, and obtain pos- 
session of it was the object and determination 
of the pursuers. The enemy perceiving this, 
again sought safety in flight. With the loss 
of eight or ten more of their number, they 
succeeded in reaching the building from be- 
hind, where they again sought to repulse the 
advance of the Americans. In the further 
prosecution of the pursuit, Lieutenant Gray 
and a private were slain. The Costa Ricans, 
closely pursued, finally made good their re- 
treat, and little execution was afterwards 
efiected. The fight on the plaza had almost 
entirely ceased. During the remainder of 
the day, and until late at night, there was no 
firing, except from a few of the enemy, who 
throughout the conflict maintained their con- 
cealment, and with Minie rifles menaced 
every visible inimical object. The possessors 
of these weapons were evidently Enghshmen 
and Germans who had long experience in 
the use of that deadly weapon. 

The battle of Rivas — the second one fought 
in that city by General Walker — was warmly 
contested ; and General Walker, unwilUng to 
make targets of liis men for an enemy whom 
he could not draw into open conflict, with- 
drew his troops, and returned to Grenada, to 
prepare for a final attack upon the invaders, 
and drive them out of the country. The 
Americans lost in this battle 30 men kiUed 
and 30 wounded. The Costa Ricans lost 
600 men killed outright and a large number, 
wounded and missing. The second battle of 
Rivas was fought on the 11th of April, 1856, 
and eighteen days afterward, the Costa Rican 
army, having lost by killed, wounded, and by 
the cholera, nearly one half of its number 
evacuated Rivas, and retreated into Costa 
Rica. 

The invasion and the retreat of the Costa 
Ricans at Rivas was soon followed by the 
abdication and flight of President Rivas, who 
deserted the cause of General Walker, and 
by this action aggravated the disorder of the 
country, and menaced it with violent civil 
and political eruptions. The treachery of the 
chief officer of the government was imitated 
by a majority of the ministers of state. Sa- 
lazar, the master-spirit of the treasonable 
factions, was captured by General Walker, 

34 



and after a trial was found guilty of treason, 
and executed. 

The execution of Salazar aroused the ire of 
the Nicaraguan leaders, who sought the sym- 
pathy and aid of the neighboring States of 
Central America, with the design of expelling 
the Americans from the country. The dis- 
affected Nicaraguans succeeded in effecting 
an offensive and defensive league with Gua- 
temala and San Salvador, and a contribution 
of force was levied from each of those States, 
to unite in waging a war of extermination 
against the Americans in Nicaragua. 

The negotiation of the Rivas fa/;tion re- 
sulted in the forced levy of 1,000 troops 
from Guatemala, and 400 from San Salvador, 
to which was added 600 from Leon, the 
head-quarters of the disaffected, and a few 
hundred legitimists, or Chamoristas, from the 
different towns and haciendas of Nicaragua. 
The whole number of the allied force 
amounted to about 2,500 men, all of whom 
were concentrated in Leon, to meet the ex- 
igency of an attack upon that place by Gen- 
eral Walker. It was evidently the intention 
of the allies to intrench themselves within 
the city of Leon. But maladies of the most 
alarming character broke out among the 
troops, and they were compelled to evacuate 
Leon, and proceed to the more inland and 
healthy atmosphere of Nicaragua. There 
they were again attacked by fevers, and 
again they were obhged to abandon their 
position. They marched toward Massaya. 
an Indian village about twelve miles from 
Grenada, which presented many advantages 
over any of their former quarters. 

When the allies abandoned Managua, the 
town of Massaya was occupied by an Amer- 
ican garrison of 300 men, under the com- 
mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Mcintosh. Gen- 
eral Walker, who was at Grenada, having 
received intelligence of the movements of the 
enemy, ordered Mcintosh to make no oppo- 
sition to the entrance of the allies into Mas- 
saya, but to relinquish it, and fall back 
immediately upon Grenada. This order was 
promptly obeyed, and the allies, on the 2d 
of October, were safely intrenched within the 
fortifications of Massaya. They did not at- 
tempt an immediate attack on Grenada, but 
contented themselves by endeavoring to cut 
off all suppUes of provisions intended for the 
Americans in Grenada. Walker finally re- 
solved to be no longer annoyed by the 
allies, ajid determined to prosecute a war 
which he would have avoided, if it could 
have been done with honor, and which was 
forced upon him. The command of General 
Hornsby, which was garrisoned at San 
Jorge, near Rivas, was ordered to Grenada, 
and preparations were instantly in progress 
for opening the campaign. The battles of 



530 



RIVOLI. 



Massaya, fought on the 12th, and of Grenada 
on the 13th of October, 1856, in both of 
which Walker was victorious, followed. The 
allies were scattered in all directions, and 
the cause of Walker's party seemed triumph- 
ant. 

This seems to be the state of affairs in 
Nicaragua, as this work goes to press. From 
the recency of the events, and the difficulty 
of obtaining impartial information regarding 
the conduct and intention of General Walker, 
and Ills men in Nicaragua, we can vouch for 
the authenticity of the above account no fur- 
ther than to state that it is compiled from the 
most reliable sources of information within 
our reach. 

RIVOLI, A.D. 1797.— On the 14th of Jan- 
uary, 1797, was fought between the French 
and Austrians the battle of Rivoli, in 
Italy. The French were victorious, and on 
this occasion Massena received the title of 
Duke of Rivoli. The whole Austrian force 
under Alvinzi had concentrated near Rivoli 
for the purpose of entirely routing the French 
if they attempted to cross the Adige. Na- 
poleon, through some treachery of the Aus- 
trians, ascertained theu' intentions anil re- 
solved to attack them ; therefore, with the 
whole center of his army he went to the 
support of Joubert, who was then struggling 
with a much superior force. At two o'clock 
in the morning he arrived on the plain of 
Rivoli. The weather was clear and beauti- 
ful. The light of an unclouded moon gave 
the fir-clad mountains the appearance of sil- 
ver, while the northern horizon was illumin- 
ated by the fires of the Austrian encampment, 
and from the neighboring heights he could 
discover the lights of nearly forty thousand 
men. The Austrians had divided their forces 
into five columns, the principal one under 
Quasdanovich, composed of all the artillery, 
horse, and a large body of grenadiers, took 
the road on the right, and were to ascend the 
plateau by the winding path which led to 
its summit. Tliree other divisions of foot re- 
ceived orders to climb the mountain in front, 
and when the action on the high road took 
place they were to descend upon the repub- 
licans ; while a fifth, under Lusignan, were 
to wind around the base of the plain, gain 
the road in the rear, and thus cut of their re- 
treat to Verona. This was a great plan, and 
would have succeeded admirably had the 
French been commanded by any one except 
Napoleon. 

In opposition to this great force of the 
Austrians Napoleon had only thirty thousand 
men ; but his position was more favorable, 
being an upland, elevated among the mount- 
ains, which would occasion much fatigue to 
his enemies to reach it ; and he had sixty 
pieces of cannon and a large body of horse in 



an excellent condition. He at once perceived 
that it was of the greatest importance to 
maintain his position on the plain, as by so 
doing he could prevent the enemy from unit- 
ing, and overthrow them separately. By the 
light of the moon he arranged his whole 
force with great precision on the summit. 
On the 14th of January, at nine o'clock, the 
action commenced by the Austrians attacking 
the French left. After resisting manfully, the 
regiments were broken and fled in confusion, 
upon which Napoleon rode in haste to the 
village of Rivoli, where Massena, who had 
marched all night, was resting from his 
fatigue, led his division to the front, and by 
a bold charge restored the combat in that 
quarter. This check had compelled Joubert, 
who was on the right, to give way. The 
divisions in front pressed down upon the plain, 
while at the same moment the head of the 
column of grenadiers appeared at the top of 
the windings of the high road, having with 
the utmost difficulty forced the perilous 
ascent, and their horse and artillery began to 
debouch upon the level surface at its sum- 
mit. The division under Lusignan had wound, 
unperceived, round the flanks of the French, 
and at this time appeared directly in their 
rear, and the Austrian soldiers, deemingvthe 
destruction of the repubUcans certain, gave 
loud cheers on all sides and clapped their 
hands as they took their ground in succession. 
The French army, attacked in front, flank, 
and rear at the same time, then- retreat being 
also cut off, saw no way of escape from the 
bayonets of their enemies but in the precipices 
of the Alps. The presence of mind of Na- 
poleon did not forsake him at this perilous 
moment. In order to gain time he sent a 
flag of truce to Alvinzi, proposing a suspen- 
sion of arms for half an hour, as he had 
some propositions to make in consequence 
of dispatches fi-om Paris. The Austrian 
general immediately fell into the snare ; the 
suspension was agreed to, and the march of 
the imperialists was stopped at the very mo- 
ment when victory was surely theirs. Junot 
repaired to the Austrian head-quarters, 
when, afler a conference of an hour he re- 
turned without having come to any terms, 
of course. But Napoleon had gained time to 
face the danger, aU he wished at this critical 
period, and was now on the defensive. Jou- 
bert, with the light infantry, was sent to the 
extreme right to oppose Quasdanovich, 
while Leclerc and Lasalle, with the horse 
and flying artillery, hurried to the menaced 
point, and another regiment of foot was sent 
against Lusignan. Napoleon, far from being 
disconcerted, spoke to the soldiers in a con- 
fident tone, and assured them of success. 
The head of Quasdanovioh's division, which 
had so bravely accomplished the ascent, re- 



EOCHELLE, LA. 



531 



ceived in front by a terrible fire of grape- 
shot, charged on one flank by Lasalle's horse, 
and exposed on the other to the musketry of 
Joubert, broke, and hurried backward down 
the steep. Tlie fugitives, rushing headlong 
into the column that was ascending, threw 
it into the most dire confusion, cavalry, in- 
fantry, and cannon struggled together under 
a terrible fire from the batteries of the French, 
while at the same time some ammunition- 
wagons blew up, and all was a scene of fright- 
ful disorder. As soon as the plateau was 
safe from this flank attack Napoleon fell 
upon the troops which had descended from 
the heights, and that heroic band, being des- 
titute of artillery, and also deprived of the 
aid wliich ' they expected from the troops in 
flank, soon gave way and fled to the mount- 
ains where most of them were made prison- 
ers. The division under Lusignan had been 
sucpessful, and reached the heights in rear of 
the army in time to witness the destruction 
of the three divisions in the mountains. Then 
they gave up all hope. The French troops 
were speedily directed against this column, 
now separated from all support, and depressed 
by the ruin which it beheld in other parts of 
the army. For some time they maintained 
their position, but the fire of fifteen pieces of 
heavy artillery, to which they had nothing 
to oppose, at length compelled them to re- 
treat, and they had not proceeded far when 
they encountered the division under Massena, 
which had been held in reserve and was now 
approaching. The consternation produced 
was so great that the whole column laid 
down their arms, while Quasdanovich, left 
entirely to his own resources, retired up the 
valley of the Adige, and the remainder of the 
center divisions sought refiige behind the 
rocky stream of Jasso. 

ROCHELLE, LA, a.d. 1372.— The EngHsh 
having made themselves masters of La Ro- 
chelle, the inhabitants of that important city 
did not endure the yoke without impatience. 
They were only restrained by their fear of 
the military who garrisoned the castle, which 
dominated over both the port and the city. 
Jean Candocier, Mayor of La Rochelle, pro- 
posed gaining possession of it by a stratagefti. 
" We shall easily do so, and to our honor," 
said he, "for Phihp Monsel (the English com- 
mander) is not over cunning." Candocier in- 
vited Monsel to dine with him, and took the 
opportunity of showing him an order which 
desired him, in his quality of mayor, to re- 
view the garrison and the armed burgesses. 
This order was a fiction. The English com- 
mander, like most warriors of the time, could 
neither read nor write. Candocier showed 
the order openly, and read it with a con- 
fidence that might have imposed upon any 
one. On the day appointed for the review. 



Monsel marched all his garrison out of the 
castle, with the exception of about twelve 
men. Scarcely had he passed the fortifica- 
tions, than a body of armed citizens, placed 
in ambuscade behind an old wall, got between 
liim and the citadel, while a body of 200 
men met him, in good order, in front. The 
English, finding themselves surrounded, yield- 
ed at discretion. The inhabitants then sum- 
moned the few left in the citadel to place it 
immediately in their power. Their number 
was so small that they complied without hesi- 
tation. Charles V. rewarded the Eochellois 
with great privileges. 

Second Siege, a.d. 1573. — During the vari- 
ous religious wars in France, the reformers 
had no more formidable rampart or place of 
refuge than La Rochelle. Readers not well 
acquainted with French liistory, and accus- 
tomed to look upon France as one kingdom 
ruled by a despotic king, can form no idea of 
the real state of that country quite up to the 
middle of the reign of Louis XIV, In all 
the provinces of France there were strongly- 
fortified cities, mostly attached to the govern- 
ments of these provinces. It was the object 
of princes of the blood and of the high no- 
bles to obtain a government ; after that, upon 
receiving oSense at court, or taking umbrage 
at even an imaginary insult, they would retire 
to their fortified city, and set even royalty at 
defiance. La Rochelle, Sedan, and some 
other cities, were the great rallying-points of 
the Hugvienots, and, in them, the power of 
the monarchs was merely nominal. In 1573, 
they were besieged in La Rochelle by the 
Duke of Anjou, afterward the infamous 
Henry III., the most inveterate enemy they 
ever had to encounter. The massacre of St. 
Bartholomew has fixed an indelible stain 
upon the reign of Charles IX. ; but more of 
its horrors were due to this, his successor, 
than to him. Henry of Anjou was more 
after Catherine de Medici's own heart than 
her second son Charles. This prince could 
boast of having in his army the flower of the 
French nobility. In the course of eight 
months they gave nine general assaults, and 
formed more than twenty useless attacks. 
An English fleet endeavored to throw suc- 
cors into the city, but it was repulsed, and 
forced to renounce the enterprise. The Ro- 
chellois, notwithstanding, continued to signal- 
ize their valor by the most intrepid resistance. 
The Duke of Anjou, returning fi-om visiting 
a mine, passed by a place within gun-shot of 
the city. A soldier, recognizing him, took a 
deliberate aim at him, and would have ridded 
the world of a monster, but for the interven- 
tion of his squire, Hubert Devins, who, see- 
ing the danger of the prince, rushed forward, 
and received the ball instead of him. He 
was cured of his wound, and lived a long 



532 



EOCHELLE, LA. 



time to enjoy the glory of such an action. 
Upon the duke being chosen King of Poland, 
a general assault was given ; but it succeeded 
no better than its predecessors. The prince, 
who had already lost more than 24,000 men, 
then resolved to terminate the siege by mak- 
ing peace. The conduct of the royahsts dur- 
ing the siege was the height of extravagance, 
injustice, and ferocity : " They sported there 
with the lives of men," says Matthieu the 
historian ; " and I have heard those say who ! 
were near the Duke of Anjou, that to pass | 
away the time, when they were at a loss \ 
what to do, they sent soldiers to the breach." 
It is not to be wondered at that an enterprise 
so conducted should have had a bad end, and 
that the Rochellois, pretending to submit, to 
-save the honor of the court, should have really 
remained masters of their city. Near the 
counterscarp, there was a mill, called Lebrande, 
of which Captain Normand had obtained the 
proprietorship, upon condition that he should 
have it guarded. He thought at first of forti- 
fying it ; but finding he could not put it in a 
state of defense, he satisfied himself Avith 
keeping a few soldiers in it in the daytime, 
who retired at night, with the exception of 
one sentinel. Strozzi, one of the CathoHc 
generals, who fancied he could derive some 
advantage from this mill, fixed upon a moon- 
light night to attack it with a detachment and 
two culverins. A soldier from the Isle of 
Ehe, named Barbot, sole defender of this bad 
post, stood his ground, fired, with incredible 
celerity, many arquebus-shots at the assail- 
ants, and, by varying the inflexions of his 
voice, made them believe that he had a con- 
siderable number of comrades. Captain Nor- 
mand kept encouraging him from the top of 
a cavalier, speaking as if there were an entire 
company in the mill, and telling them to hold 
out bravely, and they should soon have assist- 
ance. Barbot's artillery being exhausted, he 
came forward and demanded quarter for him- 
self and his comrades ; and, the defense hav- 
ing been so respectable, it was granted. He 
immediately laid down liis arms, and revealed 
the whole garrison in his own person. 
Strozzi, enraged at what he ought to have 
thought heroic, wanted to have him hung for 
his act of gallantry ; but Biron, who was 
more moderate, satisfied himself with con- 
demning him to the galleys. These men 
prided themselves upon fighting in a religious 
cause, and in civilized times ; the pagans of 
old Greece or Rome would not have punished 
such a man at all. The soldier was fortunate 
enough to escape by flight a punishment he 
did not deserve.* 

Third Siege, a.d. 1627. — We come now 

• This anecdote is evidently the foundation of an 
amusing scene in Dumas's "Three Musketeers," and 
proves the truth of the proverb, " that truth is even 
more strange than fiction." 



to the most important siege of La Rochelle, a 
siege which is hkewise the great event of the 
life of so remarkable a man as the Cardinal 
de Richelieu. 

Cardinal de Richelieu, who governed France 
and its king, being very desirous to signalize 
his ministry by the conquest of La Rochelle, 
ordered the siege of it to be prepared. In 
the year 1627, an army 23,000 men, with 
Louis XIII. at their head, presented itself 
before this last asylum of the Protestants. 
The warlike cardinal conducted all the opera- 
tions in the name of the king. The city was 
vast, well fortified, well situated, provided 
with numerous artillery, full of munitions of 
all kinds, and defended by inhabitants animat- 
ed by religious zeal. They elected as mayor, 
governor, and general of their city, Jean 
Gruiton, a man of great firmness and valor. 
He was scarcely clothed with these import- 
ant but perilous dignities, than he assembled 
the inhabitants, and drawing a poniard, said : 
" I will be your mayor, since you insist upon 
my being so, but only upon condition that I 
may be permitted to i>lunge this poniard into 
the heart of the first man who shall speak of 
surrendering. I consent that it shall be em- 
ployed in the same manner upon me, if I 
should propose to capitulate ; and I require 
that this poniard shall remain for that purpose 
upon the table of the chamber in which we 
assemble." Richeheu in the mean time con- 
tinued his works for the blockade of the 
place. A circumvallation of three leagues 
was formed, protected by thirteen forts, flank- 
ed with redoubts, and bristling with artillery. 
But the great object was to close the ports, 
in order to exclude succor. Piles were sunk 
to embarrass the entrance; a chain of im- 
mense force was stretched across the mouth ; 
but all these means proved useless. 

At length the cardinal resolved to make a 
dyke. Everybody, as is usual in such cases, 
exclaimed against the project as absurd. 
Louis Metezau and Jean Tiriot alone ven- 
tured to undertake the execution of it, and 
they were kindly set down by their cotem- 
poraries as madmen. It was necessary to 
form a canal of 740 toises in width, in a 
place where the current of the sea was very 
strong. Long posts were sunk in the sea, at 
twelve feet distance from each other, from 
the point of CoreUle to Fort Louis : other 
posts, quite as strong, connected them cross- 
wise. Immense dry stones were thrown into 
the intervals, to wliich the slime and mud 
acted as cement. This dyke was so elevated, 
that in the highest tides the soldiers were 
dry upon it ; its thickness was proof against 
cannon. It was, toward the bottom, about 
twelve toises wide, and only about four at 
the top, so that it resembled a glacis. At 
each extremity a fort was built ; an opening 



EOME. 



533 



was left in the middle to allow passage for 
the tides ; but, in order to prevent the ene- 
my's vessels from entering by this opening, 
forty vessels, filled with hewn stones, were 
sunk, and a vast number of huge piles were 
driven. This great and wonderful work, 
which required the incessant labor of six 
months, was defended by several batteries 
erected on fii-m ground, and by 200 vessels 
of all sizes, well armed, which Uned the 
shore. The advantage of this dyke was 
soon perceived : La Rochelle, which till then 
had received all its munitions and provisions 
by sea, became destitute in a very short 
time. The EngUsh made two attempts to 
deliver or revictual the place, but were obhged 
to renounce their undertaking. After a year's 
blockade, the Rochellois, for some time re- 
duced to subsist upon grass, herbs, and shell- 
fish, began to be carried off in great numbers 
by famine. Twelve thousand men had al- 
ready perished ; whole houses were filled 
with dead bodies. One day the mayor met 
a person, attenuated by famine. " He has 
but one breath of life left," said some one to 
him. "Are you surprised at this?" repUed 
he ; " you and I must soon come to that, if 
we are not relieved." " But," added another, 
" hunger carries off so many daily, that we 
shall soon have no inliabitants left." " Well," 
rejoined the brave old man, " never mind, so 
long as there is one left to keep the gates 
shut." They really had " but one breath of 
Ufe left," when on the 28th of October, 1628, 
they were compelled to capitulate. The 
royal troops took possession on the 30th, 
and on the 1st of November the king made 
his public entrance. The fortifications were 
demolished, the ditches filled up, the inhab- 
itants disarmed and made taxable ; echevinage 
and the corporation of the city were aboU 
ished forever. For nearly two hundred years. 
La Rochelle had scarcely acknowledged any 
sovereigns but its magistrates. This conquest 
cost Louis 40,000,000 of francs, but not so many 
lives as might have been expected. — Rohson. 

ROME. — In our account of the early 
sieges of Rome, notwithstanding our con- 
viction that many of the events related of 
them are apocryphal, we shall adhere to the 
version which was the delight of our boy- 
hood. 

FiR^T Siege, b.c. 747. — From the way in 
wliich what is called Rome, as a nation was 
got together, it was naturally in a constant 
state of warfare. The spirit in which it was 
founded pervaded and ruled over it to its 
fall : it was at all times a nation of the sword ; 
and when that sword was blunted by having 
conquered the known world, its conquests 
all crumbled away: when Rome ceased to 
be an aggressor, she instantly ceased to be 
great. Rome, of course, commenced this 



aggressive career with wars upon her neigh- 
bors, a cause for quarrel being quickly and 
easily found where every thing was to be 
gained and httle to be lost. Thus, the rape 
of the Sabine women produced the first siege 
of the nascent city — a violation not only of 
the laws of nations, but of the laws of even 
the rudest state of nature, created its first 
enemies. The Sabines of Cures, animated 
by a warm desire for vengeance, presented 
themselves before Rome; their design was 
to blockade it, when chance rendered them 
masters of the citadel by the treachery of 
Tarpeia. She covenanted, as her reward for 
betraying the capital, for what they wore on 
their arms, meaning their ornamental brace- 
lets; but they, disgusted with her action, 
threw their bucklers upon her and smothered 
her. After her, the rock from which crimi- 
nals were precipitated was called the Tar- 
peian — a proof that there was at least some 
foundation for that now disputed legend. 
The two peoples then came to close action, 
and victory remained long undecided : the 
Romans gave way at the first charge, but 
were rallied by the voice of Romulus, and 
recommenced the fight with obstinacy and 
success. The carnage was about to become 
horrible, when the Sabine women, for whose 
honor so much blood was being spilt, threw 
themselves between the combatants, with 
disheveled hair, holding in their arms the 
fruits of their forced marriages, and uttering 
piercing cries. Their voices, their tears, their 
supplicating posture, relaxed the fury of the 
fight, and calmed the animosity of the com- 
batants ; the Sabine women became mediators 
between their relations and their husbands. 
Peace was made on the condition that the 
two people should from that time be one, 
and that the two kings should reign together. 

Second Siege, b.c. 507. — Tarquin the Su- 
perb, not being able to recover by artifice the 
throne from which he had been expelled, 
sought to employ force. He had the address 
to interest several neighboring nations in his 
cause ; — when they had a chance of success, 
Rome had always plenty of enemies around 
her. Porsenna, King of Clusium, then the 
most powerful monarch of Italy, raised a 
numerous army in his defense, and laid siege 
to Rome. In an assault, the two consuls 
were wounded, and the consequently dis- 
ordered Romans could not withstand their 
opponents. The Etruscans attacked a bridge, 
the capture of which must lead to that of 
the city ; but Horatius, surnamed Codes from 
having lost an eye, alone opposed himself to 
the troops of Porsenna, while his companions 
broke down the bridge behind him. When 
they had completed the work, he threw him- 
self into the Tiber and swam ashore. 

The Kina: of Clusium, having failed in his 



534 



ROME. 



attempt, undertook to reduce the place by 
famine ; but the bold action of a young 
Roman soon made him change his design. 
Mutius Scsevola, animated by the same spirit 
that had governed Codes, was determined to 
relieve his country from this dreaded enemy. 
He went to the Clusian camp, disguised as an 
Etruscan, entered the king's tent, and meet- 
ing with that prince's secretary superbly 
dressed, poniarded him instead of Porsenna. 
He was arrested, led before the king, and 
strictly interrogated, while the instruments 
of torture were ostentatiously displayed in 
his sight. Mutius, with a haughty air, and 
without being the least intimidated by their 
menaces, exclaimed, "/am a Roman; J know 
how to suffer ; I know how to die/" At the 
same time, as if he wished to punish the 
hand which had so ill served him, he held it 
in the flame of a brazier till it was consumed, 
looking all the while at Porsenna with a firm 
and stern glance. " There are thirty of us," 
said he, " all sworn to rid Rome of her im- 
placable enemy, and all will not make such a 
mistake as I have." The king, astonished at 
the intrepid coolness of the young Roman, 
concluded a treaty of peace, which delivered 
Rome from the most formidable enemy she 
had had to encounter. Among the hostages 
given by the Romans was Cloelia, a Roman 
maiden, possessed of courage beyond her sex 
or age. She persuaded her companions to 
escape by swimming across the Tiber. They 
succeeded, in spite of the numerous arrows 
discharged upon them in their passage. The 
boldness of the action met with high praise 
in Rome ; but they were sent back to Por- 
senna, that pubhc faith might not be violated. 
That prince, however, was so much pleased 
with such virtuous spirit that he restored the 
generous maidens to freedom, and made liis 
alliance stUl more close with a city that could 
produce heroines as weU as heroes. 

Third Siege, b.c. 488. — Caius Marcius 
Coriolanus, exiled from Rome by the sedi- 
tious tribunes, and by his own indomitable 
pride, so fur forgot all patriotic feehngs as to 
engage the Yolscians to make war against 
his country. The Volscians, proud of the 
assistance of such a distinguished hero, made 
him their general; he took the field with 
vengeance in his heart. After a great num- 
ber of victories, he marched straight to 
Rome, for the purpose of laying siege to it. 
So bold a design threw the patricians and 
the people equally into a state of the greatest 
alarm. Hatred gave way to fear; deputies 
were sent to Coriolanus, who received them 
with all the haughtiness of an enemy deter- 
mined on making his will the law. The 
Rordan generals, instead of boldly meeting 
him in the field, exhorted him to grant them 
peace ; they conjured him to have pity on 



liis country, and forget the injuries offered to 
him by the populace, who were already suffi- 
ciently pupished by the evils he had inflicted 
upon them. But they brought back nothing 
but the stem reply, " that they must restore 
to the Yolscians all they had taken from 
them, and grant them the right of citizen- 
ship." Other deputies were dismissed in the 
same manner. The courage of these Romans, 
so proud and so intrepid, appeared to have 
passed with Coriolanus over to the side of 
the Volscians. Obedience to the laws was 
at an end ; military discipline was neglected ; 
they took counsel of nothing but their fear. 
At length, after many tumultuous delibera- 
tions, the ministers of religion were sent to 
endeavor to bend the will of the angry com- 
patriot. Priests, clothed in their sacred ha- 
biliments, advanced with mournful steps to 
the camp of the Volscians, and the most ven- 
erable among them implored Coriolanus to 
give peace to his country, and, in the name 
of the gods, to have compassion on the 
Romans, his fellow-citizens and brothers ; but 
they found him equally stern and inflexible. 
When the people saw the holy priests return 
without success, they indeed supposed the 
republic lost. They fiUed the temples, they 
embraced the altars of the gods, and gathered 
in clusters about the city, uttering cries and 
lamentations ; Rome presented a picture of 
profound grief and debasement. Veturia, 
the mother of Coriolanus, and Volumnia, his 
wife, saved their unhappy country. They 
presented themselves before him, and con- 
jured him by all that he held most sacred, to 
spare a city which had given him birth, and 
which still contained his mother, liis wife, 
and his children. His mother was a woman 
of great spirit — a Roman, almost a Spartan 
mother. She had, from his boyhood, stimu- 
lated him to the performance of noble and 
heroic deeds; she might be called the parent 
of his glory as well as of his vigorous person. 
Coriolanus loved his mother tenderly, almost 
idolized her, and could not resist her tears. 
He raised the siege, and delivered Rome 
from the greatest alarm it had ever expe- 
rienced. 

Fourth Siege, b.c. 387. — A colony of 
Gauls, confined for room in their own coun- 
try, entered upper Italy, under the command 
of Brennus, 387 years before Christ, and laid 
siege to Clusium, in Tuscany. Accustomed 
already to command as a master in Italy, 
Rome sent three embassadors to Brennus, to 
inform him that that city was under the pro- 
tection of the Roman repubhc. Offended by 
the rude reply of the Gauls, the embassadors 
retired indignantly, but violated the rights of 
nations by entering Clusium, and assisting in 
the defense of it. Brennus, highly irritated, 
demanded satisfaction, and Rome refused to 



ROME. 



635 



give it. He marched directly against tliut 
already superb city. The two armies met on 
the banks of the river Allia, within half a 
league of Rome. The Romans, being the 
less in numbers, extended their ranks in 
order not to be surrounded, and by that 
means weakened their center. The Gauls, 
perceiving this, fell with fury on the cohorts 
of the center, broke through them, and at- 
tacked the wings, whose flanks this opening 
left exposed. Already conquered by the 
terror inspired by this bold maneuver, which 
bespoke a people accustomed to military tac- 
tics, the wings of the Roman army took to 
flight without drawing sword, and the main 
body, bewildered by the general rout which 
ensued, took refuge in Veil, instead of regain- 
ing Rome, which offered them the nearest 
asylum. Thousands of Romans fell under 
the sword of the Gauls ; and if these people 
had marched straight to the city, instead of 
hngering to share the spoil, the Roman name 
would have been at an end.* They remain- 
ed three days engaged in distributing the 
spoil, and three days saved Rome, whither 
the fugitives bore the news of the disaster 
the army and the consuls had sustained. 
They rendered the republic aware of what 
it had to expect from the victorious Gauls. 
The Senate, in the general alarm, took ad- 
vantage of the time the barbarians employed 
in rejoicings for their victory. Not finding a 
sufficient force to defend the city, they threw 
aU the men capable of bearing arms into the 
capital, and sent away all useless mouths; 
the old men, women, and children took 
refuge in the nearest cities. There only re- 
mained in Rome a few pontiffs and ancient 
senators, who, not being willing to survive 
either their country or its glory, generously 
devoted themselves to death, to appease, ac- 
cording to their belief, the anger of the infer- 
nal gods. These venerable men, in order to 
preserve to the last sigh the marks of a dig- 
nity which they believed would expire with 
them, put on their sacred vestments or their 
consular robes, placed themselves at the doors 
of their houses, in their ivory chairs, and 
awaited with firmness the decree which Des- 
tiny was about to pronounce on Rome. 
Brennus arrived three days after his victory. 
Surprised at finding the gates open, the walls 
without defense, and the houses without in- 
habitants, he suspected some ambush or 
stratagem. The continued silence and calm 
at length re-assured him. He placed his 
points of guard ; then, while spreading his 
troops through the quarters of the city, the 
first objects that met his eyes were the ven- 
erable old men who had devoted themselves 
to. death. Their splendid habits, their white 

* In this terrible engagement nearly 40,000 Bomans 
were Blain. I 



beards, their air of grandeur and 
their silence even, astonished Brennus, and 
inspired a religious fear in his army. A 
Gaul, less touched with this august spectacle, 
and more daring than the rest, ventured to 
pluck innocently the beard of an ancient sen- 
ator. The spirited old man dealt him a 
heavy blow with his ivory staff on the head. 
The irritated soldier killed the senator, and 
this became the signal for slaughter ; all were 
massacred in their chairs, and the inhabitants 
who had not escaped were put to the sword. 
Brennus attacked the capital, but he was re- 
pulsed with loss. Despairing of taking it by 
force, he had recourse to blockade, to reduce 
it by famine. In order to avenge himself for 
the resistance offered by the Romans, he set 
fire to the city ; and soon Rome presented 
nothing but its hills surrounded with smoking 
ruins. 

The Gauls, inflated with their success, be- 
hoved the whole country to be in a state of 
terror, and they preserved neither order nor 
discipline ; some wandered about the neigh- 
borhood for the purpose of plunder, wlnle 
others spent both days and nights in drinking. 
They thought the whole people shut up in 
the Capitol, but Rome found an avenger in 
Camillas. This great man, exiled by liis 
ungrateful fellow-citizens, had retired to 
Ardea. He prevailed upon the young men 
of that city to follow him. In concert with 
the magistrates, he marched out on a dark 
night, fell upon the Gauls stupefied with wine, 
made a horrible slaughter, and thus raised 
the depressed courage of his fellow-citizens. 
They flocked in crowds to liis standard, and, 
looking upon CamiUus as their only resource, 
they chose him as their leader. But he 
refused to do any thing Avithout the order of 
the Senate, and the people shut up in the 
Capitol. It was almost impossible to gain 
access to them. A young Roman, however, 
had the hardihood to undertake this perilous 
enterprise, and succeeded. CamiUus, declar- 
ed dictator, collected an army of more than 
40,000 men, who beUeved themselves invin- 
cible under so able a general. 

The Gauls, meanwhile, perceived the traces 
left by the young man, and Brennus en- 
deavored, during the night, to surprise the 
Capitol by the same path. After many 
eflbrts, a few succeeded in gaining the sum- 
mit of the rock, and were already on the 
point of scaling the walls ; the sentinel was 
asleep, and nothing seemed to oppose them. 
Some geese, consecrated to Juno, were 
awakened by the noise made by the enemy, 
and began to cry, as they do when disturbed. 
Manhus, a person of consular rank, flew to 
the spot, encountered the Gauls, and hurled 
two of them from the rock. The Romans 
were roused, and the enemy driven back; 



536 



ROME. 



most of them either fell, or were thrown from 
the precipice, and very few of the party en- 
gaged regained their camp. The sleeply sen- 
tinel was precipitated from the Capitol, and 
Manlius was highly rewarded. Much irri- 
tated at Ms defeat, Brennus pressed the 
place still more closely, to augment the fam- 
ine, which had begun to be felt even in his 
camp, since Camillus had made himself mas- 
ter of the open country. An accommodation 
was soon proposed ; it was agreed that 
Brennus should receive a thousand pounds' 
weight of gold, on condition of his raising the 
siege, and leaving the lands of the republic. 
The gold was brought, but when it was 
weighed, the Gauls made use of false weights. 
The Romans complained of this; but Bren- 
nus, laughing at their remonstrances, threw 
his sword and baldric into the scale which 
counterpoised the gold, adding raillery to in- 
justice. At that very moment, CamiUus 
reached the capital, and advanced with a 
strong escort toward the place of conference. 
Upon learning what had passed, " Take back 
this gold to the Capitol," said he to the Ro- 
man deputies; "and you, G-auls," added he, 
" retire with your weights and scales ; it is 
with steel only, that Romans should redeem 
their country." The parties soon proceeded 
to blows; Camillus brought up liis troops, 
and a furious charge ensued. The Romans, 
maddened by the sight of their ruined coun- 
try, made incredible efforts. The Gauls 
could not withstand them; they were broken, 
and fled on all sides. Brennus rallied them, 
raised the siege, and encamped a few miles 
from Rome. CamiUus followed him with 
characteristic ardor, attacked him afresh, and 
defeated him. Most of the Gauls were either 
killed on the field of battle, or massacred in 
detail by the inhabitants of the neighboring 
villages ; so that, it is said, a single one did 
not remain to carry back to his country the 
news of their defeat. 

Fifth Siege, b.c. 211. — This siege belongs 
to a very interesting period in the Roman 
history ; it occurred in the course of what 
are called the Punic wars, wliich were the 
contests of two of the most powerful states 
then in existence, for supremacy. Rome and 
Carthage were Uke two suns ; they had be- 
come too powerful for both to retain their 
splendor in one hemisphere. They were 
really the noblest conflicts in which Rome 
was engaged ; there was a rivalry in generals 
and soldiers worthy of being sustained by the 
great republic ; and though Rome was in the 
end the conqueror, and her generals were 
great, it is doubtful whether she can exhibit 
in her annals so perfect a captain as Hannibal. 
The Carthaginians suffer, in the opinion of 
posterity, in another way ; the Romans were 
not only the victors, but the historians ; Punic 



bad faith is proverbial in the Roman language, 
but we strongly suspect that a Carthagmian 
Polybius or Livy would have found as many 
sins against the laws of nations committed by 
one party as the other. The man was the 
painter, and not the Uon. 

After various and great successes, Hanni- 
bal, to terrify the Romans, presented himself 
before their city. The consuls, who had 
received orders to watch that the republic 
should receive no injury, felt it their duty to 
encounter him. When they were on the 
point of engaging, a violent storm compelled 
both parties to retire; and the same tiling 
occurred several times; so that Hannibal, 
believing that he saw in tliis event something 
supernatural, said, according to Livy, that 
sometimes fortune and sometimes his will 
was always wanting to make him master of 
Rome. That which still more surprised him 
was, that while he was encamped at one of 
the gates of the city, the Romans sent an 
army out of one of the other gates into Spain ; 
and that the very field in wliich he was en- 
camped was sold at the same time, without 
that circumstance having diminished the 
value of it. In order to avenge himself, he 
put up to auction the goldsmiths' shops which 
were around the most public places in Rome, 
and then retired. 

Sixth Siege, b.c. 87. — War being declared 
against Mithridates, King of Pontus, was the 
signal of discord between Marius and Sylla. 
Tiiese two rivals, whose animosity knew no 
bounds, demanded at the same time the com- 
mand of the army. Sylla obtained it from 
the Senate, and immediately went to place 
himself at the head of his troops. Marius 
took advantage of his absence, and, with the 
assistance of the tribune Sulpicius, he so ex- 
cited the people against the nobles that Sylla 
was deprived of liis command which was 
conferred upon him. Sylla, far from obeying 
the sentence of the people, marched straight 
to Rome with his army, consisting of 40,000 
men. This was the first time, since Coriola- 
nus, that this great city had been besieged 
by one of its own citizens. Destitute of 
every thing, its only defense being a few 
soldiers got together in haste by ]\Iarius, it 
did not make a long resistance. Sylla en- 
tered as an enemy ; the multitude mounted 
upon the roofs of the houses, armed with 
any thing they could lay hold of, and poured 
such a shower of stones and tiles upon the 
heads of his soldiers that they could not ad- 
vance. Sylla, forgetful of what he owed to 
his country and to himself, cried out to his 
men to set fire to the houses ; and, arming 
himself with a blazing brand, gave them the 
example. Marius, too weak to contend with 
his rival, abandoned to him the center of the 
empire. The conqueror affected great mod- 



ROME. 



537 



eration, prevented the pillage of his country, 
reformed the government, raised the author- 
ity of the Senate upon the ruins of that of 
the people, put to death Sulpicius, with ten 
other senators, partisans of his rival, and em- 
barked for Asia. 

This second absence replunged Rome into 
fresh misfortunes ; the faction of the people, 
of which Marius was the soul, excited by 
Cinna, took courage again. Tliis consul, 
having won over some tribunes, caused so 
much trouble, that he was driven from the 
city and deprived of the consulate ; but he 
succeeded in gaining to his quarrel a large 
army encamped in the Campania, and almost 
all the peoples of Italy. Marius, who had 
taken refuge in Africa, recrossed the sea, and 
came to join Cinna; he was immediately 
declared proconsul. It was proposed to 
give him fasces and hctors, but he rejected 
them: " Such honors," said he, "would not 
become a banished man." His party held a 
council, and it was determined to go and 
attack Rome: Sylla had set them the ex- 
ample. 

Rome, always victorious against external 
enemies, but always weak against domestic 
attacks, saw herself besieged by four armies, 
commanded by Marius, Cinna, Sertorius, and 
Carbo. Masters of all the passages, they 
subjected the city to famine, and reduced its 
inhabitants to extremity. Pompeius Strabo 
came at last, but too late, to the succor of 
his country with an army. Rome, in a state 
of consternation, and seeing herself on the 
verge of ruin, sent deputies to the enemies to 
invite them to enter the city. A council was 
held. Marius and Cinna, after having marked 
out their victims, gave the city up to all the 
horrors of war. A multitude of virtuous 
Romans were immolated to the vengeance of 
the two leaders ; Marius inundated his coun- 
try with the purest blood of the republic. 
Birth and riches were unpardonable crimes ; 
a nod of this tyrant's head was an order for 
death. This ferocious and barbarous man, 
after having exercised the most horrible 
cruelties, died a short time after this victory, 
in the middle of Rome itself, of which he 
had been the preserver and the executioner. 

Seventh Siege, a.d. 408. — Alaric, King of 
the Goths, entered Italy, and advanced to- 
ward Rome to lay siege to it. On his route, 
a pious solitary came to throw himself at his 
feet, imploring him with tears to spare that 
city, which had become the center of the 
Christian world. "Father," replied the 
prince, " it is not my will that leads me on ; 
I incessantly hear a voice in my ears, which 
cries — ' On, Alaric, on ! and sack Rome !' " 
He reduced it to the most frightful extremi- 
ity, by closing every passage for provisions, 
and by making himself master of the naviga- 



tion of the Tiber. Pestilence was soon added 
to famine. Rome was nothing but one vast 
cemetery : it became necessary to treat with 
the King of the Goths. 

The deputies of Rome declared that the 
Roman people were wilhng to accept peace 
upon reasonable conditions ; but rather than 
its glory should be stained, they would give 
battle. " Very good !" replied Alaric, with a 
loud laugh; "it is never so easy to cut the 
hay as when the grass is thickest 1" They 
were forced to lay aside their ancient pride, 
and submit to circumstances. The conqueror 
ordered them to bring to him all the gold, 
silver, valuable furniture, and foreign slaves 
that were in the city. " And what will you 
leave, then, to the inhabitants?" asked the 
deputies. " Life 1" rephed Alaric. After 
long contestations, it was agreed that Rome 
should pay 5,000 pounds' weight of gold, 
30,000 pounds' weight of silver, 4,000 silken 
tunics, 3,000 skins colored scarlet, 3,000 
pounds' weight of spices, and, as hostages, 
give up the children of the most noble citi- 
zens. When these conditions were complied 
with, the King of tlie Goths raised the siege. 

Eighth Siege, a.d. 410. — Two years after, 
Alaric, constantly provoked to vengeance by 
the perfidies of the Romans, presented him- 
self again before the capital, and besieged 
Rome very closely. The siege was long, but 
very few circumstances relating to it have 
been preserved. On the 24th of August, the 
Gothic prince entered the city, of which some 
traitors had opened the gates to him during 
the night. Rome was sacked by the furious 
soldiery ; its wealth, its valuable furniture, its 
public edifices, its temples, its private houses, 
became the prey of the flames. The blood 
of the citizens inundated the streets and pub- 
hc places ; the women were dishonored, and 
then immolated upon the bodies of their 
slaughtered husbands and fathers; children 
were destroyed upon the bosoms of their 
mothers. Heaven seemed to arm itself in 
concert with the Goths to punish Rome: 
lightning reduced to dust what the flames 
had spared. 

The Goths, however, respected the church- 
es; these holy places were an inviolable 
asylum for all who sought refuge in them. 

After the Jaking of Naples in 538, Belisa- 
rius shut himself up in Rome, and prepared 
to sustain a siege, if Vitiges would undertake 
to attack him. The new monarch, at the 
head of 150,000 men, marched toward the 
capital of Italy, asking of every one he fell 
in with on his route, whether Belisarius were 
still in Rome. " Prince, be satisfied on that 
point," replied a priest ; " the only part of the 
mihtary art Belisarius is ignorant ot; is flight." 
This general had constructed a fort upon a 
bridge, at a mile from Rome, and had provid- 



538 



EOME. 



ed it with a sufBcient garrison ; but these 
base cowards, seized with fear at the approach 
of the Goths, took to flight, and dispersed 
themselves over the Campania. Tlie next 
day, at dawn, Vitiges crossed the bridge with 
a great part of his army. As he advanced, 
he met BeHsarius, who, at the head of 1,000 
horse, had come to reconnoiter ; his surprise 
was excessive at seeing the enemy; but 
without being daunted by their numbers, he 
halted, and received them at the head of liis 
little troop. Here the valor and exploits of 
Belisarius approach the marvelous : in the 
hottest of the mtlie, the brave leader of the 
Eomans was recognized by some deserters, 
who cried out from several quarters at once : 
"At the bay horse, comrades! — aim at the 
bay horse !" Assailed on all sides, he became 
a mark for every arrow. Inflamed with a 
generous courage, he drove off some, over- 
threw others, and cut down all that impeded 
Ids passage. The Eomans, seeing the danger 
of their general, flew to his aid, surrounded 
him, warded oif every blow directed against 
him, and made him a rampart of their buck- 
lers and their bodies. The terrified Goths 
turned bridle, and were pursued to the camp ; 
the rest of the army, however, stopped the 
career of the conquerors, and forced them to 
fly in their turn to a neighboring height, 
where they rallied. The combat was then 
renewed; and the Eomans, too inferior in 
numbers, would scarcely have etFected a re- 
treat, but for the heroic valor of an officer 
named Valentinus. This new Codes alone 
withstood the Gothic cavalry, and gave time 
to his comrades to regain the city ; but the 
inhabitants shut the gates against them. In 
vain Belisarius shouted his name, and pressed 
to be admitted ; the inhabitants were per- 
suaded that he had perished in the fight, and 
could not otherwise recognize his counte- 
nance, from the blood and dust which dis- 
figured it ; they therefore paid no regard to 
his orders. In this extremity, Behsarius re- 
animated his Uttle band, and turned with fury 
upon the enemy, who were close at his heels. 
The Goths, imagining that he was at the head 
of fresh troops from the city, stopped their 
pursuit, turned their horses' heads, and re- 
gained their camp. Belisarius re-entered the 
city in triurapli, where he was received with 
transports of the most hvely joy. Eome be- 
Heved itself from that time safe from all re- 
verses, beneath the aegis of this intrepid 
general. In this combat the Goths lost the 
tlite of their cavalry. 

On the eighteenth day of the siege, at sun- 
rise, the Goths, led on by Vitiges, marched 
toward the gate Salaria. At the sight of 
their machines, Belisarius broke into a loud 
laugli, while the inliabitants were frozen 
with fear. The Goths had reached the bank 



of the ditch, when the Eoraan general, seiz- 
ing a bow, took aim at a Gothic commander 
covered with a cuirass, and pierced him quite 
through the neck. This act was highly ap- 
plauded by his troops, whose triumph was 
doubled by a second aim as fortunate as the 
first. Behsarius then commanded his soldiers 
to make a general discharge at the oxen 
which drew the machines. In an instant 
they were covered and transpierced with an 
iron shower. The astonished and discomfited 
Goths were forced to terminate their attack. 

Although the attempts of Vitiges seemed 
generally to fail, he was on the point of tak- 
ing Eome, to the north of the mole or tomb 
of Adrian, since called the castle of St. An- 
gelo. It was necessary for the Goths to pos- 
sess themselves of this place, to cross the 
Tiber. In spite of the arrows of the Eo- 
mans, they had applied their ladders and be- 
gun to ascend, when the defenders of the 
mole bethought themselves of breaking off 
the numerous marble statues with which tliis 
monument was ornamented, and rolled the 
fragments upon the heads of the besiegers, 
who, beaten from their ladders by these enor- 
mous masses, were constrained to abandon 
their enterprise. 

The next day, Behsarius dismissed all use- 
less mouths from the city ; he enrolled a 
great number of artisans; he changed the 
locks and bolts of the city gates twice a 
month ; and caused instruments to be played 
upon the walls during the night. A Goth, 
remarkable for his height and famous for his 
exploits, covered with iiis cuirass, and with 
his helmet on his head, advanced from the 
ranks opposite the gate Salaria, and setting 
his back against a tree, kept up a continuous 
discharge of arrows at the battlements. An 
immense javehn, launched from a balist, 
pierced him tlirough cuirass, body and all, 
and penetrating half its length into the tree, 
nailed this redoubtable warrior to it. A 
Massagete horseman named Chorsamantes, 
one of Belisarius's guards, accompanied by a 
few Eomans, was pursuing a body of sixty 
horse on the plains of Nero. His companions 
having turned rein, in order not to approach 
too near to the enemy's camp, he continued 
the pursuit alone. The Goths seeing him 
thus deserted, turned round upon him: he 
killed the boldest of them, charged the others, 
and put them to flight. Chorsamantes pur- 
sued them to their intrenchments, and, more 
fortunate than prudent, he regained Eome in 
safety, and was received with loud acclama- 
tions. Some time after, having been wound- 
ed in a renconter, he swore to avenge him- 
self, and kept his word. He went out alone, 
and made his way to the camp of the Goths. 
They took him for a deserter ; but when they 
saw him shooting at them, twenty horsemen 



EOME. 



539 



came out for the purpose of cutting him in 
pieces. He at first met them with the great- 
est audacity, and even checked them ; but 
soon, environed on all parts, furious at the 
aspect of peril, and always the more redoubt- 
able from the numbers of his enemies, he 
fell, covered with wounds, upon a heap of 
men and horses he had slain. 

In a severe combat which was afterward 
fought, the Goths were repulsed with loss. 
Kutilus, a Eoman officer, pierced by a dart, 
which was half-buried in his head, as if insen- 
sible to the pain, continued the pursuit of the 
enemy. He died the moment the dart was 
extracted. Another ofGcer, named Azzes, 
returned from a charge with an arrow stick- 
ing close to his right eye. A skillful leech, 
named Theoclistes, cured him. Trag'm, the 
commander of a body of troops, while en- 
deavoring to break through a battalion of 
Groths, received an arrow in his eye; the 
wood broke off at the moment of striking, 
and fell, but the steel, being quite buried, re- 
mained in the wound, without giving Tragan 
much pain. Five days afterward, the steel 
began to reappear, pierced through the cica- 
trice, and fell out apparently of itself. Tar- 
mut, a barbarian captain, an ally of the Ro- 
mans, being left almost alone on the field of 
battle, was assailed by a crowd of enemies ; 
but, armed with two javelins, he laid at his 
feet all who ventured to approach him. At 
length, covered with wounds, he was near 
sinking from weakness, when he saw his 
brother Ennes, chief of the Isaurians, ap- 
proach with a troop of horse, and throw him- 
self between him and his assailants. Reani- 
mated by this unhoped-for succor, he recover- 
ed sufficient strength to gain the city, still 
armed with his two javelins. He only sur- 
vived this astonishing efibrt of courage two 
days. Such were the principal exploits dur- 
ing the siege' of Rome by Vitiges, who was 
obliged to raise it, after a year and nine days 
of useless attempts. Sixty-nine battles were 
fought, all very bloody, and almost all to the 
advantage of the Romans : they cost the 
Bang of the Goths more than the half of his 
numerous army. Belisarius had but a small 
force ; Rome might have been taken easily : 
it had yielded to much weaker armies, but 
Belisarius was in Rome, and that great gen- 
eral, fertile in resources, was alone worth 
whole legions. 

Ninth Siege, a.d. 544. — In the year 544, 
Totila, King of the Goths, and master of part 
of Italy, formed the blockade of Rome, and 
kept the passages so well, that no provisions 
could be got in, either by land or sea. He 
stopped the entrance by the Tiber at a place 
where its bed was narrowest, by means of 
extraordinary long beams of timber, laid from 
one bank to the other, upon which he raised, 



at the two extremities, towers of wood, which 
were filled with soldiers. The famine soon 
became so horrible, that wheat was sold at 
seven pieces of gold per bushel, which is 
nearly 90 shillings of our money, and bran at 
about a quarter of the sum ; an ox, taken in 
a sortie, was sold at an unheard-of price. 
Fortunate was the man who could fall in 
with a dead horse, and take undisputed pos- 
session of it ! Dogs, rats, and the most im- 
pure animals, soon became exquisite and 
eagerly-purchased dainties. Most of the cit- 
izens supported themselves upon nettles and 
wild herbs, which they tore from the foot of 
the walls and ruined buildings. Rome seemed 
to be only inhaljited by pale, fleshless, livid 
phantoms, who either fell dead in the streets, 
or killed themselves. 

That which was most frightful in this ex- 
tremity of misery, was the fact that the lead- 
ers themselves were the cause of tlie public 
want ; they devoured the citizens by their 
sordid avarice. " The immense masses of 
wheat, which they had been a long time col- 
lecting, were only distributed at their weight 
in gold ; and very shortly most of the wealth 
of Rome was concentrated among monsters, 
worthy of the severest punishment. 

Belisarius, whose generous spirit mourned 
over the misfortunes of Rome, attempted all 
sorts of means to succor the unfortunate cap- 
ital. He caused a large number of barks to 
be constructed, furnished with boarding all 
around, to protect the soldiers from the ar- 
rows of the enemy. These boards were 
pierced at certain distances, to afibrd facility 
for launching their own bolts and arrows. 
He caused these barks to be laden with great 
quantities of provisions, placed himself at the 
head of them, and, leading with some fire- 
boats, he ascended the Tiber, and set fire to 
one of the enemy's towers. But his enter- 
prise not being seconded, he could not suc- 
ceed in throwing provisions into the city; 
grief at his failure produced a sickness which 
brought him to the brink of the grave. Some 
Isaurian soldiers, who guarded the gate Asi- 
naria, having slipped along the ramparts in 
the night, by means of a cord, came and of- 
fered Totila to give up the city to him. The 
king having assured himself of their fidelity, 
and of the possibility of the enterprise, sent 
with them four of the bravest and strongest 
Goths, who, having got into the city, opened 
a gate and admitted the besiegers. Bessus, 
who commanded in the place, fled away with 
his troops at the first alarm. In the house of 
this governor were found heaps of gold and 
silver, the fruits of his cruel monopolies. 

At daybreak the King of the Goths re- 
paired to the church of St. Peter, to return 
thanks to God for his success. The deacon 
Pelagius, who awaited him at the entrance 



640 



ROME. 



of the holy temple, prostrated himself hum- 
bly before him, and implored him to save the 
lives of the inhabitants. Totila, who knew 
how to pardon as well as to conqyer, granted 
the sacred minister what he asked, and for- 
bade his soldiers, under the strongest penal- 
ties, to shed the blood of any one. When 
this order was given, the Goths had already 
slain 20 soldiers and 60 citizens. These were 
the only victims of the brutahty of the vic- 
tors ; but if he spared the hves of the inhabit- 
ants, he deprived them of all means to support 
them. Rome was abandoned to pillage for 
several days, and nothing was left to the citi- 
zens but the bare walls of their houses. Sen- 
ators, formerly opulent and proud, were seen 
covered with miserable rags, reduced to beg 
their bread from door to door, and hve upon 
the alms they received from the barbarians. 

Totila was preparing to demolish Rome ; 
he had already leveled a third of the walls, 
and was about to set fire to the most superb 
edifices of the city, when he received a letter 
from Belisarius, which diverted him from his 
design. " To found cities," said this great 
man, "to maintain flourishing cities, is to 
serve society and immortalize ourselves ; to 
overthrow and destroy them, is to declare 
ourselves the enemies of mankind, and dis- 
honor ourselves forever. By the agreement 
of all peoples, the city into which you have 
entered, in consequence of your victory, is 
the greatest and most magnificent under 
heaven. It is not the work of a single man, 
or a single army. During more than thirteen 
centuries, a long hne of kings, consuls, and 
emperors have disputed the glory of embel- 
hshing it, and the superb edifices it presents 
to your eyes are so many monuments which 
consecrate their memories ; to destroy them 
is to outrage the past centuries, of which 
they eternize the remembrance, and to de- 
prive future ages of a magnificent spectacle. 
My lord, reflect that fortune must declare it- 
self in favor of you or my master. If- you 
remain the conqueror, how you will regret 
having destroyed your most splendid con- 
quest ! If you should succumb, the treat- 
ment you have inflicted upon Rome will 
serve as a rule by which Justinian will treat 
you. The eyes of the universe are upon you ; 
it awaits the part you are about to take, to 
accord you the title which will be forever at- 
tached to the name of Totila." Persuaded by 
this eloquent appeal, the King of the Goths 
contented himself with depopulating the city 
of Rome, in which he did not leave a single 
inhabitant. 

Forty da^s after the retreat of Totila, Beli- 
sarius transported himself to Rome, with the 
design of repeopHng that famous city, and 
repairing its ruins. He soon put it in a state 
to sustain a new siege. Upon learning this 



the King of the Goths quickly returned, and 
during three days made several attacks upon 
the city; but Belisarius repulsed them all, 
and forced him to retire with great loss. 

Tenth Siege, a.d. 549. — In 549, Totila, 
without being discouraged by his defeat, once 
more laid siege to the capital of Italy. Dio- 
genes, who commanded there, had had wheat 
so»wn within the inclosure of the walls, which 
might have supported the garrison some time. 
But the city was again betrayed by the Isau- 
rians. The soldiers of that nation, dissatisfied 
with not having received their pay for some 
years, and having learned that their compan- 
ions had been magnificently rewarded by To- 
tila, resolved to follow their example. They 
agreed with the Eng of the Goths to open 
the gate confided to their guard, which per- 
fidy they executed at the time appointed. 
Totila caused his trumpets to be sounded at 
the side opposite to that by which he entered 
the city. The garrison immediately hastened 
where the danger seemed most pressing, and 
by tliis artifice the Goths met with no resist- 
ance. The commander of the Roman cav- 
alry, named Paul, of Cilicia, seeing that the 
city was taken, shut himself up, with 400 
horse, in the mausoleum of Adrian, and took 
possession of the bridge which leads to the 
church of St. Peter. He was attacked by the 
Goths, whose efforts he so warmly repulsed, 
that TotUa determined to reduce his party by 
famine. This intrepid Uttle band remained a 
day and a night without taking food, and 
then determined to die with honor. After 
taking a last farewell, and embracing each 
other, they opened the gates with a deter- 
mination to fall upon the enemy like desper- 
ate men, when Totila proposed moderate and 
honorable conditions to them. They accepted 
them, and all took arms under his banner. 
Totila, become master of Rome a second 
time, restored it to its pristine splendor, and 
re-established as many of the citizens as 
could be found. Narses, the general of the 
empire, having conquered and killed Totila, 
retook Rome, which opposed but a feeble re- 
sistance. 

Eleventh Siege, a.d. 1084. — "The long 
quarrel of the throne and mitre had been 
recently kindled by the zeal and ambition 
of the haughty Gregory VII. Henry III., 
King of Germany and Italy, and afterward 
emperor of the West, and the pope had 
degraded each other ; and each had seated 
a rival on the temporal or spiritual throne of 
his antagonist. After the defeat and death 
of his Swabian rebel, Henry descended into 
Italy to assume the imperial crown, and to 
drive from the Vatican the tyrant of the 
Church. But the Roman people adhered to 
the cause of Gregory : their resolution wag 
fortified by supphes of men and money from 



ROME. 



541 



Apulia ; and the city was thrice inefifectually 
besieged by the King of Germany. In the 
fourth year he corrupted, it is said, with 
Byzantine gold, the nobles of Rome. The 
gates, the bridges, and fifty hostages were 
deUvered into his hands; the anti-pope, 
Clement III., was consecrated in the Late- 
ran ; the grateful pontiff crowned his protec- 
tor in the Vatican, and the emperor fixed liis 
residence in the Capitol, as the successor of 
Augustus and Charlemagne. The ruins of 
the Sceptigonium were still defended by the 
nephew of Gregory ; the pope himself was 
invested in the castle of St. Angelo, and his 
last hope was in the courage and fidelity of 
his Norman vassal. Their friendship had 
been interrupted by some reciprocal injuries 
and complaints ; but on this pressing occasion, 
Guiscard was urged by the obhgation of his 
oath, by his interest — more potent than 
oaths — by the love of fame, and his enmity 
to the two emperors. Unfurling the holy 
banner, he resolved to fly to the relief of the 
prince of the apostles ; the most numerous 
of his armies, 30,000 foot and C,000 horse, 
was instantly assembled, and his march from 
Salerno to Rome was animated by the public 
applause and the promise of the divine favor. 
Henry, invincible in 66 battles, trembled at his 
approach; recollecting some indispensable 
affairs that required his presence in Lom- 
bardy, he exhorted the Romans to persevere 
in their allegiance, and hastily retired, three 
days before the entrance of the Normans. In 
less than three years, the son of Tancred of 
Hauteville enjoyed the glory of delivering the 
pope, and of compelling the two emperors of 
the East and West to fly before his victorious 
arms. But the triumph of Robert was clouded 
by the calamities of Rome. By the aid of the 
friends of Gregory, the walls had been per- 
forated or scaled, but the imperial faction 
was still powerful and active ; on the third 
day the people rose in a furious tumult, and 
a hasty word of the conqueror, in his defense 
or revenge, was tlie signal of fire and pillage. 
The Saracens of Sicily, the subjects of Roger, 
and the auxiUaries of his brother, embraced 
this fair occasion of rifling and profaning 
the holy city of the Christians ; and many 
thousands of the citizens, in the sight and by 
the alUes of their spiritual father, were ex- 
posed to violation, captivity, or death ; and a 
spacious quarter of the city, from the Lateran 
to the Colosseum, was consumed by the 
flames, and devoted to perpetual solitude."* 

Twelfth Siege, a.d. 1527. — The emperor 
Charles V., irritated against the pope, Cle- 
ment VII., liis mortal enemy, charged the 
Duke of Bourbon, in 1527, to seek every 
means in his power to avenge him upon the 
pontiff. The duke was a renegade French- 

• Gibbon. 



man, of considerable military skill, and a 
restless disposition. He had quarreled with 
his master, Francis I., and was deemed of so 
much consequence as to be countenanced by 
Francis's rival, Charles V., and to be intrusted 
with the highest mihtary command he could 
confer. The duke was at the head of 14,000 
men, who loved and adored him, and who 
swore, BrantOme says, " to folloAV him wher- 
ever he went, were it to the devil." Fol- 
lowed by these troops, he marched toward 
Rome, and immediately laid siege to it. The 
soldiers, animated by the desire of pillage, 
mounted to the assault with incredible en- 
ergy, Bourbon encouraging them by his ex- 
ample. But as tliis prince, with characteristic 
ambition, was endeavoring to be the first upon 
the ramparts, he was killed by a musket-shot. 
The fall of the general, so far from relaxing 
the valor of his soldiers, excited their ven- 
geance ; they rushed more fiercely to the 
assault of the walls, they mowed down their 
defenders like grass, quickly made themselves 
masters of Rome, and committed the most 
frightful ravages. 

This superb city, taken so many times by 
the barbarians, was never pillaged with more 
fury than it was by the hands of Christians. 
The pope took refuge in the castle of St An- 
gelo, and was besieged with such rancor, 
that a woman was hung for passing up to 
him a basket of lettuce by a cord suspended 
from the castle. Cardinal Pulci, who was 
shut up with the pope, made an attempt to 
escape, which cost liim his Hfe. He had 
scarcely left the castle when he fell from his 
horse ; liis foot hung in the stirrup, and the 
animal dragged liim at speed over the bridge 
of the castle. After being blockaded for a 
month, and reduced to great want of pro- 
visions, the pope was forced to capitulate 
with the Prince of Orange, who had succeeded 
the Duke of Bourbon in the command of the 
imperial troops. He agreed to pay 400,000 
ducats, and to place himself at the disposal 
of the emperor. Charles V. affected regret 
at the detention of the pontiff. 

Eight days before this event, a man dressed 
as a hermit, of ab6ut sixty years of age, went 
through the streets of Rome, about midnight, 
sounding a handbell, and pronouncing with a 
loud voice the following words : " The anger 
of God will soon fall upon this city!" The 
pope obtained nothing fi-om the examination 
he made of this man ; the severest tortures 
could draw no more from him than tliis ter- 
rifying oracle : " The anger of God will soon 
fall upon this city !" When the Prince of 
Orange became master of the city, he lib- 
erated him from prison, and offered him a 
considerable sum of money. He, however, 
refused reward, three days after disappeared, 
and was never again heard of. 



542 



ROME. 



The imperial army left Rome, loaded with 
a booty of more than 18,000,000 of crowns, 
every private soldier having an immense sum. 
The obsequies of the Duke of Bourbon Avere 
celebrated with great pomp, and his body 
was conveyed to Gaeta. 

Thirteenth Siege, a.d. 1796-1799. — The 
temporal power of the popes had long ceased 
to be an object of jealousy for Christian 
princes ; the small extent of their states, the 
respect which was entertained for their min- 
istry, and their abstinence from military en- 
terprises, preserved peace in a city which had 
formerly, and for many centuries, made the 
world tremble with the terror of its arms. 
Louis XIV. and Louis XV. had satisfied them- 
selves with seizing tlie Venaissian county, to 
punish the popes for some aSronts oflered to 
their crowns ; and the pontiffs, conscious of 
their weakness, had acknowledged their er- 
rors and disavowed the acts of their minis- 
ters. But it was not thus when the French 
Revolution broke out. Pius VI., irritated at 
seeing at once both his annates and the Ven- 
aissian county wrested from his hands, en- 
tered into the league of the kings against 
France. In no city were the French more 
hated than in Rome. Basseville, the French 
envoy, was massacred in a riot, which the 
government of the pope had allowed to be 
got up with more than suspected negligence. 
The troops of the pope were preparing to 
unite themselves with those of the other 
powers of Italy, when Bonaparte was seen 
to enter that country, in 1796, as a conquer- 
or. His victories seemed to foretell the de- 
struction of the Holy See. Republican en- 
thusiasm was awakened on the banks of the 
Tiber ; nothing was talked of but rebuilding 
the Capitol, and founding a new Roman re- 
public. 

The French general had conquered the 
duchy of Urbino, Romagna, and the march 
of Ancona. The terrified pope sued for 
peace ; Bonaparte granted him at first a truce 
and then a peace. The pope yielded to the 
republic the legations of Bologna and Ferrara, 
which the French had already conquered, and 
all the shores of the Adriatic gulf, from the 
mouths of the Po to Ancona. A month 
after the pope weakly allowed some of his 
subjects to take up arms, in consequence of a 
supposed reverse suffered by Bonaparte. The 
latter contented himself with chastising some 
villages of Ferrara, which had excited the 
revolt. A third time Bonaparte pardoned 
him, and the pardon was ratified by the 
French Directory ; Joseph Bonaparte was 
appointed embassador to Rome. Party spirit 
was however, too strong ; the apparent mod- 
eration of the French could not bring the 
court of Rome to pacific sentiments. Its 
hatred against France was kept alive by the 



Queen of Naples, who threw open the ports 
of the Mediterranean to the English. In ad- 
dition to this, a long hesitation to acknowl- 
edge the Cisalpine republic ; then the nomi- 
nation of General Provera to command the 
army of the pope, and a course of proceed- 
ings which announced tlie intention, but 
wliich did not give the means, of entering 
into a fresh war ; the French embassador 
forced the pope to declare himself in a posi- 
tive manner. Every thing seemed appeased ; 
there was a calm ; but it was such a one as 
precedes the eruption of a volcano. On the 
28th of December, 1797, a fresh seditious 
movement broke out in Rome. Some men 
assembled round the house of the embassador, 
uttering revolutionary cries. Scarcely had 
they preluded by a few acts of apparent in- 
surrection, when the troops of the pope came 
up, dispersed the rioters, and pursued them 
into the palace of the embassador, whither 
their fear had driven them. Joseph Bona- 
parte insisted on his residence being respect- 
ed, and promised to give up the guilty ; but 
he was answered by a shower of balls, by 
which his windows were broken to pieces. 
He interposed everywhere between those 
who struck and those who were stricken. 
One of his friends, the Adjutant-general Du- 
phot, who was to have married his sister-in- 
law the next day, was an object of his great- 
est care ; but he was assassinated close to his 
side ; his inanimate body was stabbed by the 
ruffians in a hundred places ; the French had 
great difiiculty in rescuing it from the hands 
of these furious men. The court of Rome of- 
ered the French embassador all kinds of repar- 
ation ; but the latter thought it not prudent 
or dignified to remain longer in a palace which 
had been so shamefully violated, where he 
and his whole family had been insulted, and 
whose floors were still stained with the blood 
of his friend. Cardinal Doria in vain had 
recourse to the Spanish ambassador to paci- 
fy him ; the whole French legation quitted 
Rome. The Consistory believed, in this 
peril, that the court of Naples would keep its 
word, and would hasten to send its promised 
succors ; but it received nothing but an ex- 
cuse, to amuse or appease the French gov- 
ernment, till the Neapolitan army was 
on its march. The Directory, however was 
inflexible ; a month had scarcely passed away 
when a French army, led by General Alex- 
ander Berthier, was at the gates of Rome, and 
had taken possession of the castle of St. An- 
gelo. On the 17th of February, 1798, the an- 
niversary of the pope's election, an insurrection 
broke out in the capital. His palace was in- 
vested, but respect checked the insurgents at 
the entrance. They met with resistance no- 
where. They abstained from violence or insult 
toward the pope, but they declared Rome 



EOMORANTIN— EOUEK 



543 



free ; they claimed for themselves the honor of 
being of the blood of the Catos and Scipios. 
A deputation arrived at the French camp ; 
General Berthier mounted the steps of the 
Capitol, and saluted a new Roman repubUc; 
but the Romans had no longer the virtues of 
their fathers ; nothing can bear less resem- 
blance to another than modern Romans do 
to ancient Romans. Consuls, tribunes, and 
popular laws were once more to be seen in 
Rome ; and their decrees wanted nothing 
but to be apphed to a people who entertained 
a love of the republic. Its reign was short 
and tempestuous. While Bonaparte was in 
Egypt, the King of Naples supposed the time 
most fit for an outbreak of the Italian states, 
to liberate themselves from the domination 
of the French. He marched at the head of 
70,000 Neapolitans, the real command of 
whom was intrusted to the Austrian general 
Mack, and entered the Roman territory. 
The French army which occupied it, only 
consisted of 16,000 men, disseminated over 
aU the points. Championnet, who command- 
ed them, thought it best to retire to upper 
Italy. The King of Sicily and General Mack 
entered Rome on the 25th of November, 
1798; Championnet gathered together his 
army and stood his ground. Mack, after 
several days of hesitation, ventured to attack 
him on . the other side of the Tiber. The 
French, though vastly inferior in numbers, 
repulsed the Neapolitans ; in three days they 
made 11,000 prisoners. Mack beheld his 
columns flying in the greatest disorder, and 
being unable to rally them, abandoned the 
capital of the Christian world, covered him- 
self with the Teverone, and was pursued by 
the French, who possessed themselves succes- 
sively of Capua and Naples. This occupation 
lasted but a short time ; the French under 
Scherer being beaten in upper Italy, aban- 
doned Naples and Rome, to defend them- 
selves against the Austrians and Russians. 
Ferdinand went back to Naples, and occu- 
pied Rome till it returned to its obedience to 
Pius VII. 

Rome has since that time been more than 
once humbled by the French ; but as nothing 
like a siege has taken place, the events of its 
further history do not fall within our plan. — 
Eobson's Great Sieges. 

ROMORANTIN, a.d. 1356. — However 
insignificant in itself, this siege commands a 
place in our record, as being the first in which 
cannon were employed. England's favorite 
hero, the Black Prince, having entered Sol- 
ogne with hostile intentions, laid siege to 
Romorantin. The English were repulsed in 
their first assault ; but were not disheartened. 
They continued their attacks, but still in vain, 
till some engineers advised an expeiiment to 
be made with the newly-discovered gxin- 



powder. They planted some batteries of 
cannon so as to enable them to throw into 
the place a number of inflammable missiles. 
By this means they set fire to some buildings 
in the lower court of the castle. The con- 
flagration soon extended to one of the tow- 
ers. The besieged were then constrained to 
surrender to the conqueror, and were made 
prisoners of war. This is the first time that 
mention is made in history of artillery being 
employed for besieging places. It was ten 
years after the battle of Crecy, at which, it 
is said, cannon were first used in the field. 

RONCESVALLES, a.d. 778.— In a gorge 
of the Pyrenees, on the frontier of Spain, in 
Navarre, stands the Httle village of Ronces- 
valles, which tradition says, witnessed in 
778, the defeat and destruction of the rear 
guard of Charlemagne the Great, on liis re- 
treat from Spain ; and the death of Roland 
the Brave, a celebrated hero of the romances 
of chivalry, and one of the knights of Char- 
lemagne, of whom it is represented he was 
a nephew. The troops of Charlemagne were 
attacked as they were passing through the 
pass of Roncesvalles, by the Saracens and 
the mountaineers (the Gascons), and were 
defeated with great slaughter. With Ro- 
land the flower of the Prankish chivalry fell. 
Roland has formed the theme of a multitude 
of romances. His adventures are contained 
in the fabulous chronicle of Turpin, and the 
old French romances relating to Charlemagne 
and his knights. The celebrated epics of 
Boiardo (Orlando Innamorato) and Ariasto, 
(Orlando Furioso), relate to him and his 
heroic deeds. 

RONCQ, A.D 1794.— In 1794 an engage- 
ment took place near Roncq in France, be- 
tween the French and the Austrians, in which 
the latter were defeated. 

RONDA, A.D. 1485. — Ronda, an ancient 
city of Spain, was the capital of the Moorish 
chief Aboo-MeUk, in the fourteenth century. 
It remained in the possession of the Moors 
until 1485, when Ferdinand, King of Spain, 
finally took it by an attack so sudden and 
unexpected, that the Moors made but Uttle 
resistance. 

ROSSBACH, A.D. 1757. — Rossbach, in 
Prussian Saxony, is celebrated in modern 
history, for being the scene of the victory 
gained on the 5th of November, 1757, by 
Frederic the Great, over the French and 
imperialists. The Prussians lost but few 
men, while the allies sufiered greatly. 

ROUEN, A.D. 1204.— Rouen, a city of 
France, has been besieged several times. In 
the ninth century it was taken and pillaged 
by the Normans, who made it their cnpital. 
After the Norman conquest it became at- 
tached to the crown of England. In 1203, 
Prince Arthur of Brittany, was put to death 



544 



SAALFELD— SACKETT'S HARBOR. 



by John, King of England, and in 1204 In 1417 it was retaken by the English, 
Philip Augustus, to avenge the death of i who finally lost it in 1449, eighteen years 
Prince Arthur, laid siege to Roueu and took after they had disgraced themselves by then- 
the city. 1 inhuman sacrifice of Joan of Arc. 



SAALFELD, a.d. 1806.— Saalfeld, a town 
of central Germany, is memorable for the 
battle fought m its vicmity on the 10th of 
October, 1806, between the repubhcan army 
of France, and the Prussians. 

The republican army was commanded by 
Lannes and Augereau, and numbered some 
25,000 men. The Prussian forces, with 
Prince Louis Frederic at their head, consist- 
ed of only eleven battalions, eig^iteen squad- 
rons of hussars, and eighteen pieces of cannon. 
Not expecting any attack from the enemy, 
he had neglected to concentrate his troops, 
and now was obhged to contend with a far 
superior force. Launes had disposed his 
army on the heights near Saalfeld, and had 
raised their enthusiasm to the highest degree 
by reading to them a proclamation from 
Napoleon. Prince Louis was stationed at 
Rudolstadt, to cover the cross march of 
Prince Hohenlohe, who was striving to reach 
the point of rendezvous assigned him by his 
commander-in-chief. Notwithstandmg every 
thing seemed to conspire against the prince, 
he resolved to hold firm during the day, in 
order to gain time for the evacuation of the 
magazines which were collected close in his 
rear at Saalfeld. The increasing numbers of 
the French army around him — the turning 
of his riglit flank by Suchet, with a powerful 
body of light troops, which rendered his po- 
sition no longer tenable, did not drive him 
from the ground ; and when the attack com- 
menced, the Prussians were entirely sur- 
rounded. Yet they made a gallant resistance, 
and thus enabled the artillery and chariots to 
leave Saalfeld in safety. When Prince Louis 
^returned from the town, he found his soldiers 
still on the ground, but fast dropping off, by 
the murderous fire of the French. The 
ravages of the enemy soon converted their 
retreat into a rout, and the prince himself, 
while fighting bravely with the rear guard, 
and trying to restore order, was surrounded 
by the hussars, who not knowing his rank, 
ordered him to surrender, or he would be a 
dead man. The answer was a blow from liis 
saber, which merely wounded liis adversary, 
who in an instant, inflicted a blow which 
laid the prince dead at his leet. In this en- 
counter the Prussians lost 1,200 prisoners, j 
besides 800 killed and wounded, and tliirty 
pieces of cannon, 

SACILE, A.D. 1809.— Sacile, in Austrian 



Italy, was, on the 16th of April, 1809, the 
scene of a battle between the Austrians under 
the Archduke John, and the French under 
Prince Eugene Beauharnais, in which, after a 
desperate struggle, the latter were defeated. 

SACKETT'S HARBOR, a.d. 1813.— This 
town is in Jefferson county. New York, and 
is situated on the shore of Black river bay, 
about eight miles east from Lake Ontario. 
It has one of the finest harbors on the lake ; 
which is divided by a tongue of land extend- 
ing from the lower part of the village into an 
outer and inner harbor. 

During the war of 1812, Sackett's Harbor 
was the principal naval establishment of the 
Americans on Lake Ontario. Yet by the 
greatest negligence this important place was 
protected by a garrison of only about 500 
men. These troops consisted of 250 dragoons, 
under Lieutenant-Colonel Backus; Lieuten- 
ant Fanuing's artillery, 200 invalid soldiers, 
and a few seamen. In the middle of May, 
the British made preparations to assail Sack- 
ett's Harbor by water and land. The British 
squadron under Sir James Yeo, having 1,000 
land troops under the command of Sir James 
Prevost, set sail from Kingston, and appeared 
off Sackett's Harbor on the 28th of May. 
The place was thrown into a state of intense 
excitement. Alarm-guns were fired, and the 
mihtia from the adjoining country was called 
in. General Brown assumed the command 
of the whole American force, which with the 
militia, amounted to nearly 1,000 effective 
men. A breastwork was hastily constructed 
on the only spot where the enemy could 
effect a landing, and the mihtia were posted 
behind it. The regulars were stationed in a 
line near the barracks, and pubUc buildings ; 
Lieutenant Chauncey with his men defended 
the stores at Navy Point, and Fanning with 
the artillery occupied the fortress. At day- 
break on the 29th, the British troops em- 
barked in boats, and advanced rapidly toward 
the shore. Brown ordered the mihtia to 
reserve their fire till the boats were within 
pistol shot. The silence was unbroken, save 
by the monotonous sound of the oars, as the 
British boats advanced. They arrived within 
a proper distance, and the Americans poured 
forth a volley of musketry upon them, which 
checked their advance. The British returned 
the fire from their boats ; the American 
mihtia were seized with a panic, and broke 



SIGAN— SAGUNTUM. 



545 



and fled in disorder. General Brown suc- 
ceeded in rallying about ninety of the fugitives, 
and posted tliem on a line with the regulars. 
And this line, only 600 strong, was about to 
contend with a force of 1,000 of the most 
experienced troops of England. The British 
having landed, advanced in good order 
toward the enemy. A warm conflict ensued. 
The Americans gradually gave way before 
the superior force of the enemy, contesting 
every inch of soil. At length, tliey threw 
themselves into the barracks, and protected 
by its walls, poured forth an incessant and 
destructive fire upon the assailants. The 
British replied with equal vigor, and seemed 
on the point of a victory, when Brown suc- 
ceeded in rallying the fugitive miUtia, and led 
them by a circuitous route along the edge of 
the forest, as if intending to seize the boats 
and 'cut of the retreat of the British. Tliis 
stratagem produced the desu-ed efl'ect; and 
the assailants rushed for their boats, leaving 
their dead and wounded behind. The fugi- 
tives regained their vessels, and the whole 
fleet withdrew to the Canadian shore. In 
tills engagement the Americans lost about 
100 in killed and wounded. Among the 
slain was Lieut. Col. Backus, and Lieutenant 
Fanning was severely wounded. The British 
lost about 450 men, killed and wounded. 

SAGAN, A.D. 1759.— In the year 1759, a 
battle was fought at Sagan, a town of Prussia, 
between the Prussians and the Russians, in 
which the former were defeated with a con- 
siderable loss. 

SAGUNTUM, B.C. 219.— Murviedro, a 
fortified city of Spain, occupies the site of the 
p,ncient city of Saguntum. The siege of Sa- 
guntum by Hannibal was a direct infringe- 
ment of the treaty made between the Romans 
and Carthaginians, which stipulated that the 
Carthaginians in their operations in Spain, 
should not pass the river Iberus, nor molest 
the city of Saguntum. The siege of Sagun- 
tum was the origin of the Second Punic War. 
Hannibal had been reared by liis father Ham- 
ilcar in the hatred of the Romans, and he 
had already formed a design for the invasion 
of Italy, in the hope of overthrowing the 
mighty rival of Carthage ; and that he might 
not leave to the Romans a place of arms, and 
a powerful ally in Spain, after he had left 
that country, determined to occupy or de- 
stroy Saguntum. 

The Saguntines had sent a deputation to 
Rome, asking aid against the Carthaginians ; 
and the Romans paid no further regard to 
the representatives, than to send deputies 
into Spain wth orders to observe the pos- 
ture of affairs, and to inform the Carthaginian 
general, of the terms of the treaty. The 
answer which was given to these commis- 
sioners gave sufficient evidence of an ap- 

35 



proaching war ; and it appears that, before 
the Roman commissioners could have made 
their report, the siege of Saguntum had actu- 
ally been commenced by Hannibal. 

The Carthaginian general was anxious to 
reduce Saguntum before any succors could 
arrive from Italy, or before any force could 
be collected against him, so as to fix the 
theater of the war in Spain. He pressed 
the siege, therefore, with great impetuosity, 
exposing his person in every assault, and ex- 
citing by his own example, with the pickaxe 
and spade, the parties at work in making his 
approaches. Though abundantly cautious not 
to expose himself on shght occasions, or from 
a mere ostentation of courage, yet in this 
siege, which was the foundation of his hopes, 
and the necessary prelude to the further 
progress of his enterprise, he declined no 
fatigues, and shunned no danger. The valor 
of the besieged, however, who exerted their 
every efforts to prolong the siege, in hopes of 
relief from Rome, detained the besiegers 
about eight months before Saguntum ; and 
was at last deprived of great part of its spoils 
by the desperate resolution of the citizens, 
who chose rather to perish, with all their 
effects, rather than fall into the enemy's hands. 
The booty, however, which he saved from 
this wreck, enabled him by his hbcralities, to 
gain the affection of his army, and to provide 
lor the execution of liis design against Italy. 

War was now declared between Rome 
and Carthage, and Hannibal having made his 
dispositions for the safety of Africa and Spain, 
prepared for the execution of his favorite 
scheme, the invasion of Italy. He was in 
his twenty-eighth year when he entered upon 
this arduous and dangerous undertaking ; an 
undertaking which, with the conduct of it, 
has raised his reputation for enterprise and 
ability to an equal, if not a higher pitch, than 
that of any other military leader. The Ro- 
mans, a few years before, had raised an army 
of nearly 800,000 men, experienced soldiers, 
who were ready to assemble in any numbers, 
for any service ; the march from Spain into 
Italy lay across tremendous mountains, and 
through the territories of fierce and barbar- 
ous nations ; and in all things his path was 
beset with impediments such as few generals 
have surmounted. 

He collected for this expedition 90,000 
foot, and 12,000 horse. In his march to the 
Iberus, he met with no interruption. Thence 
to the Pyrenees, being opposed by the natives, 
he forced his way through their country ; but 
being apprehensive of some inconvenience 
from such an enemy in his rear, he stationed 
Hanno, his brother, with 10,000 horse, and 
1,000 foot, to observe their motions and keep 
them in awe, and this added to the desertion 
of some of his allies, and losses in combats 



546 



SAGUNTUM. 



with the barbarians, reduced his force to 
50,000 foot and 9,000 horse, with thirty- 
seven elephants. 

This celebrated march took place 219 
years before Christ: in the year of Rome, 
534, and in the consulate of Publius Cornelius 
Scipio, and Tiberius Sempronius Longus. 
The Romans, as usual on such occasions, 
raised two consular armies, and proposed, by 
immediate armaments directed to Spain and 
Africa, to fix the scene of war in the enemy's 
country. 

Sempronius assembled an army and a 
fleet in the ports of Sicily, and had orders to 
pass into Africa. Scipio embarked with 
some legions for Spain, and, touching on the 
coast of Gaul, first learned that a Cartha- 
ginian army was marching by land into Italy. 
Tliis inteUigence determined him to land his 
troops at Marseilles, and to send out a de- 
tachment of horse to observe the country, 
and to procure further and more particular 
information of the enemy. 

Hannibal had arrived on the Rhone at 
some distance above its separation into two 
channels, and about four days' march from 
the sea. In order to effect the passage of 
the river, he instantly collected all the boats 
that could be found on its extensive naviga- 
tion. At the same time, the natives assem- 
bled in great numbers to dispute his passage. 
This caused a delay in crossing the river, but 
finally he succeeded in passing a body of 
troops to the opposite side, further up the 
river, who got in the rear of the Gaulish 
forces. The Gauls, attacked in front by 
Hannibal, and in the rear by the Cartha- 
ginian detachment, gave way without resist- 
ance, and were speedily routed. Hannibal, 
having thus lodged himself on the eastern 
banks of the Rhone, in a few days, without 
further interruption, passed the river with his 
elephants, baggage, and the remainder of liis 
army. 

Shortly afterward, Hannibal received in- 
formation that a Roman army had arrived 
on the coast, and was disembarked at Mar- 
seilles. To gain further and more certain infor- 
mation of this enemy, he, nearly at the same 
time that Scipio had sent a detachment with 
the same intention, directed a party of horse 
to scour the country. These parties encoun- 
tered each other, and after a smart engage- 
ment, returned to their respective armies, 
with certain accounts of the vicinity of an 
enemy. 

Scipio hastened his march, anxious to fix 
the scene of the war in Gaul ; and Hannibal, 
equally intent on removing, it if possible, in- 
to Italy, advanced with the utmost dispatch. 
In order to keep clear of the enemy, Hanni- 
bal directed his march at a distance from the 
sea-coast, and took his march along the bank 



of the Rhone. After marching four days 
from the place where he had passed the river, 
he came to its confluence with another wliich 
was probably the Isere. Here he found two 
brothers contending for the throne of their 
father, and gained a useful ally by espousing 
the cause of the elder. Being, in return for 
this service, supplied with arms, shoes, and 
other necessaries, and attended by the prince 
himself, who, with a numerous body, covered 
Ids rear, he continued liis march during ten 
days, probably on the Isere ; and about a 
hundred miles above the place where he had 
crossed the Rhone, began to make his way 
over the summit of the Alps, a labor which 
consumed fifteen days. 

Harassed by the natives, who had occupied 
every post which could obstruct his march, 
and who assailed Mm fi-om the heights, en- 
deavoring to overwhelm his men in the 
gorges of the mountains, or to force them 
over the precipices, Hannibal gradually 
forced his way up toward the summit, tun- 
neling such precipices as could not be sur- 
mounted, and hewing a path for his army 
with its train of elephant^, with a persever- 
ance and skill which has cast a halo of re- 
nown around his name. 

Near to the summit of the ridge, at which 
he finally arrived by a continual ascent of 
many days, he had his way to form on the 
sides of frozen mountains, and through masses 
of perennial ice, which were covered with 
snow. Many of his men and horses, coming 
from a warm chmate, perished by the cold, 
and his army, having struggled during so 
long a time with extremes, to wMch it was 
httle accustomed, was reduced, when he de- 
scended the Pyrenees, to 20,000 foot and 
6,000 horse. 

The Roman consul, meanwhile, had, in 
search of his enemy, directed liis march to 
the Rhone. Arriving at the point where 
Hannibal had crossed that river, he became 
satisfied that any further attempt to pursue 
him in tliis direction would only carry him- 
self away from what was to be the scene of 
the war, and from the ground he must occu- 
py in tlie defense of Italy. He, therefore, 
without loss of time, returned to his ships, 
sent his brother Cneius Scipio into Spain, 
with a greater part of the army, and he him- 
self set sail for Pisa, where he landed, and 
put himself at the head of the legions which 
he found in that quarter. With these forces 
he passed the Po, and arrived at the Ticinus, 
when Hannibal came down into the plain 
country, at some distance below Turin. 

We have thus given, under the head of the 
siege with which the third Punic war com- 
menced, abrief description of the most arduous 
march ever undertaken by a military comman- 
der. The battles of the Trebia, Thrasymenus, 



ST. ALBANS. 



547 



and finally the memorable conflict of Nero and 
Asdrubal followed ; and Hannibal, after suc- 
cessfully contending with almost insurmount- 
able difficulties, and having kept his footing 
in Italy for more than fifteen years, was 
finally recalled to Africa, where his brilliant 
career was closed in his unfortunate battle 
with the army of Scipio at Zama. 

Murviedro, the ancient Saguntum, is a 
fortress built upon the summit of a steep and 
rocky hill, at the bottom of which stands 
the modern town of Murviedro. The waters 
of the Mediterranean, in the days of Han- 
nibal, approached to within a mile of its 
eastern walls ; but at present they are five 
miles distant, a proof how much the sea has 
retired along that coast in the interval. 
Many remains of its former grandeur are 
still to be found by the curious antiquary, al- 
though its greatness has so much declined 
tliat the modern city contains but 6,000 in- 
habitants, and occupies only a corner of the 
ample circuit of the ancient walls. The mod- 
ern fortress, which bears the name of San 
Fernando de Saguntum, stands on the sum- 
mit of a mountain, round the base of which 
the ancient city was clustered, and consisted, 
when it was besieged by the French in 1811, 
of two redoubts, armed with seventeen pieces 
of cannon. The fortress was occupied by 
a Spanish garrison of 3,000 men. On the 
28th of September, 1811, the French troops 
under Marshal Suchet took possession of the 
town of Murviedro, without resistance, and 
immediately invested the fortress. The 
French engineers, by means of their tele- 
scopes, discovered two old breaches in the 
walls, which were as yet only barricaded 
with wood, though the Spanish governor, 
Adrian, was endeavoring to erect a curtain 
of masonry behind them. Before this could 
be completed however, the French made a 
sudden assault ; but they were received with 
such a spirited resistance that they were 
obliged to retire. Suchet now saw the ne- 
cessity of making approaches in form. To 
do this it was necessary to reduce the little 
fort of Oropesa, which commanded in a nar- 
now defile, the road by which alone artillery 
could be brought up from the great French 
arsenal at Tortosa. It was attacked, accord- 
ingly, and taken on the 11th of October by a 
Neapolitan division. 

Suchet, meanwhile, marched against and 
defeated a considerable body of guerillas 
under Don Carlos O'Donnell, which had as- 
sembled in his rear ; and, having brought up 
the heavy stores and cannon from Tortosa, 
the siege of Saguntum was renewed with 
vigor. A practicable breach having been 
made in the walls, a second assault was made 
on the 18th of October. But the French 
were again repulsed. 



General Blake, commander of the Spanish 
forces in Valencia, was determined to save 
Saguntum, if possible. He accordingly made 
preparations for battle, and with an army of 
22,000 foot, 2,500 horse, and tliirty-six guns, 
set out from the city of Valencia on the 
evening of the 24th of October, and marched 
directly for the French position, under the 
walls of Saguntum. Suchet, on receiving 
intelligence of this movement, resolved to 
march out to meet the enemy laefore he ar- 
rived at the ground where he designed to 
give battle. With this intention the French 
general withdrew from the siege about 10,000 
men, with thirty guns, and took up a 
position in a pass about three miles broad, 
which extends fi'om the heights of Vale de 
Jesus, and Sancti Spiritus, to the sea, and 
through which the Spaniards were obliged to 
pass in approaching Saguntum from Valencia. 

At eight o'clock on tlie following morning. 
General Blake attacked the French army at 
all points. The French, confident of victory, 
received the enemy with cool valor ; and 
finally, after a brief struggle, the Spaniards 
were utterly defeated. General Blake see- 
ing the day lost, returned toward Valencia ; 
and Suchet, after assuring himself of his vic- 
tory, returned to Saguntum. On the same 
day of the battle, the garrison of Saguntum 
capitulated. They had lost in the siege 500 
men. This important victory gave the 
French general a firm footing in the kingdom 
of Valencia. He was master of an intrenched 
camp, with a fortified town inclosed within 
its limits, and the sea and harbor gave him 
unlimited means of obtaining reinforcements 
and supphes. 

In the battle of Saguntum the army of 
General Blake lost 3,500 men killed, wound- 
ed, and taken prisoners. Suchet lost nearly. 
1,000 men. The siege of Saguntum was 
speedily followed by the siege and fall of the 
city of Valencia, and the complete subjuga- 
tion, by the French, of the whole province. 

ST. ALBANS, a.d. 14^5.— The first battle 
of St. Albans, in England, was fought be- 
tween the Yorkists, under the Duke of York, 
and the Lancasterians, under King Henry 
VI., on the 22d of May, 1455 ; and resulted 
in the defeat of the latter with the loss of 
about eighty men. Henry was wounded in 
the neck, the Duke of Buckingham in tlie 
face, the Earl of Stafford in the arm — all of 
them with arrows. The battle seems to have 
been won by the archers of tiie Yorkists. 
The Duke of Somerset, the Earl of Northum- 
berland, and the Lord Cliftbrd, were slain, 
and as soon as they fell, their men threw 
down their arms and fled. Henry VI. was 
made prisoner. 

The second battle of St. Albans was fought 
on the 17th of February, 1461, between the 



548 



ST. DIZIER— ST. JACOB. 



Yorkists, under the Earl of Warwick, and 
the Lancasterians, under Queen Margaret. 
The Yorkists were totally defeated with great 
loss. Tliere fell on both sides, in this battle, 
about 2,000 men. By this victory the Lan- 
casteriaus released Henry VI. from the hands 
of the Yorkists, the latter being obUged to 
abandon their royal prisoner in their flight. 

ST. DIZIER. — St. Dizier, a town of 
France, on the Marne, was in the year 
154:4 besieged by the Emperor Charles 
v., of France ; and on the 27th of June, 
1814, a battle was fought near this place be- 
tween the French army and the allies, in 
which the latter were signally defeated. 

SAINT-FLORENT, a.d. 1793. — Saint- 
Florent, a fortified sea-port town of Corsica, 
was besieged in 1793 by the British. The 
French garrison made a long and obstinate 
resistance; but, after a long and arduous 
siege, it was finally taken by the besiegers. 

SAINT JACOB, A.D. 1444.— A civil war 
desolated Switzerland in the year 1444 ; the 
tie which held the Helvetian repubhc to- 
gether seemed about to be broken; Zurich 
saw at the feet of her walls the troops of 
seven cantons. Suddenly an immense army 
of foreigners, commanded by the Daupliiu of 
France, afterward Louis XL, made its ap- 
pearance on the frontiers of the country, and 
besieged the city of Basle. Menaced by 
these troops, greedy for blood and carnage, 
the citizens, in haste, informed the nearest 
troops of the confederacy of it, and demanded 
prompt assistance, and recalled within its 
walls 150 volunteers from Waldenbourg and 
Liestal, wliich Seevogel had conducted to the 
siege of Farnsbourg. From 4,000 Swiss who 
were besieging that castle, defended by a nu- 
merous nobility, 1,200 were detached under 
the command of officers from every canton, 
who received an order to drive back the 
French army and enter Basle. They were 
of the bravest of the httlc army wliich en- 
compassed Farnsbourg. Though by no 
means ignorant of tlie peril that awaited 
them, tliey marched with the same buoyancy 
as if going to certain triumph. On the way, 
they met two monks of Neuchatel, who en- 
deavored to represent to them the folly of so 
small a company pretending to oppose such 
an immense army as that of the Dauphin's : 
but one of the knights of the party, Avho by 
his grave and noble carriage appeared to 
have authority, responded : " If it must be 
so, and if we are unable to force a passage 
through their ranks, we will give our souls to 
God and our bodies to the enemy." After 
this energetic response, the two monks con- 
tinued their route so much the more grieved 
to leave this joyous and lively band (as they 
called it), to run to their death, as they per- 
ceived among them 50 of their fellow-citizens 



of Neuchatel, under command of the knight, 
Albert de Fessot. These brave soldiers had 
not forgotten that one of the articles of the 
Convention of Sempach bore this clause — 
" that every Swiss shall sacrifice, if necessary, 
his life to his country," and that the chiefs had 
but lately renewed that obUgation at Zug, in 
the name of all. At break of day, near the 
village of Prattelen, this httle troop, already 
fatigued by a rapid march of three hours, met 
the Count of Dammartin with 8,000 horse. 
Neither that chief nor his brave officers could 
prevent his troops from abandoning the field 
of battle ; they retreated toward Muttenz 
upon another body of 10,000 men. Then 
commenced a second battle, longer and more 
obstinate than the first, but much more glo- 
rious for the Swiss, whose strength and cour- 
age seemed to increase with the danger, and 
who attacked the enemy without waiting for 
the orders of their chiefs, or for a moment's 
repose. Disconcerted by this intrepidity, the 
French, who were broken at every point 
where they resisted, and forced to recross the 
river Birs, thought themselves only safe when 
in their own camp and under the eyes of the 
Dauphin, who could scarcely beheve that his 
men had fled, much less that the number of 
the victors was so small. Here, content with 
his first efforts, would the soldier halt who 
battled for a tyrant; but the Swiss who 
fights for his country, his home, and his laws, 
tliinks that the justness of his cause insures 
to him the event, and looks forward either to 
a complete victory or a glorious death. In 
vain did the chiefs of these warriors endeavor 
to stop them on the banks of the river ; in 
vain did a messenger from Basle represent to 
them that an entrance into the city was im- 
possible ; their fiery courage brooked neither 
order nor counsel ; though they had left 200 
of their companions, dead or dying on the 
field of battle, and not fearing 40,000 of the 
enemy who awaited their approach on the 
opposite side of the river, they compelled 
their officers to place themselves at their head, 
and marched toward the bridge of Saint 
Jacob, wliich was defended by a battery 
and 8,000 men. Neither this corps, although 
continually reinforced by fresh troops, nor the 
artillery which thundered upon them, and 
against which they could oppose only their 
bodies and their pikes, compelled them to 
flight. With the hope, however, of obtain- 
ing a more ready passage, they threw them- 
selves into the Birs, forded it with a rapidity 
irresistible, and covered with wounds, weak- 
ened by hunger and fatigue, and drenched 
with water, reached the opposite shore, which 
soon became the scene of their exploits. The 
Dauphin, accustomed to conquer, could scarce 
credit what he saw — a handful of men at- 
tacking an army with the same ardor as if 



ST. SEBASTIAN. 



549 



they were equally matched. He caused 
them to be attacked upon all sides, and 
charged them himself at the head of a col- 
umn, and, after having seen some of liis brav- 
est officers fall at his side, he succeeded in 
dividing the Swiss into two bodies Five hun- 
dred of these brave heroes, carrying all be- 
fore them, and gaining the side of Basle, 
threw themselves into the hospital of Saint 
Jaques, whose high walls seemed to promise 
a longer and more useful defense. The other 
half found themselves inclosed in a httle isl- 
and in the Birs : there, pierced with arrows, 
bruised by stones thrown upon them from 
the bridge, and thundered against by the ar- 
tillery, they dearly sold their hves. Accus- 
tomed to fight hand to hand, and being 
without the necessary arms to resist an en- 
emy who attacked them from a distance, 
some snatched the bows from the expii-ing 
Frenchmen, and threw them to their com- 
panions ; while others drew the reeking ar- 
rows from their wounds, and hurled tliem 
back to the enemy ; or, battle-axe in hand, 
contended for the bodies of their slaughtered 
brethren, took them upon their shoulders, 
and carried them in triumph into the middle 
of the island, as if they would not separate, 
dead or ahve. So long as the standard-bear- 
ers held" aloft their colors, the combat contin- 
ued with desperate fury; but when these 
could no more be seen, having fallen with 
those who carried them, then they felt their 
wounds, and falhng, covered their bodies with 
their cherished flags. The intrepid Kiclmaat- 
ter alone escaped ; he was found, two days 
after the battle, under a heap of his enemies, 
and pierced by seven wounds ; he, however, 
Mved and returned to liis canton, of which he 
was for a long time after the cliief magistrate. 
So, in the fields of Sicily, perished formerly 
400 Eomans, who devoted themselves to 
death in order to save the legions hemmed 
in by the Carthaginians, thus purchasing 
with their Uves a perpetual honor ; in hke 
manner, Cxcidus, who commanded them, 
alone remained of all liis companions, and 
showed by his glorious wounds the danger 
he had encountered, and the valor he had 
displayed. 

Having vanquished this half, the Daupliin 
ordered all his forces to attack the 500 con- 
federates who were in the hospital of Saint 
Jaques; the artillery was brought, and the 
walls overthrown ; Ughted torches were 
thrown upon the roof, and the Swiss soon 
found themselves surrounded by flames ; from 
the walls of Basle, the citizens saw the perils 
and the exploits of their friends ; 3,000 of 
them made an attempt to succor them, but 
meeting with a corps of 8,000 French, they 
prudently retired within the walls, thus leav- 
ing the Swiss exposed to an inevitable death. 



The small number of those who escaped the 
fire and falling walls, reassembled in the 
breach, and, at the moment when the sun 
shed his last ray over the scene of carnage, 
they fell upon the heaped bodies of the en- 
emy, much less vanquished than fatigued 
with vanquisliing. 

From Prattelen to St. Jacob, 1,200 Swiss 
and 9,000 French covered, with their corpses, 
the plains of the ancient Rawaques. 

Twelve men, who had been separated 
from their companions at the commencement 
of the battle, and who, notwithstanding their 
utmost efforts to rejoin their standard, re- 
turned to their country, but were treated as 
cowards, and dishonored as such, for having 
shamefully survived their comrades, and were 
scarce able to escape the punishment decreed 
by the fundamental laws of the country for 
all those who fled before their enemies, aban- 
doned their post, or deserted their flag. The 
battle was fought on tlie 16th of August, 
1444. 

ST. SEBASTIAN", a.d. 1813.— St. Sebas- 
tian in Spain has been besieged several times. 
It was taken by the French in 1719, and 
1794 and 1808, and was held by them until 
the memorable siege of the city by the En- 
ghsh in 1813. 

On the retreat of the French army after 
its defeat at Vittoria, Marshal Jourdan threw 
a garrison into St. Sebastian of between 
three and four thousand men, and the place 
was immediately afterward invested by the 
Spaniards. In the beginning of July, the 
fifth division of the army, with two Portu- 
guese brigades, making a force of from 9,000 
to 10,000 men, arrived before it from the 
siege, which was intrusted to Lieutenant- 
General Sir Thomas Graham. 

A proportion of artillery, consisting of 
twenty-four pounders, with 1,500 rounds of 
ammunition per gun, six eight-inch howitzers, 
with 1,000, and four ten-inch mortars, with 
500 rounds, and four sixty-eight pounders, 
with a proportion of shells, were in ships at 
Los Passages ; and with the army there were 
six eighteen-pounders : this quantity of ar- 
tillery was deemed adequate to the attack of 
the place. 

The town of St. Sebastian is built on a 
peninsula running nearly east and west ; the 
northern side being washed by the river 
Urumea, the southern by the sea. The front 
defenses, which cross the isthmus toward the 
land, are a double fine of works, with the 
usual counterscarp, covered way, and glacis ; 
but the works running lengthwise of the 
peninsula are only a single hue, and trusting 
to the water in their front to render them in- 
accessible, they are built without any cover ; 
and the northern line is quite exposed, from 
the top to the bottom, to a range of hills on 



650 



ST SEBASTIAN. 



the right bank of the river, at a distance of 
six or seven hundred yards from it. These 
walls being uncovered, appears an unaccount- 
able oversight, as the Urumea, for some hours 
before and after low water, is fordable, and 
the tide recedes so much, that for some pe- 
riod there is a considerable dry space along 
the left bank of the river, by which troops 
can march to the foot of the wall. 

Marshal Berwick, when he attacked St. 
Sebastian in 1719, aware of this circum- 
stance, threw up batteries on those hills to 
break the town wall, and, while that was 
being effected, he pushed on approaches along 
the isthmus, and established himself on the 
covered way of the land front : as is but too 
frequently the case, as soon as the breach 
was practicable, the governor capitulated for 
the town, and the duke obUged him and the 
garrison to retire into the castle. It was now 
proposed to follow the same mode of attack, 
and as a preUminary, the garrison were to be 
driven from a post they occupied about seven 
or eight hundred yards in advance of the 
to-wn, formed by the convent of St. Bar- 
tholomeo and a redoubt then in progress; 
^nd from a small circular work, which they 
made with casks on the causeway, four eight- 
een-pounders and two howitzers were put in 
battery for that purpose. 

The operations against the town were 
commenced by the erection of batteries on 
the hills to tlie north of the Urumea, for 
twenty twenty-four-pounders, four eight-inch 
howitzers, four ten-inch mortars, and four 
sixty-eight pounder carronades ; the guns to 
breach the sea-wall between the two towers, 
the carronades to be used with shells only, and 
the mortars to be directed against the land 
front and castle. 

On the 14th of July, the first two bat- 
teries opened on the convent of St. Bar- 
tholomeo. 

15th of July. — A false attack was made on 
the convent of St Bartholomeo, to ascertain 
if the enemy intended obstinately to defend 
it, which the troops, carrying further than was 
ordered, they were obhged to retire with 
some loss. 

17 th of July. — The end of the convent 
having been entirely beaten down, the 9th 
regiment and a Portuguese brigade assaulted 
and carried it with little difficulty. 

Two more batteries for the eighteen- 
pounders and the two howitzers were thrown 
up in the night, in a situation to enfilade 
and take in reverse the defenses of the 
town. 

On the night of the 18th of July the sub- 
urbs' of St. Martin, which the enemy had 
burned, were occupied : they, however, con- 
tinued to hold the circular redoubt. 

Night between the 19th and 20th of July. 



— Approaches were struck out to the right 
and left of St. Martin. 

On the 20th of July all the batteries 
opened. 

In the night between the 20th and 21st of 
July, early in the evening, the enemy aban-, 
doned the circular redoubt : a working party 
of seven hundred men had been prepared to 
open a parallel across the istlimus, but the 
night proving extremely dark, temjjestuous, 
and rainy, the men dispersed among the ru- 
ined buildings of St. Martin, and not more 
than two hundred could be collected together ; 
therefore only about one third of the parallel 
and the right approach to it were opened. 

On the 21st of July, Sir Thomas Graham 
sent a flag of truce with a summons to the 
governor, but he would not receive it. 

In the night between the 21st and 22d of 
July, the left communication and the remain- 
der of the parallel across the isthmus were 
opened ; the parallel near its left crossed a 
drain level with the ground, four feet high 
and three feet wide, through which ran a pipe 
to convey water into the to^vn. Lieutenant 
Eeid ventured to explore it, and at the end 
of 230 yards, he found it closed by a door in 
the counterscarp, opposite to the face of the 
right demi-bastion of the hornwork ; as the 
ditch was narrow, it was thought that by 
forming a mine in this extremity of the drain, 
the explosion would throw earth sufficient 
against the escarpe, only twenty-four feet 
high, to form a road over it ; eight feet at the 
end of the aqueduct was therefore stopped 
with filled sand-bags, and thirty barrels of 
powder, of ninety pounds each, were lodged 
against it, and a saucissan led to the mouth 
of the drain. 

On the 23d of July the breach between 
the two towers, about 100 feet in length, be- 
ing considered practicable, the fii'e of all the 
guns was concentrated on a part of the wall 
to its left to effect a second breach and by 
evening, that also was considered practicable 
on a front of thirty feet. At the same time, 
the four ten-inch mortars and the sixty-eight- 
pounder carronades were turned on the de- 
fenses and on the houses in rear of the breacli, 
to prevent the enemy working to form an 
obstacle to them. 

The breaches were to have been stormed 
at daylight on the 24:th, at which time the 
tide was out, and the troops were formed in 
readiness ; but the houses at the back of the 
breach being on fire, it was supposed they 
would prevent the advance of the troops 
when they had gained the summit, and in 
consequence the order was countermanded. 

The next night a trench was opened in 
advance of the parallel, to contain a firing 
party on the hornwork, during the assault. 

The assault was ordered to take place at 



ST. SEBASTIAN. 



551 



daylight on the 25th; the storming party, 
about 2,000 men, were to assemble in the 
trenches, and the explosion of the mine was 
to be the signal to advance. 

The distance of the uncovered approach, 
from the Frenches to the breach, was about 
300 yards, in face of an extensive front of 
works, over very difficult ground, consisting 
of rocks covered with sea-weed, and inter- 
mediate pools of water ; the fire of the place 
was yet entire, and the breach was flanked 
by two towers, which, though considerably 
injured, were still occupied. 

At five A.M. the mine was sprung, and de- 
stroyed a considerable length of the counter- 
scarp and glacis, and created so much aston- 
ishment in the enemy posted on the works 
near to it, that they abandoned them for the 
moment, and the advance of the storming 
party reached the breach before any great 
fire was brought to bear on them : on their 
attempting to ascend the breach, the enemy 
opened so heavy a fire, and threw down such 
a number of shells, etc., from the towers on 
the flanks, and from the summit of the 
breaches, that the men began to waver, and 
in a short time the assaulting party had re- 
turned into the trenches, with the loss of 
nearly 100 killed, and 400 wounded. 

The advanced guard, with Lieutenant 
Jones, who led them, were made prisoners 
on the breach ; of the other engineers. Captain 
Lewis was severely wounded, and Lieutenant 
Machell was killed. Lieutenant^Coloncl Sii- 
R. Fletcher was wounded at the same time 
in the trenches. 

This assault does not appear to have failed 
from want of exertion, but from the fire of 
the place being left entire, and from the great 
distance at which the covered approaches 
were from the breach ; the troops were stated 
in the Gazette to have done their duty, but 
that it was beyond the power of gallantry to 
overcome the difficulties opposed to them. 

On this failure being reported to Lord 
Wellington, he came over from Lesaca, and 
decided upon renewing the same mode of 
attack, but on a much more extended scale, 
as soon as sufficient guns and ammunition 
should arrive from England ; the augmenta- 
tion to the attack was to extend the breach 
on the left to the saUent angle of the demi- 
bastion of the main front, and from batteries 
to be established on the left of the attack, to 
continue it round the whole of its face, and 
to the end of the high curtain above it. 

On the 27th of July, at seven a.m., the 
enemy made a sortie, to feel the guard of the 
trenches ; they surprised it, and entering the 
parallel at the left, swept it to the right, 
carrying into the place 200 prisoners. In 
consequence of this loss, the guard was con- 
centrated in a small portion of the left of the 



parallel, and the right of the trenches was 
only occasionally patrolled. 

On the 28th of July, Marshal Soult at- 
tacked Lord WeUington, in the hope of re- 
lieving Pampeluna, and the result of the ac- 
tion not being known to Sir Thomas Graham, 
he, on the 29th, embarked all the artillery 
and stores at Los Passages, ami sent the 
transports to sea; the siege was therefore 
converted into a blockade, the guard continu- 
ing to hold the trenches. 

August 3d, the enemy surprised a patrol 
in the parallel, and made it prisoners. 

On the 6th, the guns and stores were re- 
landed at Los Passages, and on the 18th the 
additional artillery and ammunition arrived 
from England. 

On the 24th, the entire of the trenches 
was again occupied, and the siege re-com- 
menced. 

On the left, two additional batteries for 
thirteen guns, to breach the face of the left 
demi-bastion and the curtain above it, at 700 
yards' distance, were commenced, and on the 
right, cover was begun for seven additional 
howitzers, four sixty-eight-pounder carron- 
ades, twenty-one twenty-four-pounders, and 
sixteen mortars, being forty-eight pieces of 
ordnance, in addition to the thirty-two put ia 
battery for the previous operation. 

At midnight the enemy made a sortie, en- 
tered the advanced part of the trenches, and 
carried confusion into the parallel ; in at- 
tempting, however, to sweep along its right, 
they were checked by a part of the guard of 
the trenches, and obhged to retire, carrying 
off" with them about twelve prisoners. 

At eight A.M. of the 26th of August, the 
batteries opened. On the isthmus, the thir- 
teen guns were directed to breach the left 
demi-bastion of the main front, and the end 
of the curtain in continuation of the old 
breach, and the face of the left demi-bastion 
of the hornwork, which were all seen in a 
line, one above the other. 

The fire of the batteries on the right was 
directed to breach the two towers, one on 
each flank of the old breach, and to continue 
that breach to the saUent angle of the demi- 
bastion, and to breach the end of the curtain 
above it. 

Two shafts were sunk to form galleries, to 
prevent the enemy mining under the advanced 
part of the trenches. In the night between 
the 26th and the 27th, the two last-erected 
batteries being at a long distance to breach, 
and not seeing the foot of the escarpes, cover 
was made for four of the guns in a preferable 
situation. 

A party of 200 men was landed this night 
on the high rocky island of Santa Clara, and 
made prisoners of the enemy's guard on it, 
consisting of an officer and twenty-four men. 



ST. SEBASTIAN. 



In the night between the 27th and 2Sth of 
August, theenemy made a sortie ; but, prof- 
iting by past experience, such precautions 
had been taken of posting sentinel, etc., and 
the men were so prepared to stand to their 
arms, that they were immediately repulsed, 
without efifecting the shghtest mischief. 

On the 29th of August a battery opened 
on the face of the demi-bastion of the main 
front ; the eighteen-pounders and the howit- 
zers were turned on the enemy's batteries, 
and several mortars and the carronades at 
the right attack were directed to the same 
object, and in the course of the day the 
enemy's fire was nearly subdued. It was 
afterward .ascertained that they lost many 
men, particularly by the spherical case-shot, 
which they endeavored to imitate, by firing 
common shells filled with small balls, and 
bursting them over the heads of the troops, 
but without any effect 

The breaches appearing good and practic- 
able on the 30th, it was deemed time to pre- 
pare the necessary debouches for the troops : 
at the advanced sap on the right, to break 
through the sea-wall, which was of masonry, 
four feet thick, and ten feet above the level 
of high water, three shafts were commenced, 
the first close at the back of the wall, the 
second twenty-five feet from tlie wall, and 
the third forty feet from the second : they 
were sunk eight feet below the surface of the 
ground, and a small return made to contain 
the powder; they were then each loaded 
with five hundred and forty pounds of pow- 
der. 

At two A.M. the next morning, the three 
mines were sprung, and blew the wall com- 
pletely dowm. The diameters of the enton- 
noirs were about thirty feet ; they were im- 
mediately coimected, and by ten a.m. formed 
a good passage out for troops, and accom- 
plished the original object of securing all the 
works in their rear from the effect of any 
galleries the enemy might have run out to 
form mines in that direction. At the time 
of low water, about eleven a.m., the columns 
for the assault moved out of the trenches by 
the openings in front of the battery, and m a 
few minutes after the advance of the forlorn 
hope, the enemy exploded two mines, which 
blew down part of the sea-Une wall ; but as 
the troops were not in very close order, nor 
very near the wall, the'ii loss was not great. 

From the ^lirador and Battery del Principe, 
on the castle, a fire of grape and shells was 
opened on the column, and continued during 
the time they were disputing the breach. 
The main curtain, even to the end breached, 
was strongly occupied by grenadiers, and 
the left branch of the homwork was well 
manned, and from thence a heavy fire was 
maintained on the breach, a great part of 



which was exposed to it ; but the tower of 
Amozquita, on the left of the breach, for- 
tunately for the besieged, was not manned. 

Up tJie end of the curtain, the breach was 
accessible quite to the terreplein ^ but the 
enemy's situation there was commanding, 
and tlie ascent was much exposed to the fire 
of the homwork. 

At the back of the whole of the rest of the 
breach was a perpendicular fall, from fifteen 
to twenty-five feet in depth, under which 
were the ruins of the houses which joined on 
to the back of the breach; and here and 
there was left an end wall of the houses, by 
which alone it was possible to descend. A 
line of retrenchment carried along the nearest 
standing parallel walls, was strongly occupied 
by the enemy, and which entirely swept the 
confined summit of the breach. 

The storming parties advanced to the 
breach, and there remained on the side of it 
without being able to cro\vn the top, from 
the heavy fire from the intrenched ruins 
within. Many desperate efforts were made 
to gain it, without effect, particularly up to 
the curtain ; but the enemy maintained that 
post firmly. Fresh troops were sent on suc- 
cessively, as fast as they could be filed out of 
the trenches, with laudable perseverance; 
and the Portuguese, in two detachments, 
forded the river Urmnea, near its mouth, in a 
very handsome style, imder a heavy fire of 
grape and musketry. 

The breach was now covered with troops 
remaining in the same unfavorable situation, 
and unable to gain the summit. Upward of 
two hours of continued exertion had elapsed, 
when, by a happy chance, a quantity of com- 
bustibles exploded within the breach, and 
the French began to waver ; the assailants 
made fresh efforts ; the raveUn and left branch 
of the homwork were abandoned by the 
enemy ; the retrenchment within the breach 
was soon after deserted by them ; and the 
men by degrees got over the ruins and gained 
the curtain. 

The troops being now assembled in great 
numbers on the breach, pushed into the town ; 
the garrison, dispirited at its great loss, and 
intimidated at the perseverance shown in 
sending fresh men, was quickly driven from 
all its intrenchments, except the convent of 
St. Teresa, into the castle. 

From tlie superior height of the curtain, 
the artillery in the batteries on the right of 
the Urumea were able to keep up a fire on 
that part during the assault, without injury 
to the troops at the foot of the breach, and 
being extremely well served, it occasioned a 
severe loss to the enemy, and probably caused 
the explosion which led to tlie final success 
of the assault. 

The assailants had upward of 500 killed, 



ST. QUINTIN. 



553 



and 1,500 wounded; of the garrison, besides 
the actual killed and wounded during the 
assault, 700 were made prisoners in the town. 
Of the engineers, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir R. 
Fletcher, Cap.tains Rhodes and Collyer, were 
killed ; and Lieutenant-Colonel Burgoyne, 
and Lieutenants Barry and Marshall, were 
wounded. 

As soon as the town was carried, a com- 
munication was made from the left of the 
parallel to the salient angle of the ditch of the 
ravehn, through the counterscarp, which was 
blown in, and so into the town by the great 
gate ; and preparations were made to reduce 
the castle. 

The plan for the attack was to erect bat- 
teries on the works of the town, and breach 
some of the main points of the castle defenses, 
as the battery de la Reyna, the Mirador, and 
the keep, as well as the thin loop-holed walls 
connecting them. 

On the 2d of September, a new battery 
for seventeen guns was commenced, occupy- 
ing the whole terreplein of the hornwork, 
and another for three guns on the left of the 
cask redoubt. 

A discussion for surrender was entered 
into with General Rey, but he broke it off. 

By the 4th of September, the town, which 
caught fire soon after the assault, from the 
quantity of ammunition and combustibles of 
all' sorts scattered about, was nearly con- 
sumed, and the fire became a great impedi- 
ment to carrying the approaches forward. 

Up to the 7th, the enemy had fired but 
very httle since the assault; and by tliis 
evening, the roofs of the unburned houses and 
steeples had been prepared for musketry, to 
open at the time of the assault on the cas- 
tle. 

On the 8th, at ten, a.m., all the batteries 
opened on the castle ; viz. — from the left of 
the attack : — No. 7, with tlu-ee twenty-four 
pounders, against the Mirador ; No. 8, with 
three eighteen-pounders, against the lower 
defenses ; No. 9, with seventeen twenty-four 
pounders, against the Mirador and battery de 
la Reyna ; island, with two twenty-four 
pounders, and one eight-inch howitzer, to 
sweep the back of the castle. From the 
right of the attack, thirty-three pieces of 
ordnance against the castle generally. The 
fire was extremely powerful and well-di- 
rected, plowing up every part of the con- 
fined space of the castle. The enemy kept 
concealed chiefly in little narrow trenches, 
which they had made along the firont of the 
heights, but they evidently lost many men. 
About twelve, a white flag was hoisted, and 
the garrison surrendered prisoners of war. 
Their numbers had been reduced to 80 of- 
ficers, and 1,765 men ; of whom, 23 officers, 
and 612 men were in the hospital. 



The loss of the besiegers during the attack 
was, — 53 officers, and 898 men killed ; 150 
officers, and 2,340 men wounded ; 7 officers, 
and 332 men missing. — Rohson. 

The victory of the Enghsh was stained 
with the cruelty of their troops after gaining 
possession of the place, and before taking 
the citadel. " wretched day ! cruel 
night !" exclaims a cotemporary historian. 
" The troops seemed to neglect tlae most or- 
dinary precautions in a place recently taken, 
and with one part of it still in the enemy's 
hands, to give themselves up to the most un- 
heard-of excesses. Pillage, assassination, and 
rape were pushed to an incredible pitch, 
and the fire which broke out early in the 
night, after the enemy had retired to the 
castle, put the finishing stroke to this scene 
of war. On all sides were heard cries of dis- 
tress from women who were violated, with- 
out regard either to tender youth, respected 
family, or advanced years ; women were out- 
raged in the presence of their husbands, 
daughters dishonored in the presence of their 
parents. One girl was the victim of the 
brutality of a soldier on the corpse of her 
mother! Other crimes more horrible still, 
which our pen refuses to record, were com- 
mitted in that awful night ; and the disorder 
continued for some days after without any 
efficient steps being taken to arrest them. 
Of above 600 houses of which St. Sebastian 
consisted on the morning of the assault there 
remained at the end of three days only thirty- 
six. 

ST. QUINTIN, A.D. 1557.— St. Quintin is 
situated on the river Somme, in France, 
twenty-four miles north-west of Laon. 
Upon the abdication of Charles V. the utmost 
anxiety was felt throughout Europe in re- 
gard to the character and ability of his suc- 
cessor, and the policy which was to distin- 
guish his reign. Under the government of 
Charles Spain had reached the zenith of her 
glory, and the power transferred to the hands 
of liis son exceeded that wielded by any of 
his cotemporaries. By means of his connec- 
tion with Mary of England Pliilip was also 
able in a great measure to direct the foreign 
policy of her government, and thus, in his 
double capacity of King of Spain and queen's 
consort of England, he exerted a command- 
ing influence in the affairs of Europe. 

Immediately after his accession to the 
throne Philip was reluctantly drawn into a 
war with his spiritual father, Paul IV., who 
rashly attempted to subvert the Spanish 
power in Naples. Under the lead of the re- 
nowned Duke of Alva, the troops of Spain 
were victorious at almost every point, and 
the warlike pontiff was compelled to make 
peace, after the most stubborn resistance, 
which nearly proved the ruin of his subjects, 



554 ST. QUINTIK 

and drove them to the verge of rebellion. 
Philip's conscientious scruples, however, pre- 
vented him from prosecuting this war with 
the energy and vigor necessary to insure a 
brilliant campaign, and, notwithstanding his 
success, by the treaty of peace he was placed 
in the position of the vanquished rather than 
the victor. 

Wishing to distinguish the commencement 
of his reign by a display of that military 
genius for which his father was so renowned, 
Philip resolved to carry the war into France 
in order to punish Henry II., who had vio- 
lated the treaty of peace by sending an army 
across the Alps to the assistance of the pope. 
He immediately assembled his forces in the 
Netherlands, with the utmost secrecy and dis- 
patch, and sent his confidential minister, Ruy 
Gomez, to Spain, in order to procure addition- 
al troops and the necessary means. In the 
mean time Philip himself visited England for 
the purpose of inducing that country to join 
him in the war against her ancient enemy. 
He finally succeeded in persuading his fond I 
wife, Queen Mary, to take this step in spite of 
the universal opposition to it which was ex- 
pressed by her counsellors and the nation. 
By forced loans she was supplied with means 
to equip a fleet and raise an army of 8,000 
men, which was placed under the command of 
the Earl of Peml)roke. With this reinforce- 
ment the Spanish forces numbered 12,000 j 
cavalry and about 45,000 infantry. l 

The command of this army was given to ' 
Emanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, a general j 
of great ability and experience, who had al- 
ready been intrusted with important com- 
mands, although at this time but twenty-nine 
years of age. Emanuel accepted the com- 
mand with the utmost alacrity, as it afl'orded 
him an opportunity of increasing his already 
brilliant reputation, and also of regaining pos- 
session of his dominions in Italy, from wlaich 
he had been expelled by Henry. 

In the mean time Henry was apprised of 
Philip's movements, and made every prepar- 
ation for defense. He gave the chief com- 
mand of his forces to Montmorency, the Con- 
stable of France, and one of the ablest of his 
generals, but a man of a rash and impetuous 
temper. Large numbers of the chivalrous 
gentry of France flocked to his standard, 
eager to engage in the defense of their 
homes. With these, and the addition of 
thousands of German mercenaries, he speedily 
assembled an army, inferior to the enemy in 
numbers, but superior in the spirit and char- 
acter of most of its troops. 

By the plan of the campaign arranged by 
the Spanish cabinet, the duke was directed 
to lay siege to some of the most important 
towns in the north of Picardy. He first at- 
tacked Rocroy, but meeting with unexpected 



resistance here, and finding that the possession 
of the town would not repay him for the de- 
lay the siege must occasion, he resolved to 
raise the siege and attack St. Quintin. 

In order to divert the attention of the 
enemy from the point of attack the duke 
made a feint of laying siege to the town of 
Guise. As soon as he had drawn the French 
army in that quarter he changed his route, 
and marching into Picardy, invested St. 
Quintin with his whole force. This was one 
of the few fortified towns between Paris and 
the frontier, and a place of considerable 
strength and importance. Not expecting an 
attack in this quarter, the French had made 
no preparations for defense. The fortifica- 
tions were in a dilapidated condition, nearly 
all the garrison had been drawn off to repel 
the expected attack of the Spaniards in an- 
other direction, and the place left in charge 
of an officer of inferior rank. 

Under these circumstances, the fortress 
must have soon capitulated had it not re- 
ceived assistance from the celebrated Admi- 
ral Coligni, one of the ablest generals and 
most illustrious persons of the age. Placing 
liimself at the head of 1,200 men, he suc- 
ceeded in forcing a passage through the 
besieging army, and entered the place with 
about 700 of his men, the rest having been 
cut off. Reanimated by the presence of so 
renowned a general, the garrison recovered 
their spirits, and prepared for a vigorous and 
protracted defense. All who were not act- 
ively engaged in the defense of the place 
were sent away, and those remaining were 
put on short allowance. The falling walls 
were repaired, sorties were made, and the 
Spaniards expelled from the houses of the 
suburbs, of which they had taken possession. 
The houses and groves in the neighborhood, 
which afforded shelter to the Spaniards, 
were destroyed, and every means which 
skill or experience could suggest were made 
use of for the protection of the place and the 
annoyance of the enemy. In order to raise 
the spirits of his troops, the admiral affected 
i to despise the preparations of his foes, and 
tallied boldly of defending himself against ten 
. times their forces. The confidence he en- 
: deavored to inspire in others he was far from 
feeling liimself, and after a thorough examin- 
! ation of the resources of the place, he sent 
word to Montmorency that he should not be 
able to hold out more than a few days with- 
out a reinforcement. Montmorency imme- 
diately sent 2,000 men to his assistance, 
under the command of Dandelot, a younger 
brother of the admiral, and who much re- 
sembled him in energy and courage. Either 
through ignorance or design, the guide of this 
party led them into the midst of the enemy, 
by whom they were vigorously attacked and 



ST. QUINTIN. 



555 



nearly cut to pieces. Dandelot, with the 
few who remained, succeeded in escaping 
under cover of the night.* 

By this disaster, the besieged were com- 
pletely disheartened, and the admiral was 
obliged to exert aU his influence to prevent 
them from yielding to despair. Without a 
reinforcement they felt that it was useless to 
contend against a force so overwhelming, as 
their fortilications were nearly destroyed, and 
but few were left to repair the breaches and 
repel the assaults of the enemy. The town 
was completely invested on all sides but one, 
where there was a marsh of great extent 
through which flowed a branch of the river 
Somme. Having concerted a plan with the 
constable, Coligni threw up an embankment 
across this marsh, and collected the water in 
a canal large enough to float smaU boats. 

On the 9th of August, 1557, the whole 
French army was in motion, and early in the 
morning of the 10th, the constable took up 
his position on the borders of the morass, in 
sight of the Spanish host, which was en- 
camped on the opposite side, at the foot of 
the eminence upon which stood St. Quintin. 

He, immediately opened a brisk cannonade 
upon the enemy, from a battery stationed 
upon a rising ground, in such a position as to 
sweep the opposite bank. Under cover of 
these guns, he dispatched a portion of his 
force to cross a ford, which was partially 
hidden from the view of the Spaniards, by 
some intervening hills. Taken by surprise, 
the Spaniards were thrown into confusion, 
and compelled to fall back upon the cavalry, 
who were stationed some three miles down 
the river, under the command of Count Eg- 
mont. 

Elated by this temporary success, the con- 
stable prepared to pass his troops across the 
river. After much difficulty and delay, four 
or five small boats were procured and heav- 
ily laden with soldiers, who were compelled 
to land on the opposite side in the face of a 
heavy fire, from a body of troops stationed 
so as to command the landing. The boats 
also stuck fast in the quagmire, and some of 
the soldiers were suffocated in the mud 
while attempting to release them. In the 
mean time, the Duke of Savoy took advan- 
tage of this delay in the movements of the 
French, and called a council of war, and de- 
cided to attack them. Egmont was dis- 
patched immediately to cross a ford of the 
river, and fall on the rear of the French, 
while the main body of the Spanish army, 
under the duke, advanced to support him. 
Disregarding the advice of Prince de Conde, 
who had descried the movements of the 
Spaniards, Montmorency refused to retire 
until the entire reinforcement, under Dande- 
* Pi-escott's Robertson. 



lot, had crossed. Many of those who had 
crossed the lake were killed or disabled, 
others suffocated in the morass, and of the 
whole number only four or five hundred suc- 
ceeded in reaching St. Quintin. As soon as 
the last boat had departed, orders were given 
for an immediate retreat. Notwithstanding 
the superiority of the force opposed to them, 
the French at first retired in good order, but 
when they saw Egmont charging upon them 
with his formidable body of cavalry, they 
were struck with consternation, and the con- 
stable in vain endeavored to rally them from 
the confusion into which they were thrown. 
At the call of their leader they did indeed 
rally to the charge, and for a moment com- 
pelled their assailants to give way, but they 
could not long continue the unequal struggle, 
and soon the best soldiers of France were 
fleeing like sheep before the wolves. A por- 
tion of the infantry formed into a solid pha- 
lanx, and continued to retreat in good order, 
in spite of the utmost efforts of the cav- 
alry to break their ranks, until the Duke of 
Savoy came up with the remainder of his 
troops, and turned his heavy guns upon 
them. They were then compelled to fly in 
their turn, and the rout was complete. Be- 
tween 3,000 and 4,000 Frenchmen were 
killed on the spot, among whom was the 
Duke D'Enghein, a prince of the blood, to- 
gether with GOO gentlemen. Montmorency, 
being dangerously wounded, and faint from 
the loss of blood, was taken prisoner. Be- 
sides the constable, the Dukes of Montpensier 
and Langueville, the Marshal St. Andre, and 
many other officers of distinction, 300 gen- 
tlemen, and nearly 4,000 private soldiers 
were taken prisoners. All the colors belong- 
ing to the infantry, all the ammunition, and 
all the cannon, excepting two pieces, were 
taken. On the side of the victors not more 
than 80 men were killed. 

This battle, no less fatal to France than 
the ancient victories of Crecy and Agincourt, 
gained by the English on the same frontiers, 
bore a near resemblance to those disastrous 
events in the suddenness of the rout; in 
the ill-conduct of the commander-in-chief; 
in the number of persons of note slain or 
taken, and in the small loss sustained by the 
enemy. It filled France with equal conster- 
nation. Many inliabitants of Paris, with the 
same precipitancy and trepidation as if the 
enemy had been already at their gates, quit- 
ted the city and retired into the interior 
provinces. The king, by his presence and 
exhortations, endeavored to console and ani- 
mate such as remained, and applying him- 
self with the greatest diligence to repair the 
various fortifications of the city, prepared to 
defend it against the attack which he instant- 
ly expected. But happily for France, Pliilip's 



556 



SALAMANCA. 



caution, together with the intrepid firmness 
of the Admiral de Coligni, not only saved 
the capital from the danger to which it was 
exposed, but gained for the nation a short 
interval, during which the people recovered 
from their terror and dejection, occasioned 
by a blow no less severe than unexpected, 
and Henry had leisure to take measures for 
the public security, with the spirit which be- 
came the sovereign of a powerful and martial 
people.* 

Had Pliilip followed up liis victory with 
the spirit and energy displayed by his father 
on like occasions, the capital of France would 
have been at liis disposal. Instead, however, 
of yielding to the advice of liis officers, and 
penetrating instantly into France, he gave 
orders to continue the siege of St. Quintin ; 
saying that it was necessary to become master 
of this place in order to secure the retreat of 
his army in case of defeat. Believing that this 
would delay them but a few days, the officers 
were reconciled to these orders ; although 
elated with their victory, they were impa- 
tient ,for still more brilliant achievments. 
Their expectations were disappointed, how- 
ever, by the spirit and heroism of the be- 
sieged Frenchmen, and the skill and intrepid- 
ity of their commander. Knowing that 
the safety of his country depended upon the 
protraction of the siege, Coligni resolved to 
hold the place so long as a man remained to 
defend it, and perish in its ruins, rather than 
yield it into the hands of his foes. Inspired 
with the generous devotion of their leader, 
the garrison were well-nigh invincible. In 
spite of the strength of their assailants and 
the skill and energy with which they con- 
ducted the siege ; in spite of the state of their 
fortifications, which in many places were a 
mere heap of ruins ; regardless of their own 
fatigue and starvation, they resisted every 
proposition to surrender. On the seventeenth 
day after the renewal of the siege, the town 
was assaulted in eleven different places at the 
same time. After a long and obstinate con- 
flict, during which the Spaniards were fre- 
quently repulsed, the town was at length 
carried, and both the admiral and his brother 
taken prisoners on the breach. Philip al- 
lowed his soldiers to plunder, but commanded 
them to preserve the churches and the saintly 
reUcs which they contained. 

SALAMANCA, a.d. 1812.— The city of 
Salamanca is situated on the rocky heights 
on the right bank of Tormes, in Spain, forty- 
five miles north-east of Ciudad Rodrigo. The 
battle of Salamanca was fought on the 
heights of Arapeiles, four miles south-east of 
the city. 

The battle of Salamanca was one of the 
fiercest fought struggles of the Peninsular 
* Prescott'8 Eobertson. 



War, and took place after a series of maneu- 
vers, marches, and military evolutions, rarely 
paralleled in the history of war for brilliancy 
on the part of both the French and EngUsh 
armies. The allied English, Portuguese and 
Spanish armies, under the Duke of Welling- 
ton, consisted of 45,000 men, and, on the 
22d of July, 1812, occupied the ground on 
the left bank of the Tormes, extending from 
two bold rocky heights, called the Arapeiles, 
to the river Tormes, below the ford of Santa 
Martha. The French army was about equal 
to the English in numerical strength and was 
commanded by Marshal Marftiont. The 
French general observing that the Duke of 
Wellington had neglected to occupy the two 
rocky heights of the Arapeiles on the Brit- 
ish right, resolved to take possession of them, 
and at noon, unperceived by the enemy, gained 
the more distant height, and immediately 
crowned it with heavy artillery. Encour- 
aged by this success the French endeavored 
to gain possession of the other eminence ; 
but the British made a dash at it, and suc- 
ceeded in gaining it before the French were 
able to carry their plans into effect. 

The acquisition of the more distant Ara- 
peiles by the French, caused Welhngton to 
change the position of his army ; hence what 
was lately the right became the left, while 
the now right was pushed as far as Aldea 
Tejada on the Ciudad Rodrigo road. The 
commissariat and baggage-wagons were also 
ordered to the rear. This movement was 
made as preparatory for a general retreat to 
Ciudad Rodrigo ; but Marmont determined 
to cut off their retreat and force Wellington 
into a battle. He pushed Thorniere's divis- 
ion, covered by fifty guns, to the extreme left 
to menace the Ciudad Rodrigo road. Bren- 
nier and Maucunne followed; wliUe the 
march of aU the French divisions toward the 
center was hastened, in order, with the re- 
mainder of the army, comprising four divis- 
ions, to fall on the flank of the British as 
they passed the French Arapeiles. 

Thorniere's division, followed by Brennier's, 
advanced so rapidly that both bodies became 
gradually separated from the center. When 
the Duke of Wellington received intelligence 
of this movement on the part of the enemy, 
he saw his advantage immediately. " My 
dear Alava," said he to the Spanish general 
Alava, "at last I have them, Marmont is 
lost." His resolution was immediately form- 
ed, and his orders, with lightning speed, flew 
to the different portions of the army. The 
troops were put in motion, and as if by ma- 
gic they rolled like a huge sea, through a 
storm of bullets directly across the enemy's 
line of march. Marmont beheld the whole 
plain filled with English soldiers, and found 
himself forced into a battle when in the 



SALAMANCA. 



657 



midst of a complicated movement, and while 
a large gap existed between the center and 
left wing of his army. With the utmost 
gallantry he strove to recover his advantage. 
He dispatched orders to his left to close with 
his center ; and the center to hasten to the 
left ; but before his orders could reach those 
distant columns, the British were ^jDon 
them. 

The dark masses of troops which occupied 
the Enghsh Arapeiles, rushing violently down 
the interior slope of the mountain entered 
the valley between them and the enemy 
amid a wliirlwind of buUets which seemed to 
shear away the very surface of the earth 
over wliich the soldiers moved, and steadily 
advanced across the plain with bayonets 
fixed toward the dark masses of the French 
infantry. Marmont beheld the advance of 
the British line vdth tranquillity, supposing 
that the terrible tempest would soon arrest 
it; but when he saw Packenham's division 
and D'Urban's cavalry, move at right angles 
directly across Thorniere's line of march, at 
the foot of a lofty peak, while other broad 
masses of crimson were marching against him 
in front, he felt that his hour had come. He 
hastened to the point of danger, when a frag- 
ment of a shell struck him inflicting a severe 
wound in his side. His fall decided the fate 
of the day ; but the French troops, notwith- 
standing they had lost their commander, 
fought with a desperate valor which for a 
long time held the victory, as it were, in a 
balance. 

It was just five o'clock when Packenham 
fell upon Thornierfe. In an instant the French 
gunners were at their pieces. Under cover 
of these guns, and the fire of a crowd of 
light troops which were hurried to the front, 
Thorniere endeavored to change his front; 
but all in vain. The British line steadily ad- 
vanced ; the French light troops were scat- 
tered before them in all directions and falling 
on the half-formed line of Thorniere, Pack- 
enham's men aided by D'Urban's Portuguese 
cavalry, Harvey's English dragoons, and 
Arentschild's Germans, forced the French 
backward along the ridge. The French fell 
back at first gradually and in good order ; 
but as the enemy pressed forward, attacking 
them in front, flank, and rear, their array 
was thrown into confusion ; their cavalry 
was routed and driven among the foot; 
Thorniere himself was killed while striving 
to stem the torrent ; the allied cavalry broke 
in Uke a flood into the openings of the in- 
fantry ; and the whole division was thrown 
back, utterly routed, on Clausel's, which was 
hurrying up to its aid from the forest, with 
the loss of 3,000 prisoners. 

Almost at the same time. Cole and Leith 
with their divisions, moved forward against 



that part of the enemy's left composed of 
Clausel's division, which hastily formed to 
oppose them, flanked by Le Marchant's heavy 
dragoons and Anson's light cavahy, aU led by 
Sir Stapleton Cotton. 

While warmly engaged with the infantry 
in front, the opening in the line was sudden- 
ly obscured by a cloud of dust, and in a mo- 
ment a glittering band of helmets, came 
thundering down on their scattered Unes; 
scarcely any opposition was attempted, and 
the British dragoons passed shouting through 
the crowd with their swords gleaming in the 
air. Lord Edward Somerset, with a single 
squadron, took five guns; 2,000 prisoners 
were made in a short time, and the French 
left was thrown back into the wood in its 
rear and in a military point of view, annihi- 
lated. But tills great success was dearly 
purchased, by the death of Le Marchant, 
Avho died in the moment of victory. In the 
mean time. Pack's Portuguese advanced 
against the French Arapeiles, and the fourth 
and fifth divisions, after clearing the viUage, 
had with difficulty, driven Bonnet's troops 
back on Clausel's and Thorniere's broken 
remains. 

Passing the vUlage, they assailed the rock, 
but met with resistance on all sides, but 
Pack's men boldly ascended the height, and 
when witliin tliirty yards of the summit, the 
French masses rushed out from their conceal- 
ment and suddenly closed with their adver- 
saries. 

A momentary struggle ensued, a stream of 
fire burst forth on the summit of the hill, and 
the Portuguese were seen flying, followed 
closely by the French, to the bottom. The 
fourth division still driving Bonnet's troops 
before them, were attacked on one side by 
three battaUons and some horse, and on an- 
other by 1,200 fresh adversaries who poured a 
volley upon them, which they were unable 
to withstand ; their men staggered. Cole and 
Leith were both wounded, and finding they 
were beset on all sides, they fled down the 
ascent. Bonnet was wounded, but Clause! 
took the command. Ferey's troojis assaUed 
the front of the fourth division, and drove 
them into the hollow beliind, the fifth was 
attacked by Brennier in the same way, and 
they being uncovered on the left, were over- 
lapped, and lost ground, and even Clinton's 
reserve in the center, was assailed by a body 
of cavalry. The crisis of the battle had ar- 
rived, and all depended on bringing the re- 
serves to the center where the decisive blows 
were to be struck. Beresford with great pres- 
ence of mind, caused a brigade of the fifth 
division to change, so as to front the troops 
of the enemy, who had issued from the hol- 
lows behind the Arapeiles : this checked the 
incursion in that quarter, but Beresford re- 



658 



SALTILLO— SAMARIA. 



ceived a wound which obliged him to leave 
the field. 

Welliugton, who was always near in time 
of danger, hastily ordered up Clinton's divis- 
ion from the rear, to charge the enemy, which 
proved successful. Halse's brigade, which, 
forming the left of that division, was most 
exposed to the Peak of Miranda ; while mass- 
es of troops were marching against him in 
front, he hastened in person to the spot, 
when he was wounded in the arm and side 
by the explosion of a shell from a distant 
English battery ; this event, however, made 
little change in the issue of the battle ; it 
was just five o'clock when Packenham fell 
on Thomiere, who being unprepared for such 
an attack, found it impossible to effect a 
change of front : nothing could be done but 
to resist as long as possible. The British 
columns were so formed that they were 
ready to charge at any moment. 

The French gunners and a crowd of light 
troops made a useless attempt to cover the 
formation of the troops behind, for they were 
scattered in all directions by the British Hne, 
led by the gallant Packenham. D'Urban's 
Portuguese cavalry, supported by Harvey's 
Enghsh dragoons, and ArentschUd's German 
horse, turned their left flank and got into the 
rear, while their right was already menaced by 
Leith with the fifth division. 

Thomiere's division was forced baclcward 
along the lidge, but not before they had tried 
every means of arresting the enemy, but the 
enemy pressing on them at all points, threw 
them into confusion, their cavalry were routed 
and driven among the foot, and Thomiere 
himself, was killed while striving to stem the 
torrent ; the alhed cavahy breaking in hke a 
flood, threw his whole division on Clausel's, 
wliich was hastening to its aid from the 
forest; with the loss of 3,000 prisoners, were 
swept away by hundreds ; not for a moment 
did they pause, l3ut inarching firmly forward 
with the 11th and 61st regiments in the van, 
regained all the ground that had been lost ; 
an impetuous charge of tlie French dragoons 
for an instant arrested the 53d ; the south- 
ern ridge was regained. Ferey was mortally, 
Clausel slightly, wounded ; the allied host after 
righting itself hke a gallant ship after a storm, 
again bore on in blood and gloom, one vast 
cloud of smoke rolled along'tlie basin, and 
within it was the battle in all. its terrors. 

Clausel, although all his plans were frus- 
trated, still thought he might prevent the de- 
feat from being a total ruin. Foy's division 
which formed the extreme right of the French, 
was now coming into action, and the balls 
from his pieces fell into the British ranks, the 
broken remains of tlie left were blended with 
the center, and retiring together toward the 
right, formed a compact body which took 



': post on the heights behind the Ariba stream- 
let, and formed a complete hne in front of 
the forest, that entirely hid the retreat of the 
reserved parks and artillery, and the flight 
of the fugitives, who were hurrying in dis- 
order through its lanes toward Albade Tormes. 
WelUngton immediately took measures to 
drive this strong rear guard from the grountl 
and complete the victory. The first and 
light divisions, with part of the fourth, which 
was re-formed, were directed to turn their 
right; while Chnton and Packenham's di- 
visions with Hope and the Spaniards in re- 
serve, assailed their front. The Frencli made 
a gaUant resistance ; Foy's hght troops and 
guns with admirable skill, took advantage of 
every knoll and thicket to arrest the pursuers ; 
and the marshy stream which ran from the 
wood down to the Tormes, and washed the 
foot of his last defensible ridge, was obsti- 
nately contested. But the British pushed on 
vigorously, and at length had the satisfaction 
of seeing the French disappear in the forest, 
wliile they stood as victors alone on the sable 
hill. The French army retreated without 
further molestation to Alba de Tormes, the 
castle of which commanded the only way of 
getting across the river. Clausel, with ad- 
mirable diligence got his whole army across 
the river at Alba de Tormes during the night, 
and continued his retreat toward Valladohd. 
WelUngton closely pursued the French to 
tills place, where he took seventeen prisoners 
and 800 sick : but seeing no prospect of over- 
taking the enemy, who were retiring toward 
Bruges, he desisted from the pursuit and ad- 
vanced toward Madrid. 

The alhes lost in the battle of Salamanca, 
5,200 men, of whom 3,176 were British, 
2,018 Portuguese, and eight Spanisli. The 
French loss has never been divulged ; but it 
must have been equal if not greater than that 
of the alhes. On the French side. Generals 
Ferey, Thomiere, and Des Graviers were 
killed, and Marshal Marraont and Generals 
Bonnet, Clausel, and Moret wounded. The 
allies lost General La Marchant killed, and 
Generals Beresford, Stapleton, Cotton, Leith, 
Cole, and Alton wounded. WeUington, him- 
self, was struck by a spent ball on the thigh ; 
but it did him no injury. 

SALTILLO. See Buena Vista. 

SAMARIA, B.C. 907.— Samaria, the capital 
of the kingdom of Israel, and the rival of 
Jerusalem, sustained several memorable sieges. 
Adad, King of Syria, entered into Palestine 
in the reign of Achab, and encamped before 
the walls of Samaria. He soon reduced the 
city to the last extremity. Adad, reckoning 
upon the certainty of conquering the states 
of Achab, offered that king peace upon the 
conditions of his giving up his treasures, his 
i wives, and his children. Achab, being with- 



SAN DOMINGO— SAN JACINTO. 



559 



out resource, consented to his demands ; but 
on the morrow, Adad having added propo- 
sitions still more hard, the king resolved to 
defend himself to the last. At the moment 
Adad thought victory within his grasp, the 
footmen of the Prince of Israel advanced, 
attacked his vanguard, killed many of them, 
and pursued the rest to the camp. Achab 
with his troops fell upon the infidels, put them 
to flight, and enriched himself witii their 
spoils. 

Second Siege, b.c. 906. — The following 
year Adad returned into Palestine with a 
more formidable army. Achab marched to 
meet him, and gave liim battle. The Syrians 
were routed, and lost, it is said, 100,000 men. 
Adad was made prisoner. 

Third Siege, b.c 891. — In the reign of Jo- 
ram, the son of Achab, the capital of Israel 
once more beheld a formidable Syrian army 
at its gates. This siege was long and cele- 
brated. Adad surrounded the city on all 
sides ; no supplies could be brought in ; the 
public magazines were exhausted, and the 
famine became so excessive that an ass's 
head was sold for ninety pieces of silver ; and 
twelve bushels of pigeons' dung, which was 
used instead of salt, were worth five. Such 
distress made Joram fear that in their despair 
the people would open the gates to the en- 
emy. To encourage the soldiers and watch 
the people, he every day visited the walls 
and the-ibrtifications. While thus employed, 
a woman cast herself at his feet. " My lord 
and my king," said she, uttering fearful cries, 
"in the name of God, save an unfortunate!" 
" What would you with me ?" replied the 
monarch ; " if the Lord does not save you, 
tliink you that I, Avho am but a simple mor- 
tal, can ? What have you to say to me ?" 
" Lord, the woman you see with me said : 
' Give me your son, and let us eat him to- 
day ; to-morrow we will eat mine.' I killed 
my son, and we ate him, but this wicked 
woman, notwithstanding her promise, has 
concealed her child, and robbed me of the 
food that is my due." On hearing this horrid 
recital, the King of Israel tore his vestments, 
and exposed to the eyes of every body the 
hair shirt he wore next his skin. This 
prince, reduced to despair, threw the cause 
of so many evils upon Elijah, and wished to 
put him to death. But the man of God 
promised him that the next day the abund- 
ance should be so great that a measure of 
pure meal should be sold for less than one 
side, or thirty sols ; but the prophet gained 
no behevers. An officer upon whose arm the 
king was leaning, turned him into ridicule : 
"If the All-powerful," said he, "were to 
open the heavens, and shower down pro- 
visions, this would not be possible." " You 
will see," replied Elijah, " but you will enjoy 



no part of it." Four lepers, who dwelt near 
the gates of the city, urged on by despair, 
went to the camp of the Syrians in hopes of 
meeting with death, but what was their as- 
tonishment to find no one there ! The en- 
emy struck by a sudden panic, and thinking 
they heard the noise of a great army ad- 
vancing, had taken to flight, and left every 
thing behind them. The lepers, after having 
satisfied their hunger, and put aside a great 
quantity of gold and silver, hastened to an- 
nounce this happy news to the king. Joram 
feared it was a trick. At length, after being 
assured of the flight of the infidels, the peo- 
ple rushed in crowds to the camp, and the 
word of the prophet was fulfilled in aU its 
circumstances. The king set the officer who 
had mocked the prophet, at the gate of the 
city, and the unfortunate man was smothered 
by the croAvd of people, without being able 
to take a part in the unlooked-for abundance. 

Fourth Siege, b.c. 721. — Salmanazar, King 
of Assyria, learning that Hosea had made 
himself King of Israel, which country he 
considered tributary to his power, and wished 
to shake off the yoke, besieged Samaria, and 
carried it by assault after a blockade of three 
years. Hosea was made prisoner, and car- 
ried away, with the greater part of his sub- 
jects, into Assyria. Thus ended the kingdom 
of Israel, or of the ten tribes. 

Fifth Siege, b.c. 120. — ^Samaria, however, 
became again peopled, and continued to dis- 
pute precedency with Jerusalem till the 
government of Hyrcanus, son of Simon Mac- 
cabeus. This great sacraficator took it by 
escalade, after a siege of a year, and com- 
pletely destroyed the city and fortifications. 
But Herod the Great rebuilt it, increased its 
extent considerably, and named it Sebasta, 
out of compliment to Augustus. — Rohson. 

SAN DOMINGO, a.d. 1586.— San Do- 
mingo, the capital city of the Dominican 
republic, on the south side of the island of 
Hayti, was taken by assault by the British 
under Sir Francis Drake, in 1586. The 
invaders pillaged the town mercilessly, and 
nearly destroyed it. 

SAN JACINTO, A.D. 1836.— The village 
of San Jacinto is situated on Buffalo Bayou, 
near its entrance into Galveston bay, in 
Texas, about eighteen miles east of Houston. 
On the 21st of April, 1835, an important 
battle was fought near this place, between 
the Texans, and the Mexicans. The Texan 
army consisted of 700 men, of whom, sixty- 
two were cavalry, and was under the com- 
mand of General Sam Houston ; the Mexican 
army numbered over 1,800 men, and was 
commanded by General Santa Anna. 

The right flank of the Mexicans occupied 
the extreme point of a skirt of timber on the 
bank of the San Jacinto, and their left was 



5G0 



SAN JACINTO. 



secured by a fortification about five feet liigli, 
constructed of packs and baggage, leaving 
an opening in the center of their breastworks, 
in wliich their artillery was placed. Their 
cavalry was posted upon the right wing. 
General Houston's plan of attack was as fol- 
lows : — The center was composed of the 1st 
regiment under Colonel Burleson ; the left 
wing of the 2d regiment under Colonel 
Sherman ; the artillery under the command 
of Colonel George W. Hockley, was placed 
on the right of the 1st regiment, and fourxom- 
panies of infantry under the command of 
Lieutenant-Colonel Henry MUtard, sustained 
the artillery upon the right. The horse, un- 
der Colonel Laman, was placed on the ex- 
treme right, and completed the Texan line. 
The cavalry was first dispatched to the front 
of the enemy's left, for the purpose of attract- 
ing their attention, while an extensive island 
of timber afforded the Texans an opportunity 
of concentrating their forces, and deploying 
from that point, agreeably to the previous 
design of the troops. Every evolution was 
performed with alacrity, the whole army 
advancing rapidly in a line, and through an 
open prairie, without any protection what- 
ever to the assaihng party. The Texan 
artillery advanced, and took station within 
two hundred yards of the enemy's breast- 
work. 

General Houston was determined that his 
army should be victorious, or that every Texan 
soldier should die in the fight. He had 
caused Vince's bridge in his rear to be de- 
stroyed, that his troops might know that their 
means of escape was cut off, and calling upon 
them to remember the fate of their country- 
men who Avere massacred by the Mexicans 
at Alamo,* bade them fight to the death, for 
they could expect no mercy at the hands of 
such an enemy. 

The Mexicans also were actuated by a 
desperate motive to fight bravely. The 
bridge destroyed by Houston's orders, was 
the one they had crossed in their march to 
San Jacinto, and its destruction cut off their 
retreat, as well as that of the enemy. The 
Texans opened then- artillery, and the crash- 
ing tempest of grape swept madly into the 
enemy's works, shattering bones and baggage 
in its destructive flight. The Texans eagerly 
awaited the signal to charge. At length it 
was given. " Charge I" shouted General 

* On the 6th of April, 1S3G, the Alamo at Bexar, which 
waa occupied by Colonel Travis, with 185 Texans, was 
taken, after an obstinate and valorous defense, by an 
overwhelming Mexican force. Every human being in 
the Alamo was slaughtered, except a woman, her child, 
and a negro, and after their slaughter, the dead were 
dragged out and piled together with wood, in one vast 
hecatomb, and burned to ashes 1 

Among the heroes who fell this day was the famous 
Colonel Crockett. 



Houston, "Eemember the Alamo!" The 
battle cry was repeated; wildly the shout 
" The Alamo 1" rung across the plain, and fell 
hke a death-knell upon the ears of the Mexi- 
cans. Led by Houston, the Texans rushed 
frantically to the charge ; the Mexicans 
awaited their approach in perfect order, and 
when the assailants were within sixty j'ards 
of the breastwork, they opened a violent fire 
of musketry upon them. But they fired too 
high. General Houston's horse, however, 
was struck by several bullets, and Houston 
himself was seriously wounded in the ankle. 
But the horse did not fall, and the heroic 
general spurred him on. The Texans fol- 
lowed their commander, reserving their fire. 
When they had arrived at a proper distance, 
and before the Mexicans had time to reload, 
they poured a destructive volley of rifles into 
the very bosoms of the Mexicans, and club- 
bing their pieces, for they had no bayonets, 
rushed to the breastwork. A terrible hand 
to hand conflict ensued ; the Mexican bayonet 
clashed against the Texan rifle-stock. The 
Texans soon broke their rifles by their 
vigorous blows, and throwing away their 
useless pieces, drew their pistols, and dis- 
charging them once, hurled the empty 
weapons at the heads of the enemy, and 
drawing their bowie-knives, threw themselves 
in one mass upon the Mexican host. 

The Mexicans stood their ground bravely ; 
but nothing could resist the impetuous valor 
of the Texans; their keen blades flashed 
continually in the air, with hghtning velocity, 
and were plunged incessantly into the bosoms 
of their foes. The field was strewn with the 
slain, and blood flowed in streams. The 
Mexicans endeavored to fly, but the unre- 
lenting Texans pursued eagerly, and cut 
them down with their terrible weapons 
without remorse. The Mexicans were now 
flying in wild disorder, and General Houston 
vainly endeavored to stop the carnage ; but 
the Texan troops panting for vengeance, 
ceased not from their bloody work. " While 
the battle was in progress," says General 
Rusk, " the celebrated Deaf Smith, although 
on horseback, was fighting with the infantry. 
When they had nearly reached the enemy, 
Smith galloped on ahead, and dashed directly 
up to the Mexican line. Just as he reached 
it, his horse stumbled, and fell, throwing his 
rider on his head among the enemy. Having 
dropped his sword in the fall, he drew one 
of his belt pistols, presented it at the head of 
a Mexican who was attempting to bayonet 
him, and it missed fire. Smith then hurled 
the pistol at the head of the Mexican, and as 
he staggered back, he seized his gun, and be- 
gan his work of destruction. 

" A young man by the name of Eobbins 
dropped his gun in the confusion of the bat- 



SAN MAECIAL— SANTIAGO. 



561 



tie, and happening to run directly in contact 
with a Mexican soldier who had also lost his 
musket, the Mexican seized Bobbins, and 
both, being stout men, rolled to the ground. 
But Robbins drew out his bowie-knife, and 
ended the contest by cutting the Mexican's 
throat. On starting out for our camp to en- 
ter upon the attack I saw an old man by the 
name of Curtis carrying two guns. I asked 
him what reason he had for carrying more 

than one gun. He repUed : ' D n the 

Mexicans ; they killed my son and son-in- 
law in the Alamo, and I intend to kill two of 
them for it, or be killed myself.' I saw the 
old man again during the fight, and he told 
me he had killed his two men ; and if he could 
find Santa Anna himself, he Avould cut out 
' a razor-strap from his back.' When the 
Mexicans were first driven from the point of 
woods where we encountered them, their ofii- 
cers tried to rally them, but the men cried, 
' It's no use, there are a thousand Americans 
in the woods.' When Santa Anna saw Al- 
monte's division running past him, he called 
a drummer, and ordered him to beat his drum. 
The drummer held up his hands and told him 
he was shot. He called then to a trumpeter 
near him to sound his horn. The trumpeter 
replied that he also was shot. Just at that 
instant a ball from one of our cannon struck 
a man who was standing near Santa Anna, 
taking off one side of his head. Santa Anna 

tlien exclaimed: 'D n these Americans! 

I believe they will shoot us all.' He imme- 
diately mounted his horse and commenced 
his flight." 

The Mexicans were now flying for their 
Hves. They had left behind them nearly 
seven hundred men, dead and dying on the 
field of battle, and constant additions were 
made to the slain by the enraged Texans, who 
followed close upon their rear. The Mexican 
cavalry spurred their horses toward Vince's 
Bridge. The victors pursued eagerly, and 
when they arrived on the bank of the river 
an appalling scene ensued. The Mexicans, 
finding the bridge destroyed, were struck 
with terror. Some plunged their horses into 
the stream, and were either swept down by 
the current, or becoming entangled one with 
another, sunk beneath the turbid waters. 
Those who gained the opposite shore were 
unable to urge their weary horses up the 
steep bank, and fell back into the water, 
sinking to rise no more. Others, dismounting, 
hurled themselves into the river, and endeav- 
ored to swim across, but they were soon 
lost amid the mass of struggling men and 
horses in the stream, and perished miserably. 
To add to the terrors of this scene, the Tex- 
ans on the shore maintained an incessant fire 
upon the drowning masses of men and 
horses ; hundreds went down together ; the 

36 



waters were crimsoned with their gore, and 
the deep stream was hterally choked with 
dead bodies. A similar scene was also enact- 
ed near the Mexican encampment in the rear 
of the battle-ground. The fugitives were 
here compelled to pass a deep marsh, and as 
their only hope of safety they plunged into 
the mire and water, and endeavored to force 
their way through ; but the Texans were 
close behind, the morass was deep and im- 
passable. They sank in its quicksands by 
scores, and the survivors escaped only by 
using the ghastly bridge formed by the dead 
bodies of their comrades. At length, sated 
Avith slaughter, the Texans returned to their 
camp. The battle of San Jacinto was won ; 
the bloody day at the Alamo was avenged, 
and Texas was free. Almonte, the Mexican 
general, was made prisoner on the day of the 
battle ; on the following day Santa Anna him- 
self was captured while attempting to make 
liis escape alone. General Houston had com- 
pletely entrapped liis wily foe, and Santa 
Anna, the scourge of Texas, was in the hands 
of those who would have gladly executed 
him on the spot ; but the Texans were saved 
from the reproach of this deed by the firm- 
ness of General Houston. Santa Anna was 
spared, and was afterward released by the 
Texan government. 

In the battle of San Jacinto the Texans 
lost seven men killed, and about thirty men 
wounded ; the Mexicans lost 630 men killed, 
beside a multitude who perished in the marsh 
and bayous, 280 wounded, and nearly 800 
prisoners. Among the slain were one gen- 
eral ofQcer, four colonels, two Heutenant- 
colonels, seven captains, and twelve lieuten- 
ants. About 900 hundred stand of English 
muskets, 300 sabers, and 200 pistols, beside 
300 valuable mules, 100 excellent horses, 
and 12,000 dollars, together with a great 
quantity of provisions, clothing, tents, ammu- 
nition, etc., etc., fell into the hands of- the 
victors. 

SAN MARCIAL, a.d. 1813.— On the 31st 
of August, 1813, a battle was fought between 
the French army under Soult, and the alUed 
armies of England, Spain and Portugal, under 
Wellington. After an obstinate conflict the 
French, pushed by superior numbers, were 
obhged to retire with a loss of about 3000 
men kOled and wounded. General Vander- 
msers was killed and four other generals of 
inferior grade, wounded. The alhes lost 
2,G83 men killed and wounded, of whom 
1,680 were Spaniards. 

SANTIAGO, A.D. 1817-18.— The battles 
of Santiago are the most memorable in the 
annals of Chili. The first, called the battle 
of Chacabuco, was fought in 1817 between 
the Spaniards and the ChiUans, under Gen- 
eral San Martin. The Spaniards were totally 



5«2 



SARAGOSSA— SAVANNAH. ~ 



defeated. The battle of Maypu was fought 
in the province of Santiago, between the 
Spaniards and the Cliilians under General San 
Martin, who was again victorious. These 
defeats proved fatal to the cause of the Span- 
iards in Chili, and finally sealed the independ- 
ence of the country. 

SARAGOSSA. — Saragossa stands on the 
river Ebro, in Spain, 176 miles N. E. of 
Madrid. It is a very ancient city, having 
been founded, it is said, by the Phoenicians 
or Carthaginians. Toward the close of the 
fifth century, it was taken by the Goths, who 
were expelled in 712 by the Saracens; and 
at length, in 1017, it was made the capital of 
a separate Moorish state. In the year llO'i 
it was besieged and taken by Alphonso of 
Arragon. It is known in modern history 
from the obstinate resistance made by its in- 
habitants under Palafox, in 1808-9 to the 
French, commanded successively by Marshals 
Mortier and Lannes. The siege lasted, with 
some slight intermission, from July 15, 1808, 
to February 21, 1809 ; when, after a loss of 
about 6,000 men kiUed in battle, and over 
30,000 men, women, and children, carried off 
by famine, pestilence, and the fanatical ex- 
cesses that raged in the unfortunate city, it 
surrendered to the French. Sir William Na- 
pier's account of the siege has stripped it of 
more than half the romance that formerly in- 
vested it. The "heroic" Palafox, for more 
than a month preceding the surrender, never 
came forth from a vaulted building which 
was impervious to shells, and in which there 
is too much reason to believe that he and 
others, of both sexes, lived in a state of sens- 
uality, forming a disgusting contrast to the 
wretchedness that surrounded them. In ob- 
stinacy, fanaticism, and savage cruelty, the 
Saragossans seem to have borne a striking 
resemblance to the Jews besieged by Titus. 
The loss of the French in the siege did not 
exceed 4,000 men. 

SARATOGA.— See Smwaier. 

SARDIS, B.C. 548. — Sardis is a ruined city 
of Asia Minor, at the foot of Mount Tmolus, 
50 miles north-east of Smyrna. After the 
battle of Thymbra, between Cyrus and Croe- 
sus, the conqueror advanced directly against 
Sardis, the capital of Lydia. Croesus marched 
out of the city to give him battle ; and after 
an obstinate contest the Lydians were forced 
to retire within their city. Cyrus immedi- 
ately laid siege to the place, and succeeded 
by stratagem in making himself master of the 
citadel. At daybreak he entered the city 
without resistance ; and the citizens pur- 
chased their lives by bringing the conqueror 
all their gold and silvei-. 

B.C. 502.— Under the reign of Darius 
Ochus, the Athenians embarked in an expe- 
dition against Sardis. They succeeded in 



burning the city, with the exception of the 
citadel ; but the citadel proved impregnable, 
and the Lydians and Persians, highly exas- 
perated, attacked the besiegers with such 
fury that they drove them back to Ephesus, 
and destroyed many of their ships. This un- 
provoked attack on Sardis was the source of 
all the subsequent wars between Greece and 
Persia, which produced so many calamities to 
both countries. 

SARNUS, A. D. 553.— Sarno, a town of 
Naples, occupies the site of the ancient city of 
Sarnus. The battle of Sarnus was fought in 
the year 553, between the army of Justinian, 
Emperor of Rome, and the Goths. The lat- 
ter were defeated, and Teias, the Gothic king, 
slain. This battle put an end to Gothic sway 
in Italy. 

SAUCHIE BURN, A.n. 1488.— Near this 
place, in 1488, about one mile west of Ban- 
nockburn, in Scotland, a battle was fought 
between the troops of James III. and his 
rebellious subjects. The king was defeated, 
and being severely wounded in the battle, 
sought refuge in a mill near by, where he 
was assassinated. 

SAVANNAH, a.d. 1778.— This flourish- 
ing city stands on the south bank of the Sa- 
vannah river, eighteen miles from its mouth. 
It is the capital of Chatham co., Georgia, and is 
one of the most important places of that State. 

At the close of the year 1778, the British 
army, after a war of nearly four years, had 
made but little progress toward the suppres- 
sion of the " rebeUion" in the American prov- 
inces. The British arms had hitherto been 
directed against the northern and middle 
States, but with little effect. The Americans 
retained possession of the greater portion of 
the country. New York, indeed, was in the 
hands of the English, but the Americans 
were masters of almost every other part. 
Sir Henry Chnton, who commanded at New 
York, resolved to carry the war into the 
southern provinces, hoping to find the people 
less willing or less able to resist his arms, 
than their stubborn northern brethren. He 
directed his first operations against Savan- 
nah, which was apparently the weakest point 
at the South. On the 27th of November, 
1778, Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell sailed 
Trom Sandy Hook, Avith over 2,000 land 
troops, convoyed by Commodore Hyde Par- 
ker. The fleet arrived at Tybee Island, off 
the mouth of the Savannah, on the 23d of 
December ; and on the morning of the 29th, 
the vessels and transports having crossed the 
bar, the troops were landed above Five 
Fathom Hole, three miles below the town, 
and opposite Brewton Hill. The whole 
country on both banks of the Savannah, from 
its mouth to a considerable distance, was a 
continuous tract of marsh land, intersected by 



SAVANNAH. 



563 



the St. Augustine and Tybee creeks. From 
the point at which the British landed, a 
causeway, leading across a rice-swamp, and 
flanked on each side by a deep ditch, extend- 
ed to the city. The city itself stands upon a 
high bluff, of an altitude of forty feet, and 
then, as now, was approachable by land on 
three sides; on the east by a road which 
crossed the marsh upon a causeway leading 
from Brewton's HiU ; on the west by a road 
and causeway over the deep swamp of Mus- 
grove's creek, and on the south by the roads 
from White Bluff on Vernon river, and from' 
the Ogeechee Ferry, which unite near the 
town. The British advanced by the cause- 
way on the east. Six hundred yards from 
the landing-place rises an abrupt eminence, 
called Brewton's Hill, upon which a house 
owned by a Mr. G-erridoe, was situated. 
This house was occupied by a detachment of 
patriots. As the vanguard of the British 
army, which consisted of the 71st regiment 
of Eoyal Scots, approached the house, they 
were attacked by the Americans in the 
house. Captain Cameron and two of his 
company were killed, and the Highlanders, 
furious at the loss of their captain, rushed 
forward and attacked the Americans with so 
much impetuosity that they were driven into 
the adjacent woods. The English took pos- 
session of the height; and Campbell, from 
its summit, saw the American army drawn 
up in battle order about half a mile east of 
Savannah. General Howe was at Sunbury, 
when he received intelligence of the arrival 
of the British, and without delay hastened to 
Savannah to prepare for the invasion. Howe 
also received information that General Pre- 
vost, with the British troops under his com- 
mand, was on bis way to invade G-eorgia; 
and when the American general reached Sa- 
vannah, he found the place a scene of tumult 
and confusion. The American army, even 
after the militia from the adjacent country 
had come in, consisted only of about 900 
men. But Howe, beUeving that the enemy 
was weaker than it appeared, resolved to de- 
fend the town, and when the British arrived 
within sight they found him ready for battle. 
The American army was so disposed that its 
two wings extended on the two sides of the 
great road leading to Savannah. The center 
occupied the head of the causeway; the 
right wing, under Colonel Isaac Huger, cov- 
ered the marsh in front, and was flanked by 
a wooded swamp, and 100 Georgia militia, 
under Captain Smith of South Carolina, and 
the left wing, under Colonel Elbert, forced 
the rice-fields, and was flanked by the river. 
One piece of cannon was planted at each ex- 
tremity of the American line, and two pieces 
occupied the head of the causeway where it 
entered the main road in the center. After 



Campbell had formed his army on Brewton's 
Hill, he moved forward, and took a position 
within eight hundred yards of the American 
line. By the movements of the Americans, 
Campbell soon discovered that they expected 
and even desired that he should engage their 
left wing. In order to excite the belief that 
he intended to do so, he drew off a part of 
his forces to form on his left, and also dis- 
played his light infantry in that quarter of his 
line. This was about three o'clock in the after- 
noon. Campbell intended, however, to at- 
tack the right wing of the Americans, and 
having accidentally fallen in with a negro 
named Quamino Dolly, who offered to guide 
his troops by a by-path, through a woody 
swamp on the enemy's right, he directed Sir 
James Baird to follow the guide, and fall 
upon the rear of the American riglit, by sur- 
prise. The New York troops, under Colonel 
Trumbull, were ordered to support the light 
infantry, while Baird and Trumbull, under the 
guidance of the negro, were threading the 
labyrinth of the forest-covered swamp. 
Campbell prepared for an attack in front. 
Meanwliile, the republicans opened their 
artillery upon the British; the army of 
Campbell remained silent and motionless. 

Sir James Baird and his troops soon 
emerged from the swamp on the White Bluff 
road, and pusliing forward attacked Walton's 
Georgia brigade, in flank and rear. Walton 
was wounded, and with a great portion of his 
troops was taken prisoner. As soon as 
Campbell saw that Baird had reached his 
position, he suddenly opened a cannonade on 
the enemy, and pushed forward his troops to 
a charge in front. The charge of the Hes- 
sians and English was so impetuous, that the 
American line was broken, and Howe, per- 
ceiving the growing panic and confusion, 
ordered a retreat over the causeway across 
Musgrove's swamp, west of the town. Colo- 
nel Roberts with his artillery hastened to 
that point to cover the retreat. The British 
were already there to dispute the passage. 
After a hot conflict the American center 
and left wing gained the causeway, and 
escaped ; the left wing under Colonel Elbert, 
however, were unable to force the passage, 
and were driven into the marsh. The tide 
was high and only those who were able to 
swim, escaped, and these lost their guns and 
accouterments. The others were drowned 
or made prisoners. During the pursuit many 
of the citizens of Savannah were bayoneted 
in the streets ; but after the action was over. 
Colonel Campbell, who was as humane as he 
was brave and skillful, ordered his troops to 
spare the Hves and property of the inhabit- 
ants. The hke credit can not be given to 
Commodore Parker, whose brutal treatment 
of the prisoners committed to his care, has 



564 



SAVANNAH. 



branded his name with lasting infamy. The 
American army retreated as far as Cherokee 
Hill, eight miles thstant, where they rendez- 
voused ; and the whole army pushed up the 
Savannah as far as Zubley's Ferry, where 
they crossed the river into South Carohna. 
The British took immediate possession of 
Savannah. The Americans in this action 
lost 100 men killed or drowned in the swamp, 
and 453 taken prisoners. Among the latter 
were thiity-eight ofl&cers. The English lost 
about twenty men in killed and wounded. 
The fort at Savannah, with forty-eight pieces 
of cannon, twenty- three mortars and howit- 
zers, 817 small arms, ninety-four barrels of 
gunpowder, 1,545 cannon-shot, 104 case- 
shot, 200 shells, nine tons of lead, military 
stores, shipping on the river, and a large 
quantity of provisions, fell into the hands of 
the victors. 

Siege of 1779. — On the 3d of September, 
1779, a French fleet, consisting of twenty 
ships of the hue and eleven frigates, having 
on board 6,000 soldiers, suddenly ajspeared 
off Tybee island. He had come to assist 
the Americans in driving the British out of 
the southern States. So sudden was his ap- 
pearance that four British vessels fell into his 
hands without a struggle. General Prevost, 
with the British troops mider his command, 
occupied Savannah, and the American army, 
under Genpral Lincoln, was at Charleston, 
South Carolina. D'Estaing apprised Lincoln 
of his arrival, and a plan was arranged to be- 
siege Savannah immediately. Prevost, upon 
the appearance of the French fleet off Tybee, 
commenced vigorously to put the city in a 
state of defense. Pie recalled his detach- 
ments from the advanced posts, and sent 
orders to Colonel Maitland, who commanded 
at Beaufort, to rejoin him as soon as possible. 
He also recalled the detachment that occu- 
pied Sunbury; and began in earnest to 
strengthen the fortifications of the city. 
Every hand not otherwise engaged was 
busily engaged in this work ; and the chief 
of the engineers. Colonel Moncrief, pressed 
into his service 300 negroes, collected from 
the neighboring plantations. Thirteen re- 
doubts, and fifteen batteries, with fines of 
communication, and a strong abatis in front, 
were soon completed. The batteries were 
mounted with seventy-six pieces of cannon, 
which were manned by seamen from the 
ships in the harbor. The French fleet dis- 
appeared on the evening of the 4th; and 
Prevost took advantage of their absence to 
strengthen the works on Tybee island. The 
garrison at tliis place was also increased by 
100 men under Colonel Moncrief The fleet 
returned on the Gth ; and on the 9th some 
French troops were landed on the south side 
of Tybee island. Moncrief saw that resist- 



ance was useless, and spiked the guns and 
fled to Savannah. The English fleet in the 
Tybee river now sailed up to Five Fathom 
Hole, and the next day the cannons were 
removed from the ships of war, with a few 
exceptions, to the shore, and mounted on the 
fortifications. Prevost now felt prepared to 
receive the enemy. General Lincoln marched 
from Charleston immediately after receiving 
inteUigence of the arrival of the French fleet, 
and encamped at Zubley's Ferry, on the Sa- 
vannah river. He thence detached Count 
Pulaski, with his legion and the troops under 
General Mcintosh, toward Savannah, with 
orders to attack the British outposts. 

Meanwhile the French fleet had anchored 
off the bar at the mouth of the Savannah, 
and D'Estaing was landing his troops at 
Beauheu, about thirteen miles below the city. 
Pulaski and Mcintosh, after several skir- 
mishes with the enemy, succeeded in reaching 
the French army at Beaulieu, and thus rein- 
forced, D'Estaing advanced toward Savannah. 
Mcintosh returned to Miller's plantation, 
about three miles from Savannah, where, on 
the 16th, he was joined by Lincoln. On the 
same day D'Estaing advanced to within three 
miles of Savannah, and imperiously summoned 
Prevost to surrender to the King of France.* 
Prevost asked for a truce until the next day, 
to consider the subject. But the British gen- 
eral did not think of surrendering. His only 
object was to gain time, for he was in hourly 
expectation of the arrival of Maitland, with 
800 men from Beaufort. During the interval 
of the time, Maitland arrived, and thus re- 
inforced, Prevost informed the French admi- 
ral that he intended to hold out to the lastt 
General Lincoln with his force, which con- 
sisted of about 2,000 men, iiaving joined the 
French, the aUied armies prepared to take the 
town by regular approaches. The French 
army consisted of about 3,000 men. The 
whole British force in Savannah, was 2,850 
men, including a few militia, some Indians, 
and 300 negroes. The French established 
their quarters on the light of the place, the 
Americans on the left. The besiegers first 
broke ground on the 23 d of September. 
Trenches were opened, and so vigorously did 
the besiegers apply their tools, that in the 
course of twelve days, fifty-three pieces of 
cannon, and fourteen mortars were mounted 
in battery. The besieged were active in 
their efforts to retard the works of the ene- 
my. On the 24th of September, a number 
of British troops under Major Graham, made 
a sortie ; but they were driven back by the 

* "The Americans observed with extreme displeasure 
and jealousy, that the summons was made exchisivoly 
in the name of the King of France." Botta, Vol. ii. 
p. 2U5. 

t " Any four hours before the junction of Lieutenant- 
Colonel Maitland, was sufficient to have taken Savan- 
nah." Zee'* Memoirs. 



SAVANNAH. 



565 



besiegers with lo?3. On the 27th, another 
sortie was made under Major Mc Arthur, with 
a like result. The operations of the besiegers 
were not affected ; and on the morning of 
the 14th, all the iDatteries being completed 
and manned, the allies opened a terrific can- 
nonade on the British works and the city. 
The French frigate Tfuite bombarded the 
place from the water. The besiegers launched 
carcases into the town, and several houses 
were set on fire. Terror reigned in Savannah. 
The fearful storm shattered houses, and filled 
the streets with fallen timbers. Women and 
children were killed, and strong men shud- 
dered as they saw their fate. Famihes sought 
refuge from the iron tempest in cellars, and 
there breathing the infected air, and living in 
close contact with damp walls, they contract- 
ed mortal diseases. But, although the city 
itself suffered so much fi-om the fire of the 
besiegers, the works of the British remained 
uninjured. By sap and mine the besiegers 
slowly but surely approached the British bat- 
teries and redoubts; and had the French 
admiral had the patience to push his ap- 
proaches further, the to^vn would certainly 
have been taken. But D'Estaing could not 
brook the tardiness of the siege ; he found 
tlie autumn stormy, and he had been inform- 
ed that a British fleet was approaching. He 
called a council, and the engineers informed 
him that ten days must elapse before the 
British lines could be reached by trenches. 
Upon this he insisted that the siege must be 
raised, or the place be carried by storm. 
Lincoln chose the latter alternative, and the 
work was commenced on the morning of the 
9th of October. The abatis in front of the 
enemy's line was fired by Major L'Enfant 
and five men amid a volley of musketry from 
the garrison. The wood was green, how- 
ever, and the flames were soon extinguished. 
Before daybreak on the 9th of October, 
General Lincoln, and Count D'Estaing, hav- 
ing formed the flower of their army in three 
columns, advanced through a thick fog to the 
assault, under cover of a heavy fire from all 
the batteries. The storming force consisted 
of about 3,500 French soldiers, and 1,100 
Americans, of whom 600 were regular troops. 
The principal column was commanded by 
D'Estaing in person, assisted by General 
Lincoln ; another column was under the com- 
mand of Count DUlon, and the third was 
commanded by General Isaac Huger. The 
first was to assail the Spring Hill redoubt, on 
the right of the British line ; the second was 
to endeavor to gain the rear of the British 
line toward the river on the east, and the 
third was to make feigned attacks in front to 
create a diversion in favor of the others. On 
through the gloom, the fog, and darkness, 
marched those gallant men. They reached 



the redoubt unseen. The sun arose, the fog 
dispersed, the Britons saw their foes. Now 
gleamed the black redoubt with the fearful 
light of war. Swift through the ranks of the 
advancing foe, a leaden tempest rushed. 
Rank after rank went down, and screams of 
anguish rose. Down went D'Estaing. They 
bore Mm sorely wounded to his camp. Yet 
onward pressed the Americans, regardless of 
the terrific storm ; they passed the abatis^ 
they leaped the ditch ; they entered the re- 
doubt, and on it they planted the flags of 
France and South Carohna. The fight now 
raged with fury. Maitland uniting the British 
grenadiers and marines, ordered Colonel Gla- 
zier to drive the assailants back. Glazier at 
the head of his men rushed furiously to the 
attack. The combatants closed, and near the 
standards a fearful conflict ensued. The 
standards fell, and their brave defenders were 
thrown back through the abatis. In the 
struggles around the flag-staffs, the gallant 
Serjeant Jasper received a mortal wound. 
He had just secured them to the parapet of 
the redoubt, when a rifle ball pierced him and 
he fell into the ditch. He was borne to the 
camp, where he shortly afterward died. 
" Tell Mrs. Elliott," said the expiring hero, 
" that I lost my life supporting the colors she 
presented to our regiment."* 

While D'Estaing and Lincoln were engaged 
at the Spring Hill redoubt, Huger and Pulaski 
were assailing the enemy's works on different 
sides of the town. Huger having fruitlessly 
endeavored to force the enemy's hne on the 
east, retreated after losing twenty-eight 
men. At the same time Pulaski, with about 
200 horsemen, endeavored to force his way 
into the town, a little to the eastward of 
the Spring Hill Redoubt. Waving his ban- 
ner over his head, the noble Pole led his men 
forward ; he passed the abatis^ and his men 
followed eagerly. The British opened their 
artillery upon the assailants, and in the midst 
of a tornado of grape-shot, Pulaski fell, mor- 
tally wounded. His men vainly strove to 
breast the iron hail which, sweeping in all di- 
rections, cut down every thing before it. They 
fell back, and soon the whole force of the al- 
lied army retired before the fire of the enemy. 
The ground was laden with dead and dying 
Americans and French; and over the piles of 
corpses lilce a funeral pall floated the gloomy 
cloud of battle. Some of Pulaski's solfliers 
found the dying hero, and bore him from the 
field. At ten o'clock the besiegers showed a 
white flag, and asked a truce with leave to 
bury the dead and carry off the wounded. The 

* The American standards displayed on this occasion 
were those of the 2d South Carolina regitaent. They 
had been embroidered and presented to that regiment 
by Mrs. Susanna Elliott three days after the battle at 
Fort Moultrie, where Jasper particularly distinguished 
himself. See Qiarlnnton. 



5ed 



SAVIGLIANO— SCHWEIDNITZ. 



truce was granted by Prevost, and while the 
troops were engaged in removing the killed 
and maimed, D'Estaing and Lincoln held a 
consultation regarding future operations. Lin- 
coln wished to continue the siege; but D'Es- 
taing, whose loss was great, decided on an 
immediate departure. The siege was raised, 
and on the 18th the aUied armies retreated. 
The French retired to Caustin's Bluff whence 
on the 20th they returned to their ships at 
Tybee. The Americans retreated to Zubley's 
Ferry, and thence to Charleston. In this siege 
the French lost 637 men, in killed and 
wounded; the Americans lost 457. The 
British lost 120 men killed and wounded. 
Count Pulaski died a few days afterthe battle. 
His name lives in the heart of every American. 

SAVIGLIANO, A.D. 1799.— A battle was 
fought near Savigliano, in Italy, on the 18th 
of September, 1799, between the French and 
the Austrians, in which the latter were de- 
feated. 

SAVINDROOG-, a.d. 1791.— Savindroog, 
is a strong hill fortress in South India. The 
fortress stands upon a rock which rises half a 
mile in perpendicular height, and is sur- 
roun led by an impenetrable jungle. This 
fortress in 1791, although deemed impreg- 
nable, was taken by the British troops, Avith- 
out the loss of a single man. 

SCHELLENDORF, a.d. 1813.— At Schel- 
lendorf in Prussia, a cavalry combat was 
fought between the French and Prussians in 
1813, in which the latter were defeated. 

SCHELLEN'BERG, a.d. 1764.— Schellen- 
berg, in Bavaria, Avas, in the year 1764, the 
scene of a battle between the troops of Marl- 
borough, and the army of the Duke of Ba- 
varia. After an obstinate engagement, the 
Bavarians were defeated with great loss. 

SCHENECTADY, a.d. 1691.— On the 8th 
of Februar^^, 1691, a party of 200 Frenchmen | 
and Canadians, and fifty Indians, attacked ' 
Schenectady, in New York State, then a ' 
thriving village, and at midnight, bursting 
open the gates of the stockade which sur- 
rounded the town, fell upon the defenseless 
and unsuspecting inhabitants, massacred them 
without mercy, and laid the town in ashes. 
Sixty-three persons were murdered and 27 
carried into captivity. Sixty-three houses 
and the church were burned. A few persons 
escaped to Albany, traveling almost twenty 
miles in the snow, with no other covering 
than their night-clothes. Twenty-five of 
them lost their limbs in consequence, being 
bitten by the frost. 

SCHOHARIE, A.D. 1778.— On the 2d of 
July, 1778, an engagement took place be- 
tween a party of regular troops and Scho- 
harie militia, and 400 Indians, on the upper 
branch of the Cobleskill, in New York. The 
Americans, who were under the command of 



Captain Christian Brown, were overpowered 
by the superior force of the Indians. Four- 
teen Avere killed, ten wounded and missing, 
and the remainder escaped. 

SCHWEIDNITZ, a.d. 1761.— Schweidnitz, 
a town of Prussian Silesia, has been repeat- 
edly besieged ; but our space limits us to the 
description of two sieges only. 

The capture of Schweidnitz ofiers a fresh 
proof that no precaution is unnecessary in 
war. The smallest negligence in the serA-ice 
of places contiguous to the enemj^, is most 
frequently punished by unexpected reverses. 
Five hundred prisoners were neghgently 
guarded in the fortress of Schweidnitz. 
Among them was a Major Rocca, a clever 
ItaUan partisan. This major formed the idea 
of placing the fortress in which he Avas con- 
fined in the hands of the Austrians. He had 
the address to insinuate himself so completely 
into the good graces of the commander, that 
he had liberty to walk among all the Avorks, to 
become acquainted with the places of all the 
sentinels and of all the corps-de-garde ; he fre- 
quently saw the Austrians, prisoners Uke 
himself, intrigued in the city, and regularly 
informed General Laudon of all he saw, per- 
ceived, or imagined, that would facilitate the 
surprise of Schweidnitz. According to these 
instructions, the general drew up his plan of 
attack, which he executed in the night, be- 
tAveen the 30th of September and the 1st of 
October. He distributed twenty battahons in 
four attacks, one upon the Breslau gate, an- 
other upon the Striegau gate, the third upon 
the fort of Boeckendorff, and the fourth upon 
the Water fort. M. de ZastroAV, governor of 
Schweidnitz, having some suspicions of the 
enemy's intentions, called his garrison to 
arms about the middle of the night, and 
spread them about the works ; but he com- 
mitted the faults of not giving his ofiicers in- 
structions how to act, of not sending cavalry 
to a certain distance on the look-out, and of 
not discharging fire-bombs to throAV a light 
upon the approach of the enemy. The Aus- 
trians advanced to the pallisades, without be- 
ing discovered. There Avere only 12 cannon 
fired upon them, and the musketry was so 
weak that it did them no harm. The guard 
of the Striegau gate was surprised, and they 
penetrated thence through the works. Dur- 
ing this confusion, the Austrian prisoners 
threw off the mask, took possession of the 
interior gate of the city, thrcAV it open to the 
enemy's advancing troops, and made them- 
selves masters of the whole place. The only 
person Avho held out was the commander of 
the Water fort ; but his resistance Avas use- 
less. 

Such an unexpected misfortune changed 
all the plans of the King of Prussia, who could 
onl}', during the remainder of this campaign. 



SEDGEMOOR. 



567 



defend, against a superior enemy, the for- 
tresses and territories he had left. 

Second Siege, a.d. 1762. — The principal 
object of the next campaign was, for the 
King of Prussia, the recapture of Schweid- 
nitz. Frederic had not one man more than 
was requisite for the execution of this import- 
ant enterprise. Seventy thousand Austrians 
composed the army of Marshal Daun and the 
corps of Laudon, Hadduck, Brentano, De 
Beck, and Bllershausen. The Prussian army 
was not inferior, but troops must be detached 
from it for the siege, of which M. de Tauziern 
had the direction. He invested the place on 
the 4th of August, and opened the trenches 
on the 7th ; they commenced at Briqueterie, 
and turned toward Warben, to embrace the 
polygon of Jauernick, upon which the princi- 
pal attack was directed. M. de Guasco made 
a sortie, but it did not answer his expecta- 
tions ; the Prussian dragoons beating the 
Austrians back into the place. The King of 
Prussia thought that Laudon, in order to suc- 
cor the place, would take the route of Sibel- 
berg, Warther, and Langen-Brelau ; he went, 
therefore, to place himself at PfaffendorfF, 
while he caused the post of Peila to be taken 
by the Prince of Bevern. Every thing hap- 
pened as the King of Prussia had foreseen. 
Marshal Daun took the route of Langen- 
Brelau, attacked the Prussians at Peila, was 
beaten, and retreated. The check experi- 
enced by Marshal Daun gave M. de Guasco a 
bad augury of the fate of the place, and he 
made an attempt to obtain an advantageous 
capitulation, with a free departure for his 
garrison. The King of Prussia refused to 
comply, because it would have been a capital 
error to allow 10,000 men to march out of a 
city, of which, with a little patience, he should 
render himself master; the Prussian army 
would be weakened at least by 4,000 men 
necessary to garrison Schweidnitz, and the 
Prussian strength would be lessened to the 
amount of 14,000 men. The King of Prussia 
repaired in person, on the 20th of September, 
before Schweidnitz, in order to push on the 
works with more vigor. Lefebvre, the chief 
engineer, was opposed to Gribeauvel, es- 
teemed one of the first men of the age for the 
defense of places. Lefebvre was soon out- 
witted by the activity of the French engineer, 
who countermined his mines and thwarted 
all his plans. Frederic was obliged to take 
the details of the siege upon liimself; the 
tliird parallel was lengthened ; a battery in 
breach was placed there ; ricochets were 
there established against Briqueterie, with 
another battery upon Kuhberg; and the 
works of the Austrians were taken in rear. 
Some branches of the mines of the besieged 
were likewise sprung. The garrison made 
two sorties, and dislodged the Prussians from 



a crowned tunnel, from which they wished 
to debouch by fresh branches. These ma- 
neuvers prolonged the duration of the siege, 
because they rendered a subterranean war 
necessary. All the cannon of the place were, 
however, either evasts* or dismounted ; pro- 
visions were beginning to be scarce, and the 
enemy would have been compelled to surren- 
der on that account, if a bomb, falhng in front 
of the powder-magazine of Jauernick, had not 
set fire to it, knocked down a part of that 
fort, and killed three hundred Austrian gren- 
adiers. This accident, wliich laid the place 
open, obliged M. de Guasco to beat a parley ; 
he surrendered himself and his garrison pris- 
oners of war, on the 9th of October, and 
they were marched away into Prussia. — 
Hobson. 

SEDGEMOOR, a.d. 1685.— This is the 
name of a wild tract of land in the county of 
Somerset, between King's Weston and Bridge- 
water, in England. The battle of Sedgemoor 
was fought on the 5th of July, 1685, be- 
tween the army of Lord Monmouth, who as- 
sumed the throne of England, and that of 
James II., under Fevershara, near Bridge- 
water., The battle was obstinate and bloody. 
After a combat of three hours, the rebels 
gave way, and were pursued with great 
slaughter. About 1,500 fell in the battle and 
pursuit. The victors lost 300 men killed and 
wounded. Monmouth fled from the field of 
battle over twenty miles, till his horse sunk 
under liim. He then changed clothes with a 
peasant in order to conceal himself. The 
peasant was discovered by the pursuers, who 
now redoubled the diligence of their search. 
At last the unhappy Monmouth was found 
lying in the bottom of a ditch, covered with 
fern ; his body depressed vvrith fatigue and 
hunger; his mind by the memory of past 
misfortunes, and by the prospect of future dis- 
asters. He burst into tears when seized by 
his enemies ; and he seemed still to indulge 
the fond hope and desire of hfe. 

Though he might have known, from the 
greatness of his own offenses and the sever- 
ity of James's temper, that no mercy could 
be expected, he wrote him the most submis- 
sive letters, and conjured him to spare the issue 
of a brother, who had ever been so strongly 
attached to his interests ; but James replied, 
that by usurping the title of king he had ren- 
dered himself incapable of pardon. Finding 
all efforts vain he assumed courage from de- 
spair, and prepared himself for death with a 
spirit better suited to his rank and character. 
The favorite of the people was attended to 
the scaffold with a plentiful effusion of tears. 
He warned the executioner not to fall into 
the error which he had committed in behead- 
ing Russell. This caution served only to dis- 

Kendered too wide at the mouth. 



568 



SEEFIN— SELASIA. 



may the executioner. He struck a feeble 
blow on Monmouth, who raised his head 
from the block, and looked him in the face, 
as if reproaching him for his failure. He 
gently laid down his head a second time, and 
the executioner struck him again and again 
to no purpose. He then threw aside the axe, 
and cried out that he was incapable of finish- 
ing the bloody office. The sheriff obliged 
him to renew the attempt, and at two blows 
more the head was severed from the body. 
Thus perished, on the 15th of July, 1685, in 
the thirty-sixth year of his age, a nobleman, 
who, in less turbulent times, was well quaU- 
fied to be an ornament of the court, and even 
to be servicable to his country. 

SEEFIN. — During the ninth century, in 
the space of 110 days, ninety engagements 
took place in the vicinity of Seefin, a small 
town of Asiatic Turkey, between the adher- 
ents of Alee and of Moawiyah, in which it is 
asserted 70,000 Mohammedans perished. 

SELASIA, B.C. 223.— No sooner had 
Cleomenes ascended the throne of Sparta 
than he engaged in a war with the Achaeans. 
The Achfeans finding themselves in the great- 
est danger, applied for succor to Antigonus, 
King of Macedon, who immediately formed 
an alliance with them. In the early part of 
the summer (223 b.c), Antigonus put him- 
self at the head of the ' Macedonians and 
Achaeans, and advanced into Laconia. His 
army consisted of 28,000 foot, and 1,200 
horse. Cleomenes's army amounted to no 
more than 20,000 men. As Cleomenes had 
anticipated an irruption from the enemy, he 
had fortified all the passes by posting detach- 
ments of his troops in them, and by throwing 
up intrenchments and cutting down trees, 
after which he formed his camp at the defile 
of ^Selasia. This defile was formed by two 
mountains, one of which had the name of 
Eva, and the other that of Olympus. The 
river Olneus, ran between them, on the banks 
of which was the road to Sparta. Cleomenes 
imagined, and with good reason, that the en- 
emy would endeavor to force a passage into 
Laconia, through this avenue, and he was not 
deceived. Having thrown up a strong in- 
trenchmcmt at the foot of these mountains, 
Cleomenes posted his brother Euclidas on the 
eminence of Eva, at the head of his allies, 
and planted himself on Olympus with the 
LacediBmonians, and a party of foreign troops, 
and placing at the same time along each bank 
of the river a detachment of the cavalry and 
foreign auxiliaries. When Antigonus arrived 
at the defile, after reconnoitering Cleomenes's 
position, he did not think proper to attack 
him ; but encamped at a small distance in the 
plain. Neither side for several days ventured 
to offer battle. At length Cleomenes, who 
was in want both of money and provisions, 



and was not only in arrear with his foreign 
troops to the amount of a considerable sum, 
but found it extremely difficult to maintain his 
Spartan force, determined to venture a battle. 

When the signals were given on both 
sides, Antigonus detached a body of troops, 
consisting of Macedonian and Illyrian battal- 
ions alternately disposed, against those of 
the enemy posted on Mount Eva. This sec- 
ond line consisted of Acarnanians and Cret- 
ans, and in the rear of these 2.000 Achseans 
were drawn up as a body of reserve. He 
drew up his cavalry along the banks of the 
river, in order to oppose the enemy's horse, 
and caused them to be supported by 1,000 
of the Achfean foot and the same number of 
Megalopolitans. Then placing liimself at the 
head of the Macedonians and light-armed for- 
eign troops he advainced to Mount Olympus to 
attack Cleomenes. The foreigners were dis- 
posed into the first line, and marched im- 
mediately before the Macedonian phalanx, 
which was divided into two bodies, the one 
in the rear of the other, because the ground 
would not admit the forming a larger front. 

The action began at Mount Eva, when the 
light-armed troops who had been posted with 
an intention to cover and support the cavalry 
of Cleomenes, observing that the rear of the 
Achffi:an cohorts was uncovered, immediately 
wheeled about and attacked them. Those 
who endeavored to gain the summit of the 
mountain found themselves vigorously pressed 
by the enemy and in great danger, being 
threatened in front by Euclidas, Avho was on 
the heights, at the same time that they were 
charged in their rear by the foreign troops, 
who assaulted them with the utmost impetu- 
osity. Cleomenes, the Megalopolitan, and 
his citizens were posted among the Macedon- 
ian cavalry, who were supported by the Illy- 
rians, and had received orders not to remove 
from that post till a particular signal should 
be given. Philopoemen observing thafit 
would not be difficult to fall upon this fight 
infantry of Euclidas, and rout them entirely, 
and that the critical moment for tlie charge 
had arrived, commumcated his opinion to 
such of the king's officers as commanded the 
cavalry. They, however, would not Hsten 
to the advice of a commander so young and 
inexperienced. Philopoemen, was not to be 
diverted from his purpose by this rebuff; but 
at the head of his own citizens he attacked 
and repulsed that body of infantry with great 
slaughter. The Macedonians and lUyrians 
being disengaged by this operation from 
what before had retarded their motions, 
boldly marched up the hill to attack their 
enemies. EucUdas was now to engage with 
a phalanx whose whole force consisted in the 
strict union of its parts, the closeness of its 
ranks, the steady and equal force of its nu- 



SELINUNTUM— SEMPACH. 



569 



merous and pointed spears, and the uniform 
impetuosity of that heavy body, which by its 
weight overthrew and bore down all before 
it. In order to prevent this inconvenience 
an able officer would have marched down 
the mountain with such of his troops as were 
lightest armed and most active, to have met 
the phalanx. He would have attacked them 
as soon as they began to ascend, and would 
then have harassed them on every side. 
The inequalities of the mountain, with the 
difficulty of ascending it entirely uncovered, 
would have enabled him to open a passage 
through this body of men, and to have inter- 
rupted their march by putting their ranks 
into confusion, and breaking their order of 
battle. He would also have fallen back by 
degrees, in order to regain the summit of the 
mountain as the enemy advanced upon him, 
and after he had deprived them of the only 
advantage they could expect from the qual- 
ity of their arms and the dispositions of their 
troops, he might have improved the advan- 
tage of his post in such a manner as to have 
easily put them to flight. Instead of acting 
in this manner, EucUdas continued on the top 
of the mountain, flattei'ing himself that vic- 
tory would iitfallibly attend his arms. He 
imagined in all probability that the higher he 
permitted the enemy to advance, the easier 
it would be for him to precipitate their troops 
down the steep declivity ; but, as he had not 
reserved for his own forces a sufficient extent 
of ground for any retreat that might happen 
to be necessary for avoiding the terrible 
charge of the phalanx, his troops were crowd- 
ed together in such a manner as obliged liim 
to fight on the sunnnit of the mountain where 
they could not long sustain the weight of 
the Illyrian arms, and as his men could 
neither retreat nor change their ground, they 
were soon defeated and he was slain by their 
enemies. During this action the cavalry of 
each army had also engaged on the plain. 

The two kings began their engagement on 
Mount Olympus, with their light-armed 
troops and foreign soldiers, of whom each 
had about 5,000. As the action took place 
in the sight of each sovereign and his army, 
the troops vied with each other in signalizing 
themselves, as well in parties as when the 
battle became general. Man to man, and 
rank to rank, all fought with the utmost 
vigor and obstinacy. Cleomenes, when he 
saw his brother defeated on Mount Eva, and 
his cavalry beginning to give ground in the 
plain, was apprehensive that the enemy 
would pour upon him from all quarters, and 
therefore thought it advisable to level all the 
intrenchments around his camp, and cause 
his whole army to march out in front. The 
trumpet having sounded, a signal for the 
light-armed troops to retreat from the space 



between the two camps, each phalanx ad- 
vanced with loud shouts, sliifting their lances 
at the same time, and began the charge. 
The action was very hot. At one time the 
Macedonians would fall back before the valor 
of the Spartans, and at another, the Spartans 
in turn would recede before the weight of 
the Macedonian phalanx. At length the 
troops of Antigonus, advancing with their 
lances lowered and closed, charged the Mace- 
donians with all the impetuosity of a pha- 
lanx that had doubled its ranks, and drove 
them from their intrenchments. The defeat 
then became general; the Lacedemonians 
fell in great numbers, and those who survived 
fled from the field of battle in the greatest 
disorder. Cleomenes, with only a few horse, 
retreated to Sparta. The most of his foreign 
troops perished in this battle, and no more 
than 200 Lacedaemonians escaped out of 
6,000. This battle made Antigonus master 
of Sparta. — RoJlin. 

SELINUNTUM, b.c. 412. — After the 
memorable defeat of the Athenians before 
Syracuse, the Segestans, who had declared in 
favor of the Athenians against the Syracus- 
ans, fearing the resentment of their enemies, 
and being attacked by the inhabitants of 
Selinuntum in Sicily, implored the aid of the 
Carthaginians. The latter, anxious to possess 
themselves of Selinuntum, which was an ex- 
ceedingly wealthy and prosperous city, con- 
sented to send succor to the Segestans. A 
large army was immediately raised, and 
intrusted to the care of Hannibal, the grand- 
son of Hamilcar, who had been defeated and 
slain by Gelon at Hymera. Hannibal, fired 
with the desire to revenge his family and his 
country, and to wipe away the stain which 
the defeat of his grandfather had placed upon 
his father and himself, left Carthage with the 
determination to return home a conqueror or 
to leave his body on the field of battle. He 
landed at a place called the Well of Lilybeum, 
and his fiirst enterprise was the siege of Sel- 
inuntum. The attack and defense were 
equally vigorous, the very women fighting in 
the defense of their city with a bravery 
above their sex. After a long resistance, the 
city was at length taken by storm, and was 
given over to the soldiers to plunder. Han- 
nibal exercised the most horrible cruelties. 
He spared neither age nor sex. This city 
had been built 240 years. 

SELKIRK, A.D. 1645.— In 1645 a battle 
took place near Selkirk, in Scotland, between 
the troops of the Marquis of Montrose and the 
army of General Leslie. The army of the 
marquis was totally defeated. 

SEMPACH.— This small town in Switzer- 
land, on the east bank of Lake Sempach, in 
tl)i' canton of Lucerne, is famous in Swiss his- 
tory, for the victory gained in its vicinity on 



670 



SENNEFFE— SEVASTOPOL. 



the 9th of July, 138G, by a Swiss force of 
about 1,400 men over 4,000 Austrians, com- 
manded by the Archduke Leopold II. The 
battle was fierce and bloody. The hardy 
Swiss rushed frantically to the fight; but, 
borne back on the points of the long lances 
of the Austrians, they were enabled to break 
their ranks. At length, many of the Swiss 
having fallen, Arnold Von Winkelried, a 
knight of Unterwalden, cried out to his com- 
rades, " I Avill make a path for you, faithful, 
beloved friends ; think of my family," and 
rushing upon the wall of Austrian lances, 
grasped several of the weapons in Ms hands, 
and regardless of the thrusts, bore their own- 
ers with him to the ground. His country- 
men beheld his death, and with shouts of 
rage rushed through the opening he had 
made, and attacked the Austrians with such 
valor that they were soon put to rout. In 
this battle Leopold was slain, and 2,000 Aus- 
trians fell in the conflict and the pursuit. 
The Swiss lost only 200 men. The Swiss on 
the anniversary of this day, hold a national 
celebration in honor of the gallant knight of 
Unterwalden, and those who fell with him. 

SEJvTNEFFE, a.d. 1674.— Tliis village in 
Belgium is celebrated from its vicinity having 
seen one of the most sanguinary conflicts of 
modern times. Here, on the 11th of August 
1647, a French army, under the famous 
Prince of Oonde, attacked the rear guard of 
the confederates, commanded by the Prince 
of Orange (afterward William III., King of 
England), and gained a considerable advan- 
tage. But, not satisfied with this, Conde 
imprudently attacked the main body of the 
confederates, who had taken up a very strong 
position, on which, notwithstanding the most 
astonishing efforts, he could make no impres- 
sion. The loss on both sides was nearly 
equal ; and such was the slaughter, that over 
20,000 men were left on the field of battle. 
To use the words of Voltaire, "Xa grande et 
celebre battaile de Senefne fut qu' un carnage." 
Both armies withdrew the next day, neither 
attempting to molest the other. Tliis was the 
last great battle fought by the Prince of Conde. 

SERINGAPATAM, a. d. 1799. — This 
celebrated fortress is situated at the west 
angle of an island in the Cavery, nine miles 
north-east of Mysore in India. Seringapa- 
tam was besieged by the English in 1791, 
and in 1792 when Tippoo Saib purchased a 
peace by ceding half his dominions and pay- 
ing a large sum of money to the British. In 
the last siege, of which we insert the details, 
Tippoo was killed, and the dynasty of Hyder 
Ali terminated. 

Two English armies directed their course 
toward Seringapatam, the capital of the 
kingdom of Mysore. G-eneral Harris crossed 
the Cavery on the 31st of March, and estab- 



Ushed himself at two miles from the south- 
west of that city ; he there waited for Gen- 
eral Stuart, who joined him seven days after 
with a body of troops detached from the 
army of Madras. Confident in the strength 
of the works which surrounded the island in 
which Seringapatam is situated, Tippoo Saib 
made no effort to oppose this junction. The 
works were furnished with 400 pieces of 
cannon, and constructed with the greatest 
care. For some time he satisfied himself 
with defending his outworks. The resistance 
of the sultan, on this point, was as short as 
it was useless. General Stuart made the 
Indian troops fall back to within 800 toises 
of the western angle of the place, and car- 
ried an intrenchment which separated him 
from General Harris, so that Seringapatam 
was completely invested, and the fii'st par- 
allel was immediately opened. Battery in 
lareach was commenced on the 1st of May ; 
by the 4th it was deemed practicable. Four 
regiments were selected to mount the breach. 
General Harris, the more to surprise the sul- 
tan, deferred giving the signal till the moment 
of the greatest heat, in the middle of the 
day. The English troops and the sepoy 
grenadiers marched out of the trenches, 
crossed the pebbly bed of the Cavery under 
a murderous fire, and mounted to the breach- 
es efi"ected in the fausse-hraie and the rampart. 
The combat was bloody and obstinate. Tip- 
poo Saib, taken by surprise, and rendered 
desperate by the fear of loss of empire and 
hfe, faced death wherever the greatest peril 
threatened: he perished in the mtUc, to- 
gether with his principal officers. All the 
fortifications were carried, but the children of 
the sultan stUl defended themselves in the 
palace, which contained his family, his wives, 
and his treasures. General Harris promised 
safety and protection to the inhabitants of the 
palace, and they surrendered immediately. 
The body of Tippoo was sought for, and 
found beneath a heap of slain, near one of 
the gates ; he was recognized by his family, 
and deposited in the tomb of his father, 
Hyder Ah. The treasures of his palace 
were distributed among the victorious army. 
After the taking of Seringapatam, Tippoo's 
chUdreu, his relations, and the princes engaged 
in alliance with him, submitted. Tliis opera- 
tion rendered the English absolute masters of 
the peninsula of India. 

SEVASTOPOL, A.D. 1854.— Sevastopol, 
latterly the principal naval station of Russia 
on the Black Sea, stands near the southern 
extremity of the Crimea, on the north side 
of a point of land, extending west about ten 
mUes, and on the south side of one of the 
finest bays in the world. 

A detailed account of the siege of Sevas- 
topol woiild require more space than the hmita 



SEVASTOPOL. 



571 



of our volume can afford ; nay, it would re- 
quire a volume of itself; we must therefore 
content ourselves by giving merely the events 
of the siege, dwelling on such portions as 
we deem of most interest to our readers. 

On the 14th of September, the allied army 
of 70,000 men, embracing English, French, and 
Turkish troops, under the command of Lord 
Raglan and Marshal St. Arnaud, landed at 
Eupatoria in the Crimea. It was conveyed 
in 100 vessels, and escorted by the entire 
allied fleet of war ships, then in the Black 
Sea. Twelve thousand men were left at 
Baltschik (Turkey), with an immense force 
of artillery. 

On the 18th the armies proceeded toward 
the great point of their destination, and then 
for the first time for 500 years, the soldiers of 
two nations who before had been implacable 
foes, marched against a common enemy. 

On the 20th was fought the battle of the 
Alma, a detailed description of which will be 
found in another portion of this volume, and 
amid constant alerts and skirmishes, while 
being fearfully thinned by cholera, the allies 
marched upon and took possession of Balakla- 
va, about seven miles south-east of Sevastopol. 

On the 23d a powder magazine belonging 
to the Russian army, exploded at Perekop, 
and 430 men were killed. 

On the 26th, Marshal St. Arnaud, who 
commanded the French army, was obliged, 
by sickness, to resign his command, and left 
for Constantinople. He died a few days 
afterward. 

The allies on the 5th of October prepared 
for besieging Sevastopol in due form, and 
from tliis day to the 12th, the Russian gar- 
rison of Sevastopol, had, by a partial bombard- 
ment, 120 men killed and 480 wounded. 

On the 17th of October, the allies com- 
menced to bombard Sevastopol both by sea 
and land. The Russians repUed with spirit, 
and the besiegers soon found that the city was 
a very different place from what they had ex- 
pected, and that they had to deal with brave, 
active, and persevering enemies, always on 
the watch to take advantage, and commanded 
by skillful and enterprising officers. 

On the 18th a siege battery exploded in the 
French hnes, and 230 men were killed. Four 
hundred and sixty-five Russians were killed 
on the same day by an explosion in the 
Redan. 

On the 19th, the allied ships stood in very 
near to Sevastopol, and recommenced tlie 
bombardment. The fire was returned by the 
Russians with such spirit that in the evening 
the fleet was obUged to retire, much damaged. 

On the 23d, the Russian garrison in Sevas- 
topol made a sally and captured a French 
battery of eleven guns. 

The works of the allies were gradually 



advancing, yet they had gained thus far 
no decided advantage ; the Russians knew 
the vast superiority of earth-works over 
every species of fortification, and under the 
superintendence of their indefatigable and 
skillful engineer, Todleben, worked inces- 
santly with the mattock and spade. The 
allies, meanwhile, suffered fearfully. Toward 
the end of October a great diminution in the 
numbers of the troops began to be felt; 
there was a steady drain, in one way or 
another, of from forty to fifty men a day. 

On the 25th of October was fought the 
Battle of Balaklava. General Liprandi, 
with 30,000 Russians, made a desperate attack 
on the allied troops. In an attempt to turn 
their right flank, the Russians routed the 
Turkish troops and took two batteries. 
Owing to an indiscreet order. Lord Cardigan's 
division of English light cavalry, charged the 
Russian batteries, but were routed with a 
loss of about 600 men and horses, the squad- 
ron of 17th Lancers being nearly totally cut 
off ; the Russians suffered severely from the 
heavy cavalry of the English, but maintained 
the batteries they had taken. The work 
in the trenches now became very try- 
ing to the besiegers. From the first, the 
British army was deficient in numbers for 
such an undertaking. Severe labor, change 
of climate, and unusual exposure, exhausted 
them. The French, however, made more 
progress in the works, and the EngUsh were 
overtasked by an endeavor to keep pace with 
them. The guns, too, became shaky from 
continual service. The Russians in this arm 
excelled the allies; their guns could bear 
more frequent firing, from the excellence of 
the hon of which they were composed. 

On the 26th, 8,000 Russians made a sortie 
from Sevastopol, but were repulsed by the 
besiegers, with a loss of 1,000 men. 

By the 30th of October, the position of the 
alhes was rendered very much worse by the 
closing in upon them of the Russians in their 
rear; but the sea on the side of Balaklava being 
protected by the fleet, was still open up to them. 

The Russians removed every combustible 
part from their houses and buildings, so that, 
with the exception of flesh and blood, the 
allies had nothing to fire against, but stone 
Avails and mounds of earth. The most keen 
and active hunter could not be more cun- 
ningly and anxiously on the watch for a shot, 
than were the whole bodies of riflemen in 
both armies during the siege. But now, as 
winter approached, the English troops be- 
came sensible of the miseries of their situation. 
With bad weather sickness increased, and the 
wants of the soldiers were not duly attend- 
ed to. Amid a scene of universal misery, 
caused by the neghgence of officials, a spec- 
tacle was now presented which will ever be 



572 



SEVASTOPOL. 



remembered. Miss Nightingale, with a band 
of "ministering angels," was to be seen 
moving gently around the couches of sick 
and wounded soldiers, laving with soft hands 
their burning brows, and administering com- 
fort and consolation to all. At this period of 
the siege, Russian spies of a bold character 
occasionally made their appearance in the 
alhed camp, and generally succeeded, after 
acquiring all the information they desired, 
in making good their escape. 

On Sunday, the 3d of November, was 
fought the battle of Inkerman. Early in the 
morning, during a dense fog, the Russian 
army, increased by reinforcements from the 
Danube, and animated by the presence of the 
Grand Dukes Michael and Nicholas, attacked 
the right of the English position before Sevas- 
topol. 

The Russian plans of attack were as 
perfect as possible, and nothing but the des- 
perate valor of the Enghsh troops could have 
prevented their carrying into effect their 
threat of driving the besiegers into the sea. 
" The battle of Inkerman," says Mr. Russel, 
" admits of no description. It was a series 
of dreadful deeds of daring of sanguinary 
hand-to-hand fights, of despairing ralhes, of 
desperate assaults — in glen and valleys, in 
brushwood glades and remote dells, hidden 
from all human eyes, and from wliich the 
conquerors, Russian or British, issued only to 
engage fresh foes, till the battaUons of the 
czar gave way before our steady courage, and 
the chivalrous fire of France." The battle con- 
tinued till near night, when General Forey's 
division of the French army drove the Russians 
into the city, but in the attempt to enter with 
them, the French were routed with great 
loss. In this grand struggle, 45,000 Russians 
were engaged, and their artillery was reUeved 
no less than four times. 

Lord Raglan reported the English casual- 
ties thus : — i3 officers, 32 sergeants, 4 drum- 
mers, 383 rank and file killed ; 103 officers, 
122 sergeants, 17 drummers, 1,710 rank and 
file wounded; 1 officer, 6 sergeants, 191 rank 
and file missing. Killed, 462 ; wounded, 
1,952 ; missmg, 191. Total, 2,612. General 
Canrobert announced the French loss as fol- 
lows: — "The French army has suffered to 
the extent of 1,726 killed or wounded. We 
have bitterly to regret the. loss of General de 
Lourmel, since dead from his wounds. It is 
my painful duty also to acquaint you with 
the death of Colonel du Camas, of the sixth 
regiment of tiie line, killed at the head of 
his troops." The Russian Invalide officially 
reported the Russian loss to be 42 officers, 
and 2,969 men killed, and 206 officers, and 
5,791 men wounded, giving the total of 9,008 
killed and wounded. The number of prison- 
ers taken by the aUies not given. Three 



English generals were killed, and four severely 

wounded. 

The fire of the allies on Sevastopol was 
almost entirely suspended. On the 18th, 
the Russians were reinforced by 20,000 men. 
The besiegers experienced sufferings, almost 
unparalleled. The rain feU incessantly, and 
misery stared them in the face at all points. 
Food was scarce ; the roads were impractic- 
able, and their camp was a wilderness of 
mud ; a picture of dirt and woe. On the 
2d of January, 1855, there were 3,500 sick in 
the British army before Sevastopol, and their 
illness was for the most part, caused by hard 
work in bad weather, and by exposure to 
wet, without any adequate protection. 

The Russians not only opened their new 
year, on the 12th of January, with the 
usual ringing of the beUs, and other gayeties, 
but with a tremendous cannonade, and a 
spirited sortie. They were expected, how- 
ever, and repulsed with great loss. 

On the 19th of January, the historian of 
the war makes this striking remark: "Ex- 
cept Lord Raglan, Lord Lucan, and Sir R. 
England, not one of our generals now remain 
of those who came out here originally : the 
changes among our brigadiers and colonels 
have been almost as great — all the rest have 
been removed from the army by wounds, 
sickness, or death — and so it is of the men." 
The superior resources of the French began 
now to be felt ; ground was gradually rehn- 
quished to them, and the front, which it cost 
the British so much strength and health to 
maintain, was necessarily abandoned to the 
more numerous and less exhausted army. 
The French received reinforcements continu- 
ally, while the Enghsh were not dwindUng, 
l3ut being swept away : the grave and the 
hospital swallowed their men by thousands — 
between the 1st of December, and the 20th 
of January, 8,000 sick and wounded men 
were sent down from camp to Balaklava, 
and thence on shipboard! — from the battle 
of Inkerman to this period, 1,000 men of 
the brigade of guards had been " expended, 
absorbed, used up, and were no more seen 1" 
Every night was enUvened with a skirmish, 
and with sharp-shooting behind the parapets, 
and in the broken grounds between the fines. 
The Russians, throughout had plenty of men, 
with a superabundance of mattrid — the En- 
glish had not space for a hundredth part of 
the cannonades, bombardments, fusillades, 
sharp-shooting, sorties, and all kinds of annoy- 
ances kept up by the Russians : in justice, it 
must be said, that no place was ever more 
earnestly, actively, and bravely defended. 

Between the 15th and the 31st of January, 
the Russians made three fearful sorties fi-om 
Sevastopol, but were invariably repulsed. 

Toward the middle of February, the earth- 



SEVASTOPOL. 



573 



works on both sides had been so nearly 
perfected, that even the bombardment from 
mortars of great size produced but httle 
apparent effect. Tiie Russian force, in rear 
of the allies, was now estimated at 35,000 
men : the allies were completely besieged ; 
but the fleet still maintained its position, and 
secured a free communication with the sea. 

As soon as the 21st of February, the allies 
became aware of the immense labors being 
carried on by the Russians in the north di- 
vision of the city, on the other side of the 
harbor. There were not less than 3,000 men 
employed in the works, and the correspond- 
ent of the l^mes then foretold the exact pur- 
pose for which they were preparing: they 
were securing themselves a place of retreat. 
They received almost boundless supphes, 
without the aUies being apparently able to 
hinder them. 

The siege was not unmarked by some of 
those occasional intercourses which teach 
men that, although opposed in deadly strife, 
they are human creatures. Now and then 
an hour's truce, for the purpose of burying 
the dead, brought Russian oflScers out of the 
town, and civilities were exchanged. 

The railway between Balaklava and the 
camp, now began to be in operation, and was 
a source of intense wonderment to the Cos- 
sack pickets. 

The rifle-pits, which are a novelty in siege 
warfare, next became the objects of constant 
struggle. They were simple excavations in 
the ground, in front, and to the right and left 
of the Malakoflf tower, about six hundred 
yards from the works of the aUies. They 
were faced round with sand-bags, loop-holed 
for rifles, and banked up with earth thrown 
from the pits. They were, in fact, httle forts 
or redoubts, to act against the besiegers, 
armed with rifles instead of cannon. Each 
could contain ten men, and there were six of 
them. They were so well protected and 
covered by the nature of the ground, that 
neither English riflemen nor Erench sharp- 
shooters could touch them. Some of the 
severest fighting of the siege took place for 
the possession of these pits, which were pe- 
culiar objects of French interest, as being in 
front of their lines. On the 22d of March 
the French obtained three of these important 
holes, and immediately commenced a sharp 
fusillade against the Mamelon and Round 
Tower, from the sandbags. 

Toward the end of March, a happy change 
was effected for the besiegers : food became 
plentiful, and camp comforts were even su- 
perabundant. 

On the 9th of April, the long-expected 
second bombardment of 530 guns was opened 
simultaneously by the allies upon the de- 
fenses of Sebastopol, amid wind and tor- 



rents of rain, with an atmosphere so thick, 
that even the flashes of the guns were invis- 
ible. They were warmly responded to by 
the Russians. By the 18th, however, the 
fire slackened on both sides : each seemed 
glad to avail themselves of a little respite. 

On the 19th, a grande reconnaissance was 
made by the Turkish forces, assisted by the 
English and French. It was a picturesque 
march, answered all the intended purpose, 
and was a great rehef to the monotony of 
the siege. Contests were daily and nightly 
taking place, each worthy of being made ep- 
isodes in a great poem. " Deeds of daring," 
of firm courage and devotion, were enactefl 
in numbers by officers and men : the contest 
on both sides was truly "a strife of heroes;" 
but it must be left to the bards of futiu:e 
ages. 

The French Unes were now within a few 
hundred yards of the Mamelon, and the Brit- 
ish advanced parallel inchned toward the 
Round Tower. The progress was steady, but 
it was dearly bought : the Russians contested 
every inch of ground bravely. 

The Russian night-attacks were more fre- 
quent, but they were, in all cases, repulsed 
with loss, although well planned and bravely 
carried out. The principal disadvantage to 
the British arose from the havoc made among 
their best soldiers ; the bravest would go to 
the front, and were the first victims. Races 
and cricket matches were got up — but, after 
a few trials, died out. The gallant troops 
tried all they could to keep up their spirits ; 
but the real game going on was too serious. 

On the 16th of May the allies were de- 
hghted by a welcome reinforcement. The 
Sardinian troops began to amve ; and, in ad- 
dition to the gi-atification derived from such 
a circumstance, they were surprised by their 
warlike and splendid appearance. It was 
sometliing new to the weather-beaten war- 
riors, to see troops so newly and handsomely 
equipped. 

On the 19th of May the allied army com- 
pleted its fourth parallel toward Sevastopol. 
Of Enghsh, French, Turks and Sardinians, 
there were 200,000 men operating in the 
Crimea. 

On the 23d of May the French fought a 
severe battle with the Russians before Sevas- 
topol. The Russians had formed between 
the central bastion and the sea a large place 
cVarmif.e where they proposed assembhng 
considerable forces to make sorties. In the 
night the French attacked these works, wliich 
were defended by nearly the entire garrison. 
The combat was fierce, and lasted during 
nearly the Avhole night. The French carried 
and occupied half the works. The French 
had 1,600 killed and wounded, and the Rus- 
sians were supposed to have lost 6,000 men. 



574 



SEVASTOPOL. 



On the 24th the French carried the re- 
maining half of the Russian place d'armie, 
after a fierce struggle, in which the French 
lost about 2,000 men, and the Russians 
2,500. 

On the 6th of June, for the tliird time, the 
fire of the allies was opened along the whole 
range of positions ; the thunder of 300 French 
guns and mortars, and 157 on the side of the 
English, awakened their echoes and hurled 
their bolts against Sevastopol. 

On the 7th, the Mamelon and White Towers 
at Sevastopol were captured by the English 
and French troops. The French took 60 guns 
and over 400 prisoners. The Russians had 
4,360 men, put hors de combat; the French 
lost 4,000 men and the English had 165 men 
killed and missing, with 500 wounded. 

On Sunday, the 17th of June, the allies 
opened a fearful fire on the MalakofF and Re- 
dan towers, preUminary to an assault, which 
was maintained during the entire day. We 
copy the following glowing account of 
this assault from the historian of the siege, 
the wonderfully-grapliic correspondent of 
the London Times: 

" The plan of attack originally proposed was 
that the allies were to open a cannonade 
for three hours on the Malakoff and Redan 
after dawn on the morning of the 18th; that 
the French were to assault the Malakoff, and 
that when they had gained possession of it 
we were to attack the Redan. As the latter 
work is commanded by the former, it would 
not be possible to carry or to hold it till the 
Malakoff was taken. 

" The fire which we opened on Sunday 
morning (the 17th), jjrehminary to the as- 
sault, was marked by great energy, weight, 
and destructiveness. In the first reUef the 
Quarry battery, commanded by Major 
Strange, threw no less than 300 8-inch shells 
into the Redan, which is only 400 yards dis- 
tant, and the place must have been nearly 
cleared by the incessant storm of iron spUn- 
ters which flew through it. Throughout 
Sunday our artillery fired 12,000 rounds of 
the heaviest ordnance into the enemy's lines, 
and on the following day we fired 11,946 
rounds of shot and shell. The Russian fire 
was weak and wild. Had the three hours' 
cannonade and bombardment which Lord 
Raglan decided on administering to the Rus- 
sians before we assaulted been deUvered to 
them, it is very probable that we should have 
but a small body of troops prepared to re- 
ceive us at the pj^rapets ; and it must be es- 
teemed a very unfortunate circumstance that 
his lordship was induced to abandon his in- 
tention in deference to the wishes of General 
Pelissier. General Pelissier, in requesting 
the Enghsh general to change the original 
plan of attack and to forestall the hour which 



was at first agreed upon, is not stated to have 
assigned any specific reason for the alteration, 
but it is reported that he wished to anticipate 
the enemy, who were about, as he was in- 
formed, to make an assault on the Mamelon. 
He felt, too, that the masses of French Avhom 
he had prepared could not be concealed from 
the Russians for any length of time, and that 
they would soon be revealed by the noise 
which always attends the movements of large 
bodies of men. 

" As the 34th regiment advanced, the sup- 
ports, by some means or another, got mixed 
together with them, and some confusion arose 
in consequence. On crossing the trench our 
men, instead of coming upon the open in a 
firm body, were broken into twos and threes. 
This arose from the want of a temporary 
step above the beam, which would have en- 
abled the troops to cross the parapet with 
regularity; instead of which they had to 
scramble over it as well as they could ; and, 
as the top of the trench is of unequal height 
and form, their line was quite broken. The 
moment they came out from the trench tlie 
enemy began to direct on their whole front 
a deliberate and well-aimed mitraille, which 
increased the want of order and unsteadi- 
ness caused by the mode of their advance. 
Poor Colonel Yea saw the consequences too 
clearly. Having in vain tried to obviate the 
evil caused by the broken formation and 
confusion of his men, who were falling fast 
around him, he exclaimed, ' Tliis will never 
do ! Where's the bugler to call them back ?' 
But, alas ! at that critical moment no bugler 
was to be found. The gallant old soldier, by 
voice and gesture, tried to form and compose 
his men, but the thunder of the enemy's guns 
close at hand and the gloom of early dawn 
frustrated his efforts ; and as he rushed along 
the troubled mass of troops which were 
herding together under the rush of grape, 
and endeavored to get them into order for a 
rush at the batteries, which was better than 
standing still, or retreating in a panic, a 
charge of the deadly missile passed, and the 
noble soldier fell dead in advance of his men, 
struck at once in head and stomach by grape- 
shot. The signal for our assault was to be 
given by the discharge of two service rockets, 
which were to have been fired when the 
French got into the Malakoff, and the latter 
were to have hoisted a flag as a signal of their 
success. 

" It is certain that the French did for a short 
time establish themselves in the Malakoff, but 
they were soon expelled with loss, and I saw 
with my own eyes a large triangular blue 
and black flag waving from the Malakoff all 
during the fight. The moment the rockets 
were fired, the light division rushed out of 
cover ; in a quarter of an hoiu- this infantry 



SEVASTOPOL. 



575 



Balaklava was over, so far as any chance of 
success was concerned. The second division, 
seeing that the flank attacks had failed, wisely 
kept under cover, and suffered but a trifling 
loss. Had they fooKshly advanced, we should 
have to deplore greater and more useless 
slaughter. The fourth division were guided 
down by their active Quartermaster-general, 
Colonel Wyndham, and took ground in the 
trench to the left, but it would seem as if 
they attacked a little too near the apex of 
the Eedan. Poor Sir John Campbell seems 
to have displayed a courage amounting to 
rashness. He sent away Captain Hume and 
Captain Snodgrass, his aid-de-camps, just be- 
fore he rushed out of the trench, as if averse 
to bring them into the danger he meditated, 
and fell in the act of cheering on his men. 
The losses of the fourth division were very 
great. The 57tli, out of the 400 men, had 
more than a third killed and wounded. 

" The brigade under Major-G-eneral Eyre, 
which was destined to occupy the Cemetery 
and to carry the Barrack batteries, consisted 
of the 9th regiment, 18th regiment, 28th 
regiment, 38th regiment, and 44th regi- 
ment. Four volunteers from each company 
were selected to form an advanced party, 
under Major Fielden, of the 44th regiment, 
to feel the Avay and cover the advance. The 
18th Eoyal Irish followed as the storming 
regiment. The brigade was turned out at 
12 o'clock, and proceeded to march down the 
road on the left of the Greenhill battery to 
the Cemetery, and halted under cover wlaile 
the necessary dispositions were being made 
for the attack. General Eyre, addressing the 
18th, said, ' I hope, my men, that this morn- 
ing you will do something that will make 
every cabin in Ireland ring again !' The re- 
ply was a loud cheer, which instantly drew 
on the men a shower of grape. The skir- 
mishers advanced just as the general attack 
began, and, with some French on their left, 
rushed at the Cemetery, which was very 
feebly defended. They got possession of the 
place after a slight resistance, with small loss, 
and took some prisoners, but the moment 
the enemy retreated their batteries opened a 
heavy fire on the place from the left of the 
Redan and from the Barrack battery. Four 
companies of the 18th at once rushed on out 
of the Cemetery toward the town, and ac- 
tually succeeded in getting possession of the 
suburb. Captain Hayman was gallantly lead- 
ing on liis company when he was shot through 
the knee. Captain Esmonde followed, and 
the men, once established, prepared to de- 
fend the houses they occupied. 

" As they drove the Russians out, they were 
pelted with large stones by the latter on their 
way up to the battery, which quite overhangs 
the suburb. The Russians could not depress 



their guns sufficiently to fire down on our 
men, but they directed a severe flanking fire 
on them from an angle of the Redan works. 
There was nothing for it but to keep up a 
vigorous fire from the houses, and to delude 
the enemy into the belief that the occupiers 
were more numerous than they were. Mean- 
time the Russians did their utmost to blow 
down the houses with shell and shot, and 
fired grape incessantly, but the soldiers kept 
close, though they lost men occasionally, and 
they were most materially aided by the fire 
of the regiments in the Cemetery behind them, 
which was directed at the Russian' embra- 
sures ; so that the enemy could not get out 
to fire down on the houses below. Some of 
the houses were comfortably furnished. One 
of them was as well fitted up as most English 
mansions, the rooms full of fine furniture, a 
piano in the drawing-room, and articles of 
luxury and taste not deficient. The troops 
entered the place about four o'clock in the 
morning, and could not leave it till nine 
o'clock in the evening. The Russians blew 
up many of the houses and set fire to others, 
and when our men retired, the flames were 
spreading along the street. The 18th regi- 
ment lost 250 men. The 9th regiment suc- 
ceeded in eflecting a lodgment in the houses 
in two or three different places, and held their 
position as well as the 18th. A Serjeant and 
a handful of men actually got possession of 
the little Wasp battery, in which there were 
only tAvelve or fourteen Russian artillerymen. 
They fled at the approach of our men, but 
when the latter turned round they discovered 
they were quite unsupported ; and the Rus- 
sians, seeing that the poor fellows were left 
alone, came down on them and drove them 
out of the battery. An officer and half-a- 
dozen men of the same regiment got up close 
to a part of the Flagstaff battery, and were 
advancing into it, when they, too, saw that 
they were by themselves, and, as it was futile 
to attempt holding their ground, they re- 
treated. About fifteen French soldiers on 
their left aided them, but as thej were like- 
wise unsupported they had to retire. An- 
other officer with only twelve men took one 
of the Russian Rifle Pits, bayonetted those 
they found in it, and held possession of it 
throughout the day. Meantime, while these 
portions of the 5th and 18th, and parties of 
the 44th and 28th were in the houses, the 
detachments of the same regiments and «f 
the 3Sth kept up a hot fire from the Cemetery 
on the Russians in the battery and on the 
sharp-shooters, all the time being exposed to 
a tremendous shower of bullets, grape, round 
shot, and sheO. The loss of tlie brigade, 
under such circumstances, could not but be 
extremely severe. One part of it, separated 
from the other, was exposed to a destructive 



676 



SEVASTOPOL. 



fire in houses, the upper portion of which 
crumbled into pieces or fell in under fire, and 
it was only by keeping in the lower story, 
which was vaulted and well built, that they 
were enabled to hold their own. The other 
parts of it, far advanced from our batteries, 
were almost unprotected, and were under a 
constant mitraille and bombardment from 
guns which our batteries had failed to 
touch. 

" Some of the officers got away in the 
great storm which arose about eleven o'clock, 
and blew with great violence for several 
hours. 

" The detachments from the hard-working 
and httle noticed Naval Brigade consisted of 
four parties of sixty men each, one for each 
column, but only two of them went out, 
the other two being kept in reserve ; they 
were told, off to carry scaling-ladders and 
wool-bags, and to place them for our storm- 
ing parties. It is not to be wondered at if 
they suffered severely. On that eventful day, 
fourteen men were killed, and forty-seven 
men were wounded. Two men were killed, 
and several others were wounded by the 
bursting of one of our sixty-eight-pounders, 
in the left attack. Among the latter was 
Major Stuart Wortley, who was injured by 
the explosion. As soon as the two storming 
columns got out of the parallel the sailors 
suftered severely. When the men retreated, 
overwhelmed by the storm from the enemy's 
battery, several officers and men were left 
behind wounded, and endm-ed fearful agonies 
for hours, without a cup of water or a cheer- 
ing voice to comfort them. Lieutenant Kidd 
got into the trench all safe, and was receiving 
the congratulations of a brother officer, when 
he saw a wounded soldier lying out in the 
open. He at once exclaimed — " We must 
go and save him I" and leaped over the para- 
pet in order to do so. He had scarcely gone 
a yard, when he was shot through the breast 
and died in an hour after. Only three officers 
came out of action untouched. Captain Peel, 
who commanded the detachment, was shot 
through the arm. 

" The natural consequence, in civilized war- 
fare, of such a contest as that which took 
place yesterday, is an armistice to bury the 
dead. It was our sad duty to demand it, for 
our dead lay outside our lines, and there were 
no Russian corpses in front of the Redan or 
Malakoff. Somehow or other, the rumor got 
abroad that there would be an armistice early 
in the day, and we hoisted a white flag in the 
forenoon, but there was no such emblem of a 
temporary peace displayed by the Russians. 

" Our batteries and riflemen ceased firing, 
and the Russians crowded the tops of the para- 
pets of the Redan and of the Round Tower 
(Malakofi) batteries, and did not harass us by 



any fire, but of course it was dangerous to go 
out in front of the fines till they hoisted the 
white flag also. The advanced trenches were 
filled with officers and soldiers eager to find 
the bodies of their poor comrades ; but they 
could not stir out of the parallels. They 
waited patiently and sadly for the moment 
when friendship's last melancholy office could 
be performed. Boats were at last seen to 
leave the roads of Sevastopol, and to meet 
boats from the fleet at the entrance, and it 
became known that the Russians had acceded 
to an armistice, and that it was to take place 
at four o'clock in the afternoon. To pass the 
weary time away, there was nothing to do 
but to watch the Russians at work repairing 
their batteries — labors which they continued 
during the armistice subsequently — and to 
make out the bodies which lay scattered 
about in front of the Redan and Malakofi". 
It was agonizing to see the wounded men 
who were lying there under a broiling sun, 
parched with excruciating thirst, racked with 
fever, and agonized with pain — to behold 
them waving their caps faintly or making sig- 
nals toward our fines, over which they could 
see the wliite flag waving, and not to be able 
to help them. They lay where they fell, or 
had scrambled into the holes formed hy sheUs ; 
and there they had been for thirty hours — 
oh! how long and how dreadful in their 
weariness I An officer told me that one sol- 
dier who was close to the abatis, when he 
saw a few men come out of an embrasure, 
raised himself on liis elbow, and, fearing he 
should be unnoticed and passed by, raised his 
cap on a stick and waved it till he fell back 
exiausted. Again he rose, and managed to 
tear off his shirt, which he agitated in the air 
till his strength failed liim. His face could be 
seen through a glass ; and my friend said he 
never could forget the expression of resigna- 
tion and despair with which the poor fellow 
at last abandoned his useless efibrts, and fold- 
ed his sliirt under his head to await the mercy 
of Heaven. Whether he was alive or not 
when our men went out I can not say ; but 
five hours of thirst, fever, and pain, under a 
fierce sun would make awful odds against 
him. The red coats lay sadly tlfick over the 
broken ground in front of the abatis of the 
Redan, and blue and gray coat^ were scat- 
tered about or lay in piles in the raincourses 
before the Malakoff." 

In this repulse, the allies lost in killed and 
wounded over 5,000 men. Every one of 
the EngUsh commanders was slain, with two 
French generals — Mayrau and Brunet — dis- 
tinguished men. The Russians lost about 
4,000 men, killed and wounded. Two supe- 
rior officers were slain, and two generals and 
twelve superior officers were wounded. 

On the 20th of June Lord Raglan died, 




S T R M I X G OF THE JI A L A K K F . 



SEVASTOPOL. 



577 



and the command of the British army de- 
volved upon General Simpson. 

During the month of July, the Russians 
made several severe sorties, but were as often 
repulsed, and the allies made steady progress 
in their advance toward the doomed city. 
With their hosts of sappers, the French 
made daily approaches to mining the princi- 
pal fortifications, and in July, the Russian 
commander became so aware of the peril of 
his situation, that he informed his govern- 
ment he could not hold the city much longer. 
The Court of St. Petersburg ordered the 
bold assault to be made on the hnes of the 
Tchernaya, in the hope of compelling the 
aUies to raise the siege, and of regaining 
Balaklava. The Russians then put forth 
their energies in one more desperate attack. 

Battle of the Tchernaya. — On the morn- 
ing of the 16th of August, Generals Liprandi 
and Prince Gortschakofif, with 40,000 Rus- 
sians, advanced to the attack. The French 
divisions were encamped on the summit of 
the liills between which runs a road which 
crosses the river Tchernaya, over a stone 
bridge in the valley. The bridge was de- 
fended by a small redoubt. The Sardinians 
had batteries regularly fortified on all the 
heights overlooking the ford on the road to 
Tcliorgoun, and had the upper end of the 
vaUey completely within their range. On 
the other side of the river on the top of a 
hill, similar in every respect to those already 
described, they had an intrenched outpost 
composed of two companies of infantry. 

The attack commenced about five o'clock, 
the first shots being heard near the Sardinian 
position. The fire almost immediately open- 
ed along the whole line, but it was soon ren- 
dered evident that the chief aim of the Rus- 
sian commander was to force the passes 
communicating with the valley of Balaklava, 
and thus to turn the flank of the French 
position on the hills, and break their chain 
of communication with the Piedmontese 
troops. There are two principal routes or 
openings in this direction. One is formed by 
a break in the line of hiUs stretching across 
the plain, leaving a passage between its east 
end, and a part cut off, as it were, and as- 
suming the form of an irregular Mamelon. 
This Mamelon, as well as the Une of hill, was 
held by French troops. The second pass is 
between the Mamelon and the opening to 
Tchorgoun, and along this the river finds its 
way as it comes out of the gorge to wind 
through the valley. Through the first-named 
opening the high road from Simpherpol to 
Balaklava passes, and nearly opposite to it is 
a handsome stone bridge, spanning the river 
by two arches. This bridge is approached 
on either side by a gradual inchne, the road 
being carried over a series of land arches. 

37 



The river, under ordinary circumstances, is 
fordable at this part. At the second open- 
ing there is no bridge across the river, ex- 
cepting that for the aqueduct; the water 
spreads out, and is readily fordable. The 
passage of this ford was commanded by the 
guns of a redoubt held by the Sardinians. 

It was in the neighborhood of the stone 
bridge and the ford above, that the severest 
part of the struggle took place. The num- 
bers of dead lying about these two positions 
are greater than in any other part of the field 
of action. The Russians, as they approached 
along the road to the bridge, and on each 
side, were mown down by the fire of the 
artillery of the alhes, and on the opposite 
side, the French, who were defending the 
passage, suffered from the fire of the Rus- 
sian artillery, which had been brought up 
on the heights on the east of the road and 
valley. On two occasions the Russians suc- 
ceeded in crossing the bridge, and in con- 
siderable numbers began to climb up the 
sides of the Mamelon and the end of the 
hill occupied by the French, but the fire of 
the Rifles above drove them back. It is 
stated that at one time the Russians were 
forced back by the 62d French infantry at 
the point of the bayonet, but this is doubt- 
ful. As they retired across the river, the 
artillery of the allies committed great exe- 
cution among them. Some of the French 
troops assert that the passage of the bridge 
by the Russians could have been easily pre- 
vented, but that it was purposely permitted, 
with the motive of entrapping them into 
more certain destruction. Be this as it may, 
the cross fire which was opened between 
the hills from the rifles of the infantry, and 
the direct fire of the artillery, caused great 
havoc among their ranks, and after the fight 
the bodies of the killed were found to be 
thickly strewn as far as sixty or seventy 
yards on the French side of the river. The 
aqueduct is not carried along by the side 
of the river, but, for the sake of having a 
liigher level, is placed at the foot of the hiUs 
for some distance, the curves and windings 
of which it closely follows. The aqueduct 
is deep, and not easily crossed. Between 
it and the hdl side there is usually a deep 
ditch. Many of the Russians had not only 
crossed the river, but, pursuing their way, 
had also crossed the aqueduct. To enable 
them to do this, they had been provided 
with numerous small platforms, just long and 
broad enough to form so many bridges across 
the aqueduct; these they had carried with 
them. In some places many wor.nded and 
dead were found lying in the ditch between 
the hill-side and the bank upon which the 
aqueduct is raised. The small wooden plat- 
forms carried by the men could be joined 



678 



SEVASTOPOL. 



together so as to form rafts, if required, for 
use on the river; but pontoons also were 
amply provided for the construction of regu- 
lar bridges for the passage of cavalry or ar- 
tillery. A great number of these small rafts, 
and also some pontoons were left on tlie 
field, and taken by the allies. 

The Russians gave one " Hurrah," as if 
they intended to come up to the scratch, but 
instead of suiting the action to the word, 
they wheeled about, and flung themselves 
down the hQl-side in complete disorder, the 
Sardinian artillery again playing upon them 
as before. Some hundreds threw down their 
arms, and surrendered to the French, sooner 
than run the gauntlet once more across the 
aqueduct and the river. The remnant of the 
column got under cover on the other side of 
the stream, and remained there for some 
minutes, until two battalions of Piedmontese 
came out upon the plain, and throwing out 
skirmishers, advanced upon the river. The 
Russians now retired in haste, and not in 
very good order, skirmishing as they went, 
until they reached the high ground on which 
their cavalry and the reserve of their artillery 
Avere stationed. During the pursuit the 
Piedmontese made some prisoners. The mo- i 
ment was propitious for a charge of cavalry, 
who might have cut them up completely. 

Major Grovac, the second on the Sardinian 
etat-major, accordingly brought down their 
four squadrons, but the colonel objected to j 
charge in face of the Russian cavalry force, ; 
fully 5,000 in number, unless he was sup- 
ported by French or English. A message 
was accordingly sent to General Maurice, the 
French general commanding the cavalry, re- 
questing him to push forward a body of his 
men in the rear of the Piedmontese, but he 
declined, alleging that he had positive orders 
not to pursue, having returned a similar j 
answer to General Erbillon, who commanded 
on the heights. This is extraordinary, but ^ 
true, and the only thing one can say about it 
is to express a hope that there Avas some ! 
good reason for it, not visible at first sight. ' 
The greater part of the Russian artillery now 
retired, followed up for a short distance by 
the French Chasseurs de Vincennes; the 
cavah-y then advanced in an immense line, 
forming a crescent, from out of wliich issued 
three guns which fired away to protect the 
retreat till the last column had wound its 
weary way up the road to Mackenzie's Farm, 
or disappeared among the hills toward Tchi- 
onUon. 

The scene which presented itself on the 
banks of the river, after the battle, below the 
canal, was something fearful beyond descrip- 
tion, much more fearful than the ordinary 
horrors of a battle-field. The canal itself was 
choked Avith dead, most of whom had doubt- 



less fallen into it living, after rolling down 
the hill-side, and found repose in its muddy 
waters ; broken muskets, bags of bread, car- 
tridges, one dark red stain on the white 
gravel, often alone marked the spot where 
the men first fell. On toward the bridge the 
dead lay thicker and thicker. On the banks 
of the river about it, and in the river itself, 
they were " heaped and piled," mostly fine 
men, in the prime of life — many with a vieux 
grognard air, which bespoke long years of 
service. Nearly every one had a brandy- 
bottle, either actually in his hand or lying 
near him, or broken under him in his fall. 

In this battle the afiies lost about 1,000 
men, killed and wounded ; the Russians lost 
nearly 6,000 men, killed, wounded, and made 
prisoners. Among the slain were the Rus- 
sian generals Read, Weiman, and Cyerwiky. 

The next fortnight Prince Gortschakofi" 
may be said to have devoted to providing for 
the safety of liis army. He had great reason 
to fear the next bombardment would be 
fatal ; he established a means of communica- 
tion between the battered ruins of the south 
side of Sevastopol and that north side upon 
wiiich so much labor and time had been ex- 
pended ; he built a strong raft-bridge across 
the harbor, threw up earthworks along the 
cliff to protect it, and drew his army together 
in compact fines between the sea and the 
heights of Mackenzie. 

On the 5th of September the awful catas- 
trophe was entered upon. All was prepara- 
tion with both besiegers and besieged; the 
former girding up their loins for the great 
struggle, the latter doing all that could be 
done to meet it manfully. General PelHssier 
had had a long interview with General Simp- 
son the preceding day, in which the plan of 
attack was settled. 

The allies opened the fire of their terrible 
batteries on the 5th of September, and main- 
tained an incessant cannonade until the 8th, 
the day fixed upon for the final assault. The 
following is the most important part of the 
dispatch of General Pehssier, comprising a 
full account of the French assault on the 
Malakofif: 

" A little before noon all the troops were in 
readiness, and in perfect order on the points 
indicated, and the other arrangements had 
been punctually executed. General de Salles 
was ready ; General Bosquet was at the 
fighting post which he had chosen in the 
sixth parallel ; and I, with Generals Thiry of 
the artillery, Niel of the engineers, and Mar- 
timprey, the chief of my staff, was at the 
Brancion redoubt, which I had chosen for my 
head-quarters. 

" AU our watches had been regulated. At 
noon precisely all our batteries ceased to 
thunder, in order that they might be adjusted 



SEVASTOPOL. 



579 



to a longer range, so as to reach the reserves 
of the enemy. At the word of their chiefs, 
the divisions of Generals M'Mahon, Dulac, 
and De la Motterrouge, left the trenches. 
The drums and the clarions beat and sounded 
the charge, and to the cry of " Vive I'Emper- 
eur !" a thousand times repeated along the 
whole line, our intrepid soldiers precipitated 
themselves upon the enemy's defenses. It 
was a solemn moment. The first brigade of 
M'Mahon's division, the first regiment of 
Zouaves leading, followed by the 7th of the 
line, and having the 4th Chasseurs a Pied on 
its left, sprang to the left face and the sahent 
of the Malakoff work. The breadth and 
depth of the ditch, the height and steepness 
of the slope, rendered the ascent extremely 
difficult to our men ; but finally they gained 
the parapet, manned with Russians, who, in 
default of muskets, picked up whatever came 
to hand — mattocks, stones, or rammers — and 
used them as weapons. Then took place a 
hand-to-hand struggle — one of those exciting 
combats in which nothing but the intrepidity 
of our soldiers and their cliiefs can give them 
the victory. They immediately sprang into 
the work ; they drove back the Russians 
who continued to resist, and, in a few seconds 
afterward, the flag of France was finally, 
planted on the Malakoff. 

" At the right and center, with that same 
impetuous dash which had overthrown so 
many obstacles and forced the enemy to fly, 
the divisions of Dulac and De la Motterouge, 
led by their chiefs, had seized the httle Redan 
at the Careening Bay, and also the Curtain, 
forcing their way even as far as the second en- 
ceinte that was being constructed. Everywhere 
we were in possession of the works attacked. 
But this first and brilliant success had near 
cost us very dear. Struck by a large spUnter 
from a bomb in his right side. General Bos- 
quet was compelled to quit the field of bat- 
tle. I confided the command to General 
Dulac, who was admirably seconded by Gen- 
eral de Liniers, chief of the staff of the 2d 
corps. 

" The engineers who accompanied the 
storming columns were already at work ; they 
filled up the ditches, opened passages, and 
threw across bridges. The second brigade of 
General de M'Mahon advanced rapidly to re- 
inforce the troops in the Malakoff. I gave 
the signal agreed upon with General Simp- 
son for the attack on the Great Redan, and 
shortly after for the attack on the town. 

" The Enghsh had 200 meters to cross under 
a terrible fire of grape. This space was soon 
strewed with dead ; nevertheless, this did not 
stop the march of the storming column, 
which advanced toward the capital of the 
work. It descended into the ditch, which is 
nearly five meters deep, and, despite all the 



efforts of the Russians, it scaled the escarpe, 
and carried the salient of the Redan. There, 
after the first brunt of the engagement, 
which cost the Russians dear, the English 
soldiers found in front of them only a vast 
open space, crossed by the balls of the en- 
emy, who kept himself close behind some 
distant traverses. Those who came up 
hardly replaced those who had been dis- 
abled. It was not until they had sustained 
for nearly two hours this unequal contest that 
the English decided on evacuating the Redan. 
They did so with so firm an aspect that the 
enemy did not dare to follow them. 

"In the mean time, on the left, at the ap- 
pointed signal, the columns of Levalliant's 
division, commanded by Generals Couston 
and Trochu, dashed headlong against the left 
flank of the central bastion and the left 
lunette. In spite of a shower of balls and 
projectiles, and after a very sharp contest, the 
spirit and vigor of these brave troops tri- 
umphed at first over the enemy's resistance, 
and notwithstanding the accumulated diffi- 
culties in their front, they forced their way 
into the two works. But the enemy, having 
fallen back on his successive traverses, kept 
his ground everywhere. A murderous 
fire of musketry was opened from every 
ridge. Guns unmasked for the first time, 
and field-pieces brought up to several points, 
vomited grape and decimated our men. Gen- 
erals Coustan and Trochu, who had just been 
wounded, were obliged to give up their com- 
mand. Generals Rivet and Breton were 
killed ; several mine-chambers, fired by the 
enemy, produced a moment of hesitation. 
At length an attack in their turn by numer- 
ous Russian columns, compelled our troops 
to abandon the works they had carried, and 
to retire into our advanced places d' armies. 

" Our batteries on this part of the attacks, 
skillfully conducted by General Leboeuf, aided 
so devotedly and intelUgently, as on all occa- 
sions, by Rear Admiral Rigault de Genouilly, 
changed the direction of their fire while in- 
creasing its intensity, and compelled the ene- 
my to take shelter behind the parapets. Gen- 
eral de Salles, causing d'Autemarre's division 
to advance, was preparing during this time a 
second and formidable attack; but as we 
had secured the possession of the Malakoff, 
I sent word to him not to let it advance. 

" Our possession of this work, however, was 
energetically disputed. 

" By means of the batteries from the maison 
en croix^ of the guns of his steamers, of field 
guns brought to favorable points, and of the 
batteries on the north side of the roadstead, 
the enemy deluged us with grape and pro- 
jectiles of every kind, and committed great 
ravages in our ranks. The powder magazine 
of the Russian postern battery had just ex- 



580 



SEYASTOPOL. 



ploded, thereby increasing our loss, and caus- 
ing the eagle of the 91st to disappear for a 
moment. A great many superior officers 
and others were either wounded or killed. 
The Generals de Saint Pol and de Marolles 
died gloriously, and Generals Mellinet, de 
Ponteves, and Bourbaki, had been wounded 
at the head of their troops. Three times the 
division of Dulac and de la Motterouge seized 
the Redan and the curtain, and three times 
they were obliged to fall back before a terri- 
ble fire of artillery and the dense masses 
arrayed in front of them. Nevertheless the 
two field-batteries of reserve from the Lan- 
caster battery descended at a trot, crossed 
the trenches, and boldly stationed themselves 
within half-range. They succeeded in driv- 
ing away the enemy's columns and the 
steamers. A part of these two divisions, 
supported in this heroic struggle by the troops 
of the Guard, who on this day covered them- 
selves with glory, made good their footing in 
the entire left of the curtain, from which the 
enemy could not drive them. During tlie 
renewed combats of the right and the center, 
the Russians redoubled their efforts to re- 
conquer the MalakofiF. Tliis work, which is 
a sort of earthen citadel of 350 meters in 
length and 159 meters in width, armed with 
sixty-two guns of different caliber, crowns 
a Mamelon which commands the whole in- 
terior of the Karabelnaia quarter, takes in 
reverse the Redan which was attacked by 
the English, is only 1,200 meters from the 
south harbor, and threatens not merely the 
only anchorage now remaining for the ships, 
hut the only means of retreat open to the 
Russians, namely, the bridge thrown across 
the roadstead from one bank to the other. 

" Thus during the first hours of the strife of 
the two armies, the Russians constantly re- 
newed their attempts ; but General M'Mahon, 
in resisting these incessant attacks, was as- 
sisted successively by Vinoy's brigade of his 
division, by the Zouaves of the Guard, Gen- 
eral Wimpffen's reserve, and a part of the 
Voltigeurs of the Guard ; in all directions he 
resisted the enemy, who were everywhere 
repulsed. The Russians, however, made a 
last and desperate attempt. Formed in deep 
column, they thrice assailed the breast of the 
work, and thrice they were compelled to re- 
tire with enormous loss before the solidity of 
our troops. 

" After this last struggle, which ended about 
five in the evening, the enemy resolved to 
abandon the spot, and only his batteries con- 
tinued until night to send us some projectiles, 
which no longer did us much harm. 

" The detachments of the engineers and 
artillery, who during the combat were gal- 
lantly fighting or actively engaged in their 
special work, quickly set about carrying out 



the works that were pressing in the interior 
of the fort under the direction of their offi- 
cers. 

" According to my orders, Generals Tliiry 
and Nief instructed Generals Beuret and 
Frossard, commanding the artillery and engi- 
neers of the second corps, to take all neces- 
sary steps for estabhshing ourselves firmly in 
the Malakoff, and on that part of the curtain 
which was in our power, so that we might, 
in case of need, resist a night attack of the 
enemy, and be in a position to drive him the 
next day from the Little Redan of Careening 
bay, the maison en croix, and all this portion 
of his defenses. 

" The arrangements became, however, un- 
necessary. The enemy, hopeless of retaking 
the Malakoff, took an important resolution — 
he evacuated the town. 

" Toward the close of the day I had sus- 
picion of this, for I had seen long lines of 
troops and baggage defile along the bridge 
and reach the north bank, and the conflagra- 
tions which arose in every direction soon 
removed all doubt. I should like to push 
forward, gain the bridge, and cut off the 
enemy's retreat; but the besieged was at 
every moment blowing up one or other of his 
defenses, his powder magazines, and his 
establishments. These explosions would 
have destroyed us in detail, and so they ren- 
dered the idea impracticable. We remained 
in position until the day should arise upon 
tliis scene of desolation. 

" The sun in rising lighted up this work of 
destruction, which was very much greater 
than we had been able to imagine. The last 
Russian vessels, anchored the evening before 
in the roadstead, were sunken; the bridge 
was disconnected ; the enemy had only re- 
served his steamers, which carried off the 
last fugitives and some infatuated Russians 
Avho were still walking among the fires in 
this unhappy city. But presently these men, 
as well as the steamers, were driven to seek 
refuge in the indentations of the bank north 
of the roadstead. 

" Thus terminated this memorable siege, 
during which the army of relief has been 
twice defeated in order of battle, and the 
offensive and defensive means of which have 
attained to colossal proportions. The besieg- 
ing army had, at its various attacks, 800 guns 
in battery, which have fired more than 
1,600,000 times ; and our approaches, exca- 
vated in the course of 336 days, in rocky 
ground, and presenting an extent of more 
than eighty kilometers (twenty leagues) have 
been executed under the constant fire of the 
place, and disturbed by incessant combats 
day and night. 

" The day of September 8th, on which the 
allied armies proved themselves superior to 



SEVASTOPOL. 



581 



an army almost equal in number, not invest- 
ed, intrenched behind formidable defenses, 
provided with more than 1,100 guns, protect- 
ed by tlie guns of the fleet, and of the bat- 
teries nortli of the roadstead, and still dispos- 
ing of immense resources, will remain an 
example of what may be expected from an 
army, brave, disciplined, and inured to war." 

As soon as the French tri-color was seen 
waving over the parapet of the Malakoff, the 
English prepared for their attack upon the 
Kedan. 

At a few minutes past twelve the British 
left the fifth parallel. The enemy's musketry 
commenced at once, and in less than five 
minutes, during wliich they had to pass over 
200 yards from the nearest approach to the 
parapet of the Redan, they had lost a large 
portion of their officers, and were deprived 
of the aid of their leaders, with the exception 
of acting Brigadier-General Windham, and 
Captains Fyers, Lewis, and Maude : the rest 
had been struck down by the volleys of grape 
and rifle-balls which swept the flanks of the 
work toward the salient. As they came 
nearer, the enemy's fire became less fatal. 
They crossed the abatis without much trou- 
ble : it was torn to pieces by their shot ; the 
men stepped over and through it with ease. 
The light division made straight for the sa- 
lient and projecting angle of the Redan, and 
came to the ditch, which is about 15 feet deep. 
The escalade party proceeded to plant their 
ladders, but they were found too short ! — had 
they not been so, they would not have been 
of much use, as there were but six or seven 
brought to the place. But the officers set 
their men the example of leaping into the 
ditch, scrambling up the other side, and thence 
getting on the parapet with little opposition, 
as the Russians who were in front ran back, 
and opened a fire upon them from beliind the 
traverses and breastworks. When upon the 
parapet, the soldiers seemed bewildered ; 
their gallant officers cheered them on, coaxed 
them on, but instead of following them, they 
persisted in firing, loading and firing ! The 
officers began to fall fast. The small party 
of the 90th, much diminished, went on gal- 
lantly toward the breastwork, but they were 
too weak to force it, and joined the men of 
other regiments, who were keeping up a 
brisk fire upon the Russians from behind the 
traverses. Colonel Windham had got into 
the Redan with the storming party of the 
light division, below the salient on the proper 
left face, but all his exertions were as futile 
as those of the officers of the 90th, 91st, and 
the supporting regiments. 

As the light division rushed out in the 
front, they were swept by the guns of the 
Barrack battery, and other pieces on the 
proper right of the Redan, loaded heavily 



with grape, which thinned them grievously 
before they could reach the salient or apex 
of the work they were to assault. The col- 
umns of the second division issuing out of the 
fifth parallel, rushed up immediately after the 
light division, so as to come a little down on 
the slope of the proper left face of the Redan. 
The first embrasure was in flames, but run- 
ning on to the next, the men leaped into the 
ditch, and, with the aid of ladders and each 
other's hands, scrambled up on the other 
side, climbed the parapet, or poured in 
through the embrasure which was unde- 
fended. Colonel Windham was one of the 
first men in on this side. As they entered 
through the embrasures, the few Russians 
who were between the salient and the breast- 
work retreated behind the latter, and got 
from behind the traverses to its protection. 
From this place they poured in a thick fire 
on the parapet of the salient, which was 
crowded by the men of the light division, and 
on the gaps through the inner parapet of the 
Redan ; and the British began to return the 
fire of the enemy without advancing behind 
the traverses, loaded and fired as quickly as 
they could, producing little efifect, as the Rus- 
sians were all covered by the breastwork. 
Groups of riflemen Hkewise kept up a galhng 
fire from behind the lower traverses, near the 
base of the Redan. As soon as the alarm of 
the attack was spread, the Russians came 
rushing up from the barracks, and increased 
the intensity of the fire, from which the En- 
glish were dropping fast, and increasing the 
confidence of the enemy by their immobility. 
In vain their officers by word and deed en- 
couraged them on ; they were impressed 
with an idea that the Redan was mined, and 
that if they advanced they should be blown 
up. The courage of the officers only made 
them a mark fOr the Russian fire, and they 
fell as soon as they advanced. AU was con- 
fusion, regiments were confounded, and men 
refused to obey any but their own officers. 
We are at a loss to account for the conduct 
of Colonel Windham, it was that of a hero, — 
indeed, he is the British hero of the day ; but 
he must have seen that with such a handful 
of men his efibrts were unavailing : he gath- 
ered together one little band after another, 
only to have them swept down by the en- 
emy's guns: his own escape- was miraculous. 
The men kept up a smart fire from behind 
the lower parts of the inner parapet, but no 
persuasion or commands could induce them 
to come out into the open space and charge 
the breastwork. While the men were tlius 
being terrifically thinned, the Russians gained 
reinforcements, not only fi-om the town, but 
from the Malakofl". Thrice did Colonel Wind- 
ham send officers to Sir E. Codrington, who 
was in the fifth parallel, begging of him to 



582 



SEVASTOPOL. 



send up supports in some order of formation ; 
but all these three officers were wounded as 
they passed from the ditch of the Eedan to 
the rear, and the colonel's own aid-de-camp, 
Lieutenant Swire, of the 17th, a gallant 
young officer, was hit dangerously in the hip, 
as he went on his perilous errand. Supports 
were, indeed, sent up, but they came up in 
disorder from the fire to which they were 
exposed on their way, and arrived in drib- 
blets only to increase the confusion and car- 
nage. Finding that he could not collect any 
men on the left face. Colonel Windham 
passed through one of the cuts of the inner 
parapet, and walked over to the right face at 
the distance of 30 yards from the Russian 
breastworks, to which he moved in a parallel 
line, exposed to a close fire, but, wonderful to 
say, without being touched. When he got 
behind the inner parapet at the right face, he 
found the same state of tilings as that which 
existed at the left. The men were beliind 
the traverses, firing away at the Russians, or 
])lazing at them from the broken parts of the 
front, and the soldiers who came down from 
the sahent in front only got behind these 
works for cover while they loaded and fired 
at the enemy. The colonel got some rifle- 
men and a few men of the 88th together, but 
no sooner had he brought them out than they 
were killed, wounded, or dispersed, by a con- 
centrated fire. The officers aided Colonel 
Windham, and became the special marks of 
the enemy's riflemen. The narrow neck of 
the sahent was too close to allow of any kind 
of formation, and the more the men crowded 
into it, the more they got out of order, and 
the more they suffered from the enemy's fire. 
This miserable work lasted for an hour. The 
Russians were now in dense masses behind 
the breastwork, and Colonel Windham walked 
back again across the open space to the left, 
to make one more attempt to retrieve the 
day. The men on the parapet of the salient, 
who were firing at the Russians, sent their 
shot about him, and the latter, who were 
pouring volley after volley on all points of the 
head of the work, likewise directed their mus- 
kets against him, but he passed through this 
cross-fire in safety, and got within the in- 
ner parapet on the left, where the men were 
becoming thinner and thinner. A Russian 
officer now stepped over the breastwork, and 
tore down a gabion with his own hands ; it 
was to make room for a field-piece. Colonel 
Windham exclaimed to several soldiers who 
were firing over the parapet, " Well, as you 
are so fond of firing, why don't you shoot 
that Russian?" They fired a volley, and 
niissed him, and soon afterward the field- 
piece began to play on the head of the sa- 
lient with grape. Colonel Windham saw 
there was no time to be lost. He had sent 



three officers for reinforcements, and, above 
all, for men in formation, and he now re- 
solved to go to General Codrington himself. 
Seeing Captain Crealock, one of the 90th, 
near him, busy in encouraging his men, and 
exerting liimself with great courage and en- 
ergy to get them into order, he said, "I 
must go to the general for supports. Now 
mind, let it be known, in case I am killed, 
why I went away." He crossed the parapet 
and ditch, and succeeded in gaining the fifth 
parallel through a storm of grape and rifle- 
bullets in safety. Sir Edward Codrington 
asked him if he thought he really could do 
any thing with such supports as he could af- 
ford, and said he might take the Royals who 
were then in the parallel. " Let the officers 
come out in front — let us advance in order, 
and if the men keep their formation, the Re- 
dan is ours," was the colonel's reply. But 
he spoke too late — for at that very moment 
the British were seen leaping down into the 
ditch, or running down the parapet of the sa- 
lient, and through the embrasure out of the 
work into the ditch, wliile the Russians fol- 
lowed them with the bayonet and with 
heavy musketry, and even threw stones and 
grapeshot at them as they lay in the ditch. 
Large masses of Russians, supported by 
grape from several field-pieces, had poured 
upon the broken, confused parties of the 
British, and crushed them as if beneath an 
avalanche. The pursuing Russians were 
soon forced to return by the fire of the En- 
glish batteries and riflemen, and under cover 
of that, many escaped to the approaches. 

At eight o'clock, the Russians began quiet- 
ly to withdraw from the town, after having 
placed combustibles in every house, with a 
view of making a second Moscow of Sevas- 
topol. With great art, the commander kept 
up a fire of musketry from his advanced posts, 
as if he meant to endeavor to regain the Mal- 
akoff. Before two o'clock in the morning 
the fleet had been scuttled and sunk. About 
two o'clock flames were observed to break 
out in different parts of the town, and to 
spread gradually over the principal buildings. 
At four, explosion followed upon explosion, 
and the Flagstaff" and Garden batteries blew 
up ; the magnificence of the scene bemg 
heightened by the bursting of the numberless 
shells contained in the magazines. During 
all this time, the Russian infantry proceeded 
in a steady, uninterrupted march over the 
bridge to the north side, so that by six o'clock 
the last battalion had passed over ; the south 
side of Sevastopol was thus evacuated, and 
left to its persevering and brave conquerors. 

In his retreat, the Russian general. Prince 
Gortschakoff, maintained the character for 
generalship he had so fully earned in his de- 
fense of Sevastopol. As the place was no 



SEVASTOPOL. 



583 



longer tenable against the troops and artillery- 
brought against it, nothing could be better 
than his arrangements for the safety of his 
army. He fought till the place crumbled 
away beneath him, and then made a judicious 
retreat with a very small loss of men. The 
amount of stores found in the town, after 
such a contest, seems almost incredible ; the 
capture of four thousand cannon is a thing 
unheard-of in the history of war. 

An eye-witness thus describes the interior 
of Sevastopol after the conclusion of the sfege : 

" For the last two days I have passed sev- 
eral hours each day in riding over the whole 
of the city and batteries. Sevastopol, as you 
know, is divided into two parts by the Dock- 
yard creek. The city (properly so called) is 
very large ; its houses, pubMc buildings, and 
churches, were for the most part nearly new, 
very handsome, and built of a clean white 
stone. They are now all crumbling smoking, 
ruins. The streets were wide and planted 
with trees. Its forts — large casemated 
buildings, constructed for three tiers of guns 
facing the entrance of the harbor — were also 
very handsome and solid, but are now also 
in ashes. 

" On the other side of the Dockyard creek 
(separated from the city) the pubhc buildings, 
docks, quays, and basins are on a scale of 
still greater magnificence. These buildings, 
although much shattered by our shells, are 
still standing, the enemy having, I beheve, 
failed to explode a mine under them, owing 
to their hurried departure. Here were col- 
lected vast stores of clothing and other mili- 
tary materials. 

" As an instance of the frightful loss the 
■ Russians must have sustained in men during 
the last bombardment and assault I may 
mention that one of these vast range of build- 
ings proved to have been an hospital. On 
entering it our people found about 1,000 dead 
bodies lying in their beds ! The horror of 
this scene far exceeds any I have ever wit- 
nessed. They were evidently the bodies of 
men who had been brought down from the 
batteries as they fell wounded, but so rapid 
must have been the accumulation that the 
medical men were overpowered with num- 
bers, and thus these poor creatures were un- 
heeded, left in their beds to die. Many must 
have been dead for days, and, horrible to 
relate, among them a few were found still 
alive ! This number, of course, excludes the 
hundreds and thousands who were found 
lying in all parts of the works after the as- 
sault. I can not help feeUng a pity for the 
enemy now in their discomfiture, and admir- 
ing them for their heroism in defending their 
much-beloved city. I have heard that a Rus- 
sian officer (a prisoner) said ' If our men only 
knew how to fight as they know how to die, 



they would be the finest troops in the 
world !' 

" Around the great buildings on the east- 
ern side of the Dockyard creek was a town 
of small houses, called the Karabelnaia sub- 
urb, once probably occupied by artisans and 
mechanics. Such is a short and hurried ac- 
count of the general features and appearance 
of the city. 

" I will now give you some description of 
the works which were thrown up for its de- 
fense. They are all on the same plan — an 
earthen rampart of amazing thickness, rivet- 
ted with gabions and fascines ; a ditch cut 
out of the earth, which, being rocky, stood 
at a high angle, about twenty feet deep, and 
even more, at the most vulnerable points. 
Inside these works the enemy, having had 
plenty of time to work, and knowing the 
fearful effect of our vertical fire from mortars, 
had constructed numerous and thick traverses, 
and under these traverses were large bomb- 
proofs, some used as magazines, the rest as 
dwelling-houses for the defenders ; in fact, 
all along, inside the terre plein of the work, 
were deep holes in which their men could 
find shelter. These bomb-proofs were most 
solidly constructed, sometimes of masonry, 
but chiefly of large beams (taken . from the 
wrecks of their ships), and covered with 
earth. Such was the general nature of their 
works. Their guns were of heavy caUber, 
and the gunners were perfectly sheltered 
from musketry by rope manthns. But the 
Russians did not stop here. As soon as they 
found that any point in particular was threat- 
ened by the advance of our sap they imme- 
diately commenced a second and inner line 
of works at that point. The second line was 
equally well made, and mounted with small 
carronades and field guns. At the Bastion 
du Mat, which you wiU remember was long 
the point to which the French directed their 
attention, there were no less than four lines 
of these inner-works, one behind the other. 
This will give you some slight idea of the 
perseverance and activity of the enemy in 
anticipating and providing against an attack 
on any particular point. The circuit of these 
works is enormous, and I fancy they had al- 
ways about 40,000 men or more ready to 
defend them. When you consider that when 
we first arrived hardly a vestige of any of 
these works existed, you will consider they 
deserve still more credit for their exertions. 

" The general plan of these works was a 
series of redans (with indented flanks), open 
at the gorge. They only deviated from their 
plan in one instance, and it was, in my opin- 
ion their ruin — I mean at the Malakoff 
works. So anxious were they about this 
spot, and so fearful of its being turned and 
taken by the rear, that they made here an 



584 



SHEEWSBURY— SHROPSHIRE. 



inclosed work with a ditch all round of 
twenty feet. Now, in the lirst place, the 
whole of the interior of the work became by 
tliese means so incumbered with traverses 
that there was little room to concentrate large 
masses of troops, in addition to which you 
will perceive that, if once taken, it became a 
citadel for the captors, and so it proved." 

In the final assault on Sevastopol the allies 
lost 2,019 men killed, 6,399 wounded, and 
1,586 missing; the Russians lost 11,328 men 
in killed, wounded, and missing. It will be 
seen from this that as many as 21,674 men 
were either killed or horribly mutilated in a 
few hours, at the close of a siege which had 
endured for 349 days. 

The actual losses of the belUgerent parties 
in actual combat in this dreadful siege, are 
variously estimated ; but they may be stated 
in round numbers as follows : — 

EngUsh, killed, wounded and missing, 20,000 
French, " " " 30,000 

Turks, " " " 2,000 

Sardmians, " " " 1,000 

Russians, " " " 80,000 

Aside from this, both parties sustained 
heavy losses through disease and exposure. 

SHREWSBURY, a.d. 1403.— Shrewsbury 
is situated on a peninsula formed by a bend 
in the river Severn, in the county of Salop, 
in England, fifty miles south of Liverpool. 
On the 21st of July, 1403, a desperate battle 
was fought near this town, between the 
royal army commanded by Henry IV., and 
that of the rebel Earl of Northumberland, 
under the command of the famous Lord 
Percy, surnamed Hotspur. The evening 
before the battle, Percy sent a manifesto to 
Prince Henry, in which he renounced his 
allegiance, set that prince at defiance, and, in 
the name of liis father, the Earl of Northum- 
berland, and his uncle, as well as his own, enu- 
merated all the grievances of which he pretend- 
ed the nation had reason to complain. Henry 
repUed to this defiance, by saying that he had 
no time to lose in writing an answer ; that 
he would prove by the sword that the quar- 
rel of the Percies was false and feigned; and 
that he had no doubt but that God would 
give him a victory over perjured traitors. 
The next morning was fought one of the 
most obstinate and bloody battles recorded in 
English history. Hotspur's force consisted 
of 9,000 knights, squires, yeomen, and arch- 
ers, " withouten raskaldry," in all numbering 
about 14,000 men. The royalists were of the 
same strength, and both armies were com- 
posed of men of tried valor. As soon as they 
were arrayed in front of each other, the king, 
apprehensive of the result, sent the abbot of 
Shrewsbury to his opponent, with proposals 
of peace, which, after a long hesitation, were 



rejected by the advice of the Earl of Wor- 
cester. " Then banner, advance !" cried 
Henry. The two armies moved like two 
opposing whirlwinds to the shock. The air 
resounded with the adverse shouts of " St. 
George I" and " Esperance, Percy I" and the 
archers on both sides discharged their arrows 
in murderous clouds. Percy and Douglas, 
who had long been rivals for glory, and were 
esteemed two of the most valorous knights in 
Christendom, now fought side by side. With 
thirty attendants they rushed into the very 
heart of the royal army, cutting their way 
through the dense mass, and overthrowing 
every thing before them. The king's guards 
were dispersed; the Earl of Stafibrd, Sir 
Walter Blount, and two others, who to de- 
ceive the enemy, wore royal arms, were 
mistaken for the king, and slain ; the royal 
standard was beaten to the ground, and the 
Prince of Wales received a ghastly wound 
in his face. The object of Percy and Doug- 
las was to kill or secure the king ; but he by 
the advice of the Scottish Earl of March, had 
changed his armor, and was performing the 
duty of a valorous soldier in a distant part of 
the field. The two chiefs, disappointed in 
their purpose, determined to cut their way 
back through the enemy, who had closed be- 
hind them; and they had nearly effected 
their purpose, when Hotspur fell. An arrow, 
shot apparently at random, had pierced Ms 
heart. With his fall, his followers lost all 
confidence and courage, and fled in all direc- 
tions. The battle continued three hours. 
There are said to have fallen on that day, on 
both sides, near 2,300 noblemen ; but the 
persons of greatest distinction were on the 
king's. About 6,000 private men perished, 
of whom, 4,000 were of Percy's army. The 
Earl of Worcester, and Douglas were taken 
prisoners : the former was beheaded at 
Shrewsbury ; the latter received all that 
courtesy which was usually shown to foreign 
prisoners of high rank. 

The Earl of Northumberland, on hearing 
of the defeat of his son at Shrewsbury, dis- 
missed his forces, and came Avith a small 
retinue to the king at York. He pretended 
that his sole intention in arming, was to 
mediate between the parties : Henry thought 
proper to accept of the apology, and even 
granted him a pardon for his offense. 

SHROPSHIRE, A.D. 51.— In the year 55, 
B.C., the Romans first invaded Britian ; and 
after ravaging the country, they withdrew, 
being rather the nominal than the real posses- 
sors of the island. Nearly 100 years after- 
ward, Britain was again invaded, by the Ro- 
mans who advanced into the country without 
encountering any opposition, until they had 
arrived at Shropshire, on the banks of the 
Severn. Here Caractacus, a British chieftain, 



SIEDLACE— SMOLENSKO. 



585 



had drawn up his army to await the approach 
of the enemy. He had taken possession of 
a very advantageous position upon an inac- 
cessible mountain, washed by a deep and 
rapid stream. As soon as the British chief- 
tain saw the Romans approaching, he went 
from rank to rank, exlaorting his men to fight 
to the last for liberty and life. His words 
were received by his soldiers, with shouts of 
enthusiasm and valor. But what could un- 
discipHned bravery avail against the attack 
of an enemy skilled in all the arts of war, and 
inspired by a long train of conquests ? After 
^n obstinate resistance, the Britons were 
totally routed, and a few days afterward 
Caractacus himself fell into the hands of the 
Eomans, through the treachery of Cartis- 
mandan. Queen of the Brigantes, with whom 
he had taken refuge. The capture of this 
general was received with such joy at Rome, 
that Claudius commanded that he should be 
brought from Britain, in order to be exhibited 
as a spectacle to the Roman people. Accord- 
ingly on the day appointed for that purpose, 
the emperor, ascending his throne, ordered 
the captives, and Caractacus among the num- 
ber, to be brought into his presence. The 
vassals of the British king, with the spoils 
taken in war, were first brought forward; 
these were followed by his family, who with 
abject lamentations, were seen to implore for 
mercy. Last of all came Caractacus, with an 
undaunted air, and a dignified aspect. He 
appeared no way dejected at the amazing 
concourse of spectators that were gathered 
upon this occasion ; but casting his eyes on 
the splendors that surrounded him, he said : 
" Alas ! how is it possible that a people pos- 
sessed of such magnificence at Rome, could 
envy me an humble cottage in Britain." 
Claudius, the Roman emperor was affected 
with the British hero's misfortunes, and won 
by his address. He ordered him to be un- 
chained upon the spot and set at liberty with 
the rest of the captives. — Goldsmith. 

SIEDLECE. See Warsaw. 

SIETA AGNAS, a.d. 1808-1836.— Sieta 
Agnas, a village of Spain, has been the scene 
of two battles. The first was fought between 
the Spaniards and the French under General 
Moncey. The Spaniards were defeated. 
The second was fought between the royal 
troops of Spain, under General Ovalle, and 
the Carlists. The latter were defeated. 

SILLISTRIA, A.D. 1854. — Sillistria a 
strongly fortified town in European Turkey, 
has been besieged four times by the Russians. 
In 1773, and in 1809 it resisted every effort 
of the Russians to capture it; but in 1829, 
after a long and arduous siege the Russians 
captured it. In 1854, it was again besieged 
by the Russians ; but its gallant garrison pre- 
served it, intact notwithstanding the most 



strenuous exertions on the part of the besie- 
gers. 

SMOLENSKO, a.d. 1812.— The ancient 
and venerable city of Smolensko, in Russia, 
is situated on two hills, which there resti'ain 
witliin a narrow channel the stream of the 
Dnieper, 250 miles west south-west of Mos- 
cow. 

On the 9th of May, 1812, Napoleon set 
out from St. Cloud ; and on the 16th of June 
he crossed the Vistula ; on the 22d of that 
month he formally declared war against Rus- 
sia. On the 24th of June he crossed the 
Niemen, and entered the Russian territories, 
and thus commenced his famous invasion of 
Russia, which was ended with the burning 
of Moscow, and the disastrous retreat of the 
French army. The Russians retreated as the 
French advanced. On the 28th of June the 
French emperor entered Wilna, where a diet 
was immediately assembled, and Poland was 
declared free and independent. On the 17th 
of July he left Wilna and pushed on for 
Witepski, where his troops went for a short 
time into quarters for refreshments. 

On the 15th of August tlie French army 
crossed the Dnieper at several fords in order 
of battle, with the emperor in the center on 
horseback, and at Liady, entered the territo- 
ries of Old Russia. Advancing forward, Mar- 
shals Ney and Murat, who headed the lead- 
ing columns of the army, overtook, near 
Krasnoi, General Newerofskoi, who with the 
Russian rear guard, was slowly retreating in 
the direction of Smolensko. A battle en- 
sued, and the Russian general, attacked by a 
force stronger than his own, was forced to 
quicken his retreat toward Smolensko. Mu- 
rat's cavalry pursued the fugitive Russians 
hotly ; and the sight presented by that noble 
body of horse, led by the chivalrous general, 
who, attired in his most magnificent uniform, 
urged on his men with all that reckless ardor 
Avhich characterized him, must have been 
truly magnificent and exciting. Murat also 
detached some of his hght squadrons to the 
head of the retreating column, which- being 
overtaken and stopped, the horsemen who 
formed the advance were speedUy driven into 
the ranks of the infantry, which was pressing 
on from behind with all the eagerness of a 
flight for life. Newerofskoi, at this critical 
moment, evinced all the coolness and courage 
of an experienced general. Instantly divid- 
ing his army into two hollow squares, which 
were soon afterward united into one, he re- 
tired slowly and in good order over the im- 
mense plains which adjoin the Dnieper. The 
French charged upon the Russians repeatedly, 
and in some instances broke through the hedge 
of bayonets, and cut down the Russian offi- 
cers in the very center of the square. Yet 
the squares were formed again, and the Rus- 



£86 



SMOLENSKO. 



sians, still forming a lesser square when the 
larger was broken or weakened by loss, 
steadily retired during the whole day, repuls- 
ing, by a heavy rolling fire, the repeated 
charges of the French cavalry, and at length, 
after sustaining enormous losses, at the ap- 
proach of night reached Korytnia, with un- 
broken ranks. On the following day New- 
erofskoi eflfected a junction with Raeflskoi, 
and with their united forces these generals 
threw themselves into Smolensko, resolved 
to defend themselves to the last extremity. 
On the 16th of August, the French army ar- 
rived in the vicinity of Smolensko. At four 
o'clock in the morning of that day, the troops 
of Murat and Ney appeared before Smolen- 
sko, and Napoleon having arrived an hour 
afterward, ordered an immediate attack on the 
citadel of the place, by Ney's corps. This 
attack was repulsed by the Russians under 
Raeffskoi, who with Newerofskoi and 19,000 
men, were now shut up in the city. The 
Russian generals, however, awaited with 
anxious expectation the arrival of the main 
body of the Russian army ; and at length 
their eyes were gladdened by the sight of the 
vast clouds of dust, which concealed an army 
of 120,000 Russians under Barclay and Bagra- 
thion, who were hastening from Krasnoi to 
tlie relief of their comrades. Bagrathion 
was the first to enter, and having secured the 
important communication of the bridges, in- 
stantly reinforced the Russians in the town. 
Napoleon, beUeving that the enemy was re- 
solved to defend Smolensko, with all his 
forces, immediately made his dispositions for 
a general attack on the following day. His 
army, exclusive of the corps of Junot, which 
were not come up, amounted to 180,000 men, 
and 500 pieces of cannoG. The Imperial 
Guard was in the center ; Murat, Ney, and 
Davoust, at the head of their respective forces, 
were prepared to commence the attack at 
once. The emperor planted his tent in the 
midst of the first hue, almost within cannon- 
shot of the city. 

" Never," says AUson, " was a nobler 
spectacle presented in miUtary annals than 
the French army exhibited on the day pre- 
ceding the grand attack on Smolensko. The 
simultaneous converging of so vast a multi- 
tude, from all directions to the westward, 
presented to those that watched their move- 
ments, from the domes of the cathedral of 
Smolensko, at first a confused multitude of 
men, horses, artillery, and chariots, who cov- 
ered the earth as far as the eye could reach ; 
but by degrees, order began to appear in the 
chaos ; the different corps and squadrons took 
up their allotted ground ; the artillery ranged 
itself on the prominent eminences, and the 
admirable arrangements of modern discipline 
appeared in their highest luster. Silently the 



troops defiled out of the crowd, and took up 
their appointed stations; no sound of drums 
or trumpets was heard, as on a day of jmrade ; 
the solemnity of the occasion, the awful na- 
ture of the contest which awaited them, had 
impressed every heart." 

But the Russian general did not accept the 
challenge of the French emperor. Early the 
next morning they were seen in full retreat 
toward Elnia. Napoleon was bitterly disap- 
pointed at this result, for he was confident of 
victory. He endeavored in various ways to 
cut off their retreat and force them into a 
battle ; but all liis cQorts were fruitless, and 
he instantly ordered the storming of Smo- 
lensko. It is stated that Murat was opposed 
to this movement, and tried to dissuade the 
emperor from making' it; but finding his 
efforts in vain, the King of Naples was so 
much incensed, that he planted himself in 
front of one of the most formidable of the 
Russian batteries, and remained standing im- 
movable, and unhurt amid a tempest of baUs 
which was cutting down men at his very 
side by scores. The French advanced brave- 
ly to the assault, and after a fierce fight suc- 
ceeded in firing the town by means of their 
howitzers. But the Russians made a deter- 
mined resistance, and the French at nightfall 
had not entered the town. At seven o'clock 
in the evening. Napoleon ordered the assault- 
ing columns to withdraw to the main body 
of the army, wliich lay in the vast semicircle 
around the place. In the conflicts which 
took place around Smolensko, during the 
16th and 17th of August, 16,000 Russians 
were either killed, wounded, or made prison- 
ers; wliile the French loss was nearly as 
great. On the night of the 17th, the Rus- 
sians abandoned Smolensko, and on the fol- 
lowing day the French entered the town in 
triumph. From Smolensko, Napoleon pro- 
ceeded on his path toward Moscow, victori- 
ous in every battle, until the buraing of the 
Russian capital forced his army again to ap- 
proach Smolensko, in a manner wlaich pre- 
sents a strong contrast to their triumphal 
entry into the territory of the Muscovites. 

On the 9th of November, 1812, the differ- 
ent corps of the retreating French army com- 
menced arriving at Smolensko. The soldiers 
had impatiently longed for the appearance of 
that day ; but they found the place a heap 
of blackened ruins, and Napoleon, fearing the 
utter destruction of his army from the over- 
whelming force which the Russians were con- 
centrating in his rear, resolved to urge on the 
retreat. On the retreat from Smolensko, the 
grand army was reduced to 36,000 effective 
men, which was divided into four columns, 
which marched as on the previous part of the 
retreat in succession ; the emperor vdth the 
Old and New Guard came first; next that 



SMOLENSKO. 



587 



of Prince Eugene ; then Davoust, while Ney 
still continued to bring up the rear. On the 
14th the Old Guard occupied Krasnoi without 
meeting with any resistance from the Rus- 
sians ; but the second division, under Prince 
Eugene, was compelled to fight his way 
through forces immensely superior in num- 
bers. Davoust also was in imminent danger. 
KutusofF, the Russian general, made prepara- 
tions to attack Davoust's column, with his 
entire force. For this purpose he divided his 
army into three columns, the first, under 
General Tormosoff, who had been called to 
the main army since the death of Bagrathion, 
was destined to advance toward the great 
road beyond Krasnoi, in the direction of 
Orcha, so as to threaten the communications 
of Napoleon, and prevent him from sending 
succor to either Davoust or Ney ; the second 
under Prince Galhtzin was ordered to advance 
upon Krasnoi, and attack the enemy in front, 
while the third, under MUaradowitch, was 
directed to permit the corps of Davoust to 
defile along the road toward Krasnoi, till the 
whole body was past, and then fall upon their 
rear. 

But Napoleon, receiving intelligence of the 
perilous position of Davoust, resolved to re- 
lease him from danger. " I have long enough 
acted the emperor," said he, " now is the mo- 
ment to be a general again," and seizing his 
sword, he himself advanced on foot at the 
head of Ms soldiers, from Krasnoi toward 
Smolensko. Early in the morning of the 
same day (Nov. 17th), the division of Roguet 
of the Guard, had surprised and defeated a 
Russian detachment in the village of Ojarow- 
ski, and the Russian general rendered cauti- 
ous from this circumstance, allowed Napoleon 
time to make his dispositions for the approach- 
ing battle. The battle of Krasnoi, as it is 
called, was commenced by Prince Gallitzin, 
with the Russian center, which attacked 
General Roguet and the Young Guard. A 
desperate struggle ensued. Squadrons of 
Russians, hke immense avalanches, fell upon 
the devoted httle band, and crushed them 
beneath their very weight, and established 
themselves on the banks of the Lossmina, 
near the center of the French position. And 
now to share in this disaster came the column 
of Davoust; enveloped in clouds of Cossacks, 
who vainly endeavored to break the array 
of their march. Napoleon's position was 
critical in the highest degree. The enemy's 
fire was hurling death in his front and flank, 
the French troops flying before the withering 
tempest, speedily fiUed Krasnoi, and at this 
fearful moment the army of TormasoiF, ap- 
peared like a grim specter on the road to the 
right between Krasnoi and Liady. Napoleon 
saw tliat unless he immediately retreated 
all would be lost. Slowly and sadly the em- 



peror led back the bleeding remnant of his 
troops to Krasnoi, and thence cleared his way 
to Liady, before 'Tormasoff crossed the road. 
Prince GaUitzin now advanced rapidly and 
carried the village af Krasnoi by assault ; and 
Milaradowitch pressed upon Davoust's column 
with the utmost ardor. At length Torma- 
soff" arrived on the ground and fell upon the 
column of Davoust in flank, and the corps of 
that marshal, assailed by such immense num- 
bers, was almost totally destroyed. 

Meanwhile the corps of Marshal Ney, 
which brought up the rear, left Smolensko 
on the morning of the 17th after blowing up 
part of the ramparts. The Russian general 
immediately made preparations to cut off this 
portion of the French army. He estabhshed 
his army in two columns on the great road 
facing both ways, in order to prevent any at- 
tempt at a rescue by the French troops who 
had got on toward Liady. Ney's column, 
ignorant of their danger, approached the 
banks of the Dassiminer, under cover of a 
thick fog, on the 18th, when they were sud- 
denly assailed by repeated discharges of grape- 
shot from forty pieces of cannon ; while the 
whole heights on their front and flank, ap- 
peared crested by dense black columns of in- 
fantry and artillery ranged in order of battle. 
The Russian general summoned Ney to sur- 
render ; but the heroic marshal rephed, " A 
marshal of France never surrenders !" and 
forming his column of attack he led his troops 
with the utmost intrepidity against the oppos- 
ing host. His soldiers, after the most tre- 
mendous exertions, found it impossible to 
force a passage through the Russian army, 
and Ney was compelled te retire on the road 
toward Smolensko. But after marching an 
hour in this direction he suddenly turned to- 
ward the north, and moved toward the Dnie- 
per, which stream he finally succeeded in 
crossing with the broken remains of his corps. 
He was severely harassed by the Russians 
under Platoff in his retreat afi^er crossing the 
Dnieper. For more than sixty miles he 
marched in the midst of hordes of Cossacks 
who hovered incessantly around his wearied 
columns. On one occasion the Cossacks got 
the start of his advanced troops, and the sud- 
den apparition of flashes of artillery in the 
midst of the darkness of the forest, announced 
that they were surrounled by their enemies. 
The bravest fell back in dismay, and gave 
themselves up for lost ; but the marshal, with 
admirable presence of mind, ordered the 
charge to be beat, and exclaimed. " Com- 
rades, now is the moment ; forward, they are 
ours !" At these words, the surprised soldiers, 
imagining that the enemy were cut off, re- 
sumed their courage, and the Cossacks, dread- 
ing an overthrow, fled in confusion. At 
length, after undergoing innumerable hard- 



588 



SOBRAON— STANDAED, BATTLE OF THE. 



ships, the heroic commander brought tlie 
remnant of his corps to the neighborhood of 
Orcha ; and the emperor, who heard with 
the utmost joy of their approach, sent Eu- 
gene's corps to their assistance, which enabled 
them to rejoin in safety the other corps of 
the army. Napoleon exclaimed, when he 
heard of Ney's safe arrival, " I would have 
given three hundred millions from my coffers, 
rather than to have lost Marshal Ney!" 

The whole French army was now assem- 
bled near Orcha ; and the emperor immedi- 
ately resumed his retreat, marching directly 
for the Beresina, and the fearful scenes which 
attended the passage of that river, afford a 
fitting conclusion to the disastrous expedition 
of Napoleon to Russia. 

SOBRAON, A.D. 1846.— On the 10th of 
February, 1846, a battle was fought between 
the British army and the Sikhs, near Sobraon, 
a town of north-west India, on the river 
Sutlej, 25 miles north-west of Feroze- 
poor. The British army consisted of 35,000 
men, and was commanded by Sir Hugh 
Gough. The battle was most obstinate and 
bloody, the Sikhs fighting hke demons; but 
they were unable to resist tlie steady valor 
of European troops, and after a dreadful con- 
test they were dislodged, and all their bat- 
teries taken. The fugitives fled in the utmost 
confusion to the river in their rear, and in at- 
tempting to cross over a floating bridge tlie 
weight of the masses caused it to break down, 
and more than 10,000 were killed, wounded, 
or drowned. So obstinate, however, had 
been their resistance, that the British lost 
2,383 men. 

SOL WAY MOSS, a.d. 1542.— On the 25th 
of November, 1542, a battle was fought on 
Solway Moss, a dry marsh, about seven miles 
in circumferenee, in the county of Cumber- 
land in England, adjoining the fi-ith of Sol- 
way, between the English under OUver 
Sinclair, and the Scots under Dacres, and 
Musgrave. The Scots were defeated, and 
put to flight. The loss on either side in this 
battle was inconsiderable. 

SOLYGIA, B.C. 423.— In this year the 
Athenians set out to invade Corinth with a 
fleet of eighty ships, which carried 2,000 
heavy-armed of their own people, and with 
some horse transports, on board of which 
were 200 horsemen. They were also attend- 
ed by some of their confederates, by the 
Milesians, the Adrians, and Carysthians. The 
commander of this armament, was Nicias, 
son of Nicerotus. They came to anchor 
near the village of Solygia, about a mile dis- 
tant from the city of Corinth. The Corin- 
thians with all their forces, marched to Soly- 
gia, under the command of Brutus, and 
Lycophron. A battle ensued in the plain 
between Solygia and Corinth, which resulted 



in a total defeat of the Corinthians, of whom 
212 were slain; among whom was their 
General Lycophron. The Athenians lost 
somewhat less than fifty men. 

SPRINGFIELD, a.d. 1780.— On the 23d 
of June, 1780, a battle took place between 
an American force under General Greene, 
and the British troops under General Knyp- 
hausen, near Springfield, New Jersey. The 
British succeeded in firing tlie village, which, 
with the exception of three buildings, was 
reduced to ashes. Having effected this work 
of destruction, the invaders retreated, fol- 
lowed by the exasperated Americans, who 
pursued them with a continual fire, as far as 
Elizabethtown. The Americans lost in the 
battle, thirteen killed, and fifty-eight Avouiided 
and missing. The British loss is unknown. 

SPURS, Battle of the a. d. 1302.— The 
first " Battle of the Spurs," was fought near 
Courtrai, in Belgium, on the 11th of July, 
1302, between the Flemings and the French. 
The latter were defeated with immense 
loss ; 8,000 gilt spurs were taken from the 
killed or vanquished knights by the conquer- 
ors, from which circumstance the battle de- 
rived its name. In 1382 the French took 
and sacked Courtrai, for the avowed purpose 
of avenging this defeat. The French also 
took Courtrai in 1793. 

The second Battle of the Spurs was fought 
on the 16tli of August, 1513, between the 
French under Louis XII., and the army of 
Henry VIII. of England, during the siege of 
Therouanne. The French fled on the first 
shock of the advanced guards of the enemy, 
consisting of Germans and English ; the 
panic shot through the whole mass of the 
army; and 10,000 of the best cavalry of 
Europe were pursued almost four miles by 
three troops of German, and a few hundreds 
of English horse. From the energetic use 
of spurs during the flight and pursuit, the 
French with their characteristic humor named 
this enaragement the Battle of the Spurs. 

STAMFORD.— The town of Stamford in 
England, stands on the Welland river, eleven 
miles west of Peterborough. Early in 1470, 
the ninth year of the rign of Edward IV. of 
England, an insurrection broke out in Lin- 
colnshire. The whole army consisted of 
nearly 30,000 men, and was commanded by 
Sir Robert Welles. A battle took place on 
the 13th of March, 1470, near Stamford, 
between the king's army, and the insurgents, 
in which the latter, unable to stand against 
the heavy artillery and superior weapons of 
the royalists, were defeated with great loss. 
Their leaders were taken, and wliile the 
meaner prisoners were dismissed. Sir Robert 
Welles, and Sir Thomas Delalaurde, were 
beheaded. 

STANDARD, Battle of the.- In the 



STILLWATER. 



589 



year 1138, a battle was fought at Northaller- 
ton, in the county of York, England, between 
the English and the Scots. The King of the 
Scots was defeated, and he himself, as well 
as his son Henry, narrowly escaped falling 
into the hands of the English. Tliis battle is 
called the battle of the Standard, from a high 
crucifix, erected by the English on a wagon, 
and carried along with the army as a mihtary 
ensign. — Hume. 

_ STILLWATER, a.d. 1777.— This village is 
in Saratoga county, New York, on the west 
bank of the Hudson river, twenty-four miles 
north of Albany. 

General Gates took command of the 
northern division of the American army, on 
the 17th of August, 1777. At that time, 
Burgoyne, the I3ritish commander, was at 
Fort Edward, and was in a state of the ut- 
most alarm and perplexity, having just re- 
ceived the account of the defeat of an expedi- 
tion which he had sent to Bennington, with 
orders to seize a quantity of provisions and 
clothing wliich the Americans had deposited 
at that place. General Gates, upon seeing 
the disposition of the enemy to halt at Fort 
Edward, marched up the Hudson to StOl- 
water, with the intention of fortifying him- 
self there. Stillwater is almost thirty miles 
south of Fort Edward, and at this dis- 
tance the American commander was enabled 
to observe the movements of the enemy, and 
prepare to either receive or attack him. 
Gates, however, by the advice of Colonel 
Kosciusko, who had been appointed, the 
previous year, engineer of the army, deter- 
mined to make his encampment on an exten- 
sive plain at the foot of Bemus's Heights. 
Bemus's Heights are located on the west 
bank of the Hudson, about four miles south 
of Stillwater. The ground rises from the 
plain, gradually tapering, as it ascends, from a 
breadth of about half a mile until it forms a 
narrow defile one hundred feet in width. A 
high rocky cliif faces the river, commanding 
all approaches from the opposite shore. At 
tlie time of the battle, all the country in this 
vicinity was covered with dense forests, in- 
terspersed with an occasional clearing. The 
Americans threw up a hue of fortifications 
along the brow of the hiU toward the river. 
This breastwork was about three quarters of 
a mile in length, and was defended with 
tliree strong batteries ; one at each extremity, 
and one in the center. The center battery 
was so planted that it commanded the entire 
valley and river. A trench was thrown up, 
from the foot of the hill across the plain to 
the river's edge, where a heavy battery was 
planted. This battery protected a floating 
bridge which crossed the river, and com- 
manded the plain on the opposite shore. A 
road passed along the margin of the river, 



and at a point where it crossed MiU creek, a 
small stream about half a mile north of the 
extremity of the bluff of Bemus's Heights, a 
breastwork was constructed along the banks 
of the stream toward the river. At the ex- 
tremity near the water a strong battery was 
placed. These fortifications, which were 
made under the direction of Kosciusko, were 
completed about the 15th of September. 
Meanwhile, the enemy was approaching. 
General Lincoln, with a body of about 2,000 
Americans, had got in the rear of the British, 
and had performed several effectual opera- 
tions. The British stations on lake George 
had fallen into his hands, and he had captured 
a vessel laden with provisions for the British 
army. He had also taken the British gar- 
risons at Mount Hope, and Mount Defiance, 
and had even laid siege to Ticonderoga. The 
latter place, however, proved too strong, and 
he raised the siege, and prepared to attack 
the enemy in the rear. Burgoyne seeing the 
danger of having his supphes from the lakes 
cut off, and perhaps alarmed by the threaten- 
ing movements of Lincoln, determined to 
move forward to Albany at all hazards. A 
bridge of boats was constructed across the 
Hudson, and on the 13th and 14th of Septem- 
ber, the whole British army passed over to 
the opposite shore. They encamped on the 
plains and heights of Saratoga, witliin about 
five miles of the American position. On the 
15th he commenced his march toward the 
south, and on the 18th he arrived at a place, 
now called Wilbur's basin, about two miles 
from the American encampment. Here he 
made preparations for battle. 

The entire army of Burgoyne, consisted of 
5,000 men ; (about 3,000 only were actually 
engaged in this battle). His chief officers 
were Major General PhiQips, of the artillery, 
Brigadier-General Fraiser, commander of the 
light infantry and grenadiers ; Brigadiers 
Powell and Hamilton ; General Baron de 
Riedesel and liis aids. Gall and Specht, and 
Colonel Breyman, Earl Balcarra, Major Ack- 
land, and others of a lesser rank. 

The entire American army in camp and 
field consisted of about 7,000 men (2,500 
only were brought into the field on this oc- 
casion), and was composed of the brigades 
of Learned, Stark, Poor, Warner, Whipple, 
Patterson, Bailey, Fellows, Glover, Brichetts, 
Walcott, and Tenbroeck; the gallant band 
of sharp-shooters under Colonel Morgan of 
Virginia, and the regiments of Dearborn, 
Cilley, Brooks, Hull, and Scammel. 

On the morning of the 19th of September 
the clear frosty ah vibratied with the reveiUe 
of both armies. The two generals were 
making preparations for the approaching 
struggle. The right wing of the British army 
was posted on some high grounds which de- 



690 



STILLWATEK. 



scend gradually toward the river, and was 
covered by the grenadiers and hght infantry 
under General Fraiser and Colonel Breyman. 
The front and flank were covered by those 
loyaUsts Canadians and Indians who still re- 
mained in the camp. The left wing and the 
long train of artillery, under Generals Pliil- 
lips and Reidesel, occupied the low grounds 
near the river. 

The American army was drawn up in the 
same order from the river to the heights. 
The right which was the main body of the 
army, consisting of Patterson's, Glover's, and 
Nixon's brigades, was on the hills near the 
river, and the narrow flats below them. The 
center occupied an elevated plain some dis- 
tance from the river, and was composed of 
the brigades of Learned, Bailey, Wesson, and 
the regiments of Massachusetts and New 
York, under Jackson and James Livingston. 
The left wing consisted of General Poor's 
brigade, including the regiment of Cilley, 
Scammel and Hale of New Hampshire ; the 
regiment of Henry Livingston and Vancourt- 
landt, of New York ; the Connecticut militia 
under Cook and Latimer, Morgan's riflemen, 
and the infantry under Dearborn. This por- 
tion of the army occupied the heights about 
three fourths of a mile from the river, and 
was under the command of General Arnold. 
The right wing was commanded by General 
Gates. The American generals resolved to 
await the attack of the enemy, rather than 
to assume the offensive. Burgoyne on the 
contrary, determined to attack the Americans 
at once. He accordingly made his dispo- 
sitions for the attack. Generals Reidesel and 
Philhps were directed to advance with the 
artillery on the road along the bank of the 
river, and the Indians, loyahsts, and Cana- 
dians, in front, were ordered to attack the 
American advanced parties in the center. 
Meanwhile Burgoyne and Fraiser, were to 
march by a circuitous route through the 
woods, with the intention of turning the left 
flank of the enemy, when the two cUvisions 
should form a junction. When this junction 
should be made, which was to be announced 
by the firing of three minute guns, the artil- 
lery of the left wing, was to open on the 
American left and center, and under cover 
of their fire, the infantry was ordered to 
charge down upon the Americans, who would 
thus be attacked on flank and in front simul- 
taneously. At ten o'clock the whole British 
army was in motion. Phillips and Reidesel, 
with the artillery, w^re slowly advancing 
along the road, and Burgoyne an<l Fraiser 
were marching the one toward the west, 
along the stream which empties into WHber's 
Basin, and the other with Colonel Breyman, 
along a circuitous road toward the left of the 
American position. The American general 



was apprised of every movement of the en- 
emy, yet he remained inactive. At length 
Arnold, burning with impatience, detached a 
body of horse under Colonel Morgan, and 
some infantry under Major Dearborn, to at- 
tack the Canadians and Indians on the heights. 
Dashing through the forest the cavalry ad- 
vanced toward the enemy, followed by the 
foot-soldiers running at full speed. As they 
reached a deep ravine they encountered the 
enemy, and a furious conflict ensued. The 
Canadians and Indians were repulsed by one 
vigorous charge of the cavalry; but vsdth 
such fury did the Americans rush on the en- 
emy that the men were scattered, and became 
entangled in the woods. Here they were 
assailed by the enemy in great force, and 
were obliged to retire with considerable loss, 
the British taking twenty-two of them 
prisoners. Meanwhile a detachment of loy- 
alists, Canadians, and Indians, encountered 
the American advanced guards on a level 
spot of ground near Mill creek. The con- 
flict was sharp and bloody ; but the British 
were at length compelled to fly, leaving thir- 
teen dead on the plain, and thirty-five pris- 
oners in the hands of the Americans. While 
these skirmishes were taking place in front, 
Burgoyne and Fraiser were rapidly advancing 
toward the Americans, in order to attack 
them in front and flank. Arnold, at the same 
time, was endeavoring to execute a similar 
maneuver upon him. Neither party was 
aware of the movements of the other, so 
dense was the forest, and so uneven the 
ground. Suddenly, and entirely unexpected, 
the two armies met on a level plain near 
Mill creek, and no sooner had they arrived 
Avithin sight of each other than a terrific bat- 
tle commenced. Arnold led on liis men with 
a shout that roused the echoes through tlie 
Avoods ; the British rushed forward to meet 
them, and the fight raged with the utmost 
fury. 

At length, after battling furiously with the 
enemy, the Americans were compelled to 
fall back before their overwhelming numbers. 
The enemy, finding the left of the Americans 
so well defended, made a quick movement 
to their right, and fiercely attacked the left 
flank of the same wing. Arnold, mean- 
while, had rallied his forces, and was rein- 
forced by four regiments, under Lieutenant- 
Colonels Cilley, Brooks, and Scammel, and 
Majors Dearborn and Hull, and the British, 
fearing that Arnold, by cutting through their 
line, Avould separate their wings, hastened to 
strengthen the points attacked, by a reinforce- 
ment. And now the battle raged with ten- 
fold fury. The Americans, charging into the 
very faces of the enemy, fought with an 
energy which threw the British into confu- 
sion, and at some points forced them to give 



STILLWATER. 



591 



way ; but at this crisis, General Phillips, 
guided by the din of the battle, pushed his 
troops, with a portion of the artillery, under 
Captain Jones, through the woods, and ap- 
peared on the field of action at the very 
moment when victory seemed to have de- 
clared for the Americans. Assailed by fresh 
troops, and the terrific fire of the artillery, 
the Americans, wearied by their almost su- 
perhuman exertions, were forced back to 
their lines. The fight had raged with the 
utmost fierceness for more than an hour. It 
was now nearly three o'clock. Each army 
halted to breathe, and refresh for another and 
more furious combat. They were about a 
mile from each other, and between them 
stood the dense forest. The British com- 
menced the first hostilities, by opening their 
artillery on the Americans. Their fire did 
no damage, and the Americans did not 
respond. Burgoyne now ordered the woods 
to be cleared with the bayonet, and soon the 
British columns were seen emerging from 
the forest, and advancing with fixed bay- 
onets across the plain toward the American 
line. 

On they came, their measured tread alone 
disturbing the silence of the field. As 
they neared the enemy's intrenchment, they 
fired a volley, and sprang forward to the 
charge. Then, and not until then, did the 
Americans respond. With yells of defiance 
they sprang over the wall, and fell on the 
assailants liiie a cataract, carrying the British 
before them in their impetuous charge, to the 
verge of the woods. Here both armies 
stood as in a balance, fighting with an ani- 
mosity unparalleled. The British, gathering 
their energies, pushed forward with such 
vigor that the Americans were driven across 
the clearing to their intrenchments. Here 
the battle again raged ; and again, by a tre- 
mendous effort, the Americans hurled back 
their foes. And thus, until night drew its 
dark mantle over the scene, tlie battle con- 
tinued, victory declaring itself for neither 
party, and even after night-fall the solfliers 
maintained the fearful strife : but at length, 
exhausted with fatigue, bruised and bleeding, 
the warriors sullenly ceased the fight, and 
the Americans withdrew to their lines. The 
British encamped on the field of battle. The 
next day Burgoyne, perceiving that he could 
not dislodge the enemy from his fortified 
position, pitched liis camp within cannon- 
shot of the American lines, hoping that time 
would afford him an opportunity of operating 
with greater effect. 

In this battle the British lost about 500 
men, in killed, wounded, and prisoners. The 
Americans lost 64 killed, 217 wounded, and 
38 prisoners. Both parties claimed the vic- 
tory. The British, it is true, kept the field | 



of battle; but as the progress of G-eneral 
Burgoyne toward Albany was effectually 
checked by the Americans, the advantage 
remained certainly with the Americans. 

In point of the number of the slain, this 
battle may appear insignificant; but there 
have been very few battles marked with such 
determined valor and endurance on both 
sides. Never was a battle fought between 
civilized nations before, characterized with 
such deeds of personal valor. The personal 
interests of every man in the American army 
were at stake ; they were fighting for their 
country, their fire-sides, and their very lives, 
for if defeated, they were liable to be punish- 
ed as rebels to the crown of England. Ac- 
tuated by such impulses, they fought with a 
valor that did not require the encourage- 
ment of their officers. Posted singly in trees, 
and behind bushes and logs, the American 
marksmen picked off the enemy one by one, 
and Burgoyne himself nearly fell a victim to 
this method of warfare. And while we 
speak of the valor of the Americans gener- 
ally, we must not neglect to award deserved 
praise to one who, in after years, brought 
everlasting disgrace on his memory. At this 
battle. General Benedict Arnold comported 
himself with a valor which spoke volumes in 
favor of his patriotism and fidelity. And 
from this battle also we may date the first 
disaffection in the mind of that officer. Gen- 
eral Gates, in his dispatches, failed to men- 
tion Arnold's name. In truth, Gates was 
jealous of Arnold's reputation and popularity, 
and harsh words having passed between the 
two officers, in regard to the omission of Ar- 
nold's name in his dispatches, the latter offi- 
cer demanded his pass to join General Wash- 
ington, wliich Gates granted him. 

Arnold, however, upon reflection, seeing 
that it would sully his reputation by leaving 
the army when another battle was moment- 
arily expected, remained in the camp. He 
was, however, deprived of liis command, 
for on the arrival of General Lincoln, Gates 
gave the charge of the right wing of the 
army to that officer.* Both armies now 

* Until 1778, Benedict Arnold nobly sustained and 
fought for the cause of liberty. Arnold was born in 
Norwich, Connecticut, in January, 1740 ; he was a brave 
soldier, impulsive and generous, until he allowed hia 
passions to get the better of his judgment. Lossing, in 
his History of the United States, thu's narrates the trea- 
son of Arnold, and the capture, trial, and execution of 
Major John Andre: "While the French army were 
landing upon Rhode Island, and preparing for winter 
quarters there, Clinton was bargaining with Benedict 
Arnold for the strong military post of West Point, and 
its dependencies, among the Hudson Highlands, and 
with it the liberties of America, if possible. Benedict 
Arnold was a bold soldier, but a bad man. Impulsive, 
vindictive, and unscrupulous, he was personally unpop- 
ular, and was seldom without a quarrel with some of his 
companions in arms. Soon after his appointment to the 
command in Philadelphia, he was marrif<i to the beau- 
tiful younir d.Tiichter of Edward Shippen of that city. 
He lived in splendor, at an expense far beyond his in- 
come. To meet the demands of increasing "creditors, ha 



692 



STILLWATER. 



•worked zealously in strengthening their posi- 
tion. The Americans had received an acces- 
sion of 2,000 men by the arrival of General 
Lincoln, and had received a seasonable sup- 
ply of ammunition from Albany. Their pow- 
der was expended to such a degree, after the 
engagement, that had Burgoyne attacked 
them immediately, they would have been cer- 
tainly defeated, for they had only a single 
round of cartridges left. The Americans ex- 
tended and added to their fortifications ; and 
the British threw up intrenchments which 
were defended with heavy batteries. The 
English were constantly on the alert to avoid 
surprise, and the Americans exerted them- 
selves to the utmost to cut off the enemy's 
forage. Constant and animated skirmishes 
took place between the foraging parties of 
the British and tlie pickets of the Americans. 
The British general was alarmed at the rapid 
increase of the American army ; his Indian 
allies also were deserting to the enemy in 
great numbers, and he saw that unless speed- 
ily relieved, his army would be placed in the 

engaged in fraudulent acts, which made him hated by the 
public, and caused charges of dishonesty and malprac- 
tices in office to be preferred against him before the Ciin- 
tinental Congress. A court-martial appointed to try 
him, convicted him, but sentenced him to a reprimand 
only. Although Washington performed that duty with 
the utmost deliacy, Arnold felt the disgrace. It awak- 
ened vengeful feelings, which, operating with the press- 
ure of debt, made him listen with complacency to the 
suggestions of a bad nature. He made treasonable over- 
tures to Sir Henry Clinton, and by a correspondence, for 
several months (under an assumed name, and with prop- 
ositions couched iu commercial phrases), with the ac- 
complished Major Andr6, Clinton's adjutant-general, he 
bargained with the British commander to betray West 
Point and its dependencies into his hands. For this 
service he was to receive a brigadier's commission and 
fifty thousand dollars in cash. By patriotic professions 
Arnold obtained the command of West Point in 1780; 
and the time chosen for the consummation of his trea- 
sonable designs was, when Washington was absent, in 
September, in conference with the French officers, in 
Hartford, Connecticut. Arnold and Andr6 met, for the 
first time, on the 22d of September, at Haverstraw, on 
the west side of the Hudson, and arranged a definite 
plan of operations. Clinton was to sail up the river with 
a strong force, and, after a show of resistance, Arnold 
was to surrender West Point into his hands. The sloop 
of war Vulture, which conveyed Andr6 up the river, 
was driven from her anchorage by shots from an Amer- 
ican cannon on shore, and he was obliged to cross to the 
eastern side of the Hudson, and make his way toward 
New York by land. At Tarrytown, 27 miles from the 
city, he was stopped (September 23), and searched by 
three young militia-men, John Paulding, Isaac Van 
Wart, and David Williams, who, although Andre of- 
fered them large bribes if they would allow him to pass, 
refused, and, upon searching him, found papers concealed 
in his boots. They took him to the nearest American 
post. The commander could not seem to comprehend 
the matter, and unwisely allowed Andro to send a letter 
to Arnold, then at his quarters opposite West Point. 
The alarmed traitor fled (September 24) down the river 
in his barge, and found safety on board the Vulture. 
Andr6 was tried as a spy, found guilty, and hanged at 
Tappan, opposite Tarrytown, October 2, 1780, while the 
real miscreant escaped. Although Arnold did not ac- 
complish his wicked designs, he received the stipulated 
reward for his treasonable services. Washington would 
have spared Andr6 if the stern rules of war had permit- 
ted. The young soldier has always been more pitied 
than blamed ; while the name of Arnold will ever be 
regarded with the bitterest scorn." Arnold went to 
England, after the war, and died in London in 1801. 



utmost danger. He ■wrote letter after letter 
to Howe, imploring aid, but the American 
pickets were so vigilant, that, with a single 
exception, they never reached their destina- 
tion. To these letters, at all events, he received 
but a single reply, a letter written in cypher 
from General Chnton, at New York, inform- 
ing him that he should attack Forts Mont- 
gomery and Chnton on the west bank of the 
Hudson, with 2,000 men, and thus create a 
diversion in his favor. Burgoyne immedi- 
ately dispatched two officers in disguise, and 
various other persons, by several routes, to 
Chnton, with a full account of his precarious 
situation, entreating him to promptly execute 
the movement he had proposed. Burgoyne, 
although disappointed in the amount of as- 
sistance he had expected from Clinton, still 
hoped that after the reduction of the forts, the 
British would advance up the river, and in- 
duce the Americans to send detachments to 
meet them, or to change their position, in 
either of which cases an opportunity would 
be given him to gain an advantage, and 
open his passage to Albany. The first of 
October arrived, and the British general had 
heard nothing further from Chnton. The 
army began to suffer for want of provisions, 
and the general was obhged to put his sol- 
diers on short allowance. The enemy, ever 
vigilant and wary, would not allow a man or 
a particle of food to reach his camp. At 
length he saw the necessity either to fly or 
fight. Fly he would not; and, therefore, 
fight he must. Accordingly, on the morning 
of the 7th of October, he put himself at the 
head of 1,500 regular troops, with two 
twelve-pounders, two howitzers, and six six- 
pounders. Phillips, Reidescl, and Fraiser, ac- 
companied him. The camp on the high 
grounds was placed in the charge of Generals 
Hamilton and Specht, and the guard of the 
redoubts near the river was committed to 
Brigadier Gell. The British troops moved 
toward the enemy's left, with a view to learn 
whether a passage could be forced, and also 
to cover a foraging party sent out for the re- 
lief of the immediate necessities of the army. 
Several companies of loyahsts and Indians 
were pushed forward through the by-paths, 
to act as a check on the rear of the American 
left flank. 

The British regulars had advanced to with- 
in about three quarters of a mile of the ene- 
my's left wing, when they were discovered 
by General Gates. Scarcely were the move- 
ments of the enemy known to the Americans, 
ere the Canadians and Indians that had been 
sent in advance of the Britsh troops, attacked 
the American outposts near Mill creek and 
drove them back toward the republican lines. 
When they reached a spot within half a mile 
of the breastworks, the Americans made a 




BURGOYNE SUKKKNDERING HIS SWORL) TO GAI 



STILLWATER. 



593 



stand, and a sharp skirmish ensued. The 
enemy, however, was too strong, and the 
republicans were on the point of flying, 
when tliey were suddenly reinforced by Colo- 
nel Morgan, with his mounted riflemen, and 
a body of infantry. Like a whirlwind, that 
stalwart body of horse dashed into the thick- 
est of the enemy, scattering them like chaff", 
and driving them back in confusion to the 
British line. 

The Second Battle of Stillwater.- — In a 
recently-cleared space of ground, Burgoyne 
was making preparations for the action. His 
left wing, consisting of the grenadiers under 
Major Ackland, and the artillery under Major 
Williams, occupied a shght eminence behind 
Mill creek, on the borders of a wood. The 
center was composed of British and German 
soldiers, and was commanded by General 
Phillips and the Baron de Reidesel. The 
right wing consisted of light infantry, and 
was under the direction of Earl Balcarras. 
In front of the right wing General Fraiser, 
with 500 picked men, was stationed, with 
orders to fall on the left flank of the enemy 
as soon as the attack should be made in front. 
Morgan interpreted the enemy's design, and 
by his advice General Gates made active prep- 
arations to defeat it. Poor and Learned, 
with the troops of New York, and New 
Hampshire, were detached with orders to at- 
tack the British left ; and Morgan, with 1,500 
men, including his sharp-shooters, were or- 
dered to make a circuitous route to the high 
grounds on the right of the enemy, and to 
attack the flanldng party of General Fraiser, 
at the same time that Poor and Learned 
should engage the British left. It was now 
two o'clock in the afternoon. The soldiers 
of ]\Iassachusetts and New York, advanced 
slowly up the slight acclivity, on which Ack- 
land and Williams with the British grena- 
diers and artillery were stationed. A deep 
silence prevailed. From the height, the can- 
non of the British frowned grimly on the 
advancing columns. Suddenly their black 
nostrils were illuminated by a vivid flame; 
the air was stunned by a terrific explosion, 
and a storm of shot tore through the branches 
of the trees over the heads of the Americans. 
And now a wild uproar arose. The Amer- 
icans poured volley after volley on the enemy, 
shouting madly as they rushed forward to 
the very muzzles of the cannon, and fought 
hand-to-hand with the artillerymen. The 
struggle for the possession of the pieces was 
terrific. One of the cannons was taken and 
re-taken five times ; but at length the Amer- 
icans with an almost superhuman effort 
forced back its defenders, and Colonel Cilley, 
leaping astride of the carlnon, waved his 
sword over his head and shouted in exulta- 
tion at its capture. Then cramming its mouth 

38 



with its fiery food, he wheeled its muzzle 
toward the retreating British, and sent their 
own shot spinning through their ranks. In 
this struggle which was as obstinate as it was 
bloody. Major Ackland, who had behaved 
with the utmost bravery, was wounded, and 
Major Williams was made prisoner. On the 
loss of their officers the British fled in dis- 
order, leaving the Americans in possession of 
the field. 

Meanwhile Morgan, on the enemy's right, 
fell with the force of a tempest on General 
Fraiser's flanking party. The attack was so 
furious, and so entirely unexpected that the 
British were at once thrown into confusion, 
and retreated precipitately to their lines. 
Morgan now urged his men fiill against the 
right flank of tlie enemy. The shock was 
fearful. The British, disordered, and panic- 
stricken at the impetuous charge of the ene- 
my, wavered, and being at this moment vig- 
orously assailed in front by Major Dearborn, 
with some fresh troops, they scattered and 
fled. But by the endeavors of Earl Balcar- 
ras they were rallied, and were led back to 
the fight. The Germans and Hessians who 
formed the center of the British center, stood 
firm in spite of the defeat of the two wings. 
General Arnold, who had watched the course 
of battle with an eagle eye, saw that the 
time for a decided blow had arrived. Al- 
though deprived of liis command, and even 
having no authority to Jight, yet he could no 
longer remain an idle spectator. Leaping to 
his saddle, he galloped his horse toward the 
field of battle. His approach was hailed by 
his former troops with loud cheers, and placing 
himself at the head of three regiments of 
Learned's brigade, he led them against the 
British center. His men followed their heroic 
leader vdth loud and enthusiastic shouts, and 
charged down upon the enemy like an ava- 
lanche. The Hessians withstood the first 
assault with firmness, and the Americans 
recoiled. But Arnold, dashing through the 
midst of his men, in a frenzy of excitement, 
commanding, and entreating, ralhed them for 
a second assault. Animated to the highest 
pitch of enthusiasm by the gallantry of their 
commander, the Americans rushed on the 
enemy with resistless impetuosity. The 
Hessians were scattered in all directions by 
the terrific shock, and fled in terror. The 
battle now raged along the whole hne. 
General Fraiser was everywhere conspicuous 
in the British ranks, endeavoring to turn the 
tide of victory. But while the battle was at 
its height, he was struck by a rifle-ball, and 
fell, mortally wounded. His fall was the sig- 
nal of defeat. Burgoyne himself now took 
command, and endeavored vainly to rally his 
terror-stricken troops. The arrival of 3,000 
New York troops under General Tenbroeck, 



594 



STILLWATER. 



completed the panic, and the whole British 
line gave way, and fled in confusion to their 
intrenched camp. Generals Phillips and 
Reidesel, with the artillery, gallantly covered 
their retreat. But the British had scarcely 
entered the camp before they were fiercely 
attacked by the Americans, who, rusliing 
through the storm of grape-shot and bullets, 
battled fiercely vdth the enemy over the 
parapet. " Arnold, especially," says Botta, 
'' in this day appeared intoxicated with the 
thirst of battle and carnage." At the head 
of the troops of Patterson and Glover, he 
assaulted the works defended by the British 
under Earl Balcarras, and driving the enemy 
from their strong position, endeavored to force 
an entrance into the camp. But the English 
made a stand and received him with such 
firmness that he was obliged to abandon the 
attempt. He then led his men toward the 
right flank of the enemy, through the very 
midst of the fire of both armies, and joining 
Learned's brigade he led them against the 
Canadians and loyalists wlio were stationed 
between Balearras's position in the intrench- 
ments, and the Germans under Colonel Brey- 
man who formed the British right flank. 
This part of the Une was flanked by a stock- 
ade redoubt on either side. Arnold directed 
Colonel Brooks with his men to attack the 
redoubt, and led the balance of his brigade 
against the front. 

The enemy received the assailants with 
firmness, and a sanguinary conflict ensued. 
At length, however, toward evening the 
Canadians and loyalists gave way, and 
Arnold led his men into the very intrench- 
ments of the enemy. But at the moment of 
victory his horse was shot under him ; anrl 
the general himself received a severe bullet 
wound in the same leg which had already 
been shattered by a musket-ball received in 
the assault of Quebec two years before. The 
gallant general was conveyed from the field. 
His men still continued the attack. The 
Germans had fled at the approach of Arnold, 
leaving their commander. Colonel Breyman, 
mortally wounded on the plain. An import- 
ant point of the camp, therefore, was left 
exposed to the enemy. Burgoyne strove to 
rally the Germans to defend it ; but so great 
was the panic which existed in their ranks, 
that they refused to return to tlieir post. At 
the approach of night the Americans, thor- 
oughly exhausted by their arduous exertions 
of the day, suspended hostilities and en- 
camped for the night. Tlie division of Gen- 
eral Lincoln, which had remained in the 
American intrenchraents during the battle, 
at about midnight was brought out to relieve 
those upon the field. On this Burgoyne 
saw the necessity of changing his position. 
Accordingly he removed his army during the 



night about a mile north of his first position, 
whence he intended to retreat to Fort Ed- 
ward. Early on the following morning the 
Americans took possession of the deserted 
camp of the British. Several pieces of artil- 
lery, all the baggage of the Germans, and a 
quantity of ammunition fell into the hands of 
the victors. During the day, several skir- 
mishes took place between detached parties 
of the two armies, in one of which General 
Lincoln was wounded. The Americans lost 
on this occasion about 100 in killed and 
wounded. The British loss was about 700 
in killed, wounded, and prisoners. General 
Fraiser, Sir Francis Clarke (Burgoyne's aid- 
de-camp), and Colonel Breyman, were among 
the slain. 

General Gates, prior to the second battle 
of Stillwater, anticipating the retreat of the 
enemy, had detached General Fellows, with 
1,500 men, to occupy the heights on the east 
bank of the Hudson, opposite Saratoga, in 
order to prevent the enemy from fording the 
river at that point. He now sent another 
detachment to take post higher up, near Fort 
Edward, and at the same time ordered a 
picked corps of 2,000 men to advance and 
occupy the high grounds beyond Saratoga, 
near Lake George. By these movements 
the British army would be inclosed on every 
side. Burgoyne, on hearing this, determined 
to retreat toward Saratoga, situated six miles 
up the river, on the same side, before the 
enemy was aware of his intention. At nine 
o'clock on the evening of the 8th of October, 
the whole British army commenced its 
march ; toward midnight a heavy rain com- 
menced falling, and the badness of the roads, 
and the weakness of the horses, which were 
famishing with hunger, retarded their prog- 
ress so greatly that the army did not reach 
Saratoga until the evening of the 9th. The 
retreat of the British was so sudden that the 
hospital with 300 sick and wounded, and a 
great number of wheel-carriages, were aban- 
doned to the enemy. The invalids received 
the best treatment from the Americans. As 
they retired, the British burned the houses, 
and destroyed every thing that was of no 
further use to them. General Gage com- 
menced the pursuit at about noon, on the 
10th of October. The British army, after 
passing the night of the 9th at Saratoga, took 
up their march on the 10th, and, crossing 
Fishkill creek a little north of the town, en- 
camped upon the heights whose slope is now 
occupied by the \nUage of Schuylerville. 
Meanwhile the Americans had moved for- 
ward with such rapidity that by four o'clock 
in the afternoon of the 10th, they reached 
the heights to the south of Fishkill creek. 
The creek, therefore, divided the two armies, 
that of Burgoyne having encamped on the 



STILLWATER. 



595 



north side, and that of Gates on the south ; 
and the two armies were so near that they 
were within sound of each other's music. 
Burgoyne saw that there was no hope of 
crossing the river in the vicinity of Saratoga, 
and resolved to push up the river till he ar- 
rived opposite Fort Edward, and then to 
force a passage to the east bank in the face 
of the troops stationed at that place. He 
sent forward a company of workmen, under 
the escort of Fraiser's sharp-shooters, to re- 
pair the bridges, and open the road to Fort 
Edward. He also sent a detachment of 
troops to take possession of that fort. The 
Americans, however, who were spreading 
out on all sides, taking possession of every 
eminence, soon drove in the working party ; 
and the British troops found the fort occu- 
pied by the enemy. Thus hemmed in, Bur- 
goyne saw no other method of escape than 
an immediate retreat, without baggage or 
artillery. The Americans had lined the east- 
ern shore of the Hudson with troops, who 
maintained an incessant fire on the boats 
laden with supplies for the British, which 
had attended the movements of the army up 
the river. Many of the boats were taken, 
and a number of men lost on both sides. 
The British, therefore, were reduced to the 
necessity of landing the provisons, and trans- 
porting them, exposed to the fire of the en- 
emy, over the lulls to the camp. In the 
midst of all these calamities a sudden gleam 
of hope broke through the cloud of despair 
which hung over the British army, and they 
were near gaining an advantage which would 
have relieved them entirely from their dan- 
gerous position. General Gates was informed 
that the small detachment which Burgoyne 
had sent on the road toward Fort Edward, 
was the entire vanguard and center of the 
British army. He determined therefore to 
full upon what he supposed to be the rear 
guard of the enemy only, which remained 
near the Fishkill. Burgoyne, hearmg of the 
proposed movement of the enemy, saw at 
once that, should it be made, the Americans 
would fall an easy prey into his hands. Ac- 
cordingly he made liis dispositions to receive 
the enemy. Leaving a strong guard at the 
battery on the creek, he posted his troops in 
ambush behind a thicket in the rear. In the 
morning a thick mist arose, concealing every 
object from view, and Gates resolved to take 
advantage of the fog, to pass the creek, and 
seize the battery on the opposite bank. 
Three brigades, commanded by Generals 
Glover, Nixon, and Morgan, were ordered to 
cross the Fishkill and attack the enemy's 
camp. At early dawn, Morgan set out with 
his men. The fog was so thick that he could 
see but a few yards in advance of him. 
He had proceeded but a short distance when 



he fell in with the British pickets, who fired 
upon him, killing several men. Nixon cross- 
ed the creek and surprised a British picket. 
Glover was on the point of following him 
when a deserter from the British crossed the 
creek and informed him that the whole Brit- 
ish army was in the camp ready to receive 
them. Gates was immediately informed of 
the true state of affairs, and he revoked his 
former orders, directing that the troops should 
return to their former positions. Intelligence 
of the incident was conveyed to Nixon, who 
hastily retired from his dangerous position ; 
but as the sun arose the fog was dispelled be- 
fore he had time to withdraw with the whole 
of his force, and his rear guard was exposed 
to the fire of the British artillery, w^hich in- 
flicted considerable loss on the retiring col- 
umns. In a moment Burgoyne saw his only 
hope of victory fall to the ground. His 
situation was indeed terrible. Nothing but 
an absolute surrender would save his army 
from annihilation. He was completely sur- 
rounded by the enemy. The positions of the 
two armies were now as follows : The British 
were on the heights near the Fishkill. Their 
camp was fortified and extended about half a 
mile in the rear, and the heavy guns were 
planted chiefly on an elevated plain, north- 
westof the ground on which Schuyerville now 
stands. The main body of the American 
army, under Gates, occupied the high grounds 
on the south shore of the Fishkill. In front 
of the British position on the east bank of 
the Hudson, 3,000 American troops, under 
General Fellows, were posted behind strong 
intrenchments, and in the rear of the British, 
Morgan, with his men, were stationed. The 
Americans occupied Fort Edward, and had a 
fortified camp in the vicinity of Glenn's 
Falls. Small detachments of American militia 
were posted in every vicinity in the neigh- 
borhood of the British camp, closely watch- 
ing every movement of the enemy. The 
British soon began to feel the most pressing 
want of food and water. Every part of their 
camp was exposed to the fire of cannon and 
musketry. Neither officers, soldiers, invalids, 
women, nor children, were safe from the mis- 
siles of the enemy. The British army, by deaths 
and desertion, was reduced one half. Bur- 
goyne anxiously awaited some intelligence 
of the movements of Clinton, whom he 
hoped would march to his relief; but this 
hope finally died away, and on the evening 
of the 12th the British generals held a coun- 
cil, in which it was decided to retreat, if pos- 
sible, before morning. They sent out scouts 
to ascertain the best route for the retreat ; but 
they returned with the intelligence that every 
path was blocked up by the enemy. 

On the morning of the 13th, it was ascer- 
tained that the whole stock of provisions was 



596 



STILLWATER. 



sufficient only to sustain the army three 
days longer. A second council of war was 
called, which was attended by the captains 
of companies as well as the generals and 
field officers. The meeting was held in a 
large tent, which, during the deliberations, 
was perforated several times with bullets 
from the Americans, and a cannon-ball, it is 
said, swept across the table near which Bur- 
goyne and several other generals were sitting. 
After a short deliberation, it was decided, 
without a single dissenting voice, to open a 
treaty and enter into a convention with Gren- 
eral Gates, for an honorable surrender. Late 
in the afternoon a flag was sent to General 
Gage, with a note, requesting him to name 
the hour in which it would suit him to re- 
ceive a field officer to confer with him on a 
matter of great importance to both armies. 
"At ten o'clock, at the advanced post of the 
army of the United States," was the reply. 
At the appointed hour Lieutenant Kingston, 
Burgoyne's adjutant-general, appeared, bear- 
ing the following note from the British gen- 
eral: 

" After having fought you twice, Lieuten- 
ant-General Burgoyne has waited some days 
in his present position, determined to try a 
third conflict against any force you could 
bring against him. He is apprized of your 
superiority of numbers and the disposition of 
your troops to impede his suppUes and ren- 
der ills retreat a scene of carnage on both 
sides. In this situation, he is impelled by hu- 
manity, and thinks himself justified by estab- 
lished principles and precedents of state and 
war, to spare the hves of brave men upon 
honorable terms. Should Major-General 
Gates be inclined to treat upon that idea, 
General Burgoyne would propose a cessation 
of arms during the time necessary to com- 
municate the prehminary terms by wliich, in 
any extremity, he and liis army mean to 
abide." 

Negotiations were thus commenced, and 
ccntinued until the 16th, when every thing 
was agreed upon, and the paper ready for the 
signatures of the commantiing officers. 

The paper was superscribed, " The conven- 
tion between Lieutenant-General Burgoyne 
and Major-General Gates." The principal 
articles, omitting those relating to the accom- 
modation and provision of the vanquished 
army to Boston, were in substance as follows : 
" That the British army should march out of 
the camp with all the honors of war, to an 
appointed place, where they were to deposit 
their arms and leave their artillery ; that they 
were to be allowed a free embarkation and 
passage to Europe from Boston, upon condi- 
tion of their not serving again in America 
during the present war ; that the army was 
not to be separated, especially the officers 



from the men ; that the officers should be ad- 
mitted to parole, and permitted to wear their 
side-arms; that aU private property should 
be retained, and the pubhc property to be 
deUvered by the British upon honor; that 
no baggage should be searched or molested ; 
that all persons, of whatever country, apper- 
taining to, or following the camp, were to be 
fully comprehended in the terms of capitula- 
tion, and that the Canadians should be re- 
turned to their own country in safety." 

Before signing these conditions, which 
were undoubtedly veiy honorable to the 
British army, Burgoyne, having received in- 
telligence that Clinton had moved up the 
Hudson and reduced Fort Montgomery, felt 
disposed to break up the treaty entirely ; but, 
on learning of the British general's hesitancy. 
Gates, on the 17th, drew up his men in battle 
order, and sent a message to Burgoyne in- 
forming him that he must either sign the 
paper or prepare for battle. With the advice 
of his officers Burgoyne reluctantly signed 
the " Convention," and preparations were 
made immediately to surrender in due form. 

The ceremony of the surrender is thus 
described by an eye-witness : 

" An armistice of three days, with a view 
to surrender was asked. Six of the tallest 
men in our army, with the best clothes we 
could procure, and with caps so high that we 
had to look twice to see the tops, were se- 
lected to meet the flag. Terms of surrender 
were finally concluded. Our brigade was 
ordered to march down the hill and parade 
on the road leading south, with all the music 
of the brigade in the center, playing ' Yankee 
Doodle.' We were but just paraded, when 
the British general, officers, and stafl', and 
General Gates and staff met close by where 
I stood in the ranks, and so near that I could 
hear all that was said. An American officer 
said: 'General Burgoyne — General Gates.' 
' Your servant, sir' — ' Your servant, sir,' 
passed around. General Burgoyne then said : 
'Through the misfortune of war. General 
Gates, I am your prisoner.' ' It is not 
through any misconduct of yours. General 
Burgoyne,' replied Gates. Then came the 
JtBritish troops in columns, as richly dressed, 
clean, and sizable men as ever I saw. I saw 
not a smile on the face of Americans or Brit- 
ish. 

" Next came the Hessians — and how shall 
I describe the most miserable, filthy, ill-look- 
ing beings I ever saw in human form ? But 
the fag-end was the women, I suppose. 
Many of them led horses, upon the backs of 
which were thrown large oblong bags, sewed 
up at the ends. These bags contained pro- 
visions, blankets, clothing, utensils, etc., and 
in many cases were the heads of children 
sticking out above the horses' backs, through 



STOCKACH. 



597 



holes in the bags. Sometimes there were 
two smaller children on the other side to 
balance. Our orders were to maintain a re- 
spectful silence ; but tliis last was too much I 
One ventured a suppressed laugh ; his neigh- 
bor took the disease in a more violent form, 
until in a few moments the whole American 
lines were convulsed with the most uproarious 
laughter, and all at the expense of the poor 
Hessians, their women, children, and equip- 
age." 

General Gates, respecting the feelings of 
the vanquished, ordered his army to retire 
within their hues that they might not witness 
the shame of the English when they piled 
their arms. After the troops had laid down 
their weapons, Burgoyne, in the presence 
of the whole American army delivered his 
sword to the victorious general. The British 
troops then took up their line of march tor 
Boston. 

The number of prisoners surrendered on 
this occasion was 5,791, of whom 2,412 
were Germans, and 3,379 English. Two 
twenty-four-pounders, four twelve-pounders, 
thirty- three howitzers of various caliber, and 
three mortars ; in all forty-two pieces of ar- 
tillery, fell into the hands of the victors, to- 
gether with 4,647 muskets, 72,000 cartridges, 
and a great quantity of other ammunition, 
powder, shells, balls, etc. This glorious vic- 
tory produced the utmost joy throughout the 
Union. Congress voted a gold medal to 
Gates in honor of his services, and the whole 
country resounded with his name. " All 
hoped," says Botta, " and not without rea- 
son, that a success of this importance would 
at length determine France and other Euro- 
pean powers that waited for her example, to 
declare themselves in favor of the Americans. 
There could be no longer any question respect- 
ing the future ; all (kmger had ceased of es- 
pousing the cause of a people too feeble to de- 
fend themselves." 

STOCKACH, A.D. 1799.— Stockach is a 
city of south Germanj'', and is situated on a 
river bearing the same name. The battle of 
Stockach was fought between the republican 
army of France, and the Austrians, on the 
26th of March, 1799. Jourdan, the com- 
mander of the French forces, saw the import- 
ance of gaining possession of this place, for 
here all the roads to Swabia, Switzerland, 
and the valley of the Neckar united, and he 
could not continue his retreat beyond this 
point without abandoning his communications 
with Massena, who commanded a large force 
of republicans. The Austrians commanded 
by the archduke, were in great numbers on 
the river Stockach, a small stream which runs 
in a winding channel before the village of the 
same name, and terminates in lake Constance ; 
their center occupied the plain of Nellemberg 



in front of the river, their right extending 
along the same plain toward Liptingen, their 
left from Zolbruch to Wahlevies. On the 
side of the repulicans, the center was com- 
manded by Souham, the right by Ferino, and 
St. Cyr, whose vanguard was led by Soult, 
the left wing. The left wing was to attack 
Liptingen, where Meerfeld was stationed ; 
and the principal effort was to be made in 
that quarter, in order to turn the Austrians, 
and compel them to retreat by the single 
chaussee of Stockach, when necessity would 
oblige them, in case of any disaster, to lose 
all their artillery. 

All the columns were in motion at five in 
the morning, and the advanced guards of 
Soult soon came in sight of the videttes of 
Meerfeld. The attack of the French was so 
vigorous, that ^leerfeld was driven from Lip- 
tingen, and thrown back in confusion into 
the forests near Stockach. They were soon 
driven out from their place of retreat ; the in- 
fantry retreated in great disorder to Stockach, 
and the cavalry toward Maeskirch. At the 
same time, the two armies were engaged 
along the whole hne. Souham in the center 
repulsed the light troops of the Austrians as 
far as Wahleveis and Ossingen on the river, 
and threatened the plateau of Nellemberg, 
while on the right, Ferino was also actively 
engaged A heavy cannonade was heard 
along the whole front of the army ; a decisive 
success had here been gained on one point, 
the Austrian right was turned, and the French 
were already quite sure of victory. As soon 
as the archduke was aware of the impres- 
sion made upon the right wing of his army, 
he hastened to that part of the field, accom- 
panied by twelve squadrons of cuirassiers, 
and six battalions of grenadiers, while a 
powerful body of horse were stationed on 
the plain of Nellemberg, to protect the re- 
treat of the army, in case they were driven 
to that extremity. These movements, which 
were adapted at the decisive moment, 
changed the fortunes of the day, and another 
advantage was also gained by a fault of 
Jourdan's, in dividing his forces by sending 
orders to St. Cyr to advance to Maeskirch to 
cut off the retreat of the imperialists. A 
violent struggle now took place in the woods 
of Liptingen, which Soult had gained in the 
first moment of success. The archduke 
with fresh troops advanced to the attack, the 
French defended themselves with great valor, 
and one of the fiercest combats that occurred 
in the whole war took place, and lasted, 
without ceasing, for several hours. Three 
times the repubUcans advanced out of the 
woods upon the enemy, and three times, not- 
withstanding the most desperate efforts, they 
were driven back by the perseverance of the 
Germans. At length, the imperiaUsts be- 



598 



STOCKHOLM— STONY CREEK. 



came the assailants; the archduke, at the 
head of the Hungarian grenadiers, charged in 
person. Prince Furstemberg, and Prince 
Anhalt Bemburg were killed while leading 
on their respective regiments, and the flower 
of the army, on both sides, perished under the 
terrible fire whicli overspread the battle-field. 
St. Cyr long and obstinately maintained his 
ground ; but at length, finding the principal 
efforts of the Austrians were directed against 
his wing, and that their reserves were coming 
into action, he ordered Soult to leave the 
wood, and retire into the plain of Liptingen. 
This perilous movement was performed by 
that superior officer, with admirable steadi- 
ness ; but, when they reached the open 
country, they were charged by KoUowrath, 
at the head of the grenadiers and cuirassiers, 
which the archduke had in reserve. This 
effort proved decisive. In vain Jourdan 
charged with the French cavalry ; they were 
broken and driven back in confusion by the 
superiority of the cuirassiers, and the general- 
in-chief came near being made a prisoner in 
the flight. The infantry, in consequence of 
this overthrow, were obliged to retreat ; two 
regiments were surrounded, and made prison- 
ers, and St. Cyr, who was now entirely cut 
off from the center of his army, only escaped 
being destroyed, by throwing himself across 
the Danube, being fortunate to find one 
bridge which was not occupied by the enemy. 
This great success, and the separation of St. 
Cyr from the remainder of the army, was 
decisive of victory. Souham and Ferino, 
with the center and right, had maintained 
their position against a superior number, but 
had gained no advantage ; and now that thii 
left wing was separated from them, and un- 
able to render an}^ assistance, they could not 
maintain their ground any longer against the 
victorious troops of the archduke. Notwith- 
standing, the French had fought bravely 
against the superior forces of their enemy, 
and the loss on both sides being nearly equal, 
amounting to about 5,000 men to each party, 
yet, by the separation of the left wing, they 
had sustained all the consequences of a 
Sdrious defeat ; and now their principal object 
was, to endeavor to reunite the scattered 
divisions of the army by a retreat to the 
passes of Black Forest. Jourdan was so much 
affected with the result of this action, that, 
after reaching the defiles of the forest, he 
surrendered the command of the army to 
Ernouf, the chief of the staff, and went to 
Paris, to lay his complaints as to the state of 
the armv before the Directory. 

STOCKHOLM, a.d. 150 L— Stockholm, the 
capital of the kingdom of Sweden, has sus- 
tained several sieges, which our limits forbid 
describing. One of the most memorable of 
these sieges, took place in the year 1501, 



when it was besieged by the Swedes, for the 
crown of Denmark. The city was defended 
by the army of Christina, Queen of Denmark. 
The siege of 1520, is still more memorable. 
The city was besieged by the cruel and 
treacherous Christian II ; but the garrison 
under the command of the heroic woman 
Christina Gyllenstierna, widow of Sten 
Sture, made a desperate resistance. The 
besieged, however, finally capitulated, on 
favorable terms ; but the perfidious monarch, 
shamefully violated the treaty, and massacred 
the inhabitants without mercy. 

STONINGTON, a.d. 1814.— On the 8th 
of August, 1814, while a British fleet was 
lying off the harbor of Stonington, Connecti- 
cut, a brig of eighteen guns was ordered to 
bombard the town. » The inhabitants, totally 
unprepared for tliis attack, were for a time in 
some confusion ; but at length they procured 
two eighteen-pounders, and opened them 
upon the brig with so much vigor, that she 
was greatly damaged. She finally cut her 
cables and retired, after having inflicted some 
slight damages on the town, and Sir Thomas 
Hardy, the commander of the British squad- 
ron, alarmed at this warm reception, weighed 
anchor, and made no further attempts on the 
coast of Connecticut. 

STONO FERRY, a.d. 1779.— A severe 
engagement took place on the 20th of June, 
1779, at Stono Feny, about thirty miles from 
Charleston, South Carolina, between a de- 
tachment (about 1200 strong) of the Amer- 
ican army, under General Lincoln, and a 
body of 800 British croops, under Colonel 
Maitland. The British occupied a strongly 
intrenched position at Siono Ferry, and on 
the morning of the 20th of June they were 
attacked by Lincoln's troops. The battle 
raged hotly for about an hour and a haff, 
neither party gaining a decided advantage. 
At length, however, Maitland being rein- 
forced by troops from General Prevost, the 
Americans found it necessary to retreat, 
which they did in good order, bearing their 
wounded off the field. The Americans lost in 
killed and wounded 146, and 155 missing. 
The British lost about one hundred in killed 
and wounded. 

STONY CREEK, a.d. 1813.— On the 8th 
of June, 1813, a battle occurred between the 
American army, under Generals Winder and 
Chandler, and the British, under General 
Vincent, near Stony creek, in Canada. The 
American army was taken by surprise, and 
was defeated, with a loss of 100 men taken 
prisoners, and four pieces of artillery. Among 
the prisoners were Generals Winder and 
Chandler. The loss in killed and wounded 
on both sides was nearly equal. The Amer- 
icans retreated to Fort George, on the Can- 
ada shore of Lake Ontario. 



STONY POINT. 



699 



STONY POINT, A.D. 1779.— This place is 
situated on the west bank of the Hudson 
river, at the head of Harvestraw bay, in 
Orange CO., New York, about forty-two 
miles north of the city of New York. 

The Americans with great labor and ex- 
pense had constructed fortifications at Stony 
Point, and Verplanck's Neck, situated nearly 
opposite each other, the first on the west, 
and the second on the east side of the river. 
These were eligible sites for forts, making a 
formidable defense for the passage of the 
Americans at King's Ferry, thus affording a 
free communication between the troops of 
New England, and those of the central and 
southern States. General Clinton, the cpm- 
mander of the Enghsh army, at New York, 
therefore resolved to dislodge the Americans 
from these important posts. Accordingly on 
the 30th of May, Clinton in person, sailed up 
the river with a strong force. On the morn- 
ing of the 31st, the troops were landed in 
two divisions, the one on the west side of 
the river, under Clinton, a little above Hav- 
erstraw, and the other on the east side, 
eight miles below Verplanck's Point. The 
flotilla was under the command of Admiral 
Collier. The American garrison at Stonj"- 
Point consisted of only about forty men, and 
finding the enemy so near, and not being 
prepared to receive them, evacuated the fort- 
ress, and withdrew to the Highlands. The 
British troops then took possession of the 
fort without molestation. The gari'ison of 
Fort Fayette at Verplanck's Point, consisted 
of seventy men, and upon the approach of the 
enemy made active preparations to receive 
them ; but the next morning the guns of the 
captured fortress at Stony Point were opened 
upon Fort Fayette ; and the little garrison, 
finding themselves assailed in front by the guns 
of Stony Point, and in rear by the British 
under Vaughan, surrendered tliemselves pris- 
oners of war, on very honorable terms. Wash- 
ington deeply lamented the loss of these im- 
portant fortifications, and resolved to make an 
immediate effort to recapture them. He re- 
moved the main body of his army to Middle- 
brook toward the Pliglilands, and established 
his head quarters at Smith's Clove, some dis- 
tance in the interior. The English had labored 
industriously in completing the works at 
Stony Point and had akeady reduced them to 
the condition of an almost impregnable fort- 
ress. Nature and art combined, made it one of 
the strongest places on the continent. It was 
situated on a huge rock which rose out of 
the water and an isolated bluff at high tide ; 
and was strongly defended by a double row 
of abatis and outworks. The north, south, 
and east sides of the rock were washed by 
the waters of the Hudson, and the west side 
was covered by a deep and dangerous marsh. 



The garrison consisted of nearly 700 British 
troops ; and to protect it as well as that at 
Fort Fayette, Clinton had descended the 
river only as far as Pliihpsburg, now called 
Yonkers. On the 23d of June Washington 
removed his quarters to New Windsor, the 
command at West Point was intrusted to 
General M' Dougal, and the various garrisons 
and redoubts and passes along the river be- 
tween West Point and Stony Point, were 
strengthened and guarded. On the 1st of 
July, General Wayne with the light infantry 
of the Hue was stationed in the vicinity of 
the Dunderberg, between Montgomery and 
Clove Spring, where the main body of the 
army remained. 

Washington now resolved to execute his 
intended operations against Stony Point, and 
Fort Fayette. The garrison of Stony Point 
was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel John- 
son; that of Fort Fayette, by Lieutenant 
Colonel Webster. The two garrisons were 
about equal in strength. Several small Brit- 
ish vessels of war were stationed in the bay, 
within cannon-shot of both forts. Washing- 
ton charged General Wayne with the attack 
of the fort at Stony Point; and General 
Howe with that of Fort Fayette. At noon 
on the 15th of July, Wayne, with a strong 
detachment of Hght infantry, marched from 
his quarters toward Stony Point. The day 
was intensely hot, and the troops, after 
marching over high mountains, through deep 
defiles and tangled thickets, and wading 
streams and marshes, arrived, gi-eatly fatigued, 
at about 8 o'clock in the evening, within a 
mile and a half of Stony Point. General 
Wayne here halted in order to reconnoiter 
the enemy's works. Having accomplished 
his purpose unobserved by the English, he 
returned, and forming his troops in columns, 
moved forward toward the fort, under the 
guidance of a negro slave belonging to a gen- 
tleman in the vicinity. This negro had in- 
gratiated liimself into the favor of the British 
officers in the garrison ; and had gained a 
knowledge of the countersign. The Amer- 
icans commenced their march at half past 
eleven o'clock at night. Two strong men, 
disguised as farmers, accompanied by Pom- 
pey, the negro, marched on in advance of 
the army. They approached the first senti- 
nel, and having given the countersign, Pom- 
pey entered into conversation with him. 
While the sentinel was thus engaged, he was 
suddenly seized and gagged by the men. 
The second sentinel met with the same fate ; 
and the whole army, with the exception of 
300 men, who were left in the rear under 
General Muhlenburg, to act as a reserve, 
crossed the marsh, and reached the western 
foot of the promontory unperceived by the 
EngUsh. Wayne now divided his troops into 



600 



STRASLUND. 



two columns, and placed himself at the head 
of the right, wliich was composed of the regi- 
ments of Febiger and Meigs. The left con- 
sisted of Colonel Butler's regiment, and two 
companies under Major Murfey. In the van of 
the right column marched 150 volunteers un- 
der the gallant Lieutenant Colonel de Fleury ; 
and the vanguard of the left consisted of one 
hundred volunteers under Major Stewart. 
The muskets of these troops were unloaded ; 
but they advanced with fixed bayonets. 
These composed the forlorn hope. An avant- 
guard of forty picked men under Lieutenants 
Gibbon and Knox marched on in advance of 
the whole army, to remove the abatis and 
other obstacles. At about midnight the ad- 
vanced parties advanced to the attack ; De 
Fleury toward the southern, and Stewart to- 
ward the northern portions of the promon- 
tory. Stealthily and silently the Americans 
ascended the slopes. They neared the ene- 
my's pickets on the heights. A few pistol- 
shots warned them that their approach was 
discovered ; but relying solely on the bayo- 
net, the assailants vigorously pressed forward. 
The sharp roll of drums aroused the garrison 
from their slumbers ; and the loud cry. To 
arms ! to arms 1 resounded from within the 
walls. The English artillerymen flew to 
their pieces, the soldiers grasped their mus- 
kets, and a terrible fire of artillery and mus- 
ketry was opened on the Americans. The 
two main divisions of the Americans followed 
closely in the rear of the vanguard, and 
pushed forward through the iron tempest, 
overcoming every obstacle, until the heads 
of the two columns met in the center of the 
works, where they arrived simultaneously. 
At the inner abatis, Wayne received a con- 
tusion in the hand by a musket-ball. " March 
on; carry me into the fort!" cried the gal- 
lant officer, " I will die at the head of my 
column." They bore him forward, and re- 
covering from the effects of the shock, he 
joined in the shouts that arose as the two 
columns met as victors in the center of the 
fort. Colonel De Fleury, with his own hand, 
struck the royal standard that floated upon 
the walls. The garrison surrendered at dis- 
cretion as prisoners of war. The humanity 
of the Americans imparted additional luster 
to their briUiant achievement. " The con- 
querors," says Botta, "abstained from pil- 
lage, and from all disorder; a conduct the 
more worthy to be commended as they had 
still present in miud the ravages and butcher- 
ies which their enemies had so recently com- 
mitted in Carolina, in Virginia, and in Con- 
necticut. Humanity imparted new effulgence 
to the victory which valor had obtained." 
The Americans lost 15 men killed, and 83 
men wounded. Of the slain, nearly all be- 
longed to the forlorn hope of Gibbon. The 



Eughsh lost 63 men killed; and Johnson, 
with 543 officers and men were made prison- 
ers. Wayne immediately apprised Wash- 
ington of the victory in the following laconic 
letter : 

Stony Point, 16/^ July^ 1779, 
2 o'clock^ A. M. 
Dear General : 

The fort and garrison, with Colonel John- 
son, arc ours. 

Our officers and men behaved like men 
who are determined to be free. 

Tours, most sincerely, 

ANTH. WAYNE. 

GeNL. WASmNGTON. 

General Howe, who had been sent to at- 
tack Fort Fayette, did not arrive in time 
to dislodge the garrison ; and Chnton having 
sent reinforcements to the menaced point, 
Howe withdrew. The next morning Wayne 
opened the guns of Stony Point on Fort Fay- 
ette ; but receiving intelhgence of the ap- 
proach of Clinton, Washington ordered the 
works at Stony Point to be demolished ; the 
ordnance and stores to be removed, and the 
place evacuated. He had accomplished all 
that he had originally intended, namely, to 
make himself master of the artillery and 
stores of the fort, to destroy the works, and 
bring off the garrison. He therefore ordered 
General Wayne to retire with the artillery, 
stores, and prisoners, which he did success- 
fully, after having demolished the fortifica- 
tions. The patriots throughout the land 
hailed this brilliant victory with the loudest 
demonstrations of joy. Congress decreed 
their acknowledgments to Washington and 
to Wayne, to De Fleury, Stewart, Gibbon, 
and Knox. Wayne received a gold medal, 
struck in honor of Iris glorious acliievement, 
and De Fleury and Stewart were presented 
with similar medals of silver. The value of 
the mihtary stores taken at Stony Point, was 
distributed among the soldiers, as a reward 
for their gallant behavior on tliis occasion. 

STKASLUND, a.d. 1713.— Charles XIL 
of Sweden, Mlien he had taken refuge in 
Turkey, after being beaten by Peter of Rus- 
sia, at length exhausted the obstinacy which 
had detained him so long at Demirtocka, 
meditating on means to excite the Ottoman 
Porte against his great rival, passed all at 
once, with characteristic energy, from exces- 
sive inactivity to equally excessive exertion. 
He set out from Demirtocka with prodigious 
speed, crossed the hereditary states of the 
emperor, Franconia and Mecklenburg, on 
horseback, and arrived at Straslund when 
least expected. His first proceeding was to 
protest against the sequestration of the city 
of Stettin. He hastened to declare that, not 
having made any convention, he was not 
obhged to recognize that which his generals 



STRASLUND. 



601 



had done in liis absence, to place Pomerania 
and Stettin in a state of sequestration. With 
a character so obstinate as that of this prince, 
no other argument could be employed but 
force. Frederic William, King of Prussia, 
declared that he would not allow the Swedes 
to enter Saxony, and immediately joined the 
league of the Russians, Saxons, and Hano- 
verians. In order to force, with the strong 
hand, the King of Sweden to hold his engage- 
ments, he ordered a body of Prussian troops 
to advance close to Stettin. Charles XII. 
took possession of Anclam, Wolgaste, and 
Gripswalde, in wliich were Prussian garri- 
sons ; nevertheless, with a sUght show of 
prudence, he dismissed the Prussian tioops 
without violence. 

At the commencement of the following 
campaign, the Swedes dislodged the Prus- 
sians from the isle of Usedom, and made 
prisoners of a detachment of 500 men. By 
this act of hostility they broke the neutrality 
of the Prussians, and became the aggressors. 
Frederic WiUiam, jealous of Charles's glory, 
and irritated at this proceeding, declared war 
against Sweden. Twenty thousand Prus- 
sians joined the Saxons and the Danes in 
Pomerania. Europe then beheld two kings, 
in person, besieging another shut up in Stral- 
sund ; but this king was Charles XII., fight- 
ing at the head of 15,000 warlike Swedes, 
loving to idolatry the heroism of their prince. 
Besides, his great reputation and the preju- 
dices of the universe fought in his favor. In 
the army of the allies, the King of Prussia 
examined the plans, decided upon the oper- 
ations, and persuaded the Danes to adopt his 
views. The King of Denmark, a bad soldier, 
and not at all military in his tastes, had only 
come to Stralsund in the hope of seeing 
Charles XII. humiliated. Under these two 
kings the Prince of Anhalt was the soul of all 
the military enterprises. "He was," says 
the King of Prussia, in his Memoirs, " a man 
of a violent and obstinate character, who, 
with the valor of a hero, had the experienee 
of the finest campaigns of Prince Eugene. 
His manners were ferocious, liis ambition 
bgundless ; deeply versed in the art of sieges, 
a fortunate soldier, a bad citizen, he was ca- 
pable of all the enterprises of both Marius 
and SyUa, if fortune had seconded his ambi- 
tion." This army laid siege to Stralsund, a 
city on the shores of the Baltic, the Swedish 
fleet bemg able to supply it constantly with 
provisions, munitions, and troops. Its situa- 
tion is strong ; an impracticable marsh de- 
fends two thirds of its circumference ; the 
only way by which it is accessible is furnished 
by a good intrenchment, whicli from the 
north extends to the sea-shore, and touches 
on the marsh toward the east. In this in- 
trenchment were encamped 12,000 Swedes, 



with Charles XII. at their liead. The be- 
siegers removed successively all the obstacles 
opposed to them. The first point was to 
drive away the Swedish fleet from the coasts 
of Pomerania, in order to deprive the Swedes 
of the succors they might receive by sea. 
Nevertheless the King of Denmark was un- 
willing to risk an action with a squadron he 
had on those coasts. All the influence of the 
King of Prussia was required to persuade him 
of the necessity for such a contest. The two 
kings were spectators of the action, which 
took place at a short distance from the shore, 
and threw the sea open to the alUes. The 
Prussians afterward drove the Swedes from 
the isle of Usedom, and took the fort of Pan- 
namende at the point of the sword. They 
shortly afterward prepared to attack the in- 
trenchments. A Prussian ofiicer singularly 
facilitated this undertaking, the most difficult 
and most dangerous of the whole siege. 
Being perfectly acquainted with the ground, 
he knew that the armV^f the sea which wash- 
es the intrenchments-was neither deep nor 
muddy ; he sounded it by night, and found 
that it was possible to ford it, to turn this 
post by its left, and thus take the Swedes in 
flank and rear. This project was successfully 
executed. They attacked them by night; 
while one Prussian corps marched straight 
to the intrenchments, another passed along 
the sea-shore, and were in the Swedish camp 
before they were perceived. The surprise 
of an unexpected attack, the confusion nat- 
ural to a night afikir, and, above all, the num- 
bers of the body which fell upon their flanks, 
threw them quickly into a state of rout; 
they abandoned their intrenchments, and 
sought refuge in the city. Enraged at being 
deserted by his own troops, Charles would 
have continued to fight alone. His generals 
dragged him from the scene of action, and 
had much difficulty in savmg him from the 
hands of the alUes ; all who did not promptly 
gain Stralsund were either killed or made 
prisoners. The numbers taken in this attack 
amounted to more than 400 men. The more 
closely to press the city, it became necessary 
for the allies to render themselves masters of 
the isle of Rugen, whence the besieged could 
hkewise obtain succors. The Prince of 
Anhalt, at the head of 20,000 men, crossed 
in transports the space which divides Pom- 
erania. This fleet kept the same order of 
battle the troops observed on the land. They 
pretended to land on the eastern coast, but 
turning suddenly to the left, the Prince of 
Anhalt disembarked his troops at the port of 
Strezow, where the enemy did not expect 
him. He posted himself in a quarter of a 
circle, so that his two wings leaned upon the 
sea, and during the whole day caused in- 
trenchments to be dug, fortified by chevaux 



602 



STRATTON— SYBAEIS. 



define. His disposition was such that two 
lines of inl'antiy supported his intrenchment. 
His cavah-y formed the third, with the ex- 
ception of six squadrons which he had posted 
within the Hues, in order to be able to fall 
upon the left flank of those who might attack 
liim on that side. Charles XII., deceived by 
the Prince of Anhalt's feint, could not arrive 
in time to oppose the disembarkation. Aware 
of the importance of this isle, he advanced 
by night upon the Prussians, although he 
had but 4,000 men. He marched at the head 
of his infantry, which he led to the very edge 
of the ditch, assisting to pull up the chevaux 
defrise which bordered it with his own hands ; 
he was slightly wounded in this attack, and 
General Dureng was killed at his side. The 
inequality of numbers, the darkness of the 
night, the six Prussian squadrons ; but still 
more than all, the king's wound, made the 
Swedes lose the fruits of their valor. For- 
tune had turned her back upon that nation ; 
every thing seemed to tend to its decline. 
The king retired to have his wound dressed ; 
his discomfited troops fled. The next day 
1,200 Swedes were made prisoners atLafich- 
Schanz, and the isle of Rugen was entirely 
occupied by the allies. After this misfortune 
Charles XII. returned to Stralsund. That 
city was almost reduced to extremity. The 
besiegers having gained the counterscarp, had 
already begun to construct their gallery upon 
the principal fosse. It was the character of 
the King of Sweden to bear up firmly against 
reverses ; he endeavored to withstand his ill- 
fortune, and was able to preserve an inex- 
pressible sang-froid under all circumstances. 
The citizens, far from murmuring, filled with 
admiration for their master, whose exertions, 
sobriety, and courage astonished them, had all 
become soldiers under him. One day, when 
the king was dictating letters for Sweden to 
a secretary, a bomb fell upon the house, pen- 
etrated the roof, and burst close to the king's 
apartment. At the noise of the bomb and 
the crash of the house, which seemed falling 
about their ears, the pen fell from the hand 
of the secretary. " What's the matter ?" said 
the king, with a tranquil air ; " why don't 
you write on?" "Oh, sire, the bomb!" 
" Well," rejoined the king, " what has the 
bomb to do with the letter I am dictating to 
you? Go onl" When he saw the breach 
open, he wanted to defend it in person, the 
besiegers threatening to give a general as- 
sault. His generals threw themselves at his 
feet to conjure him not to risk his life so use- 
lessly. Seeing their prayers had no effect, 
they pointed out to him the danger to which 
he exposed himself of faUing into the hands 
of his enemies. This apprehension at length 
made him determine to abandon the city. 
He embarked in a light boat, in which he 



passed, favored by the darkness, through the 
Danish fleet which blockaded Stralsuuel, and 
gained with much trouble one of his own 
vessels, wliich conveyed hkn to Sweden. 
Fourteen years before, he had left this city 
as a conqueror about to subdue the world ; 
he returned thither a fugitive, pursued by his 
enemies, despoiled of his finest provinces, and 
abandoned by his army. As soon as the 
king was gone, the garrison of Stralsund ca- 
pitulated, and surrendered themselves prison- 
ers of war. — Robson. 

STRATTON, a.d. 1643.— On the 16th of 
May, 1643, a battle was fought on the height 
near Stratton in Devonshire, England, be- 
tween the army of Charles I., and the forces 
of Parliament under Edward Waller the poet. 
The latter Avere defeated with considerable 
loss, and Waller was obUged to fly to Bristol. 

SUDBURY, A.D. 1676.— On the 18th of 
April, 1676, during King Philip's war, a 
fiei'ce battle was fought at Sudbury, Mass., 
between the Indians and the gallant band 
of Captain Samuel Wadsworth, who with at 
least two thirds of his men were slain. A 
monument marks the place where the action 
took place, and where the remains of the 
dead are deposited. 

SYBARIS, B.C. 508.— Sybaris was situated 
ten leagues from Crotona, which occupied 
the site of the present city of Naples, in the 
kingdom of Naples, which is nearly identical 
with the Magna Grsecia of antiquity. 

Sybaris was one of the most powerful and 
wealthy cities of Magna Graecia. Four 
neighboring states and twenty-five cities 
were subject to it, so that it was able alone 
to raise an army of 300,000 men. The op- 
ulence of Sybaris was soon followed by lux- 
ury and indolence. The citizens employed 
themselves in notloing but banquets, games, 
shows, parties of pleasure, and carousals. 
PubUc prizes and testimonials were bestowed 
on those who gave the most magnificent ban- 
quets, and even cooks were publicly rewarded 
when they invented new dishes and dainties. 
The Sybarites carried their dehcacy and ef- 
feminacy to such a height, that they carefully 
removed from their city, all such artificers 
whose work was noisy, and would not allow 
any cocks within its walls, lest their shriU 
piercing crow, should disturb their balmy 
slumbers. These evils were heightened by 
dissension and discord, which at last proved 
their ruin. A faction headed by a certain 
Telly, expelled from Sybaris 500 of the 
wealthiest citizens, who fled to Crotona. 
Telly demanded that they should be de- 
livered up to him, and upon the refusal of 
the Crotonians, war was declared between 
the two cities. The Sybarites marched 300,- 
000 men into the field, and the Crotonians 
only 100,000. But the latter army was com- 



SYRACUSE. 



60J 



manded by the famous champion Milo, who 
was robed in a lion's skin, and had armed 
himself with a huge club like a second Her- 
cules. The Crotonians gained a complete 
victory. So great was the slaughter, that of 
the immense Sybarite army only a few es- 
caped, and then- city was almost entirely de- 
populated. 

SYRACUSE, B.C. 414.— Syracuse, a fam- 
ous city of Sicily, was founded by a colony 
from Corinth about the year 736, B.C. It 
rapidly rose to the highest distinction, both 
by its advantageous position, and the com- 
mercial enterprising spirit of its inhabitants. 
The modern city occupies only a small por- 
tion of the site of the ancient city, and its 
population in 1831 was 16,805. 

When the Athenians besieged Syracuse it 
was divided into three parts, viz. : the island. 
Achradina, and Tyche. The island, situated 
to the south was called Nasos, and Ortygia. 
It was connected to the continent by a bridge. 
Achradina was situated on the sea side, to- 
ward the east, and was the most beautiful 
and best fortified quarter of the city. Tyche 
extends along Achradina westward, from the 
north toward the south, and was very well 
inhabited. It had a celebrated gate called 
Hexapylum, Avhich led into the country, and 
was situated to the north of the city. Epi- 
polse was a hill without the city, which it 
commanded. It was situated between Hex- 
apylum and the point of Euryclus, toward the 
north and west. It was exceedingly steep 
in several places, and for that reason of very 
difficult access. At the time of the siege in 
question, it was not surrounded by walls ; 
die Syracusans defended it Avith a body of 
troops against the attacks of the enemy. 
Euryclus was the pass or entrance which led 
to Epipolas. On the hiU of Epipolse was a 
fort called Labdalum. The river Arrapus 
ran at almost half a league distance from 
the city. The space between the city and 
the river, was an extensive and beautiful 
plain, terminating in two marshes; the one 
called Syraco, whence the city derived its 
name, and the other Lysemelia. The river 
Arrapus emptied into the great harbor ; near 
its mouth, southward, was situated a castle 
called Olympia, in which were stored great 
riches. It was about 500 paces from the 
city. Syracuse had two harbors, very near 
one another, and separated only by the is- 
land. The harbors were called respectively 
the great harbor, and the small harbor. The 
latter was also called Loetus. Both harbors 
were surrounded by the buildings of the city. 
The entrance to this port was only 500 paces 
wide. It was formed on one side by the 
point of the island Ortygia, and on the other 
by the little island and cape of Plemmyriam, 
which was commanded by a castle of the 



same name. Above Achradina was a third 
port, called the harbor of Trogilus. 

Nicias, the commander of the Athenian 
forces, who had arrived with his fleet and 
army at Catana, in Sicily, having learned that 
the Syracu^an3 were preparing to march 
against him, determined at once to sail for 
Syracuse. This enterprise was both bold and 
dangerous. He could not, without running 
the utmost hazard, attempt to land his army 
in the presence of an enemy who were pre- 
pared to attack him with the greatest energy 
as soon as he should offer to make a descent. 
Nor was it safer for him to march his troops 
by land, iDecause, as he had no cavalry, wlule 
that of the Syracusans was very strong, upon 
the first advice they should receive of his 
march, they would fall upon, and overwhelm 
him by the superiority of their forces. To 
extricate himself from this perplexity and 
enable liim to seize upon an advantageous 
port, which a Syracusan exile had pointed 
out to him, Nicias had recourse to stratagem. 
He caused a piece of false information to be 
conveyed to the enemy. 

This was, that by means of a conspiracy 
which was to take efl'ect on a certain day, 
the Syracusans might seize on his camp, and 
possess themselves of all the arms and bag- 
gage. The Syracusans, on this assurance, 
marched toward Catana, and encamped 
near Leontium. The moment the Athenians 
had received intelligence of this, they em- 
barked with all their troops and ammunition, 
and in the evening steered for Syracuse. 

The Athenian fleet consisted of 136 ships, 
100 of which had been fitted out by the 
citizens of Athens, the rest belonged to the 
allies. On board of these vessels were 5,000 
heavy-armed soldiers, 2,200 of whom were 
Athenian citizens; and 1,300 light infantry, 
of whom eighty were Cretans, 700 were 
Rhodians, 120 were exiles of Megara, and 
400 were inhabitants of various other coun- 
tries. There was but one company of horse, 
consisting of eighty troopers, who had em- 
barked on board a vessel proper for transport- 
ing cavahy. Thirty vessels carried the pro- 
visions and sutlers, with masons, carpenters, 
and their several tools. The whole fleet was 
followed by 100 vessels, for their service, 
exclusive of merchant ships, of which there 
were great numbers. All this fleet had 
sailed from Corcyra, to wliich place the 
Athenians had proceeded with their ships 
and army to join those of their allies; but 
both the fleet and land forces were afterward 
considerably enlarged. The Syracusans hav- 
ing learned of the coming of this fleet before 
its arrival at Catana, had sent deputations 
to all parts of the island, to ask assistance of 
some, and send succor to others. They had 
garrisoned all the forts and castles in the 



604 



SYRACUSE. 



country, reviewed all the soldiers and horses ; 
examined all the arms in the magazines, and 
settled and prepared all things in a manner 
most fitted to meet and drive the enemy from 
their country. 

Early the next morning after their depart- 
ure from Catana, the Athenians arrived in 
the great harbor. They landed near Olympia, 
in the place which had been pointed out to 
them, and there fortified themselves. In the 
mean time, the Syracusans, finding them- 
selves shamefully over-reached, immediately 
returned to Syracuse, and a few days after- 
ward drew themselves up in battle array, 
before the walls of the city. Enraged by 
the successful stratagem of the enemy, they 
were determined to drive them into the sea. 
Nicias immediately marched out of his 
trenches, and a battle was fought. Victory 
for a long time did not declare for either 
party; but suddenly a heavy rain, accom- 
panied by thunder and lightning, came down, 
and the Syracusans, who were inexperienced, 
the greater part of them having never carried 
arms before, were frightened at the tempest, 
while their enemies laughed at it, and re- 
garded nothing but their foes, whom they 
considered more to be dreaded than the 
storm. The Syracusans, after making a long 
and vigorous resistance, were forced to give 
way, and retreated in good order into the 
city, after having thrown a body of troops 
into the temple of Olympia, to prevent its being 
plundered. After the battle, the Athenians, 
who were not yet in a condition to attack 
Syracuse, retired with their fleet into Naxos 
and Catana, to winter there, with a design 
to return and lay siege to the city, in the 
beginning of the next spring. The Syracus- 
ans immediately commenced to fortify the 
city. They took into the city, by a wall, all 
the tract of land toward Epipolse, from the 
northern extremity of Tyche, descending 
westward toward the quarter of the city 
afterward called Neapolis, in order to remove 
the enemy to a greater distance, and to give 
them more trouble in making their contraval- 
lation, by obliging them to give a larger ex- 
tent to it. They also garrisoned Megara and 
Olympia, and drove stakes into all those parts 
of the sea-shore, where the enemy might 
make an easy descent. Both the Corinthians 
and the Lacedaemonians had, at the request 
of the Syracusans, consented to send them 
succors. 

In the mean time, Nicias had received some 
reinforcements from Athens. These consist- 
ed of 250 troopers, Avho, the Athenians sup- 
posed, would be furnished with horses in 
Sicily, (the troops bringing only the furniture) 
and thirty horse-archers. They also sent him 
three hundred talents, that is $355,000, to 
assist in defraying the expenses of the siege. 



Nicias now began to prepare for action. The 
Syracusans hearing that the Athenians had 
received a reinforcement of cavalry, and 
would soon lay siege to the city, and know- 
ing that the enemy could not possibly ap- 
proach it, nor make a contravallation, unless 
they should possess themselves of the hill of 
Epipolse, which commanded Syracuse, they 
resolved to guard the only avenue by which 
the enemy could reach it. All other portions 
of the hill, save this pass, were steep, rugged, 
and inaccessible. They therefore marched 
down into the meadow bordered by the river 
Arrapus, where they reviewed their troops, 
and then appointed 700 foot, under the com- 
j maud of Diomilus, to guard the pass which 
I led to the hill. i)iomikis was ordered to 
hasten to the hill at the first signal which 
, should be given for that purpose. Nicias, 
I however, conducted his design with so much 
' secrecy, prudence, and expedition, that he 
arrived at the port of Tragilus, near Leontium, 
which was but six or seven furlongs from 
Epipoloe, without the knowledge of the 
Syracusans. He here disembarked his land 
1 forces, and then repaired with his fleet to 
I Thupsus, a small peninsula near Syracuse, the 
entrance to which he closed with a staccato. 
His land forces marched with the utmost ex- 
pedition to seize on Epipolse, by the pass of 
Euryclus, before the enemy who were in the 
plains of Arrapus, had the sUghtest notice of 
their arrival. At the first news of the arrival 
'■ of the Athenians, the 700 soldiers, command- 
j ed by Diomilus, hastened to the pass in the 
! utmost confusion. They were immediately 
attacked by the enemy, and a sharp skirmish 
ensued. The Syracusans fought with the 
greatest valor; but overpowered by numbers, 
they gave way before the enemy, and finally 
fled, leaving 300 of their men, and their 
leader, dead upon the field. The Athenians, 
after erecting a trophy, built a fort on tlae 
j summit of Epipolse, in order to secure their 
baggage, and most valuable efiects, in it, 
whenever they should be forced to fight, or 
work at the circumvallation. Shortly after- 
ward the Athenians received from the in- 
habitants of Egesta 300 horses, to which 
some of their Sicilian allies added 100 more, 
which with the 250 sent from Athens, made 
a body of 650 horse. The plan laid down by 
j Nicias for taking Syracuse, was to surround 
I the city on the land side with a strong con- 
I travallation, in order to cut ofl" all commimi- 
I cation with the place from without, hoping 
that his fleet would afterward enable him to 
prevent the Syracusans from receiving any 
succor or provisions by sea. Accordingly, 
having left a garrison at Epipolae, he ad- 
I vanced toward the northern extremity of 
I Tyche, and halting there, he employed his 
I whole army in throwing up a line of con- 



SYRACUSE. 



605 



travallation to shut up the city, northward 
from Tyche, as far as Trogilus, situated on 
the sea-side. This work was carried on with 
a rapidity which terrified the Syracusans. 
They thought it absolutely necessary to put 
a stop to the work, and therefore they sallied 
out with the fixed design of hazarding an 
engagement. The armies on both sides were 
now beginning to face each other ; but the 
Syracusan generals, observing that their own 
army was in disarray, and could not easily 
be formed in proper order, made them all 
wheel off again into the city, except a party 
of their horse. These, keeping the field, 
prevented the Athenians from carrying stones, 
and straggling to any distance from their 
posts. But an Athenian band of heavy-armed, 
supported by the whole body of their cavalry, 
attacked and put to fhght the Syracusan 
horse, with great slaughter. 

On the day following, some of the Athe- 
nians began to raise a wall along the northern 
side of the circle ; while others were employ- 
ed in carrying stones and timber, which they 
laid down in heaps all along the place called 
Trogilus, near to the line marked out for the 
circumvallation, wliich was to reach, by the 
shortest compass, from the great harbor on 
one side to the sea on the other. But the 
Syracusans, who were principally guided by 
the advice of Hermocrates gave up all thoughts 
of sallying out for the future with the whole 
strength of the city to give battle to the Athe- 
nians. It was judged more advisable to run 
along a wall in length, which would cut the 
line in which the Athenian works were de- 
signed to pass, and which, could they effect it 
in time, must entirely exclude the enemy 
from perfecting their circumvallation. Nay, 
further, in case the enemy should come up in 
a body to interrupt the work, they might give 
them full employ with one division of their 
force, while another party might raise palli- 
sades to secure the approaches ; at least, as 
the whole of the Athenian force must be 
drawn out to oppose them, they would be 
obhged to discontinue their own works. To 
raise, therefore, the projected work, they 
issued out of the city ; and beginning at the 
foot of the city wall from below the Athenian 
circle, they carried on thence a transverse 
wall, cutting down the olive-trees in the sa- 
cred grove, of which they built wooden tur- 
rets to cover their work. The Athenian 
shipping had not yet come round from Thap- 
sus into the great harbor. But the Syracus- 
ans continued masters of all the posts upon 
the sea, and consequently the Athenians 
were obhged to fetch up all necessary stores 
from Thapsus across the land. 

Wlien it appeared to the Syracusans that 
all their palhsades and the transverse wall 
were sufficiently completed, in which tlie 



Athenians had given them no manner of in- 
terruption, as they were under apprehensions 
that, should they divide their force, they 
might be exposed to a defeat, and at the 
same time were ardently intent on perfecting 
their own circumvallation — the Syracusans 
drew off again into the city, leaving only one 
band of heavy-armed for the guard of their 
counter-wall. 

In the next place, the Athenians cut off 
the pipes, which by subterraneous ducts con- 
veyed the drinking-water into the city ; and 
having further observed that the Syracusans 
kept witliin their tents during the heat of the 
day, but that some had straggled into the 
town, while those posted at the pallisades 
kept but a negligent guard, they picked out 
300 of their heavy-armed, and strengthening 
them with a choice party of their light- 
armed soldiers, ordered them to march with 
all possible speed and attack the counter- 
work. The rest of their force were to march 
another way, since, headed by one of the 
generals, it advanced toward the city, to em- 
ploy the Syracusans in case they sallied; 
while the other detachment, headed by the 
other general, attacked the pallisade which 
covered the sallyport. Accordingly, the 300 
assaulted and carried the paUisade, which 
those who were posted for its guard aband- 
oned, and fled for shelter behind the works 
which inclosed Temenites. The pursuers, 
however, entered with them; but had no 
sooner got in than they were again forcibly 
driven out by the Syracusans with consider- 
able loss. But now the whole army, wheel- 
ing about, demolished the counter-work, and 
pulled up the palhsade. The piles, of which 
it was composed, they carried off in triumph, 
and erected a trophy. 

The next morning the Athenians resumed 
their work of circumvallation, and continued 
it across the crag which is above the marsh, 
and lies on the quarter of Epipolse that looks 
toward the great harbor. This was the short- 
est cut for their circumvallation downward, 
across the plain and the marsh, till it reached 
the harbor. Upon this, the Syracusans, issu- 
ing again, raised another pallisade, beginning 
from the city, and stretching quite across the 
marsh. They also drew up an intrenchment 
along the palhsade, entirely to prevent the 
Athenians from continuing their works quite 
down to the sea. The latter, when they had 
perfected their work along the crag, were 
bent on demohsliing the new paUisade and 
intrenchment of the Syracusans. For this 
purpose, they had ordered their shipping to 
come about from Thapsus into the great har- 
bor of Syracuse. They themselves, at the 
morning's dawn, marched down from Epi- 
pote into the plain; and then, crossing the 
marsh, where the mud was hardest and best 



606 



SYRACUSE. 



able to bear, by the help of boards and planks 
which they laid upon the surface, they car- 
ried almost the whole length of the pallisade 
and intrenchment early in the morninpf, and 
were soon masters of the whole. This was 
not effected without a battle, in which the 
Athenians were again victorious. The routed 
Syracusans fled different ways ; those who 
had composed their right, toward the city ; 
and those who had composed their left, to- 
ward the river. But with a view to inter- 
cepting the passage of the latter, the 300 
chosen Athenians marched with all speed to 
seize the bridge. The Syracusans, alarmed 
at this movement, as the body consisted of 
the bulk of their horse, faced about on the 
300, and put them to flight, and then broke 
in upon the right wing of the Athenians. By 
so unexpected a shock the first band in that 
wing was thrown into disorder. Lamachus, 
who coramanied the left wing, observing 
this, advanced to their support. Having 
crossed a ditch that lay between, seconded 
only by a few, while the bulk of his party 
made a full stop, he was instantly slain ; as 
were also five or six of those by whom he 
was accompanied. The Syracusans now 
made a precipitate retreat, since the rest of 
the Athenian army was coming up to attack 
them. 

But now, such of the Syracusans as had 
fled at first toward the city, having gained 
leisure to observe such turns in their tavor, 
caught fresh courage from the sight; and, 
forming again into order, stood their ground 
against the body of Athenians which facel 
them. They also sent a detachment to at- 
tempt the fort on Epipote, concluding it to be 
unmanned for the present, and might at once 
be taken. This detachment in fact made it- 
self master of the outwork; but the fort 
itself was defended by Nicias from all their 
attempts. Nicias, being much out of order, 
had been left to repose himself within the 
fort. He therefore issued orders to his ser- 
vants to set fire to aU the machines an<l 
the timber which were lying before the wall ; 
for he was convinced that thus alone, in such 
a total want of hands for their defense, any 
safety could be earned. The event answered 
his expectation ; for when the flames began 
to mount, the Syracusans durst not any 
longer come near, but thought proper to de- 
sist ami march away. 

For now the Athenians, who by this time 
had chased the enemy from off the plain, 
were remounting the ascent to defend their 
fort, and at the same instant of time, their 
fleet, conformable to the orders they had re- 
ceived, was standing into the great harbor. 
The Syracusans upon the high ground beheld 
the sight, which occasioned them and the 
whole Syracusan army to retire precipitate- 



! ly into the city ; concluding themselves no 
longer able, without an augmentation of their 
present strength, to hinder the completion of 
the Athenian works quite down to the sea. 

After this, the Athenians erected a trophy, 
and, in pursuance of a truce, delivered up 
their slain to the Syracusans, and received in 
exchange the body of Lamachus, and of those 
who fell with him. 

The junction of their whole armament, 
both of their land and naval force, being now 
completed, they began again, from Epipolae 
and the crag, to invest the Syracusans with a 
double wall, which they were to continue 
quite down to the sea. The necessary pro- 
visions to supply their army were brought in 
from all the coasts of Italy. Many cities of 
Sicily, which had hitherto stood aloof, de- 
clared now for the Athenians, and came to 
their aUiance. 

Nicias, who was now sole general, since 
Lamachus was dead, was filled with hope. 
The Syracusans on the contrary, seeing them- 
selves blockaded, both by sea and land, lost 
all hopes of being able to defend their city 
any longer, and soon, made proposals for an 
accommodation. Gylippus, who was on his 
Avay to their assistance, having been sent by 
the Lacedferaonians, heard, on his passage, of 
the extremity to which the Syracusans were 
reduced, and, looking upon their city as lost, 
he abandoned Syracuse to its fate. He 
nevertheless sailed forward toward Sicily, 
with a view of preserving, if possible, to the 
nations of Italy, such cities as were subject 
to them on that island. Nicias, confiding in 
liis own strength, and believing that Syracuse 
would soon capitulate, regarded Gylippus's 
approach as a matter of no moment, and 
consequently took no precaution to prevent 
his landing. He termed him a trifling pirate, 
not worthy, in any manner, of his notice. 

The fortifications of the Athenians were 
now almost completed. They had drawn a 
double wall, nearly half a league in length, 
along the plain and the marshes, toward the 
great harbor, which it almost reached. 
There now remained on the side toward 
Trogilus, only a small part of the wall to be 
finished. The Syracusans, therefore, were 
on the brink of ruin ; hopeless and despairing, 
they resolved to surrender. But at the very 
moment that the articles of capitulation were 
being drawn up, prior to their presentation 
to Nicias, a Corinthian officer named Gongy- 
lus arrived from Corinth, on board a galley 
with three banks of oars. At his arrival all 
the citizens flocked around him. He informed 
them that Gylippus would be with them im- 
mediately, and that other ships of war would 
soon arrive from Corinth. The Syracusans, 
surprised, nay, stupefied by this intelligence, 
could scarcely beUeve what they heard. 



SYRACUSE. 



607 



While they were thus fluctuating between 
fear and hope, a courier arrived from Gylippus 
to inform them of his approach, and to order 
them to march out to meet him with their 
troops. He himself, after having taken a fort 
in his way, immediately marched in battle 
array toward Epipolse, and, ascending the 
liill by the pass of Eurycus, as the Athenians 
had done, he prepared to attack the fort, 
while the Syracusans, with a body of his 
troops, should make an assault on the enemy's 
works. The Athenians, exceedingly sur- 
prised at his arrival, drew up hastily and 
without order, under the walls. Gyhppus, 
however, having ordered his forces to halt, 
dispatched a herald to the Athenians, pro- 
claiming that " in case they would evacuate 
Sicily within the space of five days, with 
their arms and baggage, he would readily 
grant them peace." Nicias did not conde- 
scend to reply to this proposal. His soldiers 
heard it with disdain, and one of them, laugh- 
ing loudly, asked the herald " whether the 
arrival of one Lacedemonian cloak and staff 
should inspire the Syracusans with contempt 
for the power of the Athenians." Upon the 
return of the herald both sides prepared for 
battle. Gyhppus stormed the fort on the 
hill, and cut to pieces all who were found in 
it. The same day an Athenian galley, with 
three banks of oars, was taken by the Syra- 
cusans as it was entering the harbor. After 
this the Syracusans and their alhes set about 
erecting a counterwork along Epipolte. Be- 
ginning at the city they carried it upward 
toward the single wall of the Athenians, 
which had an oblique direction, and intended 
that in case the Athenians could not prevent 
its completion, it should entirely exclude 
them from perfecting their circumvallation. 
The Athenians, after having finished the wall 
which extended to the sea, toAvards the great 
harbor, returned to the hills. Gylippus, per- 
ceiving a weak spot in the single wall which 
the Athenians had built on the hills of Epi- 
polse, marched thither with his troops ; but 
being discovered by the Athenians, who were 
encamped without their works, he was forc- 
ed to retire. The Athenians immediately 
strengthened that part of the wall, and raised 
it higher. They then took the guard of it 
themselves, while their alUes were fixed in 
the several posts of the remainder of the in- 
trenchment. 

Nicias also judged it expedient to fortify 
the spot called Plemmyrium. " If this were 
fortified," he thought, " the importation of 
necessaries for the army would be better se- 
cured ; because then, from a smaller distance, 
they could at any time command the harbor 
where the Syracusan shipping lay; and, 
should it be their ill fortune to be straitened 
by sea, might easier fetch in supplies than in 



the present station of their fleet at the bottom 
of the great harbor." Now also he began, 
with greater attention than before, to study 
how to distress them by sea ; convinced, 
since the arrival of Gylippus, how httle room 
he had to hope for success by land. To this 
spot, therefore, he ordered his fleet, and drew 
his land forces down, and immediately erect- 
ed three forts. In these the greatest part of 
the baggage was laid up ; and the transports 
and hght ships were immediately stationed 
there. To this project the havoc which after- 
ward ensued among the seamen is princi- 
pally to be ascribed ; for, as they suftered in 
this station under scarcity of water, and the 
marinei'S were frequently obliged to fetch 
both water and wood from a distance, since 
near at hand they were not to be had, the 
Syracusan horse, who were masters of the 
country, slaughtered them in abundance. 
The Syracusans had posted a third part of 
their cavalry at their fortress of Olympia, to 
bridle the marauding excursions of the enemy 
at Plemmyrium. 

Nicias, having received intelligence that 
the Corinthian fleet was advancing, sent 
twenty galleys against it, ordering them to 
cruize aljout Locri and Rhegium and the 
capes of Sicily, in order to intercept them. 

Gylippus, in the mean time, was employed 
in building the counter-wall along Epipolfc, 
making use of the very stones which the 
Athenians had laid ready in heaps for the 
continuation of their own work. It was also 
his daily custom to draw up the Syracusans 
and aUics in order of battle, and lead them 
out beyond the point of the counter- wall ; 
which obliged the Athenians to draw up 
likewise, to observe their motions. And, 
when Gylippus judged he could attack them 
with advantage, he instantly advanced, and, 
the charge being given and received, a battle 
ensued in the space between their respective 
works ; but so narrow that no use could be 
made of the Syracusan and confederate 
horse. The Syracusans and allies were ac- 
cordingly defeated. They fetched off" theu- 
slain by truce, and the Athenians erected a 
trophy. But Gylippus, having assembled the 
army round him, made a declaration in the 
presence of them all, that the defeat was not 
to be charged to their want of bravery, but 
to his own indiscretion, in ranging his battle 
in too confined a spot between the works, and 
that he would soon give them an opportunity 
to recover both their honor and his own. 
Accordingly, the very next day, lie led them 
against the enemy, after having exhorted 
them in the strongest terms to behave in a 
manner worthy of their ancient glory. It 
was the opinion of Nicias, and in general of 
all the Athenians, that though it was not 
their own interest to bring on an engage- 



G08 



SYRACUSE. 



ment, yet it was WgMy necessary for them 
to put a stop to the wall which the enemy 
was erecting to liinder their progress ; for, 
by this time the Syracusans had extended 
tlieir wall beyond the extreme point to 
which the Athenians had brought their cir- 
cumvallation. He therefore marched his 
troops against the Syracusans. Gylippus 
brought up his men beyond the spot where 
the walls terminated, on both sides, in order 
that he might extend his battle. Then 
charging the enemy's left wing with his 
horse he put it to flight, and shortly after- 
wards he defeated the right. The following 
night the Syracusans carried on their wall 
beyond the circumvallation of the Athenians, 
and thus deprived them of all hopes of being 
ever able to surround them. 

After this success, the Syracusans, to whose 
aid the Corinthian fleet had arrived, unper- 
ceived by the Athenian ships, after arming 
several galleys, marched into the plains with 
their cavalry and other forces, and took a 
great number of prisoners. They sent depu- 
ties to Lacedsemonia and Corinth to desire 
reinforcements. Gylippus, in person, went 
through all the cities of Sicily to solicit them 
to aid him in expelling the Athenians from 
the island. The greater part of them com- 
plied with his request, and sent powerful 
succors to Syracuse. Nicias, finding his 
troops lessen, while those of the enemy in- 
creased daily, began to be discouraged. He 
not only sent expresses to Athens to acquaint 
them of the state of affairs, but likewise 
wrote to them in the strongest terms, de- 
manding reinforcements and aid. In his let- 
ter, after representing the danger in which 
his army was placed, he requested that they 
should appoint a person to succeed him in 
command, because he was aifected with a 
nephritic disorder, which prevented him from 
sustaining the weight of the command. He 
imagined that he deserved this favor at their 
hands on account of the many services he 
had done them when in the vigor of his life. 
He concluded by urging them to use all pos- 
sible expedition in the execution of whatever 
resolution they might arrive at ; for the 
ready supplies which the Syracusans received 
in Sicily would soon enable them to act. 
And moreover, that unless they exerted , 
themselves the Lacedasmonians would steal a 
march upon them as they had done before, 
and arrive at Syracuse before them. The 
Athenians were strongly affected by this let- 
ler ; still they did not think it proper to ap- 
point him a successor. They nominated, 
however, two officers who were under him, 
namely Menander and Euthydemus, to assist 
him till other generals should be sent. Eu- 
rymedon and Demosthenes were chosen to 
succeed Lamarchus and Alcibiades, the former 



having been slain during the siege, while the 
latter had been recalled before. Eurymedon 
set out immediately with ten galleys, and 
with a supply of twenty talents of silver 
($19,375), to assure Nicias that a speedy 
succor should be sent him. In the mean 
time Demosthenes set about raising troops 
and contributions in order to set sail for Sy- 
racuse early in the spring. 

Meanwhile Gylippus returned from his 
tour through Sicily, with as many men as he 
could raise in the whole island. He advised 
the Syracusans to fit out the strongest fleet 
in their power, and to hazard a battle at sea. 
This advice was warmly seconded by Hermo- 
crates, who exhorted the Syracusans not to 
abandon the empire of the sea to their ene- 
mies. Tlie advice was approved, and ac- 
cordingly a large fleet was equipped. Gylip- 
pus led out all his land forces in the night 
time to attack the forts of tlie enemy at 
Plemmyrium. Thirty-five Syracusan gal- 
leys, which were in the great harbor, and 45 
which were in the lesser, where was an ar- 
senal for ships, were ordered to advance to- 
ward Plemmyrium, to amaze the Athenians, 
who would see themselves attacked both by 
sea and land at the same time. The Athen- 
ians, however, apprised of the movement of 
the enemy's fleet, lost no time, but instantly 
manned 60 ships, to intercept the Syracusan 
fleet. With 25 galleys they engaged the 35 
Syracusan ships, in the great harbor, and 
with the others went to meet the other squad- 
ron that was coming from the arsenal. A 
sharp battle immediately ensued in the mouth 
of the great harbor. The dispute was long 
and obstinate ; one side exerting themselves 
to clear the passage, and the other to ob- 
struct. The Athenians, who were posted in 
the forts of Plemmyrium, having flocked to 
the shores, to view the battle, GyUppus at- 
tacked the forts unexpectedly at daybreak, 
and having carried the greatest of them 
by storm, the soldiers who defended the 
other two were so terrified that they aban- 
doned them in a moment. After this advan- 
tage, the Syracusans sustained a considerable 
loss. The Syracusan squadron that was en- 
gaged at the mouth of the harbor, having 
forced their way through the enemy's fleet, 
by sailing forward in a disorderly manner, 
and continually running foul upon one an- 
other, gave the Athenians an opportunity to 
regain the day. Falling upon this disordered 
squadron, the Athenian fleet quickly routed 
it, and then fiercely attacked those ships of 
the enemy which had been victorious in the 
great harbor. They -sunk 11 Syracusan gal- 
leys, and made a slaughter of all their crews, 
those of their ships excepted, to whom they 
gave quarter. Having afterward drawn 
ashore the shattered remains of the van- 



SYRACUSE. 



609 



quished Syracusan ships, and piled them into 
a trophy oa the Uttle isle, before Plemmy- 
rium, they retired into the main encampment. 
The Syracusans also raised their trophies for 
the taking of the trust-forts. One of these 
forts they leveled to the ground, but the other 
two they repaired and garrisoned. 

In this surprisal of the forts, many Athen- 
ians were slain, and many were made prison- 
ers, and a great stock of wealth deposited 
there became the prize of the enemy. For, 
as the Athenians had made use of these forts 
by way of magazine, much wealth belonging 
to merchants, and corn in abundance, were 
found within ; much also of the stores belong- 
ing to the captains of the ships of war, inas- 
much as forty masts for galleys, and other 
materials of refitment, had been laid up there ; 
and three galleys were hauled ashore to be 
careetied. Nay, this surprisal of Plemmy- 
rium was one of the chief, if not the greatest 
source of all the distress which the Athenian 
army suffered in the sequel ; for no longer 
was the sea open to them for the secure im- 
portation of necessary supplies. From this 
time the Syracusans rushed upon them 
thence, and awed all their motions. The 
convoys could no taore get in without fight- 
ing their way. Beside that, in all other re- 
spects, it struck a great consternation, and 
even a dejection of mind among the troops. 

There happened also a skirmish in the har- 
bor of Syracuse, about the piles which the 
Syracusans had driven down in the sea before 
their old docks, that their vessels might ride 
in safety behind them, and the Athenians be 
unable to stand in among them to do any 
damage to their shipping. Close up to those 
piles the Athenians towed a raft of prodigious 
size, on which turrets and parapets to cover 
the defendants were erected, while others in 
long boats fastened cables round the piles, and, 
by the help of a machine convenient for the 
purpose, drew them up ; and such as they 
broke, a set of divers sawed them off close at 
the bottom. The Syracusans, in the mean 
time, were pouring their missile weapons 
upon them from the docks, which were plen- 
tifully returned by those posted on the raft. 
In short, the Athenians plucked up the most 
of the piles, but one part of the staccade was 
exceeeingly difficult to be demolished, as it 
lay out of sight ; for they had driven down 
some of the piles in such a manner that their 
heads emerged not above the surface of the 
water. This rendered all access exceeding 
dangerous ; since, ignorant where they lay, a 
pilot would be apt to bulge liis vessel as if it 
were upon a shelve. But even these, the 
divers, for a pecuniary reward, searched out 
and sawed away. And yet, as fast as this 
was done, the Syracusans drove down a fresh 
set of piles. The contrivances, both of an- 

39 



noyance and prevention, were strenuously 
exerted on both sides, as might justly be ex- 
pected from two hostile bodies posted so 
near one another ; the skirmishings were 
often renewed, and every artifice of war was 
successively practiced. 

The Syracusans esteemed it of the utmost 
importance to attempt a second engagement, 
both by sea and land, before the Athenians 
should receive succors from Athens. They 
had concerted fresh measures for a battle at 
sea, profiting by the errors they had com- 
mitted in the last action. They made great 
changes in their galleys, making the prows 
shorter, and at the same time stronger and 
more soUd than before. For this purpose 
they fixed great pieces of timber, projecting 
forward, on each side of the prows, and to 
these beams they joined beams by way of 
props. By this they hoped to gain the ad- 
vantage over the galleys of the Athenians, 
wliich, with their slight prows, did not dare 
to attack an enemy in front, but only in 
flank. Gyhppus first advanced with all his 
infantry toward that part of the contravalla- 
tion of the Athenians, wliich faced the city, 
while the troops of Olympia marched toward 
the other. Immediately afterward the Syra- 
cusan galleys set sail to engage the enemy's 
fleet. Nicias, although unwilling to venture 
a second battle, was forced to do so by the 
urgent solicitation of the newly-appointed 
officers, Meander and Euthydemus. The 
Athenian fleet consisted of 75 galleys, while 
the Syracusans' numbered 80. The first day, 
the fleets continued in sight of each other in 
the great harbor, without engaging ; only a 
few skirmishes passed, after which both par- 
tics retired, and at the same time the land 
army di'ew off from the intrenchments. 
Two days afterward, the Syracusans, earUer 
in the morning than before, but with the 
same parade of their land and naval force, 
came out to attack the Athenians. The two 
fleets shortly afterward engaged. Victory 
did not continue long in suspense. The 
Athenians, after making a short and shght re- 
sistance, retreated. They lost in this engage- 
ment seven galleys, whose crews were either 
slaughtered or taken prisoners. The Syra- 
cusans were highly elated by this victory, 
and felt assured that they must soon conquer 
by land as well as by sea. At this crisis, De- 
mosthenes and Eurymedon arrived with a 
fli'ot of 73 gorgeously ornamented galleys, on 
bourd of which were 5,000 fighting men, and 
3,000 archers, shngers, and bowmen. All 
these galleys were richly trimmed, their 
prows being adorned with shining streamers, 
and as they were rapidly propelled over the 
water by the stout rowers, animated by the 
sound of clarions and trumpets, they present- 
ed a magnificent appearance. Demostlaenes 



610 



SYRACUSE. 



flattered himself with the hope that he should 
be able to carry the city at the first attack, 
but having been defeated in his assault upon 
the wall which cut off the contravallation of 
the besiegers, this hope vanished. The Syra- 
cusans were, indeed, alarmed at the arrival 
of this fleet. They could not see the end, 
nor even the suspension of their calami- 
ties; but their courage seemed to increase 
with their distresses. Demosthenes now 
confined himself to the attack of Epipolse, 
beUeving that if he should once master it, 
the wall would be quite undefended. As 
there was no going up to it in the day-time 
without being discovered, he marched thither 
in the night with all his forces, who were 
supplied with provisions for five days. The 
Athenians ascended the hill by the pass of 
Euryclus unperceived by the sentinels. They 
stormed and took the fort, and killed the 
most of those who defended it. Demosthe- 
nes taking advantage of the ardor of his 
troops, marched rapidly toward the wall. In 
the mean time Gi-ylippus with his forces 
marched out of the intrenchment to repel the 
enemy. But the darkness of the night was 
so great that they were suddenly attacked by 
the enemy before they were aware of their 
presence. Thrown into complete disorder by 
this unexpected assault, the Syracusans were 
routed and put to flight, and the enemy 
would have taken their works, had not a 
party of Boeotians, who composed a part of 
Grylippus's force, suddenly turned back upon 
the Athenians. With loud shouts the Boe- 
otians, presenting their pikes, threw them- 
selves upon the Athenians. A sharp conflict 
ensued, but the Athenians, disordered and 
confused, were repulsed with fearful slaugh- 
ter. Terror reigned supreme in their i-anks. 
The Athenians in the dark, not knowing 
friend from foe, dealt their blows indiscrimi- 
nately, and many of them were slain by their 
own comrades. At length, turning, they fled 
in a confused mass down the hill, and many 
of them, leaping from the top of the rocks into 
the depths below, were killed by the fall. 
Those who escaped straggled from one an- 
other up and down through the fields and 
woods, and were cut to pieces by the en- 
emy's horse the next day. Two thousand 
Athenians were slain during this engagement, 
and a great quantity of arms fell into the 
hands of the Syracusans, the fugitives having 
thrown them away in order to faciUtate their 
escape. 

After this great loss the Athenians were 
filled with consternation. Many of the 
troops in their intrenchments died daily, ei- 
ther by the diseases of autumn, or by the foul 
air of the marshes near which they were en- 
campeiL Demosthenes was now of opinion 
that they had better raise tlie siege, and quit 



the country, before it was too late in the sea- 
son to set sail. New troops having arrived 
from various parts of Sicily, to the aid of the 
Syracusans, the Athenians were so terrified, 
that orders were given to the fleet to prepare 
for sailing with the utmost expedition. When 
all things were ready, at the very moment 
they were going to set sail (wholly unex- 
pected by the enemy, who were far from 
surmising that they would leave Sicily), the 
moon was suddenly eclipsed in the middle of 
the night. Nicias and his whole army were 
so much terrified at this phenomenon, being 
entirely ignorant of its cause, that they de- 
cided to remain 27 days longer before they 
set sail. But they were not allowed time for 
this. The news of the intended departure of 
the Athenians being soon spread throughout 
Syracuse, a resolution was taken to attack 
the besiegers both by sea and land! The 
Syracusans began the fight by attacking the 
intrenchments of the besiegers, and gained a 
slight advantage over the enemy. On the 
next day they made a second attack on the 
intrenchments, and also at the same time 
sailed with 76 galleys against 86 of the Athen- 
ians. Eurymedon, who commanded the 
right wing of the Athenian fleet, extended 
his ships along the shore, in order to surround 
the Syracusans. Tliis management proved 
fatal to him ; for as he was detaching from 
the main body of the fleet, the Syracusans 
attacked the center, which they forced, and 
then drove their ships against him with such 
fury that he was driven into the gulf called 
Dascon. There he was entirely defeated. 
Eurymedon lost his life during the engage- 
ment. 

The Syracusans after defeating the right 
wing of the enemy, gave chase to the other 
galleys, and ran them on shore. Gylippus, 
who commanded the land army, perceiving 
that the Athenian ships were forced agrouml, 
and not able to return to their old quarters 
in the great harbor, went down with a part 
of his troops, in order to charge such soldiers 
as would be compelled to fly to the shore ; 
and to give his friends a better opportunity 
of towing ofi" such galleys as they should 
have taken. However, he was repulsed by 
a troop of Tyrrhenians who were posted on 
that side. The Athenians flew to sustain 
their allies, and obliged G-yhppus to retire 
with loss as far as the marsh called Lysimelia, 
which was near the place of action. The 
Athenians saved all of their ships, except 
eighteen, which the Syracusans had captured 
with their crews, whom they cut to pieces. 
After this, resolving to burn the rest of the 
enemy's fleet, the Syracusans filled an old 
vessel with combustibles, and having set fire 
to it, drove it against the Athenians, who 
nevertheless extinguished the flumes, and 



SYRACUSE. 



611 



drove back the old ship. Both sides erected 
trophies; the Syracusans for the defeat of 
Eurymedon, and the advantage they had 
gained before, and the Athenians for having 
driven part of the enemy into the marsh, and 
put the other to flight. 

But the minds of the two nations were 
very differently disposed. The Syracusans, 
lately dejected and downcast, by the arrival 
of Demosthenes with his fleet were now full 
of joy and hope. The Athenians, on the 
contrary, were filled with gloom and appre- 
hension, and thought only of retiring from 
the country. 

The Syracusans, to deprive them of all re- 
source, and prevent their escaping, shut up 
the mouth of the harbor, in which was the 
Athenian fleet, with galleys placed across, 
and fixed with anchors and iron chains. At 
the same time they made due preparations 
for battle in case the Athenians should have 
the courage to engage them again. The 
Athenian generals seeing themselves thus 
hemmed in, held a consultation, and after 
much discussion resolved to hazard another 
sea fight. With this view they determined 
to leave their old camp and their walls, Avhich 
extended to the temple of Hercules ; and to 
intrench themselves on the shore, near their 
ships in the smallest compass possible. Their 
design was to leave a guard to protect their 
baggage and sick, and to fight with the rest 
on board all the ships they had remaining. 
They intended to retire to Catana in case 
they should be victorious, or, if defeated, to 
burn their galleys, and march by land to the 
nearest city belonging to their allies. All 
this being fully determined upon, Nicias 
immediately filled 10 galleys (the others 
having lost their oars), with the flower of his 
infantry, and drew up the balance of his 
army, in battle array along the shore. The 
Athenians provided themselves with harping- 
irons, in order to grapple the ships of the 
enemy, and close with them, before they 
could make use of their heavy beaks. But 
the Syracusans perceiving this covered the 
prows and upper works of their galleys with 
leather, in order to prevent them being so 
easily seized. The commanders on both sides 
having exhorted their men to fight nobly 
during the coming strife, gave the signal for 
battle, and the two fleets advanced against 
each other. The Athenians easily took their 
ships which defended the mouth of the har- 
bor ; but when they were attempting to 
break the chains in order to widen the pass- 
age the Syracusan ships came upon them 
from all quarters. As nearly 200 galleys 
came rushing on each side toward one nar- 
row spot, there must have been necessarily 
very great confusion. The galleys crowding 
together, could not easily advance, retire, nor 



turn back. The beaks of the Syracusan gal- 
leys, for this reason, did but little execution ; 
but the discharges were furious and fi-equent. 
The Athenians were overwhelmed by show- 
ers of stones, which came upon them from 
every quarter, committing dreadful havoc; 
whereas, they defended themselves only by 
shooting darts and arrows, which by the 
motion of the ships from the agitation of the 
water, could not be well aimed, and conse- 
quently did but Httle execution. At length 
the heavy-armed soldiers of the Syracusan 
forces, attempted to enter the enemy's ships 
in order to fight them hand-to-hand ; and it 
often happened that, while they were climb- 
ing into a ship of their enemy, their own 
vessel would be grappled by several others, 
and thus two or three galleys would be en- 
tangled together, occasioning the greatest 
perplexity and confusion. The officers were 
distracted with many cares, and in the midst 
of all the turmoil and noise their orders, when 
given, were not heeded. The Athenians were 
determined to force a passage, whatever 
might be the consequences, that they might 
secure a return into their own country, while 
the enemy employed their every effort to 
prevent this, that they might gain a complete 
and more glorious victory. The two land 
armies of the contending parties, which were 
drawn up on the highest part of the shore, 
and many of the citizens of Syracuse running 
to the walls, all gazed upon the spectacle 
with the most intense anxiety. Many of 
the citizens not daring to look upon the scene, 
ran to the temples, and kneeUng, implored 
the gods to give success to the defenders of 
their city. The spectators of the battle, 
looked upon the scene as from an amphi- 
theater. They simultaneously shuddered at 
every movement of the contending fleets, 
and the expressions of joy, hope, fear, sor- 
row and dismay, which arose from all, testi- 
fied to the interest which they took in the 
battle. They stretched out their hands to- 
ward the combatants, as if to animate them to 
renewed exertions, and then toward heaven, 
to implore the succor and protection of the 
gods. And thus, both in the camp of the 
Athenians, and in that of the Syracusans, 
nothing was to be heard during the engage- 
ment, but shouts of victory, or shrieks of de- 
spair. At length the Athenian fleet, after a 
long and desperate resistance, was put to 
flight, and driven to the shore. And now a 
shout of victory arose both from the Syracu- 
san galleys and from their camp, which 
seemed to rend the very air, and which con- 
veyed tidings of joy to those who were in 
the city. The Syracusans erected a trophy, 
but the Athenians dejected and overpowered, 
retired to their camp, on the shore, and did 
not even request that tlieir dead might be 



613 



SYRACUSE. 



delivered over to them for burial. Two al- 
ternatives now only remained to them ; either 
again to attempt the passage, or to abandon 
their fleet to the enemy, and retire by land. 
Demosthenes proposed the former; but the 
sailors, in the deepest affliction, refused to 
obey, fully satisfied that it would be impos- 
sible for them to sustain a second engage- 
ment. The second method was therefore 
adopted, and accordingly they prepared to 
set out in the night, to conceal the march of 
their army from the enemy. But Hermo- 
crates, who suspected their design, was very 
sensible that it was of the utmost importance, 
not to suffer so great a body of forces to es- 
cape, since they might otherwise fortify them- 
selves in some part of the island and renew 
the war. But the Syracusans were too much 
engaged in their rejoicings over their late 
victory, to heed his advice, and march against 
the enemy. Hermocrates, therefore, sent out 
a few horsemen, who were to pass as friends 
to the Athenians, and ordered them to cry 
aloud, when within hearing distance of the 
enemy's camp : " Jell Nicias not to march 
until daybreak, for the Syracusans lie in 
ambush for him, and have seized on all the 
passes." This false advice stopped Nicias at 
once. He did not even set out the next day, 
in order that his soldiers might have more 
time to prepare for their departure. In tlie 
mean time, however, the enemy had seized 
upon all the avenues of escape. On the third 
day the Athenians set out upon their march. 
Terrible indeed must have been the feelings 
of the soldiers as they quitted their camp. 
The ground was strewn with the dead bodies 
of their companions, and as each soldier 
passed the mutilated remains of a former as- 
sociate and beloved friend, his mind was 
seized with a horror which nothing could 
shake off. But the sick and wounded who 
were left behind were causes of much greater 
affliction to the hearts of the Athenians, than 
were even the dead. Bursting out into 
prayers and lamentations, they occasioned a 
wild irresolution of thoughts to those who 
were abandoning them. The poor creatures, 
crawling upon the ground, and calhng upon 
the name of friends or acquaintances, they en- 
treated that they might not be left behind. 
Some encountering old comrades, rose, and 
with a spasmodic exertion, clasped their arms 
about tlieir necks, and were thus dragged 
along, while they could keep their hold ; but 
when their strength failed them they fell, 
giving the departing soldiers a last farewell in 
a torrent of curses and hideous howls. 

The armies marched in two bodies drawn 
up in the form of a phalanx ; the first being 
commanded by Nicias, and the second by 
Demosthenes, with tlie baggage in the cen- 
ter. During their march they were continu- 



ually annoyed by the enemy, every one of 
the passes being guarded. They were obhged 
to dispute every inch of their way. The 
Syracusans were unwilling to hazard a battle 
against an army still formidable (being even 
now 40,000 strong), and which despair alone 
might render invincible. The Athenian gen- 
erals, seeing the miserable condition of their 
troops, being in extreme want of provisions, 
and a great many of them wounded, 
judged it expedient to retire toward the sea 
by a way quite contrary to that which they 
then marched, and to make directly for Ca- 
marina and Gela, instead of proceeding to 
Catana as they first intended. They set out 
in tlie night, after hghting a great number of 
fires. The vanguard, commanded by Nicias, 
went forward in good order ; but about half 
the rear guard, with Demosthenes at their 
head, lost the way. On the next day, tlie 
Syracusans overtook him about noon ; and, 
having surrounded him with their horse, 
drove him into a narrow place inclosed with 
a wall, where his soldiers fought hke Uons. 
At length, toward the close of the day, cov- 
ered with wounds, and oppressed with fa- 
tigue, Demosthenes and his soldiers surren- 
dered at discretion, on condition that they 
should not be put to death, nor sentenced to 
perpetual unprisonment. About 6,000 sol- 
diers thus surrendered. On the same evening 
Nicias arrived at the river Erineus, which he 
passed, and encamped on a mountain. The 
next day the Syracusans came up with him, 
and summoned him to surrender at discretion 
as Demosthenes had done. Nicias, how- 
ever, could not at first be persuaded that 
Demosthenes had really surrendered; but 
upon discovering that he had done so, he 
offered to pay the expenses of the war, upon 
condition that he should be permitted to 
leave the country with his forces, and give as 
many Athenians as hostages, as he should be 
obhged to pay talents. This offer the Syra- 
cusans rejected with scorn, and at once com- 
menced the attack. The Athenians, although 
in want of all things, nevertheless sustained 
the charge the whole night, and the next 
morning marched to the river Asinarus. No 
sooner liad his soldiers reached the banks of 
the river, than mad with thirst, for during 
their stay in the mountain, no water had 
passed their hps, they precipitated themselves 
into the stream, and drank eagerly. The 
Syracusans fell upon them while they were 
drinking, and a terrible slaughter ensued. The 
poor wretches, unable to defend themselves, 
where killed while in the very act of drink- 
ing, until the water was discolored with their 
gore, and their carcasses lay heaped one 
upon another in the river, fairly impeding its 
current. Nicias, seeing every thing lost, sur- 
rendered himself prisoner to Gylippus, choos- 



SYRACUSE. 



613 



ing rather to fall into his hands than into 
those of the Syracusan generals. Eighteen 
thousand of the Athenians were killed, and 
a great number were made prisoners. The 
victors adorned the trees that bordered the 
banks of the river, with the arms taken from 
the prisoners; and then crowning themselves 
with chaplets of flowers, and dressing their 
horses in the richest caparisons, and cropping 
the manes of those of their captives, they 
triumphantly entered into Syracuse. The 
next day a council was held to deUberate on 
what was to be done with the prisoners. 
Diodes, one of the leaders of the greatest 
authority among the people, proposed that 
all the Athenians who were born of free 
parents, and all such Sicilians as had joined 
with them, should be imprisoned in the quar- 
ries, and only half a pint of water, and a 
small loaf of bread, be given them daily ; 
that all the slaves and allies should be pub- 
licly sold ; and that the two Athenian gener- 
als, Demosthenes and Nicias, should be first 
scourged with rods and afterward put to 
death. This cruel proposal was adopted, 
and, in spite of the remonstrances of Gylip- 
pus, who wished to carry them to Sparta, 
since he had taken them, Nicias and Demos- 
thenes were barbarously put to death. Thus, 
in the year 413 B.C., terminated the siege of 
Syracuse, after a continuance of twelve 
months. 

Second Siege, b.c. 403. — In the year 403 
B.C., HimUco, the Carthaginian general, with 
an army of 300,000 foot (some authors say 
30,000 only), and 3,000 horse, marched to- 
ward the city of Syracuse, from the land- 
ward side, with the intention of laying siege 
to it. At the same time, 200 Carthaginian 
ships of war, followed by 500 barks, entered 
the harbor. The land army encamped at 
about a mile and a half from the city, and 
Himilco immediately offered battle to the in- 
habitants. But the Syracusans declined, and 
Himilco felt satisfied that he would soon be 
master of the city. In the mean time he 
laid waste the suburbs of Syracuse ; he rav- 
aged Achradina, and plundered the temples of 
Ceres and Proserpine. He beat down the 
tombs which stood outside the city, and forti- 
fied his camp with them. But while he was 
thus engaged a pestilence suddenly arose in 
his army. The summer was at its height, 
and the heat was intense. The plague first 
began among the Africans, of whom a large 
portion of the army consisted. His men 
died by scores, and at length the survivors 
and the healthy could no longer bury the 
dead, nor administer to the sick. This plague 
had very uncommon symptoms. Tlae in- 
fected were seized with violent dysenteries, 
raging fevers, and in the midst of their pains 
madness would possess them, and they bit 



and tore any person that approached them. 
Dionysius, perceiving the pitable condition 
of the Carthaginians, immediately attacked 
them. The Syracusans met with but little 
resistance : the Carthaginians, already con- 
quered by disease, submitted themselves to 
the swords of their enemies. The Cartha- 
ginian fleet was burned or taken almost to 
the last ship. AU the inhabitants, even the 
old, the young, and the feeble, went out of 
the city to witness the conflagration. In the 
mean time the Syracusan army was dealing 
death upon the enemy at the other side of 
the city. Night put an end to the slaughter, 
and then Himilco entreated Dionysius to 
allow him to return home with the remains 
of his shattered army. He offered 300 
talents ($274,666), all the specie he had, as a 
ransom. Dionysius allowed only the Cartha- 
ginians to depart. With these Him-lco stole 
away in the night, leaving the Africans to the 
mercy of the conqueror. 

After the death of Dionysius, Syracuse was 
involved in great trouble. Dionysius the 
younger was expelled, and afterward restored 
himself by force of arms, and exercised great 
cruelties there. 

Third Siege, b.c 214. — Two hundred years 
after the siege of Syracuse by the Athenians, 
the city was besieged by the Romans, during 
their second war Avith the Carthaginians. 
The Syracusans having declared for the Car- 
thaginians, the Romans at once declared war 
against tfeem. The government of Syracuse 
was at this time in the hands of Hippocrates 
and Epicycles, whom the people had elected 
supreme magistrates of the city. After en- 
tering and taking Leontine, Marcellus, the 
Roman consul, advanced with his forces to- 
ward Syracuse. He determined to besiege 
the place by sea and land ; by land on the 
side of the Hexapylum ; and by sea on that 
of the Achradina, the walls of wliich were 
washed by the waves. He gave Appius the 
command of the land forces, and reserved 
that of the fleet to himself. It consisted of 
sixty galleys of five benches of oars, which 
were crowded with soldiers armed with bows, 
slings, and darts, to scour the walls. There 
were a great number of other vessels laden 
with machines of all descriptions, used in at- 
tacking places. When the Romans attacked 
them both by sea and land, the Syracusans 
were struck dumb with terror, imagining that 
they could not possibly resist such numerous 
forces, and so furious an assault. But by the 
assistance of one single man, they were en- 
abled to repel the enemy. That man was 
Archimedes. 

He had for many years been engaged in mak- 
ing all manner of engines and machines, which 
could be used either for attack or defense in 
a siege, and now that they were needed he 



614 



SYRACUSE. 



brought them into service. As soon as his 
machines began to play on the land side, they 
discharged upon the Romun infantry all sorts 
of missive weapons, and stones of an enor- 
mous size, with so much noise, force, and 
velocity, that nothing coujd stand before 
them; they overturned and crushed what- 
ever they encountered, and spread terrible 
disorder throughout the ranks. On the side 
toward the sea, behind the walls, he erected 
vast machines, which suddenly letting fliU 
enormous beams, with immense weights at 
their ends upon the Roman ships, sunk them 
to the bottom. Besides tliis he caused an 
iron grapple, attached to a chain, which in 
turn was lastened to a lever, to be let down 
suddenly among the besiegers' ships; and 
having caught hold of the prow of a galley, 
an enormous weight was swung from the 
other end of the lever, which consequently 
lifted the galley entirely out of the water, 
stern downward. Then suddenly unclasping 
the grapple, the vessel fell into the sea with 
such force, that it immediately filled and sunk. 
Other vessels were drawn toward the shore 
by means of ropes and hooks, and after being 
whirled about, they were dashed to pieces 
against the rocks that projected below the 
walls, and their crews perished. Large gal- 
leys, frequently seized and suspended in the 
air, were rapidly whirled about, presenting a 
dreadful spectacle to the beholders. After 
their crews had been thrown out by the vio- 
lence of the motion, the galleys were sudden- 
ly precipitated into the sea, by the unclosing 
of the jaws of the engine. Marcellus at 
great expense had prepared a machine called 
Sambuca, on account of its resemblance to a 
musical instrument of that name. He select- 
ed two galleys of five benches, from which 
he caused half of the oars to be removed, 
that is to say, each galley was provided with 
oars on one side only. The galleys were 
then joined together two and two, on the 
side without oars, forming as it were one 
enormous vessel. The machine, which con- 
sisted of a ladder, four feet wide, was, when 
erect, of equal height with the walls of the 
city. It was laid at length upon the sides of 
the two galleys joined together, and extend- 
ed considerably beyond their beaks. Upon 
the masts of these vessels were fixed cords 
and pulleys. When the machine was to be 
brought into use, the cords were affixed to 
its extremity, and men at the stern drew it 
up by pulleys, while others at the head as- 
sisted in raising it with levers. 

Marcellus caused six of these machines to 
be prepared, and after they were completed, 
ordered one of them to be brouglit forward to 
the foot of the walls, but no sooner had Archi- 
medes discovered it, than he discharged three 
enormous stones one after the other upon it. 



All of the stones took effect, striking upon 
the macliine with amazing force and noise, 
shattering and totally disjointing it. Marcel- 
lus, perplexed and discouraged, drew off his 
galleys with all possible rapidity, and sent 
orders to the land forces to retreat also. He 
then called a council of war, at which it was 
resolved to approach close under the walls ; 
if it was possible, the next morning before 
daybreak. For Archimedes' engines, they 
thought, being very strong, and intended to 
act at a great distance, would then discharge 
themselves over their heads. But Archi- 
medes had provided against all contingences. 
He had prepared machines long before, that 
carried to all distances, a proportionate quan- 
tity of darts and beams, which being very 
short, required less time for discharging them, 
and consequently their action was more rapid 
than the others. Besides, he had caused holes 
to be made in the walls, in which he placed 
Scorpions, machines made in the nature of a 
cross-bow, wliich, although they did not carry 
far could be discharged with the utmost ra- 
pidity. When the Romans had gained the 
foot of the walls, and considered themselves 
well-covered, they were assailed with show- 
ers of darts and huge pieces of rocks, wliich 
fell directly upon their heads, for the engines 
played from every quarter of the wall. 

This obliged them to retire. But in their 
retreat they were overtaken by cloud after 
cloud of arrows, stones, darts, and beams, 
which committed great havoc upon their 
ranks. Their galleys also were driven back 
by the vigorous discharges of the terrible 
machines. And the Romans could not possi- 
bly assail the enemy in return. For Arclii- 
medes had placed his engines under cover of 
the walls ; so that the Romans, infinitely 
distressed by an invisible foe, seemed to fight 
against the gods. Marcellus, although much 
perplexed, and at a loss what to do, still could 
not refrain from jesting at the undignified 
manner in which his troops had retreated. 
" Why," said he, " do we contend against 
this mathematical Briareus, who, sitting on 
the shore, as if he were but in jest, drives 
us from him, and overwhelms us with such a 
multitude of darts. Why, even the hundred- 
handed giants in the fable could not equal 
him." Marcellus had reason for complaining 
of Archimedes alone, for in truth, all the 
other Syracusans were no more that the 
members of the engines and machines of that 
great geometrician, who was himself the soul 
of all their power and operations. All other 
weapons were unemployed ; his were the 
only offensive and defensive arms of the city. 
At length, the Roman soldiers were so terri- 
fied, that if they saw but a rope or stick 
moving on the walls of the city, they cried 
out that Archimedes was leveling some in- 



SYRACUSE. 



615 



fernal machine at them, and turned their 
backs and fled. Marcellus, seeing this, gave 
up all thoughts of carrying the place by as- 
sault, and leaving the matter to time, turned 
the siege into a blockade, with the determin- 
ation of reducing the place by famine. To 
Archimedes alone were the Syracusans in- 
debted for the preservation of their city at 
that time If he had not been with them, the 
Romans would have inevitably taken the 
place by force of arms. 

After Marcellus had resolved to confine 
himself to the blockade of Syracuse, he left 
Appius before the city, with two thirds of 
the army, advanced with the other into the 
island, and brought over several cities to the 
Roman interest. At the same time Hamilcar, 
the Carthaginian general, arrived in Sicily 
with a great army, in hopes of reconquering 
it, and expelling the Romans. His forces 
amounted to 20,000 foot, 3,000 horse, and 
twelve elephants, with which he marched 
against Agrigentum, which he retook from 
the Romans, with several other cities lately 
reduced by Marcellus. Thereupon, the Syra- 
cusan garrison, which was yet entire, deter- 
mined to send out Hippocrates with 10,000 
foot, and 1,500 horse, to join Hamilcar. Mar- 
cellus, after having made a vain attempt on 
Agrigentum, was returning to Syracuse. As 
he drew near Acrilte, he unexpectedly dis- 
covered Hippocrates busy in fortitying his 
camp, and falling upon him before he had 
time to draw up his army, he cut 8,000 of 
tliem in pieces. After gaining this victory, 
Marcellus i-eturned against Syracuse, and 
having sent off Appius to Rome, he appoint- 
ed Q. Crispinus in his place. The siege and 
blockade had now lasted two yeai'S, and Mar- 
cellus, almost absolutely despairing of being 
able to take Syracuse either by force (because 
Archimedes continually opposed him with 
invincible obstacles) or by famine, as the 
Carthaginian fleet, which had returned more 
numerous than before, easily threw in con- 
voys, deliberated whether he should continue 
before Syracuse to push the siege, or turn his 
endeavors toward Agrigentum. But before 
he came to a final determination, he thought 
it proper to try whether he could make him- 
self master of Syracuse by some secret intelh- 
gence. There were many Syracusans in his 
camp, who had taken refuge there in the be- 
ginning of the troubles. A slave of one of 
these secretly carried on an intrigue, in which 
fourteen of the principal citizens of Syracuse 
were engaged. These persons came in com- 
panies to consult with Marcellus in his camp, 
concealed under nets in fishermen's boats. 
The conspiracy was on the point of taking 
effect, when a person named Allatus, through 
resentment for not having been admitted into 
it, discovered the whole to Epicydes, who 



put all the conspirators to death. This enter- 
prise having thus miscarried, Marcellus could 
think of nothing, but the shame of raising a 
siege which had consumed so much time, 
and in wliich he had lost so many sliips, and 
men. An accident supphed him with a re- 
course, and gave new hie to his hopes. Some 
Roman vessels had taken one Damippus, a 
Spartan, whom Epicydes had sent to nego- 
tiate with Philip, King of Macedon. The 
Syracusans being very desirous to ransom 
Damippus, several conferences were held 
between the besiegers and the besieged about 
it. The conferences were held in a place 
near the port Trogilus, and as the deputies 
visited several times, a Roman soldier took 
notice that the tower Avas but slightly guard- 
ed, and thought that a number of men might 
easily be introduced into it. He made a good 
estimate of its height, and without loss of 
time, communicated his plan to Marcellus. 
The Roman general did not neglect the 
soldier's advice, but assured himself of its 
worth by his own observation. He provided 
himself, therefore, with proper scahng-ladders, 
he chose a time when the Syracusans were 
celebrating a festival in honor of Diana, dur- 
ing which they drank freely, and gave loose 
to mirth, and advancing to the tower with 
1,000 chosen troops, in profound silence, he 
gained the top of the tower. They now soon 
scaled the walls in that vicinity, and ha\ 'ng 
thrown down the gate of Hcxapylum, thty 
took possession of that part of the city called 
Epipolas, whence he easily gained the quarter 
called Tyche. Epicydes, whose quarters 
were in the farthest part ofOrtygia, hearing 
that the Romans had seized on Epipolse and 
Tyche, went with his forces to drive them 
from their posts ; but finding much greater 
numbers than he expected, already in the 
town, after a slight skirmish he retired. 
Marcellus, to destroy the city, tried gentle 
methods with the inhabitants ; but the Syra- 
cusans rejected his proposals, and their 
generals appointed the Roman deserters to 
guard Achradina, which they did with great 
care, knowing that if the town was taken, 
they must die. Marcellus then turned his 
arms against fort Euryclus, which he hoped 
to reduce in a short time by famine. Phi- 
lodemus, who commanded there, kept him 
in play for a considerable length of time, in 
hopes of succor from Hippocrates and Ha- 
milcar ; but finding liimself disappointed, he 
surrendered the place, on condition of being 
allowed to march out with his men, and join 
Epicydes. Marcellus, now master of Euryc- 
lus, blocked up Achradina with his fleet, so 
close, that it could not hold out much longer 
without new supphes of men and provisions. 
But Hippocrates and Hamilcar soon arrived, 
and it was resolved that the former should 



616 



TAGINA— TARENTUM. 



attack the old camp of the Romans, without 
the walls, commanded by Crispinus, while 
Epicydes sailed out upon Marcellus. Hippo- 
crates was vigorously repulsed by Crisipiuus, 
who pursued him up to liis intrenchments, 
and Epicydes was forced to return into Achra- 
dina, with great loss, and narrowly escaped 
being taken prisoner by Marcellus. The un- 
fortunate Syracusans were now in the great- 
est distress for want of provisions ; and to 
complete their misery a plague broke out 
among them ; of which Hippocrates and 
Hamilcar died, with many thousands more. 
Hereupon, Bomilcar sailed to Carthage again 
for fresh supplies, and returned to Sicily with 
a large fleet ; but hearing of the great prep- 
arations of the Romans at sea, and probably 
fearing the event of a battle, he unexpectedly 
steered away. Epycides who had gone out 
to meet him, was afraid to return into a city, 
half conquered, and therefore fled for refuge 
to Agrigentum. The Syracusans, enraged at 
this dastardly conduct, assassinated the govern- 
ors he had left, and proposed to submit to 
Marcellus. For this purpose they sent depu- 
ties, who were graciously received. But the 
garrison, which consisted of Roman deserters 
and mercenaries, raising fresh disturbances, 
killed the officers appointed by the Syracus- 
ans, and chose six new ones of their own. 
Among these was a Spaniard named Mexi- 
CU3, a man of great integrity, who, disapprov- 
ing of the cruelties of his party, determined 
to give up the place to Marcellus. In pursu- 
ance of which, under pretense of greater care 
than ordinary, he desired that each governor 
might have the sole direction in his own 
quarter ; which gave him an opportunity to 
opeu the gates of Arethusa to the Roman 



general. And now Marcellus being at length 
master of the city, gave signal proof of his 
clemency and good nature. He sufi'ered the 
Roman deserters to escape ; for he was un- 
willing to shed the blood even of traitors. It 
is said that when he surveyed the beautilul 
city from a neighboring eminence, that he 
wept, when he thought how soon it would 
be changed to a scene of misery and desola- 
tion when it came to be sacked and plundered 
by his soldiers. 'For the troops demanded 
the plunder, and not one of the officers dared 
oppose them. The city was soon abandoned 
to the soldiers. It is reported that the riches 
pillaged in Syracuse at this time, exceeded 
all that could have been expected at the 
taking of Carthage itself. An unhappy acci- 
dent interrupted Marcellus's joy, and gave 
him cause for the deepest regret. When the 
Roman soldiers were pillaging the city, 
Archimedes, at a time when all Syracuse was 
in confusion and uproar, was quietly seated 
in his closet, Uke a man of another world, in- 
tent upon the study of some geometrical 
problem. So much was he absorbed in 
thought, that he heeded not the turmoil 
without, nor the report of the city being 
taken. 

A soldier suddenly entered his room 
and bade him follow liim to Marcellus. 
Archidemes begged him to stay a moment 
till he had solved his problem, and finished 
the demonstration of it. The soldier, who 
neither cared for his problem nor demonstra- 
tion, was enraged at his delay, and drawing 
his sword, killed him instantly. Marcellus 
was deeply afflicted when he heard the news 
! of his death, and afterward erected a splendid 
monument to his memory. 



TAGTNA, A.D. 552.— The battle of Tagina 
was fought in Italy, near Todi, between "the 
Goths and the Romans. The Roman army 
consisted of 30,000 men, and was under the 
command of Narses, a general of the Emperor 
Justinian. The Gothic army was greatly su- 
perior in numbers, and was commanded by 
Totila, king of the Goths. The battle was 
bloody and obstinate, and resulted finally in 
the total defeat of the Goths, of whom 6,000 
were slain. TotUa was killed while fighting 
at the head of his men. On the death of 
Totila, Teias was made king by the Goths ; 
but the next year he was defeated on the 
Sarnus by the Romans, and Gothic sway in 
Italy was terminated. i 

TAGLIACOZZO, a.d. 1268.— In the year 
1268, a battle was fought near Tagliacozzo, a 
town of Naples, between the army of Charles 



of Anjou and the troops of Conradin, son of 
the Emperor Conrad IV. The latter was 
defeated. This battle put an end to the rule 
of the Hohenstauffen dynasty in Italy. 

TALAVERA DE LA REGNA, a.d. 1809. 
—On the 27th and 28th of July, 1809, a 
bloody and obstinate battle was fought be- 
tween the French army, under Joseph Bona- 
parte, and Marshals Jourdan and Victor, 
and the EngUsh and Spanish troops, under 
the Duke of Wellington, near Talavera de la 
Regna, on the Tagus, in Spain. The battle 
was obstinately contested, and after the con- 
flict had been prolonged two days, resulted 
in the total defeat of" the French. The vic- 
tory cost the English 6,268 men in killed and 
wounded. The French lost 8,791 men, killed 
and wounded. 

TARENTQM, b.o. 212.— Some years after 



TARIFA— TEMESWAR. 



617 



the entrance of Hannibal into Italy, the Tar- 
entines, an inconstant, fickle people, believing 
Rome without resources, opened their gates 
to the Carthaginians; but they could not 
force the citadel, which was held by a Roman 
garrison. These soldiers kept the enemy at 
bay for a length of time. Rome having re- 
gained its superiority, turned its attention to 
Tarentum, and resolved to punish it for its 
infidehty. The consul Q. Fabius laid siege 
to it, and found means to terminate his im- 
portant enterprise very speedily. Hannibal 
had placed in the city a body of Brutians, the 
commander of whom was passionately in love 
with a woman whose brother served in the 
army of the consul. This brother, with the 
consent of his general, threw himself into 
Tarentum, and, aided by the caresses of his 
sister, gained the confidence of the oflicer. 
In a party of pleasure, he prevailed upon 
him to deliver up to the Romans the quarter 
of the city intrusted to his guard. When 
measures were ready the soldier made his 
escape, and informed Fabius of his success. 
The consul gave the concerted signal to the 
Romans who defended the citadel, and to the 
Brutians, and placed liimself, with a chosen 
body of troops, immediately opposite the 
place agreed upon. The noise of trumpets 
and of loud cries issued at the same moment 
from the citadel, the port, and the vessels at 
anchor. The consul, concealed at his post, 
maintained a profound silence. The general 
officer who guarded the quarter of the city 
near which Fabius was in ambush, seeing all 
quiet, thought he had nothing to fear, and 
flew toward the side whence the tumult 
came. The consul, perceiving this, planted 
his ladders against that part of the wall 
where the Brutian cohorts wei'C posted, and 
entered quietly into the city. He broke 
down the nearest gate, which gave access to 
more troops, and advanced toward the pub- 
He place. The besieged defended themselves 
there for some time; but, overwhelmed by 
numbers, they were obliged to disperse. A 
great carnage ensued. Tarentum was pil- 
laged, and, it is said, 87,000 pounds' weight 
of gold rewarded the victors. Fabius had 
the wisdom to be satisfied with the money 
and rich movables ; with the exception of a 
single brazen statue from the hand of Lysip- 
pus, he let the statues and pictures remain, 
using this memorable expression: "Let us 
leave the voluptuous Tarentines their angry 
gods, whom they had so ill served." Had 
all Roman generals followed the example of 
Fabius, and left objects of luxury and indul- 
gence to the peoples they had corrupted, 
Rome would not, in its turn, have fallen a 
victim to sensuality and the corruption em- 
ployed to support it. — Robson. 

TARIFA, A.D. 1811.— In the year 1811, 



Tarifa, in Spain, then in the occupation of 
the British, was besieged by the French, 
under Generals Victor and Laval. The Brit- 
ish made a most heroic resistance, and at 
length the French were obhged, after sustain- 
ing heavy losses, to withdraw from the place. 
In this defense Colonel (afterward Lord) 
Gough, greatly distinguished himself. 

TEMESWAR, a.d. 1849.— Temeswar, a 
fortified town of south Hungary, was taken 
in 1552 by the Turks, under Solyman. The 
conquerors mercilessly sacked the city. The 
Turks held possession of Temeswar until 
1716, when the city was besieged and taken 
by the famous Prince Eugene. In 1849 
Temeswar was besieged by the Hungarian 
insurgents. The siege was protracted for 
107 days, when it was relieved by General 
Haynau. As the battle of Temeswar was 
the decisive blow which defeated the cause 
of the Hungarian patriots, we will, under this 
head, devote a few lines to the narration of 
the principal events connected with the late 
Hungarian war. 

The succession of the crown of Hungary 
was declared hereditary to Austria in 1687. 
Although the two countries were united 
under one crown, yet the separate rights of 
Hungary were repeatedly guijrantied by the 
sovereign. One of the dictal enactments ex- 
pressly states that " Hungary, in her entire 
system of legislature and government, is a 
free and independent kingdom, and is there- 
fore to be ruled and governed by her legally- 
crowned hereditary kings, according to her 
national laws and customs." 

For centuries the Austrian government has 
striven to encroach upon the constitutional 
rights and privileges of Hungary, with the 
desire of bringing the country entirely under 
Austrian rule. The Hungarian Diet made 
frequent remonstrances, and voted reforms 
continually; but the Austrian government 
rejected them all. In 1848, however, the 
Diet passed acts for the emancipation of the 
Hungarian peasantry fi:ora feudal burdens; 
for trial by jury, and for the freedom of the 
press. The emperor assented to these enact- 
ments, on the 11th of April. Immediately 
afterward, however, the Austrian government 
contrived to incite insurrections among the 
Servians and Wallacks, who early in June 
were in open revolt. 

On the 19th of September, General Jel- 
lachich, who had taken possession of the Lit- 
torole, crossed the Drave with 48,000 men, 
invested with full authority to act against the 
Diet of Hungary ; but on the 29th of the 
same month he was defeated in a pitched 
battle near Stuhlweissenburg. 

Had the Hungarian leaders at that time 
possessed resolute leaders, the career of Jel- 
lachich would have been ended at Stuhlweis- 



618 



TEMESWAR 



senburg. The Austrian general begged for a 
truce of three days, which was granted hira. 
He took advantage of this truce, and sudden- 
ly withdrew with a part of his army to Vien- 
na. A Hungarian army now crossed the 
Austrian frontier, but soon retreated to Pres- 
burg. In December another Austrian army 
invaded Hungary under Prince Windisch- 
gratz. The Hungarians sustained several de- 
feats at the hands of this general. At length 
after the successes of Radetzky in Italy, the 
Austrian government on the 4th of March, 
1849, promulgated an edict by which Hun- 
gary and its dependences were divided into 
" Crown lands" of the empire of Austria ; 
and the Hungarian constitution was declared 
null and void. On the 9 th of March, the 
Diet declared these measures illegal ; and on 
the 14tli of April the deposition of the 
House of Hapsburg from the sovereignty 
was decreed. The war was now prosecuted 
with great vigor by the Hungarians ; they 
were everywhere victorious, and after be- 
ing defeated in five battles, the Austrians, 
Croatians, and the Russian alhes, had lost in 
April nearly every military position they had 
gained. On the 21st of April, the Hungar- 
ian army under Gren. Arthur G-orgey approach- 
ed the fortress of Buda, which with the city 
of Pesth, was in the possession of the Austrian 
army under Windischgratz. The garrison of 
Buda was commanded by Henzi. Gorgey 
had anticipated a weak resistance, and order- 
ed his vanguard at once to make an assault. 
But the Hungarians were hurled back by the 
musketry of the Austrians, and Gorgey saw 
the necessity of besieging the place in due 
form. Kossuth, the Governor of Hungary, 
was of a different opinion, and advised Gor- 
gey to surround the place with 100,000 pea- 
sants whom he offered to raise for Mm, to 
prevent a sortie, while Gorgey with the main 
body of the Hungarian army should pursue 
the Austrians and prevent them from concen- 
trating any large force in Hungary ; but 
Gorgey was resolved to reduce the place, and 
devoted a month to the prosecution of the 
siege. By the 20th of May, a practicable 
breach was made in the fortifications of Buda, 
by the breaching cannon of the besiegers ; 
and on the 20th a storming party of volun- 
teers were ordered to make an assault. The 
storming party was successful, and the fort- 
ress of Buda, together with Pesth, the capi- 
tal of Hungary, fell into the hands of the 
Hungarians. The Austrians made a gallant 
resistance. Henzi died like a hero. Aver 
an Austrian colonel, perished by his own 
hands. He was stationed on the aqueduct 
and chain-bridge of Buda, and after he had 
discovered that all was lost, not wishing to 
survive the disgrace of a defeat, he tossed a 
lighted cigar into a powder-barrel which com- 



municated with a mine beneath the bridge, 
and was killed by the explosion which fol- 
lowed. 

Meanwhile, however, the Austrian govern- 
ment was not idle. By the 10th of June 
large Russian armies were collected on the 
frontiers, and in July, they simultaneously 
poured into Hungary, from the north and 
east, while the Croats, under Jellachich, ad- 
vanced from the south, and the Austrians 
under Baron Haynau from the west. 

Hungary was surrounded by an immense 
army composed of fresh troops, admirably 
equipped, and drawn from two powerful em- 
pires, wlule lines of railroads from Cracow, 
to Vienna and Gratz, facilitated the combi- 
nation of its elements. The struggle was 
soon terminated. The Hungarians sustained 
defeat after defeat. On the 5th of August 
the Hungarians under Dembinski were sig- 
nally defeated at Szoregh. Kossuth, who 
with a part of the House of Representatives 
had withdrawn to Arad, anxiously awaited 
the result of tliis battle. Couriers were in- 
cessantly flying to and fro between Arad 
and Szoregh ; and soon the Hungarian army 
were seen on the same road flying in the 
utmost confusion, routed, dispirited, and scat- 
tered in every direction. Dembinski was 
wounded in the shoulder by a bullet. He 
fell from his horse, and was conveyed into a 
peasant's hut ; the Hungarian army for twen- 
ty-four hours was without a commander. 
When Dembinski was again at the head of 
his army, he ordered his army to retreat 
toward Temeswar, which was at that time 
closely invested by the Hungarians under 
Vecsey. 

The news of Dembinski's defeat at Szoregh 
reached Kossuth at Arad. The town was 
soon filled with fugitives, and the most fear- 
ful confusion arose. Citizens and soldiers, 
men, women, and children rushed hither and 
thither in wild disorder, making eager prep- 
arations to fly from the city. At length, on 
the eighth of August, they were relieved 
from some of their anxiety by the arrival of 
Giirgey's army before Arad. Nagy Sandor, 
who commanded them, was ordered by Kos- 
suth to march at daybreak on the 9th to take 
Vinga, and secure the communication with 
Vecsey's besieging army at Temeswar. He 
consented, and on the 11th of August, made 
all necessary arrangements with his whole 
force to free the road to Temeswar. But on 
the same night Kossuth received the intelli- 
gence that the Hungarians had been defeated 
in a battle near that city. 

The battle of Temeswar was the decisive 
engagement of the war. Temeswar is a 
strong fortress, and it was occupied by a 
heroic garrison. Lieutenant-Field-Marshal 
Rukowena, who held the command, defend- 



TEWKESBURY. 



619 



ed every point of the town, resolutely refus- 
ing all summons to surrender, even when the 
roofs were fired over his soldiers' heads and 
the walls were in ruins. Typhus and inter- 
mittent fevers, the cholera and famine, shook 
the courage of the old warrior as Uttle as did 
the red-hot balls of Vecsey, the Hungarian 
commander. The heroic old soldier did not 
fight in vain. General Haynau had time to 
arrive to his succor, and a bloody battle en- 
sued before the walls of the fortress. Gener- 
al Bem had also hastened to the assistance 
of the besiegers at Temeswar, and arrived 
in time to participate in the battle. The con- 
test was obstinate, and for a long time was 
doubtful. The Austrians fought valorously, 
and were confident of victory, for they ex- 
pected reinforcements every moment. The 
Hungarians also anxiously awaited the arrival 
of Gorgey with the main body of the army ; 
but he did not come up. The Austrians, on 
the contrary, were reinforced at a critical 
moment by the corps of Prince Lichtenstein, 
while other troops were seen advancing as 
rapidly as possible to their aid. Animated 
to the highest pitch by the reinforcement, 
the Austrians continued the light with re- 
newed ardor ; the Hungarians, on the other 
hand, dispirited and sick at heart, gradually 
fell back ; the Austrians urged on the strife ; 
Bem was injured seriously by the fall of his 
horse, which, covered with wounds as he 
was, lie could not control, and the Hunga- 
rians finally turned and fled in wild confusion. 
The timely appearance of Lichtenstein, and 
the non-arrival of Giirgey snatched the victory 
from the hands of the Hungarian general. 
The immediate result of the loss of this battle 
was the relief of Temeswar. Haynau, in the 
evening of the same day (August 10th) en- 
tered the gates of the fortress at the head of 
his troops. He had arrived at a timely mo- 
ment ; the place was crowded With sick and 
wounded ; and the appearance of the fortifi- 
cations, as well as of the defenders, showed 
that its fall would have been speedy had it 
not been reheved. On the 11th of August 
Gorgey arrived in Arad, and had an interview 
with Kossuth, which resulted in the resigna- 
tion of the latter as governor, and the ap- 
pointment of the former as dictator of the 
country. Kossuth departed from Arad an 
honored exile. Gorgey became dictator, but 
for the space of forty-eight hours only. Sud- 
denly, and apparently seduced by ambition 
and vanity, he surrendered to the Russians at 
Villagos on the 13th of August, uncondition- 
ally, not even securing the Hves of his friends. 
The struggle of the Hungarians for freedom 
was over. The city of Peterwarden next 
capitulated to the Austrians ; and, finally, on 
the 27th of September, Comorin followed its 
example, and tliis event put an end to the 



war. Many of the cliiefs of the revolution 
fled into Turkey ; others suffered mihtary 
execution. The forces which the Hungarians 
brought into the field during the war never 
exceeded 135,000 men, with 400 pieces of 
cannon ; against whom were opposed in the 
final campaign 150,000 Russians and 110,000 
Austrians, aside from Servian and Wallack 
insurgents, amounting all together to upward 
of 300,000 men. 

TEWKESBURY.— Tewkesbury is situat- 
ed on the Avon, near its confluence with the 
Severn, on the border of Worcestershire in 
England, ninety miles north of London. In 
a field south of the town, still called from the 
circumstance, the " Bloody Meadow," was 
fought, on the 4th of May, 1471, a decisive 
engagement between the Yorkists under 
Edward IV., and the Lancastrians under 
Queen Margaret and her son. The Lancas- 
trians had intrenched themselves at Tewkes- 
bury in a strong portion of a field near the 
town, protected in the rear by the extensive 
walls of the abbey, and having in front and 
on the flanks a country so deeply intersected 
with dikes and hedges and lanes, that " it 
was a ryght evill place to approach as could 
well have been devysed." On the morning 
of the 4th of May Edward commenced the 
attack with a lieavy cannonade which was 
returned with spirit. But it was soon evi- 
dent that the enemy had the advantage in the 
number and weight of liis guns and the mul- 
titude of his archers, who poured showers of 
arrows within the intrenchments. Still the 
Lancastrians did not flinch, and after some 
time the Duke of Somerset, with a chosen 
band, stole by a circuitous route to the top 
of an eminence near the foot of which was 
stationed a corps, commanded by the king 
in person. Suddenly they charged it in 
flank ; but fortunately for Edward, two hun- 
dred spearmen who had been detached to a 
neighboring wood, observing the movement, 
fell unexpectedly on the rear of the assailants, 
who were thrown into disorder and fled for 
their Hves. It may be that this failure dis- 
heartened the Lancastrians. The defense 
grew fainter every minute. Soon the banner 
of the Duke of Gloucester, next that of Ed- 
ward himself, waved within the intrench- 
ments, and Somerset, as we are told, suspect- 
ing the Lord Wenlock of treachery, rode up 
to that nobleman, and at a stroke beat out 
his brains. The victory was now won. The 
Lancastrians were totally defeated with a 
loss of a great many persons of distinction, 
and 3,000 soldiers left on the field. Of 
the prisoners the most important was the 
Lancastrian Prince of Wales, who was taken 
to Edward in the field. To the question, 
what brought him to England, he boldly but 
ingenuously answered, "To preserve my 



620 



THAMES. 



father's crown and my own inheritance." 1 
The ungenerous Edward, insensible to pity, 
struck the young prince on the face with his j 
gauntlet, and the Dukes of Clarence and 
Gloucester, Lord Hastings and Sir Thomas 
Gray, taking the blow as a signal for further 
violence, hurried the prince away, and dis- 
patched him with their daggers. Margaret 
was thrown into the tower, and King Henry 
expired in that prison a few days alter the 
battle of Tewkesbury, beneath the dagger, so 
it is believed, of the Duke of Gloucester, af- 
terward Richard ill. Margaret was ran- 
somed in 1475 by Louis XI., King of France, 
for 50,000 crowns. The battle of Tewkes- 
bury was the last engagement between the 
Houses of York and Lancaster. 

THAMES, A.D. 1813.— The river Thames 
flows through Canada West between lakes 
Huron and Erie, and after a south-west coiurse 
of 160 miles, empties into Lake St. Clair. 

In the month of September, 1813, General 
Harrison concentrated his army at Put-in- 
Bay, on Lake Erie. His whole army con- 
sisted of 6,000 foot, and 1,000 horse. Per- 
ry's victory on Lake Erie, made the Amer- 
icans masters of that lake; and the foot 
soldiers were embarked on the American 
vessels for the purpose of saihng against 
Maiden in Canada West, wliich was then 
occupied by the British under General Proc- 
tor, while the cavalry were to proceed by 
land to Detroit. Proctor, on receiving intel- 
hgence of Perry's victory, became alarmed, 
and withdrew his troops from Maiden, tak- 
ing with him all the horses and cattle, and re- 
treating toward the Thames. The Americans 
having eflected a landing on the Canada 
shore, pursued the enemy with untiring ardor. 
On the 30th of September, Harrison was 
joined by Colonel Richard M. Johnson, with 
the cavalry from Detroit, and halting one 
day to retresh the troops, he resumed the 
pursuit on the 2d of October. The British 
in their haste to escape, abandoned guns and 
shells, and in the hope to retard the pur- 
suit of the Americans, destroyed the bridges 
and planted other obstacles in their path. On 
reaching the Thames, Proctor advanced up 
the river ; but on the 4th Colonel Johnson, 
with the mounted Kentuckians, marching two 
or three miles in advance of the main body, 
came upon the British army, drawn up in bat- 
, tie array on the banks of the Thames at the 
Moravian settlement. Unable to retreat in any 
thing like tnihtary order. Proctor had no alter- 
native but to check the enemy by a general 
battle. The British general had chosen an ad- 
mirable position. His regular troops, 800 in 
number, were stationed upon a dry strip 
of land, flanked on the right by a swamp, 
and on the left by the river. His 2,000 
Indian aUies, under Tecumseb, were posted at 



the eastern extremity of the swamp. The 
two armies remained within sight of each 
other during the night of the 4th, inactive. 
Early on the morning of the 5th, the Amer- 
icans prepared to attack the enemy. Colo- 
nel Johnson, with his thousand mounted rifle- 
men, opened the battle. Dividing his force 
into two columns, he placed his brother, Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel James Johnson, at the head 
of one, with orders to attack the British 
troops on the left, while he led his column 
against the Indians on the right. These two 
columns, side by side, slowly advanced to- 
ward the enemy : the American infantry fol- 
lowed close behind. Suddenly the two col- 
umns of horse diverged, and swept toward 
their respective enemies with lightning speed. 
The advance of Colonel James Johnson's 
column was checked for a moment by a sharp 
fire from the British regulars; but, driving 
their spurs into their horses' sides, the gaHant 
Kentuckians, with a yell of rage, plunged 
into the British line with a force which rent 
it in twain. Then, turning suddenly, the 
horsemen delivered their fire, and again 
drove their horses upon their panic-stricken 
foes. It was the work of a moment. The 
victory was won in that quarter of the field, 
and almost the entire British force was en- 
treating for quarter. Proctor, with forty 
men and some mounted Indians, fled at the 
first onset, leaving his carriage, private papers, 
and even his sword behind him. Colonel 
Richard M. Johnson, meanwhile, with his 
troopers, dashed into the SAvamp ; but not 
finding a firm footing for their horses, they 
could not charge, and affording fair targets 
for the Indian marksmen, they were being 
rapidly picked oft', when Johnson ordered 
them to dismount and take to cover. The 
Indians, led by their chieftain, whose bravery 
stands forth in bold relief when compared 
with the cowardly conduct of Proctor, fought 
with the utmost gallantry, and for a few 
minutes the battle was hot and bloody. 
Johnson was desperately wounded ; yet he 
maintained his ground, urging on his men 
with voice and example. At length Tecum- 
seh feU, mortiilly wounded,* and the Indians 
with a whoop of rage and despair fled in all 
directions. Victory was with the Americans. 
About 2,500 American troops took part in 
this engagement, and of this number only 
fifty were killed or wounded. Six hundred 
prisoners, a large quantity of stores, ammu- 
nition, etc., and six pieces of cannon,! fell 
into the hands of the victors. The remainder 
of the British army dispersed in the woods, 
and afi^er undergoing incredible hardships, re- 

* Tecumseh, it is said, was slain by Colonel Richard 
M. .Jolinson, himself. 

t Anions these guns three were captured from the 
British during the Revolutionary war, and surrendered 
at Detroit by General Hull. 



THEBES. 



621 



assembled at Anco ;:•, at the Lead of Lake 
Ontario. 

THEBES IN BCEOTIA, b.o. 1252.— The 
liistory of this famous siege has been rendered 
immortal by the tragic muse; few of our 
readers can require to have its details re- 
peated to them. The unfortunate CEdipus, 
on quitting his kingdom, left it to the gov- 
ernment of his two sons, Eteocles and Poly- 
nices, who agreed to mount the throne 
alternately. Eteocles, as the elder, reigned 
first ; but, at the termination of his year, he 
was so enamored of the power he had tasted 
that he violated his oath, and endeavored to 
exclude his brother from the throne. Poly- 
nices took up arms, and sought on all sides 
for partisans to assist liim against the usurper. 
Adrastus, King of the Argives, roused all 
Greece in his favor. The contest was long 
and sanguinary, and the chief loss fell upon 
the adherents of Polynices. After many 
fruitless battles beneath the walls of Thebes, 
the brothers resolved to terminate their quar- 
rel by a single combat. The two armies 
were drawn up as witnesses of the fight, and 
as securities for its fairness. The unnatural 
enemies entered the prescribed Usts, and at- 
tacked each other with such deadly animos- 
ity, that both fell dead upon the spot. It is 
feigned that, when their bodies were burned, 
the spirit of hatred remained unextinct even 
in their remains, and that the flames separ- 
ated as they arose. Their antipathy was 
.preserved in theh posterity, breaking out 
into needless but bloody wars. 

Second Siege, b.c. 518. — The Lacedaemo- 
nians, upon becoming masters of Thebes, 
made the inhabitants but too sensible of 
the weight of their yoke. Pelopidas, 
too noble to submit quietly to slavery, 
conceived the design of dehvering his coun- 
try; he addressed liimself to the banished 
citizens, and he found them enter freely into 
his views. Many of his friends in the city 
were eager to share his enterprise ; and one 
of them named Charon, offered his house as 
a retreat for the conspirators. When they 
had secretly taken the most prudent precau- 
tions to insure success, Pelopidas drew near 
to the city. Before entering it he held a 
council, in which it was agreed that all 
should not depend upon one cast of the dice, 
but that a small number should try their for- 
tune first. Pelopidas and eleven of liis brave 
companions accepted this perilous commis- 
sion ; they warned Charon of their approach, 
and proceeded toward Thebes, dressed as 
sportsmen, followed by hunting-dogs, and 
canying in their hands nets and weapons of 
the chase. Before entering the city they 
discarded their hunting appointments, as- 
sumed the guise of simple countrymen, and 
sHpped in at various gates, all directing their 



course to the house of Charon. Philidas, one 
of the conspirators, that same evening gave a, 
grand entertainment, at which Philip and 
Arcliias, the Lacedgemonian governors, were 
the most honored guests. When these two 
were sufficiently warmed with wine to be 
insensible to any tiling but their pleasures, the 
conspirators proceeded to action, and, divid- 
ing themselves into two bodies, commenced 
by the easy immolation of Phihp and Archias. 
Pelopidas and his party went straight to the 
house inhabited by Leontidas, one of the 
tyrants, who, on being roused from his sleep, 
seized his sword and struck the first conspir- 
ator that approached him dead at his feet; 
but he found a more successful opponent in 
Pelopidas ; the brave Theban quickly laid the 
tyrant by the side of his unfortunate compa- 
triot. After this bold attempt, the banished 
Thebans quickly joined the patriotic little 
band, and laid siege to the citadel. The Lace- 
daemonians were soon forced to capitulate ; 
and this memorable enterprise, conceived by 
the genius of Pelopidas, and executed almost 
entirely by his own hand, procured the lib- 
erty of Thebes. We are sorry we can not 
add that that liberty was secured ; the glory 
or prosperity of Thebes is an anomaly in his- 
tory : it belongs principally to one generation. 
Pelopidas was the friend and companion of 
Epaminondas, with which great man — one 
of the greatest of all antiquity — the sun of 
Thebes arose and set. 

Third Siege, b.c. 334. — After the celebra- 
ted battle of Choeronea, which laid the hber- 
ties of Greece at the feet of the ambitious 
Phihp of Macedon, that king placed a gar- 
rison in Thebes ; but scarcely had the inhab- 
itants learned the death of Philip, when they 
arose in mass, and slaughtered the Macedo- 
nians. Alexander, the son of Philip, after- 
ward styled the Great, passed through the 
straits of Thermopylae, rendered immortal by 
Leonidas and his Spartans, entered Greece, 
and marched directly toward the revolted 
city. On the way he said to those who ac- 
companied him, " Demosthenes, in his ha- 
rangues, called me a child when I subdued 
Illyria ; he styled me a giddy youth when I 
punished the Thessahans : we will now show 
him, under the walls of Athens, that I am a 
man grown." His appearance in Boeotia, 
like the rest of the actions of his life, was 
carried into effect as soon as decided upon. 
When he reached the walls of Thebes, he 
was satisfied Avith requiring that Phoenix and 
Prothulus, the principal promoters of the in- 
surrection, should be given up to him. The 
Thebans, however, insultingly rephed by de- 
manding Philotas and Antipater, Alexander's 
generals and friends ; and the young mon- 
arch found himself under the painful neces- 
sity of proceeding to extremities. Thebes 



C22 



THERMOPYL^. 



had rendered such services to his father, that 
he proceeded to the infliction of punishment 
with great reluctance. A memorable battle 
ensued, in which the Thobans fought with 
ardor and courage ; but, after a protracted 
struggle, the Macedonians, who were left in 
the citadel, taking the Thebans in the rear, 
while the troops of Alexander charged them 
in front, they were almost all cut to pieces. 
Thebes was taken and pillaged. 

In the sack of this city, a lady of high 
quality exhibited an instance of courage and 
virtue too extraordinary to be passed by in 
silence. A Thracian officer, struck by her 
beauty, employed violence to satisfy his pas- 
sion ; and then characteristically proceeded 
to the indulgence of his avarice, by demand- 
ing of her where she had concealed her 
treasures. The lady, whose name was Tim- 
oclea, told him that she had cast them all into 
a well, which she pointed out to him. While 
he was leaning over the brink, looking with 
greedy avidity for the treasure, she suddenly 
exerted all her strength, pushed him in, and 
beat him to death with stones. Timoclea 
was arrested, and led before Alexander ; but, 
with all his errors, the young Macedonian 
had too much generosity of character not to 
be struck by such an action, and he pardoned 
her. We wish we could say he was equally 
lenient toward the Thebans ; but the unfor- 
tunate city was razed to the ground, and 
30,000 of its inhabitants were sold into slavery. 
Thebes, in Palestine, b.c. 1214. — Abim- 
elech, the son of Gideon, took Thebes by 
assault. There was a vast tower in tha 
center of the city, in which the inhabitants 
had sought refuge. Abimelech was hasten- 
ing to make himself master of this tower, 
when he received a mortal blow from the 
fragment of a millstone thrown upon his 
head by a woman. Enraged at the idea of 
dying so basely by the hands of a woman, 
Abimelech commanded one of his followers 
to plunge his sword into his breast, and he 
died instantly. 

THERMOPYLAE, b.c. 480— The appel- 
lation Tliermopylce means the pass of Hot- 
springs. It is a defile on the shore of the 
Malian gulf, on the north-east coast of 
Greece, near the mouth of the Hellada, be- 
tween the steep precipices at the east ter- 
mination of Mount (Eta and the sea. The 
defile is about five miles in length, and where 
narrowest, was not anciently more than sixty 
paces across. At the narrowest part of the 
pass are hot-springs, from which circum- 
stance, as above seen, the defile has derived 
its name. 

In the year 485 B.C., Xerxes, immediately 
after the death of Darius, ascended the Persian 
throne, and in the fourth year of his reign 
he invaded Greece with an immense army. 



He passed from Asia into Europe by crossing 
the straits of the Hellespont, upon a bridge 
of boats. His army was so numerous that it 
occupied seven days and seven nights in 
passing over the straits, although those who 
were appointed to conduct the march, inces- 
santly lashed the poor soldiers with whips to 
quicken their speed. The Persian land army 
which Xerxes had brought out of Asia, con- 
sisted of 1,700,000 foot, and 80,000 horse, 
which, with 20,000 men that were absolutely 
necessary, at least, for conducting and taking 
care of the carriages and camels, made in all 
1,800,000. 

When he passed the Hellespont the na- 
tions that submitted to him made an addition 
to his army of 300,000 men, which made all 
his land forces together amount to 2,100,000 
men. 

His fleet, when it set out from Asia, 
consisted of 1,207 ships of war, all of three 
banks of oars. Each vessel carried 300 men, 
natives of the country that fitted them out, 
beside 30 more that were either Medes or 
Persians, or of the Sacse, which made in all 
277,610 men. The European nations aug- 
mented his fleet with 120 vessels, each of 
which carried 200 men ; in all 24,000. These 
added to the others, amounted together to 
301,610 men. This fleet consisted entirely 
of large ships of war, and aside from it, the 
small galleys of 30 and 50 oars, and the 
transport ships amounted to 3,000. If we 
reckon but 80 men in each of these vessels, 
the whole number amounts to 240,000 men. 
Thus when Xerxes amved at Thermopylae, 
his land and sea forces together made up the 
number of 2,641,610 men, without including 
servants, eunuchs, sutlers, and other people 
of like classes, wliich usually foUow an army. 
Their number at this time was at least equal 
to that of the forces ; so that the whole num- 
ber of those that followed Xerxes in this ex- 
pedition amounted to 5,283,220. In this 
computation, Herodotus, Plutarch, and Iso- 
crates agree. 

The inhabitants of Lacedasmon and Athens, 
the two most powerful cities of Greece, and 
those against which Xerxes was most exas- 
perated, were not indolent or asleep while 
so formidable an army was approaching. 
They sent deputies to Argos, into Sicily to 
Gelon, tyrant of Syracuse, to the isles of Cor- 
cyra and Crete, to desire succors from them, 
and to form a league against the common en- 
emy ; but on this trying occasion their allies 
failed them. Thus were the Lacedaemonians 
and the Athenians left almost to themselves, 
all the rest of the cities and nations, except- 
ing the people of Thespia and of Platasa, 
having submitted to the heralds that Xerxes 
had sent to require earth and water of them. 
To demand earth and water was to demand 



THERMOPYL^. 



623 



submission. The Athenians now considered 
who should be their general. Epicydes, a 
man of more eloquence than courage, and 
capable withal of being bribed, solicited the 
generalship, and was hkely to be chosen. 
But Themistocles, by pecuniary considera- 
tions prevailed upon him to drop his preten- 
sions ; and Themistocles was elected general 
in his stead. The Grecian fleet consisted of 
200 ships of war. The command of the fleet 
was given to Eur3'biades, a Lacedsemonian. 
Thus the Grecian land army was commanded 
by an Athenian general, while the fleet was 
under the direction of a Lacedaemonian admi- 
ral. The Greek army now proceeded to the 
strait of Thermopylte, to dispute the entrance 
of the Persians into Greece. All their forces 
combined together, amounted only to 11,200 
men, of which number 4,000 only were em- 
ployed to defend the pass at Thermopylae. 
But these, every man of them, were deter- 
mined either to conquer or die. It was in 
the early part of the year 480 B.C., that 
Xerxes and his army advanced near the 
strait of Thermopylae. He was greatly sur- 
prised to find that the Greeks were deter- 
mined to dispute his passage. He had always 
flattered himself that, on the first hearing of 
his arrival, the Grecians would betake them- 
selves to flight. He sent out a spy to view 
the enemy. The spy returned with the in- 
telligence that he found the Lacedaemonians 
out of their intrenchments, diverting them- 
selves with military exercises, and combing 
their hair. This was the Spartan manner of 
preparing themselves for battle. Xerxes 
waited four days in the hope that the Greeks 
would retreat. In the interval he endeav- 
ored to gain Leonidas, by making him mag- 
nificent promises, and assuring him that he 
would make him master over all Greece. But 
the noble Spartan rejected his proposal with 
scorn and indignation. Xerxes afterward 
wrote to him, demanding him to deliver up 
his arms. Leonidas answered him in two 
words, AvTeyparps, M6/[uvlaf3E ( Come and take 
them). Xerxes now determined to attack the 
Lacedgemonians. He first commanded his 
Median forces to march against them, with 
orders to take them all alive, and bring them 
to him. But the Medes were not able to 
stand the charge of the Grecians, and were 
shamefully put to flight, showing, says Hero- 
dotus, that Xerxes had a great many men, 
but few soldiers. Xerxes next sent his Im- 
mortal Band, which consisted of 10,000 men, 
all Persians, against the Spartans. But they 
met vrith a Uke repulse. The Persian king 
was now much perplexed. He despaired of 
being able to force his way through an en- 
emy who were determined to conquer or die. 
But he was relieved from his dilemma by an 
inhabitant of the country, who came to him 



and informed him of a secret path, which led 
to an eminence which overlooked and com- 
manded the Spartan army. Xerxes quickly 
dispatched a detachment thither, which, 
marching all night, arrived there at day- 
break, and possessed themselves of that ad- 
vantageous post. The Greeks were soon 
apprised of this misfortune, and Leonidas, see- 
ing that it was now impossible to withstand 
the enemy, obliged all the allies to retire, 
while he himself, remained with his 300 La- 
cedgemonians, aU resolved to die with their 
leader. Leonidas had been informed by an 
oracle, that either Lacedtemon or her king 
must necessarily perish, and he resolved, 
without the least hesitation, to sacrifice him- 
self for his country. The Spartans hoped 
neither to escape nor conquer, and considered 
Thermopyte as their burying-place. The 
king exliorted his men to take nourishment, 
assuring them that they should sup together 
with Pluto. The noble band set up a shout 
of joy as if they had been invited to a ban- 
quet, and full of ardor they advanced with 
their king to battle. The shock was most 
violent and bloody. Leonidas was the first 
that fell. The Spartans gathering around the 
dead body of their beloved king, with in- 
credible exertions endeavored to defend it. 
At length, not vanquished, but overwhelmed 
by numbers, they all fell, except one man, 
who turning, fled, and escaped to Sparta, 
where he was treated as a coward and a 
traitor ; but soon afterward he made amends 
by deeds of most distinguished valor, at the 
battle of Platasa. The Persian army lost in 
this affair, 20,000 men, the most of whom 
were slain by the gallant 300. Xerxes was 
so much incensed against Leonidas, for dar- 
ing to oppose him, that he caused the dead 
body of the noble Spartan to be hung on a 
gallows. Some time afterward a magnifi- 
cent monument was creeled at Thermopylae 
by order of the Amphictions, in honor of 
these brave defenders of Greece. The mon- 
ument bore two inscriptions, one of which 
was general, and relating to all those that 
died at Thermopylae, stating that the Greeks 
of Peloponnesus, to the number of only 4,000 
men, had made head against the Persian 
army which consisted of 3,000,000 men. The 
other related to the Spartans in particular. 
The last-mentioned inscription has been 
translated as follows : " Go, passenger, and 
tell at Lacedaemon, that we died here in obe- 
dience to her sacred laws." 

In the year 1821, during the Greek revolu- 
tion, a sanguinary battle took place at this place 
between the Turks and the Greeks. Odysseus, 
a brave Greek chief, after having worsted the 
Turks in several lesser encounters, fell back 
on the 6th of September to the straits of 
Thermopyte, with 2,000 men, where he was 



624 



THEROUANNE— THRASYMENUS. 



attacked by three pachas, who advanced 
from Laris?a, at the head of 5,000 Mussul- 
mans chiefly Asiatics. The advantageous 
position of the Greeks, who were posted as 
tirailleurs among the works and thickets of 
that celebrated defile, compensated the in- 
equality of numbers and want of artillery. 
The column of the Ottomans, encumbered 
like its predecessors in the days of Xerxes, 
with baggage, was slowly advancing through 
the bottom of the defile, when it was sud- 
denly attacked by a tremendous fire of mus- 
ketry from an unseen enemy. Pushed on, 
however, by the troops from behind, the 
column continued to advance, though sus- 
taining a heavy loss, until they were attacked 
in flank by a body of 400 Greeks under La- 
pas. Issuing then from their thickets, the 
Greeks rushed down the steep declivity, 
sword in hand, with loud cries, shouting 
"Victory to the Cross I" The shock was ir- 
resistible; panic-stricken, the Turks fled on 
all sides, and were pursued several miles with 
immense slaughter. Twelve hundred were 
slain on the spot, seventeen standards and 
seven guns taken, and such was the conster- 
nation of the Ottomans that they broke down 
the bridge of Alamanne, in their flight to 
Zeitoun. Two days afterward they were 
again defeated by Odysseus, with the loss of 
400 men and three guns. By these brilliant 
victories the Greeks regained possession of 
Athens, and the Turks were expelled from 
that country and made their way into Thes- 
saly. 

THEROUANNE, a.d. 1513.— Therouan- 
ne, a toAvn of France, was besieged and taken 
by the English in 1380. In 1513, it was 
again besieged by the English under the 
Earls of Shrewsbury and Herbert. This siege 
was characterized by the Battle of the Spurs, 
between the army of Louis XII., who had 
advanced to raise the siege and the EngHsh. 
The French were defeated. During the bat- 
tle the besieged made a sally ; but they were 
repulsed, and TeUgni, the governor of the 
city, on the 22 d of August, after sustaining a 
siege of about twenty days, capitulated, and 
the defenses of the city were rased to the 
ground by the inhabitants of Aire and St. 
Omer, with the consent of the victors. In 
1553 Therouanne was taken by the troops 
of the Euipcror Charles V. 

THORN, A.D. 1703.— In the year 1703, 
the troops of Charles XII., King of Sweden, 
laid siege to Thorn, a strongly fortified town 
of West Prussia. The garrison made a he- 
roic resistance ; but finally, after a siege of 
four months, the place was carried by assault 
on the 30th of October. 

THRASYMENUS, b.c. 217.— Thrasy me- 
nus is the ancient name of a lake in central It- 
aly, now called the Lake of Thrasymenus, or 



the Lake of Perigia. It is of a circular shape, 
about thirty miles in circumference ; has sev- 
eral small islands, and is rather shallow, its 
greatest depth not exceeding 24 feet. 

Immediately after the battle of Trebia, C. 
Servilius and C. Flaminius were appointed 
consuls of Rome, and Hannibal learning that 
the latter was on the march with a large 
army to meet him, resolved to go and engage 
him as soon as possible. Two roads Avere 
pointed out to him, and he chose the shortest. 
But although the shortest road, it was nearly 
impassable, for its entire length was almost 
one continuous marsh. For four days and 
three nights the Carthaginian army marched 
knee-deep in water, without having one mo- 
ment's sleep. Hannibal liimself, who rode 
upon the only elephant, suffered intensely. 
One of his eyes was entirely destroyed by 
the thick vapors that constantly exhaled from 
the marsh, and by his long want of sleep. 
At length the Carthaginian army encamped 
near Lake Thrasymenus, to await the approach 
of the Roman army. The Lake Thrasymenus 
and the mountains of Cortona, form a very 
narrow defile, which leads into a valley, hned 
on both sides with hills of a very considerable 
height, and closed at the outlet by a steep 
hill, of diflicult access. Hannibal chose this 
hill for the camping-ground of the main body 
of liis army ; upon the hills to the right, he 
posted his light-armed infantry, in ambuscade, 
and behind those to tlie left he planted a part 
df his cavalry, as far almost as the entrance 
of the defile through wliich the Romans were 
obliged to pass. 

When the Roman army arrived at the en- 
trance of the defiJe, they halted because 
night was coming on. But early the next 
morning they entered the defile, and ad- 
vanced toward Hannibal's camp. Hannibal 
allowed them to advance until they had pro- 
ceeded more than half way through the val- 
ley, and then he gave the signal for battle, 
and commanded his troops to come out of 
their ambuscade, in order that he might at>- 
tack the enemy from all quarters at tlie same 
time. The Romans were seized with the 
greatest consternation; they were not yet 
drawn up in order of battle ; their arms were 
not in readiness, and they saw themselves 
attacked in front, in rear, and in flank. In a 
moment their ranks were thrown into disor- 
der. Flaminius, of all the Romans, alone was 
undaunted. He rode furiously through the 
masses of his aff"righted soldiers; he urged 
them to cut their way with their swords 
through the midst of their enemies. • But at 
this moment a thick fog arose, and darkness 
added to the terrors of the Roman soldiers, 
while the shouts of their enemies resounded 
through the valley, from cliff to cliff", as 
though from the throats of a countless army. 



THYMBEA. 



625 



But now the Romans saw themselves sur- 
rounded on all sides, without an opening for 
escape, and danger made them desperate. 
They rushed in an enraged and tumultuous 
mass against their enemies, who received 
them with equal animosity. When the fury 
of the fight was at its highest pitch, there 
happened an earthquake wliich overturned 
whole cities, changed the courses of rivers, 
and tore off the tops of mountains, in the 
immediate vicinity of the contending armies. 
The infuriated combatants heeded it not — 

" And such the storm of battle on this day. 
And such the frenzy whose convulsions blind 
To all save carnage, that, beneath the fray, 
An earthquake reel'd unheededly away 1 
None felt stern nature rocking at liis feet, 
And yawning forth a grave for those who lay 
Upon their bucklers fbr a winding-sheet; 
Such is the absorbing hate when nations meet!" 

At length Flaminius was slain ; the Romans 
began to give ground, and finally to fly. 
Many leaped into the lake, wliile others fly- 
ing toward the mountains, fell into the hands 
of the enemy whom they sought to avoid. 
Six thousand only cut their way through the 
conquerors, and retreated to a place of imme- 
diate safety ; but the next day they were 
taken prisoners. In this battle 15,000 Rom- 
ans were killed, and about 10,000 escaped 
back to Rome by different routes. Of the 
Carthaginian army 1,500 only were killed, 
the most of Avhom were Gauls. See Battles 
of Ticinus, Tt-ebia, and Cannoe. 

THYMBRA, b.c. 548— Between Cyrus 
AND Crcesus. — In the year 560 b.c, Cyaxar- 
es, on the death of his father Astyages, 
ascended the throne of Media. No sooner 
had he received the reins of government 
than he was plunged into a terrible M^ar. 
Neriglissor, the King of the Babylonians, 
having overthrown all the Syrians, who were 
no small nation, and having subjected the 
Hyrcanians and Arabs to his dominion, con- 
sidered that if he could break the power of 
the Medes, he could easily obtain the domin- 
ion of all the territories around Mm. He there- 
fore sent embassadors to the princes who 
were subject to him, among whom was Croe- 
sus, King of Lydia, to load the Medes and 
Persians with calumny and contempt, and 
to represent how great and powerful these 
two nations were, and that, as they were 
already in close alliance by means of several 
intermarriages, they would unite, unless pre- 
vented, and subdue all the nations around them. 
By these arguments, and by money and pres- 
ents, the several princes entered into a con- 
federacy with him. Cyaxares, upon hearing 
of these united preparations against him, im- 
mediately sent to Cambyses, King of Persia, 
who was married to his sister, for aid. He 
also requested Cambyses to give the com- 
mand of the forces, which the Persian coun- 

40 



cil might see fit to send him, to Cyrus, the 
son of his sister, if he would consent. Cyrus, 
was greatly and justly beloved, and when 
it was knotvn that he was lo march at the 
head of the army, the joy was universal. The 
army consisted of 30,000 foot ; the Persians 
had no cavalry at that time. It was formed 
of the bravest men of the nation, being raised 
in a particular manner. First, Cyrus was 
authorized to select 200 of the bravest offi- 
cers from the nobility, who were equal in 
rank, station, and command. The officers 
thus chosen had the power to choose four of 
their own order. Thus the number of offi- 
cers amounted to 1,000, Again, to each of 
these thousand, was given the power to select 
from among the common people of Persia, 
ten targeteers, ten slingers, and ten archers. 
Thus the army consisted of 10,000 targeteers, 
10,000 slingers, and 10,000 archers, who 
were commanded by 1,000 officers, who in 
turn were under the supreme command of 
Cyrus. After having made suppUcations and 
sacrifices to the gods, Cyrus assembled his 200 
officers and addressed them, assuring them 
that the enemy against whom they were to 
lead their soldiers, consisted of a race of 
effeminate men, enervated and already half 
conquered by a life of luxury and voluptuous- 
ness, and that victory was certain. They 
were to fight for the cause of friends and 
allies, and in such a, noble cause that they 
could not but conquer. After invoking the 
^ods a second time, and receiving the advice 
of his father Cambyses, who warned him 
especially not to neglect to make suppUca- 
tions and sacrifices to the gods, Cyrus at the 
head of his army, set forth for Media. Cam- 
byses accompanied his son as far as the front- 
iers of Persia, and on the way gave excellent 
instructions concerning the duties of the gen- 
eral of an army. 

As soon as Cyrus had arrived in Media, he 
went to Cyaxares, and, having interchanged 
the usual compliments, he immediately made 
inquiries concerning the quahty and number 
of the forces on both sides. By computation 
it appeared that the enemy's army consisted 
of 60,000 horse, and 200,000 foot ; and that 
the united armies of the Medes and Persians 
consisted in horse of less than a third of the 
enemy's force of that sort, and scarce half 
the number of their foot. This great in- 
oquahty of numbers terrified and perplexed 
the King of Media. He could think of no 
other expedient than to send for another 
body of troops from Persia. This, however, 
would have caused a great loss of time, and 
besides appeared in itself impracticable, for 
even should they have received additional 
troops from Persia, their forces would still 
have been inferior in number to those of the 
enemy. Cyrus immediately proposed another 



THYMBEA. 



more sure and speedy expedient, wliich was 
that the arms of the Persian soldiers should 
be changed from bows and javelins, which 
weapons were used fighting at a distance, 
thus easily giving a greater number the 
superiority over a lesser, to such arms as 
should compel them to come to blows 
with the enemy immediately, and thus ren- 
der the superiority of their numbers useless. 
Accordingly he provided his troops with 
corselets for the breasts, shields for the left 
hand, and swords or cutlasses for the right. 
Cyrus now applied himself to the task of 
establishing order among the troops. He in- 
spired them with emulation by promising 
great rewards, and by his engaging and 
obliging deportment toward all. 

In the mean time the King of Babylon had 
not been idle, but was earnestly engaged in 
making preparations for the war. 

At length finding his troops full of ardor, 
and ready for action, Cyrus proposed to lead 
them against the enemy. 

As soon, therefore, as the customary sacri- 
fice was made, they commenced their march. 
The Persians were commanded by Cyrus, the 
Medes by Cyaxares. Having arrived at the 
borders of the enemy's country, they entered 
and gave battle to the Babylonian army, who 
advanced to intercept them. The struggle 
was brief and bloody ; the King of Babylon 
was slain, and his army put to flight. The 
Persians, with as many Medes as volunteered 
in the service, pursued the enemy so warmly 
that they were at length overtaken. A bat- 
tle ensued, in which Cyrus was victorious. 
Cyrus marched through the country, making 
friends and allies of various princes, through 
whose territories he passed, until he arrived 
near Babylon. When he had approached 
that city, he sent the King of Assyria a chal- 
lenge to terminate their quarrel by a single 
combat ; but his challenge was not accepted. 
Cyrus, now, having viewed the country, and 
examined the situation of Babylon, marched 
away on his return to Media. Upon his re- 
turn, preparations were made to prosecute 
the war with the Assyrians with renewed 
vigor. These preparations consumed several 
years, and when they were finished, Cyrus 
took leave of Cyaxares, who remained in 
Media with a third part of his troops, that 
the country might not be left entirely defense- 
less. Cyrus, now immediately entered the 
country of the Babylonians. After a long 
march he came up with the enemy at 
Thymbra, a city of Lydia, not far from Sardis, 
the capital of the country. 

The battle of Thymbra is one of the most 
considerable events of antiquity, since it de- 
cided upon the empire of Asia, between the 
Assyrians of Babylon and the Persians. It 
is, moreover, the first pitched battle of which 



we have any full or particular account 
Cyrus's army in the whole, consisted of 
196,000 men, horse and foot. Of these, 
70,000 were native Persians, viz.: 10,000 
cuirassiers of horse, 20,000 cuirassiers of foot, 
20,000 pikemen, and 20,000 hght-armed 
soldiers. The rest of the army, to the number 
of 126,000 men, consisted of 26,000 Median, 
Armenian, and Arabian horse, and 100,000 
foot of the same nations. Beside these troops, 
Cyrus had 300 chariots of war, their naves 
armed with scythes. Each chariot was 
drawn by four horses abreast, covered with 
trappings that were arrow proof The horses 
of the Persian cuirassiers were also covered 
with arrow-proof mail. He had likewii^e 
caused to be constructed a great number of 
chariots of a larger size, upon each of which 
was erected a tower about eighteen or twenty 
feet high, in wliich twenty archers were 
lodged. Each of these chariots was drawn 
upon wheels by sixteen oxen yoked abreast. 
He had, moreover, a considerable number of 
camels, upon each of which were two Arab- 
ian archers, back to back ; so that one looked 
toward the head, and the other toward the 
tail of the camel. 

The army of Croesus, King of Lydia, who 
now commanded the Assyrian forces, was 
more than twice as numerous as that of 
Cyrus. It amounted in all to 420,000 men, 
of whom 60,000 were cavalry. The troops 
consisted chiefly of Babylonians, Lydians, 
Phrygians, Cappadocians, of the nations about 
the Hellespont, and of the Egyptians, to tlie 
number of 360,000 men. The Egyptians 
alone, made a body 120,000 men. The rest 
of the army was made up of Phoenicians, 
Cyprians, Cicilians, Lycaonians, Papbalagon- 
ians, Thracians, and lonians. 

Croesus's army was ranged in order of 
battle in one hne, the infantry in the center, 
and the cavalry on the two wings. All his 
troops, both horse and foot, were thirty men 
deep, but the Egyptians, who, being the 
principal strength of Croesus's infantry, were 
posted in its center, and were divided into 
twelve large bodies or square battalions of 
10,000 men each. Each square had 100 men 
in front, and as many in depth. There was 
an interval between every battalion, that they 
might act and fight independent of, and 
without interfering with one another. Croe- 
sus would gladly have persuaded the Egypt- 
ians to range themselves in less depth, that 
they might have made a more imposing front. 
The armies were in an immense plain, which 
gave room for the extending of their wings 
to right and left; and Croesus designed by 
so doing, to hem in and surround the enemy's 
army. Upon this movement alone he f jund- 
ed his hopes of victory. But the Egyptians 
would not change their usual order of battle. 



THYMBRA. 



627 



His army, thus drawn up into one line, was 
nearly five miles in length. 

Araspes, a young Median nobleman, who, 
under the pretense of discontent, had retired 
to Croesus's army, and had received particu- 
lar orders from Cyrus to observe well the 
manner in which the Lydian general should 
arrange his troops, returned to the Persian 
camp the day before the battle, and gave to 
Cyrus an exact account of the disposition of 
the enemy's army. By this description of 
the disposition of the enemy, Cyrus was 
governed when drawing up his own forces. 
The Persian troops had generally used to 
engage twenty-four men in depth, but Cyrus 
thought fit to change that disposition. It 
was absolutely necessary that his army 
should present as large a front as possible, 
without weakening his battalions, in order to 
prevent the enemy from hemming in and 
surrounding him. His infantry was excellent, 
and most judiciously armed with cuirasses, 
partisans, battle-axes, and swords ; and pro- 
vided the Persians could close with the 
enemy, there was but little reason to believe 
that the Lydian battahons that were armed 
only with light bucklers and javelins, could 
sustain the charge. Cyrus, therefore, thinned 
the files of his infantry one half, and ranged 
them only twelve men deep. The cavalry 
was drawn out on the two wings, the right 
commanded by Chrysantas, and the left by 
Hystaspes. The whole front of the army was 
four miles in extent. At a short distance 
behind the first line Cyrus placed the spear- 
men, and behind them the archers. Both 
the one and the other were covered by 
soldiers in their front, over whose heads they 
could fling their javelins, and shoot their ar- 
rows at the enemy. Behind all these, Cyrus 
formed another line, to serve for the rear, 
which consisted of the flower of his army. 
Their business was to have their eyes upon 
those who were placed before them, to en- 
courage those who did their duty ; to sustain 
and threaten those who gave way, and even 
to kUl those who fled, as traitors. Behind 
the army were placed the moving towers, 
above described. They formed a line equal 
and parallel to that of the army, and served 
not only to annoy the enemy, by the per- 
petual discharges of the archers that were in 
them ; but might also be considered a kind 
of movable forts or redoubts, under which 
the Persian troops might rally, in case they 
were broken and pushed by the enemy. 
Immediately behind these towers were two 
other lines, which were also parallel and 
equal to the front of the army ; the one was 
formed of the baggage, and the other of the 
chariots which carried the women, and such 
other persons as were unfit for service. To 
close all these lines, and to secure them from 



the insults of the enemy, Cyrus placed in the 
rear of all 2,000 infantry, 2,000 horse, and a 
numerous troop of camels. The Persian 
chariots of war were divided into three bodies 
of 100 each. One of these bodies, command- 
ed by Abradates, King of Lusiana, was placed 
in the front of the battle, and the other two 
upon the two flanks of the army. 

Such was the order of battle in the two 
armies as they were drawn out, and disposed 
the day before the engagement. 

The next day, early in the morning, Cyrus 
made a sacrifice, during which time, his army 
took a little refreshment. After having offered 
their Ubations to the gods, the soldiers put 
on their armor. They hkewise armed the 
horses, with forehead-pieces, and breastplates, 
the single horses with thigh-pieces, and those 
in the chariots with plates on their sides. 
The army presented a most magnificent 
spectacle. The soldiers decked in glittering 
brass, and flaming scarlet, and the horses en- 
cased in the same metal, presented the ap- 
pearance of a sea of crimson and gold, as 
their bright arms flashed in the rays of the 
morning sun. 

The chariot of Abradates, which had four 
perches and eight horses, was completely 
adorned for him, and he was upon the point of 
putting on his quilted linen corselet when 
Panthea, his wife, brought him a golden hel- 
met, and armpieces and broad bracelets of the 
same precious metal. She also presented him 
with a purple habit that reached down to his 
feet, and hung in folds at the bottom, and a 
plume of violet-colored feathers. All these she 
had caused to be made unknown to her hus- 
band, that her present might be more agree- 
able from surprise. In spite of all her endeav- 
ors to the contrary, when she dressed him in 
this armor she could not refrain from shedding 
tears. But, notwithstanding her tenderness 
for him, she exhorted him to die sword in hand 
rather than not signalize himself in the com- 
ing battle. 

After Cyrus had made his sacrifice to the 
gods, he rode through his army, and gave his 
officers the necessary instructions and orders 
for the battle. WhHe he was considering on 
which side he should direct his march, he 
heard a clap of thunder on the right, and 
cried out, " Great Jove, we foUow thee." 
At that instant he set forward, having Chry- 
santas on his right, who commanded the right 
wing of the horse, and Arsamas, who com- 
manded the foot, on his left. He warned 
them above all things to pay attention to the 
royal standard, and to advance equally in a 
line. The standard was a golden eagle with 
extended wings on the end of a pike. He 
made his troops halt three times before he 
arrived at the enemy's army. When the two 
armies were in sight of each other, and the 



628 



THYMBRA. 



enemies had observed how much their front 
exceeded that of the Persians, they made the 
center of their army halt, while the two 
wings advanced, projecting to the right and 
left, with the desire to inclose Cyrus's army, 
and to begin their attack on every side at the 
same time. But this movement did not 
cause Cyrus to slacken his pace, for he had 
expected it. Having given the rallying word : 
" Jove, our guide and protection," he rode 
through all the ranks to encourage his sol- 
diers and to give his orders. He observed 
that many of his officers, and even Abradates 
himself, were uneasy at the movement made 
by the two wings of the Lydian army, in 
order to attack them on the two flanks. 
" Those troops alarm you," said he ; " believe 
me, those very troops shall be the first rout- 
ed, and to you, Abradates, I give their de- 
feat as a signal of the time when you are to 
fall upon the enemy with your chariots. In 
fact, the event happened precisely as Cyrus 
had foretold. After Cyrus had given such 
orders as he thought necessary everywhere, 
he returned to the right wing of his army. 
When the two wings of the Lydian army 
were sufficiently extended, they turned and 
faced the Persian army, and then Croesus 
gave the signal for his army to advance 
against the enemy. And thus these pha- 
lanxes marched against the Persian army ; 
one in the front, one on the right, and the 
other on the left. Cyrus's army, therefore, 
was inclosed on three sides, as if it had three 
great armies to engage with, and looked hke 
a small square drawn with a large one. In 
an instant, on the first signal given by Cyrus, 
his troops faced about on every side, and all 
were silent in anxious expectation of the 
event. Cyrus now began to sing the hymn 
of battle, and his whole army answered to it 
with loud shouts and invocations to the gods 
of war. Then Cyrus, at the head of some 
troops of horse, briskly followed by a body of 
foot, fell immediately upon the enemy's troops 
who were marching to attack the right wing 
of his army in flank. With his foot and 
horse he inclosed the enemy on each side, 
and then attacked them so fiercely that they 
were soon put into great disorder. The 
chariots, then, driving furiously upon the 
Lydians, completed their defeat. At the same 
moment the troops of the left flank, knowing 
by the noise that Cyrus had commenced the 
battle on the right, advanced to meet the 
enemy, making the camels advance as Cyrus 
had ordered. The enemy's cavalry did not 
expect this, and their horses, at a distance, 
as soon as they were sensible of the approach 
of these animals (for horses can not endure 
the smell of camels*), begun to snort and 

* This natural antipathy of the horse for tiie camel is 
affirmed by the ancieuts ; but it is disproved hy daily 



prance, and to run foul of one another, throw- 
ing their riders, and treading them under foot. 
Wliile they were in this confusion a small 
body of Persian horse, commanded by Ar- 
tagersas, charged them warmly, and the 
chariots both to the right and left, fell upon 
them at the same time. The Lydians, thus 
hotly attacked, were unable to rally, and 
finally turned and fled, leaving the ground 
strewn with their dead. This being the signal 
which Cyrus had given Abradates, for at- 
tacking the front of the Lydian army, that 
general drove like hghtning upon the enemy 
with all his chariots. The charioteers of the 
enemy, unable to stand such a violent charge, 
immediately turned and fled. Abradates 
made his way directly against the Egyptian 
battalions. The Egyptians, covered with 
their heavy bucklers, and marching in such 
close order that the Persian chariots had not 
room to pierce among them, gave him much 
trouble, and would not have been broken 
but for the violence of the horses that trod 
upon them. It was a most fearful spectacle 
to behold the heaps of men and horses, over- 
turned chariots, broken arms and legs, and 
all the direful efiects of the sharp scythes 
wliich cut every thing in pieces that came in 
their way. In this inexpressible confusion, 
the wheels making their way by jolts over 
heaps of all kind, Abradates's chariot was 
overturned, and he and liis men, after hav- 
ing signalized themselves by the most incred- 
ible deeds, were slain. The Egyptians then, 
marching forward in close order, and covered 
with their bucklers, compelled the Persian 
infantry to give way, and drove them beyond 
their fourth line, as far as their engines. 
There they met a fresh storm of arrows and 
javehns, that were poured upon their heads 
from the moving towers ; and the Persians 
who formed the rear guard would not allow 
their archers and javehn men to retreat any 
further ; but advancing upon tliem, sword in 
hand, compelled them to return to the charge 
of the enemy. And great havoc and de- 
struction there was of men, great clashing of 
arms and weapons of all kinds, and great 
noise of people, some caUing to each other, 
some making exhortations, and some calHng 
on the gods. Cyrus, in the mean time, hav- 
ing put both the horse and foot on the left 
of the Egyptians to flight, did not lose time 
in pursuing the fugitives. 

But pushing on directly to the center, he 
had the mortification to find his Persian 
troops had been forced to give way; and 
rightly judging, that the only means to pre- 
vent the Egyptians from gaining further 
ground, would be to attack them behind, he 
experience, and derided by the best judges, the orient- 
als. — Oibbnn. 

The horses of CrcESus, however, could never have 
seen a camel l—Belce. 



Ticmus. 



629 



did so, and fell upon their rear : the cavalry- 
came up at the same time, and the enemy 
was pushed with great fury. The Egyptians 
being attacked on all sides, faced about every- 
way, and defended themselves -with obstinate 
courage. And now foot and horse fought 
promiscuously, and a Lydian soldier, faUing 
under Cyrus's horse and being trampled on, 
stabbed the horse in the belly. The horse, 
thus wounded, tossed and staggered, and 
threw Cyrus off, into the midst of the enemy. 
On this occasion one might see of what ad- 
vantage it was for a ruler to have the love of 
those that are under his command ; for his 
soldiers, officers and men, equally alarmed at 
the danger of their leader, cried out, fell on 
and fought ; they pushed and were pushed ; 
they struck and received blows, and one of 
his attendants, leaping from his horse, mount- 
ed Cyrus on the animal, and the battle be- 
came more fierce and bloody than before. 
At length Cyrus, admiring the valor of the 
Egyptians, and being anxious to preserve 
the Uves of such brave men, offered them 
honorable conditions if they would surrender, 
letting them know at the same time, that their 
allies had deserted them. The Egyptians ac- 
cepted the conditions, and as they prided 
themselves, no less upon their fidelity than 
upon their courage they stipulated, that they 
should not be obliged to carry arms against 
Croesus, in whose service they had been en- 
gaged. Thenceforward they served in the 
Persian army with inviolable fidelity. The 
battle lasted till evening. Croesus returned 
to Sardis with his troops. The other nations, 
as fast as possible directed their courses each 
to their own country, making as long marches 
as they could. The conquerors, having taken 
suitable refreshment, posted their guards, and 
went to rest. See Babylon. 

TICINUS, B.C. 217.— Ticinus is the ancient 
name of the river Tesino, a large stream wliich, 
flowing from the St. Gothard, waters the Le- 
vantine valley, and passing through the Lago 
Maggiore, runs S. E. and falls into the Po, on 
the left bank, below Pavia, in Austrian Italy. 

When Hannibal crossed the Rhone his army 
consisted of 38,000 foot and over 8,000 horse ; 
but his passage over the Alps destroyed 
nearly half this number ; so that when he 
entered Italy he had remaining only 12,000 
Africans, 8,000 Spanish foot, and 6,000 horse. 
The rapid progress which Hannibal made 
through Italy, caused the greatest conster- 
nation throughout the city of Rome. Sem- 
pronius was ordered to leave^ Sicily, and . 
hasten to the relief of his country, and P. 
Scipio, the other consul, advanced toward 
the enemy, crossed the Po, and pitched his 
camp near the river Ticinus. The two ar- 
mies were now within sight of each other. 
The generals on each side made a speech to 



their soldiers before the engagement. Scipio 
represented to his forces the glory of their 
country; the noble deeds of their ancestors, and 
assured them that victory was in their hands. 
Were they not about to combat only with 
Carthaginians ? Had they not often defeated 
them before ? Had they not compelled them 
to pay tribute for twenty years ? And should 
the Romans now be defeated by the Cartha- 
ginians, a people who had long been accus- 
tomed to be their slaves ? Hannibal, he said, 
in his march over the Alps had lost the flower 
of his army, and those that survived were 
exhausted by hunger, cold, and fatigue. The 
bare sight of the Romans was sufficient to 
put to flight a parcel of soldiers who resem- 
bled ghosts more than men. Finally it was 
necessary that their arms should be -victorious, 
for not only was Italy invaded but their be- 
loved city, Rome, was in danger. The present 
battle would decide its fate. 

Hannibal also addressed jiis soldiers; but 
that liis words might make a stronger im- 
pression on the rude minds of his men, he 
spoke to their eyes before he addressed their 
ears. He armed a number of barbarians, 
whom he had captured during his passage 
over the Alps, and commanded them to fight 
two and two, in sight of his army, promising 
at the same time to reward the conquerors 
with their liberty, and with rich presents. 
The barbarians eagerly obeyed him, and the 
zeal with which they fought each other gave 
Hannibal an opportunity to exhibit to his sol- 
diers a Hvely picture of their present condition. 
He assured them that they were deprived of 
all means of turning back ; and that there- 
fore, they must go into the battle with the 
determination to conquer or die. What 
would be the reward if victorious? The 
conquest of all Italy; the plunder of the 
rich and magnificent city of Rome, and an 
illustrious victory, and immortal glory. He 
roused their indignation against the Romans ; 
he bade them throw off the yoke of servi- 
tude, and to prove to the world that those 
imperious Romans could not tame Cartha- 
ginian blood. And now both armies prepared 
for the battle. The Romans threw a bridge 
across the Ticinus, and their troops marched 
over it. But two ill omens had filled the 
Romans with consternation and dread. A 
wolf had stolen into the camp and cruelly 
mangled some of the soldiers, without re- 
ceiving the least harm from those who en- 
deavored to kin it ; and a swarm of bees had 
pitched upon a tree near the general's tent. 
The Carthaginians, however, were inspired 
with the boldest courage. Hannibal ani- 
mated them with fresh promises, and clearing 
with a stone the skuU of a lamb which he 
was sacrificing, he called upon Jupiter to 
dash to pieces his head in like manner in 



630 



TICONDEROGA. 



case he did not give his soldiers the rewards 
he had promised them. Scipio posted the 
troops armed with missive weapons, and the 
Gaulish horse, in the first Une, and forming 
the second line of the flower of the confed- 
erate army, he slowly advanced. Hannibal 
advanced with his whole cavalry, in the cen- 
ter of which he had posted the troopers who 
rode with bridles, and the Numidian horse- 
men* on the wings in order to surround the 
enemy. 

The officers and cavalry being eager to en- 
gage, a charge ensued. At the very first on- 
set, Scipio's hght-armed soldiers, frightened 
at the Carthaginian cavalry, which came 
pouring upon them, had scarcely discharged 
their darts ere they gave way, and fearing 
lest they should be trampled under foot, 
they retreated through the intervals of the 
squadrons. The battle raged a long time 
with equal success. Many horsemen on ei- 
ther side dismounted, so that the battle was 
carried on between infantry as well as cav- 
alry. In the mean time the Numidians sur- 
rounded the enemy. They now charged on 
the rear of the light-armed troops, who had 
fled from the first charge of the cavalry, and 
rode them down. The center of the Roman 
army had fought bravely, and as their enemies 
were equally courageous, many were slain on 
both sides. But the attacks by the Numid- 
ian cavalry in the rear, put the Roman troops 
into disorder. At this moment Scipio was 
disabled from taking further part in the ac- j 
tion by a severe wound received at the hands 
of a Carthaginian who nearly took him pris- 
oner. However, the consul was rescued out ! 
of the enemy's hands by the bravery of his 
own son, then but seventeen years old, and 
who afterward was honored with the sur- 
name of Africanus, for having put a glorious 
period to this war. The consul, though dan- 
gerously wounded, retreated in good order. 
He was conveyed to his camp by a body of 
horse, who covered him with their arms and 
bodies. The balance of the army followed 
him thither. He hastened to the Po, which 
he crossed with his army, and then broke 
down the bridge to prevent Hannibal from 
overtaking him. See battles of Trebia, Thra- 
sy menus, and Cannce. 

TICONDEROGA, a.d. 1758.— This vil- 
lage, in Essex co.. New York, stands on the 
bank of Lake Champlain, 97 miles north of 
Albany. 

While the British under Amherst and 
Wolfe were engaged with the French m the 
eastern part of the possessions of France, in 
North America, Abercrombie, and Lord 
Howe, with about 7,000 British soldiers, 
9,000 provincials, and a heavy train of artil- 

* The Nuraidian's used to ride without saddle or 
bridle. 



lery, were marching against Ticonderoga, 
then in the occupation of Montcalm, with 
about 4,000 French troops. On the 6th of 
July, 1758, the British army, having passed 
down Lake George in flat-boats, landed at 
the northern extremity of that beautiful sheet 
of water. The English commanders were 
aware that Montcalm was in daily expecta- 
tion of receiving a reinforcement of 3,000 
men, under M. de Levi, and resolved to make 
a speedy attack on Ticonderoga. 

The whole country between the landing- 
place and Ticonderoga was covered with a 
dense forest intersected with deep ravines 
and dangerous morasses. The British army 
was immediately put in motion. The provis- 
ions, artillery, and all heavy baggage were 
left behind, and the army, formed in four col- 
umns, the regulars in the center, and provin- 
cials on the flanks, advanced toward the 
enemy. Their progress, owing to the rough- 
ness of the country, was slow. Montcalm 
had watched the movements of the British 
with a wary eye ; yet he was confident that 
he could repulse them. " These people," said 
he in a letter to Vandreuil, dated July 6th, 
" march cautiously ; yet, if they give me 
time to gain the position I have chosen on 
the heights of Corillon,* I shall beat them." 
The British columns, led by ignorant guides, 
broke and jostled each other as they ad- 
vanced ; and they had proceeded but about 
two miles when the right center, under Lord 
Howe, suddenly came upon an advanced 
party of 300 French troops under De Trepe- 
zee, who was on his way to rejoin Montcalm 
at Ticonderoga, and having lost his way, had 
been wandering in the forest for 12 hours. 
The British immediately charged upon the 
French, who met the attack with firmness ; 
but wearied with their long march, and over- 
whelmed by numbers, the French were soon 
put to rout, losing 141 in killed and wounded. 
The balance fell into the hands of the victors 
as prisoners. But the British sustained in 
this conflict an irreparable loss. At the very 
first onset. Lord Howe was slain. One other 
officer, and several privates were also killed. 
Lord Howe was the idol of his soldiers, and 
their grief at his loss was so great, that, in 
the words of Mante, " with him the soul of 
the army seemed to expire." The General 
Court of Massachusetts voted him a monu- 
ment in Westminster Abbey ; and his mem- 
ory was long cherished in America with 
affection. The English columns were so 
much confused and broken, that Abercrom- 
bie, on the morning of the 7th, withdrew the 
whole army to the landing-place. An hour 
before noon Colonel Bradshaw, with a strong 
detachment, advanced and took possession of 

* Ticonderoga was first called Fort Corillon by the 
French. 



TIPPECAl^OE— TLASCALANS. 



631 



the saw-mills, near the present village of Ti- 
conderoga, which the enemy had abandoned. 
Abercrombie, on this, put the army in mo- 
tion again, and joined Bradshaw, and all en- 
camped that night on the ground around the 
saw-mills, within a mile and a half of the 
French army. Early the next day, Aber- 
crombie sent an engineer to reconnoiter, and 
on his return he reported the French works 
unfinished, and might easily be taken. But 
the engineer was deceived. Montcalm was 
prepared to receive the enemy. On the 6th 
of July he called in all his parties ; and on the 
next day the whole French army labored in- 
cessantly in strengthening his position. Fort 
Ticonderoga, or Fort Corillon, as it was then 
called, was an exceedingly strong work, built 
of limestone. The peninsula on which the 
fort stood is elevated over 100 feet above the 
lake, and contains about 500 acres. The 
waters of the lake washed tliree sides, and a 
deep marsh extended nearly across the fourth. 
The right of the French line of defenses rested 
on a hillock, about a mile from the fort, the 
left extended to a scarp surmounted by an 
abatis. The whole defenses were completed 
by the erection of a breastwork nine feet 
high, upon the narrowest part of the neck, 
between the swamp and the outlet of Lake 
George, and for 100 yards in front of this 
breastwork, the approach was obstructed by 
felled trees, with their branches pointing out- 
ward, stumps, and all kinds of rubbish. As 
the English advanced toward the French, 
they were greeted by a heavy discharge of 
artillery, which swept through their ranks 
with the force of a hurricane ; but in the face 
of the tempest they pressed steadily forward, 
determined to carry the works at the point 
of the bayonet. The English advanced in 
three columns, to attack the left, right, and 
center of the enemy's hne simultaneously. 
But becoming entangled in the rubbish, and 
thrown into disorder by clambering over 
fallen logs and through thick-set bushes, 
they suffered terribly by the fire of the en- 
emy. For four hours the English breasted 
that fearful storm, vainly endeavoring to sur- 
mount the obstacles which the French had 
thrown in their path. Hundreds feU at ev- 
ery discharge from the French Unes, and Ab- 
ercrombie perceiving the immense slaughter 
of his troops, sounded a retreat, and unpur- 
sued by the French, the Enghsh retired to 
the foot of Lake George. In this engage- 
ment the British lost nearly 2,000 men in 
killed and wounded. The French loss was 
trifling. This defeat filled the Enghsh with 
shame and confusion ; tlie French, on the 
contrary, were filled with joy ; they had met 
and defeated an army nearly four times 
larger than their own. So much disheart- 
ened was Abercrombie by this disaster, 



that he did not renew the attack, but fell 
back with the greater part of his army to 
Albany. 

TicoNDERAGA, A.D. 1775. — At the com- 
mencement of the revolutionary war, a 
strong fort, the ruins of which stand in the 
south-easterly part of the town of Ticonde- 
roga, was occupied by a British garrison, and 
the Americans perceiving the importance of 
this work, determined to capture it. On the 
9th of May Colonel Ethan Allen, and Colonel 
Eaton, with 270 men, reached the east shore 
of Lake Champlain. Having crossed the 
lake, the Americans, early on the following 
morning, took up a position in front of the 
fort. The garrison, wrapped in profound 
sleep, were unconscious of the approach of 
an enemy, and the American commanders 
prepared to enter the fort. As the two 
officers advanced, a sentinel snapped his 
piece at them, and hastily retired to arouse 
his comrades. The garrison being alarmed 
rushed to arms and opened a brisk fire on the 
assailants. But the Americans pushed boldly 
forward, and a hot skirmish with the bayonet 
ensued. The British were driven back, and 
the commander of the garrison making liis 
appearance, was summoned to surrender. 
" By what authority ?" he inquired. " In the 
name of the great Jehovah and the Conti- 
nental Congress 1" was the memorable reply 
of Ethan Allen. The Enghsh threw down 
their arms, and surrendered every thing to 
the conquerors. One hundred and twenty 
pieces of brass cannon, several mortars and 
howitzers, and balls, bombs, and ammunition, 
of every description fell into the hands of the 
victors ; and all this was accomplished with- 
out the loss of a single life on either side. 

TIPPECANOE, A.D. 1811.— The Tippeca- 
noe, a river in Indiana, is celebrated from a 
battle fought on its banks in 1811, between 
the Americans, under General WiUiam Henry 
Harrison, and the Indians, in which the lat- 
ter were totally defeated. 

TLASCALANS AND SPANIARDS, a.d. 
1519. — Terrified and subdued by the total 
defeat at the battle of Ceutla, which they 
had experienced at the hands of the Tabas- 
cans determined to pacify the invaders. 
They humbly presented themselves before 
the conqueror, and gave him costly gifts of 
gold ; a bountiful supply of provisions, and 
twenty female slaves. Among the latter 
was Donna Marina, who afterward played 
such an important part in the conquest of 
Mexico. 

Learning from the Tabascans that the pre- 
cious metal was not a native of their country, 
but that it was brought thither from Mexico, 
Cortez, whose sole object was to enrich his 
sovereigns, his companions, and himself, re- 
entered his ships, and sailed toward the 



632 



TLASCALANS. 



north, and finally came to anchor off the 
island of San Ju;in d' Ulloa, opposite the spot 
where the city of Vera Cruz now stands. 

Here liis sliip was visited by a number of 
natives who came from the shore in a canoe. 
They presented him with ornaments of gold ; 
and freely bartered the precious metal with 
the Spanish soldiers for trinkets and toys. 
The language of the Aztecs, however, did not 
resemble that of the Tabascans, and Cortez 
was unable to communicate with them save 
by nature's general language — the language 
of signs. But Cortez was informed that 
Marina was acquainted with the Aztec lan- 
guage ; and as she was also famihar with the 
Tabascan tongue, she could converse with 
Aguila, who, in turn, could interpret her 
words to the Spanish general. Afterward 
Marina acquired the Spanish language, and 
Cortez made her his interpreter. 

Through the two interpreters the natives 
informed Cortez that they were the subjects 
of Montezuma, a great emperor who had 
conquered all the nations of Mexico, and 
whose wealth and power exceeded that of 
any earthly sovereign. Their own country 
had been recently conquered by Montezuma, 
and was governed by a Mexican noble named 
Teuhtlite, who lived several leagues from the 
coast. Montezuma, himself, they said, re- 
sided in the interior of the country, and hved 
in a degree of magnificence, the description 
of which excited the curiosity of the Span- 
iards to the highest pitch. 

Cortez dismissed the natives -with many 
presents, and intimated his desire to hold an 
interview with the governor. After the de- 
parture of his visitors, Cortez landed with his 
crew, and with the aid of the natives wlio 
were apparently sent to him by the gov- 
ernor, he erected a barrack and other build- 
ings for the use of his men. 

At length the governor, with a numerous 
body of attendants, arrived at the Spanish 
camp. In the interview which followed, 
Cortez informed him that he had been sent 
by his king to visit Montezuma, the fame of 
whose greatness had been wafted across the 
ocean to his ears. The Aztec noble assured 
Cortez that couriers should be sent imme- 
diately to Montezuma, to communicate the 
wishes of the strangers, and to learn his will, 
and that upon their return he would inform 
him of his royal master's intentions. 

The governor then directed his slaves to 
bring forth the presents intended for the 
Spanish general. So magnificent were the 
presents that the desire of the Spaniards was 
increased fourfold to visit the country whose 
sovereign seemed to have such inexhaustible 
wealth at his command. 

Cortez, in the name of his king, thanked 
the governor for the presents, and command- 



ed his servants to bring forward those in- 
tended for Montezuma. Having received 
these, the governor shortly afterward quitted 
the Spanish camp in the same pomp with 
which he had entered it. 

Seven days only elapsed before an embassy 
from Montezuma presented itself at the Span- 
ish camp. They were loaded with costly 
presents, more magnificent than the Span- 
iards had ever seen before ; but after deliver- 
ing their gifts, they gave Montezuma's de- 
cided refusal to grant an interview to the 
strangers. On the contrary, after assuring 
them of his good will toward the King of 
Spain, he urged them to return to then- own 
country. 

This was far from the Spanish general's 
desires or intention. He told the embassy 
that the generosity and magnanimity of their 
emperor only made him the more anxious to 
visit him. The Aztec nobles assured him 
tlvit their royal master would not give his 
consent, and in astonishment at the audacity 
of the invader they took their departure. 

Ten days afterward they again returned 
bringing from their monarch additional pres- 
ents, but Montezuma's answer was, if possi- 
ble, still more decided than before. He not 
only requested but commanded the strangers 
to leave the country. Having given this reply, 
to the Spanish general, the Mexican nobles 
withdrew. That very day all the natives 
who, until now, had been on the most 
friendly terms with the Spaniards, deserted 
the camp, and refused to furnish any further 
supphes. 

About this time Cortez received commands 
from the Governor of Cuba to return, and 
upon expressing his refusal to do so many of 
his officers and soldiers murmured, and were 
upon the point of an open mutiny. Cortez, 
however, determined upon a desperate action. 
By intrigue, management, and force, he 
quelled the mutiny ; founded a colony, and 
caused himself to be elected governor. He 
received embassies from the provinces of 
Cempoalla and Chihuitztla, which had been 
conquered by Montezuma, and whose inhabit- 
ants were ready for a revolt at any moment, 
and by the promise to free them from the 
yoke of the tyrant, induced them to enter 
into alliance with him. To prevent a second 
mutiny, he caused all his fleets, except one 
small vessel, to be destroyed, thus leaving to 
his soldiers the choice of fidelity and success, 
or death. 

Cortez having succeeded in forming this 
alHance, returned to Vera Cruz, and, having 
a small body of men at that place, on the 
16th of August, he commenced his march 
toward the city of Mexico, with an army 
consisting of 400 Spanish foot soldiers fifteen 
cavalry, and 2,000 Indians, of whom 1,200 



TOLEDO— TORRES VEDRAS. 



633 



■were warriors, the others serving in the ca- 
pacity of baggage-carriers. His artillery con- 
sisted of seven pieces of cannon. With this 
small army he marched through the heart of 
the country without molestation until he ar- 
rived at the country of the Tlascalans. Upon 
arriving at the boundary of Tlascala the prog- 
ress of the army was arrested by a remark- 
able fortification. Before them arose a stone 
wall, nine feet in height, and twenty in 
thickness. It was six miles in length, and 
rested at either extremity on a rugged ridge 
of mountains, and marked the limits of Tlas- 
cala. The Tlascalans were brave republic- 
ans, and had long struggled for liberty with 
the armies of the Mexican monarch, and for 
this reason the alUes of the Spaniards strenu- 
ously advised Cortez to seek their friendship. 

Cortez, accordingly, sent an embassy, con- 
sisting of four of the principal Cempoallans, 
to the Tlascalan chieftains, with a concil- 
iatory letter, requesting permission to pass 
through their country, and with numerous 
presents. Before receiving an answer, how- 
ever, Cortez passed through an opening in 
the center of the wall, and entered the coun- 
try. Meanwhile, the Tlascalans, having list- 
ened to Cortez's embassy, held a fierce de- 
bate whether to receive him with peace or 
war. The latter was decided upon, and it 
was determined to detain the envoys, and to 
fall at once on the Spaniards with a power- 
ful army which was at that time stationed 
near the eastern frontier. 

After his whole army had passed the wall, 
Cortez with his cavalry rode on in advance to 
reconnoiter. Having proceeded several miles 
he discovered a small party of Indians armed 
with sword and buckler. At his approach 
they fled precipitately ; but putting spurs to 
their horses the Spanish cavalry soon over- 
took them. Finding it impossible to escape, 
the Indians turned upon their pursuers and 
attacked them with the utmost fierceness ; 
but their puny weapons were unequal to the 
task, and the Spaniards were about to cut 
them to pieces, when an immense body of 
Indians appeared, coming at full speed to the 
reUef of their companions. The Spanish 
general immediately dispatched a man to 
hasten the movements of the main body of 
his army, and drew up liis cavalry to receive 
the shock of the enemy. Like a whirlwind 
the tumultuous mass of the Indian army 
swept on toward the Spaniards, seeming as 
if by their very weight they would crush 
and overwhelm them. But the Spaniards re- 
ceived the charge like a firm rock, which 
divides the rusliing current of a swift river. 
Surrounded on all sides by the unfortunate 
Indians, who, seizing the horsemen by their 
knees, endeavored to dislodge them from their 
seats, and strove vainly to tear their weapons 



from their hands. In this desperate struggle 
one Spaniard was torn from his saddle, tram- 
pled under foot, and wounded so sorely that 
that he died shortly after the battle, and two 
horses were slain ; but the Indians suffered 
severely. The long keen lances of their en- 
emies inflicted deadly thrusts on all sides. 
While the struggle was at its height, the 
main body of the Spanish army arrived at the 
scene of action. Hastily forming they opened 
a rapid fire of artillery, musketry, and cross- 
bows, upon the Indians. Startled by the re- 
port of the guns, the Indians suddenly ceased 
fighting. They gave one look toward the 
fire-vomiting engines, and then retired from 
the field. The road was now free from im- 
pediment, and Cortez joyfully resumed his 
march. — Prescott. 

TOLEDO, A.D. 457.— Toledo, a celebrated 
city of Spain, was taken in the year 457 by 
the Goths from the Romans. The Goths 
made it then- capital in Spain till 714, when 
it was taken by the Moors. The Moors 
were expelled from Toledo in 1085 by Al- 
phonso VI. and Rodrigo Diaz, and notwith- 
standing three various sieges in the next cen- 
tury, it has remained in the hands of the 
Spaniards ever since. 

TORRES VEDRAS, a.d. 1810.— Our ac- 
counts of battles and sieges would be incom- 
plete without a description of the celebrated 
lines of defense estabhshed by the Duke of 
Wellington, in 1810, to resist the approach 
of the French. They are thus described by 
Sir Archibald Alison : " The lines of Torres 
Vedras, on which the English engineers were 
engaged for above a twelvemonth, and which 
have acquired immortal celebrity from being 
the position in which the torrent of French 
conquest was first permanently arrested, con- 
sisted of three distinct ranges of defenses, 
one within another, which formed so many 
intrenched positions, each of which must be 
successively forced before the invading force 
could reach Lisbon. The first, which was 
twenty-nine miles long, extended from Al- 
hambra on the Tagus, to Zezambre on the 
sea-coast. The second in general about 
eight miles in rear of the first, stretched from 
Quintella on the Tagus, to the mouth of the 
St. Lorenza, in the sea. The tliird, intended 
to cover a port of embarkation, extended 
from Pass d'Arcos, on the Tagus, to the tower 
of Jonquera on the coast. Within this in- 
terior hne was an intrenched camp, designed 
to cover the embarkation of the troops, if 
that extremity should become necessary, 
and it rested on Fort St. JuUan, whose high 
ramparts, and deep ditches, rendered any 
attempt at escalade impracticable ; so that, in 
the event of disaster, the most ample means 
were provided for bringing away the troops 
in safety. Of these lines, the secctfid was in- 



«94 



TORONE— TOULON. 



comparably the strongest, and it was there 
that Wellington had originally intended to 
make liis stand, the first being rather to re- 
tard the advance of the enemy, and take off 
the first edge of his attack, than to be the 
permanent resting-place of the aUied forces ; 
but the long delay of Massena at the sieg- 
es of Ciudad Rodrigo, and Almeida, had 
given so much time to the English engineers 
that the first line was completed and deemed 
susceptible of defense when the French ar- 
rived before it. It consisted of thirty re- 
doubts placed on a ridge of heights, on which 
were mounted, in all, 140 guns; the great 
redoubt of Sobral in the center, on which 
were mounted forty-five pieces of heavy 
cannon, was perched upon an eminence that 
overlooked the whole exterior Unes, and from 
which signal-posts communicated over their 
whole extent; an admirable road, running 
along the front of the position, enabled one 
part of the army to communicate rapidly 
with the other; the highways, piercing 
through this terrible barrier, were all pallisa- 
doed ; the redoubts armed with chevaux-de- 
firise, and a glacis cut away to make room for 
their fire and the intervening spaces which 
were not fortified formed into encampments 
for the troops under shelter of the guns of 
one or other of the redoubts, where they 
might give battle to the enemy with every 
prospect of success. On the whole lines no 
less than 600 pieces of artillery were mount- 
ed on 150 redoubts. 

TORONE, B.C. 422.— In the tenth year of 
the Peloponnesian war, Torone, in the Thra- 
cian dominions, was besieged and taken by 
the Athenian land and sea forces, under the 
command of Cleon. Many of the Pelopon- 
nesians and Toroneans were slain, and the 
commandant of the garrison, Pasitilidas, was 
taken prisoner. The victors doomed the 
wives and children of the Toroneans to slav- 
ery, and the male inhabitants, together with 
the Peloponnesians, and every Chalcidean 
found among them, amounting in all to 700, 
were sent away captives to Athens. 

TORTOSA.— The city of Tortosa, in Spain, 
has been the witness of many bloody strifes. 
In 811 the army of Louis Debounaire attack- 
ed the city, and wrested it from the Moors. 
Afterward, however, it was retaken by the 
Moors, who made piratical excursions from 
the city against Italian traders. Eugenius 
III., therefore, proclaimed a crusade against 
this nest of pirates, and in 1148 succeeded in 
taking the place. The Moors, in 1149, made 
a desperate effort to regain Tortosa, but were 
defeated with great loss. In this defense the 
women of Tortosa took a prominent part; 
they mounted the battlements, and with loud 
shouts hurled their missile weapons upon the 
besiegers, and thus annoyed the besiegers, 



while their fathers, husbands, brothers, and 
lovers made a sally, in wliich they defeated 
the Moors, and put them to utter rout. In 
1798 Tortosa was taken by the French, 
under the Duke of Orleans. In 1811, this 
place, the bulwark of Valencia and Catalonia, 
was shamefully surrendered to the French by 
General LiUi, who was afterward tried for 
cowardice, and condemned to death, but was 
pardoned by Ferdinand YII. 

TOULON, A.D. 1793.— This famous seaport 
town of France stands at the bottom of one 
of the finest harbors of the Mediterranean, 
one hundred and ninety miles south-east of 
Lyons. The town is of an oval shape, with 
tlie longest side fronting the water, and 
" rises gracefully and majestically toward the 
north, extending its ramparts to the foot of a 
range of high mountains, stretching from the 
east to the west. The naval arsenal of Tou- 
lon is one of the finest in Europe. This 
place is strongly fortified, being surrounded 
by a double rampart, and a large deep ditch, 
defended to the east and west by hills cov- 
ered with redoubts." The siege of Lyons was 
quickly followed by the battle of Toulon. 
The republicans immediately after subjugating 
the former city, marched against Toulon, 
thinking it would fall an easy prey into their 
hands. But they were disappointed, for 
they found great difficulties to overcome. 
Toulon, on the land side, is backed by a ridge 
of lofty hiUs, which for more than a century 
had been strongly fortified, and the greater 
part of the city and harbor was protected by 
the cannon of the fortifications. On the pos- 
session of two principal points of this range 
of mountains depended the maintenance of 
the city. The defile of OUiouUes, a rocky 
pass of great strength, which forms the only 
means of communication between the pro- 
montory of Toulon and the mainland of 
France, had been occupied by an English de- 
tachment of 600 men, who had driven the 
republicans from that post. The defense was 
at this time, however, intrusted to a Spanish 
force, and in the first part of September, 
Cartaux, with more than 5,000 repubUcans, 
attacked them, and very easily regained the 
pass. Fearing to weaken the garrison of the 
town, wliich was already much scattered, no 
attempt was made to recover tliis lost 
ground, and the republican videttes were 
pushed up to the outer walls of Toulon. As 
a compensation for this important service, 
Cartaux was deprived of his command by the 
Convention, and Dugommier was invested 
with the direction of the republican force. 
During the respite afforded by the siege of 
Lyons, the alhed troops and the inhabitants 
oi' Toulon made desperate efforts to strength- 
en the defenses of the town, but the regular 
force was too small, and composed of so 



TOULON. 



635 



many different nations, that they had no con- 
fidence in being able to resist. The EngUsh 
troops did not number 5,000, and no reliance 
could be placed on the 8,000 Spanish, Nea- 
pohtan, and Piedmontese troops that com- 
posed the remainder of the garrison. Pow- 
erful reinforcements were expected from 
England and Austria, but they came not. 
However, the inhabitants made great efforts 
to strengthen every means of defense, and 
particularly Fort Eguillette, which they hoped 
to render impregnable, as it was situated at 
the neck of the promontory which shut in 
the small harbor, and which, from its similar- 
ity of position, tliey called the Little Gibral- 
tar. Lord Mulgi-ave assumed the command 
of the whole garrison in the beginning of 
September, and very active operations for 
strengthening the outworks on the heights 
were then commenced. The heights of Mal- 
bousquet, of Cape Brun, and of I'Eguillette, 
were soon covered with works, traced out by 
skillful French engineers. It was resolved 
to assemble the whole besieging army, under 
General Dugommier, and commence an at- 
tack on the forts on the heights, which com- 
manded the harbor. In order to accompUsh 
this design, a false attack was directed 
against Cape Brun, while the principal effort 
was to be made for the possession of the 
mountain of Faron, and the Fort Malbous- 
quet. A young officer of artillery, then cliief 
of battahon, named Napoleon Bonaparte, was 
given the command of the breaching bat- 
teries. Under his superintendance great 
damage was done to the forts, and to check 
the operations the garrison resolved to make 
a sally. This was accordingly done on the 
30th of November, by 3,000 men from the 
town. Their chief object was to destroy the 
works on the heights of Arrennes, as the 
fire from this point was a source of great 
annoyance ; while another division of nearly 
the same number, proceeded, in an opposite 
direction, to force the batteries at the gorge 
of OlUoulles, and destroy the great park 
placed there. Success at first crowned the 
efforts of both divisions, the batteries were 
carried, and the park on the point of being 
taken, when Dugommier, after haranguing his 
troops, led them back to the charge, and the 
assailants were repulsed. The attack on 
Arrennes was also fortunate ; all the guns of 
the enemy were spiked, the works carried ; 
but their impetuosity led them too far in 
pursuit of the enemy, and they were attack- 
ed by fresh troops under Napoleon, and 
drove back to the city with considerable loss. 
In this sally, General O'Hara, who had just 
arrived from England, was wounded, and 
Dugommier was twice struck with spent balls, 
without any serious injury, however. The 
besiegers now directed their whole strength 



against the English redoubt, which was built 
in the center of their work on the neck of 
land called Eguillette, and upon the possession 
of which, the safety of the city depended. 
During the whole of the 16th of December, 
the besiegers kept up an incessant fire, and 
also commenced raising heavy batteries against 
this fort, and at two o'clock on the morning 
of the 17th, they advanced to the attack. A 
tremendous fire of grape and musketry 
saluted them from the works, and soon the 
ditch was filled with the dead and dying. 
The column was driven back, and Dugom- 
mier, who commanded it, gave all over for 
lost ; but fresh troops arriving, he at length 
overpowered the Spanish soldiers, who had 
charge of part of the line, and surrounded the 
British detachment, nearly 300 of which were 
killed while fighting manfully for the defense 
of the intrenchments. The enemy having 
obtained possession of this important fort, 
further maintenance of the out-posts was 
deemed impracticable, and the whole of the 
allied troops accordingly withdrew from the 
promontory to the city of Toulon. This 
measure had been strongly recommended by 
Napoleon, as the possession of this fort which 
commanded the inner harbor, would render 
the situation of the fleet extremely perilous, 
and would, in all probability, lead to the 
evacuation of the city. 

The republicans at the other extremity of 
the line were not less fortunate. At day- 
break, a general attack was made by the 
enemy on the whole range of forts which 
crowned the mountain of Faron. They were 
driven back on the eastern side, but on the 
north, where the mountain was nearly 1,800 
feet in height, very steep, and apparently 
inaccessible, they succeeded in ascending 
through paths deemed impracticable. The 
allies were beginning to rejoice at the defeat 
of the main attack on the eastern line, when 
suddenly they beheld the heights above them 
covered with ghttering battalions, and the 
tri-color flag floating from the highest summit 
of the mountain. Napoleon was the insti- 
gator of these two conquests, and they de- 
cided the fate of the city. The garrison yet 
numbered more than 10,000 men, and the 
works of the town were still uninjured, but 
the harbor was not safe, as the fire from the 
heights ranged over the whole extent ; and 
at length it was decided to evacuate the 
place. This determination was immediately 
carried into effect. The exterior forts were 
abandoned, and the principal inhabitants were 
informed that means of retreat would be 
afforded them on board the British squad- 
ron, while the fleet was moved beyond reach 
of the enemy's fire. The garrison being 
made up of such a heterogeneous company, 
much confusion would necessarily ensue, and 



636 



TOULON. 



the Neapolitans, in particular, fled from their 
posts in such haste, and took refuge on board 
the ships, that they subjected themselves to 
the derision of the whole garrison. The un- 
fortunate inhabitants were filled with gloomy- 
forebodings. To them, this hasty evacuation 
seemed the harbinger of confiscation, exile, 
and death, republican conquest, and tlie 
reign of the guillotine. On the morning of 
the 18th the British sick and wounded em- 
barked in ships appointed for that purpose ; 
and when the inhabitants found that they 
were to be abandoned, despair and anguish 
filled every heart. The greatest confusion 
ensued ; the streets were filled with women 
and children, and while they were hurrying 
to the quays, these were actually fired upon 
by the Jacobins. The shore of the harbor 
was filled with a piteous crowd, imploring to 
be saved from their cruel enemies. As soon 
as possible they were taken on board ships 
lying in the harbor, a work of considerable 
difficulty, as they numbered over 14,000. 
It was now resolved to send out under a 
royalist, Admiral Trogrofife, such part of the 
fleet as could be prepared for sea, and the 
rest was to be destroyed. It was a work of 
great danger, as the cannon of the repubhcans 
already reached the harbor. However, Sir 
Sydney Smith volunteered his services, and 
at twelve o'clock at night commenced the 
work of destruction. His entrance to the 
dockyard he found disputed, by about 600 
galley-slaves, who had become free from their 
fetters. By stationing a British sloop, so that 
her guns swept the quay, he intimidated 
them, and also a large force of Jacobins, who 
were assembling around the outer palhsades. 
At eight, a fire ship was towed into the 
harbor, and at ten, the torch was apphed, 
and the flames burst forth from every quarter. 
The fire spread with tremendous rapidit}', 
and in a short time, fifteen ships of the fine, 
and eight frigates were burned to the water's 
edge. The volumes of smoke which fiUed 
the sky, the crackUng flames, which seemed 
to burst, as if it were out of the sea, and 
ascend to the heavens, the red hght, which 
illuminated the mountains, formed a magnifi- 
cent, as well as terrific sight. About mid- 
night, the frigate IrLs, with several thousand 
barrels of powder bltiw up with a dreadful 
explosion, and shortly after, the fire-ship met 
with the same fate. The republicans who 
crowded to the harbor's edge were driven 
back by the burning cinders, while the loss 
of their vessels fiUed them with the most in- 
dignant fury. The scene which occurred 
upon the embarkation of the last columns of 
the allied troops, no pen can describe. It 
was of the utmost horror. Cries, lamenta- 
tions, and screams, were heard in every 
direction, even on the opposite side of the 



harbor. A few who had favored the royal 
cause, and neglected to leave in the first em- 
barkation, flew to the beach, and witli tears 
and prayers implored aid from their British 
friends. Mothers, with their Uttle ones 
pressed to their bosoms, helpless children, 
and stiU more helpless old men, were seen 
stre telling their hands toward the harbor, and 
even rusliing into the waves to escape the 
cruel death that awaited them. Some seized 
such boats as they could find, and, without 
oars, followed after the vessels. Sir Sydney 
Smith with great humanity, instantly sus- 
pended his retreat, until every individual was 
removed from the strand, and the whole num- 
ber saved in this manner was nearly 15,000. 
The destruction of the vessels in the basin be- 
fore the town was intrusted to the Spanish offi- 
cers, but they lacking courage to perform their 
work, eleven frigates, and seven ships of the 
line were saved to the repubUc. These, with 
five ships of the line, were all that remained 
of thirty-one ships of the line, and twenty- 
five frigates, wliich were lying in the harbor 
of Toulon, at the time it fell into the hands 
of the allies. Three ships and three frigates 
were brought away uninjured, and were 
taken into the English service ; the whole 
number taken and destroyed was eighteen 
ships of the hne, nine frigates, and eleven 
corvettes. 

The sufierings of the poor Toulonese were 
now truly horrible. They were left to the 
mercy of soldiers and the galley-slaves, who 
had been let loose upon the city, and then- 
brutahty was only checked by the citizens re- 
deeming themselves by the payment of the 
enormous sum of £176,000. Dugommier did 
all in his power to check the brutality of the 
soldiers, and mitigate the severity of the Con- 
vention toward the inhabitants. Several 
thousand citizens, in a few weeks, perished 
by the sword or the guillotine ; two hundred 
were beheaded daily, and twelve thousand 
men were employed to destroy the buildings 
of the city. The Convention was inexor- 
able ; nothing could put a stop to their cruel- 
ties. On the motion of Barere, one of its 
members, it was decreed that the name of 
Toulon should be changed to Port de la Mon- 
tagne, that the houses should be demolished, 
and nothing left but the naval and military 
establishments. The inhumanities of Lyons 
were imitated in a fearful manner, and in a 
few weeks, of ten thousand persons, eight hun- 
dred had been cut off. This was the termina- 
tion of one of the most remarkable campaigns 
in the history of France, perhaps in the his- 
tory of the world. A revolt, apparently des- 
tined to sever the richer cities of the south 
from the dominion of the republic ; a civil 
war, which consumed the vitals of the west- 
ern provinces, an invasion wliich had brok- 



TOULOUSE. 



637 



en through the iron barrier of the northern, 
and shaken the strength of the eastern front- 
ier, were all defeated. The discomfited En- 
ghsh had retired from Toulon, the Prussians in 
confusion had recrossed the Rhine, the con- 
querors in the north were silenced, and the 
valor of the Vendeans irretrievably quenched. 

TOULOUSE, B.C. 106.— In the year of 
Rome 646, Cepio, a man so covetous of 
wealth as to think both peculation and sacri- 
lege justifiable in the pursuit of it, was sent 
into Transalpine Gaul. This general com- 
menced his operations by attacking Tolosa, 
now Toulouse. The Roman garrison had 
been placed in irons. Cepio was admitted 
by treachery into the city, which he delivered 
up to pillage. Nothing was spared, sacred or 
profane ; all became the property of the sol- 
diery. It is said that the consul's share of the 
booty amounted to nearly two millions ster- 
ling, principally taken from the temples. 

Second Siege, a.d. 1217. — The next siege 
of Toulouse is connected with one of the 
blackest pages in human history, the horrid 
war, or crusade against the Albigeois. The 
licentiousness of the clergy and the barefaced 
venality and ambition of the hierarchy led 
people to look with jealousy at the doctrines 
by "vyhich these men supported their influence, 
and the consequence necessarily was, that 
many seceded from the Church, and formed 
sects, or shades of behef, according to their 
intelligence, or perhaps passions. This, in 
fact, was the commencement of the Reform- 
ation, which, though kept under by the pow- 
er of the Church, silently but unceasingly 
worked its way, till the ostentatious extrav- 
agance of Leo X. and the exasperated genius 
of Luther, nearly three hundred years after, 
brought it to a head. The rich provinces of 
the south of France were the first melancho- 
ly scenes of the series of persecutions, under 
the name of a religion of peace, which have 
since, in wars, assassinations, and aidos-da-fe, 
in dungeons and inquisitions, tortures and 
the stake, disgraced humanity. 

Raymond, Count of Toulouse, was the 
richest prince in Europe when Innocent III. 
set on the dogs of rapine, by preaching a 
crusade against him and his beautiful country. 
In the crusades to the Holy Land many 
more had been attracted by the fabulous ac- 
counts of the riches of the East, than by any 
care about the redemption of the holy places, 
so, in this European crusade, the wealth of 
Toulouse was the principal incentive to the 
adventurers who flocked to the plunder. At 
that period, individual enterprise was per- 
haps stronger than at any other ; a prince of 
Lorraine had become King of Jerusalem ; a 
high-sounding title, though barren of every 
thing but care ; a few Norman knights had 
made themselves masters of Sicily and of 



part of the south of Italy. William of Nor- 
mandy and his wonderful success were not 
forgotten; so that, directly there was a 
chance of territorial plunder, particularly 
under the sanction of the Church, the unscru- 
pulous, restless, needy spirits of the age were 
all roused to action, and eager to obtain the 
first prize. One of the worst of this class, 
Simon de Montfort, was the leader of this 
infamous league. A French author describ- 
ing him, says, " he would have been the 
hero of his age if he had not been ambitious, 
barbarous, perfidious, and revengeful." Plu- 
tarch would never have introduced the word 
hero, as in any way compatible with such a 
character. And here we take leave to warn 
our young readers against the partiality they 
may conceive for Simon de Montfort, Earl of 
Leicester, who figured in the reign of Henry 
HI., from reading a pleasing tale by Mr. 
James. His De Montfort is a fiction, the 
real man was of the same character as his 
father ; he was an adventurer, and his quarry 
was England, as Toulouse had been that of 
his predecessor. 

In vain Count Raymond, the sovereign of 
the unfortunate Albigeois, endeavored to de- 
fend them ; he was crushed beneath the same 
anathema, and was obliged to fly before De 
Montfort. Subdued, a wanderer, and a 
proscribed heretic, the count was reduced to 
the most deplorable condition, and abandoned 
Toulouse to the conqueror. The Toulousiana 
gave up their city very unwillingly. Sufibr- 
ing under the odious yoke, they recalled their 
ancient master. Montfort informed of this 
revolution, hastened to the scene of action, 
came to the walls, and endeavored to enter 
by the Nalbonnais Castle. But he there 
found intrepid warriors and impregnable for- 
tifications. Finding his first attack, from 
which he had expected much, faU, he com- 
menced the siege in form ; he fought several 
bloody battles, made many terrible assaults, 
and spared neither fatigue nor stratagem for 
more than four months. But he made him- 
self master of the place by means of a horri- 
ble piece of treachery, devised and executed 
by Bishop Foulquet. The latter proposed to 
all the inhabitants, in the name of the God 
of peace, to go forth and meet De Montfort, 
for the purpose of coming to terms. That 
atrocious commander received them at the 
head of his knights, and made prisoners of 
most of them. The war, however, continued 
with various success, and Toulouse was again 
in the hands of the inhabitants. While be- 
sieging it tliis scourge was removed by a 
death he merited. An enormous stone, cast 
from a mangonel, and aimed by a woman, 
struck him senseless to the earth. He was 
borne to his tent, and expired almost imme- 
diately. Thus, like Pyrrhus, perished the 



638 



TOURNAI. 



ever infamous Simon de Montfort, by an ig- 
noble missile, launched by a woman. 

Count Raymond, who was very aged, 
shortly after died, and the priests refused his 
body sepulture ; his coffin remained for many 
years outside the door of a church. His tol- 
eration was liis principal crime in the eyes 
of his clerical persecutors ; a great part of his 
misfortunes may be attributed to the weak- 
ness of his character, but far more to the at- 
tractions held out to unscrupulous adventur- 
ers by his wealth. We have omitted the 
siege of Bezieres, having neither space nor 
inclination to dwell upon this horrible page 
of history. 

On the 10th of April, 1814, a battle was 
fought near Toulouse between the French 
army under Marshal Soult, and the English 
under the Duke of Welhngton. Our space 
forbids an extended description of this engage- 
ment. The battle was obstinate and bloody, 
and finally resulted in the defeat of the French. 

TOURNAI, A.D. 438.— Toward the middle 
of the 5th century, Clodio, first of the race ' 
of Merovingian kings of the Franks in Gaul, 
entered Belgium, surprised the Roman troops, 
defeated them, and laid siege to Tournai, 
even then a powerful city. But it could not 
withstand the conqueror long; he took it 
and gave it up to pillage. 

Second Siege, a.d. 1340. — After the naval 
victory gained by Edward III. of England, 
near Ecluce, that prince presented himself 
before Tournai. French authors say his army 
amounted to 120,000 men, wliich appears an 
immense number for that period; but Ed- 
ward was assisted by so many Belgians, and 
other nations at feud with France, that his 
forces were great, though principally com- 
posed of foreigners. Proud of his strength, 
he feared no obstacles. But Godemar Dufay, 
the governor of the city, had prepared for a 
long defense, and Edward's plans being 
known, Dufay had a numerous and well-dis- 
ciplined garrison. He was likewise assured 
of the good-will of the inhabitants, and was 
seconded by the elite of the chivalry of France. 
Philip VI. soon came himself to animate his 
brave subjects, and with several battalions, 
encamped between LiUe and Douay. As 
soon as he began operations, Edward became 
aware of the rashness of his enterprise ; and 
he sent a challenge to the French king to 
fight him in single combat, a hundred against 
a hundred, or in a general battle. This letter 
was addressed to Philip de Valois, without 
any other title. Phihp replied, " A letter 
has been brought to our camp, addressed to 
Fliilip de Valois, in which letter were several 
requests which you make to the said Philip 
de Valois. As it is not for us, we do not re- 
ply to it; but we take advantage of the 
coming of your herald to remind you that 



you are our liegeman ; that by attacking us, 
and raising the cities of Flanders against their 
count and against us, their sovereign and 
yours, you commit an act of rebellion, per- 
jury, and felony, and for which, with the help 
of God, we hope to subdue you and to punish 
you. Besides, you propose a duel on very 
unequal terms; you offer to hazard your 
own person only against both the kingdom 
of France and the person of its king. If 
you will increase the stake, and put also the 
kingdom of England on the issue of tliat 
duel, we wiU, though the terms would be 
then very unequal, willingly accept of tlie 
challenge." All this was intended, no doubt, 
to stimulate the troops on both sides ; we do 
not believe that either of these royal heroes 
was in earnest. Both sides were tired of 
the contest, after a siege of about twelve 
weeks. The inhabitants grew short of pro- 
visions, and Edward's forces decreased daily 
by death and desertion. In this situation 
they listened to the friendly intercession of 
Joan, Countess dowager of Hainault ; a truce 
was concluded, and Tournai was saved. 

Dazzled with the glories of Crecy and 
Poitiers, the English are accustomed to be 
proud of the reign of Edward III., that 
" mighty victor, mighty lord:" whereas few 
events in their liistory produced more or 
longer-endured misery to two great countries 
than Edward's unjust claim to the crown of 
France ; unjust, because it was in opposition 
to the laws of that country, by wliich all 
such cases must be settled. This calamitous 
war lasted a hundred years, and, we have no 
doubt, by the enmity being thus carried down 
from father to son, created that singular an^ 
tipathy between two neighboring nations, 
which is perhaps being removed by their 
present Alliance. The astonishing victories, 
which cast so much glory on one period of 
the reign of Edward III. appear to have 
dazzled the eyes both of his subjects and for- 
eigners, but the disasters which clouded the 
evening of his life, proved that his ambition 
was greater than liis judgment. 

Third Siege, a.d. 1513.— Henry VUI., 
King of England, in his famous expedition 
into France, attacked Therouanne, a town sit- 
uated on the frontiers of Picardy. This siege 
is chiefly remarkable for the manner in wliich 
Fontrailles, a French oflQcer, contrived to 
bring in a supply of provisions and ammu- 
nition. Henry and his nobles, together with 
the Emperor Maximilian, who was with the 
English army, carried on the siege so languid- 
ly, that the town was more in danger from 
famine than from its foes. The above-named 
officer appeared at the head of 800 horsemen, 
each of whom carried a sack of gunpowder 
behind him and two quarters of bacon. 
With this small force he made a sudden ir- 



TOUENAI. 



639 



ruption into the English camp, and advanced 
to the fosse of the town, where each horse- 
man threw down his burden. They imme- 
diately returned at the gallop, and were so 
fortunate as again to break through the En- 
glish, and to suffer Uttle or no loss. But the 
English had soon their revenge. The famous 
battle of Guinegate shortly followed, in wliich 
the French made such good use of their 
spurs, and in wliich the pride of their chiv- 
alry. Bayard, Bussy d'Amboise, Clermont, 
Imbrecourt, and others were taken prisoners. 
After this defeat, Henry made the mistake 
of returning to the siege of so inconsiderable 
a town as Terouanne. The place capitulated, 
and he demolished the fortifications. The 
army then advanced against Tournai. 

This city, by its ancient charters, was ex- 
empt from the burden of a garrison, and 
when Louis XII. sent to ask them if they 
needed troops to defend their city, they made 
this boastful and silly reply : " Tournai est 
tourne, et jamais n' a tourne, et encore ne 
tournera. Si les Anglais viennent, ils trou- 
veront a qui parler" — (Tournay is turned, 
and never has turned, and, still further, never 
will turn. If the Enghsh come, they will 
find somebody to speak to). And so the 
burgesses undertook the defense themselves. 
But the fate of Terouanne alarmed them, 
and in a very short time the place was sur- 
rendered. Over its gates was engraved this 
proud motto: "Tu n'as jamais perdu ta 
verginite." Never having been taken, it 
was what is called a maiden city; which 
honor is now lost. One of our countrymen, 
who was always anxiously looking out for 
personal advantages, derived benefit from this 
capture. The bishop of Tournai was lately 
dead ; and although a new bishop was elected, 
be was not installed ; so the king bestowed 
the administration of the see upon his fa- 
vorite, Wolsey, and put him in immediate 
possession of the revenues. - 

Fourth Siege, a.d. 1581. — At this date 
Tournai was besieged by Spanish forces under 
the command of the Prince of Parma. The 
Seigneur d'Etreel commanded in the city, 
but his garrison was weak. The citizens, for 
the most part Protestants, were obliged to 
perform the duties of soldiers. The Spanish 
general invested the place, and formed the 
attack on the side where the ditch is dry, 
opposite the longest of the curtains, between 
the gates of St. Martin, and of Valenciennes, 
which was defended by a salient ravehn and 
a large platform. As soon as the trenches 
were opened, three batteries were estabhshed 
against these three works. The besieged 
kept up a warm fire from the tops of the 
bulwarks, and signalized themselves by some 
vigorous sorties. The Princess d'Epinoi, the 
wife of the governor, who filled with distinc- 



tion the place of her husband, inflamed their 
ardor, and acquitted herself with incredible 
energy of aU the functions of a most vigilant 
commander. The Prince of Parma made all 
haste to terminate the approaches, in order to 
get at the body of the place. It required 
but few days to carry the trenches to a great 
length. His batteries played furiously. He 
debouched in the fosse ; it being dry, he car- 
ried, without trouble, the mine up to the 
wall, which, by both sapping and mining, 
was speedily brought down. The defenders 
of Tournai, redoubling their ardor, opposed 
fresh barriers to the Spanish impetuosity, and 
presented themselves wherever the danger 
was most imminent. At the end of a few 
days, the breach was found large enough to 
give an assault. It was given. The resist- 
ance and the attack were equally murderous. 
In the midst of the combatants the Princess 
d'Epinoi was particularly conspicuous. Noth- 
ing could resist the power of her arm. Fly- 
ing in the face of peril and death, she con- 
tinued to cry to the soldiers : " It is I ; it is 
the wife of your governor who marches at 
your head, and braves death for the service 
of her country. Follow my example. I 
would rather quit life than the breach !" She 
spoke, and rushed amid the carnage. She 
was wounded in the arm. The sight of her 
blood only animates her : she redoubles her 
efforts ; all fly, all disperse before her. The 
besieged, zealous to imitate her, eagerly fol- 
low her, and fight with such ardor, that the 
Spaniards are repulsed and retreat, after hav- 
ing lost a vast number of men. The hopes 
of prompt succor alone supported the citizens 
of Tournai ; but as soon as they found their 
expectations frustrated, they perceived it was 
impossible to defend themselves longer, and 
resolved to surrender. On the 29th of No- 
vember, the garrison was permitted to march 
out, with its arms and its baggage. The city 
redeemed itself from pillage ; and the intrepid 
Amazon who had so bravely defended it, left 
Tournai, vdth her arm stiU in a scarf, amid 
the enthusiastic acclamations of the royal 
army, and, in some sort, with all the appear- 
ance of a glorious triumph. 

Fifth Siege, a.d. 1667. — No monarch ever 
went to war more wantonly and unneces- 
sarily than Louis XIV. Inflated Avith vanity 
and self-love, intoxicated with flattery, he 
seemed to look upon military glory as the 
only thing wanting to his fame and happiness. 
But never did monarch receive a much 
stronger rebuke from an overruhng Provi- 
dence ! He was taught that the prosperity 
of nations is not to be trifled with for the 
gratification of one man's pride; and the 
wars he undertook so rashly and -wickedly 
proved to be the sources of misery to 
which his arrogant self-sufliciency would 



640 



TOURS. 



have led him to believe he could not be sub- 
jected. 

In 1G66, Louis XIV. lost his mother, Anne 
of Austria ; Philip lY., her father, had died 
the preceding year. When Louis married 
Maria Theresa, that princess had formally re- 
nounced all right of succession to Spain or 
the Austrian dominions; but Louis, now 
heedless of this renunciation, immediately 
laid claim to Flanders, to the exclusion of 
Charles II., the minor son of Philip IV. The 
pretense he assigned was, that the queen's 
dowry not having been paid, her renunciation 
was null and void, and he invoked a custom 
of Brabant, by wliich the eldest daughters 
inherited in preference to younger sons. He 
supported these claims by a numerous army ; 
won over the Emperor Leopold, by giving 
him hopes he might share the spoils of Charles 
II., and took the field at the head of his 
household. Turenne commanded under him ; 
Vauban, and his minister Louvois, accompan- 
ied him. We have often, when contem- 
plating this siege of Tournai, wondered what 
Louis could really think of himself — what he 
imagined his position actually was in the 
scale of humanity. He proceeded to the in- 
fliction of war upon an unoffending people — of 
war, the direst evil we know or can fancy — 
with all the " pride, pomp and circumstance" 
of a barbarous Eastern despot. Darius, when 
he met Alexander, was scarcely surrounded 
with so much splendor, and perhaps not so 
many indulgent comforts,and what is still more 
striking, did not in the eyes of liis people so 
completely violate all that the civilized world 
deems moral or worthy of being an example. 
He was accompanied by lais queen and his 
then adored mistress, the fascinating Montes- 
pan, with whom he lived in a state of double 
adultery. 

His court was with him in aU its 
splendor ; he had his historian to record the 
exploits of his generals and his armies, and 
his poets to sing his praises and attribute 
every success to his divine presence. Here 
was a beleaguered town, suifering aU the 
horrors of a siege, with almost the certainty 
of being taken ; there was an army appear- 
ing to invade the rights of another nation in 
mere wantonness, indulging in voluptuous vice, 
and, in contrast with the town, passing its 
nights in festivity, song, music and dancing ; 
vice and cruelty, pleasure and suffering, 
throwing each other into the strongest re- 
hef. 

Louis's army consisted of 35,000 men. It 
was on this occasion that the minister Lou- 
vois introduced the improvement of support- 
ing armies by magazines. Whatever siege 
the king undertook, to whichever side he 
directed his arms, supphes of all kinds were 
ready, the lodgings of the troops were pro- 



vided, and the marches regulated. The king 
had only to present himself' before the cities 
of Flanders to subdue them : he entered 
Charleroi as he would have entered Paris ; 
Bergues-Saint-Veux, Ath, Furnes, Armen- 
tiere, and Coutrai, opened their gates at the 
approach of the French battalions. Tournai 
showed signs of resistance. It was besieged 
in form, the artillery brought to bear upon it, 
and two days after the trenches had been 
opened, it capitulated. The citadel was then 
closely pressed, and that likewise surrendered 
on the morrow. The conqueror had both 
city and citadel fortified; and Megrigni made 
the latter, of which he was governor, one of 
the best places in Europe. 

Sixth Siege, a.d. 1745. — Louis XV. open- 
ed the campaign of 1745 by the siege of 
Tournai. The conquest of the place was of 
the greatest importance, and the allies pre- 
pared to defend it. Having been conquered 
on the plains of Fontenoi, they abandoned 
both this and several other fortresses bathed 
by the Dender and the Scheld. The gam- 
son, composed of eleven battalions and a 
regiment of cavalry, retired into the citadel; 
but it was so warmly pressed, that in less 
than three weeks it capitulated. 

Seventh Siege, a.d. 1792. — General Bour- 
donnaye entered Tournai in 1792, after the 
battle of Jemappes. 

Eighth Siege, a.d. 1793. — Upon the ^de- 
feat of Dumourier, in Belgium, the avant- 
garde of the Austrians, which followed the 
retrograde movement of the French army, 
re-entered Tournai on the 30th of April, 
1793. 

Ninth Siege, a.d. 1794. — At the com- 
mencement of the campaign of 1794, Gen- 
eral Pichegru made every possible effort to 
approach Tournai and besiege it in regular 
form, but all in vain ; he, on every occasion, 
had to contend with troops superior to his 
own, beneath its walls. When, however, he 
had gained several victories, and the irape- 
riaUsts had been conquered at Fleuris, the 
allies withdrew from Tournai, which fell into 
the hands of the French. — Robson. 

TOURS, A.D. 732.— Between Tours and 
Poictiers, in France, lays a broad tract of 
champaign country, composed principally of- 
a succession of rich pasture lands, which are 
traversed by several streams, tributaries of the 
river Loire. This region has been signalized 
by more tlian one memorable battle ; but it 
is principally interesting by having been the 
scene of the great victory won by Charles 
Martel over the Saracens a.d. 732, which 
gave a decisive check to the career of Arab 
conquest in western Europe, rescued Chris- 
tendom from Islam, preserved the relics of 
ancient, and the germs of modern civilization, 
and re-established the old superiority of the 



^^t=r-"i 




TOURS. 



641 



Indo-European over the Semitic family of 
mankind.* 

The Saracens under their great leader, 
Abderame, had crossed the Pyrenees; had 
passed the Rhone, and laid siege to Aries, 
and had defeated with great slaughter a 
Christian army which had marched to the 
relief of Aries. The army of the Saracen 
chief was no less successful on the side of the 
ocean. He had passed, without opposition, 
the Garonne and Dardogne, which unite their 
waters in the gulf of Bordeaux ; but he had 
found beyond those waters the camp of the 
intrepid Endes, wlio had formed a second 
army, and sustained a second defeat, so fatal 
to the Christians, that, according to their sad 
confession, God alone knew how many had 
been slain. The victorious Saracen overrun 
the provinces of Aquitania, whoso GalHc 
names are disguised rather than lost in 
the modern appellations of Perigord, Saint- 
onge, and Poitou ; liis standards were planted 
on the walls, or at least before the gates of 
Tours and of Sens; and his detachments 
overspread the kingdom of Burgundy, as far 
as the well-known cities of Lyons and Be- 
san^on. The memory of these devastations, 
for Abderame did not spare the country or 
the people, was long preserved by tradition, 
and the invasion of France by the Moors or 
Mohammedans affords the groundwork of 
those fables which have been so wildly di»- 
figured in the romances of chivalry, and so 
elegantly adorned by the Italian muse. In 
the decline of society and art, the deserted 
cities could supply a slender booty to the Sar- 
acens ; their richest spoils were found in the 
churches and monasteries, which they strip- 
ped of their ornaments and deUvered to the 
flames. ) A victorious line of march had been 
prolonged above a thousand miles from the 
rock of Gibraltar to the banks of the Loire ; 
the repetition of an equal space would have 
carried the Saracens to the confines of Po- 
land and the Highlands of Scotland ; the 
Rhine is not more impassable than the Nile 
or Euphrates, and the Arabian fleet might 
have sailed without a naval combat into the 
mouth of the Thames. Perhaps the interpre- 
tation of the Koran would now be taught in 
the schools of Oxford, and her pupils might 
demonstrate to a circumcised people the sanc- 
tity of tlie truth of the revelation of Moham- 
med.t 

From such calamities was Christendom de- 
Uvered by the genius and fortune of one man. 

• Creasy. 

t Gibbon's sneering remark, that if the Saracen con- 
quest had not been checked, " perhaps the interpretation 
of the Koran would now be taught in the schools of Ox- 
ford, and her pulpits might demonstrate to a circumcifsed 
people the sanctity of the truth of the revelation of Mo- 
hammed," has almost an air of regret. — Creaky. 

Gibbon himself, in a foot-note, disproves the truth of 
Mr. Creasy' s surmise. 

, 41 



Charles, the illegitimate son of the elder Pe- 
pin, was content with the titles of Mayor or 
Duke of the Franks ; but he deserved to be- 
come the father of a line of kings. In a la- 
borious administration of twenty-four yeare 
he restored and supported the dignity of the' 
throne, and the rebels of Germany and Gaul 
were successively crushed by the activity of 
a warrior who, in the same campaign, could 
display his banner on the Elbe, the Rhone, 
and the shores of the ocean. In the pubhc 
danger he was summoned by the voice of his 
country, and his rival, the Duke of Aquitain, 
was reduced to appear among the fugitives 
and supplicants. " Alas 1" exclaimed the 
Franks, " what a misfortune ! what an in- 
dignity ! "We have long heard of the name 
and conquests of the Arabs ; we were ap- 
prehensive of their attack from the East; 
they have now conquered Spain, and invade 
our country on the side of the west. Tet 
their numbers, and (since they have no buck- 
lers) their arms are inferior to our own." 
" If you follow my advice," replied the pru- 
dent mayor of the palace, "you will not in- 
terrupt their march, nor precipitate your 
attack. They are hke a torrent which it is 
dangerous to stem in its career. The thirst 
of riches, and the consciousness of success, 
redouble their valor, and valor is of more 
avail than arms or numbers. Be patient till 
they have loaded themselves with the en- 
cumbrance of wealth. The possession of 
wealth will divide their councils, and assure 
your victory." ; This subtle policy is, perhaps, 
a refinement of the Arabian writer's ;* and 

* "Prosperity," says an Arabian writer, "made the 
Arabians insatiable. * » * AH the nations of the 
Franks trembled at the terrible army, and they betook 
them to their king, Caldus, and told him of the havoc 
made by the Moslem's horsemen ; and how they rode at 
their wUl through all the land of Narbonne, Toulouse, 
and Bordeaux. Then the king bade them be of good 
cheer, and oflfered to aid them. And in the 114th year 
(of the Hegira), he mounted his horse, and he took with 
him a host that could not be numbered, and went against 
the Moslems. And he came upon them at the great city 
of Tours. And Abderrahman and other prudent cava- 
liers saw the disorder of the Moslem troops, who were 
loaded with spoil ; but they did not venture to displease 
the soldiers by ordering them to abandon every thing 
except their arms and war-horsos. And Abderrahman 
trusted in the valor of his soldiers, and in the good for- 
tune which had ever attended him. But sucli defect of 
discipline always is fatal to armies. So Abderrahman 
and his host attacked Tours to gain still more spoils, and 
they fought against it so fiercely that they stormed the 
city almost before the very eyes of those that had come 
to save it ; and the fury and the cruelty of the Moslems 
tiinard the city was like the fury and cruelty of raging 
ti,:;ers. It was manifest that God's chastisement was 
sure to follow such extremes; and Fortune thereupon 
turned her back upon the Moslems. Near the river 
Owar (probably the Loire), the two great hosts of the 
two languages, and the two creeds, were set in array 
against each other. The hearts of Abderrahman, his 
captains, and his men, were filled with pride and wrath, 
and they were the first to begin the fight. The Moslem 
horsemen dashed fierce and frequent forward against the 
battalions of the Franks, who resisted manfully, and 
many fell dead on either side, until the going down of 
the sun. Night parted the two armies ; but in the gray 
of the morning the Moslems returned to the battle. 



642 



TOWTOK 



the situation of Charles ■will suggest a 
more narrow and selfish motive of procrasti- 
nation — the secret desire of humbling the 
pride and wasting the provinces of the rebel 
Duke of Aquitain. It is yet more probable 
that the delays of Charles were inevitable and 
reluctant. A standing army was unknown 
under the first and second race ; more than 
half the kingdom was now in the hands of 
the Saracens; according to their respective 
situation, the Franks of Neustria and Austria 
were too conscious or too careless of the im- 
pending danger ; and the voluntary aids of 
the Gepidas and Germans were separated by 
a long interval from the standard of the Chris- 
tian general. No sooner had he collected his 
forces than he sought and found the enemy 
in the center of France, between Tours and 
Poitiers. His well-conducted march was 
covered by a range of hills, and Abderame 
appears to have been surprised by his unex- 
pected presence. The nations of Asia, Africa, 
and Europe advanced with equal ardor to an 
encounter which would change the history 
of the world.', 

In the six first days of desultory combat, 
the horsemen and archers of the east maintain- 
ed their advantage ; but in the closer onset on 
the seventh day, the Orientals were oppressed 
by the strength and stature of the GermanSj'^ 
who with stout hearts and iron hands, as- 
serted the civil and religious liberty of their 
posterity. The epithet of Martel, the Hammer, 
which has been added to the name of Charles, 
is expressive of his weighty and irresist- 
ible strokes ; * the valor of Eaides was excit- 
ed by resentment and emulation, and their 
companions in the eye of history are the 
true Peers and PaUadins of French cliivalry. 
After a bloody field, in which Abderame was 
slain, the Saracens in the close of the evening 
retired for the night. In the disorder and 
dispair of the night the various tribes of Ye- 
men and Damascus, of Africa and Spain, 
were provoked to turn their arms against 

Their cavaliers had soon hewn their way into the center 
of the Christian host. But many of the Moslems were 
fearful for the safety of the spoil which they had stored 
in their tents, and a false cry arose in their ranks that 
some of the enemy were plundering their camp ; where- 
upon several squadrons of the Moslem horsemen rode 
off to protect their tents But it seemed as if they fled ; 
and all the host was trouhled. And while Abderrahman 
strove to check their tumult, and to lead them back to 
battle, the warriors of the Franks came around him, 
and he was pierced through with many spears, so that 
he died. Then all the host fled before the enemy, and 
many died in the flight. This deadly defeat of the Mos- 
lems, and the loss of the great leader and good cavalier 
Abderrahman, took place in the ll.'Jth year." Such is the 
Arabian account, according to Creasy, of the battle of 
Tours — Ei). 

♦The war-god of tho creed of the forefathers of 
Charles, is also sometimes called Thor with the hammer 
The hammer was Thor's favorite weapon ; and w.as pos- 
sessed of magical powers ; whenever its owner cast it 
from his hand, after inflicting the blow, it returned to 
his gnisp again of its own accord. It is reported that 
Charles used a weapon of this descrijHion at the battle 



each other : the remains of their host were 
suddenly dissolved, and each emir consulted 
his safety by a hasty and separate retreat. 
At the dawn of the day, the stillness of the 
hostile camp was suspected by the victorious 
Christians : on the report of the spies, they 
ventured to explore the riches of the vacant 
tents ; but, if we except some celebrated 
relics, a small portion of the spoil was return- 
ed to the innocent and lawful owners. The 
joyful tidings were soon diffused over the 
Catholic world, and tlie monks of Italy could 
affirm and believe that .350,000 or 375,000 of 
tlie Mohammedans perished by the hammer of 
Charles, while no more than 1,500 Christians 
were slain in the field of Tours. But this 
incredible tale is sufficiently disproved by the 
caution of the French general, who appre- 
hended the snares and accidents of a pursuit, 
and dismissed his German allies to their 
native forests. The inactivity of a conqueror 
betrays the loss of strength and blood, and 
the most cruel execution is inflicted, not iu 
the ranks of battle, but on the backs of a fly- 
ing enemy. Yet the victory of the Franks 
was complete and final. Aquitain was re- 
covered by the arms of Eudes ; the Arabs 
never resumed the conquest of Gaul, and 
they were soon driven beyond the Pyrenees 
by Charles Martel, and his valiant race. — Gib- 
bon. 

m TOWTON, A.D. 1461.— On the 29th of 
March, 1461, a bloody battle was fought near 
Towton, in England, between the annies of 
the houses of York (Edward IV.) and Lan- 
caster (Henry VI.) This great battle is sup- 
posed to be the most fierce and bloody that 
ever happened in any domestic war. The 
soldiers, animated with that hatred and ani- 
mosity which only a civil war can engender, 
fought with a fury and obstinacy on both 
sides rarely equaled. At length the army of 
Henry VI. were defeated, after sustaining a 
loss of 37,000 men. Edward issued orders 
to give no quarter, and the most merciless 
slaughter took place. Henry was made 
prisoner, and confined in the Tower ; and his 
queen Margaret fled to Flanders. 

. When Edward IV. assumed the title of 
King of England, he was not ignorant that 
he held it by a very precarious tenure. The 
losses and advantages of both parties, the 
houses of York and Lancaster were nearly 
balanced, and if he was acknowledged by the 
southern, his rival could depend on the sup- 
port of the northern counties. The Earl of 
Warwick, anxious to bring the question to 
an issue, marched from London at the head 
of a body of veterans ; Edward in a few days 
followed with the main army ; and by the 
time of his arrival at Pontefract, 49,000 men 
had arrayed themselves under his banner. 
The preparations of the house of Lancaster 



TREBIA. 



643 



were equally formidable. The Duke of 
Somerset with 60,000 infantry and cavalry 
lay in the neighborhood of York ; and Queen 
Margaret, who with her husband (Henry VI.) 
and son, had consented to remain within the 
city, employed all her address to confirm their 
loyalty, and animate their courage. Both 
armies advanced toward Ferrybridge. The 
passage had been gained on the part of Ed- 
ward, by Lord Fitzwalter ; but that nobleman 
was slain by Lord Clifford, who, within a few 
hours, met on the same spot with a similar 
fate from Lord Falconberg. The next day, 
(the 29tb of March, 1461), between the vil- 
lages of Towton and Saxton was fought a 
battle wliich fixed the crown on the brow of 
Edward. The engagement began in the 
morning, amid a heavy fall of snow ; the ob- 
stinacy of the combatants protracted it till 
three in the afternoon. At that hour the 
Lancasterians began to give way, at first, 
leisurely, and in good order ; but finding 
their retreat interrupted by the river Cock, 
they abandoned themselves to despair, and 
while some plunged into the torrent, others 
offered themselves without resistance to the 
swords of the enemy. Edward had forbid- 
den his followers to give quarter, and as the 
pursuit and slaughter continued all the night, 
and a great part of the following day, one 
half of the Lancasterians are said to have per- 
ished. The Earl of Northumberland, and six 
barons feP in the battle ; the Earls of Devon 
and Wiltshire were taken in their flight, and 
beheaded. The Dukes of Somerset and 
Exeter had the good fortune to reach York, 
and conducted Henry and his family to the 
borders. The victory was decisive; but it 
cost the nation a deluge of blood. Beside 
those who perished in the waters, a cotem- 
porary writer assures us that 37,000 men lay 
dead on the field of strife. Edward returned 
to London, Avhere the ceremony of his coro- 
nation took place soon afterward. 

TREBIA, B.C. 217.— Trebia is the modern 
as well as the ancient name of a stream in 
Italy, which rises in the Apennines, and is 
composed of a multitude of torrents, wliich, 
when swollen by the melted snows, accumu- 
lated during the winter among the ridges of 
the Apennines, form a stream of more than a 
mile broad, and of vast rapidity. During the 
summer months its channel is almost dry. It 
empties into the river Po, near Placenza. 

The Roman army, under the command of 
Sempronius, who had been called into Italy 
from Sicily, when Hannibal entered the 
former country, was encamped on the banks 
of the river Trebia. Hannibal, after defeat- 
ing Scipio at the battle of Ticinus, advanced 
toward the Roman camp, and encamped 
with his army on the opposite bank of the 
river. The armies lying so near one another 



gave occasion to frequent skirmishes, in one 
of which Sempronius, at the head of a body 
of horse, gained a slight advantage over a 
body of Carthaginians. This inconsiderable 
success seemed to him a complete victory. 
So elated was he that he boasted that he had 
revived the courage of the Romans, which 
they had lost in the battle of Ticinus, and he 
determined at once to attack the enemy, in 
defiance to Scipio's advice to the contrary. 
His army consisted of 16,000 Romans, and 
20,000 alUes, exclusive of his cavahry. The 
troops of the enemy amounted to nearly the 
same number. Upon learning that the Rom- 
ans were about to attack him, Hannibal 
ordered Mago, one of his generals, to lie in 
ambush, with 2,000 men, consisting of horse 
and foot, on the steep banks of a small rivu- 
let which ran between the two camps. He 
then caused a detachment of Numidian cav- 
alry to cross the Trebia, with orders to ad- 
vance as far as the very barriers of the 
enemy's camp, in order to provoke them to 
fight, and then to retreat in order to draw 
the Romans after them. What Hannibal 
had foreseen came directly to pass. Sem- 
pronius, prompted more by eager courage 
than by slow discretion, detached his whole 
cavalry against the Numidians, and then 
0,000 Ught-armed troops, who were soon 
Ibllowed by aU the rest of the army. The 
Numidians fled as they were directed by 
Hannibal. The Romans, certain of an easy 
victory, followed, and plunging into the river, 
which was swollen with the torrents that 
had fallen in the night from the neighboring 
mountains, they waded up to their very arm- 
pits in the rushing water across the stream. 
It was in the month of December ; the day 
was bitter cold, and the snow fell incessantly. 
The Romans had left their camp fasting, 
whereas the Carthaginians had, by Hanni- 
lial's order, eaten and drunk plentifully in 
their tents ; had rubljed themselves with oil, 
and had warmed their armor before fires in 
their tents before they put it on. No sooner 
had the Romans reached the opposite bank 
of the river than they were attacked by the 
enemy. The Romans defended themselves 
with desperate valor; but, half exhausted 
with cold, hunger, and the fatiguing passage 
over the river, their cavalry was soon broken 
by the Carthaginians, and put to flight. The 
infantry soon were in disorder also. At a 
proper time the soldiers in the ambuscade 
rushed forth, and suddenly fell upon the rear 
of the Roman army. Their overthrow was 
now complete. A body of 10,000 Romans 
resolutely fought their way through the 
Gauls and Africans, of whom they made a 
dreadful slaughter ; but as they could neither 
assist their friends nor return to their camp, 
as the way to it was cut off by the Numidian 



644 



TREBIA. 



horse, they retreated in good order to Pla- 
oentia. The most of the rest were slain on 
the banks oi" the river, being trampled to 
death by the elephants and horses of the 
Carthaginians. Those who escaped joined 
those that had retired to Placentia. The 
Cartliaginians gained a complete victory, and 
their loss was inconsiderable, except that a 
great number of their horses and elephants 
were destroyed by the cold, the rain, and the 
snow. Of the elephants they saved but one 
only. See Battles of Ticinus, Thrasymenus, 
and CanncB. 

A.D. 1799.— The battle of the Trebia, be- 
tween the allied army of Russia and Austria 
and the republican forces of France, was of 
three days' duration. The French occupied a 
plain which was intersected by the rivers 
Nura, Trebia, and Tidone. The larger part 
of their forces were on the Nura, and were 
commanded by Macdonald; the divisions of 
Victor, Dombrowsky, and Rusca were in ad- 
vance on the Trebbia, and their orders were 
to cross the stream, in order to overthrow 
the Austrian forces, with Suwarrow at their 
head, stationed behind the Tidone. Accord- 
ingly, early on the morning of the ITtli of 
June, the republicans crossed both the Tre- 
bia and Tidone, and fell upon the imperialists 
with such force, that soon they were driven 
back in disorder; but Suwarrow, judging 
from the loud sound of the cannonading which 
was taking place, sent Chartellar with the 
advanced guard of the main army to their re- 
lief, and tlius affairs were speedily changed. 
The Austriaas rallied, and commenced a 
fierce attack on the division of Victor, while 
the Russian infantry, under Bagrathion, sup- 
ported the left of the imperiaUsts. Soon 
after, Dombrowsky, by a sudden movement, 
brought up his Polish division, captured eight 
pieces of cannon, and pushed forward to Car- 
amel ; but at tliis critical moment Suwarrow 
ordered a charge in flank by Prince Gortscha- 
koflf, with two regiments of Cossacks and 
four battalions, while Ott attacked them in 
front. This movement proved decisive ; the 
Poles were routed, and fled in confusion over 
the Tidone. During this time the right of 
the republicans, composed of Victor's' divis- 
ion, withstood all the efforts of Bagrathion, 
and was advancing along the Po to gain pos- 
session of the bridge St. Giovanni, when the 
rout of Dombrowsky's division caused them 
to retire. Their retreat was conducted in 
good order till the retiring columns were 
charged by the Cossacks, who had routed the 
Poles; in vain the French formed squares, 
and received their enemy with a heavy fire ; 
they were broken, great part cut to pieces, 
and the remainder fled in disorder over the 
Trebia. The Russians, in the ardor of pur- 
suit, plunged into the stream ; but so destruct- j 



ivc was the fire from the batteries of the 
French on the other side, that they were 
compelled to return with great loss ; and the 
hostile armies encamped for the night on 
ground, which nineteen hundred years before 
was occupied by the troops of Hannibal and 
the Roman legions. 

Suwarrow, during the night, brought up 
all his forces, and, encouraged by his success 
on the preceding day, formed his plans for a 
general action. He concluded that Mac- 
donald's principal object would be to main- 
tain his present position in the mountains, as 
it afforded him communication with Morcau, 
consequently, he directed toward his own 
right, by which that quarter was to be at- 
tacked, his best infantry, consisting of the 
divisions of Bagrathion and Schwickousky, 
under the orders of Prince Rosenberg. These 
troops were commanded to pass the Trebia, 
and advance by Lettimo to St. Georgia, on 
the Aura, in order to interpose between the 
French left and the mountains. The center 
was headed by Mel.is, supported by a pow- 
erful reserve under Fiaelich, while Ott, with 
a small body formed the left, and was estab- 
lished on the high road to Placentia. Suwar- 
row's general instructions to the army were, 
to fight in large masses, and as much as pos- 
sible with the bayonet. Macdonald, not 
supposing that the battle would occur until 
the day following, had only the divisions of 
Victor, Dombrowsky, and Rusca, with the 
brigade of Salin in position on the Trebia ; 
those of Olivier and Montrichard could not 
arrive in town tiU noon. At six o'clock a 
furious action commenced between the troops 
of Bagrathion and Victor's division, which 
formed the extreme left of the French, and 
rested on the mountains. The French gen- 
eral, seeing an attack was certain, crossed the 
Trebia, and advanced against the enemy. 
A bloody battle took place on the ground 
intersected by the Torridella, till at length, 
toward the close of the day, the steady cour- 
age of the Russians prevailed, and the French 
were driven with great slaughter over the 
Trebia, followed by the allies, who advanced 
as far as Lettimo. Salin's division, which 
formed the right of the French, retreated 
with difQculty across the river. In the mid- 
dle of the day the divisions Olivier and Mont- 
richard arrived to support the center; but 
nothing was gained by them, and as night 
approached they retired over the river, which 
again formed the line of separation between 
the hostile armies. Both parties being worn 
out with fatigue, lay down around their 
watch-fires, on opposite shores of the gravelly 
bed of the Trebia. The corps of Rosenberg 
only had crossed the stream, and reached 
Lettimo, in the rear of the French lines ; but, 
becoming uneasy at being separated from the 



TREBIA. 



645 



remainder of the army, and ignorant of the 
great advantages of its position, passed an 
anxious night in square, with the cavalry- 
bridled and the men sleeping on their guns, 
and before the break of day, withdrew to the 
side of the river occupied by the Russians. 
Toward midnight, three battalions of the 
French, being misled by false report?, entered, 
in disorder, into the bed of the Trebia, and 
opened a fire of musketry upon the Russian 
videttes, which caused both armies to start to 
arms ; the horse on both sides rushed into 
the river ; the artillery played without dis- 
tinguishing, on friends and foes, and an un- 
common spectacle was witnessed of a combat 
by moonlight, and both forces more than 
knee deep in water. After a time the 
officers succeeded in stopping this useless 
butchery, and the two armies, separated only 
by a stream, were soon asleep within a few 
yards of each other, and surrounded by the 
dead and dying. 

For a third time the sun rose on this scene 
of destruction, yet neither party showed any 
disposition to end the battle. Suwarrow, 
reinforced by five battalions and six squad- 
rons, which had come up from the other side 
of the Po, again strengthened his right and 
ordered Rosenberg to press vigorously on in 
his quarter, and directed Melas to stand 
ready to support him with the reserve. 
Time was of great value ; even an hour's delay 
was not to be thought of, for the Russian 
general knew that Moreau had left his posi- 
tion on the Apennines, that the opposing force 
was not sufficient to oppose his progress, and 
he was in momentary expectation of hearing 
the distant sound of his cannon in the rear 
of the army. Every thing, therefore, de- 
pended on a vigorous prosecution of the ad- 
vantages already gained, so as to render the 
co-operation of the two French armies im- 
possible. On the side of the republicans, 
Macdonald had collected all his troops, and 
expecting the arrival of Moreau, on the next 
day, resolved to resume the offensive. His 
plan was to turn at once both flanks of the 
enemy, an operation always hazardous, unless 
conducted by a greatly superior army, by 
reason of the dispersion of force which is re- 
quired, and doubly so in this case, from the 
great danger he ran of one of his wings being 
driven into the Po. Dombrowsky was to 
commence the action by moving in the di- 
rection of Nivian, to outflank the corps of 
Rosenberg, while Rusca and Victor attacked 
it in front. Olivier and Montrichard were to 
force the passages of the river in the center, 
while the extreme right, consisting of the 
brigade of Salin and the reserve of Watrin, 
were to drive back the left of the Russians 
by interposing between it and the river Po. 
Owing to the great fatigue of the men, the 



action was not resumed until ten o'clock. 
Suwarrow was just beginning to get his 
troops in motion when the French appeared 
in two Hnes on the opposite shore of the 
Trebia, with the intervals between the col- 
umns filled with cavalry, and the first col- 
umn hurriedly crossed the stream, with the 
water nearly up to the necks of the soldiers, 
and fiercely advanced to the attack. The 
Russian right was soon outflanked by Dom- 
browsky ; and Suwarrow, seeing the danger 
in that direction, ordered the division Bagra- 
thion to throw back its right, so as to face 
the enemy, and after a fierce combat, suc- 
ceeded in driving the Poles over the river. 
But by tills measure he uncovered the flank 
of the division Schwickousky, and it was 
speedily enveloped by Victor and Rusca, 
driven back to Casaleggio, and only owed its 
safety to the invincible firmness of the Rus- 
sian infantry, who formed square, faced about 
on all sides, and by a continued fire main- 
tained their position till Bagrathion came up 
in their rear, and Chastelbac brought up four 
battalions to attack them in front. The Poles, 
discouraged by their defeat, remained inact- 
ive, and after a bloody strife the French were 
overthrown, and Victor and Rusca driven 
with a severe loss over the Trebia. In the 
center Olivier and Montrichard had crossed 
the river and attacked the Austrians under 
Melas, took a few pieces of artillery, and 
threw the line into confusion. Montrichard 
was advancing against the division Forster, 
in the middle of the Russian hne, when the 
Prince of Lichtenstein, at the head of the 
reserve, comprising the flower of the allied 
army, suddenly fell upon their flank when 
already disordered by success, and threw 
them into confusion which soon increased 
into a defeat by the heavy fire of Forster on 
the other side. Tliis decided the fate of the 
day. Forster was now able to come to 
the assistance of Suwarrow on the right: 
the reserve supported Melas, who had 
been oi'dered in the same direction. The 
Prince Lichtenstein charged the division of 
Olivier with such force, that he was com- 
pelled to retire across the river. Watrin ad- 
vanced along the Po at the extreme left of 
the allied army, without meeting any resist- 
ance ; but he Avas at last obhged to retreat to 
avoid being cut off and driven into the river 
by the victorious center. Being left master 
of the left bank of the river, Suwarrow made 
several attempts to cross it ; but he was re- 
pulsed by the firmness of the French reserves, 
and night again fell upon this scene of car- 
nage. The battle of Trebia was the most 
strongly contested, and the most bloody, of 
all that had been fought since the commence- 
ment of the war, since out of 36,000 men in 
the field, the French, in three days, had lost 



646 



TRENTOK 



more than 12,000 in killed and wounded, and 
the allies about the same number. Although 
the losses were nearly equal on both sides, j 
the relative situations of the parties were j 
very different at the close of the strife. The 
allies were expecting large reinforcements, 
which would make good the number lost; 
wliile the French had exhausted their last 
reserves, were discouraged by defeat, and 
had no second army to fall back upon in 
their distress. These considerations deter- 
mined Macdonald; and, accordingly, he de- 
camped during the night over tlie Nura, and 
marched toward the Apennines by the val- 
ley of Taro. 

TRENTON, A.D. 177G.— This city is the 
capital of the State of New Jersey, and is 
situated on the Delaware river, about thirty 
miles north-east from PhUadelpliia, and fifty- 
seven miles south-west of New York. The 
Assunpink creek separates the city proper 
from South Trenton ; and the former villages 
of Bloomsbury, Lamberton, and Mill Hill, 
have been incorporated with the borough of 
South Trenton. 

In the early part of the month of Decem- 
ber, 1776, Trenton was occupied by 1,500 
Hessians, under Colonel Rail, and a body of 
British Ught horse. Newark, New Bruns- 
wick, Princeton, Mount Holly, BurUngton, 
Black Horse, and Bordentown, were also 
occupied by detachments of the British army. 
Indeed, nearly 4,000 German and Enghsh 
troops were placed in cantonments along the 
New Jersey shore of the Delaware river, 
from Trenton to Burhngton, and Princeton 
and New Brunswick were occupied by strong 
British detachments. The whole British 
army in New Jersey was under the com- 
mand of Lord Cornwallis. Meanwhile 
Washington, Avith the American army, was 
at Newtown, a small village about two miles 
from the Delaware, north of Bristol. The 
American general was actively engaged in 
strengthening his army, and by the offer of 
liberal bounties, and under the influence of a 
stirring appeal put forth by Congress, recruits 
constantly flowed to Washington's standard. 
He was joined almost simultaneously by 
Lee's detachment under SulHvan, and anoth- 
er from Ticonderoga, and on the 24th of De- 
cember, he found himself at the head of 
nearly 5,000 efi'ective troops. Washington 
resolved to surprise the enemy at Trenton. 
The British posts at Mount Holly, Burling- 
ton, Black Horse, and Bordentown, were to 
be attacked at the same time by the Penn- 
sylvania militia, under Generals Cadwallader 
and Ewing. The former was to cross the 
Delaware near Bristol the latter below Tren- 
ton Falls. Meanwhile, Washington, in per- 
son, was to take command of the main body 
of the army, assisted by Generals Greene 



and Sullivan, and Colonel Knox, and was to 
cross the DelaAvare at McConkey's Ferry, 
and advance against tlie enemy at Trenton. 
General Putnam, who had been informed of 
Washington's intention to attack Trenton, 
sent Colonel Grifhn with 450 men, from 
Philadelphia into New Jersey, with orders to 
proceed to Mount Holly, for the purpose of 
attracting the attention of Colonel Donop at 
Bordentown. He was directed not to hazard 
a battle but to retreat down the river on the 
appearance of the enemy. Tins movement 
produced the desired effect. Donop, instead 
of remaining in Bordentown to support Rail 
at Trenton, allowed himself to be drawn in 
pursuit of the Americans, and he did not re- 
turn until too late to be of any assistance. 
Washington chose the night of Christmas for 
the expedition against Trenton. He was 
well acquainted with the habit of the Ger- 
mans of celebrating that day with feasting 
and drinking, and therefore thought that 
many of the Hessian soldiers would be almost 
helpless from the effects of intemperance. 
At dusk on the evening of the 25th of De- 
cember, the Americans paraded at McConk- 
ey's Ferry (now Taylorsville), and, in three 
columns marched toward the river. Wash- 
ington had hoped to be at Trenton by mid- 
night ; but the extreme cold weather of the 
preceding twenty-four hours had thrown 
serious obstacles in his path. The river was 
full of masses of floating ice ; the night was 
dark, and a heavy storm of sleet and snow 
arising, the general was doubtful whether he 
could effect a crossing at all. The troops 
embarked early in the evening in boats and 
batteaux, and commenced the perilous voy- 
age. Whole hours were consumed in the 
passage; they did not reach the western 
bank till nearly four o'clock in the morning. 
The troojw were here separated into two di- 
visions, one of which, under Sullivan, turn- 
ing to the right, marched toward Trenton by 
the road which was along the river; the 
other, led by Washington in person, with 
Lord Stirling, Greene, Mercer, and Stevens, 
took the upper or Pennington road. The 
distance by both these routes was nearly 
equal, and the commander-in-chief ordered 
both divisions immediately on forcing the out- 
guards, to push directly into the town, and 
charge the enemy before they had time to 
form. Both divisions marched so silently 
that they advanced to within a short distance 
of the picket guards on the outskirts of the 
city, before they were discovered by the en- 
emy. The two parties encountered the Brit- 
ish outposts at the same time, and a sharp 
skirmish ensued. The British pickets were 
soon driven into the town, closely pursued 
I by the Americans. The drums of the Hes- 
1 sians sounded to arms, and in a few moments 



TRENTON. 



647 



Colonel Rail marshaled his troops into bat- 
tle order. A portion of Washington's troops 
pushed down King (now Warren) street, and 
a part down Queen (now Greene) street, 
Sullivan's division passed through Second 
and Front-streets. The enemy were thus 
hemmed in by the Assumpink, a small stream 
running through the town on the south, and 
the American army. Captain Forest planted 
a six-gun battery at the head of King-street ; 
and opened it upon the enemy. The Hes- 
sians advanced to form a battery in the same 
street ; but Captain William Washington and 
Lieutenant James Monroe, perceiving their 
design, rushed forward with a small party, 
and fell furiously upon the artillerymen, driv- 
ing them from their pieces and capturing two 
of the pieces just as the gunners were about 
to fire. Captain Washington was after- 
ward highly distinguished as a colonel of 
dragoons in the campaigns of the South. 
Lieutenant Monroe was afterward President 
of the United States. They were both 
wounded while performing the gallant ex- 
ploit. 

Colonel Rail, having formed his men for 
action, advanced to drive back the enemy; 
but the Americans advancing steadily, poured 
close and well-directed fires in upon the 
Hessians, thinning their ranks and throwing 
them into disorder. At length Colonel Rail 
fell from his horse mortally wounded. He 
was borne to his quarters and Colonel Schef- 
fer, his next in command, assumed the con- 
trol of his troops. The Americans now 
charged the Hessians with the utmost fury ; 
the latter fled in disorder, and attempted to 
escape by the road to Princeton. Their re- 
treat was cut off, however, by a body of 
Pennsylvania riflemen under Captain Hand. 
The Germans, ignorant of the weakness of 
the force that opposed them, threw down 
their arms and cried quarter. The English 
light horse and some infantry fled to Borden- 
town at the first alarm, ^hese troops would 
also have fallen into the hands of the Amer- 
icans, had General Ewing succeeded in cross- 
ing the Delaware at Trenton, as previously 
arranged. The troops under Donop at Bor- 
dentown might also have been captured had 
not the ice prevented him from crossing the 
river at Bristol, with his whole force. When | 
a portion of his infantry had reached the 
west bank, it was found impossible to ad- 
vance with the artillery, he therefore ordered 
them back, and abandoned the enterprise. ^ 
Washington's victory at Trenton was deci- 
sive. The Americans lost in the engagement | 
only two men killed, and two frozen to death, i 
The enemy lost thirty privates and six offi- ! 
cers killed, and 23 oflicers and 886 men j 
made prisoners. The number of prisoners 
swelled to over 1,000, when all those were ! 



collected who had concealed themselves in 
the houses of the town. Six brass field- 
pieces, 1,000 stand of arms, and four stand- 
ards, fell into the hands of the victors as 
tropliies. As the American force was not 
sufficient to cope with those which the En- 
glish had in the vicinity, Washington thought 
it prudent to evacuate Trenton, and accord- 
ingly passed over the river into Pennsylvania 
with his prisoners and trophies. At midnight 
of the day of victory, the whole army was 
encamped in their old quarters at McConkey's 
Ferry. Upon receiving intelligence of the 
disaster at Trenton, all the British and Hes- 
sians at Bordentown retreated to Princeton, 
with the exception of a few that fled toward 
South Amboy and Brunswick. On the 27th 
of December Washington was vested by 
Congress with all the powers of a Dictator, 
and he received from Robert Morris, the great 
patriotic financier of the Revolution, a sea- 
sonable supply of money. Inspired by his 
victory at Trenton, and finding his army 
hopeful and much strengthened by new re- 
cruits and reinforcements, Washington re- 
solved to resume the offensive. On the 30th 
of December he re-crossed the Delaware, 
and took possession of Trenton. On the 2d 
of January 1777, having received intelligence 
that Cornwallis with a strong force was ap- 
proaching from Princeton, he encamped on 
the south side of the Assunpink, (now in 
South Trenton) upon some high gi'ound ex- 
tending toward the east from a small bridge 
that spanned the creek. On the .same day 
Cornwallis marched with the van guard of 
the British army, toward Trenton where he 
arrived at about four o'clock in the afternoon. 
The rear guard of his army was posted at 
Maidenhead, about half way between Prince- 
ton and Trenton. Other British regiments 
were on their march from New Brunswick 
to reinforce the main body of the army. 
Washington had sent out strong parties under 
General Greene to harass the troops of Corn- 
wallis on their march ; but the enemy pressed 
steadily forward driving the Americans before 
them, until they reached Trenton, where the 
patriots with some difficulty succeeded in 
rejoining the main body of their army. The 
Americans numbered about 5,000 men, the 
British army was of about the same strength. 
Washington immediately set about intrench- 
ing himself, having first strongly guarded the 
bridge with artillery. Cornwallis formed his 
army in sohd columns, and marching down 
Queen-street, attempted to force the bridge, 
but his troops were unable to breast the 
tempest which swept it from end to end, 
from the American artillery. A strong de- 
tachment also attempted to ford the stream ; 
but they were driven back by a vigorous fire 
of small arms and cannon. Both parties 



648 



TRIPOLI— TROT. 



maintained a vigorous cannonade until night- 
fall ; the Americans stood firm ; and the 
British although they made further and re- 
peated eftbrts to eflect a passage were inva- 
riably driven back. At each repulse a loud 
shout rang along the American Unes, and at 
length Cornwallis, beUeving their force to be 
much greater than it really was, resolved to 
discontinue hostihties and await the arrival 
of reinforcements in the morning. The 
American army was now in a critical situa- 
tion. CornwaUis evidently meditated a gen- 
eral engagement on the next day, and in such 
an event the Americans would undoubtedly 
suffer a defeat. A council of war was held. 
At first it was proposed either to retreat 
down the Delaware, and cross the river at 
Philadelphia or hazard a battle. Both of 
these expedients were deemed dangerous. 
Washington then advanced a proposal as bold 
as it was brilliant He resolved to abandon 
the banks of the Delaware and carry the 
war into the very heart of New Jersey. 
He proposed to withdraw silently from the 
Assunpink, and by a circuitous route, to ad- 
vance against Princeton, to capture the troops 
at that place, and if possible to seize upon 
the stores of the enemy at New Brunswick. 
This proposition was received favorably ; but 
the ground owing to a recent thaw was too 
soft to admit of an easy transit of the artil- 
lery. This difficulty was soon overcome, for 
while the council was in session, the wind 
changed to the north-west, and a sharp frost 
set in ; so that in the course of two hours 
the ground was as hard as stone. At one 
o'clock in the morning Washington stealthily 
withdrew with his army from Trenton, and 
advanced toward Princeton, ten miles dis- 
tant, by a new road, in order to await the 
rear guard of the enemy at Maidenhead, 
which lay on the direct road to Princeton. 
The baggage was sent down to Burlington. 
Washington ordered his camp-fires to be kept 
burning, and the sentinels to make their ac- 
customed rounds during the night. At day- 
break, the patrols and those who fed the fires, 
were directed to retreat hastily to the main 
body. CornwaUis was certain of victory on 
the following day ; but how great was his 
astonishment and dismay when he found the 
patriot camp-fires still burning, but the camp 
itself silent and deserted. None could tell 
in which direction the Americans had re- 
treated, until suddenly the boom of cannon 
and the din of strife in the direction of 
Princeton fell upon their ears. Cornwallis 
thought it was the rumbling of distant thun- 
der; but General Erskine, decided other- 
wise. " To arms, general I" he exclaimed, 
" Washington has out-generaled us. Let us 
fly to the rescue at Princeton !" 

TRIPOLI, A.D. 1108.— Tripoli, or Tarablus, 



a seaport town of Syria, was taken by the 
Crusaders in 1108. Previous to tlus it had 
been one of the most flourishing seats of 
Oriental literature, and possessed a large col- 
lection of the works of Persian and Arabic 
writers. It is stated that 100 copyists were 
constantly kept employed copying manu- 
scripts, and that the princes of TripoU were 
in the habit of sending messengers into foreign 
countries to discover and purchase rare and 
valuable works. Unfortunately, however, 
this extensive and precious collection, amount- 
ing, it is said to 100,000 volumes, was de- 
stroyed by the Crusaders, who displayed the 
same fanatical zeal, of which they accused 
the Arabs in the destruction of the Alexan- 
drine library. A priest in the suite of Count 
Bertrand de St. Griles, having visited an 
apartment of the library in which were a 
number of duplicate copies of the Koran, re- 
ported that it contained none but the impious 
works of Mohammed, and that, consequently, 
it should be destroyed. And as a matter of 
course, it was forthwith set on fire ! 

The operations of the American govern- 
ment against Tripoli, the capital of the coun- 
try of TripoH, in the northern part of Africa, 
do not come within the plan of our work. 
In a future volume which will contain 
descriptions of naval engagements, they will 
be found recorded under their proper head. 

TRIPOLITZA, A.D. 1821. — Tripolitza, a 
town of Greece, during the Greek revolution 
Avas taken in 1821, by the Greeks, by storm. 
The conquerors sacked the place mercilessly. 
In 1828, it was taken by the army of Ibraliim ■ 
Pasha, who razed it to the ground. It has 
recovered from the blow, and is now a flour- 
ishing place. 

TROY, B.C. 1184.— The site of the ancient 
city of Troy is supposed to have been on an 
eminence, at the southern extremity of tlie 
plain of Troy, nine miles south-east of the 
entrance of the Hellespont from the ^gean 
sea, near the modern town of Boonarbashi, in 
Asia Minor. 

This siege is the most celebrated in history 
or fiction, not so much on its own account, as 
from its good fortune in having the greatest 
poet the world has produced as its chronicler. 
If Homer had not placed this great siege 
in the regions of fable by his introductions of 
immortals into the action, it would still be a 
myth, as is all we know of Greece at the 
period at which it took place. Hypercritics 
have, indeed, endeavored to make over the 
whole of it to the muses Avho preside over 
fiction ; but we can not accede to their decis- 
ion. There is a vital reality in the characters 
of Homer, which proves that they did exist 
and act; a blind old bard might sing the 
deeds of heroes, and perhaps clothe those 
deeds with some of the splendor of his genius; 



TROTES— TUNIS. 



but we have no faith in his having created 
the men, any more than he did the immortals 
who belonged to the mythology of his country 
long before he was born. We have as per- 
fect faith in the history of the siege of Troy, 
as in most of the pages of what has been 
termed the " great lie." Independently of 
the work of genius forever associated with it, 
the siege of Troy is a memorable epoch in 
human annals. 

Tyndarus, the ninth King of LacedaBmon, 
had, by Leda, Castor and Pollux, who were 
twins, beside Helena, and Clytemnestra, the 
wife of Agamemnon, King of Mycente. 
Having survived his two sons, the twins, he 
became anxious for a successor, and sought 
for a suitable husband for his daughter 
Helena. All the suitors bound themselves 
by oath, to abide by the decision of the lady, 
who chose Menelaus, King of Sparta. She 
had not, however, lived above three years 
with her husband, before she was carried off 
by Alexander or Paris, son of Priam, King 
of the Trojans. In consequence of this 
elopement, Menelaus called upon the rulers 
of the European states of Greece, and more 
particularly upotl those who had been candi- 
dates for her hand, to avenge this Asiatic 
outrage. All answered to the summons, 
though some, like Ulysses, unwillingly. As 
every one knows, the siege lasted ten years ; 
which only goes to prove the discordant parts 
of which the besieging army was composed : 
had there been union beneath a completely 
acknowledged head, the city could not have 
held out so long by many years. But 
Agamemnon was like Godfrey of Bouillon in 
the Crusades — he was only a nominal chief, 
without a particle of real power over the 
fiery and rude leaders of the troops of adven- 
turers composing the army. This necessity 
for union is the principal lesson derived by 
posterity from the siege of Troy ; but to the 
Asiatics of the period, it must have been a 
premonitory warning of what they had to 
dread from the growing power of the Greeks. 
Divested of fable, and as many of the contra- 
dictions removed as possible, we believe the 
above to be the most trustworthy account of 
this celebrated affair — no one would think of 
going into the details, after Homer. Accord- 
ing to Bishop Ussher, the most safe chrono- 
logical guide, the siege of Troy took place 
1184 years before the birth of Christ, about 
the time that Jephtha ruled over the Jews. 

TROYES, A.D. 1429.— The city of Troyes 
in France, is situated on the Seine, ninety 
miles east of Paris. In the year 889, it was 
taken and burned by the Normans ; and in 
1415, it was captured by the Duke of Bur- 
gundy. Fourteen years afterward, in 1429, 
it was the scene of one of the most daring 
exploits of tlie heroine Joan of Arc, 



The Maid of Orleans had announced that 
her mission was confined to two objects — the 
deliverance of Orleans, and the consecration 
of the king at Rheims. After having gloriously 
fulfilled her first promise, she employed the 
ascendancy she had acquired to execute the 
second. Although the city of Rheims, and all 
the country from Chinon, where the king 
then resided, was in the power of the English, 
the French set forward on their march, with 
an army of 12,000 men. All the cities in 
their route opened their gates to them, with 
the exception of Troyes, which endeavored 
to arrest their progress. A council of war 
being called, Joan confidently assured them, 
that within three days, the king should be 
received in Troyes. 

" Say seven days, Joan," cried the Arch- 
bishop of Rheims, " say seven, Joan ; and we 
shall be right glad to see your prediction ful- 
filled." 

" Before three days are over," exclaimed 
the maid, " I tell you the king wiU be master 
of Troyes." 

They prepared for the attack. Joan ap- 
peared before the ramparts, advanced to the 
edge of the fosses, planted her banner, and 
called aloud for fascines to fill them up. Ter- 
ror instantly seized the besieged; they be- 
lieved their city taken, although there was 
yet no breach. They capitulated ; and 
Charles entered triumphantly into that city, 
where, eight years before, his ruin had been 
comtemplated, by excluding him from the 
throne. After the reduction of Troyes, Rheims 
was eager to receive the monarch, who re- 
paired thither on the 27th of July, 1429, 
and was consecrated the next day. — Roh- 
son. 

TUDELA, A.D. 1808.— Near Tudela, in 
Spain, in the year 1808, a battle was fought 
between the armies of France and Spain, 
which resulted in the total defeat of the Span- 
iards. 

TUNIS ,B.c. 334.— The mercenaries em- 
ployed by Carthage for its defense not re- 
ceiving their pay, revolted, to the number of 
100,000, and took possession of Tunis, of 
which they made a place of arms. During 
three years they had great advantages over 
the Carthaginians, and several times appeared 
before the gates of Carthage, with a threat 
of besieging it. At length Amilcar Barca 
was placed at the head of the troops of the 
repubhc ; and tliis general surprised the army 
of the rebels, and besieged them in their 
camp. The famine soon became so terrible 
that they were constrained to eat each other. 
After having suffered for a long time, they 
gave up their leaders, who were put to death. 
Amilcar afterward marched straight to Tunis, 
where the rest of the rebels were, under the 
command of a seditious chief named Mathos. 



I 



650 



TtJNIS. 



Tunis was carried, all the rebels were killed, 
and Matlios, their leader, terminated, by a 
shameful death, a lile stained by barbarous 
cruelties. 

Second Siege, a.d. 1159. — Abdoulmoumen 
had rendered himseh' redoutable by his victo- 
ries, and the whole of northern Africa trem- 
bled before this terrible and fortunate leader. 
Tunis alone was free ; it seemed to brave the 
conqueror, who threatened its ramparts. 
The Arab monarch was anxious to subdue 
this proud city. As, in order to approach it, 
it was necessary to cross vast deserts, he 
gathered together great masses of corn, which 
he caused to be buried in wells upon the 
route he was to take. He left Morocco at 
the head of 100,000 men, and summoned the 
governor to surrender. This nobleman, faith- 
ful to the King of Sicily, his master, rephed 
by a vigorous sortie, in which the barbarians 
were repulsed. This first success announced 
a continuation of triumphs ; but, in the night, 
17 of the principal inhabitants escaped from 
the city, and offered to open the gates to Ab- 
doulmoumen. This infamous treachery ren- 
dered that prince master of a place which 
might have defied all his efforts. 

Third Siege, a.d. 1270. — The numberless 
disasters which accompanied the first expe- 
dition of Louis IX. against the infidels, had 
not at all abated the ardor of that monarch, 
and he never laid down the cross after his re- 
turn from Palestine. The sad news which he 
daily received from thence only served to in- 
flame his zeal the more; and at length, in 
1270, he resolved to make fresh efforts to lib- 
erate the Holy City, and the unfortunate 
Christians it contained, from the yoke of the 
Mussulmans. Most of his nobles were eager 
to accompany their prince, the faithful Join- 
viUe being almost the only one who refused 
to share the perils of his good lord and mas- 
ter. He said, in full assembly, that the last 
crusade had ruined him ; and that the king 
could not be advised to undertake this new 
expedition, without his counselors incurring 
mortal sin. The good seneschal was so weak 
and debilitated that he could not bear the 
weight of his harness, or get on horseback. 
The French army, consisting of 60,000 men, 
embarked at Aigues-Mortes, on the first of 
July. They steered toward the coast of Bar- 
bary, where they soon arrived. 

On tlie western coast of Africa, opposite 
Sicily, is a penmsula, whose circumference is 
about 42 miles. This peninsula advances into 
the sea between two gulfs, of which the one 
on the west offers a commodious port. The 
other, between the east and the south, com- 
municates, by a canal, with a lake wliich ex- 
tends three leagues into the land, and which 
modern geographers call the Gouletta. It 
was there that stood the great rival of Kome, 



spreading itself to the two shores of the sea. 
The conquests of the Romans, the ravages 
even of the Vandals, had not utterly destroyed 
the once proud city of Carthage ; but in tlie 
seventh century, after being invaded and des- 
olated by the Saracens, it became Uttle more 
than a heap of ruins ; a hamlet upon the port, 
called Marsa, a tower on the point of the 
cape, a tolerably strong castle upon the hiU 
of Byrsa — this was all that remained of that 
city whose power dominated so long over the 
Mediterranean and the coasts of Asia and 
Africa, and contended in three wars with 
Rome for emi)ire and glory. 

At five leagues' distance from this remark- 
able site, toward the south-east, a httle be- 
yond the Gouletta, stands Tunis, a place so 
ancient that Scipio made himself master of 
it before he attacked Carthage. At the time 
of Louis's invasion, Tunis was one of the 
most flourisliing cities of Africa. It contained 
10,000 houses, and three large faubourgs ; the 
spoils of nations, the produce of an immense 
commerce had enriched it, and all that the 
art of fortification could invent, had been em- 
ployed in defending the access to it. 

At the sight of the Christian fleet, the in- 
habitants of the coast of Africa were seized 
with terror, and all who dwelt on the Car- 
thage coast fled away either toward the 
mountains or Tunis, abandoning several ves- 
sels in the port. The officer sent by the Icing 
to reconnoiter, reported that there was no 
Uving being on the strand or in the port, and 
that no time was to be lost. But the king 
was made over-prudent by the remembrance 
of past disasters, and it was determined not 
to land till the morrow. 

The next day, at dawn, the coast appeared 
covered with Saracens, most of them on 
horseback. This did not at all delay the 
landing of the Crusaders. At the approach 
of the Christians, instead of opposing them, 
tlie multitude of Saracens disappeared, which, 
for the former, was a most fortunate circum- 
stance, for, according to an eye-witness, they 
were in such disorder that 100 men might 
have stopped the whole army. 

When the army had landed, it was drawn 
up in order of battle, and, according to the 
laws of war, a herald read with a loud voice 
a proclamation by which the conquerors took 
possession of the territory. Louis himself 
had drawn up this proclamation, which began 
with these words: "Je vous dis le ban de 
notre Seigneur Jesus Christ, et de Louis, roi 
de France, son sergent." 

The baggage, provisions, and munitions of 
war were landed. A vast inclosure was 
marked out, and the tents were pitched. 
While employed in the ditches and intrench- 
ments, to defend the army from a surprise, a 
party was sent to take possession of the tower 



TUNIS. 



651 



at the point of the cape. The next day 500 
sailors planted the standard of the lihes upon 
the castle of Carthage. The hamlet of Marsa, 
which was close to the castle, falling at the 
same time into the hands of the Crusaders, 
they sent their -women and children tliither, 
and the army remained under canvas. 

Louis IX. had formed a strange idea that 
he could convert the inhabitants of Tunis ; 
but tills pious illusion soon faded away. The 
Mussulman prince replied to his proposal, 
that he would come and meet him at the head 
of 100,000 men, and would ask baptism of 
him on the field of battle ; the Moorish king 
added, that he had arrested all the Cliristians 
residing in his states, and that every one 
should be massacred if the Chi'istian army 
dared to insult his capital. 

These bravadoes had no effect upon Louis ; 
the Moors inspired no terrors, and did not 
conceal their own fears at the sight of the 
Crusaders. Never venturing to face their 
enemy, their bands, sometimes scattered, 
hovered about the Christian army, seeking to 
surprise wanderers from the camp; and 
sometimes united, they fell upon the ad- 
vanced posts, launched a few arrows, just 
exhibited their naked swords, and then reUed 
upon the swiftness of their horses for safety. 
They often had recourse to treachery : three 
of them came to the Christian camp, and said 
they wished to embrace the Christian faith ;' 
and a hundred others followed them, express- 
ing the same intention. They were received 
with open arms ; but, watching their oppor- 
tunity, they fell, sword in hand, upon some 
unguarded Frenchmen ; but upon the alarm 
being given were surrounded, and most of 
them killed. The three first-comers tlirew 
themselves on their knees, and implored the 
compassion of the chiefs. The contempt 
such enemies were held in obtained their 
pardon, and they were kicked out of the 
camp. 

Rendered bold by the inactivity of the 
Christian army, the Mussulmans at length 
presented themselves several times in the 
plains. Nothing would have been more easy 
than to attack and conquer them, but Louis 
had resolved to await the arrival of his bro- 
ther, Charles of Anjou, before he began the 
war; a fatal resolution that ruined every 
thing. The SiciUan monarch, who had prin- 
cipally promoted this ill-starred expedition, 
was doomed to complete by his delay the 
evil he had commenced by his counsels. 

So much time being afforded them, the 
Mussulmans flocked from all parts of Africa 
to defend the cause of Islamism. Thus the 
army of the Moors became formidable ; but 
it was not this crowd of Saracens that the 
Crusaders had most to fear. Other dangers, 
other misfortunes threatened them : the army 



wanted water ; they had none but salt pro- 
visions; the soldiers could not support the 
climate of Afi-ica; winds prevailed which, 
coming li-om the torrid zone, appeared to be 
accompanied by a devouring flame. The 
Saracens, on the neighboring mountains, 
stirred up the sand with certain instruments, 
and the hot dust fell in clouds upon the plain 
where the Christians were encamped. At 
length dysentery, the malady of hot climates, 
attacked them, and the plague, which seemed 
to spring up of itself from the burning soil, 
spread its contagion among them. 

The men were under arms night and day, 
not to defend themselves against an enemy 
who always ran away, but to avoid surprises. 
Most of the Crusaders sunk under the awful 
combination of fatigue, famine, and sickness. 
Some of the most renowned warriors of 
France fell a prey to the one or the other. 
They could not bury the dead ; the ditches 
of the camp were filled with carcasses, 
thrown in pCle-mele, which added to the cor- 
ruption of the air and the spectacle of the 
general desolation. 

Information was brought that the King of 
Sicily was about to embark with his army. 
This gave great joy, but did not mitigate the 
evils. The heats became insupportable; 
want of water, bad food, the diseases, and 
chagrin at being shut up in a camp without 
being allowed to fight, completed the dis- 
couragement of both soldiers and leaders. 
Louis endeavored to animate them by his 
words and Hs example, but he himself was 
seized with the dysentery. His sons, Prince 
Plailip, the Duke de Nevers, and the King of 
Navarre, with the legate, all experienced the 
effects of the contagion. The Duke de 
Nevers, who was much beloved by the king, 
was so dangerously ill that he was trans- 
ported on ship-board. Louis was constantly 
asking news of his son, but his attendants 
preserved a mournful silence. At length it 
was announced to the king that his son was 
dead, and, notwithstanding his piety and 
resignation, he was deeply affected. A short 
time after, the pope's legate died, much re- 
gretted by the clergy and the soldiers of the 
cross, who looked upon him as their spiritual 
father. 

In spite of his sufferings, in spite of his 
griefs, Louis was constantly engaged in the 
care of his army. Hq issued his orders as 
long as he had strength, dividing his time be- 
tween the duties of a Christian and those of 
a monarch. At length the fever increased; 
no longer able to attend to the wants of the 
army, or even to exercises of piety, he had a 
crucifix placed before him, and in silence im- 
plored the aid of Him who had suffered for 
mankind. 

The whole army was in mourning; the 



652 



TUNIS. 



commonest soldiers moved about in tears ; 
the prayers of all were offered up for the pres- 
ervation of so good a king. After giving 
most pious and salutary advice to his son 
Philip, both as a man and a king, and after 
taking an afiectionate leave of liis family, this 
good, religious, and exemplary man, but most 
mistaken monarch, expired at three o'clock 
in the evening of the 25th of August, 1270. 

On the very day of the death of Louis IX., 
his brother, the Duke of Anjou, landed with 
his army near Carthage. The trumpets and 
instruments of war resounded on the beach, 
but a solemn silence prevailed in the camp, 
and no one went to meet the Sicilians, whom 
they had looked for with so much impatience. 
Sad presentiments took possession of Charles. 
He preceded his army, flew to the tent of his 
brother, and found his body stretched upon 
its bed of ashes. Charles prostrated himself 
at his feet, which he bathed with his tears, 
calling upon him sometimes as his brother, 
sometimes as his lord. He remained in this 
attitude a long while, without heeding any 
of the persons who surrounded him, con- 
stantly addressing Louis as if he was living, 
and reproaching himself in accents of despair 
for not having heard, for not having imbibed 
the last words of the most affectionate of 
brothers, of the best of kings. 

The death of Louis restored the confidence 
of the Saracens; they took the mourning 
they observed in the camp for discourage- 
ment, and flattered themselves with an ap- 
proaching triumph over their enemies. But 
their hopes were of very short existence. 
During the sickness of Philip, now king, 
Charles of Anjou took the command of the 
army, and renewed the war with spirit. The 
soldiers he had brought with him were eager 
for battle, the diseases became less violent, 
and the Crusaders, so long confined to their 
camp, revived at the idea of the perils of war. 
Several battles were fought round the lake 
of Gouletta, which it was necessary for them 
to possess before they could invest Tunis. 
The Moors, who, only a few days before, had 
threatened the Christians with extermination 
or slavery, could not stand for a moment the 
shock of the Christian chivalry; not unfre- 
quently the arbalisters were sufficient to dis- 
perse innumerable multitudes. Horrible 
howHngs, the noise of drums and other loud 
instruments, announced their approach; 
clouds of dust, pouring down from the neigh- 
boring heights, announced their retreat and 
concealed their flight. In two renconters, 
however, they were caught, and left a great 
number of dead on the field. Another time 
their camp was seized and plundered. The 
sovereign of Tunis could not depend upon his 
army for the defense of his states, and he 
himself gave no example of bravery or con- 



duct to his soldiers. He remained constantly 
in subterranean grottoes, to escape at once 
from the burning rays of the sun and the 
perils of the fight. Pressed by his fears, he 
saw no safety but in peace, and resolved to 
purchase it, if at the expense of all his treas- 
ures. His embassadors came to the camp 
several times, charged with proposals, and 
were directed particularly to endeavor to se- 
duce the King of Sicily. The Tunisian mon- 
arch was cunning and fortunate in this idea ; 
venality was the weak side of Charles, and 
the other Crusaders were not immaculate in 
that respect. After much debating in the 
Christian council, a truce for ten years was 
signed, on the 31st of October, between the 
leaders of the crusade and the King of Tunis. 
All prisoners were to be restored on both 
sides, and all the Christians previously in 
chains were to be set at liberty. The sov- 
ereign of Tunis engaged not to require of the 
FranlvS any of the duties imposed in his king- 
dom upon foreign commerce. The treaty 
granted all Christians the faculty of residing 
in the states of Tunis, with permission to 
build churches, and even preach their faith. 
The Mussulman prince was to pay an annual 
tribute of 40,000 golden crowns to the King 
of Sicily, and 210,000 ounces of gold for the 
expenses of the war to the leaders of the 
Christian army. 

This was all in favor of the King of Sicily, 
and loud murmurs soon arose in the army. 
But what must have been the feehngs of a 
real hero when he came among them ? By 
an agreement with Louis, Edward of En- 
gland was to take part in this expedition, and 
arrived in the camp only a few days after the 
signing of the truce, with the Crusaders of 
England and Scotland. The French and 
Sicilians were prodigal in their demonstra- 
tions of welcome and respect, and received 
him with great honors ; but when he learned 
they had made such a disgraceful peace, he 
retired to his tent, and refused to be present 
at any of the councils of the Christian 
leaders. 

The Crusaders became impatient to leave 
this arid and unhealthy soil, and th(} army 
embarked for Sicily. But as if this expedi- 
tion was doomed to be unfortunate, a violent 
tempest overtook the fleet when about to 
enter the port of Trapani. Eighteen large 
ships and 4,000 Crusaders were submerged,' 
and perished in the waves. Most of the 
leaders lost their arms, their horses, and their 
equipments. But as the crowning misfor- 
tune, and as if to point out the will of Heav- 
en in the case, the whole of the money paid 
by the King of Tunis went to the bottom. 

Of all this vaunted expedition, Edward of 
England was the only leader who kept his 
word and followed up his purpose. He went 



TUNIS. 



)53 



to Palestine in tlie spring, and, as every read- 
er of history knows, distinguished himself 
there greatly. Edward I., when prince, may 
be said to have been the last Crusader of 
ruyal rank who appeared in Palestine. Here 
let me remark an inadvertency I was about 
to commit ; I wrote Edward, prince of Wales, 
whereas his son, Edward of Caernarvon, was 
the first eldest son of EngUsh kings who bore 
that title. This is a common error with us : 
Shakspeare calls Louis, the father of Louis 
IX., dauphin when prince, whereas that title 
did not belong to the sons of French mon- 
archs till more than a hundred years after 
Louis's invasion of England. 

Fourth Siege, a.d. 1535. — Muley-Hassan, 
King of Tunis, driven from his states by 
Barbarossa, the terror of the Mediterranean, 
came to implore aid of Charles V. That 
prince, touched by the prayers of the Bar- 
bary monarch, swore to replace him on his 
throne. He assembled a fleet of 300 ships, 
on board of wliich were 25,000 foot and 
2,000 horse, set sail from Cagliari, and ar- 
rived at Porto-Farina, formerly Utica. As 
that port was not very secure, the fleet again 
Aveiglied anchor, and brought to within can- 
non-shot of the Gouletta. The whole Chris- 
tian army landed without the least opposition 
on the part of the Mussulmans. The gener- 
als pitched their tents between Carthage and 
the Water Tower, and surrounded it with 
wide deep lines, fortified with redoubts. This 
was the exact spot on which Louis IX. had 
formerly placed his camp. The trenches 
were opened, and three batteries were raised 
against the fortress. While the place was 
being cannonaded by land, the galleys ad- 
vanced by turns and deUvered their broad- 
sides; the grand caique of Malta and Por- 
tuguese galleon destroyed a part of the 
fortifications and dismounted the batteries of 
the town. The place being open in several 
places, it was determined to carry it by the 
sword. The Christians mounted to the as- 
sault, forced the breaches, gained the bul- 
warks and the top of the tower, and took 
possession of them. Ohasse-Diable, and Si- 
nan the Jew, leaders of the defenders of the 
Gouletta, being unable to resist the imperial 
conquerors, retired into Tunis where their 
arrival spread terror and despair. The em- 
peror entered this fortress, followed by Mu- 
ley-Hassan, to whom he said, " This is the 
door by which you will re-enter your states." 

Barbarossa was terrified at the successes of 
Charles V. With the Gouletta he lost eighty- 
seven galleys, and more than 300 pieces of 
bronze ordnance, inclosed in that citadel. He 
held a councili with the Turks, and pointed 
out to them the dangers to which they were 
exposed. They had two enemies equally to 
fear — the inhabitants and the Arabs, who 



detested their domination ; the 23,000 Chris- 
tian slaves in Tunis must necessarily be ex- 
pected to revolt, and open the gates to the 
Spaniards. With regard to these slaves, he 
declared he was resolved to put them all to 
death. Sinan the Jew represented to Bar- 
barossa that he would render himself odious 
to all nations ; that he would lose the ran- 
som of the most considerable of the slaves, 
and that he must not have recourse to such 
a cruel measure till the last extrennty. Bar- 
barossa consented to suspend the horrible 
project he had formed ; but he had tlie slaves 
loaded with fresh chains, shut them up in the 
castle, and placed under them a number of 
barrels of gunpowder. He passed the rest 
of the night in an agony of fear and hope, 
and in expectation of the day which was to 
decide his fate. He left Tunis the next 
morning, at the head of 80,000 men, and en- 
camped in a plain a fuU league from the 
city. 

The two armies were soon in face of each 
other. The Arabs at first attacked the Chris- 
tians with great spirit ; but scarcely had they 
sustained the first discharge of the artillery, 
then they broke their ranks, and drew with 
them the floors, and even the Turks. Bar- 
barossa did his utmost to rally them, but 
they were deaf to his voice, and only took 
counsel of the terror with which they were 
seized. Barbarossa, trembling with rage, 
sounded a retreat, rallied the fugitives, and 
passed the night under arms beneath the 
walls of the city. While he was deliberating 
if he should go and again offer battle to the 
Christians, or shut liimself up in Tunis, some 
Turks came to inform him that the slaves had 
broken their chains, and had made themselves 
masters of the castle. Barbarossa hastened 
thither, and was met by musket-shots and a 
shower of stones. Transported with fury he 
cried out all was lost, as the slaves were 
masters of the castle and of his treasures. 
He immediately left Tunis at the head of a 
body of Turks, and contrived to place himself 
in safety. 

The emperor was ignorant of this revolu- 
tion ; on approaching Tunis he was informed 
of it by some Moors. In an instant the im- 
perialists dispersed themselves throughout the 
city, massacred all who came in their way, 
carried off all the women and children that 
were reserved for slavery,, and abandoned 
themselves to all the excesses which accom- 
pany cruelty, avarice, and lubricity. The 
booty was so considerable that there was not 
a single soldier who did not make liis fortune. 
It is" said that more than 200,000 persons 
perished in the sack of this unfortunate city ; 
some expired under the sword of the con- 
queror; others, thinking to avoid death by 
flight, met with it in the burning sands of the 



654 



TURIN. 



deserts, where they died consumed by heat 
and thirst. 

The emperor, master of Tunis, re-estab- 
lished Muley-Hassan on his throne ; but that 
unfortunate prince did not enjoy it long. 
Muly-IIameda, his eldest son, tore the diadem 
from his head ; HauK'da himself was deposed 
by his uncle Abdoumelek, afterward recalled 
by his subjects. After having gone through 
these various changes, he reigned peaceably 
till the year 1570, when Ulachah, Dey of ; 
Algiers, one of the successors of Barbarossa, ' 
took possession of the kingdom of Tunis, 
which became nothing but a nest of pirates. 

TURIN. — Turin, in Sardinia, is a very i 
antient city. It was made a military station 
by Julius Caesar on his invasion of Gaul. In 
312 Constantine, Emperor of Rome, defeated 
the army of Maxentius near Turin, and it j 
was taken and sacked by the Goths under I 
Alaric. In 1536 it was taken by the army 
of Francis I., and it was held by the French ', 
for twenty-six years. In 1G40 it was also j 
taken by the French. But the most famous ' 
of its sieges took place in 1706, when it was ' 
invested by a powerfal French army. The 
besiegers made immense preparations ; but 
the incapacity and disagreement of tlie 
French generals, and the skill of Prince Eu- 
gene and the Duke of Savoy, secured to the 
troops of the latter an easy and complete vie- ; 
tory. All the vast stores accumulated by ! 
the French army during the siege fell into the ' 
hands of the conquerors, and the besieging 
army was totally dispersed. ' 

A.D., 1706. — Louis XIV. having recalled ' 
the Duke of Vendome from Italy, to place 
him at the head of the troops in Flanders, 
substituted for him the Duke de la Feu- 
illade, the son of the famous marshal who 
erected a statue to his king in the Place des ' 
Victoires. Some few attacks had been al- | 
ready made upon Turin. La Peuillade con- 
tinued them with an army of forty-six squad- 
rons and a hundred battahons. He hoped 
to take this city, and, as his reward, looked 
for a marshal's baton. The minister Chamil- 
lard, his father-in-law, who was very partial 
to him, spared no means to secure him the 
victory. " The imagination," says Voltaire, | 
" is terrified at the preparations for this siege. ' 
Readers not accustomed to enter into these | 
matters, will perhaps be glad to find here of I 
what these immense and useless preparations 
consisted. 1 

" A hundred and forty pieces of cannon 
were brought up, and it is to be observed j 
that each mounted cannon costs about two 
thousand crowns. There were a hundred 
and ten thousand cannon-balls, a hundred 
and six thousand cartridges of one fashion, ' 
and three hundred thousand of another, 
twenty-one thousand bombs, twenty-seven '. 



thousand seven hundred grenades, fifteen 
thousand sacks of earth, thirty thousand 
pioneering instruments, and twelve hundred 
thousand pounds of powder. Add to these 
munitions lead, iron, and tin, cordage, every 
thing required by miners, such as sulphur, 
saltpeter, and tools of all kinds. It is certain 
that the cost of all these preparations for de- 
struction would suffice for the foundation and 
the prosperity of a numerous colony. Every 
siege of a great city requires equally enor- 
mous expenses, and yet when a ruined vil- 
lage at home stands in need of repair, it is 
neglected. 

" The Duke de la Feuillade, full of ardor 
and activity, more capable than most persons 
of enterprises which only demand courage, 
but incapable of such as require skill, thought, 
and time, pressed on the siege against all 
rules. The Marshal de Vauban, the only 
general, perhaps, who loved the state better 
than himself, had proposed to the Duke de la 
Feuillade to come and direct the siege as an 
engineer, and to serve in his army as a vol- 
unteer ; but the haughty De la Feuillade took 
the offers of Vauban for pride concealed 
under the mask of modesty. He was weak 
enough to be piqued because the best engin- 
eer in Europe offered to give him advice. 
He wrote, in a letter which I have seen : ' I 
hope to take Turin a la Cohorn.' 

" This Cohorn was the Vauban of the 
aUies — a good engineer, a good general, who 
had more than once taken places fortified by 
Vauban. After writing such a letter, Turin 
ought to have been taken. But, having 
attacked it by the citaded, which was the 
strongest side, and not having surrounded the 
whole city, succors and provisions had free 
entrance. The Duke of Savoy could come 
out when he pleased ; and the more impetu- 
osity the Duke de la Feuillade exhibited in 
his reiterated and fruitless attacks, the longer 
the siege seemed protracted. The Duke of 
Savoy left the city with some troops of cav- 
alry, for the purpose of deceiving De la Feuil- 
lade. The latter abandoned the siege to run 
after the prince who, being better acquaint- 
ed with the country, escaped the pursuit 
La Feuillade missed the Duke of Savoy, and 
the siege stood still during his absence. 

" In the mean time, after the departure of 
the Duke de Vendome, the Duke of Orleans, 
nephew to the king, came to take command 
of the troops of observation. He could not 
prevent Prince Eugene from joining the Duke 
of Savoy near Asti. This junction compelled 
him to imite with the Duke de la Feuillade, 
and to enter the camp before Turin. There 
were but two parts to take ; that of waiting 
for Prince Eugene in the lines of circumval- 
lation, or that of going to meet him while he 
was still in the neighborhood of Vegliana. 



TUSCOING. 



655 



The Duke of Orleans called a council of war, 
composed of Marsin, who lost the battle of 
Hochstet, La Feuillade, Albergotti, St. Fre- 
mont, and other heutenant-generals. ' Gen- 
tlemen,' said the prince to them, 'if we re- 
main in our lines, we shall lose the battle. 
Our circumvallation is five leagues in extent ; 
we are not able to line all our intrenchments. 
You see here the regiment of the marine, 
which is not more than two men's height ; 
there you may see places entirely unmanned. 
The Dora, which passes through our camp, 
win prevent our troops from rendering each 
other prompt assistance. When Frenchmen 
wait to be attacked, they lose the greatest of 
their advantages — that impetuosity and those 
first moments of ardor which so often decide 
tlie fate of battles. Take my word, we must 
march to meet the enemy.' The resolution 
was agreed to, when Marsin drew from his 
pocket an order of the king's by which it was 
commanded that, in the event of action being 
proposed, his opinion was to be deferred to ; 
and his^ opinion was, that tliey should remain 
in the lines. The Duke of Orleans saw that 
he had been only sent to the army as a prince 
of the blood, and not as a general ; and, forced 
to follow the counsel of the marshal, he made 
all necessary preparation for the battle, which 
was fought on the 7th of September. 

" The enemy appeared to wish to form 
several attacks at once. Their movements 
threw the whole camp into a state of uncer- 
tainty. The Duke of Orleans desired one 
thing ; Marsin and Feuillade another. They 
disputed and argued, but they decided upon 
nothing. At length they allowed the enemy 
to cross the Dora. They advanced with 
eight columns of twenty-five men deep ; they 
must instantly be opposed by battalions 
equally deep. Albergotti, placed far from 
the army, upon the mountain of the Capu- 
chins, had with him 20,000 men, and had in 
face nothing but some militia, who did not 
dare attack him. He was asked for 12,000 
men ; he repHed that he could not spare 
them, and gave specious reasons for his re- 
fusal. He was Ustened to, and time was lost. 
Prince Eugene attacked the intrenchments, 
and at the end of two hours forced them. 
The Duke of Orleans, who exposed himself 
with all the bravery of the heroes of his blood, 
having received a dangerous wound in the 
arm had retired to have it dressed. He was 
scarcely in the hands of the surgeon when he 
was informed that all was lost, that the 
enemy were masters of the camp, and that 
the rout was general. Immediate flight was 
necessary. The Unes, the trenches were 
abandoned, and the army dispersed. All the 
baggage, provisions, munitions, and the mili- 
tary chest fell into tlie hands of the conquer- 
or. Marshal de Marsin, wounded in the 



thigh was made prisoner. A surgeon in the 
service of the Duke of Savoy amputated the 
hmb, and he died a few minutes after the 
operation. The Chevaher Methuen, the En- 
gUsh embassador to the Duke of Savoy, the 
most frank, generous, and brave man his 
country ever employed in an embassy, had 
upon all occasions fought at the side of that 
prince ; he saw the Marshal de Marsin taken, 
and was a witness of his last moments. He 
told me that Marsin said these very words, 
'At least believe, monsieur, that it was 
against my advice we remained in our lines.' 
These words appeared to contradict formally 
what had passed in the council of war ; and 
they were nevertheless true ; Marshal de 
Marsin, on taking leave at Versailles, had 
represented to the king that the enemy must 
be met, in case they appeared for the purpose 
of succoring Turin ; but Chammilard, intim- 
idated by preceding defeats, had caused it to 
be decided that they ought to wait and not 
offer battle ; and this order, given at Ver- 
sailles, was the cause of 60,000 men being 
defeated and dispersed." 

This defeat, which cost nine or ten thous- 
and men killed or made prisoners, was still 
more fatal to France by its consequences ; for 
it brought on the loss of Modena, Mantua, 
Milan, Piedmont, and in the end, of the king- 
dom of Naples. 

TUSCOING, A.D. 1794.— The battle of Tus- 
coing, in France, was fought on the 17th and 
18th of May, between the republicans and 
the allied armies of Austria. The allies num- 
bered some 90,000 men, including 130 squad- 
rons, under the personal command of the 
emperor. The left wing of the French army 
occupying a position favorable for an attack, 
the design of the Austrians was to fall upon 
them, and force them back to the sea, and 
thus compel them to surrender. To effect 
this, their troops were divided into six col- 
umns, which were to move by concentric 
lines. This division of their army proved 
very detrimental to the Austrians, for, had 
they moved in concert, success would have 
been sure. Some of the columns were more 
than twenty leagues apart, and not arriving 
simultaneously at the point of attack, their 
design was not accomplished. When brought 
into action they fought vaUantly, yet tliere 
was not sufficient unity in their operations to 
insure complete success. Some small actions 
besides, took place on the 17th, but not much 
to the advantage of either side. The repub- 
licans had concentrated their forces in a cen- 
tral position, and were preparing for a general 
attack. At three on the morning of the 18th 
General Souham, with 45,000 men, attacko.l 
the detached troops of General Ott, and the 
Duke of York, while at the same time an- 
other detachment of 15,000 advanced against 



656 



TYRE. 



them from the opposite side; the troops of 
Otto were defeated with great loss, those of 
the Duke of York, though scuccessful at first, 
on finding that they were separated from the 
main army, and their retreat cut off, dis- 
banded and took to flight. The superior 
management of the French gave them the 
advantage in tliis battle, the allied army, be- 
ing much superior in numbers. The loss of 
the French was small, while the Austrians 
lost 3,000 men and 60 pieces of cannon. 

TYEE, B.C. 332.— Besieged by the Mace- 
donians. — The modern town of Tsour, with 
1,500 inhabitants, situated on the south- 
east coast of the Mediterranean, occupies 
the site of Tyre, the " Queen of the Waters," 
whose "merchants were princes, and her 
traffickers the honorable of the earth." 

Tyre, at the time it was besieged by the 
Macedonians, was seated in an island of the 
Mediterranean about four furlongs from the 
shore. It was surrounded by a strong wall 
150 feet high, which was washed by the 
waves of the sea. When Alexander ad- 
vanced toward Tyre, the citizens sent him 
an embassy, with presents for himself and 
refreshments for his army. They were will- 
ing to have him for their friend ; but not for 
their master, and when he desired to enter 
the city in order to offer a sacrifice to Her- 
cules, its tutelar god, the Tyrians refused 
him admission. But Alexander, the con- 
queror of so many cities, had too haughty a 
spirit to put up with such an affront, and was 
resolved to force them to admit him, by a 
siege, while the Tyrians, on the other hand 
determined to prevent his entrance if possi- 
ble. They accordingly fixed machines on 
the ramparts and towers, armed their young 
men, and built work-houses for their arti- 
ficers with whom the city was flooded. The 
whole city resounded with the noise of prep- 
aration as if it had been one vast workshop. 
Alexander again demanded a peaceable entry 
into the city ; but the Tyrians killed his her- 
alds and threw them from the top of the 
walls. Alexander was so exasperated at 
this cruel outrage, that he immediately com- 
menced the siege with great vigor. From 
the ruins of old Tyre, which stood on the 
continent, he found material to make piers, 
and ho took all the stones and rubbish from 
it. Mount Lebanon, famous in Scripture for 
its cedars, was not far distant, and furnished 
him with wood for piles and other timber 
work. His soldiers now commenced build- 
ing a pier or mole which was to extend from 
the main shore to Tyre. They at first ad- 
vanced with great rapidity, the piles being 
easily driven into the slime, which served as 
mortar for the stones ; and as their work was 
at a considerable distance from the enemy, 
they went on without interruption. But tlie 



further they advanced, the greater became 
their diificulties ; the sea was deep and the 
workmen were continually harassed by the 
arrows discharged from the walls of the city. 
The Tyrians, also, being masters of the sea, 
came in boats on each side of the dyke and 
prevented the Macedonians from carrying on 
the work with vigor ; insulting and laughing 
at the proud conquerors who had now be- 
come beasts of burden. The Macedonians, 
however, steadily continued at their work, 
until they had made such great progress that 
the Tyrians became alarmed, and coming in 
boats full of armed men, they hurled such a 
quantity of arrows, stones, javeUns and even 
fire upon the besiegers tliat the workmen 
were obliged to retire. Alexander after tliis 
ordered that sails should be spread over the 
workmen, and two wooden towers were 
erected at the head of the bank, and were 
filled with armed men to prevent the ap- 
proach of the enemy. The Tyrians after- 
ward made a descent upon the shore, and 
cut to pieces the Macedonians who were 
carrying stone, and also falling on a party of 
60 Arabians, on Mount Lebanon, they killed 
30, and took the others prisoners. The be- 
sieged also employed every means to ruin 
the enemy's walls. They filled a transport- 
ship with combustibles, and loading the after 
part with sand, in order to raise the prow, 
and taking advantage of a favorable wind 
they towed it to the extremity of the cause- 
way. Then setting fire to it, they retired. 
Immediately the fire caught the towers and 
the rest of the works ; the Tyrians perpetu- 
ally hurling fiery darts and burning torches 
at the towers, the Macedonians were pre- 
vented from extinguishing the flames, and 
their works and machines were destroyed. 
Several of the workmen met a miserable 
death in the flames which consumed the 
towers. The Macedonians, however were 
not discouraged ; they recommenced their 
work, built new machines, and with a greater 
number of workmen than before, carried the 
pier forward with a rapidity which surprised 
and terrified the Tyrians. . The mole was 
nearly finished, and brought almost to the 
walls of the city, when suddenly a violent 
tempest arose, and as if by magic the entire 
pier was swept away. Alexander was aware 
that it would be impossilile for him to com- 
plete his causeway, or take the city so long 
as the Tyrians remained masters of the sea. 
Accordingly he collected his few ships to- 
gether, and having received other vessels 
from his allies, he came to anchor with his 
whole fleet along the shore near the mole, 
which liis soldiers were rebuilding, where his 
galleys rode in safety. His fleet consisted of 
221 galleys, the greater part of Avhich were 
furnished by his allies. The Macedonians 



TYRE. 



657 



worked on the new pier with surprising en- 
ergy, and at length, after many delays, not- 
withstanding the prodigious efforts of the 
Tyrians to destroy and retard their work, 
the mole was finished. It was much broader 
than the others, and was more firm and 
compact in its structure. The Macedonians 
planted military engines of all kinds on the 
causeway, in order to batter and shake the 
walls of the city, and to hurl on the besieged 
arrows, stones and burning torches. At the 
same time Alexander ordered the command- 
ers to surround the city with their ships. 
The Tyrians, on their side, also made prepa- 
rations for a vigorous defense. On the side 
of the city which lay toward the causeway, 
they erected stone towers of great height, 
and of a proportionate breadth. Access to 
any other part of the city was very near as 
difficult, the Tyrians having fenced the foot 
of the waUs with great stones, to keep the 
enemy from approaching it. The besieged 
also advanced in covered galleys, and cut the 
cables which held the Macedonian vessels 
at anchor. On this Alexander stationed 
several vessels, also covered, to secure the 
anchors from the attacks of the Tyrians. 
But the besieged now employed divers, who 
came and cut the cables unperceived, until 
the Macedonians were forced to fix the an- 
chors with iron chains. The besiegers after- 
ward drew the stones with which the Tyr- 
ians fenced the foot of their walls, into the 
^ea, with ropes, and thus cleared a passage to 
the walls. The Tyrians were now invested 
on all sides, and attacked both by sea and 
land. The Macedonians with their whole 
fleet advanced against the city in order to 
make a general assault. The Tyrians gave 
themselves up as lost, when suddenly a storm 
arose, which dispersed the fleet, which was 
with great difficulty preserved from annihi- 
lation ; and even after they had succeeded in 
bringing the vessels near the shore, the 
greater part of them were severely shattered. 
But they were soon repaired, and again the 
city was surrounded. The Tyrians seeing 
their city exposed every moment to be taken 
by storm, resolved to ifall on the part of the 
fleet commanded by Andromachus, which 
lay at anchor toward Sidon. They took an 
opportunity to do this when the seamen of 
Alexander's fleet, which lay at anchor on the 
other side of the city, were dispersed, and 
when he himself had withdrawn to his 
tent pitched on the sea-shore. The Tyrians 
set out with thirteen galleys, all armed with 
choice soldiers, who were accustomed to sea- 
fights ; and rowing with all their might, they 
came thundering down upon the enemy's 
ships, sinking some and driving others against 
the shore, where they were dashed to pieces. 
Alexander hearing of this sally, immediately 

42 



advanced with his fleet, against the enemy, 
upon which the Tyrians withdrew into their 
harbor, having lost but a few vessels during 
the engagement. The city was now warmly 
attacked on all sides, and was as vigorously 
defended. The stones, darts, arrows, and 
javelins of the besiegers were answered by 
the besieged with volleys of like missiles. 

The Tyrians warded ofi" the darts dis- 
charged against them by means of turning 
wheels, which either broke them in pieces, or 
carried them another way. To annoy the 
ships which advanced against their walls, 
they fixed cranes, grapphng-hooks, and 
scythes, to joists or beams; then bending 
their catapultas, (enormous cross-bows), they 
laid these great pieces of timber upon them, 
instead of arrows, and suddenly shot them 
upon the enemy. By their great weight, 
these missiles crushed whole ranks, and their 
long hooks, and sharp scythes cut to pieces 
all whom they encountered. The enemy's 
ships were also greatly damaged by these 
weapons. They also heated brazen shields to 
redness ; then drawing them out of the fire, 
they filled them with burning sand, and 
hurled them down upon the enemy. This 
last invention galled the Macedonians terribly ; 
the burning sand forcing its way through 
the crevices of their armor, pierced to the 
very bone, and the soldiers maddened with 
pain, would die a horrible death. Alexander 
at length determined to make a desperate 
attempt, with a greater number of ships than 
before, manned with the flower of liis army. 
Accordingly, a second naval engagement was 
fought, in which the Tyrians, after fighting 
bravely, were compelled to retreat toward 
the city. The king pursued them closely, 
but was not able to enter the harbor, being 
repulsed by the myriads of arrows, stones, 
and beams which were shot from the walls. 
However, he either took or sunk a great 
number of their ships. After allowing his 
forces to repose themselves two days, Alex- 
ander brought forward his fleet, and his en- 
gines to attempt a general assault. Both the 
attack and defense were more vigorous than 
ever. In spite of the stones, arrows, and red- 
hot sand which rained on them from all sides, 
the Macedonians applied their battering-rams 
with such effect, that breaches were- made in 
several parts of the walls. The soldiers hast- 
ened to enter the breaches, and fought their 
way tlirough the masses of the besieged, who 
fought with fury and madness. Admetus, 
one of the bravest Macedonian officers, was 
slain at the head of his men, while urging 
them forward through a breach. Alexander 
distinguished himself by deeds of almost 
superhuman bravery. He mounted into one 
of the high towers of the causeway and 
ascending to its summit, killed many of the 



658 



TYRE. 



enemy with his own hand, and became 
a conspicuous mark for tlie weapons of the 
enemy. The tower was very close to the 
wall, which he soon gained by means of 
floating bridges. The fleet forced the harbor, 
and the Macedonians driving their enemy 
from the breaches, gained the two towers, and 
the space between them on the wall of the 
city. The Tyrians seeing the Macedonians 
in possession of their ramparts, retired to an 
open space in the city, called the square of 
Agenon, and there stood their ground ; but 
Alexander marching against them with his 
troop of body-guards, attacked them fiercely, 
killing great numbers of them, and compelled 
the rest to fly. At the same time the city 
being taken on that side which lay toward 
the harbor, the Macedonians, exasperated by 
the obstinate resistance of the enemy, ran up 
and down in every quarter, killing all that 
came in their way. The Tyrians seeing their 
city ia the hands of the enemy, flew to the 
temples to implore the protection of their 
gods ; others, shutting themselves up in their 
houses, escaped the sword of the conquerors, 
by voluntary death ; others rushed upon the 
enemy, sword in hand, determined to sell 
their lives at the dearest rate. The king gave 
ordei's to kill all the inhabitants, except those 
who had sought refuge in the temples, and to 
set fire to every part of Tyre. Although this 
ordei was proclaimed by the sound of trumpet, 
yet not a person who carried arms, fled to 
the temples. These asylums were only filled 
with such women and children as were still 
in the city, the most of them having been 
sent to Carthage before the commencement 
of the siege. The Sidonians, although the 
allies of Alexander, saved 15,000 Tyrians 
from death, by conveying them privately on 
board their ships, which then sailed for Sidon. 
Six thousand soldiers, who were on the ram- 
parts of the city, were cut to pieces by the 
infuriated Macedonians, and of all the men 
of Tyre, the 15,000 rescued by the Sidonians, 
alone escaped. Alexander in his rage, even 
after his soldiers were glutted with slaughter, 
and refused to kill any more, barbarously 
impaled 2,000 men alive, and caused them 
to be fixed upon crosses along the shore, 
where they died a lingering and agonizing 
death. This last act satisfied his thirst for 
blood, and liaving found himself in possession 
of 30,000 prisoners, both foreigners and citi- 
zens, he sold them all as slaves. As for the 
Macedonians, their loss was inconsiderable. 
Thus, Tyro, after a siege of eight months, 
was taken and destroyed, and the menaces 
which God had pronounced against the city, 
were fully accomplished. 

Second Siege, b.o. 313. — It would be 
imagined that a city laid so waste as Tyre 
was by Alexander, could not easily or shortly 



recover strength to contend against any 
enemy, and yet we find Tyre, only nineteen 
years after, maintaining itself for fifteen 
; months against Antigonus, one of Alexander's 
j captains, who had been present at its great 
siege. But the fugitives from Sidon, and 
other parts, the women and children from 
Carthage, with, most likely, many enterpris- 
ing strangers, thought the traditions of Tyre 
too great and tempting to allow it to be long 
j abandoned ; and if not so glorious as it had 
j been, this queen of commercial cities soon 
became a highly respectable mart, though its 
: trade was reduced within much narrower 
limits : it had embraced the world ; it was 
now confined to the neighboring countries, 
I and it had lost the empire of the sea. 
I Seconded by the famous Demetrius Polior- 
cctes, his son, Antigonus presented himself 
; before the place with a numerous fleet, which 
I made him master of the sea, and cut the be- 
j sieged off from suppHes of provisions. As 
the siege was too protracted to accord with 
j the other views of Antigonus, he left the 
operations under the command of Andronicus, 
! one of his generals, who, by pressing the 
I Tyrians very closely, and by making frequent 
assaults, obUged them at length to capitu- 
■ late. This important conquest was made 
B.C. 313. 

Third Siege, a.d. 638. — The curse that 
was said to be upon Tyre, was removed after a 
considerable time : it received the gospel at 
an early period, and was for ages a flourish- 
ing city. Before the discovery of the passage 
round the Cape of Good Hope, a place so 
situated as Tyre was, could not fail of being 
a mart of trade ; and as soon as the back of 
a conqueror, attracted by its wealth, was 
turned, it was quickly partially re-peopled, 
and its industry revived. 

But at length came the great Mussulman 
eruption ; Mohammedand his generals led their 
triumphant armies through Asia, with that 
astonishing rapidity and success which have 
ever attended eastern conquests. In the 
West, a conquest may be compared to a 
shower, which, insidiously, and with time, 
permeates the soil ; in the East, it is a flood 
or an avalanche, which overwhelms, de- 
vastates, and changes every thing in a mo- 
ment. 

Wliile the intrepid Amrou was making 
Syria tremble with the fame of his victories, 
the perfi'.lious loukinna accelerated the tri- 
umphs of Mohammedanism by his stratagems. 
The master of a fleet which had come to the 
succor of Tripoh, he hoisted the Roman 
standard, and presented himself before Tyre. 
His arrival caused much joy, for he was sup- 
posed to bring ammunition and troops to put 
the place in a state of defense. He landed with 
900 men, and was admitted into the city, but 



TYRE. 



659 



being betrayed by one of his own people, the 
Httle band were surrounded, and taken pris- 
oners. Their lives were only saved by a new 
subject of alarm. Jezid, a Saracen captain, 
appeared off Tyre with a force of 2,000 men. 
The governor, with his garrison, went out to 
meet him, and, while the two parties were 
on the walls, loukinna and his soldiers were 
set at hberty by a Eoman, who was looking 
for an opportunity to win the favor of the 
Saracens. loukinna conveyed the intelligence 
of his freedom to the soldiers he had left on 
board the fleet ; they joined him, and he in- 
formed Jezid of what was going on in Tyre. 
Jezid not only defeated the governor and his 
party, but cut off his retreat. The gates 
were thrown open, and the Saracens, within 
and without, made a frightful slaughter of the 
inhabitants. Most of those who escaped 
embraced Islamism, to avoid death or slav- 
ery. 

Fourth Siege, a.d. 1123. — The Venetians, 
who for several ages had enjoyed the com- 
merce of the East, and dreaded breaking 
useful relations with the Mussulmans of Asia, 
had taken but very httle part in the first 
crusade, or the events which followed it. 
They awaited the issue of this great enter- 
prise, to associate themselves without peril 
with the victories of the Christians ; but at 
length, jealous of the advantages which the 
Genoese and Pisans had obtained in Syria, 
they became desirous of likewise sharing the 
spoils of the Mussulmans, and equipped a 
formidable expedition against the infidels. 
Their fleet, while crossing the Mediterranean, 
fell in with that of tlie Genoese returning 
from the East, attacked it with fury, and put 
it to flight in great disorder. After having 
stained the sea with the blood of Christians, 
the Venetians pursued their route toward 
the coasts of Palestine, where they met the 
fleet of the Saracens, which had come out 
from the ports of Egypt. A furious engage- 
ment ensued, in which the Egyptian vessels 
were dispersed, and covered tlie waves with 
their wrecks. 

While the Venetians were thus destroying 
the Mussulman fleet, an army, sent by the 
caliph from Cairo, was beaten by the Chris- 
tians under the walls of Jaffa. The Doge of 
Venice, who commanded the fleet, entered 
the port of Ptolemais (Acre), and was con- 
ducted in triumph to Jerusalem. While 
celebrating the double victory gained over 
the infidels, it was determined to turn this 
important expedition to advantage. In a 
council held in presence of the regent of 
Jerusalem, and the Doge of Venice, it was 
proposed to besiege the city of Tyre, or that 
of Ascalon. As opinions were divided, it 
was determined to consult God, according to 
the superstitions of the time, and be guided 



by the expression of his will. Two strips uf 
parchment, upon which were written the 
names of Tyre and Ascalon, were deposited 
upon the altar of the Holy Sepulchre. Amid 
an immense crowd of spectators, a young 
orphan advanced toward the altar, took one 
of the two strips, and it proved to be that of 
the city of Tyre. 

The Venetians, more devoted to the inter- 
ests of their commerce and their nation, than 
to those of the Christian kingdom, demanded, 
before they laid siege to Tyre, that they 
should have a church, a street, a free oven, 
and a national tribunal in all the cities of 
Palestine. They demanded still further 
advantages, among which was one third of 
the conquered city. The conquest of Tyre 
seemed so important that the regent, the 
chancellor of the kingdom, and the great vas- 
sals of the crown, accepted without hesitation 
the conditions of the Venetians ; in an act 
which history has preserved, they engaged 
not to acknowledge as King of Jerusalem 
either Baldwin du Bourg, or any other prince 
who should refuse to subscribe to it. 

When they had thus shared by treaty a 
city they had not yet conquered, they com- 
menced their operations for the siege. The 
Christian army left Jerusalem, and the Vene- 
tian fleet the port of Ptolemais, toward the 
beginning of spring. The historian of the 
kingdom of Jerusalem, William of Tyre, was 
for a long time archbishop of this celebrated 
commercial city, and he pauses here to de- 
scribe the ancient wonders of his metropoUs. 
In his recital, at once religious and profane, 
he invokes by turns the evidence of Isaiah 
and Virgil; after speaking of King Hiram 
and the tomb of Origen, he does not disdain 
to celebrate the memory of Cadmus and the 
country of Dido. The good archbishop par- 
ticularly vaunts the industry and the com- 
merce of Tyre, the fertihty of its territory, 
its dyes, so celebrated in all antiquity; its 
sand, which changes itself into transparent 
vases, and its sugar-canes, which began to be 
sought for by aU regions of the universe. 
The city of Tyre, in tlie time of Baldwin, was 
no longer that sumptuous city, whose rich 
merchants, according to Isaiah, were princes ; 
but it was still considered as the best-peopled 
and most commercial of the cities of Syria. 
It stood upon a dehghtful shore, screened by 
mountains from the blasts of the north ; it 
had two large moles, wliich, like long arms, 
advanced into the sea, to inclose a port to 
which storm or tempest could find no access. 
The city of Tyre, which had stood out during 
more than seven months against the victo- 
rious Alexander, was defended on one side 
by a stormy sea and steep rods, and on the 
other by a triple wall, surmounted by high 
towers. 



660 



TYRE. 



The Doge of Yenice at once penetrated 
into the port, and closed up all issue or access 
on the side of the sea. The Patriarch of 
Jerusalem, and Pontius, Count of Tripoli, 
regent of the kingdom, commanded the land 
army ; the king, Baldwin de Bourg, being at 
that time a captive to the Saracens. In the 
early days of the siege, the Christians and 
the Mussulmans fought with obstinate ardor, 
but with equal success ; this disunion of the 
infidels, however, soon powerfully assisted 
the efforts of the Franks. The Caliph of 
Egypt had yielded half of the place to the 
Sultan of Damascus, in order to engage him 
to defend it against the Christians. The 
Turks and the Egyptians were divided among 
themselves, and refused to fight together; 
the Franks took advantage of these divisions, 
and daily gained a superiority. After a siege 
of a few months the walls crumbled away 
before the machines of the Christians; pro- 
visions began to be short in the place ; the 
Mussulmans were about to capitulate, when 
discord, in turn disunited the Christians, and 
was on the point of rendering useless the 
prodigies of valor and all the labors of a long 
siege. 

The land army loudly complained that it 
had to support alone both battles and fa- 
tigues ; the horse and foot threatened to re- 
main as motionless under their tents as the 
Venetians in their ships. To remove the 
cause of their complaint, the Doge of Venice 
came into the Christian camp^ with his sail- 
ors, armed with their oars, and declared him- 
self ready to mount to the breach. From 
that time a generous emulation inflamed the 
zeal and the courage of both soldiers and 
seamen ; and the Mussulmans, being without 
hope of succor, were obliged to succumb, 
after a siege of five months and a half The 
standards of the King of Jerusalem and the 
Doge of Venice floated together over the 
walls of Tyre; the Christians made their 
triumphal entrance into the city ; while the 
inhabitants, according to the terms of the 
capitulation, with their wives and children, 
departed from it. On whichever side our 
sympathies may be, the end of a great siege 
is a melancholy object of contemplation; 
nothing can convey a sadder idea to the mind 
than this compulsory exodus of a people. 

The day on which the news of the con- 
quest of Tyre was received at Jerusalem, was 
a festival for the inhabitants of the Holy City. 
Te Deum and hymns of thanks were chanted, 
amid the ringing of bells and the shouts of 
the people ; flags were flying over the towers 
and ramparts of the city ; branches of the 
olive and wreaths of flowers were hung about 
the streets and public places ; rich stuffs or- 
namented the outsides of houses and the 
doors of churches. The old talked about the 



former splendor of the kingdom of Judah, and 
the young virgins repeated in chorus the 
psalms in which the prophets had celebrated 
the city of Tyre. 

The Doge of Venice, on returning to the 
Holy City, was saluted by the acclamations 
of the people and the clergy. The barons 
and magnates did all in their power to detain 
him in Palestine ; they even went so far as 
to offer him Baldwin's crown, some believing 
that that prince was dead, and others ac- 
knowledging no king but at the head of an 
army and on the field of battle. The doge 
declined the crown, and, satisfied with the 
title of Prince of Jerusalem, led back lais vic- 
torious fleet to Italy. 

Fifth Siege, a.d. 1188. — Tyre is most 
conspicuously associated with great names; 
next to having had the glory of checking the 
career of Alexander for seven months, it 
may reckon that of having successfully resist- 
ed the greatest Saracen general that, perhaps, 
ever Uved. 

While a new crusade was being earnestly 
preached in Europe, Saladin was following 
up the course of his victories in Palestine. 
The battle of Tiberias and the capture of 
Jerusalem had spread so great a terror, that 
the inliabitants of the Holy Land were per- 
suaded the army of the Saracens could not 
be resisted. Amid general consternation, a 
single city, that of Tyre, defied aU the united 
forces of the East. Saladin had twice gath- 
ered together his fleets and his armies to at- 
tack a place of which he so ardently desired 
the conquest. But all the inhabitants had 
sworn rather to die than surrender to the 
Mussulmans ; which generous determination 
was the work of Conrad, who had just ar- 
rived in that place, and whom Heaven seemed 
to have sent to save it. 

Conrad, son of the Marquis of Montferrat, 
bore a name celebrated in the West, and the 
fame of liis exploits had preceded him to 
Asia. In his early youth he had distin- 
guished himself in the war of the Holy See 
against the Emperor of Germany. A passion 
for glory and a thirst for adventures after- 
ward led him to Constantinople, where he 
quelled a sedition which threatened the im- 
perial throne, and, with his own hand, killed 
the leader of the rebels on the field of battle. 
Tlie sister of Isaac Angelas and the title of 
Caesar were the rewards of his courage and 
his services ; but his restless character would 
not allow him to enjoy his good fortune in 
quiet. Amid peaceful grandeur, roused all 
at once by the fame of the holy war, he stole 
away from the tenderness of a bri(ie and the 
gratitude of an emperor, to fly into Palestine. 
Conrad landed on the shores of Phoenicia a 
few days after the battle of Tiberias. Before 
his arrival, the city of Tyre had named dep- 



TYROL. 



661 



uties to demand a capitulation of Saladin; 
his presence revived tlie general courage, and 
changed the aspect of affairs. He caused 
himself to be appointed commander of the 
city, he vs^idened the ditches, repaired the 
fortifications; and the inhabitants of Tyre, 
attacked by sea and land, become all at once 
invincible warriors, learned, under his orders, 
how to repel the fleets and armies of the Sar- 
acens. 

The old Marquis of Montferrat, the father 
of Conrad, who, for the sake of visiting the 
Holy Land, had left his peaceful states, was 
at the battle of Tiberias. Made prisoner by 
the Mussulmans, he awaited, in the prisons 
of Damascus, the time when his children 
would deUver him or purchase his liberty. 

Saladin sent for him to his army, and 
promised the brave Conrad to restore his 
father to him, and give liim rich posses- 
sions in Syria, if he would open the gates of 
Tyre. He at the same time threatened to 
place the old Marquis de Montferrat in the 
front of the ranks of the Saracens, and expose 
him to tlie arrows of the besieged. Conrad 
rephed with haughtiness, that he despised the 
presents of infidels, and that the life of his 
father was less dear to him than the cause 
of the Christians. He added that nothing 
should impede his endeavors, and that if the 
Saracens were barbarous enough to put to 
death an old man who had surrendered on 
his parole of honor, he should think it a glory 
to be descended from a martyr. After this 
reply the Saracens recommenced their assaults, 
and the Tyrians defended themselves with 
firmness and courage. The Hospitalers, the 
Templars, and most of the bravest warriors 
left in Palestine, hastened within the walls 
of Tyre, to share in the honor of so great a 
defense. Among the Franks who distin- 
guished themselves by their valor, was a 
Spanish gentleman, known in history by the 
name of The Green Knight^ from the color 
of his armor. He alone, say the old clu-on- 
iclers, repulsed and dispersed whole battal- 
ions ; ho fought several single combats, over- 
throwing the most intrepid of the Mussul- 
mans, and made the Saracens wonder at and 
admire his bravery and skill in arms. 

There was not a citizen in the place who 
would not fight ; the children, even, were so 
many soldiers; the women animated the 
men by their presence and by their words. 
Upon the waters, at the loot of the ramparts, 
fresh combats were continually taking place. 
In all parts the Saracens met with the same 
Christian heroes who had so often made them 
tremble. 

Despairing of taking the city of Tyre, Sa- 
ladin resolved to raise the siege, in order to 
attack Tripoli, and was not more fortunate in 
that expedition, WiUiam, King of Sicily^ be- 



ing informed of the misfortunes of Palestine, 
had sent succors to the Christians. The 
great Admiral Margarit, whose talents and 
victories had obtained for liim the name of 
the King of the Sea and the New Neptune, 
arrived on the coast of Syria with 60 galleys, 
300 horse, and 500 foot-soldiers. The Sicil- 
ian warriors flew to the defense of TripoU, 
and, led on by the Green Knight, who had 
so distinguished himseU' at Tyre, forced Sal- 
adin to abandon his enterprise. 

Thus was Saladin foiled ; but the fate of 
Tyre was only deferred. Toward the end of 
the crusades, which European passions and 
interests had made abortive, the Sultan Cha- 
lil, after taking and destroying Ptolemais, 
sent one of his emirs with a body of troops 
to take possession of Tyre; and that city, 
seized with terror, opened its gates without 
resistance. The cohquerors likewise pos- 
sessed themselves of Berytus, Sidon, and all 
the other Christian cities along the coast. 
These cities, which had not afforded the least 
succor to Ptolemais in the last great struggle, 
and which believed themselves protected by 
a truce, beheld their population massacred, 
dispersed, or led into slavery ; the fury of 
the Mussulmans extended even to the stones ; 
they seemed to wish to destroy the very 
earth which the Christians had trod upon ; 
their houses, their temples, the monuments 
of their piety, their valor, their industry, — 
every thing was condemned to perish with 
them by the sword or by fire. 

TYROL. — We have not space in our work 
to give under their separate heads, descrip- 
tions of the vai-ious battles which occurred 
during the glorious struggle of the Tyrolese, 
in which they five times in the course of one 
year cleared the country, from one end to the 
other, of its invaders ; and will therefore give 
the following dates, which may be useful for 
reference : 

1805, Dec.— Tyrol yielded up by the Treaty 

of Presburg to the hated rule of Bavaria. 

1808. — An insurrection organized toward the 

latter part of the year. 
1809, April. — Austria declares war against 
France. Tyrolese rise in Pusterthal, and 
drive the Bavarians out of the valley : 
2,000 French made prisoners at Botza. 
April 10, Spechbacher drives the Bavarians 
out of Hull. April 11, Innspruck taken 
by the Tyrolese. 
12, French and Bavarians under Wrede de- 
scend from the Brenner to Innspruck, are 
defeated, and surrender to General Chas- 
telan. 
22, Surrender of Trent, and expulsion of 
the French from every place in Tyrol, 
except Kuffstein. 
May 13, Chastelar, the Austrian general, de- 
feated at WorgL 



662 



TZOMPACH. 



May 19, Bavarians re-enter Innspruck ; Aus- 

trians retire. 
20-25, Second rising of the Tyrolcse. 
29, Victory of Berg Isel, gained by the Tyr- 
olese, under Hofer, Spechbacker, Huspin- 
ger, and Teimer. 
31, Second entry of the Tyrolese into Inns- 
pruck. 
Jidy, In consequence of the armistice of 
Znoym, the Austrian troops withdraw 
from T3'rol. Tyrolese left to themselves, 
appoint Hofer leader. 
31, Duke of Danzig enters Innspruck at the 

head of a French army. 
Aug. 4—11, Desperate contests along the 

Brenner. Battle of the Sterzingumons. 
10, Duke of Danzig defeated in attempting to 

cross the Brenner. 
13, Great battle of the Isel Berg ; the Duke 
of Danzig, at the head of 25,000 men, de- 
feated and driven out of Innspruck, by 
18,000 Tyrolese ; followed by the evacu- 
ation of Tyrol by the French. 
15, Hofer's triumphal entry into Innspruck. 
Sept. Money sent to the Tyrolese, and a 

golden chain to Hofer, by the emperor. 
Oct. 16, Spechbacher worsted at the Malek. 
25, French again in the possession of Inns- 
pruck. 
Nov., Peace of Schonbrunn. Tyrolese or- 
dered to lay down their arms ; they dis- 
obey, beheving the document to be a 
forgery. Hostilities continued to the end 
of December. Tyrolese finally put down, 
their leaders dispersed, and forced to con- 
ceal themselves. 
1810, Jan. 20, Hofer made prisoner in a 

chalet on the mountains. 
Feb. 10, Hofer shot at Mantua. 

TZOMPACH, Battle of, a.d. 1519.— 
Although beaten in several battles by the 
troops of Cortez, the Tlascalans were not con- 
quered. They stiU refused all the friendly 
overtures tendered by the Spanish com- 
mander. Cortez beheld in them an enemy 
to be feared, and would gladly have entered 
into an alliance with them ; but they sent 
back his envoys with words of scorn, bidding 
him prepare for battle, for they were about 
to come forth to meet him. 

Upon receiving this answer, Cortez deter- 
mined to march against the enemy himself, 
rather than wait to receive their attack. On 
the morning of the 5th of September, the 
Spanish army was under arms at sunrise. 
Cortez rode through the ranks, and exhorted 
his men to fight manfully in the approaching 
struggle. Victory was their only hope ; de- 
feat would lead only to a shameful, cruel, and 
hngering death. 

Enthusiastic shouts arose from the ranks 
as the general ceased, and when the word to 
march was given, each man stepped forward 



with the determination to conquer in the 
coming fight, or to die. They had marched 
but a short distance when they came within 
sight of the lines of the Tlascalan army. 
The Spaniards were startled by the magni- 
tude of the concourse before them. Occupying 
a space of level ground, nearly six miles square, 
stood 60,000 warriors, clothed in fantastic 
guise, with banners fluttering in the air, and 
shouting aloud their terrible cry of defiance 
and war. The Indians were armed with 
spears and darts, which were tipped with a 
brightly-polished metal, and bows, and ar- 
rows. Their chieftains wore richly-orna- 
mented helmets, whose tall, gayly-colored 
plumes, waved over their heads, rising and 
falling at each motion of their persons, and 
rendering them conspicuous marks for the 
aim of the Spanish arquebussers. The naked 
bodies of the common soldiers were painted 
in red, purple, yellow, and other gaudy col- 
ors. Barbaric splendor and magnificence 
were displayed in their strongest aspect. 
Banners and streamers floated in the air, in 
every quarter of the field, and everywhere 
gold, and silver, and precious stones, appear- 
ed, until the whole army glistened in the 
bright rays of the sun, hke a burnished morn- 
ing cloud. 

The sounds of trumpets and of drums 
arose from every quarter of this dense and 
bright array, and shouts, and yells, and ges- 
tures wild ; brandished spear and lance to- 
gether, proved how eager were the warriors 
for the fray. 

The army was divided into two companies, 
each company commanded by a cliieftain 
whose armor of feathers corresponded in 
color with the painted bodies of his soldiers. 
The chieftains alone wore any defensive 
armor; they also carried shields of wood 
covered with leather, and of reeds quilted 
with cotton. Their shields were profusely 
ornamented, and were frmged with brightly- 
colored feathers. Music from shells and 
trumpets arose from various quarters of the 
Indian army, filhng the air with wild sounds. 

With steady step the Spaniards marched 
toward this great army. They arrived within 
bow-shot. Instantly the air was darkened 
by a cloud of arrows, spears, javelins, darts, 
and stones, which were hurled by the Indians 
upon their approaching foe. Amid this 
storm of missiles the gallant Spaniards held 
their way. Not a shot did they fire ; and 
deep silence pervaded their ranks as they 
moved on toward the cloud of enemies be- 
fore them. At length they halted ; the artil- 
lery was placed in position, and at the com- 
mand of their general the allied army opened 
a destructive fire along the whole fine. The 
Spaniards plied their weapons with terrible 
effect. At point-blank range their cannon 



TZOMPACH. 



balls told with fearful accuracy upon the 
dense masses of the enemy. In vain did 
the Indians endeavor to bear off the dead 
and wounded from the field. They fell be- 
fore that iron and leaden hail by scores. For 
a moment the Tlascalans stood motionless. 
Dismayed and astonished at the terrible 
slaughter inflicted by the mysterious weapons 
of their enemies, they apparently knew not 
what to do. At length, goaded to madness, 
with one universal shout of rage, they rushed 
in one mass upon the Spanish army. 

Like a huge billow, on they came, with a 
force so irresistible, that the Spaniards, over- 
whelmed and engulfed, were there thrown 
back in the utmost confusion. And now en- 
sued a terrible hand-to-hand conflict. The 
Spaniards fought with the desperate courage 
of despair — death on the field, or a lingering 
death on the sacrificial altar, stared them in 
the face — they fought Uke tigers — crushed to 
the earth by the weight of their enemies, the 
Spanish soldiers used their keen swords upon 
the naked bodies of their adversaries, with 
obstinate energy. The artillery was moved to 
a distance, planted in a favorable position, and 
opened on the Indian army, shaking it to the 
very center. The cavalry, headed by Cortez 
liimself, plunged into the struggling mass, 
overthrowing and trampling down the en- 
emy, and at length compelled them to retreat 
with the utmost precipitation. Again and 
again did the Indians renew these tremendous 
attacks, but they were as often driven back, 
with greater and increasing slaughter. Yet 
they were not defeated, and the result of the 
battle would have been doubtful had not dis- 
sensions broken out in their midst. One of 
the principal chieftains, who had been de- 
feated in the battle of the defile, quarreled 
with Xicotoncatl, because the latter had ac- 
cused him of cowardice, and withdrew from 
the field with liis division, which consisted 
of 10,000 men. Another chieftain followed 
his example, and Xicotoncatl, whose force 
was now reduced to less than one half of its 
original number, was unable longer to con- 
tend against the arms of the Spaniards. But 
for four hours he maintained the conflict, un- 
til at length perceiving no hopes of victory, 
he ordered a general retreat, and left the 
severely-contested field to the Spaniards. 

In this battle the Spaniards lost but few 
men killed ; but their wounded included 
nearly the whole of their number. The loss 
of the Indians was great. The precise num- 
ber is not stated ; but the ground was liter- 
ally piled with their dead. 

The Spaniards were too much fatigued to 
pursue the flying enemy. Satisfied with 
their victory they returned triumphantly to 
the hill of Tzompach. 

Altliough greatly discouraged by their 



repeated defeats, the Tlascalans, never- 
theless, determined upon striking one more 
blow upon the invaders. They consulted 
their priests, who told them that the Spaniards 
were not gods, but were the children of the 
sun ; and that it was only during tlie shining 
of the sun they were invincible. A night 
attack, therefore, was decided upon. Xicot- 
oncatl, the Tlascalan general, conducted his 
operations with such care that the Spaniards^ 
reposing within their works on the hill oi 
Tzompach, little thought that an army of 
10,000 men was stealing toward the camp. 
But unfortunately for the success of the Tlas- 
calan general, he had selected a moonlight 
night for his expedition, and as he neared the 
camp of the enemy, a Spanish vidette dis- 
covered his army moving across the plain. He 
instantly gave the alarm. Soon the camp 
was in confusion. The horsemen, aroused 
from their slumbers, sprang to their horses, 
who stood ready saddled ; the soldiers, half 
asleep, leaped from their hard couches, and 
flew to their arms ; and all was hurry, bustle, 
and disorder. But soon the confusion ceased 
and the whole camp was under arms. They 
had scarcely formed in order of battle, when 
they beheld the black columns of the enemy 
moving through the fields of waving corn 
which covered the plain in patches. Onward 
came the Indians, creeping stealthily toward 
the Christian fines. They neared the foot of 
the hill. Deep silence pervaded their ranks. 
They commenced the ascent. Instantly — 
like a whirlwind — the Spaniards rushed down 
the slope, pouring repeated and deadly vol- 
leys of musketry and showers of arrows upon 
the ascending foe. At their head were the 
horsemen, who, plunging into the mass of 
affrighted Indians, cut them down to left 
and right. The Indians replied to the charge 
by a shower of arrows, and then, turning re- 
treated with the utmost precipitation The 
Spanish horse pursued, and, easily overtaking 
the fugitives, slaughtered them mercilessly, 
until, sated with blood, they returned, leaving 
the plain covered with the carcasses of dead 
and dying men. The victory was decisive. 
Without the loss of a single man, the Span- 
iards put to rout and almost cut to pieces an 
army of 10,000 men. 

After tills disastrous defeat, the Tlascalans 
no longer rejected the proffered friendship of 
the Spaniards. No longer able to success- 
fully resist, they made friends with the con- 
querors, and Xicotoncatl, the valorous chief- 
tain of the Tlascalans, visited the camp of the 
Spaniards, and tendered Cortez the obedience 
of himself and his countrymen. 

Massacre of Cholula. — The fame of Cor- 
tez's brilliant victories spread far and wide, 
and reached the ear of Montezuma himself. 
That prince heard with gloomy forebodings 



664 



TZOMPACH. 



of the rapid approach of the invaders toward 
his capital, and determined once more to en- 
deavor by smooth means to prevent him from 
advancing to the city. Accordingly he sent 
an embassy with munificent presents to the 
Spanish camp. Upon tendering the presents 
to Cortez, the Aztec nobles, in their emper- 
or's name, expressed their regrets that he 
could not invite them to visit his capital, be- 
cause he feared that they would receive some 
personal injury from the citizens, who were 
numerous and ungovernable. Cortez dis- 
missed the embassy, assuring them that at a 
future day he would repay the emperor for 
all liis kindness. Shortly after this interview 
the Spaniards finally accepted the pressing 
invitations of the Tlascalans, and left their 
camp, and proceeded to the city of Tlascala, 
where they were received by their former 
enemies, but now friends, with great rejoic- 
ings. Some time afterward Montezuma sent 
a third embassy to the Spanish commander. 
The friendly alliance which the invaders had 
entered into with the Tlascalans caused 
Montezuma the utmost uneasiness, and he 
was determined, if possible, to break that 
alliance. The present embassy, hlce the 
former ones, was loaded with costly presents 
of gold and silver; but the message wliich 
they now brought was so different from the 
others, that Cortez at once suspected treach- 
ery. Instead of forbidding the strangers to 
visit his capital, in plain words he invited 
them to come, assuring them that they would 
meet with a hearty welcome. He requested 
them to take the road which led through 
Cholula to the capital. The Cholulans, he 
said, were their friends, and had made ar- 
rangements, by his orders, to receive them in 
a suitable manner. At the same time, he 
warned them against the friendship of the 
Tlascalans, whom he styled base barbarians. 
Although Cortez could not but suspect the 
motive of the emperor in this sudden change 
of opinion, and although the Tlascalan chief- 
tains endeavored to their utmost to dissuade 
him from accepting Montezuma's invitation, 
he, nevertheless, resolved to march toward 
tlie city of Mexico through Cholula. Ac- 
cordingly, on an appointed morning he set 
forth with his whole army, accompanied by 
6,000 Tlascalan warriors, whom he selected 
from nearly 100,000 who had volunteered. 
Arriving within sight of Cholula, he encamp- 
ed, and the next morning he entered the city 
with his army and the Cempoallan Indians, 
leaving the Tlascalans at the camp in the 
rear. The Spaniards were received by the 
people of Cholula with every de:nonstration 
of welcome. For a few days they were 
treated with unswerving kindness ; but soon 
Cortez discovered a mai-ked change in the 
demeanor of the people, and at length, 



through the adroitness of Marina, he learned 
that a plot had been formed for the destruc- 
tion of himself and army, Cortez saw that 
no time was to be lost. He informed the 
Caciques of his intention to leave the town 
early the next morning. They did not refuse 
their consent, but retired with the determin- 
ation to fall upon the Spaniards, while they 
were entangled in the intricate streets of the 
city, and thus, they thought, destroy them 
with the greater ease. 

Cortez then called together the Mexican 
embassadors, and bluntly charged them with 
the crime of plotting the ruin of his army, 
saying, that they had acted under Montezu- 
ma's directions ; and that now, instead of 
marching to his capital as a friend, he would 
go thither an enemy. The embassadors de- 
nied all kn(jwledge of the plot, and Cortez 
affecting to beheve them, allowed them to de- 
part, but ordered his men to watch them 
closely. Cortez spent an anxious and sleep- 
less night. His soldiers who had been ap- 
prised of their danger, slept on their arms, 
and every horse was saddled and bridled, to 
be ready at a moment's warning. Cortez 
also dispatched orders to the Tlascalan chief- 
tains to enter the city at a given signal. At 
early daybreak Cortez was in the saddle, 
giving his last directions to his soldiers. He 
drew up the main body of his men in a great 
square, which was partially inclosed with 
buildings and a high wall. At each of the 
three gates of this court, Cortez posted a 
troop of soldiers, armed with muskets. He 
then planted his cannon outside of the enclo- 
sure, so that they commanded the various 
streets ; and behind the guns stood his main 
line. 

Soon the Cholulan governors appeared at 
the head of a numerous body of men, whom 
they had agreed to furnish Cortez, to aid in 
the transportation of his baggage-wagons 
and artillery. They marched into the inclosed 
square. After all had entered, Cortez drew 
the caciques aside, and at once accused them 
of conspiring against him. Overpowered 
with astonishment and dismay at the sudden- 
ness of the accusation, they confessed at 
once, and declared that Montezuma was the 
author of the conspiracy. Cortez, however, 
would listen to no excuses ; he gave the fatal 
signals, and instantly every musket, every 
cross-bow discharged its deadly missile into 
the mass of Cholulans who filled the court- 
yard. Words can not describe the terrible 
affright of the unfortunate creatures; they 
had heard nothing of the conversation be- 
tween Cortez and their rulers, and for a 
moment they remained motionless. The 
musketry ceased, and amid the cloud of sul- 
phurous smoke which filled the area, the 
Spanish soldiers rushed into the swaying 



UDEVALLA— UTICA. 



665 



crowd, and with their keen swords hewed 
them down without mercy. In vain did 
they strive to escape — none thought of re- 
sistance — those who strove to scale the wall, 
were shot down by the musketeers, and those 
who frantiely rushed toward the gates were 
received on the points of Spanish lances. 
None escaped, save a fortunate few who con- 
cealed themselves beneath the heaps of the 
dead. 

In the mean time, the citizens without, 
warned by the terrible sounds which issued 
from the interior of the court-yard, of the 
slaughter of their fellow-countrymen, rushed 
toward the spot from all quarters ; but the 
dreadful artillery commanded every street, 
and as the crowds approached, they belched 
forth volleys of destruction upon them. Be- 
tween each volley the Spanish horse rushed 
forward and kept the strugghng mass back. 
Yet as fast as the foremost fell, their compan- 
ions pushed forward to fill their places, while 
the balls from the cannon plowed through 
them, leaving bloody furrows in their tracks. 
At this moment the Tlascalans rushed into 
the city, and fiercely attacked the rear of the 
Cholulans, Thus attacked in front and rear, 



'[ the brave citizens were forced to fly. Scat- 
tering in every direction, many of them 
sought shelter in the neighboring houses. 
These buildings their implacable enemies 
fired, and they perished miserably in the 
flames. 

A numerous body of the Cholulans 
threw themselves into the great temple, and 
mounting into its wooden towers, hurled 
down stones, beams, and burning javelins 
upon the heads of the Spaniards. The Span- 
iards mounted the great stair-case, and by 
the aid of the burning javehns of their ene- 
mies, they set fire to the towers. Soon the 
wooden edifices were wrapped in flames; 
many of their despairing defenders cast them- 
selves from the summits, and were crushed ; 
and many died in the flames. At length the 
cruel butchery ceased. Moved by the pray- 
ers of the caciques, Cortez ordered his men 
to cease. Gradually the direful tumult 
ceased, and the blood-stained streets of Cho- 
lula were once more quiet. 

On that dreadful day, 3,000 Chohilans were 
slain ; and the fame of Cortez, from that time, 
spread throughout the plateau, filling the whole 
country with horror and fear. — Frescott, 



UDEVALLA, a.d. 1678.— In the year 
1678 a fierce battle was fought between the 
Danes and Swedes near Udevalla, a town of 
South Sweden. The Danes had crossed the 
mountains from Norway, when they were 
attacked by the Swedes, and an engagement 
ensued which was characterized by all that 
stubborn valor on both sides which distin- 
guishes the hardy Scandinavians. At length 
after a protracted battle, the Swedes were 
defeated. 

ULM, A.D. 1805.— The city bf Dim, in 
Germany, was the scene of several important 
mihtary operations, in 1805. Austria having 
declared war against France, pushed forward 
a strong army into Bavaria, under General 
Mack, who established his head-quarters at 
Ulm. But Napoleon, having succeeded by 
a series of masterly movements in cutting 
off Mack's communication with Austria, the 
latter was cooped up in the city, with all that 
portion of his army, amounting to about 
30,000 men, that had not already fallen into 
the hands of the French. Considering the 
strength of the place, and the numbers of 
the garrison, a vigorous resistance might have 
been anticipated ; but instead of this, on the 
17th of October 1805, Mack capitulated and 
delivered up the town, and his army as 
prisoners of war, without so much as firing 
a shot t 



UTICA, B.C. 203.— Scipio Africanus hav- 
ing entered upon the country dominated 
over by the Carthaginians, turned all his at- 
tention toward Utica, with the purpose of 
making a place of anns of it advantageous 
to his ulterior plans ; he attacked it at once, 
both by land and sea. Carthage exerted it- 
self earnestly to save a city which might be 
said to protect the capital of its empire. 
Asdrubal raised a numerous body of troops, 
and Syphax, King of Numidia, fixed his 
camp within sight of that of the Roman 
general. The rival of Rome flattered itself 
with the hope of soon putting Scipio to 
flight ; but that skillful captain soon dispersed 
these smiling expectations. He at once con- 
ceived the great project of burning both 
camps ; and this was the happy manner in 
which he executed it. He amused Syphax 
with proposals for an accommodation. A 
crowd of Roman officers disguised as slaves 
went with the deputies into the enemy's 
camps, to observe the entrances and places 
of issue, and to ascertain what sort of watch 
was kept day and night. After having taken 
measures and precautions according to the 
information thus gained, he silently attacked 
the intrenchments of the King of Numidia, 
in the obscurity of the night, and the soldiers 
set fire to the barracks, covered with mats, 
reeds, and dry wood. The whole camp ap- 



TJTICA. 



peared to be in a blaze ; and the Numidians 
and Carthaginians, thinking the fire the effect 
of accident, were more intent at first in ex- 
tinguishing it than upon defending them- 
selves. Scipio attacked the lines of Asdrubal, 
while the flames were consuming those of 
Syphax. The enemies who were occupied 
in suppressing the fire, were put to the sword ; 
40,000 men were left dead upon the spot, 
and 7,000 were reserved for slavery. The 
news of this defeat spread consternation 
among the Carthaginians. Asdrubal and Sy- 
phax raised fresh troops, while the Roman 
general pressed the siege of Utica. This 
second army obliged him to suspend his at- 
tacks; but another victory, more glorious 
than the first, maintained the reputation of 
the Roman general. Carthage, in despair, 
recalled Hannibal — its only and last resource. 
The arrival of tliis great man entirely sus- 
pended the siege of Utica ; but his defeat by 
Scipio terminated the war. 

Second Siege, b.c. 46. — Caesar, conqueror 
of Thapsus, pursued Scii^io into Utica, and 
invested it. This city would not have fallen 
an easy conquest, if Cato, who had shut 
himself up in it, together with most of the 
senators opposed to tyranny, had found in 
all hearts a courage and a patriotism equal 
to his own. In vain this noble Roman en- 
deavored to awaken in those around him the 
subUme sentiments which had animated the 
early citizens of Rome ; in vain he went 
through the streets to calm the alarm of the 
people — the dread of the conqueror closed 
all ears against his exhortations: love of 
country had given place to love of hfe. De- 
spairing then of defending Rome by defend- 
ing Utica, he gave his whole care to the 
preservation of the senators, the companions 
of his misfortunes, whom the inhabitants 
wished to give up to Caesar. When he had 
taken all the necessary precautions, he pre- 
pared to terminate his days in a manner 
worthy of himself. Some of his friends ex- 
horted him to have recourse to the clemency 
of the dictator. " He who is conquered," 
said he, " may servilely flatter the hand which 
has subdued him. Cato is invincible ; he ac- 
knowledges neither master nor conqueror." 
He then assembled his friends, and, after a 
long conversation upon the state of afi'airs, 
he strictly forbade his son ever to take any 
part in the government. " You can not do 
so," said he, " in a manner worthy of the 
name you bear ; and to do it in any other 
way, would be to cover yourself with eternal 
ignominy." He then took a bath, and while 
in it, remembered Statilius, his friend, who 
had refused to escape with the other sena- 
tors. He had charged the philosopher Apol- 
lonius to persuade him to save himself. " Have 
you succeeded with Statilius," said hg — " can 



he have gone without bidding me farewell?" 
"He! no," replied the philosopher ; "he is 
intractable : he declares he will positively 
remain here, and imitate you in every thing." 
" It will soon," replied Cato, with a smile, 
" be seen how that will be." After his bath, 
he gave a magnificent banquet to all his 
friends and the magistrates of Utica. They 
sat long at table, and the conversation was 
animated, Uvely, and learned, chiefly turning 
upon points of moral philosophy. Demetrius, 
a Peripatetic philosopher, undertook to re- 
fute, after the principles of his sect, the two 
Stoic paradoxes : " The wise alone are free ; 
all the vicious are slaves." But Cato replied 
to him with a fire, a vehemence, and in a tone 
of voice which betrayed his intentions, and 
changed the suspicious his friends had enter- 
tained into certainty. All at once, a dismal 
silence prevailed; sadness was painted in 
every countenance, and no one durst venture 
his tear-dewed eyes toward Cato. This ten- 
der friend perceived the effect his rigid philo- 
sophy had produced ; he changed the subject, 
and to drive away melancholy ideas, he spoke 
of those who had just left them, showing the 
anxious inquietude he experienced respecting 
them. After the repast, he walked about 
for some time, according to his usual custom, 
and then retired to his apartment. There he 
spoke more affectionately than he had before 
done, to his son and his friends, which re- 
vived and strengthened the idea they had 
conceived of his determination. 

When he went into his inner chamber, he 
threw himself upon the bed, and meditated 
for a long time upon Plato's dialogue on the 
immortahty of the soul. He had already 
read a considerable part of it, when, turning 
his eyes upon his bolster, he perceived that 
his sword was not in its customary place ; 
his son had had it removed while they were 
at supper. Cato called to a slave, and asked 
him what had become of his sword. The 
slave made no answer, and his master re- 
sumed his reading. A few minutes after, he 
made the same question, without any eager- 
ness or warmth, but hke a man who has no 
particular desire. At last, when he had fin- 
ished his reading, seeing that nobody seemed 
disposed to obey him, he called all his slaves, 
one after the other, and in the tone of a mas- 
ter, said that he insisted upon having his 
sword ; he even went so far as to give one 
of them so violent a blow, that he made his 
hand bloody. " What !" cried he, indignant- 
ly, " what ! are my son and my people con- 
spiring to deliver me up to my enemy, with- 
out arms, and without defense?" At this 
moment, his son, coming into the apartment 
with his friends, burst into tears. He threw 
himself at his feet, he embraced his knees, 
and conjured him to depart from his purpose. 



VACHTENDONCK. 



66Y 



Cato, angry at seeing his son in such an atti- 
tude of supplication, and darting at him 
glances denoting displeasure — "Since when," 
cried he, " am I fallen into imbecility, to make 
it necessary for my son to be my curator ? 
I am treated like an insane man ; I am not 
allowed to dispose of my own person ; I am 
to be disarmed too! Brave and generous 
son, why do you not chain up your father 
till Ceesar arrives, so that that enemy of his 
country may find him destitute of defense ? 
Do I stand in need of a sword, if I wished to 
deprive myself of life ? Could I not hold my 
breath ? could I not dash my head against 
the wall ? If a man really wish for death, 
there are a thousand ways of obtaining it." 
A young slave then brought him back his 
sword. Cato drew it, examined it, and find- 
ing that the point was quite straight and 
sharjj, he exclaimed — " Now, then, I am my 
own master." He laid down his sword, took 
up his book, and read it through again from 



beginning to end ; he then fell into so pro- 
found a sleep, that the anxious friends who 
Ustened at the door heard him snore ; but 
the fatal moment approached. Cato called 
for his freed-man, and asked him if all was 
quiet ; and when he was assured that it was, 
he threw himself upon the bed, as if to take 
his repose for the night ; but the moment he 
was left alone, he plunged his sword into his 
body, a Httle below the breast. The blow 
did not kill him at once ; he struggled a httle, 
and fell off the bed on to the ground. At 
the noise of his fall, his people rushed in, and, 
as he still breathed, his surgeon bound up the 
wound. But the instant he recovered his 
senses, he tore away the bandages, and with 
them dragged out his bowels, and expired. 
" Oh, Cato!" cried Csesar, when he heard of 
his noble end, " I envy thee the glory of thy 
death, since thou hast envied me that of 
sparing thy life." And he entered triumph- 
antly into Utica. — JRobson. 



VACHTENDONCK, a.d. 1588.— This ht- 
tle city, at a small distance from Venloo, but 
whose advantages of situation, in a country 
that could be flooded, and the fortifications 
which the Dutch had added to its natural de- 
fenses, rendered its capture difficult, was be- 
sieged by the Spanniards, under the com- 
mand of Pierre Ernest de Mansfeld. Its 
weak garrison made a noble resistance. 
Nevertheless, the works of the Spaniards ad- 
vanced so rapidly, the fire of the batteries, 
and the sapping and mining were so effective, 
that on the 3d of December, the besieged 
capitulated. The reason for our noticing this 
siege, is the circumstance that it was the first 
time bombs were used ; they had been in- 
vented a short time before, by a man of 
Venloo, a maker of artificial fireworks. The 
garrison and the citizens, terrified at these 
globes of fire, which crushed their houses, 
and set fire to every thing around them, made 
but a feeble resistance afi:er they had seen 
their effects. Tliis destructive arm has been 
perfected with time, and gave birth to gren- 
ades, pot-grenades, and many other murder- 
ous machines. 

VALENCIENNES, a.d. 1557.— Philip II, 
King of Spain, son and successor to the Em- 
peror Charles V., who, from the depths of his 
cabinet, hke another Tiberius, shook all 
Europe with his often cruel policy, wishing 
to stop the rapid progress of Lutheranism in 
the provinces of Flanders, put weapons into 
the hands of executioners, and endeavored to 
estabhsh the Inquisition in those happy and 
tranquil countries. Tiiis barbarous tribunal, 



conforming so little with scriptural precepts 
and mildness, disgusted the Flemings, and 
gave birth to that famous confederation, at 
the head of which, was William of Nassau, 
surnamed the Taciturn, Prince of Orange. 
All the confederates were clothed in gray, 
wore upon their caps httle wooden porrin- 
gers, and round their necks a medal, upon 
one side of which was the portrait of the 
king, and on the reverse a wallet suspended 
from two hands, crossed and pressed together 
in sign of faith, with tliis inscription : " Faith- 
ful to the king, and to the wallet." This was 
in allusion to the name of beggars, which the 
Count of Barlemont had given them. They 
exhibited themselves in this guise before 
Marguerite of Austria, Duchess of Parma, and 
gouvernante of the Netherlands. They pre- 
sented, in a manner sufficiently humble, a 
petition to this princess, in whicli they asked 
for liberty of conscience, and the revocation 
of the edict which estabUshed the Holy 
Office. An answer to these prayers was 
eluded, and the yoke of the Protestants, and 
even of the Cathohcs, was made so intole- 
rably heavy, that the people in all parts pre- 
pared for revolt. The inhabitants of Valen- 
ciennes were the first to raise the standard ; 
they were almost all Huguenots, and had in- 
timate connections with what are called the 
heretics of France. The gouvernante charged 
the Seigneur de Noircarmes, commanding in 
Hainault, to estabhsh a sufficient garrison in 
; Valenciennes to restrain the audacity of the 
j burgesses. Noircarmes preferred employing 
I mildness ; before he approached the walls of 



6B» 



VALENCIEiraES. 



the city, he agreed to undertake nothing, if 
the public exercise of heresy were proscribed. 
The people consented to this, but retracted 
the moment after. Noircarmes presenting 
himself at the gates, for the purpose of enter- 
ing the city, and completing the agreement, 
some of the populace had the temerity to 
shut the gates in his face, and to drive him 
from them by a discharge of arquebuses. 
Valenciennes was then declared to be in a 
state of i-ebellion, and its siege was com- 
manded. The news soon spread. Some 
French Huguenots immediately flew to the 
aid of the proscribed city, and tliese were 
soon followed by 3,000 foot, and a few horse, 
got together in the nearest cantons of 
Flanders. These troops, provided with sev- 
eral pieces of cannon, advanced under the 
orders of John Soreas, who had assembled 
them. Noircarmes immediately got together 
a few companies of infantry, with some horse, 
and set forward to combat this rash and in- 
experienced body of soldiers. Their defeat 
was the work of a moment : Soreas perished 
in the action, and his followers were massa- 
cred. Some, in vain, attempted to find 
refuge in Tournay; the peasants of the 
neighborhood pursued and dispersed them. 
Noircarmes, animated by this success, after 
having subdued Tournay, advanced toward 
Valenciennes. The rebels, still obstinate, 
rejected all his propositions with disdain, and 
he was therefore forced to think seriously of 
besieging the city. He quickly established a 
formidable battery, which destroyed the 
ramparts, and spread terror and despair 
among the besieged. They had expected 
powerful assistance, but, frustrated in their 
hopes, their courage was changed into con- 
sternation, and after several rude attacks, 
they surrendered at discretion. Noircarmes 
imposed such laws as the gouvernante dic- 
tated. The submission of Valenciennes for a 
time depressed the spirits of the confederates, 
and the vigorous government of Marguerite 
seemed to prognosticate obedience ; but the 
glorious results of these beginnings are the 
best and most instructive in the pages of 
history. 

Second Siege, a.d. 1667. — One of the 
greatest military exploits of Louis XIV. was 
the conquest of Valenciennes. Since the wars 
•which had procured liberty for Holland, the 
possessors of that city had neglected nothing 
to render it impregnable. The project of the 
French monarch was considered as the height 
of temerity. In the first place, it was neces- 
sary to gain possession of two half-moons on 
the right and on the left. Behind these half- 
moons was a grand crown-work, pallisaded, 
frased (strengthened with pointed stakes), 
and surrounded by a fosse intersected by 
many traverses. Li this crown-work there 



was yet a second, well covered, and surround- 
ed with another fosse. Afler these had been 
mastered, there was an arm of the Sclield to 
be crossed ; this being done, a fresh work 
was encountered, called a paU ; behind this 
pate flowed the great stream of the Sclield, 
deep and rapid, which served as a fosse be- 
tween the pate and the wall ; and this wall 
was supported by large ramparts. All these 
works were covered with cannon. A garri- 
son of nearly four thousand men, a great 
quantity of munitions of war and provisions, 
the hatred of the citizens for the French and 
their affection for their Spanish governor, 
seemed to promise a long and firm resistance. 
j At the head of a formidable army, Louis 
j XIV. advanced, seconded by his brother 
and the Marshals, Humieres, Schomberg, 
Feuillade, Luxembourg, and Lorges. The 
celebrated Vauban directed all the operations. 
On the 9th of March, 1677, they opened the 
trenches. A few days afler, the king called 
a council upon the best means of attacking 
the outworks with greatest regard to the 
lives of the soldiers. Vauban proposed to 
' attack them in open day ; but aU the mar- 
shals exclaimed strongly against such a plan ; 
Louvois condemned it, and yet Vauban held 
firm to his opinion with the confidence of a 
man perfectly understanding all he advanced. 
j " You wish," said he, " to spare the blood of 
your soldiers, and this will be best effected 
by fighting in the daylight, without confusion 
and without tumult, without the fear of one 
part of our men firing upon another, as too 
frequently happens. Our object is to surprise 
the enemy ; and they are always in expecta- 
; tion of an attack by night ; we shall indeed 
j surprise them when they will be fatigued by 
I watching all night, and they will not be in a 
! condition to resist our fresh troops. Add to 
' this, there may be men among our soldiers 
I who have but little courage, and night will 
j favor their timidity ; whereas, during the day 
I the eye of the master inspires valor, and ele- 
vates men, particularly the French, above 
themselves." The king yielded to the reason- 
ing of Vauban in opposition to his minister 
Louvois and five marshals of France. 

On the evening of the 16th, the two com- 
panies of musketeers, a hundred grenadiers 
of the king's household, a battalion of the 
1 guards, and one of the regiments of Picardy, 
were commanded to be in readiness, and on 
j the 17th, at nine o'clock in the morning, 
I these warriors marched to the attack of the 
i crown-work, after having overcome the two 
advanced half-moons. Nothing seemed able 
to resist them ; they mounted the intrench- 
ments in all directions ; they seized them ; 
they effected a lodgment. This was all that 
had been required or hoped for in this attack ; 
I but the valor of the musketeers was warmed, 



VALENCrEKNES. 



669 



and could not be checked. There was across 
the small arm of the Scheld, a bridge, which 
communicated with the pate. The passage 
over this bridge was closed by a barrier of 
immense pieces of pointed timber, with a 
wicket in the middle, through which only- 
one man could pass at a time. While one 
party of the musketeers was endeavoring to 
force the wicket, the rest climbed over the 
barrier, and in spite of pikes and musketry, 
leaped down on the other side sword in hand. 
The enemy, surprised by this extraordinary 
feat, abandoned the defense of the wicket. 
The musketeers pursued them, and on reach- 
ing the pate, attacked it with great fury, and 
carried it in spite of its defenders ; but the 
cannon of the ramparts now threatened de- 
struction to the conquerors. The gray mus- 
keteers perceived a Uttle door; they broke 
it in, and discovered a private staircase con- 
structed in the thickness of the wall ; they 
rushed up this narrow passage and arrived 
at the top of the pate. They there remarked 
another door, which gave entrance to a gal- 
lery built over the grand canal of the Scheld. 
They broke that in ; they gained the ram- 
parts, and intrenched themselves. They 
then turned against the city the cannon they 
found there, and, sheltered from their thun- 
ders, descended into the place with the fugi- 
tives. They pursued them from intrench- 
ment to intrenchment, from street to street ; 
and they triumphed before the king could 
have imagined the first work they attacked 
was taken. But this was not the most as- 
tonishing part of this marvelous affair. 

It was probable that young musketeers, 
carried away by the ardor of success, should 
rush bhndly upon the troops and the citizens 
— that they would perish, or that the city 
would be plimdered; but these warriors, 
scarcely adolescent, led by a cornet named 
Moissac, and a quarter-master named La- 
barre, formed behind some wagons, and while 
the troops wliich came in crowds, were form- 
ing leisurely, other musketeers got possession 
of some neighboring houses, in order to pro- 
tect by their fire those who defended the 
bridge with incredible bravery. They were 
three times charged by the cavalry of the 
garrison ; but notwithstanding the smaUness 
of their numbers, they maintained all they 
had won. The infantry endeavored to take 
them in rear, but they there encountered the 
greater part of the black musketeers and the 
grenadiers of the king's household, who re- 
pulsed them vigorously. The citizens were 
astonished ; the city council assembled. They 
entered into a parley with Moissac, who re- 
ceived and gave hostages. Deputies were 
sent to the king ; and all this was done with- 
out confusion, without tumult, and without 
the commission of a fault of any kind. The 



city was obUged to submit without capitula- 
tion. The king made the garrison prisoners 
of war, and entered Valenciennes, to his own 
great surprise, as master. The conquest only 
cost liim 40 men. " I do not know," says 
Larrey, "if Wstory furnishes many examples 
of an action so sharp and prompt, and at the 
same time so fortunate, and of the capture, in 
so short a time, and with so httle loss for the 
conquerors, of a great and strong city which 
wanted nothing for its defense. The whole 
looks hke a miracle ; and all was attributed to 
the fortunate rashness of the musketeers." 
" It was fortunate," adds M. de St. Foix, 
"because coolness and prudence completed 
that which impetuous courage had begun. 
Every thing in this affair is characteristic of 
true valor, that valor which elevates man 
above himself, and which often makes him 
triumph against all probability, and in spite 
of the evident danger into which he seems to 
precipitate himself." 

Third Siege, a.d. 1793. — In this siege the 
English have an interest, the Duke of York, 
second son of George III., having had the 
command of the besiegers. 

The allies, having taken Condc in the month 
of April, directed their forces against Valen- 
ciennes. General Ferrand commanded in the 
place, with a garrison of 9,000 men. To favor 
the siege, the alhes posted an army of observ- 
ation in the plains of Herin, in front of the 
city, a strong force on the other side of Va- 
lenciennes, and a third between Lille and 
Tournay. At the moment that city was in- 
vested, these faubourgs were attacked ; that 
named Marli was set fire to on the 24th of 
May, and taken the day follovsdng. The al- 
hes opened the attack very close to the place. 
The Duke of York summoned the city on 
the 14th of June. The governor rephed: 
"The garrison and myself will sooner bury 
ourselves beneath the ruins than surrender 
the city." The bombardment instantly com- 
menced. When the Tournay side was in 
ashes, the allies transported their bombs to 
the south-west, and then the conflagration 
became general ; there seemed to be no wish 
entertained to preserve either the walls or 
fortifications. An opinion was general in the 
city, that destruction, rather than conquest, 
was the object of the alhes, and despair be- 
came more tenacious than courage. During 
!!Be conflagration, the fire caught the arsenal, 
which blew up. Treachery was suspected, 
and the sub-director of the artillery, Mones- 
tier, destroyed himself The object of this 
was to raise the inhabitants, which it suc- 
ceeded in doing ; but order was quickly re- 
stored by the two representative commission- 
ers. The works of the besiegers came up to 
the walls by the 21st of July. A breach was 
made in the bastion called the Huguenots, 



670 



VALLS— VALMY. 



and a first assault upon the covered way was 
repulsed. There was a second on the 26th, 
while the aUies, with another body of 10,000 
men, assaulted in a diffeivnt point, in which 
they gained possession of an advanced work, 
which was blown up by three mines. The 
fire drove them from the ramparts, and the 
work was retaken ; but a panic seized upon 
the garrison, they became deaf to the voices 
of their officers, rushed ptle mtle into the city, 
and nothing could bring them back to the 
advanceil work, which had been retaken and 
abandoned by both parties. At tliis time, 
the Duke of York addressed a proclamation 
to the inhabitants and the soldiers, while he 
sent a second to the municipality and the 
general. From that moment the disorder 
was irreparable; the assembled inhabitants, 
supported by the soldiers, compelled the coun- 
cil of war to enter into a capitulation : it was 
signed on the 28th of July. The companies 
of the cannoneers of Douai and Valenciennes 
alone took no part in this riot : they had 
served with distinction. The alhes lost a 
great many men in the sieges of Conde, 
Cateau, Canrljresis, and Valenciennes. — Roh- 
son. 

VALLS, A.D. 1809.— Near Vails, in Spain, 
in 1809, the French troops, under General 
St. Cyr, gained a decisive victory over the 
Spaniards ; but the French were in their turn 
defeated in 1811, near the same place. 

VALMY, A.D. 1792.— At the village of 
Valmy a battle was fought in 1792, between 
the allies under the Duke of Brunswick and 
the French under Greneral Kellerman, father 
of the officer of that name who distinguished 
himself by his gallant cavalry charge at 
Marengo. The battle resulted in the total 
defeat of the Prussians ; and from " the 
cannonade of Valmy may be dated the com- 
mencement of that career which carried the 
French armies to Vienna and the Krem- 
Un." 

Serving under Kellerman on that day was 
one who experienced, perhaps, the most 
deeply of all men the changes for good and 
for evil which the French Revolution has 
produced. It was the Due de Chartres (the 
title he then bore), afterward Louis Philippe, 
King of the French. He commanded on the 
right. General Valence was on the left, and 
Kellerman himself was in the center. 

The lines of the allies, also, contained one 
man who claims our special attention. This 
was the German poet Gothc, then in early 
youth, and who had, out of curiosity, accom- 
panied the alhed army on its march into 
France, as a mere spectator. The King of 
Prussia and the Duke of Brunswick were 
also in the allied hues ; but GiJthe's name 
is greater than that of king, duke, or general. 
Giithe has given us a curious record of the 



sensations which he experienced during the 
cannonade, which we insert in place of a 
description of the battle : 

" I had heard so much of the cannon fever 
that I wanted to know what kind of a thing 
it was. Ennui, and a spirit wliich every 
kind of danger excites to daring, nay, even 
to rashness, induced me to ride up quite 
coolly to the outwork of La Lune. Tliis was 
again occupied by our people ; but it present- 
ed the wildest aspect. The roofs were shot 
to pieces, the corn-shocks scattered about, 
the bodies of men mortally wounded stretched 
upon them here and there, and occasionally 
a spent cannon-ball fell and rattled among 
the ruins of the tile roofs. 

" Quite alone, and left to myself, I rode 
away on the heights to the left, and could 
plainly survey the favorable position of the 
French. Tliey were standing in the form of 
a semicircle, in the greatest quiet and secur- 
ity, Kellerman, then, on the left wing, being 
the easiest to reach. 

" I fell in with good company on the way, 
officers of my acquaintance, belonging to the 
general staff and the regiment, greatly sur- 
prised to find me here. They wanted to 
take me back again with them ; but I spoke 
to them of particular objects I had in view, 
and they left me without further dissuasion, 
to my well-known singular caprice. 

" I had now arrived quite in the region 
where the balls were playing across me ; the 
sound of them is curious enough, as if it were 
composed of the humming of tops, the gurg- 
ling of water, and the whistUng of birds. 
They were less dangerous by reason of the 
wetness of the aground; wherever one fell 
it stuck fast. And thus my foolish experi- 
mental ride was secured against the danger 
at least of the balls rebounding. 

" In the midst of these circumstances, I was 
soon able to remark that something unusual 
was taking place within me. I paid close 
attention to it, and still the sensation can be 
described only by simiUtude. It appeared as 
if you were in some extremely hot place, 
and, at the same time quite penetrated by 
the heat of it, so that you feel yourself, as it 
were, quite one with the element in which 
you are. The eyes lose nothing of their 
strength or clearness; but it is as if the 
world had a kind of brown-red tint, which 
makes the situation, as well as the surround- 
ing objects more impressive. I was unable 
to perceive any agitation of the blood ; but 
every thing seemed rather to be swallowed 
up in the glow of which I speak. From this, 
then, it is clear in what sense this condition 
can be called a fever. It is remarkable, how- 
ever, that the horrible uneasy feeling arising 
from it is produced in us solely through the 
ears. For the cannon thunder, the howling 



VARNA— VEIL 



671 



and crashing of the balls through the air, is 
the real cause of these sensations. 

" After I had ridden back and was in per- 
fect security, I marked, with surprise, that 
the glow was completely extinguished, and 
not the shghtest feverish agitation was left 
behind. On the whole, this condition is one 
of the least desirable ; as, indeed, among my 
dear and noble comrades, I found scarcely 
one who expressed a really passionate desire 
to try it."* 

VARNA, A.D. 1444.— On the 10th of No- 
vember 1444, a battle was fought at Varna, 
on the south-west shore of the Black Sea, in 
European Turkey, between the Hungarian 
army, under Ladislaus and John Huniades, 
and the Turks, under Amurath II., in which 
the former were defeated with terrible 
slaughter. In 1828, Varna was taken by the 
Russians. 

VEII, B.c 271. — The Veientes were the 
most powerful of the twelve nations who in- 
habited Efcruria. Their capital, Veii, situated 
on a steep rock, was only twelve miles from 
Rome ; and the inhal^itants were, for more 
than three hundred and fifty years, the most 
persevering enemies of the growing repub- 

The Romans, tired of seeing their projects 
constantly thwarted by the Veientes, declared 
war against them, after a truce of twenty 
years ; and in order the better to carry out 
that great design, resolved to lay siege to 
their capital. Situated upon a steep rock, 
abundantly provided with every thing, famine 
alone could reduce it. The task was a long 
one, but it did not terrify the Romans. It 
became necessary to defend the soldiers from 
the rigors of winter, and tents made of skins 
were erected, which proved as good as hous- 
es to them. This being an innovation, the 
tribunes of the people opposed it strongly ; 
but a check soon silenced their vain clamors. 
The Veientes, in a sortie, took the besiegers 
by surprise, burned their machines, and de- 
stroyed most of their works. All orders of 
the Romans swore not to leave the camp till 
the city was taken. The horsemen, Avhom 
the republic was bound to supply with horses, 
offered to find them at their own expense. 
The senate, only anxious for the glory and 
interest of the state, charmed with this unan- 
imous zeal, assigned for the first time a pay 
to the horsemen, and to all the volunteers 
who would repair to the siege. The works 
were quickly re-estabUshed, with the addi- 
tion of much more considerable new ones. 
Rome was beginning to look for the most 
favorable results, when the hatred of the mil- 
itary tribunes, L. Virginius and M. Sergius, 
who commanded the army, almost annihilated 

* Giithe's "Campaiga in France In 1792," Farie's 
translation, p. 77, I 



their hopes. The Capenates and the Falerii, 
neighbors of the Veientes, armed secretly, and 
surprised and attacked the camp of the Rom- 
ans. The two tribunes carried their quarrel 
so far as to separate and divide the army into 
two parts. While in this state the enemy 
fell upon Sergius. The besieged in concert 
with them, made a sortie, and attacked him 
on their side. The astonished Romans fought 
feebly, and soon sought safety in flight. All 
were in disorder, and the rout became gen- 
eral. Virginius might have saved his col- 
league, but he preferred enjoying the specta- 
cle of his defeat. The exasperated senate 
obliged them both to abdicate their com- 
mands ; they were brought to trial, and very 
heavily fined for so great a crime. The Fa- 
lerii returned to the charge, but they were 
repulsed with great loss. In the mean time, 
the siege did not advance, and the efforts of 
the Roman armies lerminated in ravaging the 
lands of their enemies. The following year, 
the war was still more unsuccessful. Under 
vain pretenses of rehgion, the military tri- 
bunes, with whom the Romans were dissatis- 
fied, were deposed, and a dictator was chos- 
en, as was the custom on all the pressing 
emergencies of the republic. M. Furius 
Camillus, whose rare valor and high capacity 
had been displayed more than once in com- 
mand, was raised to this supreme dignity. 
The presence of this great man soon restored 
the military discipline wliich had been weak- 
ened by the disunion of the leaders, and 
brought good fortune back to the standards 
of Rome. The city was pressed more close- 
ly, and the forts which the besieged had de- 
stroyed were reconstructed. Camillus de- 
feated the Falerii and the Capenates, and 
after that victory, he pushed on the attack 
with additional ardor. At length, despairing 
of succeeding by foroe, he had recourse to 
sapping and mining. His soldiers, by dint 
of hard labor, opened for themselves a subter- 
raneous passage into the castle ; thence, dis- 
persing themselves about the city, while the 
general amused the besieged by an assault, 
some charged those who defended the walls, 
while others broke down the gates, and let 
the army into the place in crowds. The ter- 
rified citizens knew not which way to fly ; aU 
issues were occupied by their enemies. Some 
were crushed beneath the ruins of the houses, 
others were consumed by the flames; the 
image of death was everywhere. The fu- 
rious soldiery immolated all that came in 
their way ; nothing was heard but cries and 
lamentations. The dictator put an end to 
the carnage, and disarmed the prisoners ; but 
in accordance with his promise, gave the city 
up to the pillage of his victorious troops. 
The republic received the news of this vic- 
tory with transports of the Uveliest joy, and 



672 



VERA CRUZ. 



all orders of the state vied -with each other 
in doing honor to the triumph of Camillas. — 
Ami yet, they afterward bauished him. — 
Rohson. 

VERA CRUZ, A.D. 1847.— On the 1st of 
January, 1847, General Winfield Scott ar- 
rived at the river Brazos, in Texas, and, with 
a view of invading the territories of Mexico, 
began to collect his forces. He had been 
ordered by his government to withdraw 
4,000 men from Grenerel Taylor's army, and 
ten new regiments were to be sent forward 
to him from the United States, without de- 
lay. Having made all his arrangements he 
directed his transports to rendezvous at the 
small island of Lobos, about 120 miles north- 
west of Vera Cruz, and the sloop of war St. 
Marys under commander Saunders, was 
dispatched by Commodore Conner, to show 
the various transports the way to a safe an- 
chorage, as they should arrive. After the 
transports were all assembled Saunders was 
to conduct them all to Anton Lizardo. The 
ships began to arrive, and in a short time 
Anton Lizardo was crowded with a magnifi- 
cent fleet of American steamers and sail ves- 
sels. On the 6th of March General Scott 
arrived at Anton Lizardo in the steamer 
Massachusetts. On the 7 th, Scott and Com- 
modore Conner made a reconuoisance of the 
city of Vera Cruz, the castle, and the coast 
adjacent, in the steamer Petrita. The Mex- 
icans greeted the steamer with a shot or two 
in token of defiance. The Americans now 
prepared to land. All the prehminaries hav- 
ing been made, the greater part of the troops 
were removed from the transports to the 
larger vessels of war, and on the morning of 
the 9th, the fleet — the flag-ship Earitan, 
under Captain Forest, leading, and General 
Scott following at a short distance in the 
steamer Massachusetts — weighed anchor, and 
soon in gallant style were plowing their way 
through the water from Anton Lizardo to- 
ward Sacrificios. In two hours the fleet ar- 
rived at Sacrificios, and the landing of the 
troops was immediately commenced. Sixy- 
seven surf-boats, manned by experienced 
seamen, were hauled alongside the ships; 
the soldiers, fully armed, were passed into 
them ; as each boat was filled with them, 
she was moored a short distance from the 
ship, the seamen laid on their oars and wait- 
ed till the others should be ready. The 
command of the vanguard was given to 
Brevet Brigadier-General Worth. After all 
was ready General Worth entered his boat, 
and placing himself at the head of his troops 
(the first division of regulars), the boats 
moved in a semicircle toward the shore, 
under cover of the guns of two steamers, the 
Spitfire and the Vixen. The disembarkation 
of the troops on this occasion presented a 



spectacle of almost unparalleled beauty and 
magnificence. The sun was fast sinking in 
the west, the sea was as smooth as glass, and 
the walls of the town and castle, the domes 
of the churches, and the rigging and mast- 
heads of the foreign men-of-war at anchor in 
the harbor of Sacrificios, were black with 
crowds of eager and excited spectators. The 
landing was made without difficulty. A few 
days afterward Commodore Conner was re- 
lieved of his command by Commodore Perry, 
and returned to the United States. Perry 
hoisted his flag on board the steamer Missis- 
siiypi. 

On the night of the landing, the Americans, 
having thrown forward their advanced guards, 
bivouacked on the beach without tents. "The 
next day they drove in the Mexican pickets, 
and began to invest the city of Vera Cruz in 
due form, and on the evening of the third 
day the besiegers had drawn their Hne around 
the city, the line being five miles in extent. 
During these operations several skirmishes 
had taken place with cavalry parties of the 
Mexicans. General Scott had his head-quar- 
ters in the American line immediately south- 
east of the city, near the point where the 
troops first landed. General Worth with his 
division occupied this part of the hne, and 
General Twiggs, with the second division of 
regulars, took up his position at Vegara on 
the north side of the city, while General Pat- 
terson, with the division of volunteers, was 
stationed on that portion of the line west of 
the city. Brigadier-Generals Quitman, Pil- 
low, and Shields acted under the direction of 
General Patterson. A terrible gale of wind 
arose wliile these preparations were being 
made, and for a time all communication with 
the shipping was suspended, preventing the 
landing of stores and provisions. On the 
13th the storm abated, and the officers and 
seamen of the navy labored with the utmost 
zeal and activity in taking on shore the nec- 
essary articles, and commenced landing the 
artillery and mortars. By the 17th the nec- 
essary intrenching tools, carts, etc., and a 
number of mortars, with a quantity of shells 
were landed. The Mexicans, meanwhile, 
had kept up a desultory fire from the batter- 
ies of Vera Cruz, and the guns of the castle 
of San Juan d'Ulloa; but upon the Amer- 
ican lines their efibrts were of Httle effect. 
The Americans lost only three men killed 
and four or five wounded. Among the slain 
was Captain Alburtis. Lieutmant-Colonel 
Dickinson, who afterward was killed in the val- 
ley of Mexico, was wounded. By the night of 
the 18th every thing was ready, the trenches 
were opened and taken possession of by the 
troops. On the 22d seven mortars were v 

placed in battery, and General Scott formally 
summoned the city to surrender. General 



VERA CRUZ. 



673 



Morales, however, the governor of both city 
and castle, declined in a polite note to surren- 
der, and announced his intention to defend 
himself to the last extremity. Commodore 
Perry now proliibited all communication with 
the town by neutral vessels (which thus far 
had been unrestricted), and General Scott or- 
dered the batteries to open upon the town. 
The batteries were number twelve and tliree. 
After, a short practice the artillerists got the 
exact range of their shells, and threw them 
into those portions of the town which they 
selected as their targets with surprising accu- 
racy. The Mexicans feebly replied to the 
fire of the Americans. Captain Vinton, who 
was in the command of battery No. 3, was 
killed. 

The efforts of G-eneral Scott on the land 
were ably seconded by Commodore Perry 
on the water. He directed Commander 
Tattnall, of the Vixen^ and Commander Sands, 
of the Vixen, with the gun-schooners, Bo- 
nita, Reefer, Petrel, Falcon, and Tampico, to 
take up a position within a proper distance 
of the city, and open their guns upon the 
enemy. This order was promptly obeyed, 
and the fleet anchoring in a line about a mile 
from the city walls, opened a destructive fire 
upon the besieged. The Mexicans now 
opened their fire in earnest, and the battle 
raged with fury. The castle of San Juan 
d' tJlloa, was provided with some very heavy 
mortars, which threw with terrible force, 
shells of an immense size. The spectacle 
presented by the contending parties was 
awful ; yet it was grand and beautiful. The 
terrible shells of the Mexicans, rose in rapid 
succession from the castle walls, and making 
a fiery arch in the air, descended into the 
American Unes, where, burying themselves 
in the ground, they burst with a detonation, 
wliich shook the very earth. Tlie mortars 
of the Americans on land, and the heavy 
thirty-two pounders of the " Mosquito fleet," 
filled the air with their deadly missiles, and 
seemed to shake the earth and water with 
their thunders. At nightfall both parties 
ceased the fire of their cannon ; and the fleet 
withdrew ; but the mortars on either side 
continued their work, and the work of death, 
still went on. 

Early in the morning of the 23d, the "Mos- 
quito fleet," under Tattnall, was ordered to 
take up a position within 800 yards of the 
castle, and to open its guns upon that fortress. 
Commander Tattnall, with his vessels, ad- 
vanced boldly to his assigned position, and 
maintained his dangerous post, to ^the ad- 
miration and astonishment of all beholders on 
sea and land, for nearly an hour, when he 
was recalled by a signal. In spite of the 
terrible fire to which his fleet was exposed, 
the gallant commander retired without hav- 

43 



ing sustained any material loss. A gale 
arose in the forenoon, and continued through 
the day, preventing any intercourse between 
the land and sea forces. The progress of the 
siege, therefore, was materially retarded. 
The fire of the besiegers gradually slackened ; 
three mortars, however, which had been 
landed previously, were placed in the battery, 
and two batteries for sieging pieces were 
constructed. The heavy siege-pieces did not 
arrive in time, and General Scott was obliged 
to ask for assistance from Commodore Perry. 
Scott discovered that the shells were produ- 
cing but little effect, in quarters where it 
was desirable. Houses were shattered, and 
women and children killed, and a shell fell 
through the dome of the church of Saint 
Domingo, killing a number of wounded, who 
had been sent thither to have their wounds 
dressed, and the inhabitants suffered greatly; 
but the fortifications, and the troops were 
scarcely injured. Scott, therefore, saw the 
necessity of carrying the place by assault. 
He accordingly applied to Commodore Perry 
for some of his guns. The commodore ten- 
dered him the proper pieces, and sent a de- 
tachment of seamen to man them. 

These pieces were placed in the battery on 
the night of the 23d. The battery was locat- 
ed south of the center of the city in General 
Patterson's portion of the line of investment, 
and was placed under his direction. The 
battery consisted of three sixty-eight pounder 
shell guns, and three thirty-two pounder solid 
shot guns, each weighing sixty-three cwt. 
At the same time, Colonel Bankhead, cliief of 
artillery, had caused three twenty-four pound- 
ers to be placed in the battery, to which sub- 
sequently were added a fourth twenty-four 
pounder, and two eight-inch howitzers. 

As before stated, the mortar batteries were 
number 1, 2, and 3 ; the twenty-four pounder 
battery was marked number 4, and the navy 
battery, 5. The following were all the bat- 
teries erected during the siege of Vera Cruz : 
Numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4, erected by the army, 
were comprised of ten mortars, two how- 
itzers, and four twenty-four pounders. Num- 
ber 5, erected by the navy, consisted of 
three sixty-eight pounder sheU-guns, and 
three tloirty-two pounder sohd shot guns. 
The gale ha\'ing aljated toward evening, Perry 
made arrangements for opening his battery 
on the next day. The besiegers, mean- 
while, had continued to throw shells into the 
city, but had not damaged its defenses. At 
daybreak on the 24th, Captain Auhck, the 
second in command of the squadron, with a 
party of officers and seamen, took possession 
of the navy battery, and opened a rapid and 
destructive fire upon the besieged. The ef- 
fect of this fire was apparent at once. The 
walls crumbled beneath the lieavy shot, and 



674 



VERA CRUZ. 



the Mexicans, in the hope of silencing that 
fearful battery, concentrated upon it the fire 
of three forts. The navy battery, however, 
maintained its fire until four o'clock in the 
afternoon, when his ammunition being ex- 
hausted. Captain Aulick ceased for the night. 
The mortars, however, continued to throw 
their shells. Tiie battery numl^er 4 was not 
completed, and had as yet taken no part in 
the siege. The next day Captain Aulick was 
relieved by Captain Mayo, of the flag-ship 
Mississippi, with a fresh body of officers and 
seamen. 

On the same day (the 25th) an engage- 
ment took place between the troops of Colo- 
nel P. F. Smith, who were stationed at 
Vergara, and a body of 300 or 400 Mexicans, 
near a bridge which crosses a small stream 
that empties into the river Antigua. The 
Mexicans were defeated after a brief con- 
flict. 

In the afternoon, the consuls of Great 
Britain, France, Prussia, and Spain, sent a 
memorial to General Scott, requesting him to 
grant a truce, to enable the neutral residents, 
and the women and children of the Mexicans 
to withdraw from the city. General Scott 
replied : 1st, that he had given the consuls 
early and sufficient warning of the dangers 
that were impending ; 2illy, that a free com- 
munication between the place and the foreign 
ships of war, had been left open until the 
22d ; and 3dly, that in his summons to Gen- 
eral Morales to surrender the city, " he had 
fully considered the impending hardships and 
distresses of the place, including those of the 
women and children." The memorialists were 
obliged to be satisfied with this reply, and the 
besiegers pushed their work of destruction with 
vigor. The Americans maintained their fire 
from all their batteries till five o'clock in the 
afternoon, when the batteries of the besieged 
were nearly silenced. Shortly afterward, a 
white flag was passed from the city into Gen- 
eral Scott's camp. The garrison of the city 
at the prospect of an assault, became disheart- 
ened, and began to make preparations to 
surrender. During the night of the 25th, 
General Morales, with the commandant of 
the Mexican mihtia, made his escape from 
the city in a small boat ; and the command 
of the garrison devolved upon General Lan- 
dero. As the garrison had not formally sur- 
rendered. Colonel Bankhead maintained a 
moderate fire on the place during the night ; 
but at eight o'clock on the morning of the 
26th, another flag appeared with definite 
propositions ; and General Scott ordered the 
fire to be discontinued at all points. 

The Americans threw during the siege 
2,500 shot and shells. The besiegers lost in 
killed only 19 men, while nearly 1,000 per- 
sons were slain in tlie city. 



The following is General Scott'i 
announcing the result : 

" Headquarters of the Army, 
Vera Cruz, March 29, 1847. 

"Sir: The flag of the United States of 
America floats triumphantly over the walls of 
this city and the castle of San Juan d'Ulloa. 

" Our troops have garrisoned both since ten 
o'clock. It is noAV noon. Brigadier-General 
Worth is in command of both places. 

" Articles of capitulation were signed and 
exchanged, at a late hour night before the 
last. I inclose a copy of the document. 

" I have heretofore reported the principal 
incidents of the siege up to the 25th instant. 
Nothing of striking interest occurred untO 
early in the morning of the next day, when I 
received overtures from General Landero, on 
whom General Llorales had devolved the 
principal command. A terrible storm of wind 
and sand made it difficult to communicate 
with the city, and impossible to refer to Com- 
modore Perry. I was obliged to entertain 
the proposition alone, or to continue the fire 
upon a place that had shown a disposition to 
surrender ; for the loss of a day, or perhaps 
several, could not be permitted. The accom- 
panying papers will show the proceedings and 
results. 

" Yesterday, after the norther had abated, 
and the commissioners appointed by me early 
in the morning before, had again met those 
appointed by General Landero, Commodore 
Perry sent ashore his second in command. 
Captain Aulick, as a commissioner on the 
part of the navy. Although not included in 
my specific arrangement with the Mexican 
commander, I did not hesitate, with proper 
courtesy, to desire that Captain Aulick might 
be duly introduced and allowed to participate 
in the discussions and acts of the commission- 
ers who had been reciprocally accredited. 
Hence the preamble to his signature. The 
original American commissioners were Bre- 
vet Brigadier-General Worth, Brigadier-Gen- 
eral Pillow, and Colonel Totten. Four more 
able or judicious officers could not have been 
desired. 

" I have time to add but little more. The 
remaining details of the siege ; the able co- 
operation of the United States squadron, suc- 
cessively under the command of Commodores 
Conner and Perry; the admirable conduct 
of the whole army — regulars and volunteers 
— I should be happy to dwell upon as they 
deserve ; but the steamer Princeton, with 
Commodore Conner on board, is under way, 
and I have commenced organizing an advance 
into the interior. This may be delayed a few 
days, waiting the arrival of additional means 
of transportation. In the mean time, a joint 
operation, by land and water, will be made 
upon Alvarado. No lateral expedition, how- 



VIENNA. 



675 



ever, shall interfere with the grand move- 
ment toward the capital. 

" In consideration of the great services of 
Colonel Totten, in the siege that has just ter- 
minated most successfully, and the import- 
ance of his presence at Washington, as the 
head of the Engineer Bureau, I intrust this 
dispatch to his personal care, and beg to com- 
mend him to the very favorable consideration 
of the Department." 

VIENNA, from its geographical position 
and its political importance, has been sub- 
jected to several sieges, and has occasionally, 
Uke Rome, sometimes escaped those fearful 
visitations when it might have expected 
them. 

First Siege, a.d. 1529. — After having sub- 
dued Asia, Soliman II. determined' to make 
Europe tremble by the terrors of his con- 
stantly victorious arms. In 1529 this re- 
doubtable conqueror entered Hungary with 
fire and sword ; he pillaged, ravaged, and de- 
stroyed every thing in his passage, and 
marched over these melancholy ruins to lay 
siege to Vienna, the capital of Austria and of 
the whole western empire, since the house 
of Austria was said to occupy the throne of 
Charlemagne. The Ottoman army was im- 
mense, and was composed of the brave jan- 
izaries who had just subdued Persia. But 
Vienna contained within its walls both war- 
lilf e citizens and intrepid soldiers. The sultan 
commenced his operations by mining the 
walls. This immense labor was frequently 
interrupted by the counter-mines of the be- 
sieged ; but at length some of these concealed 
volcanoes burst forth aU at once, and threw 
down a great part of the walls. In an in- 
stant, the Viennese, men, women, and chil- 
dren, flew to construct a new rampart ; and 
when the infidels came to the assault, they 
were surprised to find themselves stopped, at 
a few paces from the breach, by this bar- 
rier, which twenty pieces of cannon and 
tens of thousands of defenders rendered 
impregnable. They then turned their at- 
tention to another side, where there had 
been only time to intrench with pallisades. 
At this point the bodies of the inhabitants 
served as bulwarks. The combat here was 
terrible ; rivers of blood and heaps of slain 
rolled beneath the steps of the warriors. 
Twice the Turks were repulsed with loss; 
twice the sultan and his officers rallied them, 
and led them back against the enemy, and 
twice were they on the point of carrying the 
city. During four hours they fought and im- 
molated each other without being able to 
imagine to which side victory would be favor- 
able. At length the thunders which were 
incessantly launched from all quarters of the 
place, crushed whole ranks of the infidels, and 
tlie invincible courage of the inliabitants 



drove oflF an enemy who had more than once 
shouted clamorous cries of victory. The first 
check only seemed to inflame the valor of the 
Turks. On the 12th of October, Soliman 
harangued them, and gave orders for a gen- 
eral assault. They were preparing for it dur- 
ing a great part of the night ; and on the 
13th, at break of day, all the bodies of the 
Turkish army advanced in good order, armed, 
some with blazing torches, others with mus- 
kets, arrows, and axes, and a great number 
with ladders, and all sorts of machines to 
force or to get over the walls. But they 
were expected : the Austrians had placed on 
the walls all their artillery, all their mortars, 
and all their soldiers. The city was attacked 
on more than twenty points at once, and from 
every one the infidels were obliged to retreat 
with great loss and disgrace. The fight 
lasted for twelve hours, without either side 
thinking of food or rest, and night alone put 
an end to the fearful slaughter. Soliman, in 
despair, sounded a retreat : he had vainly con- 
sumed forty days before Vienna, and had lost 
more than 40,000 men in his different as- 
saults upon that city. As a crowning mis- 
fortune, snows, frosts, and tempests made still 
greater havoc with his army than the enemy 
had done. Even Soliman the Great, the in- 
vincible Soliman, could not overcome these 
obstacles; he raised the siege, and Vienna 
was saved. 

Second Siege, a.d. 1683. — The grand vizier, 
Kara Mustapha, charged* with the humiliation 
of the empire, and Leopold its master, ad- 
vanced toward the capital of the states of that 
prince with terrible preparations. Very un- 
like what we have seen in the former siege, 
at the approach of the enemy's legions the 
emperor quitted Vienna, with two empresses, 
his mother-in-law, and his wife, with the 
archdukes and archduchesses, and 60,000 in- 
habitants. The country round exhibited 
nothing but fugitives, equipages, carts laden 
with goods, the laggard of all which became 
the prey of the Tartars, who pillaged, rav- 
aged, burned, slaughtered, and led them away 
into slavery. On the 7th of July, 1683, the 
city wis invested, and all Europe tremblingly 
watched the issue of this famous enterprise. 

Vienna, bathed by the Danube on the 
north, was fortified by twelve great bastions 
in the remainder of its inclosure. The cur- 
tains were covered by good half-moons, with- 
out any other outworks ; the ditch was partly 
filled with water, and partly dry, and the 
counterscarp was much neglected. The side 
of the city which Avas bathed by the river 
had no defense but strong Avails, flanked by 
large towers, the whole Avell terraced. In a 
plain of three leagues, environed by a circle 
of mountains, the vizier fixed liis camp, which 
he had the audacity to leave undefended ex- 



676 



YIENUA. 



cept with lines of circumvallation and coun- 
tervallation. Every thing was in abundance 
in the camp — money, munitions of war, and 
provisions of all sorts. The dififerent quarters 
boasted pachas aa magnificent as kings, and 
this magnificence was effaced by that of the 
vizier; to use the phrase of a historian, "he 
swam in luxury." The court of a grand viz- 
ier generally consists of 2,000 officers and do- 
mestics ; Mustapha hatl double tluit number. 
His park, that is to say, the inclosure of his 
tents, was as large as the besieged city. The 
richest stuffs, gold and precious stones, were 
there contrasted with the polished steel of 
arms. There were baths, gardens, fountains, 
and rare animals, as well for the convenience 
as the amusement of the general, whose ef- 
feminacy and frivolity did not in the least re- 
lax the operations of the siege. His artillery, 
composed of 300 pieces of cannon, was not 
the less formidable ; and the bravery of the 
janizaries was not at all enervated by the 
example of their leader. 

The Count de Staremberg, a man perfect in 
the art of war, the governor of Vienna, had 
set fire to the faubourgs, and to save the citi- 
zens, he had destroyed their buildings. He 
had a garrison estimated at 16,000 men, but 
which in reality consisted of about 11,000 
at most. The citizens and the university 
were armed; the students mounted guard, 
and had a physician for their major. Starem- 
berg's second in command was the Count de 
Capliers, the emperor's commissary-general, 
one of those men whom knowledge vigi- 
lance, and activity point out as fit for the 
highest posts. 

The approaches to Vienna were easy. The 
trenches were opened on the 14th of July, 
in the faubourg of St. Ulric, at fifty paces 
from the counterscarp; the attack was di- 
rected against the bastion of the court, and 
that of Lebb. Two days only advanced the 
work as far as the counterscarp, where the 
ditch was dry. The Duke of Lorraine, who 
had posted himself in the isle of Leopoldstadt, 
using every exertion to preserve there a 
communication with the city, then found 
himself obliged to retreat by the bridges he 
had thrown over the Danube, and which he 
broke down behind him. The country houses, 
of which the island was full, then lodged 
the Turks. This proceeding has been con- 
sidered a great mistake ; but if it was one, 
the duke thoroughly repaired it by his be- 
havior during the whole siege. With an 
army which never amounted to 30,000 men, 
he covered Hungary, Moravia, Silesia, and 
Bohemia ; he protected Vienna ; he checked 
Tekeli ; and he stopped the progress of more 
than 40,000 Turks and Tartars, who scoured 
and devastated the country. 

But he could not prevent the infidels from 



carrying on the siege with vigor. With the 
Turks, there were daily mounds raised, works 
advanced, new batteries, and a fire which 
augmented every instant ; with the Austrians, 
it was, in an equal degree, a display of the 
most intrepid valor and firm resistance. Sta- 
remberg, who at the first approaches had 
been wounded by a fragment of stone struck 
ofi" from the curtain by a ball, though only 
half-cured, animated the whole defense by 
his looks, his actions, and his humanity. Ho 
treated all his soldiers hke brothers ; he praised 
and recompensed all distinguished actions; 
and, not content with being with them during 
the day, he passed the night upon a matrass 
in the corps de garde of the emperor's palace, 
which adjoined a bastion of the court com- 
prised in the attack. By the 22d of July. 
the besiegers were at the pallisade, which was 
only defended by the sword. They were so 
near, that they grappled each other across 
the pikes in death-stuggles. The Count de 
Daun, a general officer of distinguished merit, 
had scythes fastened to long poles, which de- 
stroyed a vast number of the infidels, but 
which could not diminish the presumptuous 
confidence which animated them. So certain 
were they of victory, that they came forward 
to make bravadoes similar to those of which 
we read in ancient wars. A champion of 
extraordinary stature advanced with a threat- 
ening air, insulting with both voice and saber. 
A Christian soldier, unable to endure this af- 
front, sprang out to encounter him : he at 
first was wounded, but quickly wounded and 
disarmed his enemy, cut oS" his head with 
his own cimeter, and found fifty gold pieces 
stitched up in his vest. One would suppose 
that this brave fellow would be rewarded ; 
not so : he remained a private soldier, and 
his name, which the Romans would have 
consecrated in the fasti of history, is not 
even known to us. The besieged, who be- 
held the action fi-om the top of the ramparts, 
drew a good augury from it; it redoubled 
their constancy and courage. 

The enemy did not obtain possession of 
the counterscarp before the 7th of August, 
after 23 days' fighting, with a great effusion 
of blood on both sides. The Count de Serini, 
nephew of the famous Serini whom Leopold 
had brought to the scaffold, had retarded the 
taldng of this work by a thousand actions of 
bravery. There was no sortie in which he 
was not conspicuous. His ardor on one oc- 
casion prevented his feeling that he had re- 
ceived an arrow in his shoulder. The Turks 
had come to the descent of the ditch ; no 
people equal them in turning up the ground. 
The depth of their work was astonishing: 
the earth they threw out was carried to the 
height of nine feet, surmounted by planks 
and posts in the form of floors, beneath which 



VIENNA. 



677 



they worked in safety. Their trenches dil- 
fer from those of Europeans in shape : they 
are cuttings in the form of a crescent, which 
cover one another, preserving a communica- 
tion like the scales of fish, which conceal a 
labyrinth from whence they fire without in- 
conveniencing those who are in front, and 
whence it is almost impossible to dislodge 
them. When the janizaries had once en- 
tered them, they scarcely ever left them. 
Their fire became progressively more active, 
while that of the besieged relaxed : the latter 
began to husband their powder, and grenades 
were short. The Baron de Kielmansegge 
invented a powder-mill and clay grenades, 
which proved of great service. Industry 
employed all its resources ; but the hope of 
holding out much longer began to diminish. 
The enemy's mines, the continual attacks, the 
diminishing garrison, the nearly exhausted 
munitions and provisions, every thing con- 
spired to create the greatest anxiety ; and 
not content with so many real evils, they in- 
vented imaginary ones. A report was spread 
that traitors were working subterranean pass- 
ages by which to introduce the infidels. 
Every one was commanded to keep watch in 
his cellar ; and this increase of fatigue com- 
pleted the weakness of the defenders of Vi- 
enna, by robbing them of their necessary 
rest. Others spoke confidently of incendi- 
aries hired to second the Turks. A young 
man found in a church which had just been 
set fire to, although most likely innocent, 
was torn to pieces by the people. But the 
Turkish artillery was more to be dreaded 
than all these phantoms. The inhabitants 
were incessantly employed in extinguishing 
the fires which the bombs and red-hot balls 
kindled in the city, while the outworks were 
faUing in one continued crash. The half- 
moon had already sufi'ered greatly ; tlie ram- 
parts presented in all parts vast breaches; 
and, but for the invincible courage of the 
inhabitants and the soldiers, Vienna must 
have been taken. 

In tliis extremity, Leopold turned his eyes 
toward Poland. John Sobieski, the terror 
of the Ottomans, and perhaps the only soy- 
ereign of his age who was a great captain, 
was suppUcated to come to the assistance of 
the empire and the whole Christian world. 
This monarch instantly responded to the 
summons by marcliing thither at the head ot 
25,000 men. He traversed two hundred 
leagues of country, and on the 5th of Sep- 
tember he crossed the bridge of Tuln with 
his army, five leagues above Vienna. The 
Polish cavalry was remarkable for its horses, 
uniform, and noble bearing. It might be said 
that they were equipped at the expense of 
the infantry: among the latter, there was 
one battahon extremely ill-clothed. Prince 



Lubomirski advised the king, for the honor 
of the country, to order them to pass in the 
night. Sobieski judged otherwise ; and when 
that troop was on the bridge, he said to the 
spectators — " Look well at them ; that is an 
invincible troop of men, who have taken an 
oath never to wear any clothes but those of 
the enemy. In the last war they were all 
clothed in the Turkish fashion." " If these 
words did not clothe them, they cuirassed 
them," pleasantly observes the Abbe Gayer, 
whose account we follow. 

The Poles, after crossing the bridge, ex- 
tended themselves to tlie right, exposed 
during twenty-four hours to being cut to 
pieces, if Kara Mustapha had taken due ad- 
vantage of their position. On the 7th, all the 
German troops joined their alUes, and the 
army was then found to amount to about 74,- 
000 men. There were four sovereign princes 
among them — John Sobieski of Poland, Maxi- 
milian Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria; John 
G-eorge III., Elector of Saxony, and Charles 
v., Duke of Lorraine ; and twenty-six princes 
of sovereign houses. 

Vienna was driven to bay. The Turks 
and diseases carried ofi^, as if in concert, both 
officers and soldiers. Almost all the leaders 
had disappeared ; the warrior exhausted by 
fatigue, and want of good food, dragged him- 
self to the breach ; and he, whom the fire of 
the enemy spared, expired with languor and 
debility. The people, who had at first un- 
dertaken the labors of the siege with such 
eagerness, now dreamed of no other defense 
but prayer. They filled the churches, into 
which bombs and cannon-balls constantly 
brought terror and death. On the 22d of 
August, it appeared certain that they could 
not hold out more than three days, if the 
Turks gave a general assault. From that 
melancholy period, one mine seemed to pre- 
cipitate itself upon another. The half-moon 
was taken; breaches of from eighteen to 
twenty toises laid open the two bastions and 
the curtain ; soldiers served instead of walls. 
A mine was advancing under the emperor's 
palace, already beaten to pieces with bombs, 
and close to the bastion of the court. Other 
mines, hke snakes, were winding about in all 
directions ; several were discovered ; but the 
Austrian miners were timid, and could not 
be persuaded to go imder ground, when once 
they had heard the enemy at work there. 
The artillery was no longer able to respond, 
most of the cannons being either broken or 
dismounted. Staremberg scarcely preserved 
a ray of hope, or rather, he did not longer 
dare to hope ; and the general, who at the 
commencement of the siege, had said, '' I 
will only surrender the place with the last 
drop of my blood," wrote to the Duke of 
Lorraine in this critical moment : "No more 



678 



VIENNA. 



time to be lost, monseigneur — no more 
time to be lost." Evea the most rapid ac- 
tivity would have been of no avail, but for 
the stupid inaction of the grand vizer, v^'ho, 
for the sake of the riches with which he 
thought Vienna filled, waited in the expecta- 
tion of its surrendering by capitulation. Such 
was Ilia blindness, that he was ignorant of 
the preparations of the Christians, when they 
were upon the point of overwhelming him. 

When about to march, Sobieski gave out 
the following order of battle, written with his 
own hand: "The corys de bataille shall be 
composed of the imperial troops, to whom 
we will join the regiment of cavalry of the 
Marshal De la Cour, the Chevalier Lubomirski, 
and four or five squadrons of our gendarmes, 
in the place of whom, some dragoons, or other 
German troops, shall be given. This corps 
shall be commanded by M. the Duke of 
Lorraine. 

" The Polish army will occupy the right 
wing, which will be commanded by the 
G-rand-general Jublonowski, and the other 
generals of tliat nation. 

" The troops of MM. the Electors of Bavaria 
and Saxony shall form the left wing, to whom 
we will give also some squadrons of our 
gend'armes, and of our other Pohsh cavalry, 
in the place of whom, they will give us some 
dragoons, or some infantry. 

" The cannons shall be divided ; and in case 
MM. the electors have not enough, M. the 
Duke of Lorraine will furnish them with some. 

" The troops of the circles of the empire 
will extend along the Danube, with the left 
wing falUng back a little on their right ; and 
that for two reasons: the first, to alarm the 
enemy with the fear of being charged in 
flank ; and the second, to be within reach of 
throwing succors into the city, in case we 
should not be able to drive the enemy as 
soon as we could wish. M. the Prince of 
Waldeck, will command this corps. 

" The first line will consist entirely of in- 
fantry, with cannons, followed closely by a 
line of cavalry. If these two lines were mix- 
ed, they would doubtless embarrass each other 
in the passages of the defiles, woods, and 
mountains. But as soon as they shall be on 
the plain, the cavalry will take its posts in 
the intervals of the battalions, which will be 
arranged with this view, particularly our 
gend'armes, who will charge first. 

" If we were to put all our armies in three 
lines only, it would require more than a Gler- 
man league and a half, whi(;h would not be 
to our advantage ; and we shuuld be obliged 
to cross the little river Vien, which must be 
our right wing : it is for this reason we must 
make four lines ; and this fourth shall serve as 
a body of reserve. 

" For the greater security of tlie infantry 



against the first charge of the Turkish cavalry, 
which is always impetuous, it will be desirable 
to employ spanchiraistres^ or chevaux defriae, 
but very light, for convenience of carriage, 
and at every halt, place them in front of the 
battalions. 

" I beg all the messieurs the generals, that 
as fast as the armies shall descend from the 
last mountain, as they shall enter the plain, 
every one will take its post as it is set down 
in this present order." 

There were but five leagues between them 
and the Turks, from whom they were sepa- 
rated by that chain of mountains which sur- 
rounded the vast plain on which they were 
encamped. Two routes presented them- 
selves : one by the more elevated part ; the 
other, by the side where the summit, sinking, 
became more practicable. The first was 
fixed upon : it was true it was the more difli- 
cult, but it was the shorter. On the 9th of 
September, all the troops moved forward." 
The Germans, after many attempts to bring 
up their cannons, gave the matter up in de- 
spair, and left them in the plain. The Poles 
had more spirit and perseverance. By 
manual strength and address they contrived 
to get over twenty-eight pieces, and these 
alone were used on the day of battle. This 
march, bristling with difficulties, lasted three 
days. At length they approached the last 
mountain, called Calemberg. There was yet 
plenty of time for the vizier to repair his 
faults : he had only to take possession of this 
height, and mark the defiles, and he would 
have stopped the Christian army. But he 
did not do so ; and it was at this moment, 
that the janizaries, indignant at so many 
blunders, exclaimed : " Come on, come on, 
ye infi<lels ! The sight of your hats alone 
will put us to flight." 

This summit of Calemberg, still left free, 
discovered to the Christians, an hour before 
nightfall, both the innumerable hosts of the 
Turks and Tartars and the smoking ruins of 
Vienna. Signals incontinently informed the 
besieged of the succor at hand. We must 
have suffered all the dangers and miseries of 
a long siege, and have felt ourselves, our 
wives, and our children doomed to the sword 
of a victor, or slavery in a barbarous country, 
to have an idea of the joy the city experienced. 
Sobieski, after having examined all the posi- 
tions of the vizier, said to the German gene- 
rals, " That man is very badly encamped ; 
he is an ignorant fellow : we shall beat 
him." The cannon, on both sides, played 
the prelude to the grand scene of the morrow. 
It was the 12th of September. Two hours 
before dawn, the king, the Duke of Lorraine, 
and several other generals, performed a relig- 
ious duty, very little practiced in our time — 
they received the communion; while the 



VIENNA. 



679 



Mussulmans were crying to the only and 
solitary God of Abraham, Allah ! Allah ! 

At sunrise, the Christian army descended 
with slow and measured steps, closing their 
ranks, rolling their cannon before them, and 
halting at every thirty or forty paces to fire 
and reload. This front widened, and took 
more depth as the space became greater. 
The Turks were in the greatest astonishment. 
The Khan of the Tartars drew the vizier's 
attention to the lances ornamented with 
banderoles of the Polish gendarmerie, and 
said, " The king is at their head !" — and ter- 
ror seized upon the heart of Kara Mustapha. 
Immediately, after having commanded the 
Tartars to put all their captives to death, to 
the amount of 30,000, he ordered half of his 
army to march toward the mountain, while 
the other half approached the walls of the 
city, to give a general assault. But the be- 
sieged had resumed their courage. The hope, 
and even certainty of victory, had rendered 
them invincible. 

The Christians continued to descend, and 
the Turks moved upward. The action com- 
menced. The first line of the imperialists, all 
infantry, charged with so much impetuosity, 
that it gave place for a hne of cavalry, which 
took part in the intervals of the battalions. 
The king, the princes, and the generals gained 
the head, and fought, sometimes with the 
cavalry, and sometimes with the infantry. 
The two other lines urged the first on warmly, 
protected by the fire of the artillery, which 
was incessant, and very near. The field of 
the first shock, between the plain and the 
mountain, was intersected with vineyards, 
heights, and small valleys. The enemy hav- 
ing left their cannon at the beginning of the 
vineyards, suffered greatly from those of the 
Christians. The combatants, spread over this 
unequal ground, fought with inveteracy up to 
mid day. At length, the infidels, taken in 
flank, and driven from hill to liill, retired into 
the plain, lining their camp. 

During the heat of the miU.e, all the bodies 
of the Christian army having fought some- 
times on the heights, and sometimes in the 
valleys, they had necessarily doubled over 
each other, and deranged the order of battle. 
A short time was given to re-establish it ; 
and the plain became the theater of a triumph 
which posterity will always feel difficulty in 
believing. Seventy thousand men boldly at- 
tacked more than two hundred thousand I 
In the Turkish army, the Pacha of Diarbecker 
commanded the right wing, the Pacha of 
Buda the left. The vizier was in the center, 
having by his side the Aga of the janizaries 
and the general of the Spaliis. The two ar- 
mies remained motionless for some time, the 
Christians in silence, while the Turks and 
Tartars emulated the clarions with their cries. 



At length Sobieski gave the signal, and, saber 
in hand, the Pohsh cavalry charged straight 
upon the vizier in the center. They broke 
through the front ranks, they even pierced 
through the numerous squadrons which sur- 
rounded Mustapha. The Spahis disputed the 
victory ; but all the others — the Wallachians, 
the Moldavians, the Transylvanians, the Tar- 
tars, and even the janizaries, fought without 
spirit. In vain the Ottoman general en- 
deavored to revive confidence : they despised 
him and disregarded his words. He ad- 
dressed himself to the Pacha of Buda, and 
to other chiefs, but their only reply was de- 
sponding silence. "And thou!" cried he 
then to the Tartar prince, " wilt thou not as- 
sist me ?" The khan saw no safety but in 
flight. The Spahis were making their last 
efibrts : the Polish cavalry opened and dis- 
persed them. The vizier then turned his 
back, and spread consternation by his flight. 
The discouragement extended to the wings, 
which all the bodies of the Christian army 
pressed at once. Terror deprived of both 
reflection and strength this immense multi- 
tude of men, who ought, in an open plain 
like that they fought on, to have completely 
enveloped and crushed their enemy. But 
aU dispersed, and all disappeared, as if by 
magic ; that vast camp, which the eye could 
not measure, resembled a frightful desert. 
Night stopped the victorious progress of the 
Christians, who remained upon the field of 
battle till daybreak. At six o'clock in the 
morning, the enemy's camp was given up to 
the soldiery, whose cupidity was at first sus- 
pended by a horrible spectacle : mothers lay 
stretched about in all directions, with their 
throats cut, many of them with their infants 
stiU chnging to their breasts. These women 
were not like those who follow Christian ar- 
mies — courtesans, as fatal to health as to mor- 
als; these were wives, whom the Turks 
preferred sacrificing thus to exposing them 
to becoming the victims of unbridled con- 
querors. They had spared a great part of 
the children. Five or six hundred of these 
Httle innocent victims of war were collected 
by the bishop of Neustadt, and were fed 
and brought up in the Christian religion. The 
Germans and the Poles were greatly enriched 
by the spoils of the Mussvdmans. It was 
upon this occasion the king wrote to the 
queen, his wife : " The grand vizier has made 
me his heir, and I have found in liis tents to 
the value of many millions of ducats. So 
you wiU not have to say of me as the Tartar 
wives say when they see their husbands re- 
turn empty-handed : ' You are not men, you 
come home without booty.' " Thus, without 
much bloodshed, the valor and skill of John 
Sobieski saved Vienna, the empire, and re- 
ligion. In fact, if Vienna had been taken, as 



680 



VILLA VIOSA— WARSAW. 



at Constantinople, churches would have been 
changed into mosques, and nobody can say 
wliere Mohammedanism, which already was 
spread over so much of the globe, might have 
ended. Staremberg came, immediately after 
the victory, to salute the preserver and lib- 
erator of Vienna, into wliich city the hero 
entered over ruins, but amid the acclama- 
tions of the people. His horse could scarcely 
pierce through the crowd who prostrated 
themselves before him, who would kiss his 
feet, calling liim their father, their avenger, 
the greatest of monarchs. Leopold seemed 
to be forgotten — they only saw Sobieski. — 
Rohson. 

VILLAVIOSA, A.D. 1710.— At ViUaviosa, 
a town in Spain, was fought, in the year 
1710, a battle between the French army 
and the Spaniards, under Vendome, which 
resulted in the defeat of the former. This 
battle put an end to the War of Succession, 
and seated Philip V. on the Spanish throne. 

VILLIMPENTA, a.d. 1796.— Near Vil- 
limpenta, a town of Austrian Italy, an en- 
gagement took place in 1796, between a 
body of French troops and an Austrian de- 
tachment. After a severe contest the French 
troops were almost cut to pieces by the en- 
emy. 

VILMANSTRAND, a.d. 1741.— In the 
year 1741 a battle took place near Vilman- 
strand, in Finland, between the Swedes and 



Russians. The battle was obstinately con- 
tested, but finally resulted in the defeat of 
the Swedes. 

VIMEIRA, A.D. 1808.— On the 21st of 
August, 1808, a battle was fought near Vi- 
meira, in Portugal, between the EngUsh army 
under Sir Arther Wellesley, afterward Duke 
of Wellington, and the French and Spanish 
forces under Marshal Junot, Duke of Abran- 
tes. After a severe struggle the latter were 
defeated, and for tliis victory Wellesley and 
the officers and soldiers under his command 
were voted the thanks of the British Parlia- 
ment, the first of the many similar honors 
which afterward were showered so bounti- 
fully on the head of the " Iron Duke." 

VITTORIA, A.D. 1813.— On the 21st of 
June 1813 was fought the famous battle of 
Vittoria, in Spain, between the Anglo-Span- 
ish army, under the Duke of Wellington, and 
the French under Joseph Bonaparte and 
Marshal Jourdan. The battle was obstinately 
contested ; but resulted finally in the defeat 
of the French. The loss of men in the battle 
was about equal ; but the French were total- 
ly defeated, with the loss of all their baggage, 
artillery, ammunition, and treasure, and 
obhged to make a rapid retreat across the 
Pyrenees. Napier devotes nearly thirty 
pages in his History of the Peninsular War 
to tliis battle ; but our limited space compels 
us to simply mention it. See Pyrenees. 



WAQRAM, A.D. 1809.— The battle of 
Wagram was one of Napoleon Bonaparte's 
greatest victories. It was fought in the vi- 
cinity of Wagram, a village of the archduchy 
of Austria, on the 6th of July, 1809, between 
the grand army of France and the army of 
Charles, Archduke of Austria. The battle 
was one of the most bloody and obstinate of 
the war. The Austrians were totally defeat- 
ed, losing over 20,000 men taken prisoners, 
beside a vast number killed and wounded. 
This victory led to an armistice which was 
soon followed by the treaty of Schonbrun. 

WAKEFIELD, a.d. 1460.— This town is 
situated on the Colder, in York county, En- 
gland. The battle of Wakefield was fought 
on the 24th of December, 1460, between the 
Lancastrians and the Yorkists. The Lancas- 
trians were commanded by Queen Margaret, 
the Vorkists by the Duke of York. After 
an obstinate conflict the Yorkists were de- 
feated with a loss of 2,000 men, killed. The 
Duke of York was slain, and his son, the 
Earl of Rutland, was assassinated immediate- 
ly after the battle. During the night the 
Earl of Salisbury fell into the hands of the 



I Lancastrians, and was decapitated the next 
day at Pontefract. But no one was more 
lamented than the Earl of Rutland, who had 
only reached his eighteenth year. Accom- 
panied by one to whose care he had been in- 
trusted, he fled from the conflict, but was 
stopped on the bridge of Wakefield, when he 
was asked his name. Unable to speak 
through terror he fell on his knees, and his 
attendant thinking to save him said he was 
the son of the duke. " Then," exclaimed 
Clifford, " as thy father slew mine, so wiU I 
slay thee and all of thy kin," and plunging his 
dagger into the breast of the young prince, 
bade the tutor go and bear the news to the 
boy's mother. The queen, on her arrival, 
was presented with the head of the Duke of 
York, and ordered it to be encircled with a 
crown of paper, and placed on the walls of 
York. 

WARSAW.— Warsaw, the metropolis of 
Poland has been the scene of many bloody 
conflicts. In 1703, Warsaw surrendered 
to Charless XIL In 1793 the Emperor of 
Russia put a garrison into this city in or- 
der to compel the Poles to acquiesce in the 



WARSAW. 



681 



usurpations she had in view; but the citi- 
zens, on the 17th of April, 1793, expelled 
this garrison with a loss of 2,000 killed and 
500 wounded, and 36 pieces of cannon. The 
King of Prussia besieged Warsaw in July 
1794; but was compelled to raise the siege 
by the heroic resistance of Kosciusko and his 
gallant comrades. But on the 10-12th of 
October 1794 the Poles suffered a great de- 
feat in a battle with the Russians, and Su- 
warrow, on the 8th of November, took and 
sacked the suburb of Praga, and cruelly 
butchered 30,000 Poles of all ages and con- 
ditions, in cold blood. Warsaw after this 
submitted to the conquerors. We have 
thought fit to give an account of the Polish 
revolution of 1831, in which Warsaw played 
such an important part, and feel obliged from 
want of space to limit ourselves to a mere 
mention of the battles which took place near 
and in Warsaw prior to that time. 

Ever since the year 1825, a secret society 
had existed in Poland, having for its principal 
object to restore the national independence. 
The disgust occasioned by the brutality of 
the Grand Duke Constantine, commander-in- 
chief of the Russian forces, in the kingdom 
of Poland, and the beUef that England and 
France were ready to assail Russia, in the 
year 1830 precipitated the Poles into an in- 
surrection. The insurrection broke forth on 
the 29th of November, 1831, in Warsaw; the 
Russian troops, with the grand duke were 
expelled from the city, and a provisional 
government was appointed. The Emperor 
Nicholas of Russia made immediate prepara- 
tions to crush the rebelUon ; he warned the 
Poles that " the first cannon-shot fired would 
be the signal of the ruin of Poland." At the 
same time he declared that he knew how to 
distinguish the guilty from the innocent, and 
offered unconditional amnesty to all except 
the leaders of the revolt. The Poles refused 
these terms, and all classes prepared with 
resolution for a decisive confhct with the 
Emperor of Russia. The situation of Poland 
was most critical; Austria and Prussia, vir- 
tually took the side of Russia, and the httle 
kingdom was surrounded on all sides by a 
hedge of bayonets, leaving it no chance of 
foreign succor in maintaining the contest with 
its gigantic enemy. On the 5th of Febru- 
ary, the Russians under General Diebitch, 
advanced in three columns from Lithuania 
toward Warsaw. The army consisted of 
100,000 men, with 320 guns. The right 
wing under Generals SzachofFskoi and Man- 
derstein entered the Polish territory by 
Kowno and Grodno ; the left under General 
Geismar, debouched by Wlodawa, and moved 
upon Lukow and LubUn; and the center, 
80,000 strong, with 280 guns, under Diebitch 
in person, and divided into four corps under 



the orders of Generals Pachlen, Rosen, the 
Grand Duke Constantine, and General De- 
witt, advanced by Tykoczyn on the direct 
road to Warsaw. To oppose this immense 
army the Poles could calculate on an army 
of only about 50,000 men ready for imme- 
diate service ; but they expected an addition 
to their force of 40,000 men who were yet 
unequipped. The Russians had also a great 
superiority in artillery; the Poles having 
only 126 pieces. The Poles endeavored to 
check the advance of the Russians toward 
their capital; the battles of Grochow and 
Praga ensued, and the insurgents were 
driven into Warsaw. The Polish general, 
Kadziwil, had not displayed military talents 
in the battle of Grochow and Praga, equal 
to the emergency, and the command of the 
armies was taken from him and bestowed 
upon Skrzynecki, whose exploits and mili- 
tary talents ere long justified the choice. 
Skrzynecki's first care, on being elevated to 
the supreme command, was to endeavor to 
open a negotiation with Marshal Diebitch 
for the restoration of peace ; but his efibrts 
were fi-uitless. The Russian commander had 
no power to treat except on the terms of 
unconditional surrender, and to these con- 
ditions the Poles would not listen. Both 
parties, therefore, made preparations to re- 
new the conflict. Diebitch spread his army 
out in extended cantonments, reaching over 
a breadth of eighty English miles, for the 
sake of provisions and lodgings for his nu- 
merous followers ; and Skrzynecki made the 
utmost efforts to raise the spirits and increase 
the number and efficiency of his troops. 
Hostilities were soon resumed. The troops 
of the Pohsh general now amounted to 55,000 
men of whom 16,000 were cavalry, with 125 
guns. His plan was to take advantage of 
his central position, protected by the fortifi- 
cations of Warsaw, and fall with his concen- 
trated forces upon Diebitch's men while still 
dispersed in their cantonments. At mid- 
night on the 30th, he set out from Warsaw, 
with the divisions of Rybinski, Malachowski, 
and Gielgud, consisting in all of about 25,000 
men, and advancing in the utmost silence 
across tlie bridge of the Vistula, favored by 
a thick fog, fell by surprise on the Russians 
under Geisman and routed them with great 
loss. The victorious pursued the fugitives 
who fell back on the corps of Rosen which 
was in battle array at Dembewiellde sixteen 
miles from Warsaw. The position of the 
Russians was strong ; but the gallant Poles 
attacked them with great fury. The Rus- 
sians made an obstinate resistance, and the 
battle continued with various success until 
the evening of the 31st, when the Poles by 
a vigorous charge of cavalry broke the en- 
emy's center, and put the whole of Rosen's 



WARSAW. 



corps to flight. The Poles were too much 
exhausted by the two battles and their long 
march, to pursue ; but as it was, they took 
six thousand prisoners, and inflicted an equal 
loss in killed and wounded on the enemy, 
who dispersed in all directions, no longer 
preserving even the appearance of an army. 
Such of the fugitives as could be reached by 
the Polish horse surrendered without resist- 
ance ; the peasants brought in great numbers 
who were straggling in the woods ; and so 
great was the consternation of the Eussians 
that the next morning presented tlie extra- 
ordinary spectacle of two persons, unarmed, 
hurrying to the Polish head-quarters twelve 
Russian soldiers, whom they allowed to carry 
their muskets, to avoid the trouble of car- 
rying the burden themselves. Rosen, after 
this terrible disaster, retired to Siedlece with 
the shattered remnant of his army, and 
Skrzynecki advanced his head-quarters to 
Kalaclvzyn, where he was joined on the 30th 
of April by General Milberg with 7,000 men, 
which more than repaired the losses of the 
preceding action. On the 10th of April the 
Polish general, with 25,000 of his best troops, 
advanced against Rosen who was in a posi- 
tion with an equal force on the Kostrzyn, 
covering the approach to Siedlece. A battle 
ensued at the bridge of Igaine ; the Russians 
were again defeated, and put to flight, aban- 
doning twelve guns and 1,500 prisoners to 
the victorious Poles. 

Meanwhile, the right wing of the Polish 
army under Sierawiki and Pac, 15,000 strong, 
advanced from Warsaw across the Vistula 
against the Russians under General Kreutz 
at Lublin. 

Kreutz's force consisted of 12,000 men, 
and he was observing the movements of 
Dwernecki, who, with the left wing of the 
Polish army, was at Zamose, ready to throw 
himself into Volhynia, to stir up an insur- 
rection in that province. The Polish gene- 
rals, in two divisions, 9,000 being under 
Sierawiki, and 6,000 under Pac, crossed tlie 
Vistula, and advanced cautiously against 
Kreutz, who lay at Belzyec, in a strong posi- 
tion, at the entrance of a forest, with twenty- 
four guns. Unfortunately, Sierawiki, when 
alone, and with his cavalry in part detached, 
on the 18th of April, came upon Kreutz; and 
the brave Poles, undaunted by the superior 
numbers of the enemy, rushed to the conflict. 
The Poles numbered only 6,000, with six 
guns : the Russians 12,000, yet the former 
maintained the strife with the utmost gal- 
lantry, and finally, when compelled to retreat, 
withdrew in good order, without the loss of 
a single gun or prisoner. In killed and 
wounded, they lost 1,500 men. The Rus- 
sian loss was nearly as great, and they were 
unable to follow up their advantage. This 



disaster was followed by another still gi eater. 
Dwernecki, who was to have been supported 
by Sierawiki, advanced early in April, into 
Volhynia, with only 4,000 men, of whom, 
2,700 were horse, with twelve field pieces. 
He crossed the Bug at KrUow, on the 10th 
of April, and marched against 13,000 Rus- 
sians, under General Rudiger, who was to 
be supported by Roth, with 12,000 more. 
Dwernecki rehed on the insurrection, wliich 
was ready to break out in Volhynia, for aid 
against tLe immense forces of the enemy. 
He defeated a Russian detachment which 
tried to oppose a passage, and addressed an 
animated proclamation to the Volliynians, 
calling on them " now or never" to combat 
for their ancient hberties. Few, however, at 
first, answered the appeal. Ignorant of the 
number of his opponents, whom he estimated 
at 12,000 men, the Russian general retired 
before the Poles, and in several skirmishes 
the Russians were defeated ; but at length, 
learning the real number of the Poles, Rudiger 
stood firm, and a general action ensued. 
Despite their inferior numbers, Dwernecki's 
hussars made several successful charges, and 
took eight pieces of cannon, and 800 prison- 
ers, and finally drove the Russians, four times 
their number, from the field of battle. Next 
day the Polish general advanced to Podolia, 
and on the 23d of April, reached Kolodon; but 
there he was assailed by Rudiger on one side, 
and Krasucki with a part of Roth's corps on the 
other ; and thus pressed by forces nine times 
as great as liis own, the Polish general was 
compelled to cross the Austrian frontier, and 
enter Gallicia, where his men were imme- 
diately disarmed, and conducted into the 
interior. But they were so negligently 
guarded by the Austrian government, that 
almost all, though without arms, regained 
the standards of mdependence. The irrup- 
tion of Dwernecki, and his early success, 
roused a formidable insurrection in Podolia, 
the southern parts of Volhynia, and the 
Ukraine ; but the insurrectionists were soon 
overpowered by the host of Russians, which 
were spread through the country. 

The two grand armies in the center, mean- 
while, were inactive. Diebitch was awaiting 
reinforcements ; and Skrzynecki did not 
deem it expedient to resume the offensive. 
At length yielding to the solicitations of the 
patriots in Lithuania, the Polish general sent 
two detachments under Lowuiski, and San- 
kowski, to endeavor to penetrate into Russian 
Poland, and enable the people of Lithuania 
to commence their insurrection ; but the Poles 
were met by superior bodies of Russians, and 
compelled to retreat. The insurrection, how- 
ever, headed by some brave partisans, broke 
out in that province, and gave the Russians 
great uneasiness, as it lay directly on their 



WARSAW. 



line of operations. At length on the 26th of 
April, Diebitch having been largely reinforced, 
resumed the ofiensive, and advanced with 
40,000 men to Jerusalem, vrhile 15,000 
marched onKaluckzyn. Skrzynecki,. instead 
of attacking him, retreated on his approach. 
On the 28th of April, ,tlie Russians were 
again in Minsk, where they remained a few 
days, and then retired to their old position 
beliind Siedlece, while the Poles again re- 
sumed the ground on their front. Skrzy- 
necki, having been informed of the first suc- 
cess of Dwernecki in Volhynia, and not yet 
being apprised of his ultimate disasters, de- 
tached Chrzanowski with 6,300 men, with 
orders to march upon Lublin, attack Kreutz, 
and march by Zamose into Volhynia. The 
Polish general, in the first instance, gained 
several advantages in detached combats, in 
one of which, near Lubarton, on the 9th of 
May, he made 800 prisoners ; but Kreutz 
having collected his forces, attacked him with 
greatly superior numbers on the following 
day, and, although the Poles displayed the 
most heroic valor, they were obliged to retire 
with considerable loss; the insurrection in 
Volhynia was effectually quelled : the defeat 
of Dwernecki having extinguished all the 
hopes of the patriots in that quarter. 

On the 12th of May, Skrzynecki, witli 
46,000 men, and 100 guns advanced from his 
position in front of Kostrzyn, against the 
Russian guards, who formed the right wing 
of the Russian army, and were cantoned in 
and around Ostrolenka, hoping to overwhelm 
them before the remainder of Diebitch's corps 
could come up to their reUef Umrinski 
with 6,000 men, was left to make head 
against Diebitch, who, httle suspecting what 
was going on on his right, advanced with 
24,000 men against him, expecting to en- 
counter the bulk of Skrzynecki's army. The 
Russian guards did not venture to await the 
attack of the Poles even in the intrenchments 
they had raised around Ostrolenka, and re- 
tired toward Bialystok, closely followed by 
Skrzynecki, who, on the 21st of May, attack- 
ed and defeated the rear guard with great 
slaughter at Jykoczyn. By this advance, the 
Russian right was driven so far back, that the 
road to Lithuania, was thrown open, and a 
division of 4,000 Poles, under Chlapowski 
was immediately pushed forward into that 
province. The Polish general had thus suc- 
ceeded in opening a communication with, 
and throwing succors into Lithuania ; but the 
difficulty was, for him to get back and regain 
his comnmnications with Warsaw, after hav- 
ing gained this advantage. Diebitch resolved 
to concentrate his forces, and attack the 
Polish army. 

Fearful of being assailed in rear, the Po- 
lish general rapidly retired, crossed the Na- 



rew, and occupied Ostrolenka, with part of 
his forces. But the advance of Diebitch had 
been so swift tlmt it had in a manner cut the 
PoUsh army in two. The divisions of Giel- 
god and Lubienski were separated from the 
remainder of the army in Ostrolenka. On 
the night of the 25th, Diebitch advanced close 
up to the two last Pohsh divisions, and early 
in the morning of the 26th commenced an at- 
tack on Lubienski's division with greatly su- 
perior forces. If the attack of Diebitch had 
been as vigorous as his night march had been 
rapid, Lubienski's division would have been 
totally destroyed ; but the assault was so fee- 
ble that Pac had time to issue from Ostro- 
lenka, recross the Narew, and advance to the 
support of Lubienski. 

Battle of Ortrolenka. — This brought on 
a general battle. Lubienski, seeing liis com- 
munications so seriously threatened, and that 
certain destruction awaited him if his retreat 
were turned into a rout, made the most vig- 
orous efforts to maintain his ground ; but his 
troops at length were overwhelmed by num- 
bers and driven back in disorder to the bridges 
of the Narew, over which the Russians passed 
pell-mell with the last of the fugitives. The 
bulk of Lubienski's men got safely over, and 
drew up in two hnes in good order on the left 
bank of the river. The Russians, however, 
passed rapidly over, and supported the pass- 
age by two powerful batteries, one of 34 
and another of 36 guns, on the right bank, 
wliich thundered with terrible effect on the 
Polish lines on the opposite side. The mo- 
ment was in the last degree critical ; for if 
the Russians succeeded in establishing them- 
selves in Ostrolenka, the Polish army was cut 
in two, and Gielgod's division, which was 
still on the opposite bank, would in aU prob- 
abihty be destroyed. Skrzynecki did all that 
skill and courage could effect to repair the 
check which he had sustained. Both parties 
brought up fresh forces every minute to the 
field of battle, which was extremely narrow, 
and was speedily crowded with combatants ; 
the Poles straining every nerve to drive back 
the Russians to tlie left bank ; the Russians 
to make good the footing they had got on 
the right. In despair Langerman made 
a gallant charge with the bayonet, which 
checked the Russians, and two battalions 
laid down their arms ; but the Poles were 
unable to collect the prisoners for want of 
cavalry, and they all escaped. Skrzynecki, 
who arrived on the field of battle at eleven 
o'clock, made the most incessant efforts to 
prevent the enemy from extending them- 
selves on the right. Wherever danger was 
greatest, he was to be seen animating the 
troops by his voice and example ; his clothes 
were pierced with balls, and nearly all his 
aid-de-camps were killed or wounded. The 



684 



WARSAW. 



Polish artillery of Colonel Bern, which was 
at last brought up, replied with effect to the 
enemy's batteries, and made deep chasms in 
their ranks. Toward evening the fire slack- 
ened on both sides, owing to the want of 
ammunition and the fatigue of the combat- 
ants; and at nightfall, the Russians withdrew 
all their forces to the left bank of the river, 
leaving only detachments to guard the Utes- 
du-pont on the right. In this terrible battle 
the Poles lost 7,000 men killed and wounded, 
including Grenerals Kichi and Kaminsky, who 
fell gloriously on the field. The Russian loss 
was not less than 10,000 men, owing to the 
dense masses in which they fought, and to 
the unerring precision of the PoUsh gunners. 
But to the Poles 7,000 men was a much 
greater loss than 10,000 to the Russians, and 
in a council of war held the next day, all the 
generals, with the exception of Skrzynecki, 
who resolutely maintained that they should 
keep their ground, counseled a retreat. This 
opinion prevailed, and the army retired leis- 
urely and unrnolested by Pultusk to Praga, 
opposite Warsaw ; but they were perma- 
nently severed from the division of Gielgod. 
Diebitch, the Russian general, died of the 
cholera, which epidemic was raging in his 
army, on the 10th of June ; and on the 27th 
of the same month, this event was followed 
by the death of the Grand Duke Constantine, 
who also fell a victim to the epidemic. 

After the battle of Ostrolenka, the two 
principal armies remained nearly a month in 
a state of inactivity. Skrzynecki lay under 
cover of the guns of Praga, recruiting his 
shattered ranks ; while the Russian army, 
which, after the death of Diebitch, was in- 
trusted to the skillful hands of Paskiewitch, 
was engaged in reorganizing its divisions and 
receiving reinforcements from the interior. 
Chlapowski and Gielgod, having been by the 
retreat of the Russians from Ostrolenka en- 
tirely cut off" from the main body of the Pol- 
ish army, had no alternative but to throw 
themselves into Lithuania, and endeavor to 
find support in the insurrection in that prov- 
ince. The two generals formed a junction at 
Minsk, and with their united forces, 12,000 
strong, with 24 gun 5, advanced into the heart 
of Lithuania, where a powerful and enthusi- 
astic party only awaited their arrival to join 
the insurrection. The contest had begun 
there some time before ; when Chlapowski 
had entered the country some thousand in- 
surgents had joined the Polish standard ; but 
they were poorly armed, and destitute of ar- 
tillery or magazines, and were repeatedly de- 
feated by the Russians in detached bodies; 
yet so great was their spirit and patriotism, 
that they rose above their defeats, and contin- 
ued the contest under every disadvantage. At 
the time of the battle of Ostrolenka, Chla- 



powski was at the head of an army of 7,000 
men, in which a heroine, Mademoiselle Pla- 
ter, held a command ; and the arrival of Giel- 
god's corps, which nearly doubled his forces, 
encouraged the Poles to make an advance on 
Wilna, tiie capital of the province, which was 
occupied by the Russians. General Sacken, 
with 4,000 Russians, advanced to stop their 
progress, and was defeated with the loss of 
2,000 men. The Poles crossed the Niemen 
and advanced with 11,000 men to the neigh- 
borhood of Wilna. This movement roused 
the whole country. The Lithuanians, to the 
number of 11,000, flocked to the PoUsh stand- 
ards, but there was no time to organize or 
arm them before the contest was decided un- 
der the walls of Wilna. 

Battle op Wilna. — The city of Wilna was 
occupied by 21,000 Russians, 18,000 of whom 
were posted in an intrenched camp, under 
General Sacken, in front of the town, while 
3,000 were kept in reserve within its walls, 
to overawe the discontented citizens, who 
on the first reverse were ready to break out 
into insurrection. The Polish generals had 
only 14,000, of whom not more than one 
half were old troops fit to engage in a regu- 
lar combat, and what was even worse, they 
had little confidence in Gielgod, who had 
the chief command. Dembinski, with 4,000 
more, was at a distance, but took no part in 
the conflict. The battle took place on the 
18th of June ; the Polish right, under Za- 
lewski, defeated the Russian left ; but Gielgod 
was repulsed in the center, and his guns dis- 
mounted by the superior fire of the Russian 
artillery; and in the end the Poles were 
obliged to retreat with a loss of 1,000 men. 
This check proved fatal to the PoUsh cause in 
Lithuania. Zalewski, who remained last on 
the field of battle, was cut off from Gielgod, 
and driven to Merecz, where he passed the 
Niemen, and sought refuge in the forests of 
the palatinate of Augustow. Gielgod, him- 
self, whose forces were weakened at every 
step by the desertion of the Lithuanian levies, 
who despaired of the cause, retreated with 
the troops which still remained with him, to- 
ward the Polish frontier, leaving Dembinski 
and Zalewski to their fate. He was vigor- 
ously pursued by Sacken, and nothing but 
disaster attended his retreat. Repulsed in 
an assault on Szawle on the Niemen, on the 
7th of July, the Polish division rapidly melted 
away, and, at length, tracked by different 
corps of Russians, compelled to take refuge in 
Prussian territories, on the 12th, where the 
men were immediately disarmed. 

Such was the indignation of the Polish 
officers at this catastrophe, that one of them, 
named Skalski, dashed out of the ranks 
mounted on a fiery steed, and galloping up 
to Gielgod, discharged a pistol at his breast. 



WAKSAW. 



The unfortunate general instantly fell, and 
died a few moments after, protesting with 
his last breath his fidelity to liis country. 
The event proved that he had been the vic- 
tim of unmerited vengeance; for Eoland's 
corps, to which the assassin belonged, was 
on the 16th of July obliged to follow his 
example and take refuge in Prussian territo- 
ry, where it was also disarmed. Dembinski, 
more fortunate than either, passing between 
the divisions of the grand Eussian army sta- 
tioned to intercept him, made his entry on 
the 3d of August, into Warsaw, amid the 
enthusiastic cheers of the inhabitants. Sixty 
thousand persons went out to meet him ; the 
erowd pressed round his horse, embraced and 
kissed liis feet, imploring on him the blessings 
of heaven. They might well be proud of 
their hero. He had marched five hundred 
and fifty miles in twenty-five days, crossed 
ten rivers, and brought his corps intact 
through a host of enemies to Warsaw. The 
annals of war do not record a more memor- 
able exploit. 

The disastrous issue of these attempts to 
spread the insurrection in Volhynia and 
Lithuania, and the irreparable loss of nearly 
20,000 men to the grand army, with wliich 
they were attended, were fatal to all the 
hopes of Polish independence. Nothing re- 
mained to its supporters, but, like Caesar, to 
meet their fate with resolution and fall with 
honor. Prussia now openly and in an effi- 
cient manner espoused the cause of Russia, 
and Skrzynecki in vain endeavored to bring 
back that government to a system of neutral- 
ity. Paskiewitch, in view of this state of 
affairs, resolved to adopt an entirely different 
plan of operations than that which had proved 
so unfortunate under Diebitch. He resolved 
to cross the Vistula, and carry the war into 
the hitherto unprotected country on the left 
bank between that river and the Polish front- 
ier. It is true, by doing this he lost all his 
communications with Lithuania and Russia ; 
but the conduct of Prussia had secured him 
a base even superior in utility and conven- 
ience to that of his predecessor. In the end 
of June the Russian general assembled the 
bulk of his forces, 60,000 strong, with 300 
pieces of cannon, at Pultusk on the Narew, 
while Golowin and Rudiger, with 23,000 
men were in reserve behind the Bug and the 
Wieprz. Russian vessels of war, laden with 
provisions, stores, and munitions of war, land- 
ed at Dantzic, Prussia, whence their cargoes 
were forwarded to the Russian head-quarters; 
and the country everywhere was crossed by 
convoys of all kinds, from the Prussian ter- 
ritory. " Time will show," says Alison, j 
" whether that country has not put the seal 
to her own ultimate subjugation" by her con- j 
duct in this struggle. 1 



Finding themselves assailed by such im- 
mense forces, to which Skrzynecki had not 
25,000 men to oppose, the Polish govern- 
ment called upon the people to rally for the 
cause of liberty, and the whole inhabitants 
worked day and night with incredible dili- 
gence at the fortificationa of the capital. An 
energetic proclamation was issued by the 
government, which began with these Avords, 
" In the name of God ; in the name of the 
liberty of the nation now placed between life 
and death ; in the name of its kings and 
heroes, who have combated in former days 
for its religion and independence; in the 
name of justice and the deliverance of Eu- 
rope, we call on all classes to come forward 
to defend their country." AU nobly met the 
appeal. The nobles and senators who were 
absent, all flocked to Warsaw to share the 
danger, and, if necessary to die in the cause 
of liberty. The Russian army broke up from 
Pultusk on the 4th of July, and advanced 
toward Plock, making a circuit around Mod- 
lin where Skrzynecki had estabhshed himself 
Avith 21,000 men, who, with the garrison of 
that fortress, brought up his forces to 30,000 
combatants. The Pohsh troops were too much 
depressed by their recent defeats to hazard a 
battle, and the Russian general advanced by 
Plock to Osick, on the Vistula, where the 
material of three bridges had been prepared 
by the Prussian government. The bridges 
were quickly thrown across, and the army 
passed over. The Polish army, upon this, 
quitted Modlin and marched rapidly to War- 
saw, while Paskiewitch drew the corps of 
Rudiger from Volhynia, which, crossing the 
Vistula above Warsaw, advanced down the 
t left bank of that river in order to enter into 
communication with the main army, and joia 
the assault of the capital. 

The approach of these vast armies, num- 
bering between them 70,000 combatants, to 
whom the Poles could not at the utmost op- 
i pose more than 30,000, excited the utmost 
] sensation at Warsaw, and roused to the very 
1 highest degree both the patriotic spirit and 
the savage passions of the people. Several 
councils were appointed to inquire into the 
conduct of the military operations, and the 
causes of the disasters which had recently 
been experienced. Skrzynecki, finding the 
current in the capital too strong to be resisted, 
! resigned the command, and was succeeded 
by Dembinski. Krukowieckski was soon 
after appointed President of the Council of 
Government. On the day following the dis- 
missal of Skrzynecki a grand review of all 
the troops, was held around Warsaw, at 
which the displaced general rode beside nis 
successor. The troops beheld their beloved 
chief in his misfortune with the most poig- 
nant sorrow. Tears ran down their cheeks ; 



686 



WARSAW. 



but soon their sorrow was turned into en- 
thusiasm, when Skrzynecki exhorted them 
to exhibit the same submission to their new 
general tliat they had shown to him; and 
Dembinski promised to follow in the foot- 
steps of his predecessor. But different scenes 
were transpiring in the city. On the 15th 
and 16th of August the mobs excited by the 
approach of the Russians, and the declama- 
tion of the clubs, assembled in the streets, 
and with loud shouts of " Treason I treason !" 
first invaded the palace, and overturned the 
government, and then breaking into the pris- 
ons they murdered all the state prisoners, in- 
cluding Jankowski and Bukowski, who had 
been tried to please the clubs for their want 
of success m Volhynia, but had been acquit- 
ted. The government resigned the next day, 
and was succeeded by a new set of rulers at 
the head of which was Krukowieckski. But 
the doom of Warsaw was sealed. The last 
hour was rapidly approaching. The different 
factions of the city were united by common 
danger and resolved to defend the city to the 
last extremity. On the 18th of August the 
Polish army Avas posted in the intrenched 
camp, upon which the inhabitants had long 
been laboring, before the town. Skrzynecki 
gave proof of his greatness of soul and true 
patriotism, by taking the command which 
was offered him of one of the columns. The 
whole Polish army consisted of 57,500 men 
in the intrenched camp at Warsaw, with 136 
guns harnessed, besides 20,000 other troops 
with 10 guns at Modlin and Zarnosc. At 
the close of August the Russian general hav- 
ing concentrated his forces, appeared bftfore 
the city with 77,000 men. Rudiger with 
12,000 Russians approached Praga on the 
opposite side of the river, and thus War- 
saw was threatened by an army of nearly 
90,000 men, with no less than 386 pieces of 
cannon. Paskiewitch gave the government 
of Warsaw till the 5th of September to sur- 
render at discretion. The Polish govern- 
ment, instead of despairing at this crisis, re- 
solved on the offensive, and sent 20,400 men 
under Ramorino to the right bank of the 
Vistula into the palatinate of Podlachia; 
while Lubienski, with 2,800 horse was dis- 
patched into that of Plock to threaten the 
Polish communications. The remainder of 
the Polish army, 34,000 strong, guarded the 
intrenched camp of Warsaw, with 216 pieces 
of cannon. The intrenohments consisted of 
two lines, the first of which was mounted 
with 47 pieces of position; the second with 
78 ; while the remainder, consisting of 84 
pieces harnessed, were ready to carry assist- 
ance to any point which might require it. 
Ramorino defeated the united forces of Ro- 
sen and G-olowin which were opposed to 
him with the loss of a thousand killed and 



wounded, besides 1,500 prisoners, and drove 
them back in confusion to Biala. But this 
success, great as it was, and important as it 
might have been at an earher period, was at- 
tended with no material results. The contest 
was to be decided under the walls of Warsaw, 
and bitterly was the want of Ramorino's 
20,000 veterans felt in the decisive conflict 
which then ensued. 

The 6th of September, 1831, was an event- 
ful day. The struggle of liljcrty against tyr- 
anny was about to be brought to a close ; and, 
unhke the conflict of right against might 
in the western continent forty years before, 
it was to be decided in fiivor of tyranny. 
Those noble rnen who had struggled with 
such energy for the blessed privilege of en- 
joying those rights which belong to every 
man, high or low, were about to be crushed 
by the immense horde of minions which the 
tyrant of Russia had sent against them. At 
daybreak on the 6th, the Russian artillery 
opened on the Polish lines. The Poles re- 
plied with equal spirit, and the thunder of the 
cannon shook the ground while the air was 
torn by contending storms of iron. The 
Russians made their cliief attack on the vil- 
lage of Wola, in the first Polish line, which 
was garrisoned by only three battalions and 
ten guns, and in the end the assailants brought 
up no less than 100 pieces of cannon to con- 
centrate their fire upon it. The Poles, unable 
to withstand the fearful tempest, were com- 
pelled to evacuate the village at ten o'clock, 
and the Russians immediately occupied it in 
strength, and armed it with several additional 
batteries of their own, of heavier caliber 
than any the Poles could oppose to it. The 
Poles under Malchaowski made several des- 
perate attempts to recover tliis important 
point, but all in vain. Wola was occupied 
by four strong battalions, which were fed by 
sixteen more placed in its rear ; and the ef- 
forts of the Poles to retake it, only led to a 
terrific slaughter, which ended in their troops 
being forced back in that quarter with the 
second fine. There the Poles made a most 
obstinate resistance. The troops fought like 
tigers ; the gunners worked their pieces with 
the most admirable precision and rapidity ; 
the officers animated their soldiers to des- 
perate deeds by voice and example, and 
above all several heroines clothed in men's 
attire, fought for their country with the valor 
of the other sex, and by their brilliant deeds 
aroused the courage of the troops to enthu- 
siasm. While this bloody conflict was going 
on around Wola, the Russian general directed 
strong columns of attack against the village 
of Kruli Karnia, and soon the fire was gen- 
eral as f;ir as the barrier of Jerusalem close 
to Warsaw. The Polish commanders upon 
this ordered a general advance. The troops 



WASHINGTON. 



687 



obeyed with alacrity ; and a fight of the ut- 
most obstinacy ensued. The Eussians were 
slowly driven back ; and the slaughter during 
this conflict was terrible. But it was too late. 
The capture of Wola had decided the fate 
of Warsaw, and Krukowieckski, who had 
never been beyond the second line, returned 
at three o'clock to the seat of government, 
declaring that all was lost and that nothing 
remained but to surrender. He demanded, 
and had, during the night, a secret conference 
with the Russian general ; but, after a con- 
siderable delay, it led to no result, as Paskie- 
witch insisted on an unconditional surrender. 
At one o'clock on the next day the battle 
was renewed, the Poles having retired at 
all points to their second Une, while the Eus- 
sians, with 190 guns in front, advanced in 
dense columns to the attack. The weight of 
the attack was cUrected against the faubourg 
of Wola, and the bridge of Czysto, defended 
by two strong redoubts on one side and 
three on the other. A tremendous fire was 
opened on the works by the Russian guns 
which preceded their columns -, but notwith- 
standing this, the fire of the redoubts was so 
vigorous that the Eussian columns of assault 
were shaken, and Uminski by a flank charge 
completed their defeat near the first of these 
points. The 20,000 men absent under Eam- 
orino might then have saved Poland, and as 
it was, the result was for some time doubtful. 
But toward four o'clock the Russian fire had 
established a superiority over that of the re- 
doubts which defended the bridge of Czysto, 
and the corps of Pahlen and Kreutz, the Pdte 
of the Eussian army, was formed in columns 
of assault. At a signal given these veterans 
rushed forward, with drums beating, colors 
flying, and amid warlike cries, toward the 
intrenchments. The Poles awaited the ap- 
proach of the enemy with iron firmness. A 
terrible shower of cannister and grape was 
hurled through the ranl-cs of the Eussians as 
they came within range ; but the assailants 
pushed resolutely on, and, reaching the in- 
trenchments, their attack was received by 
the Poles with desperate courage. But the 
superiority of the Eussian artillery prevailed, 
and several of the redoubts fell into the hands 
of the Eussians. Upon learning of this disas- 
ter Krukowieckski, finding the resistance 
could no longer be prolonged, agreed to sur- 
render at discretion, on condition that the 
Polish array was permitted to retire to Plock. 
Next day the Eussians entered Warsaw in 
triumph at the northern gates, while the 
Polish troops, in the deepest dejection, wend- 
ed their way through the southern. Five 
thousand of their number had fallen ; 4,000 
prisoners and 130 guns remained in the hands 
of the conquerors, whose loss in these two 
bloody days was nearly 20,000. The whole 



PoUsh army finally retreated, the troops of 
Eamorino into Austria, and the principal 
army under Eybinski, who was elected com- 
mander-in-chief after the capitulation of War- 
saw, into Prussia, where they were dis- 
armed. Thus terminated the war, after it 
had continued, with scarce any intermission, 
for eight months. Short as this campaign 
had been, it cost the Russians dear. They 
had lost 180,000 men, more than twice the 
number that the Poles had at any time 
brought into the field. The Emperor Nicho- 
las avenged himself on the unfortunate Poles 
with implacable resolution and cruelty. The 
noblest famihes of Warsaw were dragged 
into exile in Siberia ; the oath of allegiance 
forced from the soldiers by the terror of the 
knout and threats of death, and the sons of 
the patriotic families torn from their mothers' 
arms, and sent off to distant military colonies 
to serve as common soldiers, where numbers 
of them perished of fatigue and misery. Lib- 
erty was crushed beneath the iron hand of 
Despotism. 

WASHINGTON, a.d. 1814.— After the 
battle of Bladensburg, in which the Amer- 
icans were shamefully defeated, the British 
army, under General Ross, advanced against 
Washington, the capital of the United States. 
The invaders entered the city on the 25th of 
August, 1814, without opposition, and imme- 
diately set fire to the public buUdings; the 
Capitol, the President's house, and the public 
offices, with the exception of the patent office, 
were consumed to ashes, together with the 
valuable hbrary of Congress. We will not 
dwell on this subject so painful to all Amer- 
icans. Whether the British acted on this oc- 
casion as becomes an enlightened and civilized 
nation or not, we leave in the hands of their 
own historian. " Yet it is to be regretted," 
wiites Ahson, "that the luster of the victory 
has been much tarnished to the British arms 
by the unusual, and, in the circumstances, 
unwarrantable extension which they made 
of the ravages of war to the pacific or orna- 
mental edifices of the capital. The usages 
of war, ahke in ancient and modern times, 
have usually saved from destruction, even in 
towns taken hy storm, edifices which are 
dedicated to the purposes of reUgion or em- 
bellishment." 

The capture of their capital city aroused 
the Americans to the liighest pitch of indig- 
nation and excitement. They no longer re- 
mained divided on the subject of the war j 
but with the utmost enthusiasm prepared to 
drive the invaders from their teriitory, and 
at the battles of Plattsburg, Baltimore, and 
New Orleans, amply avenged the insult" of 
the enemy at Washington, and proved that 
Americans united are iuvmcible when defend- 
ing their own soil. 



WATERLOO. 



WATERLOO, A.D. 1815.— Waterloo, ever 
memorable in military history for the great 
battle fought in its vicinity, on the 18th of 
June, 1815, is situated at the verge of the 
forest of Soignies, on the road from Brussels 
to Charleroi, nine miles south of the former 
place, in the province of Brabant in Belgium. 

Wellington had resolved to invade France, 
direct from Flanders, between the Mars and 
the Oise ; but in order to conceal this design 
from the enemy, he suggested that the Aus- 
trians and Russians should invade in the first 
instance, by Brefort and Huningen, in order 
to attract Napoleon's forces to that quarter ; 
and as soon as tliis was done, the British and 
Prussians united were to march direct upon 
Paris from Mons and Namur. The armies 
of Blucher and Wellington united, amounted 
to 250,000 men, and to oppose this mighty 
host. Napoleon could only bring into the field 
120,000 men. 

Napoleon, in order to make his army as 
strong as possible against the superior num- 
bers of his enemies, resolved to collect all his 
forces into one mass, and boldly throw them 
between the British and Prussian armies, 
separate them from each other, and strike 
with the utmost vigor, first on the right hand, 
and then on the left. On the 2d of June, 
Soult was appointed major-general of the 
army; and at daybreak on the 15th, the 
French army crossed the frontier, and moved 
against Charleroi The Prussian army, which 
occupied that town, evacuated it on the ap- 
proach of the enemy, and retired to Fleurus. 
The French army crossed the Sambre at 
Marchiennes, Charleroi, and Chatelet. The 
French had evidently taken the enemy by 
surprise, and Napoleon's project of separating 
the Prussian and British army, seemed about 
to be carried into efifect. With this view, 
the French emperor dispatched Ney, with 
the left wing, 46,000 strong, to Quatre-Bras ; 
an important position situated at the point of 
intersection of the roads of Brussels, Nivelles, 
Charleroi, and Namur. By the possession of 
this important post, the French would have 
entirely cut off the communication between 
the Prussian and British armies. Meanwhile, 
Napoleon with 72,000 men, marched toward 
Fleurus, directly against the Prussian army, 
which was falling back toward Ligny. 

The Battle of Ligny. — The Prussian army 
under Blucher, consisted of 80,000 men, 
(without the fourth corps, which had not yet 
come up) of whom 12,000 were cavalry, 
with 280 pieces of cannon. On the 16th of 
June, the Prussian army was concentrated 
on the heights of Brie and Sombref, with the 
villages of St. Arnaud and Ligny strongly 
occupied in its front. This position was good, 
and well chosen, for the villages in front 
aflforded an admirable shelter to the troops, 



and the artillery placed on the semicircular 
convex ridge between them, commanded the 
whole field of battle, and the slope beliind, 
surmounted by the windmill of Bussy, formed 
a strong point d'appui in case of disaster. 
Napoleon's force was less numerous than 
that of the enemy; it consisted of 72,000 
men, of whom 8,000 were cavalry, with 240 
guns. The emperor's orders to Ney had been 
to move early in the morning, and occupy 
Quatre-Bras, before the EugUsh army were 
assembled, and having left a strdhg detach- 
ment there, move with half his forces on 
Brie, so as to fall on the rear of the Prussians 
and complete their destruction. The attack 
in front was not to commence until Ney's 
guns in the rear showed that he had reached 
his destined point; and Napoleon, with his 
army ready drawn up, waited impatiently 
tiU three o'clock in the afternoon, expecting 
the much wished-for signal ; but not a sound 
was heard in that direction, while the loud 
and increasing cannonade on the side of 
Quatre-Bras, which was only three miles 
and a hah" distant, told clearly that a despe- 
rate conflict was going on there. There was 
now not a moment to lose, if the Prussians 
were to be attacked before the fourth corps 
which was stationed between Liege and 
Hannut, under Burlow, should come up, and 
at four o'clock. Napoleon gave the signal for 
attack. In order to conceal his real designs. 
Napoleon made great demonstrations against 
St. Arnaud, on the Prussian right, but mean- 
while he collected his principal force, con- 
cealed from the enemy, opposite the Prussian 
center at Ligny, which was to be the actual 
point of attack. The French, under Van- 
damme, assailed St. Arnaud with great vigor, 
and after an obstinate struggle, carried that 
village. Blucher immediately sent reinforce- 
ments to tliis quarter, and Napoleon's center, 
30,000 strong, under Gerard, issued from its 
concealment, crossed the streamlet of Ligny, 
and pushing up the opposite bank, furiously 
assaulted the village of Ligny. But if the 
attack was vehement, the resistance was not 
less obstinate. Each army had behind its 
own side of the village immense masses of 
men, with which the combat was constantly 
fed; and at length the conflict became so 
desperate, that neither party could completely, 
by bringing up fresh columns, expel the 
enemy, but they fought hand-to-hand in the 
streets and houses with unconquerable resolu- 
tion ; while the fire of 200 pieces of cannon, 
directed on the two sides against the village, 
spread death equally among friend and foe. 
At seven o'clock, after three hours of furious 
but indecisive conflict, D'Erlon's corps, part 
of Ney's force, which had been stationed by 
that marshal in reserve, two leagues from 
Quatre-Bras, was withdrawn from there by 



WATERLOO. 



the positive orders of the emperor, made its 
appearance on the extreme right of the Prus- 
sians beyond St. Arnaud. On their arrival, 
Napoleon brought forward his Guards and 
reserves for a furious attack on the enemy's 
center. Milhaud's terrible cuirassiers ad- 
vanced at the gallop, shaking their sabers in 
the air; the artillery of the Guard under 
Drouot, moved up, pouring forth with extra- 
ordinary rapidity its dreadful fire ; and in the 
rear of all, the dense columns of the Old Guard 
were seen moving forward with a swift pace 
and unbroken array. This attack, supported 
by D'Erlon's infantry, and a charge of twenty 
squadrons of his cuirassiers on the Prussian 
right flank, proved decisive; the Prussian 
infantry behind Ligny began to retire, the 
blood-stained streets of the village fell into 
the hands of the French ; and the Prussians 
fled in the utmost disorder. The cannon got 
entangled in the narrow lanes behind Ligny, 
and the French captured twenty-one pieces. 
Blucher himself, had his horse shot under 
him while leading a body of cavalry to a 
charge to retard the enemy's pursuit, and the 
Prussian horse were driven back, and the 
victorious French rode straight over the 
prostrate general, as he lay entangled beneath 
his dying steed. 

The Prussians returning in great force, 
drove back the French horse, rescued their 
general, and resumed their flight in great con- 
fusion toward Wavres. In this battle the 
French lost 6,800 men, in killed and wounded ; 
the Prussians were weakened by 25,000 men, 
4 standards, and 21 pieces of cannon. 

Battle of Quatrk-Bras. — While this des- 
perate conflict was raging at Ligny, an en- 
gagement on a less extended scale, but equally 
bloody, took place between the armies of 
Ney and Wellington at Quatre-Bras. The 
forces of the aUies amounted to 36,000 men ; 
the French army consisted of 23,000 men. 
The fight was most obstinate, and was con- 
tinued until nightfall without success to either 
party. At length, at dusk, Ney retired to 
Frasnes, a mile from the field of battle ; and 
Wellington's men, wearied ahke with march- 
ing and fighting, lay on the ground on which 
they had fought at Quatre-Bras, surrounded 
by the dead and dying. In this bloody com- 
bat the allies lost 5,200 men, killed, wounded 
and prisoners. The French lost 4,000 men. 
Among the killed on the EngUsh side was 
the gallant Duke of Brunswick, who nobly 
fell while heading a charge of his hussars, in 
the latter part of the day. 

The Battle of Waterloo. — During the 
night of the 16th, Wellington received intel- 
ligence of the defeat of the Prussians at Ligny, 
and perceiving that he could not maintain his 
position at Brussels, since his left flank was 
exposed, he, on the morning of the 17th, re- 

44 



treated through Genappe to Waterloo. Na- 
poleon, on the 17th, proceeded to Quatre- 
Bras, and followed with the great bulk of his 
army, arranging them nearly opposite the 
EngUsh, on both sides of the high road lead- 
ing from Charleroi to Brussels. His head- 
quarters were established at La Belle Alliance. 
Napoleon had detached Grouchy, with 35,000 
men, to observe the Prussians who were re- 
tiring toward Wavres ; his army was there- 
fore, with the losses at Ligny and Quatre- 
Bras, reduced to about 70,000 men. Wel- 
lington's army consisted of about 75,000 men, 
of whom only about 60,000, composed of 
British, Hanoverians, and Brunswickers, could 
be depended upon. The remainder was com- 
posed of Belgians, or recently raised Hano- 
verians. " The field of Waterloo," says Alison, 
" rendered immortal by the battle which was 
fought on the preceding day, extends about 
two miles in length from the old chateau, 
walled garden, and inclosures of Hougou- 
mont on the right to the extremity of the 
hedge of La Haye Sainte on the left. The 
great road from Brussels to Charleroi runs 
through the center of the position which is 
situated somewhat less than three quarters of 
a mile to the south of Waterloo, and 300 
yards in front of the farm-house of Mount St. 
Jean. This road, after passing through the 
center of the British hne, goes through La 
Belle Alliance and the hamlet of Eossomme, 
where Napoleon spent the night. The posi- 
tion occupied by the British army followed 
very nearly the crest of a range of gentle em- 
inences cutting the high-road at right angles, 
200 yards behind the farm-house of La Haye 
Sainte, which adjoins the highway, and 
formed the center of the position. An un- 
paved country road ran along this gi-eat sum- 
mit, forming nearly the line occupied by the 
British troops, and which proved of great use 
in the course of the battle. Their position 
had this great advantage, that the infantry 
could rest on the reverse of the crest of the 
ridge, in a situation in great measure secured 
from the fire of the French artillery ; while 
their own guns on the crest swept the whole 
slope, or natural glacis, which descended to 
the valley in their front. The French army 
occupied a corresponding line of ridges nearly 
parallel, on the opposite side of the valley, 
stretching on either side of the hamlet of La 
E'lle Alliance. The summit of these ridges 
ali'orded a splendid position for the French ar- 
tillery to fire upon the English guns ; but 
their attacking columns, in descending the 
one hill and mounting the other, would of 
necessity be exposed to a very severe can- 
nonade from the opposite batteries. The 
French army had an open country to retreat 
over in case of disaster; while the British, 
if defeated, would m all probabihty lose their 



690 



WATERLOO. 



whole artillery in the defiles of the forest of 
Soignies, although the intricacies of that wood 
afforded an admiraljle defensive position for a 
broken array of foot soldiers. The French 
right rested on the village of Planchenois, 
which is of considerable extent, and afforded 



the road near La Belle Alliance. D'Erlon 
with his corps was on the right of the road 
of La Belle AUiance ; Reille and Foy in the 
center ; Jerome on the left, and Ney with 
the Old Guard in the rear. The aUied army 
was drawn up in the following order : the 



a very strong defensive position to resist the \ chateau, garden, and wood of Hougouraont 
Prussians, in case they should so far recover , were strongly occupied by General Byng's 
from the disaster of the preceding day as to ' brigade of guards, as was the farm of La Haye 
be able to assume offensive operations, and j Sainte by a battaUon of the king's German 
menace the extreme French right. At ten j legion ; Picton's division and Clinton's stood 
o'clock in the night of the 17th, Napoleon '• on the left of La Haye Sainte along the line 
sent a dispatch to Grouchy, announcing that of a rugged hedge ; Coil's, the Brunsvdckers, 
the allies had taken a position in front of the [ Hanoverians and Belgians were in the center, 
forest of Soignes, and directing Grouchy to | The cavalry was all in the rear behind the 
detach from his corps, at about four o'clock in i second Hne. The left was uncovered, except 
the morning, a division of 7,000 men, with j by a deep ditch impassable for artillery. The 



)ieces of cannon, with orders to proceed 
to St. Lambert, and after putting themselves 
in communication with the right of the main 
army, to operate against the British left flank. 
Wellington, on his side, communicated with 
Blucher during the night, who promised to 
support hira with his whole army. He as- 
sured the British general that he would be on 
the ground by one o'clock. His hne of 
marc^ was to be in three columns, by St. 
Lamljert and Ohain upon Planchenois, so 



artillery was arrayed along the whole front 
of the positions, and swept the gentle slope 
which descended from it to the low ground 
which separated the two armies, wholly un- 
broken by inclosures or impediments of any 
kind. 

The village clock of Nivelles was striking 
eleven, when the first gun was fired from the 
French center. The report of this sohtary 
piece awakened the echoes of 1,000 muskets 
from the left, as the weighty column, com- 



to fall perpendicularly on the French flank j manded by Jerome, approached the inclosures 
after the combat was fully engaged." I of Hougoumont. They were received by the 

The morning of the 18th of June, opened I Enghsh with a stout resistance ; but the 
th a drizzling rain ; but by five o'clock the ] French pressing forward with the utmost 



weather cleared, and the sun in occasional 
glimpses broke through the hazy atmosphere. 
Both armies were soon in motion. The 
plains of Waterloo now presented a most 
magnificent spectacle. On the French side, 
eleven columns deployed simultaneously to 
take up their ground ; like huge serpents clad 
in glittering scales, they wound slowly over 
the hills, amid an incessant clang of trumpets, 
ami rolling of drums from 100 bands of 
musicians, playing the Marseillaise, the Chante 
du Depart, the Veillons au Salut de I'Empire, 
and other popular French airs. The British 
army, concealed by the swell of the ridge on 



igor, drove the enemy from the wood around 
the chateau. The castle and garden, how- 
ever, defended by a liigh brick wall, in 
wliich a double set of loop-holes had been 
struck out, presented a strong resistance, and 
the fight raged here in this quarter more or 
less during the whole day, until at length, 
Napoleon caused a battery of howitzers to 
]ilay upon the building, which soon set it on 
fire, and the English found it necessary to 
abandon it. Marshal Ney, with D'Erlon's 
corps, full 20,000 strong, arrayed in four 
massy columns, was now ordered to attack 
the right center of the British army. The 



which they stood, didnot present so imposing i troops were already in motion, when Napo- 
a spectacle to either army. No clang of i leon perceived on his extreme right, in the 
trumpets or rolling of drums was heard from j direction of St. Lambert, a dark mass of 
their ranks ; silently the men took up their j troops in the openings of the wood. The 
groiuid, and hardly any sound was heard ; emperor was in doubt whether the advancing 
from the vast array, but the rolling of guns, troops were those of Grouchy or Blucher, 
and an occasional word of command from the ' and pointing out the moving cloud to Soult, 
officei-s. The French army was soon stand- he asked his opinion. " I think," replied 
ing in order of battle. Their artillery Avas Soult, " that it is 5,000 or 6,000 men, prob- 
arrayed along the crest of the hill in front, ably a part of Grouchy's army." The Frencli 
The first line was composed of infantry emperor, thereupon, sent Generals Damont 
flank"d by dense masses of cavalry; the and Lubervie with 3,000 cavalry, with orders 
secoul line also of infantry was likewise to clear the road in case it should be Grouchy, 
flanked by squadrons of horse ; the third line : and if Blucher, to keep him in check ; and an 
was composed of the grenadiers and lancers order was also dispatched to Grouchy, wher- 
of the Guard, and in the rear of all the bat- ever he might be, to hasten to the field of 
talions of the Old Guard occupied each side of action. Ney received orders to direct his 



WATERLOO. 



691 



attack on the fiirmhouse of La Haye Sainte ; 
it was now noon, and Ney, pushing forward 
his batteries on his own side of the valley, 
advanced to the attack in four weighty 
columns. Wellington no sooner perceived 
the formidable attack preparing against his 
left center, than he drew up the noble brigade 
of horse under Sir William Ponsonby, close 
in the rear, of Picton's division, and stationed 
Vandeleur's light brigade of the cavalry on 
the extreme left. 

The French advanced steadily driving be- 
fore them the Belgians, which formed the 
first line of the enemy, and pushing forward 
through a tempest of cannon-balls from the 
British batteries, halted within twenty yards 
of the British hne, and opened a murderous 
fire which told with fearful effect, and the 
British under Kempt began to yield. Picton 
now advanced with his troops and poured in 
a fire so close and well-directed that for an 
instant the French columns wavered; but 
they soon rallied and returned the fire with 
the utmost vigor, and the gallant Picton, as 
he was waving his troops on with his sword, 
fell to the ground pierced through the brain 
with a musket-ball* 

Kempt immediately took the command; 
and the British cavalry, rushed from its 
concealment behind the hedge, and dashing 
through the openings of the infantry, charged 
the French columns so furiously, that they 
faltered ; but Napoleon ordered up Milhaud's 
cuirassiers from the second hne, and the 
French horse, rushing Uke the wind to the 
charge, overthrew the Enghsh horsemen, and 
drove them back in disorder. Ponsonby was 
killed in the hurried retreat ; but in the mo- 
ment of victory the EngUsh troops had seized 
the eighty guns of Ney, or rendered them 
useless for the remainder of the day. Yet 
Ney continued to advance upon La Haye 
Sainte, and the conflict raged around the hill 
with the greatest fury. The battle soon ex- 
tended along the whole British front, and the 
combatants fought with a sternness and obsti- 
nacy unparalleled in modern warfare. The 
air was rent asunder by the terrible and in- 
cessant explosion of the mighty artillery of 
both parties, the sharp rattle of musketry ; 
the heavy tramp of immense masses of horse, 
moving rapidly one against the other ; the 
crash of the opposing bodies ; the shouts, the 
screams, the groans of the dying and the 
curses of the combatants, were all mingled 
in dire confusion, while over the scene of 
carnage hung the black pall of battle, hiding 
the face of the sun from the bloody scene 
beloAv. Never was a battle more furiously 
contested ; never were soldiers animated by 

* Picton had been severely wounded at Qnatre-Bras, 
and had two of liis ribs broken ; but his ardent spirit 
led him to conceal an injury which had already, as was 
afterward discovered, left a mortal wound.— lioMnson. 



such a spirit of deadly animosity, and never 
were performed greater deeds of personal 
valor than during the three mortal hours of this 
terrible strife. The wearisome day of bloody 
conflict was wearing away, and the battle 
was not yet decided. Evening was approach- 
ing, and WeUington, as well as Napoleon, 
looked anxiously for the appearance, the one 
of Blucher, the other of Grouchy. 

The English squares had resisted every at- 
tempt of the French cavalry to penetrate 
their ranks ; in vain did the dragoons charge 
and charge again upon the sohd squares ; the 
writhing fire of the British troops hurled 
them back, with fearful loss; the gallant 
Frenchmen re-forming, hurried again and 
again into the fiery tempest which thinned 
their ranks, and burdened the earth with their 
slain, and after sustaining frightful carnage 
the cuirassiers were compelled to retire. At 
length the French heard a firing on their 
right, and supposing it to come from Grou- 
chy's troops, a cheer arose from their ranks 
which rung over the field of battle ; but, alas ! 
Grouchy had not come. Blucher with his 
army was at hand, and the French emperor 
saw that unless a decisive blow was struck 
immediately the victory was lost. He re- 
solved to make a grand effort with his Young 
and Old Guards, supported by all the remain- 
ing cuirassiers, against the British center, in 
hopes of piercing it through and destroying 
Wellington before the bulk of the Prussian 
forces came up. The Imperial Guard was 
divided into two columns, which advanced 
from different parts of the field, to the de- 
cisive point on the British right center, about 
midway between La Haye Sainte and the 
nearest inclosures of Hougoumont. ReiUe 
commanded the first column, which was sup- 
ported by all the infantry and cavalry wliich 
remained of his corps on either flank, and 
advanced up the hill in an obUque direction 
beside the orchard of Hougoumont. The 
second was led by Ney, in person, and mov- 
ing down the road of Charleroi, to the bot- 
tom of the slope, also in a slanting direction, 
converging toward the same point whither the 
other column was directing its steps. Wel- 
lington, meanwhile, had not been idle. Sir 
Frederic Adams's brigade, and General Ma- 
illaud's brigade of gards, which had been 
drawn from Hougoumont with Chasse's Dutch 
troops, yet fresh, were ordered to bring up 
their right shoulder and wheel inward, with 
their guns in front, toward the edge of the 
ridge, and the whole battalion in that quarter 
incUned to the left, so as to expose the ad- 
vancing columns coming up to a concentric 
j fire on either flank ; the central point where 
the attack seemed hkely to fall, was strength- 
ened by nine heavy guns ; the troops at that 
point were drawn up four deep in tiie form 



692 



WATTIGNIES. 



of an interior angle ; the guards forming 
one side, and the 73d and 30th the other ; 
while the light cavalry of Vivian and Van- 
deleur was brought up behind the hne at the 
back of La Haye Sainte, and stationed close 
in the rear, so as to be ready to make the 
most of any advantage vs^liich might occur. 

It was quarter past seven when the first 
column of the Old Guard under Reille ad- 
vanced to the attack. The British guns 
opened a destructive fire on the flank of the 
advancing column ; but it steadily advanced 
through the storm, melting under it like hoar- 
frost beneath the rising sun. Ney's column 
approached with an intrepid step, and pushed 
forward through the blinding tempest which 
sweeping through its ranks committed fright- 
ful havoc. General Friant was killed by 
Ney's side ; the marshal's horse was shot 
under him ; but the gallant general, on foot, 
with drawn sword led on his troops, who, 
fired by his example, charged furiously upon 
the enemy, forced back the English guns, and 
came within forty paces of the English foot 
guards, and the 73d and 30th regiments who 
were lying four deep in a smaU ditch behind 
the rough road which there goes along the 
summit of the ridge ; but their ranks were 
fearfully thinned by the terrible storm through 
which they had passed while crossing the 
valley and ascending the slope ; a skeleton 
of the noble column only remained, and they 
were unable to resist the powerful charge of 
the British guards and infantry, whom Wel- 
lington now, in a brief and energetic sen- 
tence* ordered to advance. The feeble ranks 
of the French column were overwhelmed be- 
fore the furious charge of the English guards, 
and hurled back in the utmost disorder down 
the slope. Yet they fought with the utmost 
valor, refusing to accept quarter, and, it is 
Said, that not one man of the Old Guard 
escaped aUve. With the defeat of the Oil 
Guard the whole French army was put to 
flight. Blucher, meanwhile, had arrived on 
the field of battle, and driving the few French 
troops from La Haye Sainte, opened up 
a communication with the British left. Wel- 
lin^gton now assumed the offensive at all 
points ; the French army was flying in great 
disorder from the field ; the defeat of the 
Old Guard, heretofore unconquered, had 
spread a panic through their ranks which no 
efforts of Napoleon could remove ; and the 
cavalry and artillery of the Enghsh and 
Prussians spread terror and death on every 
side. The Prussians gave no quarter; but 
pursued the fugitives with relentless cruelty. 
Napoleon, at length, finding every thing lost, 
was moved by the entreaties of his officers 

* This order has always been quoted, " Up, guards, and 
at them !'' The English prints, however, since the death 
of 'Wellington have denied that he used such language. 



and consented to be led from the field. He 
ari'ived at Genappe at about ten o'clock at 
night. The Prussians pursued the French 
during the whole night. Nine times the 
wearied French, ready to drop down with 
fatigue, tried to form bivouacs ; nine times 
they were startled by the dreadful sound of 
the Prussian trumpet, and obUged to continue 
their flight. Napoleon's star had sunk for- 
ever. We will not dwell upon the recital of 
his misfortunes. Shorn of his honors, he was 
soon a captive in the hands of his enemies ; 
a prisoner in the lonely island of St. Helena ; 
and his throne and country were at the 
mercy of his conquerors. 

In this battle the French lost on the field 
and in the flight upward of 30,000 men, in 
killed, wounded, and prisoners. The allies 
lost 17,000 men in killed and wounded. 

WATTIGNIES, a.d. 1793.— The town of 
Wattignies is in France, three miles south- 
west of Lille. The battle of Wattignies was 
fought by the Austrians and the French re- 
pubUcans, on the 15th of October, 1793. The 
Austrians having, on the 29th of September, 
laid siege to the city of Mauberge, and having 
pushed forward their works with a vigor 
■^A'hich promised early success, the French 
army, about 100,000 strong, advanced to 
raise the siege. The Austrians, with their 
allies, upon this, concentrated their entire 
forces between Mauberge and Avenues, and 
awaited the arrival of the army destined to 
raise the siege. They numbered 20,000 men, 
and were possessed of a numerous and effi- 
cient body of cavalry, and in all respects 
were far superior in strength to the army of 
the repubhcans. The Duke of York, also, 
upon hearing of the concentration of the Aus- 
trians, was rapidly approaching with an army 
of 25,000 Enghsh soldiers. The French army 
liad been intrusted to the command of Jour- 
dan, whom the republican Convention or- 
dered to clear the French territory of the 
enemy. Rapidly did the Austrians progress 
with the siege of Mauberge ; their batteries 
erected near the city, spread terror through- 
out all the inhabitants. With the utmost 
speed Jourdan approached the Austrian posi- 
tion, the key of which was the village of 
Wattignies. On the night of the 15th, Jour- 
dan accumulated his forces in order to make 
a decisive movement against the village, 
which, once occupied, would secure the vic- 
tory. Early on the morning of the IGth, the 
French army, in three columns, advanced 
against Wattignies, while from a semicircu- 
lar battery their artillery poured forth de- 
structive volleys upon the defenders of the 
village. With the thrilling music of repub- 
lican airs, which sounded above the roar of 
the cannon and musketry, the French soldiers 
dashed into the village, and drove out the 



WAVRES— WHITE PLAINS. 



693 



Austrians at all quarters. The village won, 
the victory was gained. After sustaining a 
loss of 6,000 men, the Austrian commander 
ordered a general retreat, and the siege of 
Mauberge was abandoned. 

WAVRES, A.D. 1815.— The battle of Wa- 
vres was fought on the same day on which 
the battle of Waterloo took place, between 
the French troops, under Marshal Grouchy, 
and the Prussians under General Tlieilman. 
The Prussians were defeated; but the time 
spent by Grouchy in tliis engagement, pre- 
vented him from taking part in the more im- 
portant battle which was raging at the same 
time ; and to his absence on this occasion 
has been attributed the decisive defeat of the 
Emperor Napoleon at Waterloo. 

WAXHAW, A.D. 1780.— About nine miles 
north of the present Lancaster Court-House, 
and between twenty and twenty-three miles 
above Hanging-Rock, upon the Waxhaw 
creek, in South Carolina, an American regi- 
ment under Colonel Abraham Buford was 
massacred by the British, under Tarleton, on 
the 29th of May, 1780. On the 12th of May 
Sir Henry Clinton took possession of Charles- 
ton, and immediately set about subjugating 
the whole State. For this pupose he sent out 
three strong detachments. Cornwallis, with 
the first, was directed to advance toward the 
frontier of North Carolina ; Colonel Cruger, 
with the second, was ordered to cross the 
Saluda, and march against Ninety-six ; and 
Lieutenant-Colonel Brown, with the third, 
was ordered to advance against Augusta. 
Shoitly after passing the San tee, Cornwallis 
received intelligence that parties of Amer- 
icans, who had entered South Carolina to as- 
sist Lincoln at Charleston, were retreating 
toward the north. Among these were the 
troops of Colonel Buford. This force con- 
sisted of about 400 continental infantry, and 
a small detachment of Colonel William Wash- 
ington's dragoon corps, with two pieces of 
cannon. Buford had recently evacuated 
Camden, and in fancied security was lei- 
surely retreating toward Charlotte, in North 
Carolina. Cornwallis resolved to cut off Bu- 
ford, and accordingly detached Tarelton with 
700 cavalry. Tarleton marched 105 miles in 
54 hours, and overtook the Americans on the 
Waxhaw ; and before Baford was aware of 
his danger, succeeded almost in surrounding 
him. The British officer demanded an im- 
mediate surrender upon humiliating terms. 
Buford refused compliance. While the nego- 
tiations were pending, Tarleton, in defiance 
of military rules, was making preparations for 
an attack, and at the very instant he received 
Buford's reply, his cavalry charged furiously 
upon the Americans. The patriots, taken by 
surprise, were thrown into confusion ; some 
endeavored to defend themselves, others 



threw down their arms and entreated for 
quarter. But the British troops were mer- 
ciless. The unarmed patriots were hewn 
down in scores: 113 were thus slain; 150 
were cruelly maimed, and 53 were made 
prisoners by the brutal murderers. Only 5 
of the British were killed, and 15 wounded. 
Tarleton, with his blood-stained soldiers, all 
of Buford's artillery, ammunition, and bag- 
gage, and liis prisoners, entered Camden in 
triumph. 

The name of Tarleton has become synony- 
mous with that of cruelty, and his memory 
is branded with deserved infamy. With the 
defeat of Buford, the continental army in 
South Carolina was swept away. The in- 
habitants of that region were filled with 
consternation and dismay ; and whole famOies 
abandoned their homes, and fled to more 
distant settlements to seek refuge from the 
cruelties of the British. Among the fugitives 
was the mother of Andrew Jackson, and the 
massacre of Buford's regiment kindled the 
first spark of hatred to tyranny in young Jack- 
son's bosom. That spark was fanned into a 
blaze, which forty years afterward burned as 
vigorously at the battle of New Orleans, as it 
did when the youthful hero saw the murder 
of liis countrymen on the banks of the Wax- 
haw. 

WESTROOSEBEKE, a.d. 1382.— In the 
year 1382, a great battle was fought near 
Westroosebeke, a village of Belgium, between 
the united Flemings and French, under Count 
Louis de Maele, and the revolted men of 
Ghent, under Philip Van Artevelde. The 
fight was maintained for many hours, and 
was one of the most obstinate and bloody 
actions of the age. The men of Ghent were 
finally totally defeated, with great loss. Their 
leader was slain, with over 20,000 men, in the 
fight. 

WHITE PLAINS, a.d. 1776.— This vil- 
lage is situated in White Plains township, 
Westchester county. New York, twenty-six 
miles north-east from the city of New 
York. 

The defeat of the Americans in the battle 
of Brooklyn, cast a cloud over the hopes of 
the patriots; the timid were disheartened, 
and a general spirit of insubordination reigned 
throughout the army. Hundreds deserted 
the cause, and returned to their homes./ The 
British general was preparing to make an 
immediate attack upon New York, wiih 
troops flushed with a recent victory, and 
greatly superior in numbers to those of the 
Americans ; and Washington himself was 
filled with gloomy misgivings. He called a 
council of war, and the evacuation of the city 
was decided upon. The military stores were 
to be removed to Dobbs's Ferry, on the Hud- 
son for security, and the army was to retreat 



694 



WHITE PLAINS. 



to and fortify Harlem heights, near the head 
of Manhattan island. This was speedily 
accomplished; and on the IGth of September, 
Washington estabhshed his head-quarters on 
the heights of Harlem river, about ten miles 
from New York. A rear guard of 4,000 men, 
under Putnam, was left in the city, with orders 
to join the main body if necessary. The Amer- 
icans exerted themselves to their utmost to 
strengthen their postion, and before the British 
took possession of the city, they were strongly 
fortified. Howe now prepared to enter New 
York. Strong detachments of the British 
army were sent in boats from Ilallet's Point, 
Long Island, to take possession of Buchanan's 
and Montressor's (now Ward's and Randall's) 
islands in the East river, at the mouth of the 
Harlem, and on the morning of the 15th of 
September, Sir Henry Clinton with 4,000 
men, crossed the East river, and landed at 
Kip's bay, under the cover of the guns of ten 
ships of war. A division of Hessians were 
also landed at the same place. The Amer- 
ican brigades of Parsons and Fellows, who 
had been left to guard this point, terror- 
stricken by the cannonade, fled in confusion 
on the approach of the vanguard of the 
British, Washington, at Harlem, had heard 
the fire of the guns of the fleet, and leaping 
into his saddle, spurred forward toward Kip's 
bay. He arrived in time to meet the fugitives. 
Tlieir officers were vainly endeavoring to rally 
them. Dashing into their midst, Washington 
entreated them to follow him against the ene- 
my; but they heeded him not; and almost 
frantic with mortification and despair at their 
cowardice, Washington, throwing his hat to 
the ground, turned his horse toward the enemy, 
and with drawn sword, was about to charge 
singly upon the enemy ; but his bridle-rein was 
seized by an officer, and he suffered himself 
to be conducted from the scene of danger. 
The British finally effected a landing, and 
encamped upon an eminence nearly in the 
center of the island. The Americans retreat- 
ed to Bloomingdale, and Washington sent a 
messenger to Putnam, with orders to evacu- 
ate the city immediately. Putnam succeeded 
in gaining the heights of Harlem, with the 
loss of a few men only. At sunset the British 
troops were encamped in a hue extending 
from Hook's Point across the island to 
Bloomingdale. The hostile armies were 
divided by Harlem plains. Early on the 
morning of the 16th of September, a British 
force under Brigadier Leslie, advanced toward 
the American position on Harlem heights, 
by M'Gowan's pass. The Americans at 
Mount Morris and Harlem Cove, met LesUe 
at the mouth of a very deep rocky ravine, 
and kept them in check. Washington at his 
quarters heard the firing, and hastened to 
his outpost, where he was met by Colonel 



Knowlton, who had been engaged with the 
atlvancing enemy ; and had now come for 
orders. The British force in Harlem plains 
consisted of about 300 men ; and they had a 
strong reserve corps posted in the woods. 
Washington ordered Knowlton with his 
rangers, and Major Leitch with three com- 
panies of a Virginian regiment, to gain the 
rear of the advance of the enemy, while a 
fe-igned attack should be made in front. 
Knowlton moved forward to carry the plan 
iuto execution; but Leshe, anticipating the 
intention of the enemy, ordered his troops to 
arlvance rapidly to gain an advantageous posi- 
tion on the plains. Knowlton and Leitch 
upon this, attacked the British immediately 
on the flank. The Americans were rein- 
forced from the heights, and the British 
changed their front, and charged the enemy 
briskly. A severe skirmish ensued. Leitch 
fell, pierced with three bullets ; and a few 
moments afterward Knowlton was struck in 
the head by a bullet, and was moved, 
mortally wounded, from the plains. The 
Americans maintained their ground, fighting 
fiercely with their obstinate foes ; the British 
puslied forward gallantly, and for a season, 
victory seemed hung in a balance. At length, 
Washington sent a part of a Maryland regi- 
ment to reinforce the Americans, and the 
British were driven back across the plain. 

Washington fearing an ambush, now or- 
dered a retreat. In tliis afliiir the British 
lost eighteen killed and about ninety wound- 
ed. The American loss was trifling in num- 
bers ; but they deeply regretted the death of 
their gallant commanders, Knowlton and 
Leitch. Knowlton died on the evening of 
the day of battle ; Leitch lingered until the 
1st of October, when he expired. On the 
20th of September a conflagration broke out 
in the city of New York, and in spite of the 
effiarts of the British, it was not extinguished 
until nearly 500 houses were consumed. 
Lord Howe saw that the Americans were 
too strongly intrenched upon Harlem heights, 
to warrant the hope of a successful attack ; 
and therefore resolved to get in their rear 
and cut off their communication with the 
east and north, and hem them in on the nar- 
row head of the island. Having left a force 
of British and Hessians sufficient to guard 
the city, under Lord Percy, and other troops 
to maintain his lines toward Harlem, he em- 
barked the balance of his army in ninety flat 
boats, and proceeding up the East river, 
landed on the 12th of October upon Throck's 
Neck. When Washington observed this 
movement on the part of the enemy, he sent 
strong detachments under General Heath to 
oppose their landing, and occupy Westchester. 
The Americans had constructed a redoubt on 
the hills near Williams's Bridge ; a detach- 



WHITE PLAINS. 



695. 



ment was at White Plains, busily engaged in 
throwing up intrenchments ; and all the pass- 
es to King's Bridge were strongly guarded. 
The causeway to Throck's Point, was also 
well defended, and Colonel Hand with his 
riflemen was stationed on the causeway to 
Pell's Neck. On the night of Howe's land- 
ing on Throck's Point, the bridge was re- 
moved, and the British formed themselves on 
an island. Howe advanced along the cause- 
way, when he was met by Hand's riflemen, 
and after a brief struggle was driven back. 
The next day he crossed in boats from 
Throck's to Pell's Point a httle above. Hav- 
ing landed he marched over Pelham Manor, 
toward New Rochelle. On his march he en- 
countered Glover's brigade of Sullivan's regi- 
ment, and after a hot skirmish in which the 
Americans were repulsed, the British en- 
camped upon some high grounds between 
Hutchinson's river and New Rochelle vil- 
lage. On the 21st of October he removed 
his encampment to the heights of New Ro- 
chelle, on the road to White Plains. 

On the 17th of October, troops from Mon- 
tressor's island* and Flushing, landed on 
Throck's Point. Knyphausen with the second 
division of German mercenaries, arrived at 
New York on the 18th of October, and on 
the 22d landed upon Myer's Point, near New 
Rochelle; and immediately joined the main 
body of the British army under Howe. The 
position of the Americans on Harlem heights 
was highly critical. Washington saw the 
danger of his army, and on the 16th of Oc- 
tober called a council of war ; and it was de- 
cided that Manhattan island should be 
speedily evacuated. The entire American 
army numbered nominally about 19,000 
men; but the troops were in a wretched 
condition, half clothed and poorly armed. 
The army in four divisions, under Generals 
Lee, Heath, Sullivan, and Lincoln, slowly 
moved up the western side of the river 
Bronx, and formed a scries of intrenched 
camps from the heights of Fordham to White 
Plains. The American lines therefore ex- 
tended a distance of about thirteen miles. 
The Bronx separated the hostile armies. 
Frequent skirmishes occurred between the 
two parties, resulting generally in favor of 
the Americans. These events caused Howe 
to be slow and cautious in his movements. 
Fort Lee, situated on the Pallisades on the 
right bank of the Hudson, nearly opposite 
Fort Washington, was garrisoned by Gene- 
ral Greene with a small force ; and Fort 
Washington was also occupied by an ade- 
quate garrison. On the 21st of October, 

* On the 24th of September, 240 Americans, under 
Colonel Jackson and Major Henley, made a descent on 
the British at Montressor's island, in flat boats. The 
British repulsed them with a loss of twenty-two men. 
Major Henley was among the slain. 



Washington established his head-quarters at 
White Plains, where the Americans plied 
spade and pick with the utmost energy, in 
casting up breast-works. These works were 
intended as a defense for an intrenched 
camp, wliich the Americans were preparing 
upon the heights of Newcastle, two miles 
north of White Plains. Upon the approach 
of the EngUsh to White Plains, Washington 
called in all his detachments, and abandoning 
the positions he had occupied along the Bronx, 
assembled his troops in the vicinity of White 
Plains. On the morning of the 28th of Oc- 
tober, both armies were within sight of each 
other. The Americans were posted behind 
their breast- works near White Plains ; and 
the British occupied the hiUs to the south, on 
the east bank of the Bronx. On the even- 
ing of the 27th, Colonel Haslett, with about 
1,600 American troops, bad taken possession 
of Chatterton's Hill, a commanding eminence 
on the west bank of the stream ; and on the 
next morning, McDoi^gall was ordered to re- 
inforce Haslett, with a small body of men, 
and two pieces of cannon under Captain 
Alexander Hamilton. McDougall accordingly 
proceeded thither and assuming general com- 
mand, fortified his position as well as time 
would allow. At ten o'clock in the morning 
of the 28th, the British advanced in two 
columns, the right commanded by General 
Clinton, the left by De Heister, and Sir Wil- 
liam Erskine. Both columns numbered 
13,000 men. Howe was with the second di- 
vision. When the British army had arrived 
within a short distance of the village, Howe, 
having observed the importance of the posi- 
tion taken by General McDougall, and feeling 
assured that the right of the enemy, which 
was the only assailable point of the Amer- 
ican army, could not be forced so long as it 
should be protected by a post of such strength, 
held a council of war with his officers on 
horseback, in which it was decided to wrest 
Chatterton Hill from the Americans. A bat- 
tery of twenty pieces of cannon was erected 
upon the slope of a liill to the left of the 
British army, and under cover of its fire, a 
strong detaclmient under General Leslie con- 
structed a rude bridge over the Bronx, and 
then attempted to pass over the stream and 
ascend the hill occupied by McDougall, to 
attack him in front. A Hessian regiment, 
under Colonel Rail, was ordered, meanwhile, 
to cross the Bronx, a quarter of a mile be- 
low, and taking a circuitous route, to fall 
upon the flank of the enemy. The Amer- 
icans had planted their artillery on a rocky 
ledge ; and as the British attempted to 
ascend the hill, whole platoons were swept 
down before the murderous fire of the ene- 
my. The British recoiled. Colonel Rail, 
having joined the force of General LesHe, the 



696 



WILNA— WINNEFELD. 



whole body advanced against the Americans. 
The patriots made a gallant resistance. Twice 
were Leslie's troops repulsed and hurled back 
down the accUvity in confusion ; they rallied 
and pushed forward, and aided by the troops 
of Kail, who fiercely attacked the Americans 
in flank, succeeded in forcing the enemy from 
, their position. McDougall retreated in good 
order to the American intrenchments at 
White Plains, carrying off his wounded and 
artillery, and leaving the British in the pos- 
session of the hill. The British troops rested 
on their arms the night after the battle. 

The next day a skirmish took place be- 
tweet Glover's brigade and a British detach- 
ment. The Americans were driven in, and 
the British encamped within cannon-shot of 
the front of the American hnes. Howe, hav- 
ing reconnoitered the American intrench- 
ments, found them apparently too strong to 
attack them, and resolved to await the arriv- 
al of Lord Percy, with four battaUons from 
New York, and some troops from Mamaro- 
neck. The loss of the Americans from the 
26th to the 28th, was about 300 men in 
killed, wounded, and prisoners. The British 
loss was about the same. Lord Percy joined 
Howe on the evening of the 30th, and prep- 
arations were made to attack the American 
lines the following morning, A violent storm 
of wind and rain arose during the night, and 
continued for twenty hours. All operations 
were delayed, and the Americans taking ad- 
vantage of this circumstance, withdrew on 
the night of the 31st, and encamped on the 
heights of Newcastle, where they had con- 
structed strong breast-works. The British 
were afraid to attack the Americans at this 
place ; and on the 4th of November Howe 
withdrew his army to the juncture of the 
Hudson and Harlem rivers, and encamped 
upon Fordham heights, with his left wing 
extending nearly to King's Bridge. Wash- 
ington called a council of war, and it was 
unanimously decided to retreat into New 
Jersey with the greater part of the army. 
By the 12th of November the main body of 
the American army was in New Jersey, and 
Washington established his head-quarters at 
Hackensack, in the rear of Fort Lee. All 
the New England troops under General 
Heath were left on the east side of the Hud- 
son to defend the Highlands. General Lee, 
with a rapidly-dwindling force of about 8,000 
men,* remained at North Castle, with orders 
to join Washington if the British should man- 
ifest, an intention of assailing that quarter. 
Meanwhile Howe was making preparations 
to attack Fort Washington. See Fort Wash- 
ington. 

WILNA. — Wilna, or Vilna, is a city of 

* The time of the greater portion of these men wa-s to 
expire during the latter part of ii-ovember. | 



Poland, situated at the confluence of the 
Vilieka and Vilia, ninety nailes north-east of 
Grodno. A battle occurred at tliis place, on 
the 18th of June, 1831, between the Poles, 
14,000 strong, and a Russian army of 21,000 
men. The Poles were defeated after an ob- 
stinate conflict, with a loss of 1,000 men 
killed and wounded. See Warsaw. 

WINDMILL POINT, a.d. 1837.— A bat- 
tle occurred at this point during the late 
Canadian rebelhon. Windmill Point is on 
the Canada side of the river St. Lawrence, 
nearly opposite Ogdensburg. The patriots 
were about 200 strong, while the British 
force consisted of nearly six hundred regular 
troops. The insurgents were defeated with 
a loss of thirty-six killed and ninety made 
prisoners. The British lost a hundred and 
fifty men and twenty officers killed. Among 
the slain .was Captain Drummond. Eleven 
of the prisoners were hung and the remain- 
der banished to Van Diemen's Land. 

WINNEFELD, a.d. 9.— The precise lo- 
cality of the great battle between the Roman 
legions under Varus, and the Germans under 
Arminius, is unknown; but it is supposed 
that it took place in the eastern part of the 
woody and hilly region wliich intervenes be- 
tween the Lippe and the Ems, round Det- 
mold, the modern capital of the principaUty 
of Lippe. This locality is described by Dr. 
Plate, a modern German scholar, as being 
" a table-land intersected by numerous deep 
and narrow valleys, which, in some places, 
form small plains, surrounded by steep mount- 
ains and rocks, and accessible only by narrow 
defiles. All the valleys are traversed by 
rapid streams, shallow in the dry season ; but 
subject to sudden swellings in autumn and 
winter. The vast forests which cover the 
summits and slopes of the hills consist chiefly 
of oak ; there is little underwood, and both 
men and horse would move with ease in the 
forests if the ground were not broken by gul- 
leys, or rendered impracticable by fallen 
trees." This is the district to which Varus 
is supposed to have marched, and Dr. Plate 
adds, that the names of several localities on 
and near the spot seem to indicate that a 
great battle has once been fought there. We 
find the names, " das Winnefeld"* (the field 
of Victory), " die Knochenbahn" (the bone 
lane), " die Knochenbach" (the bone-brook), 
" der Mordkessel" (the kettle of slaughter), 
and others. 

Dark and disheartening even to heroic 
spirits must have seemed the prospects of 
Germany when Arminius planned the general 
rising of his countrymen against Rome. Half 
the land was occupied by Roman garrisons ; 
and, what was worse, many of the Germans 

* "We have selected this name, it will be observed, for 
tho heading of the present article. 



WINNEFELD. 



697 



seemed patiently acquiescent in the state of 
bondage. Tiie resources of Rome seemed 
boundless ; her tenacity of purpose was be- 
Ueved to be invincible. Vast, however, and 
admirably organized as the fabric of Roman 
power appeared outwardly, yet there was rot- 
tenness in the core. The foulest profligacy was 
general in all ranks. In universal weariness of 
revolution and civil war, and in consciousness 
of being too debased for self government the 
nation had submitted itself to the absolute 
authority of Augustus. Adulation was now 
the chief function of the senate, and the gifts 
of genius and accomplishment of arts were 
devoted to the elaboration of eloquently false 
panegyrics upon the prince and his favorite 
courtiers. With bitter indignation must Ar- 
minius have beheld all this, and contrasted it 
with the rough worth of his own country- 
men, their bravery, their fidelity to their 
word, and their manly independence of spirit. 
His soul must have burned within him at the 
contemplation of such a race yielding to these 
debased Italians. 

Still, to persuade the Germans to combine, 
in spite of their frequent feuds among them- 
selves, in one sudden outbreak against Rome ; 
to keep the scheme concealed I'rom the Rom- 
ans until the hour for action arrived; and 
then, without possessing a single walled 
town, without military stores, without train- 
ing, to teach his insurgent countrymen to de- 
feat veteran armies and storm fortifications, 
seemed so perilous an enterprise, that proba- 
bly Arminius would have receded from it had 
not a stronger feeling even than patriotism 
urged him on. Among the Germans of high 
rank who had most readily submitted to the 
invaders, and become zealous partisans of 
Roman authority, was a chieftain named Se- 
gestes. His daughter, Thusnelda, was pre- 
eminent among the noble maidens of Ger- 
many. Arminius had sought her hand in 
marriage ; but Segestes, who probably dis- 
cerned the young cliief s disaffection to Rome, 
forbade his suit, and strove to preclude all 
communication between him and his daugh- 
ter. Thusnelda, however, sympathized far 
more with the heroic spirit of her lover, than 
with the time-serving policy of her father. 
An elopement baffled the precautions of Se- 
gestes, who, disappointed in his hope of pre- 
venting the marriage, accused Arminius before 
the Roman governor of having carried off his 
daughter, and of planning treason against 
Rome. Thus assailed, and dreading to see his 
bride torn from him by the officials of the for- 
eign oppressor, Arminius delayed no longer, 
but bent all his energies to organize and execute 
a general insurrection of the great mass of his 
countrymen, who hitherto had submitted in 
sullen hatred to the Roman dominion. 

A change of governors had recently taken 



place, which, while it materially favored the 
ultimate success of the insurgents, served by 
the immediate aggravation of the Roman op- 
pressions which it produced, to make the na- 
tive population more universally eager to 
take arms. Tiberius, who was afterward em- 
peror, had recently been recalled from the 
command in Germany, and sent into Panno- 
nia to put down a dangerous revolt which had 
broken out against the Romans in that prov- 
ince. In the room of Tiberius, Augustus 
sent into Germany Quintilius Varus, who had 
lately returned from the proconsulate of 
Syria. 

Varus was a true representative of 
the higher classes of the Romans. Accus- 
tomed to govern the depraved and debased 
natives of Syria, a country where courage in 
man and virtue in woman had for centuries 
been unknown, Varus thought that he might 
gratify his licentious and rapacious passions 
with equal impunity among the high-minded 
sons and pure-spirited daughters of Germany. 
When the general of an army sets the exam- 
ple of outrages of this description, he is soon 
faithfully imitated by his officers, and sur- 
passed by his still more brutal soldiery. The 
Romans now habitually indulged in those vi- 
olations of the sanctity of the domestic shrine, 
and those insults upon honor and modesty, 
by which far less gallant spirits than those of 
our Teutonic ancestors have often been mad- 
dened into insurrection. 

Arminius found among the other German 
chiefs many who sympathized with him in 
his indignation at his country's abasement, 
and many whom private wrongs had stung 
yet more deeply. There was httle difficulty 
in collecting bold leaders for an attack on the 
oppressors, and little fear of the population 
not rising readily at those leaders' call. But 
to declare open war against Rome, and to en- 
counter Varus's army in a pitched battle, 
would have been merely rushing upon certain 
destruction. Varus had three legions under 
him, a force which, after allowing for detach- 
ments, can not be estimated at less than 
14,000 Roman infantry. He had also 800 or 
900 Roman cavalry, and at least an equal 
number of horse and foot sent from the allied 
states, or raised among those provincials who 
had not received the Roman franchise. 

It was not merely the number, but the 
quality of this force that made them formida- 
ble ; and, however contemptible Varus might 
be as a general, Arminius well knew how ad- 
mirably the Roman armies were organized 
and officered, and how perfectly the legionaries 
understood every maneuver and every duty 
which the varying emergences of a stricken 
field might require. Stratagem was, there- 
fore, indispensable ; and it was necessary to 
blind Varus to tlieir schemes until a favorable 



698 



WmNEPELD. 



opportunity should arrive for striking a de- 
cisive blow. 

For this purpose, the German confederates 
frequented the head-quarters of Varus, which 
seem to have been near the center of the 
modern country of Westphaha, where the 
Roman general conducted liimself with aU the 
arrogant security of the governor of a per- 
fectly submissive province. There Varus 
gratified at once his vanity, his rhetorical 
tastes, and his avarice, by holding courts, to 
which he summoned the Germans for the set- 
tlement of all their disputes, while a bar of 
Roman advocates attended to argue the cases 
before the tribunal of Varus, who did not 
emit the opportunity of exacting court-fees 
and accepting bribes. Varus trusted implic- 
itly to the respect which the Germans pre- 
tended to pay to his abilities as a judge, and 
to the interest which they affected to take in 
the forensic eloquence of their conquerors. 
Meanwhile, a succession of heavy rains ren- 
dered the country more difficult for the opera- 
tions of regular troops ; and Arminius, seeing 
that the infatuation of Varus was complete, 
secretly directed the tribes near the Weser 
and the Ems to take up arms in open revolt 
against the Romans. Tliis was represented 
to Varus as an occasion which required liis 
prompt attendance at the spot ; but he was 
kept in studied ignoranae of its being part of 
a concerted national rising ; and he still 
looked on Arminius as his submissive vassal, 
whose aid he might rely on in facilitating the 
march of his troops against the rebels, and 
in extinguishing the local disturbance. He 
therefore set his army in motion, and marched 
eastward in a line parallel to the course of the 
Lippe. For some distance his route lay along 
a level plain ; but on arriving at the tract be- 
tween the curve of the upper part of that 
stream and the sources of the Ems, the coun- 
try assumes a very different character ; and 
here, in the territory of the modern little 
principality of Lippe, it was that Arminius 
had fixed the scene of his enterprise. 

Contrary to the usual strict principles of 
Roman discipline. Varus had suffered his army 
to be accompanied and impeded by an im- 
mense train of baggage-wagons and by a 
rabble of camp-followers, as if his troops had 
been merely changing their quarters in a 
friendly country. ^V'hen the long array 
quitted the firm level ground, and began to 
wind its way among the woods, the marshes, 
and the ravines, the difficulties of the march, 
even without the intervention of an armed 
foe, became fearfully apparent. In many 
places, the soil, sodden with rain, was im- 
practicable for cavalry, and even for infantry, 
until trees had been felled, and a rude cause- 
way formed through the morass. 

The duties of the engineer were familiar to 



all who served in the Roman armies. But 
the crowd and confusion of the columns em- 
barrassed the working parties of the soldiery, 
and in the midst of their toil and disorder the 
word was suddenly passed through their 
ranks that the rear guard was attacked by 
the barbarians. Varus resolved on pressing 
forward; but a heavy discharge of missiles 
from the woods on either flank taught him 
how serious was the peril, and he saw his 
best men falling round him without the op- 
portunity of retaUation ; for his light-armed 
auxiliaries, who were principally of Germanic 
race, now rapidly deserted, and it was impos- 
sible to deploy the legionaries on such broken 
ground, for a charge against the enemy. 
Choosing one of the most open and firm 
spots which they could force their way to, 
the Romans halted for the night ; and faith- 
ful to their national discipline and tactics, 
formed their camp amid the harassing at- 
tacks of the rapidly thronging foes, with that 
elaborate toil and systematic skill, the traces 
of which are impressed permanently on the 
soil of so many European countries, attesting 
the presence in the olden time of the imperial 
eagles. 

On the morrow the Romans renewed their 
march, the veteran officers who served under 
Varus now probably directing the operations, 
and hoping to find the Germans drawn up to 
meet them, in which case they reUed on then- 
own superior discipline and tactics for such a 
victory as should reassure the supremacy of 
Rome. But Arminius was far too sage a 
commander to lead on his followers with 
their unwieldy broadswords and inefficient 
defensive armor, against the Roman legiona- 
ries, fully armed with helmet, cuirass, grieves, 
and shield, who were sldlled to commence 
the conflict with a murderous volley of heavy' 
javelins, hurled upon the foe when a few 
yards distant, and then, with their short cut- 
and-thrust swords, to hew their way through 
all opposition, preserving the utmost steadi- 
ness and coolness, and obeying each word of 
command in the midst of strife and slaughter 
with the same precision and alertness as if 
upon parade. Arminius suffered the Romans 
to march out from their camp, to form first 
in line for action, and then in column for 
marching, without the show of opi>osition. 
For some distance Varus was allowed to 
move on, only harassed by slight skirmishes, 
but struggling with /difficulty through the 
broken ground, the toil and distress of his 
men being aggravated by heavy torrents of 
rain, which burst upon the devoted legions, 
as if the angry gods of Germany were pour- 
ing out the vials of their wrath upon the in- 
vaders. After some little time their van 
approached a ridge of high woody ground, 
which is one of the offshoots of the great 



WORCESTER. 



699 



Hercynian forest, and is situate between the 
modern villages of Driburg and Bielefeld. 
Arminius had caused barricades of hewn 
trees to be formed here, so as to add to the 
natural difficulties of the passage. Fatigue 
and discouragement now began to betray 
themselves in the Roman ranks. Theii* Une 
became less steady ; baggage-wagons were 
abandoned from the impossibility of forcing 
them along; and, as this happened, many 
soldiers left their ranks and crowded round 
the wagons to secure the most valuable por- 
tions of their property ; each was busy about 
liis own affairs, and purposely slow in hear- 
ing the word of command from his officers. 
Arminius now gave the signal for a general 
attack. 

The fierce shouts of the Germans pealed 
through the gloom of the forests, and in 
thronging multitudes they assailed the flanks 
of the invaders, pouring in clouds of darts on 
the encumbered legionaries, as they struggled 
up the glens, or floundered in the morasses, 
and watching every opportunity of charging 
through the intervals of the disjointed column, 
and so cutting off the communication be- 
tween its several brigades. Arminius, with 
a chosen band of personal retainers round 
him, cheered on his countrymen by voice and 
example. He and his men aimed their 
weapons particularly at the horses of the 
Roman cavalry. The wounded animals, slip- 
ping about in the mire, and their own blood, 
threw their riders, and plunged among the 
ranks of the legions, disordering all round 
them. Varus now ordered the troops to be 
countermarched, in the hope of reaching the 
nearest Roman garrison on the Lippe. But 
retreat now was as impracticable as advance ; 
and the falling back of the Romans only 
augmented the courage of their assailants, 
and caused fiercer and more frequent charges 
on the flanks of the disheartened army. The 
Roman officer who commanded the cavalry, 
Numonius Vala, rode ofi" with his squadrons, 
in the vain hope of escaping by thus aban- 
doning his comrades. Unable to keep together, 
or force their way across the woods and 
swamps, the horsemen were overpowered in 
detail, and slaughtered to the last man. The 
Roman infantry still held together and resist- 
ed, but more through the instinct of discipline 
and bravery than from any hope of success or 
escape. Varus, after being severely wounded 
in a charge of the Germans against his part 
of the column, committed suicide to avoid 
falling into the hands of those whom he had 
exasperated by his oppressions. One of the 
lieutenant-generals of the army fell fighting ; 
the other surrendered to the enemy. But 
mercy to a fallen foe had never been a Roman 
virtue, and those among her legions who now 
laid down their arms in hope of quarter, 



drank deep of the cup of suffering, which 
Rome had held to the lips of many a brave, 
but unfortunate enemy. The infuriated 
Germans slaughtered their oppressors with 
dehberate ferocity, and those prisoners who 
were not hewn to pieces on the spot, were 
only preserved to perish by a more cruel 
death in cold blood. 

The bulk of the Roman army fought 
steadily and stubbornly, frequently repeUing 
the masses of assailants, but gradually losing 
the compactness of their array, and becoming 
weaker and weaker beneath the incessant 
shower of darts, and the reiterated assaults 
of the vigorous and unincumbered Germans. 
At last, in a series of desperate attacks, the 
column was pierced through and through, 
two of the eagles captured, and the Roman 
host, which on the yester morning had 
marched forth in such pride and might, now 
broken up into confused fragments, either fell 
fighting beneath the overpowering numbers 
of the enemy, or perished in the swamps and 
woods in unavailing efforts at flight. Few, 
very few, ever saw again the left bank of the 
Rhine. One body of brave veterans, array- 
ing themselves in a ring on a little mound, 
beat off every charge of the Germans, and 
prolonged their honorable resistance to the 
close of that dreadful day. The traces of a 
feeble attempt at forming a ditch and mound 
attested in after years the spot where the last 
of the Romans passed their night of suffering 
and despair. But on the morrow, this rem- 
nant also, worn out with hunger, wounds, 
and toil, was charged by the victorious Ger- 
mans, and either massacred on the spot, or 
offered up in fearful rites at the altars of the 
deities of the old mythology of the North. 

A goj-ge in the mountain ridge, through 
which runs the modern road between Pader- 
born and Pyrmont, leads from the spot where 
the heat of the battle raged to the Extersteine, 
a cluster of bold and grotesque rocks of sand- 
stone, near which is a small sheet of water, 
overshadowed by a grove of aged trees. 
According to local tradition, this was one of 
the sacred groves of the ancient Germans, 
and it was here that the Roman captives were 
slain in sacrifice by the victorious warriors of 
Arminius. 

Never was victory more decisive, never 
was the liberation of an oppressed people 
more instantaneous and complete. Through- 
out Germany the Roman garrisons were as- 
sailed and cut off; and, within a few weeks 
after Varus had fallen, the German soil 
was freed from the foot of an invader. — 
Creasy. 

WORCESTER, a.d. 1651.— This city is 
situated on the east bank of the river Severn, 
in Worcester county, England, twenty-five 
miles south-west of Birmingham. There, on 



voo 



WORCESTER. 



the 3d of September, 1641, was fought a bat- 
tle between the army of Charles II., and the 
forces of Parliament under Oliver Cromwell. 
A large body of Scots had marched into 
England, with a view to reinstate Charles II. ; 
and that monarch expected that all his friends, 
and all those who were discontented with 
the existing government, would flock to his 
standard. He summoned, by proclamation, 
all his male subjects between the age of six- 
teen and sixty to join his standard at the 
general muster of his forces, on the 26th of 
August, in the Pitchcroft, the meadows be- 
tween the city of Worcester and the river. 
A few of the neighboring gentlemen, with 
their tenants, not 200 in number, obeyed the 
call, and it was found that the whole amount 
of his force did not exceed 12,000 men, of 
whom 2,000 only were Englishmen. Crom- 
well, meanwhile, made preparations to attack 
the royal army. With an army of about 
30,000 men, Cromwell advanced against 
Worcester. The royalists had broken down 
an arch of the bridge over the Severn at 
Upton ; but a few soldiers passed on a beam 
in the night, the breach was repaired, and 
Lambert with 10,000 men crossed to the 
right bank. A succession of partial but ob- 
stinate actions alternately raised and depress- 
ed the hopes of the two parties ; but Crom- 
well reserved the grand attempt for his 
auspicious day, the 3d . of September, on 
which, twelve months before, he had defeated 
the Scots at Dunbar. On the morning of 
that day, Fleetwood, who had advanced from 
Upton to Powich, was ordered to force the 
passage of the Zeam, while Cromwell, to 
preserve the communication, threw a bridge 
of boats across the Severn, at Bunshill, near 
the confluence of the two rivers. About one 
in the afternoon, while Charles with his staff 
observed from the tower of the cathedral of 
the city, the positions of the enemy, his at- 
tention was drawn by a discharge of mus- 
ketry near Powich. He descended instantly, 
rode to the scene of action, and ordered 
Montgomery with a brigade of horse and foot 
to defend the hne of the Zeam, and oppose 
the formation of the bridge. After a long 
and desperate struggle, Fleetwood effected a 
passage just at the moment when Crom- 
well, having completed the work, moved four 
regiments to his assistance. 

The Scots, though assailed by superior 
numbers, maintained the most obstinate re- 
sistance ; they disputed every field and hedge, 
repeatedly charged with the pike to check 
the advance of the enemy, and animated by 
the shouts of the combatants on the opposite 
bank, sought to protract the contest with the 
vain hope that, by occupying the forces of 
Fleetwood, they might insure the victory to 
their friends, who were engaged with Crom- 



well. That general, as soon as he had se- 
cured the communication across the river, 
ordered a battery of heavy guns to play upon 
Fort Royal, a work lately raised to cover 
the Sidbury gate of the city, and letl liis 
troops in two divisions to Perrywood and 
Red-Hill. To Charles this seemed a favorable 
opportunity of defeating one half of the hos- 
tile force, while the other half was separated 
from it by the Severn. Leading out the 
whole of his disposable infantry, with the 
Duke of Hamilton's troop of horse, and the 
English volunteers, he marched to attack the 
enemy in their position. The fight which 
ensued was terrible. With all the animosity 
which private feuds and partizan hatred could 
arouse, the combatants grappled fiercely with 
each other. Fortune favored the first efforts 
of the king. The militia regiments shrunk 
from the shock, and the guns of the enemy 
became the prize of the royalists. But Crom- 
weU had some veteran battahons in reserve. 
He called them into action, and the line of 
battle wavered; the Scots, borne back by 
superior numbers, slowly retreated contesting 
every inch of soil with stubborn valor. They 
still remained unbroken, availing themselves 
of every advantage of ground to check the 
enemy, and anxiously expecting the aid of 
their cavalry under Leslie, which had re- 
mained in the city. From what cause it 
happened, is unknown ; but that oflicer did 
not appear on the field, till the battle was 
lost, and the infantry, unable to resist the su- 
perior pressure of the enemy, was flying in 
confusion to the gate under the shelter of 
the fort. The fugitives rallied in the city in 
Fi'iar-street, and Charles riding among them, 
endeavored jby his words and gestures to re- 
animate theii- courage ; but instead of reply- 
ing, they hung down their heads and threw 
away their arms. " Then shoot me dead," 
exclaimed the unhappy prince, " rather than 
let me live to see the sad results of this fatal 
day." But his despair was as unavailing as 
had been his entreaties ; and his friends ad- 
monished him to provide for his safety, for 
the enemy had already penetrated within 
the walls. Meanwhile Fleetwood, on the 
right bank of the Severn, was slowly pushing 
the Scots before him. At length they aban- 
doned the hope of resistance ; their flight 
opened to him the way to St. John's, and its 
timid commander yielded at the first sum- 
mons. On the other hand Cromwell stormed 
the fort, put its defenders, 1,500 men to the 
sword, and turned the guns on the city. 
Within the walls dire confusion reigned, and 
the troops of Cormwell began to pour into 
the city, by the quay, tJie castle hill, and 
Sidbury gate. Charles had not a moment to 
spare. Placing liimself in the midst of the 
Scottish cavalry he took the northern road by 



WURTZBURG— WYOMING. 



^01 



the gate of St. Martin's, while a few devoted 
spirits, with such troopers as dared to follow 
them, charged down Sidbury-street in a con- 
trary direction. They accomplished their 
purpose. The royal party cleared the walls, 
while they arrested the advance, and dis- 
tracted the attention of the enemy. It was 
past the hour of sunset ; and before dark all 
resistance ceased. Colonel Drummond sur- 
rendered Castle hill on conditions ; the infant- 
ry in the street were killed or led prisoners 
to the cathedral, and the city was abandoned 
during the obscurity of the night to the li- 
centious passions of the victors. In this dis- 
astrous battle, the army of the king was 
nearly annihilated. Three thousand men 
were slain, and eight thousand made prison- 
ers. Charles, after undergoing many dis- 
tresses, and passing through adventures the 
narrative of which aifords striking instan- 
ces of hair-breadth escapes on the part 
of the king, and of unshaken fidelity on the 
part of his adherents, finally arrived in safety, 
on the 7th of October, forty-four days after 
the battle, at Fecamp, on the coast of Nor- 
mandy. 

WURTZBURG, a.d. 1796.— An engage- 
ment took place at Wurtzbiu-g, in Bavaria, 
on the 3d of September, between the im- 
perial troops of Austria and the republicans. 
Wurtzburg was occupied by the Austrians 
under the command of Hotze, while the 
archduke had also a large force on the right 
bank of the river. The French army com- 
manded by Jourdan was drawn up on the 
Maine, from Wurtzburg to Schweinfurt, partly 
on a series of heights which formed the north- 
ern barrier of the valley, and partly on the 
plain which reached to the river. Jourdan 
was not aware that the archduke had re- 
turned to the head of his troops, but sup- 
posing he had only a part of the Austrian 
forces to contend with, was overwhelmed 
with surprise to find the numbers so greatly 
superior. A thick fog which concealed the 
armies from each other, greatly favored the 
operations of the imperiaUsts, and when at 
eleven o'clock the sun shone through the 
clouds, it glittered on the large forces of the 
Austrians, drawn up in double lines, in the 
meadow adjoining the river. They com- 
menced the battle by an attack on the left 
flank of the French, while Lichtenstein oc- 
cupied the plain, and Wartensleben. at the 
head of the troop of horse, tlirew himself 
into the river and followed close after the in- 
fantry, who had defiled along the bridge. 
Grenier, the French general, being stationed 
at the point of attack, made a vigorous re- 
sistance with the repubUcan light infantry 
and cavalry; but the Austrians having 
brought up the cuirassiers they had in re- 
serve, Jourdan was compelled to come to 



their support with his troop of horse ; a des- 
perate attack now took place, the Austrians 
were at first repulsed, but the cuirassiers, 
taking advantage of the disorder of the French 
cavalry, at this moment, broke through their 
lines, and drove them back in great confusion. 
At the same time the French center had been 
entirely routed, and Kray had driven the di- 
visions under Grenier off the field into the 
woods. The Austrians were victorious at 
every point, although Jourdan was fortunate 
enough to reach the forests, without being 
broken by the imperial squadron. 

The battle of Wurtsburg, delivered Ger- 
many and determined the fate of the cam- 
paign. The trophies of the victorious party 
were not large, consisting of only seven 
pieces of cannon and a few prisoners. But 
the effect produced upon the spirit of the two 
armies was important. The Austrians were 
elevated by the victory, as it gave them the 
possession of the direct line of communica- 
tion from the Maine to the Rhine. The re- 
publicans were very much depressed by their 
defeat, notwitlistanding the battle was highly 
honorable to them, for they had to contend 
with 31,000 infantry, and 13,000 cavalry, 
while their whole number amounted to only 
30,000. 

WYOMING. — Wilkesbarre, near which 
the first settlement in the valley of Wyoming 
was located, is the capital of Luzerne co., 
Pennsylvania. It is situated on the left bank 
of the north branch of the Susquehanna, 110 
miles north-east from Harrisburg. 

Poets have sung, and historians have writ- 
ten, of the beautiful valley of Wyoming. 
From the earliest time, that land of hills and 
dales, of pure mountain-streams, and lovely 
plains, where the grape, the wild plum, the 
butter-nut and the hazel-nut, grow spontane- 
ously, has floated in a mist of romance. 

In 1743, the peace of the valley was de- 
stroyed by the war between the Shawnees, 
and Delawares. The war originated in the 
following manner : The Shawnees were a 
secluded clan, living by permission of the 
Delawares, upon the western bank of the 
Susquehanna. One day, when the warriors 
of both tribes were engaged in the chase 
upon the mountains, a party of women and 
children of the Shawnees, crossed to the 
Delaware side to gather fruit. While thus 
engaged a quarrel arose between two of the 
children about the possession of a grass-hop- 
per. The mothers respectively took the part 
with their children, and the quarrel extended 
to all the Shawnee and Delaware women. 
The Delaware women were the more numer- 
ous, and drove the Shawnee squaws home, 
kilUng several on the way. The Shawnee 
hunters on their return, espoused the cause 
of their wives and children, and arm i ng them- 



702 



wTOMma 



selves, crossed the river and attacked the 
Delawares. A bloody battle followed ; which 
resulted ia the defeat of the Shawnees, who 
retired to the banks of the Ohio. 

In 1762, about 200 wliites from Connecti- 
cut founded a settlement near the mouth of 
Mill Creek, a httle above the present site of 
Wilkesbarre, in the valley of Wyoming. The 
inhabitants of Pennsylvania, were irritated 
at what they termed an encroachment of the 
Connecticut people upon the lands which 
they claimed were included in the charter 
granted to William Penn. The Indians, 
however, and among them Teedyuscung, 
their great chief, were on friendly terms with 
the new comers, and in spite of the threats 
of the Pennsylvanians the Yankee colony 
continued to increase and prosper. But the 
colony soon received a fatal blow. A feud 
arose between the Delawares and the Six 
Nations ; and in the autumn of 1763, a party 
of warriors descended the Susquehanna, and 
entered the valley on a visit of pretended 
friendship. As previously planned, on an 
appointed night they set fire to Teedyuscung's 
house, and the chief perished in the flames. 
To shield themselves from the vengeance of 
the Delawares, the perpetrators of this act 
charged the whites with this outrage. Their 
story was believed, and the Delawares re- 
solved upon revenge. At noon on the 14th 
of October, 1763, they attacked and butch- 
ered thirty of the settlers in the fields. Alarm 
reigned throughout the whole colony, and 
the settlers, with their wives and children, fled 
in terror, and passing through the wilderness 
returned to their homes in Connecticut, a 
distance of 250 miles. On the night of the 
massacre the Indians appUed the torch, and 
the once flourishing village was reduced to 
ashes. 

In 1768, the Susquehanna company of 
Connecticut made a direct purchase of the 
Wyoming valley, from the Six Nations, and 
took a deed from some of the chiefs. A 
lease of the valley was given to three Penn- 
sylvanians, who established a trading house 
there which they fortified. In 1769, the 
garrison of this post, consisting of ten men, 
was invested by forty pioneers of the Con- 
necticut company. Grovernor Penn was in- 
formed of the state of affairs ; but the people 
from Connecticut arrived in such numbers, 
that Jennings the commander of the garrison 
finally reported to the governor of Pennsyl- 
vania that the whole power of the country 
was inadequate to dislodge the Yankees. 
The Connecticut settlers had erected a strong 
fort, which they called Fort Duikee, in honor 
of the officer elected to its command, near 
the Shawnee flats, about half a mile below 
the site of the old settlement. They had 
also erected thirty log houses, furnished with 



loop-holes for musketry, aroimd it. Their 
whole force consisted of 300 able-bodied 
men. HostiUties ceased for a short time, 
and the Connecticut company sent commis- 
sioners to Pliiladelphia, to negotiate a com- 
promise. Governor Penn refused to treat 
with them, and sent an armed force under 
Colonel Francis to the valley. He summoned 
the garrison of Fort Durkee to surrender. 
They refused, and Francis finding the fort too 
strong to be assailed, returned to Philadelphia, 
leaving Ogden, one of the lessees of the val- 
ley, with a small force, in the vicinity. The 
Pennsylvanians now assembled a larger force 
under Jennings ; and Captain Ogden hearing 
of Jennings's approach, suddenly assailed the 
Connecticut settlement, with forty men, and 
succeeded in capturing several of the inhabit- 
ants, among whom was Colonel Durkee. 
Jennings, with 200 men, and a six pounder, 
appeared before the fort ; and the garrison, 
alarmed, proposed to capitulate on certain 
conditions. The conditions were accepted 
and the articles of capitulation drawn up in 
due form and signed. Ogden, however, 
acted in bad faith, and the seventeen settlers 
who, by the articles were allowed to remain 
in the valley until their crops were harvested, 
were plundered of every thing and driven 
from the valley. 

In the month of February, 1770, Lazarus 
Stewart led a body of armed men from Lan- 
caster. They were joined by another armed 
party from Connecticut, and the whole en- 
tered Wyoming valley. He took possession 
of Fort Durkee, and entered Captain Ogden's 
house. The owner was absent, and the 
Yankees seized upon the cannon. Captain 
Ogden, receiving intelligence of these trans- 
actions, marched to Wyoming at the head of 
fifty men, with whom he garrisoned his own 
house. Stewart sent a body of fifty men to 
attack the house. The Yankees assailed the 
Pennsylvanians with spirit, and a sharp con- 
flict ensued. The assailants were repulsed 
with a loss of one man killed and several 
wounded. Colonel Durkee, who had been 
recently released, now returned from Phila- 
delphia ; and under his direction the Connec- 
ticut settlers commenced a regular siege upon 
the fort of the Pennsylvanians. The four 
pound cannon was mounted on the opposite 
side of the river, and for nearly a week Og- 
den's house was cannonaded. Ogden finally 
surrendered on the same conditions which he 
had allowed the enemy the previous year ; 
he was to withdraw with all his men from 
the valley, with the exception of six, who 
were to remain behind to guard his property. 

But the people of Connecticut, remember- 
ing Ogden's former behavior, treated him in 
like manner ; his property was seized, and 
his house was burned as soon as he was gone. 



WYOMINa. 



•703 



In the fall, Ogden, having collected a force of 
about 150 men, returned toward the valley and 
advanced toward Fort Durkee. The settlers 
were taken by surprise, and the fort again fell 
into the hands of the Pennsylvanians. The 
Yankees were driven from the settlement. 
On the night of the 18th of December, about 
thirty men under Lazarus Stewart stealthily 
advanced to the fort, and captured it. The 
Pennsylvanians were now in turn driven 
from the valley. The Connecticut people 
held possession of Fort Durkee until the 
middle of January, 1771, when it was be- 
leaguered by the sheriff of Northampton coun- 
ty with a strong force. He was accompanied 
by Captain Ogden and his brother Nathan. 
A sharp slcirmish ensued before the fort, and 
Nathan Ogden was kUled. The garrison, 
finally perceiving that they could not hold 
out long, withdrew from the valley on the 
20th, leaving twelve men in the fort, who 
were made prisoners by the Pennsylvanians, 
and sent to Easton. The victors remained 
in undisturbed possession of the valley for six 
months. Ogden's force now numbered about 
eighty men. On the 6th of July seventy 
armed men from Connecticut, under Captain 
Zebulon Butler, and a party under Lazarus 
Stewart, entered the valley. Ogden had 
built a second fort and called it Fort Wyo- 
ming. This fort was stronger than the other, 
and stood upon the spot now occupied by 
tlie court-house of Wilkesbarre. The invad- 
ers commenced a regular siege. The besieg- 
ed were well supplied with provisions ; their 
defenses were strong, and they defied the 
assailants. During the progress of the siege 
Ogden escaped from the fortress by strata- 
gem, and hastened to Pliiladelphia for rein- 
forcements. The governor granted him a 
detachment of one himdred men, and he pro- 
ceeded to Wyoming. Their efforts to com- 
pel Butler to raise the siege were unavailing. 
Butler, after prosecuting the siege until the 
11th of August, summoned the garrison to 
surrender. The besieged refused to comply. 
The assailants had no artillery ; but one of 
the colonists, named Carey, constructed a 
cannon of a pepperidge log. This novel piece 
burst on the second discharge. The garrison, 
however, surrendered shortly afterward, and 
the Connecticut settlers were left in undisturb- 
ed possession of the valley. Several persons 
were killed on both sides during the continu- 
ance of the siege. Four years Wyoming en- 
joyed uninterrupted peace, the colony in- 
creased, and the whole valley presented a 
scene of busy activity and rural fehcity. But 
on the 28 th of September, 1775, the unsus- 
pecting inhabitants were rudely aroused from 
their dreams of peace. On that day a branch 
of the colony located about sixty miles below 
Wilkesbarre, were suddenly attacked by a I 



body of Northumberland militia, who had 
grown jealous of the rapidly-increasing pros- 
perity of the settlers. Several of the colo- 
nists were slain, and the rest were sent to 
Sunbury and imprisoned. The Continental 
Congress was in session at that time in Phil- 
adelphia, and to that body the people of 
Connecticut appealed. Congress heard their 
prayer, and passed a resolution urging the 
governments of Pennsylvania and Connec- 
ticut to take speedy and effective steps to put 
an end to the hostilities, and to adjust the 
differences. But the Pennsylvanians did not 
heed the voice of Congress. Fearing that 
the people of Connecticut would retahate, 
they resolved to raise a large force, and 
march against Wyoming to conquer it before 
the inhabitants could organize a mihtary 
government. Eichard Penn, who was then 
governor of Pennsylvania, favored the design, 
and Colonel Plunkett was appointed to the 
command of the expedition. Congress again 
called upon the people to cease further hos- 
tiUties ; but its mandate was unheeded, and 
Plunkett commenced his march toward 
Wyoming. The invading force made but 
slow progress, the river being much obstructed 
with ice. The inhabitants of Wyoming had 
made ample preparations to receive the in- 
vaders. The army, consisting of about 300 
men, was under the command of Colonel 
Zebulon Butler. When Plunkett reached 
the Nanticoke Rapids, at the southern ex- 
tremity of the valley, he was obliged to 
abandon his boats and advance along the 
shore of the river. Some of Butler's troops 
occupied a bold rock on the western bank of 
the river which overhung the road along 
which Plunkett was marching. As the 
Pennsylvanians approached they were greet- 
ed by a volley of musketry which checked 
their progress. Plunkett now caused one of 
his boats to be brought up from the rapids, 
and by its means succeeded in crossing the 
river. He was about to march against Fort 
Wyoming on the eastern side, when he fell 
into an ambuscade. Unable to cope with 
the enemy, the Pennsylvanians retreated to 
their boats, and in a council of war decided 
to abandon the expedition. Thus ended the 
Pennymite war. The war of the American 
Revolution was soon fairly commenced, and 
common danger united the parties in a peace 
which common interests had continually 
broken. 

When it was seen that a war with the 
mother country was inevitable, the inhabit- 
ants of Wyoming valley, being especially 
exposed to the incursions of the Indians, 
who, despite their repeated assurances of 
friendship, were objects of suspicion, erected 
suitable forts as defenses against the enemy, 
who were momentarily expected. Almost 



704 



WYOMING. 



every one of the original settlers had espoused 
tlie cause of" Congress ; but emigrants from 
the Hudson and Mohawk valleys had come 
to the Wyoming valley, and were openly 
opposed to the patriots. Among the most 
active of these were the Wintermoots, Van 
Gordans, Van Alstynes, and other famiUes. 
The Wintermoots had erected a strong forti- 
fication upon the old banks of the Susque- 
hanna, which was called Wintermoot's Fort. 
The patriots, suspicious of the designs of the 
Wintermoots, constructed a fort about eight 
miles above Wilkesbarre, within two miles 
of Wintermoot's. This work was erected 
under the supervision of the Jenkins and 
Hardeys families, and was called Fort Jen- 
kins. Forty Fort was strengthened and 
enlarged, and sites for other forts selected at 
Pittstown, Wilkesbarre, and Hanover. The 
people of Wyoming valley, however, were 
not disturbed until early in the summer of 
1778, when the movements of Brant and his 
warriors, and the Butlers and Johnsons, with 
their Tory legions, upon the upper waters of 
the Susquehanna, and the actions of the Tories 
in the valley of Wyoming caused the people 
great alarm. Some of the Tories had been 
harshly treated by the Whigs, and several 
had left and joined the force of Colonel John 
Butler, and the settlers had sufficient gr9unds 
to apprehend their return with a power 
strong enough to appease their thirst for 
revenge. The people of Wyoming were in 
a poor condition to repulse the enemy should 
they appear, and the whole country was in 
a state of constant alarm and excitement. 
" Nearly all their able-bodied men," says Mr. 
Miner, in his able history of Wyoming, " were 
away in the service. The remaining popu- 
lation in dread of the savages, were building 
six forts or stockades, requiring great labor, 
' without fee or reward.' AU of the aged 
men out of the train-bands, exempt by law 
from duty, were formed into companies to 
garrison the forts, one of the captains being 
also chief physician to the people and surgeon 
to the military. Of the militia, the whole was 
in constant requisition to go on the scout 
and guard against surprise. The small-pox 
pestilence was in every district." In June, 
1778, the Tories and Indians made prepara- 
tions to fall upon the inhabitants of tliis 
defenseless country. The patriots in Wyo- 
ming appealed to Congress lor aid ; yet they 
were left uncared for, and were- obliged to 
confide in their own meager resources. On 
the 2d of July, 1778, a force, consisting of 
Tory Rangers, a detachment of Johnson's 
Royal Greens, and about 700 Indians, in all 
numbering 1,100 men, entered the valley 
throi:gh a notch from the west, near the 
junction of the Lackawana and Susquehanna 
rivers. The whole army was under the com- 



mand of Colonel John Butler. The repub- 
licans, who had been informed of the approach 
of the enemy, had made all preparations in 
their power to receive them. Their whole 
force consisted of a company of about fifty 
regulars and a small body of miUtia under the 
command of Captain Hewett. 

Every man in the valley entered the serv- 
ice. The old men, with trembUng hands, 
grasped their muskets, the middle-aged, tlie 
youth, and even women seized such weapons 
as they could find, and all were resolved to 
drive the invaders back, or perish. Colonel 
Zebulon Butler, an officer in the continental 
service, chanced to be at home, and by 
unanimous consent was elected commander- 
in-chief Having entered the valley, the in- 
vaders attacked the people near Jenkins 
Fort, and killed three of them. Colonel 
John Butler then established his head-quarters 
at Fort Wintermoot, whence he sent out 
occasional parties to scour the country. The 
patriots made Fort Forty the place of rendez- 
vous, and thither the women and children of 
the valley fled for safaty. The smaller forts 
were garrisoned by old men. The patriots 
had no alternative but to fight, or to submit; 
both appeared equally fatal. Retirement or 
flight was alike impossible, and there was no 
security but in victory. Unequal as was the 
conflict, therefore, and hopeless as it seemed 
in the eye of prudence, the young and ath- 
letic mim fit to bear arms, were enlisted for 
their special defense, being absent with the 
main army, the inhabitants, looking to their 
dependant wives, mothers, sisters, and little 
ones, took counsel of their courage, and 
resolved to give the enemy battle. A coun- 
sel of war was held in Fort Forty, on the 3d 
of July ; some were in favor of going out to 
meet the enemy, others were inclined to 
remain inactive, in the hopes of receiving 
succor from General Washington, who was 
then in New Jersey. While they were de- 
bating, five commissioned officers, who had 
obtained leave of absence that they might 
return home to protect their famiUes, arrived. 
They were admitted to the council. Colonel 
John Butler had demanded the surrender of 
Fort Forty. Fort Jenkins had already fallen 
into his hands, and the savages were waiting 
his order to slay such of the inhabitants as 
had not reached Fort Forty. The invaders 
must be driven from the country at once was 
the voice of the majority ; and it was re- 
solved to march out and attack them. The 
whole army consisted of only about 300 men, 
and was composed of the old, and the infirm, 
the athletic, and the young. They marched 
out of the fort at one o'clock in the afternoon, 
and separating into six companies, marched 
up the river toward Fort Wintermoot. The 
women and children were left in the fort. 



I i 








SnnRrvnrR of Fiac,^ \t Yorktown. 



WYOMING. 



705 



Who can imagine the anxiety of that group 
within Fort Forty ? What tongue can tell of 
the prayers which ascended that day for the 
safety of those gallant men, who went forth 
to battle for the lives of beloved and loving 
wives and children ? The quivering hps and 
tearful eyes of wives and mothers pressing 
their babes to their breasts, and sending forth 
entreaties to the Most High, that their hus- 
bands and sons might be returned in safety 
to them; all, all, fills the mind, even now, 
with sorrow, and sends a throb of the deepest 
sympathy for those unfortunate ones to the 
breasts of all who have listened to the tale 
of their sufferings. Colonel Zebulon Butler 
had hoped to take the enemy by surprise ; 
but the Tories were on the alert, and 
when the news of the approach of the enemy 
reached Fort Wintermoot, they were ready 
to meet them. The left wing of the Tory 
army was composed of the Rangers under 
the command of Colonel John Butler, and 
rested upon the bank of the river near Win- 
termoot. The right extending into a marsh 
at the foot of the mountains on the western 
verge of the plain, consisted principally of 
Tories and Indians, and was commanded by 
a celebrated Indian chief, named Gi-en-gwa- 
tak. (He-who-goes-in-the-smoke.) On But- 
ler's right were stationed the Eoyal Greens, 
under Captain Coldwell, and at intervals 
along the line, Indian marksmen were posted. 
The patriots were commanded on the right 
by Colonel Zebulon Butler, assisted by Major 
Garratt ; on the left, by Colonels Dennison, 
and Dorrance. The field of action was a 
level plain, cultivated in patches, and partly 
covered with yeUow pines, and scrub oaks. 
The Tories set fire to Wintermoot's Fort, to 
prevent its falUng into the hands of the 
patriots. The Wyoming companies, sepa- 
rately, advanced toward the enemy, and as 
they were wheeled into hne. Colonel Zebulon 
Butler thus addressed them : " Men, yonder 
is the enemy. The fate of the Hardings tells 
us what we have to expect if defeated. We 
come out to fight not only for hberty, but for 
Ufe itself, and, what is dearer, to preserve our 
homes from conflagration, and women and 
children from the tomahawk. Stand firm 
the first shock, and the Indians will give way. 
Every man to his duty." The Americans 
rushed to the attack, and soon the battle be- 
came general. It was about four o'clock, the 
sky was unclouded, and the sun beat down 
with intense heat. The British left, where 
appears Colonel John Butler, stripped of his 
feathers, and other savage trappings, with a 
handkerchief tied around his head, encourag- 
ing his men with voice and example, begins 
to give ground. The Americans with shouts 
of joy rush on ; but are checked by a volley 
of musketry from a band of Indians conceal- 

45 



ed behind some bushes on the left flank of 
the enemy. Captain Durkee falls, and for a 
moment the httle band is thrown into con- 
fusion. The yells and whoops of the savages 
rise above the din of battle, and fall upon the 
ears of the women and children in the fort 
hke a death-knell. The strife continues. The 
Tories with their savage alhes press for- 
ward on that devoted band. The Indians 
gain their rear, and they are furiously as- 
sailed by a cross fire. Colonel Zebulon But- 
ler now commands his men to fall back ; but 
his words are misunderstood. " Retreat 1 
retreat !" sounds along the Hne, and 'the 
patriots rush frantically toward the river. 
" Oh, my children, do not leave me," entreats 
their gallant commander. "Stay, and the 
victory is ours." But hke famished wolves, 
the savages, and their still more savage alUes, 
sprung forward ; every American captain is 
slain, and the terror-stricken patriots fly in 
every direction, followed by a horde of ene- 
mies. Some endeavor to gain Fort Forty ; 
others, rush into the river ; but only a few 
escape. Many are killed on the spot, and 
others are hunted hke deer through the 
woods. Some are lured from their hiding- 
places by a promise of quarter ; but come 
forth only to be tomahawked, or to be re- 
served for a more fearful death at the burning 
fort. The Tories and Indians are every- 
where victorious. 

Colonel Zebulon Butler escaped to Wilkes- 
barre Fort, and Colonel Dennison to Fort 
Forty. Dennison mustered the few soldiers 
that came in, and resolved to defend the 
place to the last extremity. The victors con- 
tinued their pursuit until dusk; the savages 
then congregated upon the blood-stained 
field, and a scene of horror followed, at which 
the soul sickens, and the heart stands appalled. 
Scores of the wretched prisoners were put to 
such tortures, as only a savage mind could 
invent ; and wliite men stood by and saw the 
agonies of their neighbors, unmoved 1 Cap- 
tain Bidtack was thrown alive upon the 
burning timbers of Fort Wintermoot, and 
held down upon the glowing coals with 
pitchforks until death released him from his 
sufferings. Many of the prisoners were ar- 
ranged in circles around large stones, and 
while firmly clasped in the arms of strong 
Indians, were killed with the tomahawk. A 
half-breed Indian woman, named Queen 
Esther, deliberately slaughtered sixteen of 
the prisoners while thus arranged. Two of 
the captains broke from the embrace of their 
tormentors, and, amid a shower of bullets 
and flying tomahawks, effected their es- 
cape. 

The whole battle-field was a carnival of 
blood ; and hghted up with immense fires, it 
appeared to the eyes of some unfortunate 



706 



WYOMING. 



beholders on the opposite shore, like the very 
impersonation of hell on earth. But we will ' 
dwell no longer on this revolting theme. | 
On the evening of the 3d, the garrison at 
Fort Forty was strengthened by the arrival 
of thirty-five men under Captain John Frank- 
lin. The next day Colonel John Butler sum- 
moned the garrison to surrender ; and finding 
that there was no hopes of a successful de- I 
fense, Colonel Dennison surrendered on the 
following conditions : That the inhabitants i 
of the settlement lay down their arms, and 
the garrisons be demohshed ; that the inhab- 
itants occupy their farms peaceably, and their 
lives be preserved entire and unhurt; that 
the continental stores be given up ; that the 
property taken from the Tories should be re- 
placed ; and that the inhabitants for whom 
Dennison capitulated should not take up arms 
during the war. 

The victors, however, did not respect the 
terms of capitulation. Before night the In- 
dians spread through the valley, plundering 
the few inliabitants remaining, and burning 
the houses of those who had taken their de- 
parture. The village of Wilkesbarre, which 
consisted of twenty-three houses, was set 
on fire, and the people fled in terror to the 
mountains where many of their friends had 
sought refuge during the night. Only one 
life was taken by the victors after tlie capitu- 
lation of Fort Forty ; but in their flight a 
number of women and children perished in 
the great swamp on the Pocono mountains, 
and along the paths in the wilderness. The 
swamp is now known as the Shades of 
Death. The terrors of that flight of one 
hundred women and children are thus de- 
picted by Mr. Charles Miner, in his Hazelton 
Travelers: "Let the mind picture to itself a 
single group," says he, "flying from the 
valley to the mountains on the east, and 
climbing the steep ascent ; hurrying onward, 
filled with terror, despair and sorrow; the 
aSrighted mother, whose husband has fallen, 
with an infant on her bosom, a child by the 
hand, an aged parent slowly climbing the 
rugged steep behind them ; hunger presses 
them severely ; in the rustling of every leaf 
they hear the approaching savage ; a deep 
and dreary wilderness before them, the val- 
ley all in flames behind ; their dwellings and 
harvests all swept away in this spring-flood 
of ruin, and the star of hope quenched in 
this blood-shower of savage vengeance." 

The fugitives by various roads made their 
way to Connecticut; and the tale of their 



sufferings was spread far and near. On the 
8th of July Butler and liis troops, after laying 
waste the whole valley, withdrew. After 
his departure the Indians that remained com- 
mitted fearful outrages upon such of the set- 
tlers as had not fled ; and all who remained 
at Fort Forty fled in terror from the place. 
The whole population, with the exception of . 
a few gatliered about the fort at Wilkesbarre, 
abandoned the settlement. On the day of 
the battle Captain Spalding with a single 
company was between the Blue and Pocono 
mountains, about fifty miles from Wilkes- 
barre. The flying settlers informed him of 
the event, and he pushed forward until he 
had arrived within twelve miles of the val- 
ley, when he sent scouts forward to recon- 
noiter. They found the valley in the pos- 
session of the invaders, and Captain Spalding 
returned to Stroudsbury to await the orders 
of Colonel Zebulon Butler. Butler soon re- 
' turned to Wyoming, and when the Tories 
had left the valley Spalding marched tliither, 
and on the 3d of August estabhshed his head 
quarters at Wilkesbarre Fort. Colonel Zeb- 
ulon Butler assisted by Colonel Hartly of the 
Permsylvania line, now arranged an expedi- 
tion to expel the Indians from the valley. 
With about one hundred men, they marched 
in the month of September to Shesequin, 
I Queen Esther's plantation, and attacked the 
j Indians. Several of the savages were slain ; 
j and their settlement was broken up. Col- 
onel Hartl}^ returned to Wyoming, and gar- 
risoned Wilkesbarre Fort with one hundred 
I men. He was then called from the valley. 
Defended by the garrison, the few settlers 
remaining worked in the fields with their 
weapons near at hand. Parties of Indians 
' constantly hovered on the outskirts of the 
settlement, and several whites were mur- 
j dered in the fields. Until peace was pro- 
I claimed the settlers were constantly harassed. 
"Revenge upon Wyoming," says Stone, 
" seemed a cherished luxury to the infuriated 
savages, hovering upon the outskirts on every 
I side. It was a scene of war, blood, and suf- 
: fering. In the course of this harassing 
I warfare there were many severe skirmishes, 
J several heroic risings of prisoners on their 
Indian capturers, and many hair-breadth es- 
' capes." But we have already exceeded our 
limits ; and must refer the reader for fuller 
details, to Lossing's admirable work, the 
" Field-book of the Revolution," and to the 
works of Miner, Chapman, and Stone. 



YORK— YORKTOWK 



707 



YORK, A.D. 1813.— Toronto, formerly 
York, is the capital of Canada West, and is 
the most flourishing city in British America. 
It is situated on a nearly circulay bay, on 
the north-west shore of Lake Ontario. 

During the winter of 1812-13, the Amer- 
icans busied themselves at Sackett's Harbor on 
the south side of Lake Ontario, in constructing 
a fleet for the purpose of operating against 
Kingston, York, and Fort George, that they 
might cutofi'all communication between Mon- 
treal and Upper Canada. By spring they had 
completed a fleet composed of thirteen vessels. 
This fleet was under the command of Cap- 
tain Isaac Chauncey, and was capable of 
transporting about 1,700 men. Having 
learned that the British were preparing three 
vessels for sea at York, Chauncey recom- 
mended that this place should be first at- 
tacked in order to destroy the vessels. The 
American fleet was at length got ready for 
sea, and Chauncey, with 1,700 men under the 
command of General Pike, set sail. The 
fleet anchored off York on the 25th of April, 
and the landing of the troops was commenced 
immediately, in the midst of a severe gale of 
wind. The boats were carried by the force 
of the tempest west of the designated landing 
place, which was an open field, to a point on 
the shore thickly covered with woods, in 
which a large party of Indians and British 
marksmen was stationed. Major Forsythe, 
with a rifle-corps, in two boats, first ap- 
proached the beach ; as he neared the shore 
he was assailed by a shower of bullets, and 
ordering the rowers to rest on their oars, he 
bade his men return the fire. Upon seeing 
this pause. General Pike with his staff leaped 
from the deck of his vessel into a boat, and 
ordering the infantry to follow, was rowed 
toward the shore. The boat passed safely 
through the enemy's balls, and Pike landed a 
little distance from Forsythe. The advanced 
boats of the infantry having gained the shore 
at the same time. Pike put himself at their 
head and led them up the bank to the charge. 
The Americans advanced with the utmost 
impetuosity, and put the enemy to rout by 
a single charge. The arrival of Forsythe 
with his riflemen, completed the panic, and 
the affrighted Indians fled on all sides filling 
the forest with their hideous yells of disap- 
pointed rage. The American troops being 
aU landed, they were formed into companies, 
and advanced through the woods toward 
Fort York. As they approached the British 
works their progress was checked by a bat- 
tery of twenty-four pounders, which kept up 
an incessant fire on the head of the columns. 
Captain Walworth of the 16th was ordered 



to . storm the battery. The Americans ad- 
vanced rapidly to the charge, and in spite of 
the terrific fire with which the enemy greeted 
their approach, carried the battery at the 
point of the bayonet, and the garrison fled. 
The Americans continued to advance up a 
shglit acclivity, and soon captured the second 
battery stnd entered the fort. But the mo- 
ment they had taken possession of the en- 
emy's works, magazines containing 500 bar- 
rels of gunpowder exjjloded, with a terrific 
shock ; and the air was filled with blackened 
corpses, huge stones, and fragments of timber, 
wliich fell back on the victorious columns, 
scattering death and destruction on all sides. 

Over two hundred Americans and forty of 
the British were killed or wounded by the 
explosion. General Pike was crushed be- 
neath the murderous shower, and was mor- 
tally injured. At this moment the British 
flag was struck, and the American standard 
floated triumphantly in its place. Like 
Wolfe at Quebec, Pike at York received his 
mortal wound at the moment of victory. 
Colonel Pearce assumed the command of the 
troops after the fall of Pike, and having taken 
possession of the barracks, advanced on the 
town. On his way thither he was met by 
the oflScers of the Canadian militia, bearing 
terms of capitulation. While negotiations 
were pending General SheaSe and the Brit- 
ish regulars made good their retreat toward 
Kingston, and a magazine of naval and mili- 
tary stores, together with two of the vessels 
in the harbor, were burned. The third had 
sailed for Kingston a few days before the 
attack. The Americans lost in this engage- 
ment about three hundred in killed, wound- 
ed, and missing. The British lost three 
hundred and fifty killed and wounded, and 
three hundred prisoners. 

YORKTOWN, A.D. 1781.— Yorktown is 
situated on the right (south) bank of the 
York river, directly opposite Gloucester 
Point, eleven miles from its mouth, in York 
county, Virginia, seventy miles east of Rich- 
mond, The village was established by law 
in 1705, and was once a flourishing place ; 
but now it contains only about forty houses. 
In 1781 it contained about sixty houses. 

Immediately after the battle of Jamestown 
CornwaUis, with his army, proceeded by land 
to Portsmouth, and thence to Yorktown. 
He immediately commenced fortifying that 
place. He extended a fine of intrenchments 
completely around the town. On the land 
side he formed a chain of six redoubts, cur- 
tained one to another by a parapet and 
pallisade. The redoubts were iVaized and 
pallisaded, and covered beside by abatis and 



708 



YORKTOWN. 



breast-works. On the bank of the river he 
also erected a line of batteries; one was 
planted near the church, and consisted of 
eleven pieces of cannon. On the margin of 
a ravine to the south-west of the village, 
three redoubts were erected ; one, a httle 
eastward of the road to Hampton, two on 
the extreme right, near the river, and the 
fusileers' redoubt on the extreme left, near 
the margin of the river. Cornwallis also 
extended a line of intrenchments across the 
peninsula of Gloucester, in the rear of that 
village. 

Meanwhile, the American and French 
armies had met in Winchester county, on 
the Hudson river, for the purpose of attacking 
the British troops under Sir Henry Clinton, 
in New York. The American army was 
commanded by General Washington in per- 
son ; that of the French was under the com- 
mand of the Count de Rochambeau. Lafay- 
ette was at this time in Virginia, within a few 
miles of the British army ; but the marquis 
did not feel sufficiently strong to attack Corn- 
wallis, and the British general did not deem 
it prudent to abandon his position at York- 
town, and impede the progress in fortifying 
that place, by engaging his troops against the 
French. The allied armies were about to 
strike the city of New York, when Sir Hen- 
ry Clinton was reinforced by the arrival, on 
the 11th of August, of 3,000 troops from 
Europe ; and Washington, having received a 
letter from Count de Grasse, stating that he 
intended to remain in the West Indies, and 
that the French fleet, therefore, could not co- 
operate in the attack on New York, the allies 
were obliged to abandon their designs against 
that city. Nearly at the same time Wash- 
ington received a letter from Lafayette, dated 
at Williamsburg, Virginia, informing him of 
the movements of Lord Cornwallis ; and the 
American general determined to proceed 
toward the south to co-operate with La- 
fayette in Virginia. This resolution was 
strengthened by receiving intelUgence from 
Count de Barras, the successor of Admiral 
de Ternay, at Newport, that the Count 
de Grasse was to sail from the West Indies 
for the Chesapeake on the 1.3th of August, 
with a fleet of about thirty ships of the line, 
bearing 3,200 land troops under the command 
of the Marquis St. Simon. The allied gen- 
erals speedily arranged a plan of the southern 
campaign ; and the whole army crossed the 
Hudson at Verplanck's point, and marched 
by different routes to Trenton, New Jersey. 
Previous to the passage of the Hudson, 
Washington, in order to conceal liis real 
intentions from Clinton, wrote deceptive 
letters to General Greene, in New Jersey, 
and sent them in such a manner as to be 
intercepted by the enemy. Some of these 



letters, containing a plan for an attack on the 
city, fell into the hands of Clinton, and caused 
him to abandon every other purpose than to 
make preparations for the reception of the 
besiegers. The grand object of the Ame- 
ricans was acliieved, and the allied armies had 
crossed the Delaware, and were far on their 
way tdward Elk Head before Clinton was 
fully aware of their destination. Clinton saw 
it was too late for a successful pursuit, and 
sent General Benedict Arnold to devastate 
the coast of New England. New London 
was burned by the traitor and his troops; 
and a terrible massacre was perpetrated by 
the marauders at Fort Griswold ; but these 
events did not check the march of the allies. 
On the 31st of August the French fleet, under 
Count de Grasse, arrived in the Chesapeake 
Bay. An officer from Lafayette gave De 
Grasse full information respecting the relative 
position of the two armies in Virginia. The 
French admiral immediately sent four sliips 
of the line and several frigates to blockade 
the mouth of the York river. These vessels 
also conveyed the land troops, under St. 
Simon, who was ordered to join Lafayette 
on the James river. To reUeve Cornwallis, 
Clinton dispatched Admiral Graves with a 
fleet of nineteen ships of the line, with orders 
to attack the French squadron which guard- 
ed the entrance to the Chesapeake. De 
Grasse went out to fight the Enghsh fleet ; 
but after a partial action both fleets withdrew, 
and on the 10th of September, the French 
cast anchor within the capes at Lynn Haven 
bay. The hostile fleets remained within 
sight of each other for five days, but neither 
party wished to renew the conflict. 

On the 25th of September the last division 
of the alUed army arrived at Williamsburg, 
between the James and York rivers, and 
preparations were made to besiege the Brit- 
ish at Yorktown. The main division of the 
British army occupied the town under the 
immediate command of Cornwallis. The 
open grounds in the rear of the place were 
occupied by the main body of his troops, and 
at the commencement of the siege, Tarle- 
ton's legion and about 700 troops under 
Lieutenant-Colonel Dundas, were posted at 
Gloucester. The Duke de Lauzun with his 
legion, a body of Virginia mihtia under Gen- 
eral Weiden, and some French marines were 
sent under the command of General de 
Choise, to attack the British at Gloucester 
point. 

The allied army, on the morning of the 
28th of September, marched from Williams- 
burg, and approached Yorktown by different 
routes. Both forces united, consisted of 
about 12,000 men. On the approach of the 
besiegers the British abandoned their out- 
posts, and withdrew to their works near the 



YORKTOWN. 



709 



town. A large body of French troops, and 
some American light infantry, took posses- 
sion of the deserted works, and acted as a 
covering party for the troops while engaged 
in throwing up intrenchments. The British 
opened a cannonade upon the besiegers, and 
during the day made one or two sorties. 
On tiae 30th of September Yorktown was 
completely invested by the besiegers, ttieir 
line extending in a semicircle, each wing 
resting on the York river. The French fleet 
remained at Lynn Haven bay, to contest the 
entrance of the British fleet should it attempt 
to advance to the aid of the besieged. The 
left wing of the besieging army was com- 
posed of the West India regiments under St. 
Simon, and the French light infantry regiments 
under the Baron and Viscount Viomenil. The 
right wing consisted of the American Ught 
infantry under Lafayette, the New York, 
New Jersey, and Rhode Island troops under 
General James Clinton ; the Virginia mihtia 
under Governor Nelson ; the Virginia, Mary- 
land, and Pennsylvania troops under Steuben, 
and the American artillery under General 
Knox, assisted by Colonel Lamb, Lieuten- 
ant-Colonels Stevens and Currington, and 
Major Bauman. From the 1st to the 6th of 
October the besiegers were assiduously em- 
ployed in making fascines and gabions, and 
in transporting their heavy cannon, mortars, 
and stores from Trebell's Landing, on James 
river. 

The trenches were opened on the evening 
of the 6th, and the besiegers estabhshed their 
first parallel within 600 yards of the enemy's 
works, amid a continual fire from the town. 
The 7th and 8th were employed in complet- 
ing the first parallel, and in erecting batter- 
ies somewhat in advance of it. The American 
battery on the right, having six eighteen and 
twenty-four pounders, two mortars, and two 
howitzers, was opened on the enemy at five 
o'clock in the afternoon of the 9th ; and early 
on the morning of the 10th, the French bat- 
teries on the left were opened, and for eight 
hours the besiegers maintained an incessant 
fire upon the enemy's works. Other Amer- 
ican batteries were opened, and the fire be- 
came so very heavy that the besieged with- 
drew their cannon from their embrasures, 
and placed them behind the muUns, scarcely 
firing a shot during the day. In the evening 
the British frigate the Charon was set on fire 
by a hot shot from the French battery on the 
left, and was burned to the water's edge. 
During the whole night the besiegers main- 
tained their fire upon the place. The night 
was mild, and the whole landscape was 
bathed in a starlight which softened every 
distant object into indistinctness ; Yorktown 
presented an awful contrast to the soft beau- 
ties of the night From the American 



hues streams of fire arose, and falling into 
the place, carried death and destruction on 
aU sides, "From the bank of the river," 
says Dr. Thatcher, in his journal, " I had a 
fine view of this splendid conflagration. The 
ships were enwrapped in a torrent of fire, 
which spreading with vivid brightness among 
the combustible rigging, and running with 
amazing rapidity to the top of the several 
masts, while all around was thunder and 
lightning from our numerous cannons and 
mortars, and in the darkness of the night, 
presented one of the most sublime and mag- 
nificent spectacles which can be imagined. 
Some of our shells overreaching the town, 
are seen to fall into the river, and bursting, 
throw up columns of water lilce the spouting 
of the monsters of the deep." On the morn- 
ing of the 11th, two of the British transports 
were fired by hot shells, and consumed. On 
this the besieged warped their sliipping as 
far over to the Gloucester shore as possible. 
In the evening the besiegers advanced their 
second parallel, with Uttle or no annoyance 
from the enemy, to within 300 yards of the 
British works. The 13th and Mth were 
spent in completing the second parallel ; and 
the engineers pronouncing the two redoubts 
on the enemy's left suflSciently damaged to 
make them practicable, an assault on the eve- 
ning of the 14th was determined upon. These 
redoubts were about 300 yards in advance 
of the British line ; and flarJdng the right of 
the second paraUel of the besiegers, the men 
in the trenches were greatly annoyed by 
their guns. General Lafayette, with the 
American light infantry, was directed to as- 
sail the redoubt on the extreme left, while 
Major General, the Baron de Viomenil, with 
a detachment of French grenadiers and chas- 
seurs, should assaU the other. The two de- 
tachments advanced to the assault at dusk. 
The advanced corps of the American de- 
tachment was under the command of Colonel 
Alexander Hamilton, assisted by Colonel 
Gimat. Colonel Laurens, meanwhile, turned 
the redoubt in order to cut ofi" the retreat of 
the garrison. The signal was given; and 
the troops with unloaded guns and fixed bay- 
onets moved to the assault. The British 
poured forth volley after volley of musketry 
upon the assailants ; but through the storm 
of bullets the Americans pushed their way, 
regardless of the abatis and other obstruc- 
tions in their path, and entered the redoubt 
at a bound. So rapid had been their move- 
ments that their loss was trifling. Eight of 
the defenders of the redoubt were slain dur- 
ing the assault ; but none were injured after 
the surrender. The other redoubt was gar- 
risoned by 120 men, a greater force than that 
stormed by the Americans. The French 
rushed furiously to the attack, but their prog- 



710 



TORKTOWN. 



res3 was checked by the garrison, who hurled 
tempests of balls upon them, and fought witli 
the utmost determination for nearly a half 
hour. At length the French troops effected 
a lodgment in the work, and the garrison sur- 
rendered. The French lost about 100 men in 
killed and wounded ; of the British, 18 were 
slain, and 42 made prisoners. In this assault 
the Adjutant-General Count Charles de La- 
meth was severely wounded. Count Mathieu 
Dumas behaved with the utmost gallantry. 
He was in the advanced corps, and was 
among the first who entered the redoubt. 
Count de Deuxponts, who led the French 
grenadiers, was slightly wounded. Wash- 
ington was highly gratified at the result 
of these engagements. " Nothing could ex- 
ceed the firmness and bravery of the troops," 
said he in his official report ; " they advanced 
under the fire of the enemy without return- 
ing a shot, and effected the business by the 
bayonet only." The captured works were of 
vast importance. From them the besiegers 
could enfilade the enemy's whole line, and 
during the night of the 14th they were in- 
cluded in a second parallel. By five o'clock 
on the next morning, several howitzers were 
mounted on the redoubts, and were opened 
upon the British works. The position of the 
British army was now highly critical. Corn- 
wallis had received no intelligence of succor 
from Clinton, and knowing that the town 
would be untenable should the besiegers 
complete the second parallel, he resolved to 
make a desperate effort to retard their prog- 
ress. Accordingly, early on the morning of 
the 16th, a detachment under Lieutenant- 
Colonel Abercrombie was ordered to make a 
sortie on one of the French and one of the 
American batteries on the second parallel, 
which were unfinished. The British advanced 
gallantly to the assault, and entered the 
works. They had only time, however, to 
thrust the points of their bayonets into the 
touch-holes of four of the French and two of 
the American cannon, and break them off, 
when they were driven back by the guards 
from the trenches. The spikes were easily 
extracted from the guns. In this sortie the 
besieged lost 8 killed and 6 prisoners. The 
French lost 16 killed; the Americans one. 
Up to this time the allies had lost, during the 
siege, 75 killed, and 94 wounded. Cornvval- 
lis now resolved to make a desperate effort 
to escape by flight. His plan was to pass the 
river suddenly with his army, and endeavor 
to cut his way through the enemy's trooj^s 
near Grloucester, and pushing forward through 
Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, to 
form a junction with the army in New York. 
The boats were prepared, and the troops em- 
barked on the night of the 16th. The sick 
and wounded were left behind, with a letter 



from Cornwallia recommending them to the 
mercy of the conquerors. Some of tlie boats 
j)assed the river, and the troops landed on 
Gloucester point ; the others vs^ere about to 
follow, when a violent storm of wind and 
rain arose. The tempest raged till daybreak, 
and CornwaUis was obUged to abandon hia 
design. At daybreak, the several new bat- 
teries in the second parallel being completed, 
the besiegers opened a tremendous fire from 
their whole hne upon the town. The air 
was filled with the flying missiles, and not a 
place of safety could be found in the town. 
A splendid stone mansion, the property of 
Governor Nelson, who was at the head of 
the Virginia militia, was a prominent object 
witliin the British lines. " Never," says Mr. 
Ldssing, in his magnificent work, " The Field- 
book of the Revolution," "did a man display 
more lofty patriotism than Governor Nelson 
on tliis occasion, lie commanded the first 
battery that opened upon the British works 
that morning. He knew that his house was 
occupied by CornwaUis with his staff, and 
was probably in it when he began the can- 
nonade. Regardless of the. personal loss that 
must ensue, he pointed one of his heaviest 
guns directly toward his house, and ordered 
the gunner, and also a bombardier, to play 
upon it with the greatest vigor. " The desired 
effect was accompUshed. Upon the heights of 
Saratoga, Burgoyne found no place secure 
from the cannon-balls of the besiegers; in 
Yorktown, there was a like insecurity." Corn- 
waUis, finally perceiving that liis position was 
now past aU remedy, at ten o'clock in the 
forenoon, sent a flag to Washington, with the 
proposals that hostUities should cease for 
twenty-four hours, and that commissioners 
should be appointed to arrange the terms of 
surrender. Washington answered that he 
could grant a truce of two hours only. He 
was unwiUing to waste time in negotiations, 
for the British fleet with reinforcements for 
CornwaUis might, meanwhile, arrive, and give 
the enemy an opportunity to escape. 

The British general was forced to submit ; 
and the terms of capitulation were finaUy 
adjusted on the 19th of October. The 
following is an abstract of the articles of 
capitulation : I. The garrisons at York and 
Gloucester to surrender themselves prisoners 
of war ; the land troops to remain prisoners 
to the United States ; the naval forces to the 
naval army of the King of France. II. The 
artUlery, munitions, stores, etc., to be deliver- 
ed to proper officers to receive them. III. 
The two redoubts captured on the 16th of 
October, to be surrendered, the one to the 
American, the other to the French troops. 
The garrison at York to march out at two 
o'clock with shouldered arms, colors cased, 
and drums beating ; there to lay down their 



ZAMA. 



711 



arms, and return to their encampment. The 
work on the Gloucester side to be deUvered 
to the Americans and French ; the garrison 
to lay down their arms at three o'clocl<. IV. 
The officers to retain their side-arms, papers, 
and private property. Also, the property of 
loyalists found in the garrison to be retained. 
V. The soldiers to be kept in Virginia, Mary- 
land, and Pennsylvania, and to be subsisted 
by the Americans. British, Anspach, and 
Hessian officers allowed to be quartered near 
them, and supply them with clothing and 
necessities. VI. The officers allowed to go 
on parole to Europe, or to any part of the 
American confederacy ; proper vessels to be 
granted by Count de Grasse, to convey them 
under flags of truce to New York, within ten 
days, if they choose. Passports to be granted 
to those who go by land. VII. Officers al- 
lowed to keep soldiers as servants, and serv- 
ants, not soldiers, not to be considered pris- 
oners. VIII. The Bonetta to be under the 
entire control of Cornwallis, to go to New 
York with dispatches, and then to be deUver- 
ed to Count de Grasse. IX. Traders not to 
be considered as prisoners of war, but to be 
granted three days to dispose of their proper- 
ty or remove it. X. Loyahsts not to be 
punished on account of having joined the 
British army. (Washington considered this 
matter to be of a civil character, and would 
not assent to the article.) XI. Proper hos- 
pitals to be furnished for the sick and wound- 
ed ; they to be attended by the British sur- 
geons. XII. Wagons to be furnished, if 
possible, for the conveyance of the baggage 
of the officers, attending the soldiers, and of 



the hospital surgeons when travelling on 
account of the sick. XIII. The shipping 
and boats in the harbor, with all theh ap- 
pendages, arms, and clothing, to be dehvered 
up, unimpaired, after the private property 
was unloaded, XIV. No article of the 
capitulation to be infringed on pretext of 
reprisal, and if there be any doubtful ex- 
pressions in it, these are to be interpreted 
according to the common meaning and ac- 
ceptation of the words. 

At two o'clock in the afternoon of the 
19th of October, 1781, the British army 
marched out of Yorktown, and delivered up 
their colors, and laid down their arms, ac- 
cording to the terms of surrender, and with * 
tliis ceremony, the siege of Yorlvtown was 
brought to a final close. The alhes lost dur- 
ing this siege, wliich lasted thirteen days, 
about 300 men in killed and wounded. The 
British lost 156 men killed, 326 wounded, 
and seventy missing. The whole number of 
prisoners was little over 7,000. Seventy -five 
brass, and 160 iron cannons; 7,794 muskets; 
twenty-eight regimental standards; a large 
quantity of cannon, and musket-balls, bombs, 
carriages, etc., etc., fell into the hands of the 
victors, together with the military chest 
which contained $11,000 in specie. 

With the fall of Yorktown, the British 
power in the American States was crushed 
forever. Joy went up from the hearthstone 
of every family in the land; and shortly 
afterward, the mother country acknowledged 
the independence of the United States. 
Peace again rested on the land ; Washington 
had fulfilled his mission. His country was free. 



ZAMA. — The battle of Zama was fought 
in the year 202, B.C. Scipio, after conquering 
all Spain, returned to Kome, and was ap- 
pointed consul. Not content with the laurels 
he had already won, he determined upon an 
enterprise, which, if successful, should eclipse 
all his former victories. This was the con- 
quest of Africa. Accordingly, he' crossed 
over thither, and made it the seat of the war. 
The devastation of the country, the siege of 
Utica, one of the strongest cities of Africa ; 
the total defeat of the two armies under 
Sphyax and Asdrubal, whose camp was 
burned by Scipio, and afterward the taking 
of Sphyax himself prisoner, who was the 
most powerful resource the Carthaginians 
had left ; all these things forced them at last 
to turn their thoughts to peace. They there- 
fore sent a deputation of thirty of their 
principal senators to Scipio. When the 
senators were introduced into the Eoman 



general's tent, they all prostrated themselves 
before him, and humbly sued for peace. But 
the conditions on which Scipio olTered them 
peace were extremely severe, yet the senators 
feigned a comphance with them, that they 
might gain time to send for Hannibal and his 
army to return to their assistance. Scipio 
granted a truce to the Carthaginians, who 
immediately sent an express to Hannibal to 
order his return into Africa. Hannibal obey- 
ed, and returned into Africa with all his 
forces, and encamped within a short distance 
of the Roman army, at Zama, which lies at 
the distance of five days' journey from Carth- 
age. The Carthaginians, in tiie mean time, 
had broken their truce with the Romans; 
first, by seizing a Roman fleet of 200 vessels 
of burden, richly laden, when it was dispersed 
near Carthage by a violent storm, wliile on 
its way from Sicily into Africa ; and secondly, 
by ill-treating the deputies whom Scipio sent 



712 



ZAIIA. 



to the Carthaginian senate to complain of the 
outrage on the fleet. The courage of the 
Carthaginians was increased by the presence 
of Hannibal, and they continually exhorted 
him to give battle at once to the Romans. 
But Hannibal, on the contrary, meditated 
peace. He flattered himself that he could 
make a peace with Scipio on more honorable 
•terms than had been offered to the deputation 
from the senate. He, therefore, sent to 
desire an interview with the Roman general, 
which was agreed to, and the time and place 
appointed. They met in an open space be- 
tween the two armies ; in sight of each other, 
these two generals, who were not only the 
most illustrious of then- own age, but of all 
who have been recorded in any former time, 
both stood for some time silent, struck dumb 
as it were by hiutual admiration. Hannibal 
spoke first, and after representing the mutual 
advantages which would be derived from a 
peace between the Romans and Carthaginians, 
he concluded by declaring that the Cartha- 
ginians would wilUngly reUnquish all those 
places on account of which the war was be- 
gun : Sicily, Sardinia, Spain, and all the islands 
that he in any part of the sea, between Africa 
and Italy. That they would confine them- 
selves wholly to Africa, while they beheld 
the Romans, extending their sovereignty by 
land and sea over the most remote regions. 
Scipio rephed, that if the Carthaginians were 
willing to accept the terms which he had 
formerly offered them, and also to make full 
restitution for the ships and stores which they 
had seized during the subsistence of the truce, 
and for the insult they had offered his em- 
bassadors, he would lay the matter before 
his council. But if they also deemed these 
conditions severe, Hannibal might return to 
his camp, and prepare for battle. The two 
generals now separated without coming to 
any accommodations. Hannibal could not 
prevail with himself to accept Scipio's con- 
ditions, and returned to his army with the 
resolution to decide the fate of Carthage by a 
general battle. Both generals now prepared 
their armies for the approaching engagement, 
and both incited their soldiers to valorous 
deeds. Hannibal recounted the exploits of 
sixteen years in the heart of Italy ; he enu- 
merated the Roman generals he had slain, 
and the victories he had won. And, as he 
passed through the Unes of his army, when- 
ever he came to a soldier who had distin- 
guished himself in any former battle, he 
reminded him of the honors he had already 
received, and promised him tenfold more, if 
he would behave as valiantly during the 
coming strife. 

Scipio reminded his men of Spain ; of his 
late victories in Africa, and of the fear man- 
ifested by the enemy in suing for peace. 



" The close of tlie war is nigh at hand," said 
he, proudly erecting himself, while animation 
and joy flashed from his eye. " Carthage, 
with all its wealth is within your reach, and 
after you have grasped it you shall return to 
your homes, to your parents, your children, 
your wives, and your household gods." Scipio 
then placed his army in battle array ; he 
drew up the spearmen in the van. Behind 
them he placed the first rankmen, and closed 
the rear with the veterans. "He did not, as 
usual, place the cohorts in close order, each 
before their own colors, but posted the com- 
panies at some distance from each other, that 
there might be room to admit the elephants 
of the enemy, vsdthout disturbing the ranks. 
He planted Lselius with the Italian cavalry 
on the left wing, and Massinissa and the Nu- 
midians on the right. The intervals between 
the cohorts he filled up with Hght-armed 
troops, and gave them directions, on the at- 
tack of the elephants, either to retire to the 
rear of the files, or opening to left and right ; 
to form along with the cohorts. Thus a pass- 
age would be left for the elephants, through 
which they might advance exposed on both 
sides to the weapons of his soldiers. Han- 
nibal, in order to terrify the enemy, placed 
his elephants in the front. Of these animals 
there were eighty, a greater number than he 
had ever before brought into the field. Next 
to them he posted the auxiliary Ligurians and 
Grauls, with the Balcarians and Moors inter- 
mixed. In the second Hue he placed the 
Carthaginians, Africans, and the Macedonians; 
and then leaving a moderate opening he 
formed the line of reserve, consisting of 
Itahan soldiers mostly Bruttians, the chief 
number of whom had followed him on his 
departure from Italy by compulsion, and 
through necessity, rather than from inclina- 
tion. He covered the flanks with cavalry, 
the Carthaginians being posted on the right, 
and the Numidians on the left. Hannibal 
and his generals now went through the 
lines, exhorting and encouraging the soldiers. 
While they were thus engaged, Scipio gave 
the signal for battle. The trumpets and cor- 
nets were sounded, and the Romans raised 
such a shout, that the elephants, particularly 
in the left wing, were frightened at the sound, 
and turned back upon their own men, the 
Moors and Numidians, throwing them into 
complete disorder. At this moment Massi- 
nissa charged them, and driving them back, 
divested their hne of that flank of the cover 
of the cavalry. A few of the elephants, 
however, unaffrighted, were urged on against 
the Romans. The huge beasts dashed upon 
the hght troops, trampling them under foot, 
and beating them down with their trunks. 
At length after committing fearful havoc, 
they were driven away from the Roman lines 



ZAMORA— ZELA. 



713 



by the weapons showered upon them, from 
all sides ; wild with rage and pain they rushed 
upon the Carthaginian cavalry in their own 
right wing, and threw it into disorder. Now 
Lgelius, seeing the enemy in this confusion, 
charged their disabled troops, who after a 
feeble resistance, took to flight. The Car- 
thaginian line was therefore exposed on both 
flanks, not having the cavalry to cover them, 
when the infantry began to engage. With 
a shout that struck terror to the hearts of 
their enemies, the Roman soldiers dashed 
upon the enemy. At the very first onset 
the Carthaginian Hne gave way. The Rom- 
ans thrust them back with their elbows 
and the bosses of their shields, and stepping 
forward into the places from which they had 
dislodged them, they gained ground rapidly. 
The rear rank also, on perceiving the enemy's 
line shrink, pushed forward those who were 
before them, and in this manner, the enemy 
were gradually driven back toward the second 
Hne. But the Africans and Carthaginians, 
fearing that the Romans, in case they cut 
through the first Hne, might close with them, 
drew back, instead of advancing to the aid 
of their auxiharies. Upon this the auxiharies 
fairly turned their backs, and facing about to 
their own party, some of them retreated into 
the second line, while others who were not 
received there, enraged at not being sup- 
ported before, and being now excluded, 
fiercely attacked them. Thus the Carthagi- 
nians were obHged in a manner to fight two 
battles ; one against their mercenary troops, 
and the other against the Romans. They 
vigorously repelled the attack of these craven 
soldiers, and with great slaughter drove them 
ofi", to the wings, and to the open plains 
around the field of battle. The space for- 
merly occupied by the auxiharies was piled 
up with such numbers of the slain, that the 
Romans found it impossible to force a pass- 
age through the great heaps of carcases and 
weapons. 

The ground, deluged with blood, was so 
slippery that men stumbled at every step, 
and soon both their battalions and ranks 
were in disorder. The second Hne seeing 
the confusion of the Hne before them, began 
to waver, and Scipio, observing this, instantly 
caused a retreat to be sounded for the spear- 
men. Carrying the wounded to the rear, he 
brought up the first rankmen and veterans, 
to the wings, in order that the Hne of spear- 
men in the center might be the more firm 
and secure. Thus a new battle was begun. 
The Romans had now to deal with the Af- 
ricans and Carthaginians, men who were on 
an equal footing with them, both in respect 
to the kind of arms they used, the fame of 
their exploits, and the greatness of their 
hopes and dangers. But the Romans were 



superior to the enemy in numbers. They 
charged upon the first Hne of the Cartha- 
ginian army, with such fury that the enemy 
was fairly crushed before them. At tliis 
critical juncture the cavahy under LseUus 
and Massinissa who had pursued the flying 
horse of the Carthaginians to some distance, 
returned, and charging the rear of the enemy, 
effectually routed them. Many were sur- 
rounded in the field and slain ; while many 
who escaped into the open country adjoining, 
were pursued and slain by the Roman cav- 
alry. Hannibal, after vainly endeavoring to 
raUy his troops, escaped during the confusion, 
with a few horsemen, and fled to Hadrume- 
tum. Of the Carthaginians and then- alHes 
there were slain in this battle, more than 
20,000, about the same number were taken 
prisoners, with 133 miHtary standards and 
eleven elephants. The conquerors lost only 
2,000 men. This battle closed the Punic 
war. The Carthaginians accepted the con- 
ditions dictated by Scipio, aud peace was 
declared. See Battle of Cannce. 

ZAMORA, A.D. 939.— Zamora, in Spain, 
in early history, was a fi-ontier town of great 
importance, as a barrier to Moorish invasion. 
In the month of July, 939, the Moors, under 
Abdu-er-Rahman, besieged Zamora, with the 
stern determination of taking it at aU hazards. 
But the Christian army, under Ramiro II., 
advanced to the relief of the town, and a 
fierce battle was fought before its walls. Za- 
mora was then surrounded by seven lines of 
walls; the space between which was de- 
fended by moats ; and, it is stated, 40,000 
Moslems were kiUed in these trenches during 
the siege and battle. In 985, Zamora was 
taken and destroyed by the Moors under the 
great Al-Mansoor. Zamora was rebuilt by 
Ferdinand I. 

ZELA, B.C. 47.— The battle of Zela was 
fought between the forces of Caesar and , the 
army of Pharnaces, king of Pontus. Phar- 
naces, with his army, occupied a hill in the 
neighborhood of Zela, which he had fixed 
upon because it had been the scene of a vic- 
tory which his father, Mithridates, had ob- 
tained over a Roman army under Triarius; 
and, in order to secure himself, had repaired 
his father's Hues, and seemed determined to 
maintain this post. Caesar's army consisted 
of only about 1,000 men. Having lain for 
some days within five miles of Pharnaces, he 
advanced to an eminence separated from the 
camp of the enemy only by a narrow valley 
sunk between steep banks. He came upon 
this ground in the night, and began to in- 
trench himself as usual, having a party under 
arms to cover the workmen. As at break of 
day, the greater part of his army appeared to 
be at work, Pharnaces deemed this a favora- 
ble opportunity to attack the Romans, and be- 



714 



ZURICH. 



gan to make his dispositions for the battle. 
Caesar, imagining that he only meant to give 
an alarm, and to mterrupt his workmen, 
even after he was in motion, did not order 
the Roman legions to desist from their worlc, 
nor to arm ; but seeing him descend into the 
valley, and attempt to pass it in the face of 
his advanced guard, he sounded to arms, and 
was scarcely formed when the enemy had 
passed both banks of the valley to attack him. 
The troops of Pharnaces began the action 
with an ardor that was suited to the boldness 
with which they had advanced ; and Ctesar's 
contempt of their designs nearly exposed 
him to a defeat. But the action, which was 
doubtful everywhere else, was decided by 
the veterans of the sixth legion, before whom 
the enemy began to give way, fled with 
precipitation down the declivity, and fell into 
general rout. Pharnaces fled with a few at- 
tendants, and narrowly escaped being taken. 
" How cheap is fame," said Cassar, as he sur- 
veyed the flying enemy, " when obtained by 
fighting against such an enemy!" Caesar, in 
announcing this victory, sent his famous dis- 
patch to the Roman senate, in three words : 
" Veni, vidi, vici" — " I came, I saw, I con- 
quered." This battle concluded the war. 
Pharnaces escaped into Bosphorus, where he 
was slain by his lieutenant Asander ; and Pon- 
tus was made a province of Rome, while Bos- 
phorus was given to Mithridates of Pergamus. 

ZURICH, A.D. 1799.— Near Zurich, a city 
of Switzerland, a battle took place on the 
22d of July, 1443, between the Swiss and 
the Austrians, in which the latter were de- 
feated. A battle was also fought at Zurich 
between the French republicans and the 
Russians and Austrians, on the 26th of Au- 
gust, ;799. 

Zurich was occupied by the republican 
forces, under Massena. Their line extended 
from the intrenched heights of Zurich, through 
those of Regensburgh, and to the Rhine, in a 
direction nearly parallel to the course of the 
river Aar. The camp around Zurich was 
strengthened by formidable redoubts, at 
which, for more than a month, the army had 
been engaged upon, and the surrounding coun- 
try being filled with wooded heights and precip- 
itous ravines, rendered the approach to Zurich 
very difficult. The greater part of the imperial 
army, commanded by the Archduke Charles 



and Hotza, were concentrated in the environs 
of the town. On the 5th of June, the arch- 
duke attacked Massena along the whole line. 
The principal attack was against their center 
and right. Hotza gained at first, at the latter 
point, what seemed an important success ; 
liis advanced posts even penetrated into the 
suburbs of Zurich, and carried the whole in- 
trenchments, by which the right of the army 
was covered ; but, before night, Soult com- 
ing up with the reserve, the lost ground was 
retaken, and the Austrians forced back to 
their former position. At the same time the 
battle raged in the center with uncertain suc- 
cess, and the archduke seeing the repulse of 
Hotza, and deeming the heights of Zurich- 
berg the decisive point, detached General 
Wallis, with a part of the reserve, to renew 
the attack, while the Prince of Lorraine made 
a simultaneous attack on the side of the At- 
hsberg. Wallis was at first successful, car- 
ried the farm of Zurichberg, and, after a vio- 
lent struggle, arrived at the pallisades of the 
intrenchments ; but Massena, discovering the 
danger, hurried to the spot at the head of a 
column of grenadiers, and attacked the Aus- 
trians in flank, while a terrific fire of grape 
and musketry from the summit of the works, 
cut down the foremost of their ranks. With 
all their desperate efibrts, the imperialists 
were unable to force the intrenchments ; 
Hotza was severely wounded, and, after a 
bloody conflict, they retired over the Glatt, 
leaving 3,000 killed and wounded on the bat- 
tle-field. The archduke was not disheart- 
ened by this loss, and, after a day of rest, 
made arrangements for a renewal of the bat- 
tle. Before the break of day, on the morn- 
ing of the 6th, two columns, of 8,000 men 
each, were destined to attack the heights of 
Zurich and Wipchengen, while the left, the 
reserve, and part of the center were to sup- 
port them. But Massena, fearful of the re- 
sult, retreated during the night, and took post 
between Lucerne and Zurich, on Mount Al- 
bis, a rocky ridge reaching from the lake of 
Zurich to the river Aar, a' much stronger po- 
sition than his former one. The i-etreat was 
effected without loss, the darkness being in 
his favor ; but the great arsenal, containing 
150 pieces of cannon, and a great amount of 
warlike stores, on the next day fell into the 
hands of the imperial army. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE 



BATTLES AND SIEGES EECOBDED IN THIS VOLUME, 



PAGE B. O. 

74 Bactra, besieged hy Ninus, king of Assyria . . . 2134 
814 Kings, battle of the, defeat of the kings of 

Sodom and Gomorrah 1918 

513 Red Sea, destruction of the Egyptians 1491 

295 Jericho, besieged by Israelites under Joshua.. 1451 

14 Ai, besieged by Israelites 1451 

236 EsDRAEi.oN, battle of, between Canaanites and 

Israelites 1316 

621 Thebes, in Boetia, siege of 1252 

622 TiiEBES, in Palestine, besieged by Abimelech.. 1214 
648 Troy, siege of 1184 

49 Arcadia, the Arcadian women defeat the Spar- 
tans 1169 

295 Jerusalem, besieged by the Jebusites 1048 

295 Jerusalem, besieged by the Egyptians 9T6 

558 Samaria, besieged by the Syrians 907 

559 Samaria, besieged by the Syrians 906 

559 Samaria, besieged by Joram, king of Syria 891 

533 Eome, besieged by the Sabines 74T 

416 Nineveh, besieged by Medes and Babylonians 747 

52 Argives and Spartans, the battle of the 600. 735 

559 Samaria besieged by Assyrians 721 

295 Jerusalem, besieged by Syrians and Israelites. 715 

- 70 AzoTii, besieged by Egyptians 670 

279 IIoRATii AND CuRATii, Komaus and Albans... 669 

259 Gaza, besieged by Alexander 633 

508 Rag AN, Medes arid Assyrians 625 

295 Jerusalem, besieged by Nebuchadnezzar 587 

269 Halts (eclipse of the sun), Medes and Lydians. 585 

625 TiiYMBRA, Croesus defeated by Cyrus ;. 548 

662 Sardis, besieged by Cyrus.-. 548 

70 Babylon, besieged by Cyrus 538 

73 Babylon, revolt and reduction of 516 

602 Sybaris, Crotonians and Sybarites 508 

, 533 Rome, besieged by Porsenna 507 

' 562 8 ARDis, besieged by Athenians 502 

197 CoRiOLLi, besieged by Romans 492 

858 Marathon, defeat of the Persians 490 

534 Ro.ME, besieged bv Coiiolanus 488 

282 Hymera, Greeks and ('aitlia-inians 480 

623 Thermopyl-*:, Greeks ami Persians 480 

62 Athens, besieged by Persians 480 

65 Artemisium, Greeks and Pereians 480 

400 Mycale, Greeks and Persians 479 

479 Plat^a, Greeks and Persians 479 

238 Eurymedon, Greeks and Persians 470 

189 Byblos, Greeks and Persians 454 

167 Cu^rona, besieged by Athenians 447 

283 Ipsus, defeat of Antigonus 431 

481 PlatvBA, besieged by Lacedoemonians 428 

427 Olpj3, Eurydochus slain 424 

588 Solygia, Corinthians and Athenians 423 

634 To RONE, besieged by Athenians 422 

603 Syracuse, besieged by .Athenians 415 

569 Sblinuntum, besieged by Carthaginians 412 

13 Agrigentum, besieged by Carthaginians 409 

220 Cyzicum, Athenians and Lacediemonians 408 

139 Byzantium, besieged by Athenians 408 

899 Motya, besieged by Dionysius 404 

62 Athens, besieged by the Spartans 404 

613 Syracuse, besieged by Carthaginians 403 

211 CuNAXA, battle of. followed by the retreat of 

the 10,000 Greeks 400 

243 Falerii, Romans and Falerii 394 

534 Rome, besieged by Brennus . . 387 

325 Lf.uctra, Epaminondas and Cleombrotus 871 

863 Mantinea, Epaminondas slain 363 

515 Rhodes, besieged by Queen Artemisia 352 

209 Crimesus, Greeks and Carthaginians 343 

140 Byzantium, besieged by Philip of Macedon . . . 841 



PAGE ■ S. 0, 

167 Cn^RONA, Macedonians and Athenians 338 

621 Thebes, in Boetia, besieged by Alexander the 

Great 334 

649 Tunis, besieged by Carthaginians 334 

265 Gbanicus, Greeks and Peiiyans 334 

287 Issus, defeat of Darius by Alexander 833 

656 Tyre, besieged by Alexander 333 

259 Gaza besieged by Alexander 333 

47 Arbela, Darius defeated by Alexander 331 

473 Persepolis, besieged by Alexander. 330 

280 Hydaspes, Porus and Alexander 326 

203 Cr anon, confederate Greeks and Macedonians. 322 

658 Tyre, besieged by Antigonus 313 

259 Gaza, Ptolemy and Demetrius 812 

517 Rhodes, besieged by Demetrius 303 

435 Palmyra, besieged by the Romans 278 

52 LACEDiEMON, besiegcd by Pyrrhus 272 

819 Argos, death of Pyrrhus 273 

67 Veii, besieged by the Romans 271 

864 Messina, first Punic war commenced 264 

400 Myl^, Carthaginians and Romans 259 

149 Carthage, besieged by Bomans 252 

435 Palermo, captured by Romans 250 

195 Corinth, besieged by Aratus 242 

568 Salasia, Cleomenes and Antigonus 223 

11 Adda, Romans defeated by Insubrians 223 

545 Saguntum besieged by Hannibal 219 

479 Placencia, Hannibal and the Romans 219 

629 TiciNus, Hannibal and Scipio 217 

510 Raphia, Ptolemy and Antiochus 217 

643 Trebia, Hannibal and Sempronius 217 

624 TURASYMENUS, Hannibal and Flamiuus 217 

154 Carthagena, besieged by Romans 216 

148 C ANN^, defeat of Romans by Hannibal 216 

613 Syracuse, besieged by Romans; Archimedes 

slain 214 

617 Tarentum, besieged by Romans 212 

536 Rome, besieged by Hannibal 211 

409 Metaubus, Asdrubal defeated by Nero 203 

665 Utica, besieged by the Romans 203 

711 Zama, Hannibal the Great defeated by Scipio 

Africanus 202 

6 A BYDOS, besieged by Philip of Macedon 201 

207 Cremona, besieged by Gauls 200 

221 OcTOPOLOPHOs, Romans and Macedonians 199 

25 Ambracia, Romans and Greeks 193 

221 Cynocephal^, Greeks and Romans 19T 

7 Abydos, besieged by Romans 190 

150 Carthage, besieged by Romans 148 

197 Corinth, besieged by Romans 146 

559 Samaria, besieged by Hyrcanus 120 



637 Toulouse, besieged by Cepio 



106 _ 



536 Rome, besieged by Sylla 

63 Athens, besieged by Sylla 87 

167 CHJ3R0NA defeat of Archelaus 86 

143 Callahorra, besieged by Pompey the Great. . 73 

26 Amisub, besieged by Romans 71 

207 Cremona, besieged by Romans 69 

296 Jerusalem, besieged by Romans 63 

362 Marseilles, besieged by Casar 49 

523 Rimini, besieged by C»sar 49 

479 PitARSALiA, Pompey and C*sar 48 

666 Utica, besieged by Civsar 46 

713 Zela, veni, vidi, vici 4T 

15 Alexandria, Ptolemy and Caisar 46 

400 Munda, Civsar and Pompey 45 

475 Philippi, Brutus and Cassius, and Octaviua 

and Antony 43 

47 Aradi's, Romans 38 

296 Jerusalem, besieged by Herod 8T 



716 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 



PAOB A. D. 

696 WiNNEPELD, Yarns defeated by Armlnlus 9 

584 Shropshire, Caractacus taken prisoner 51 

440 Paris, besieged by the Koinans 52 

106 BoADicEA, Queen of England, defeated 61 

297 Jerusalem, besieged by Titus 66 

264 Grampian Hills, Scots and Picta 79 

140 Byzantium, besieged by tbe Emperor Severus 196 

847 Lyons, Albinus and the Euiperor Severus 197 

16 Alexandria, sacked by Caracalla 213 

16 Alexandria, civil war in 260 

404 Naisus, Gotbs and Romans 269 

435 Palmyra, besieged by Romans 273 

16 Alexandria, besieged bv Diocletian 296 

862 Marseilles, besieged by Constantine 810 

654 Turin, Constantine and Maxentius 812 

12 Adrianople, Licinus defeated by Constantine. 823 

140 Byzantium, besieged by Constantine 823 

883 Milan, besieged by the Goths 838 

52 Argentaria, Germans and Romans 378 

45 Aquella, Engenius defeated 388 

637 Rome, besieged by Alaiic, the Goth 408 

687 Rome, taken and sacked bv Alarlc 410 

638 Tournai, besieged by the "Franks 438 

401 NANTES,besiegedby the Huns 445 

429 Orleans, besieged by the Huns 451 

169 Chalons, defeat of the Huns 451 

633 Toledo, besieged by the Goths 457 

203 Crayford, Saxons and Britons 457 

470 Pavia, besieged by tlio Goths 476 

511 Ravenna, besieged by the P.omans 488 

233 Edessa, besieged by the Persians 508 

401 Naples, besieged by the Romans 537 

623 Rimini, besieged by the Goths 538 

537 Rome, besieged by the Goths 588 

26 Antioou, besieged bv Persians 540 

402 Naples, besieged by the Goths 543 

539 Rome, besieged by the Goths 544 

233 Edessa, besieged by the Persians 544 

233 Edessa, besieged by the Persians 549 

640 Rome, besieged by the Goths 549 

511 Ravenna, besieged by Belisarius 550 

662 Sarnus, Teias, the Gothic king, slain 553 

616 Tagina, Totila killed 552 

186 Constantinople, besieged by the Huns 659 

470 Pa VI a, besieged by the Lombards 572 

16 Alexandria, taken by Chosroes, King of I'ersia 611 

80O Jerusalem, ijesieged by the Persians 613 

800 Jerusalem, besieged by the Saracens 635 

26 Antiooii, besieged by Saracens 638 

658 Tyre, besieged by the Turks 638 

409 Neiiawund, Arabs and Persians 638 

16 Alexandria, besieged by Amrou 640 

223 Damascus, besipged by Saracens 642 

223 Ainadin, defeat of Heraclius 642 

16 Alexandria, besieged by Amrou 645 

187 Constantinople, besieged the Khan of Abares 670 

187 Constantinople, besieged by Tezid 672 

812 Kaibar, Mohammed poisoned 682 

562 Saragossa, taken by the Saracens 712 

633 Toledo, captured by the Moors 714 

865 Merida, taken by the Moors 715 

641 Tours, Charles Martel and the Saracens 732 

470 Pavia, besieged by the Lombards 774 

440 Pampeluna, taken by Charlemagne 778 

643 RoNCESVALLES, Eoland slain 778 

84 Barcelona, taken by Charlemagne and his 

allies 801 

684 ToRTosA, besieged by Louis Debonnaire ell 

402 Naples, besieged by the Prince ofBeneventum 818 

245 Fontrnay, the sons of Louis le Debonnaire. . . 841 

668 Seefin, Alec and Moawiyah 850 

401 Nantes, taken by the Normans 850 

120 BouLOUGNE, besieged by the Northmen 882 

441 Paris, besieged by the Normans 885 

842 LuNOARTY, Danes and Scots 900 

713 Z amor A, besieged by the Moors 939 

418 Battles of the Northmen in the Western Con- 
tinent 1004-11 

25 Ai.NEV, single-handed combat between Edmund 

Ironsides' and Canute 1016 

865 Meerut, taken bv Mahmoud lOlS 

187 Clontarf, Danes" and Irish 1089 

271 Hastings, Saxons and Normans Sept. 29, 1066 

484 Palermo, taken by the Normans 1072 

540 Rome, besieged by Henry III. of Germany 10S4 

683 Toleda, taken by the Spaniards 1085 

25 Alnwick, defeat of Malcolm of Scotland 1092 

416 Nice, besieged by Crusaders 1097 



page a. d. 

27 Antioch, besieged by Crusaders Oct, 1097 

234 Edessa, besieged by Crusaders 1097 

35 Antioch, besieged by Crusaders June, 1098 

55 AscALON, Crusaders and Saracens 1090 

801 Jerusalem, besieged by the Crusaders 1099 

562 Saragossa, taken by Alphonsoof Arragon 1106 

648 Tripoli, taken by the Crusaders 1108 

659 Tyre, besieged by the Venetians ....". 1123 

336 LiSREUx, taken by the Saxons 1130 

359 Marcinago, Ghibellines of Pavia defeated.!.! 1132 

123 Bbompton, Battle of the Standard 1188 

333 Lincoln, Stephen defeated Feb. 2, 1141 

510 Ransbeck 1143 

3;J5 Lisbon, besieged by Alphonso 1147 

684 Tortosa, captured by Eugcnius III 1148 

223 Damascus, besieged by the Crusaders 1148 

634 Tortosa, besieged by the Moors 1149 

383 Milan, besieged by Frederick Barbarossa 1159 

650 Turin, besieged by the Arabs 1159 

155 Cassano, Germans and Milanese 1160 

16 Alexandria, taken by sultan of Damascus 1171 

309 Jerusalem, besieged by Baladin 1 187 

662 Tyre, besieged by Saladin 1188 

333 Limoges, besieged by Matilda, queen of Richard 

the Lion-hearted 1189 

8 St. Jean d'Acre, besieged by Crusaders 1191 

256 Freteval, defeat of Philip Augustus 1194 

386 Lisieux, taken by Philip Augustus 1203 

188 Constantinople, besieged by the Crusaders . . 1203 

544 Rouen, besieged by Philip Augustus 1204 

408 Navas de Toloso, Moors and Spaniards 1212 

390 MoNTENACKE, Brabancons and Liegeois 1213 

120 B0UVINF.S, French and Germans July 27, 1214 

226 Dover, besieged by the French 1216 

3H4 Lincoln, Count de Perche killed May 14, 1217 

637 Toulouse, death of Simon de Montfort 1217 

474 Perth, captured by Edward 1 1228 

365 Merida, taken by Spaniards 1229 

402 Naples, besieged by the Emperor Conrad 1253 

828 Lewes, Henry III. defeated by De Montfort.. . . 

May 14, 1264 

240 Evesham, De Montfort slain Aug. 4, 1265 

99 Benevento, defeat of Manfred 1206 

616 Tigliacozzo, Conrad IV, defeated 1268 

650 Tunis, death of Louis IX Aug. 25, 1270 

171 Chalons, English and French knights.. May 1, 1274 

435 Palmerno, (JSiciUan Vespers) 1 282 

866 Messina, besieged by Charles of Anjou 1282 

9 St. Jean d'Acke. besieged by Saracens 1291 

895 Montgomery, Welsh and English 1294 

104 Berwick, besieged by the English 1296 

229 Dunbar, English and Scots 1296 

243 Falkirk, Sir William Wallace defeated 1298 

588 Spurs, first battle of, French and Flemings 

July 11, 1802 
341 Loudon Hill, Robert Bruce defeated 1307 

83 Bannockburn, defeat of English by Robert 

Bruce June 24, 1314 

897 Morgakten, Swiss and Austrians Nov. 15, 1815 

230 Dundalk, English and Irish Oct. 14, 1818 

26 Amfing, Austrians defeated by Bavarians. . . 

Sept. 28, 1322 

269 Hallidon Hill, English and Scots 18-33 

688 Tournai, besieged by Edward III 1340 

14 AiGuiLLON, English and French 1345 

203 Cressy, Cannons first introduced Aug. 26, 1846 

231 Durham, David, King of Scotland, made pris- 

oner. 1346 

141 Caen, English and French 1346 

148 Calais, besieged by the English 1346 

144 Calais, besieged by the French 1849 

84 Battle of the Thirty, English and Bretons. . 

March 27, 1851 

486 PoiCTiERS, English and French Sept. 19, 1356 

543 EoMORANTiN, bcsicged by the Black Prince. . . 1856 

513 Rennes. besieged by the English 1857 

515 Rheims, besieged by Edward III 1359 

408 Naxera, Peter the Cruel, and Don Henry. . . . 

April 2, 1367 

833 Limoges, taken by Nothilda 1870 

530 La Rochelle, retaken from the English 1872 

487 Portsmouth, French and English 1877 

402 Naples, besieged bv Charles Duras 1381 

897 Moscow, taken by Tamerlane 1882 

693 Westbooseberkf., defeat of the men of Ghent. 1882 
570 Sempach, Arnold von Winkelreid slain, July 9, 1386 
286 Ispahan, besieged by Timour 1887 

244 Falkoping, Swedes "and Danes 1888 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 



Ill 



P\OE A. D. 

434 Otteebukn (Chevy Chase), Douglas slain — 

Aug. 15, 13S8 

156 Cassova, death of Araurath I June 15, 1389 

416 NicopoLis, Hungarians and Turks 1896 

865 Mekuut, taken by Timour 1399 

584 SiiREWsnimY, Hotspur slain July 21, 1403 

126 Breoihn, besieged by English 1403 

441 Paris, besieged by the Armanacs 1411 

818 Laon, taken" by the Burgundians 1411 

69 AziNcouR, French and English Oct. 25, 1415 

886 LiSEux, taken by the English 1415 

644 KouEN, taken by the English 1417 

142 Caen, taken by the English 141T 

818 Laon, besieged by the English 1419 

26 Anjou, English defeated by French.... April 3, 1421 

889 MoNS, taken by Jean IV 1425 

429 Orleans, besieged by the English 1428 

470 Pat AY, Joan of Arc and the English... July 10, 1429 

442 Paris, besieged by Charles VII 1429 

865 Mavenck, besieged by the English 1429 

818 Laon, taken by the French 1429 

649 Troves, besieged by Joan of Arc 1429 

197 CoMi'iKUNE, Joan of Arc made prisoner ..May, 1430 

402 Naples, besieged by Alphonso of Arragon 1442 

714 ZuRi(;ii, Swiss and Austrians July 22, 144=3 

548 Saint Jacob, Swiss and French Aug. 16, 1444 

670 Varna, Hungarians and Turks Nov. 10, 1444 

aS6 LisEux, taken by Charles VII 1448 

644 KouEN, taken by the French 1449 

246 Formiony French and English . 1450 

157 Castillon, General Talbot slain July 23, 1452 

198 Constantinople, besieged by the Turks 1453 

547 St. Albans, Yorkists an<l Lancasterians, May 22, 1465 
105 Bloreueatii, Yorkists and Lancasterians 

Sept. 23, 1459 

630 Wakefield, Yorkists and Lancasterians 

Dec. 24, 1460 

647 St. Albans, Yorkists and Lancasterians 

Feb. 17, 1461 

642 TowTON, Yorkists and Lancasterians, March 29, 1461 
275 Uexiiam, Lancasterians and Yorkists 1464 

443 Paris, besieged by " The League for the Public 

Good- 1465 

226 DiNANT,besies;ed by Philip the Good 14G6 

818 Laval, taken by the French 1466 

832 Liege, besieged by Philip the Good. . . .Oct. 30, 1468 
688 Stamford, Sir Robert Welles defeated. Mar. 13, 1470 

84 Barnet, Edward IV. and Earl of Warwick 

April 14, 1471 

619 Tewkesburt, final defeat of Lancasterians 

May 4, 1471 

94 Beauvais, besieged by Charles the Bold 

July 10, 1472 

474 Perpign AN, taken by Louis XI 1474 

401 Nancy, besieged bv Charles the Bold 1475 

825 Lep anto, besieged by the Turks 1475 

896 MoRAT, Charles the Bold and the Swiss, June 22, 1476 
401 Nancy, taken by Duke of Lorraine Oct. 6, 1476 

401 N ancy, Charles the Bold slain Juno 5, 1477 

434 Otranto, taken by the Turks 14Si) 

118 Bosworth Field, Richard III. slain. ..Aug. 22, 1485 

643 RoNDA, besieged by the Spaniards 1485 

562 Sauciiie Burn, death of James III. of Scotland 14s8 
400 Maxaoar, Spaniards and Moors. .* 148S 

94 Baza, besieged by the Spaniards 1489 

264 Granada, besieged by Ferdinand V 1491 

246 FoRNOVA, Charles VIIL and the Milanese 1495 

104 Blaokueath, defeat of the Cornish rebels 

June 22, 1497 

384 Milan, besieged by the Chevalier Bayard 1499 

275 Hemmingstedt, Ditmarshers and Danes 1500 

598 Stockholm, besieged by the Swedes 1501 

402 Naples, besieged by Ferdinand V 1503 

865 Mendavia, C;t'Sar Borgia slain 1507 

624 i Tiierouanne, besieged by the English, Aug. 22, 1513 

638 ToiTRNAi, besieged by Henry VIII 1613 

588 Second Battle of the Spurs, French and 

English Aug. 16, 1513 

245 Floddkn, James IV. of Scotland slain, Sept. 19, 1513 

861 Marion an, Swiss and French 1515 

223 Daritz, Egyptians and Turks Aup. 7, 1516 

523 Rio Tobasco, Cortez and Indians Feb., 1519 

^165 CiTETLA, Cortez and the Indians March, 1519 

223 Battle op the Defile, Spaniards and the 

Indijins 1.519 

631 Tlascalans and Spaniards 1519 

161 Cempo ALL A, Spaniards and Mexicans 1520 



PAOB A. D. 

366 Mexico, Spaniards and Mexicans 1520 

373 The Melancholy Night, Spaniards and Mex- 
icans 1520 

427 Otumb a, Spaniards and Mexicans Jtxly 7, 1520 

598 Stockholm, besieged by Christian II 1520 

875 Mexico, besieged Dy Spaniards May 10, 1521 

620 Rhodes, besieged by Solyman II 1521 

95 Belgrade, besieged by the Turks 1521 

617 Temeswar, besieged by Solyman II 1522 

90 Bayonne, bayonets first used 1523 

471 Pavi a, besieged by the French 1625 

385 Mohaczs, Solyman the Magnificent and Hun- 
garians Aug. 29, 1526 

541 Rome, besieged by the Duke of Bourbon 1527 

155 Cassbl, besieged by the French 1528 

675 Vienna, besieged by Soliman II Oct. 12, 1529 

496 Puna, Spaniards and Peruvians 1531 

159 Caxamalca, Spaniards and Peruvians, Nov. 16, 1583 
624 TiiERouANNE, beslegcd by Charles V 1533 

653 Tunis, besieged by Charles V 1535 

216 Cuzco, Pizarro and the Peruvians Feb., 1.536 

654 Turin, captured by the French 1536 

5 Abancay, Alvarado defeated by Almagro 

July 12, 1537 

142 Caen, taken by the French 1540 

19 Algiers, defeat of Charles V 1541 

588 SoLWAY Moss, English and Scots, Nov. 25, 1542 

548 St. DiziER, besieged by the French 1544 

163 Ceresole, Austrians and French April 14, 1544 

120 Boulogne, besieged by Henry VIII .July 25, 1544 
362 Marseilles, besieged by the Constable de 

Bourbon 1544 

95 Bedlis, defeat of Solyman 1544 

26 A NCR AM, English defeated by Scots 1545 

478 PiNKEY, English and Scots Sept. 10, 1647 

312 Ket and Warwick 1649 

95 Bedlis, defeat of Solj-man the Magnificent 1554 

859 Maroians, Tuscans and Froneli 1556 

143 Calais, besieged by the English 1557 

403 Naples, besieged by the French 155T 

558 St. Quentin, French and Allies Aug. 10, 1567 

667 Valenciennes, defeat of Huguenots 1557 

294 Jerba, Spaniards and Turks 1558 

145 Calais, besieged by the French 1558 

81 Bagdad, taken and sacked by Holakoo 1559 

229 Dreux, Cond6 and Montmorency , 1562 

432 Orleans, besieged by Duke of Guise 1563 

356 Malta, besieged by the Turks June, 1565 

247 Fort Caroline, Spaniards and Huguenots 

Sipt. 21, 1565 

318 Langside, defeat of Mary, Queen of Scots 

May 15, 1568 

291 Jarnao, death of Prince of Cond6 March 14, 1569 

.325 Lepanto, Cervantes wounded Oct. 7, 1571 

397 Moscow, captured by the Tartars 1571 

336 LisEUX, taken by the Leaguers 1671 

268 Haarlem, besieged by the Spaniards 1572 

21 Alkmaer, besieged by the Spaniards 1573 

531 La Rochelle, besieged by Henry III 1578 

380 Leyden, a celebrated siege 1574 

336 LivEON, besieged by Henry III. of France 1574 

3.50 M AE8TRICIIT, besieged by the Spaniards 1576 

350 Maestricht, besieged by Prince of Parma 1679 

142 Cauors, besieged by Henry IV. of France 

May 5, 1580 

639 TouRNAi, besieged by Prince of Parma 1581 

40 Antwerp, besieged by French Jan. 17, 1583 

40 Antwerp, besieged by Spaniards Aug. 17, 1585 

103 Bergen-op-zoom, besieged by Spaniards, 1585 

559 San Domingo, taken by the English 1586 

667 Vachtendonck, besieged by the Spaniards 1588 

444 Paris, Death of Henry III July 22, 1589 

336 LisiBux, taken by Henry IV. of France 1589 

26 Anet, victory of Henry IV. of France 1590 

318 Laon, captured by Henry IV 1594 

264 Glenlivit, Huntley and Argvle 1594 

141 Cadiz, besieged by the English June 12, 1596 

106 Bommel, besieged by the Spaniards May, 1599 

62 Athbnry, Irish and English 1599 

433 OsTEND, besieged by the Spaniards 1601 

433 OsTEND, surrendered to Spaniards Sept. 9, 1604 

103 Bergen-op-zoom, besieged by the Spaniards .. 1622 
273 Heidelberg, besieged by Tilly.' 1622 

81 Bagdad 1625 

582 La Rochelle, besieged by the Cardinal de 

Richelieu 1627 

.319 Leipsic, Gustavus Adolphus and Tilly. Sept. 7, 1631 
843 LuTZKN, Gustavus Adolphus slain Nov. 6, 1632 



718 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 



PAGE A. D. 

851 Maestkioiit, besieged by the Prince of Orange. 1G82 

417 NoKDLiNGES, Swedes aud Allies 1634 

81 Bagdad, besieged liy Ainuiatli IV 1(534 

401 Nancy, taken by Louis XIII 1634 

473 Pequot Hill, Englisli and Indians June 5, 1637 

858 MAGDKBirp.G, taken and sacked by Tilly 1C37 

81 Bagdad, besieged by Aiiiurath iV. 1638 

235 Edgehill Fight, defeat of the Earl of Essex. . 

Oct. 23, 1642 
820 Leipsic, Protestants and Imperialists.. Nov. 2, 1642 

474 Perpign AN, taken by Louis XIII 1642 

602 Stkatton, Edward Waller defeated. ...May 16, 1643 
410 Newbuby, Charles I. and Parliamentary armv 

Sept. 20, 1643 
410 Newark, besieged by Parliamentary troops. . . 1643 
862 Marston Moor, Charles I. defeated . . . July 3, 1644 
410 Newbury, Charles I. and Parliamentary army 

Oct 27, 1644 

400 MowBKAY, Parliament troops defeated 1644 

230 Di-NDEE, English and Scots 1645 

19 Alfoiid, Royalists defeated by Covenanters 1645 

407 Nasei'.y, Charles I. defeated June 14. 1645 

569 Selkirk, Montrose defeated 1645 

410 Newark, surrendered to the Scots May 11, 1646 

280 DrsGAN Hill, English and Irish July 10 1647 

570 Senneffe, Prince of Conde aud the Confeder- 

ates Aug. 11, 1647 

227 Drogiieda, besieged by Cromwell 1649 

229 Dunbar, Oliver Cromwell and the Scots 1650 

149 Canton, taken by the Tartars 1650 

230 Dundee, besieged by General Monk.. Aug. 28, 1651 

699 Wokcestee, Charles II. defeated Sept -3, 1651 

474 Perth, taken by Oliver Cromwell 1651 

19 Algiers, bombarded by Admiral Blake 1653 

53 Arras, Conde and Turenne Aug. 24, 1654 

488 Praga, Poles and Swedes 1056 

83 Barranow, Poles and Swedes 1656 

281 Dunkirk, Spaniards and Allies Jane 4, 1C58 

425 Nyeborg, Danes and Swedes 1G59 

259 Frontiera, Spaniards and Portuguese 1063 

668 Valenciennes, captured by Louis XIV. . . . 

March 17, 1667 

640 TouRNAi, besieged by Louis XIV. 1667 

861 Maestricut, besieged by Louis XIV.. June 10, 1073 

244 Feurbellen, Swedes and Prussians 1675 

602 Sudbury, Americans and Indians April 18, 1676 

352 Maestkicht, besieged by the Prince of Orange, 

July 19, 1676 

665 Udevalla, Danes and Swedes 1678 

119 Botiiwell Bridge, Covenanters and Royalists 1679 
667 Sedgemoor, Lord Monmouth defeated . July 5, 1685 

885 MoHACZ, defeat of Turks 1687 

273 Heidelberg, taken by General Melac 1688 

837 Londonderry, besieged by army of King 

James II April, 1688 

95 Belgrade, besieged by the Elector of Bavaria, 1688 
813 Killiecrankie, English and Scots July 27, 1689 

120 Boyne, King William and King James, July 1, 1690 
171 Charleroi (Fleurus), Luxemburg and the Al- 
lies July 1, 1690 

666 Schenectady-, massacre of the settlers, Feb. 8, 1691 
389 MoNs, besieged by Louis XIV 1691 

67 AuGURiM, Irish and the English July 12, 1691 

338 Limerick, besieged by English 1691 

237 Enghien, Marshal Luxemburg and the British, 

Aug. 8, 1692 

401 Namur, taken by Louis XIV 1692 

278 Heidelberg, taken by the French 1693 

408 Neerwindin, Marshal de Luxemburg and the 

English July 29, 1698 

126 Brest, besieged bv English 1694 

401 Namur, taken by the English 1695 

229 Drumclog, Claverhouse defeated June 1, 1697 

81 Balunahinch, Irish and English .June, 1698 

405 Narva, Peter the Great and Charles XII.... 

Nov. 30, 1700 

401 Namur, taken by the French 1701 

850 Madras, besieged by Dahood Khan 1702 

208 Cremona, besieged by Prince Eugene 1702 

680 Warsaw, taken by Charles XII 1703 

495 PuLTUSK, Charles XII. and the Sa.\ons, May 1, 1703 

624 Thorn, besieged by Charles XII Oct 30, 1703 

106 ( Blenheim, English and Dutch, and French 

-< and Bavarians Aug. 2, 1704 

277 ( HocnsTADT, do. do., do. do Aug. 2, 1704 

84 Barcelona, Prince of Darmstadt slain 1705 

608 Ramillies, English and the Allies May 2.3, I'nfi 

812 Kalisk, Swedes and Poles 1706 



page a. ». 

24 Almanza, French and Allies April 9, 1707 

825 Lerida, taken by -the French 1707 

435 Oudenarde, Prince Eugene and Burgundians. . 

July 11, 1708 
490 PuLTOWA, Peter the Great and Charles Xil. . . 

July 8, 1709 
356 Malplaquet, Prince Eugene and the Duke of • 

Marlborough Sept 11, 1709 

680 ViLLAViosA, French and Spaniards 1710 

126 Bruiueoa, French and Allies 1710 

600 Straslund, besieged by Charles XII 1713 

155 Cassano, Prince Eugene and Vendome 1715 

617 Temeswar, besieged by Prince Eugene 1716 

230 Dumblane (^Sheriffmutr), Charles the Pre- 
tender Nov. 12, 1715 

473 Peterwardin, Prince Eugene and the Turjis.. 1716 

385 MoKHAusE, besieged by the Tartare 1717 

95 Belgrade, besieged by Prince Eugene, June 19, 1717 

254 Frederichsuald, Charles XII. slain... Dec. 11, 1718 

549 St. Sebastian, taken by the French 1719 

286 Ispahan, besieged by the Affghans 1722 

286 Ispahan, retaken by Nadir Shah 1727 

884 Milan, blockaded by Sardinians 1733 

470 Parma, Austrians and Allies June 29, 1734 

120 BoviNO, Spaniards and Imperialists 1734 

434 Otcuakov, besieged by the Russians 1737 

386 Molwitz, Prussians and Austrians .. April 10, 1741 

488 Prague, taken by the French 1741 

680 Vilmanstrant, S'wedes and Russians 1741 

14 AiGUEBELLE, French and Spaniards 1742 

225 Dittengen, gained by George II June 26, 1743 

701 Wyoming, Delawares and Shawnees 1743 

488 Prague, taken by the Prussians 1744 

350 Madras, besieged by the FreHch 1744 

245 Fontenoy, Allies defeated by Marshal Saxe. . . 

April 30, 1745 
256 Friedburg. Frederic the Great and Allies, June 4, 1746 

384 Milan, blockaded by Spaniards 1746 

640 Tournai, besieged by Louis XV 1746 

'Z GLlnsritr^' [Charles the Pretender Sept 21, 1746 

244 Falkirk, Charles the Pretender Jan. 18, 1746 

210 CuLLODEN, defeat of Charles the Pretender 

April 16, 1746 

401 Namur, taken by the French 1746 

103 Bergen-op-zoom, besieged by the French 1747 

159 Caveryp AUK, French and English 1764 

122 Braddock's Defeat (Fortdu Quesne).. July 9, 1756 

4:33 Oswego, English and French July, 1755 

479 PiRNA, Frederic the Great and the Saxons 1756 

146 Calcutta, The Black Hole June, 1756 

543 RossBACu, Frederic the Great and the Allies. 

Nov. 5, 1757 

126 Breslatj, Austrians and Prussians Nov. 22, 1757 

.341 LouiSBURG, besieged by the English June, 1758 

630 TicoNDEROGA, besieged by the British.. July 6, 1758 

427 Oldmutz, besieged by Frederic the Great 1758 

277 HocHKiRCHEN, Prussiaus and Austrians Oct. 14, 1758 

252 Fort St. David, taken by the French 1768 

360 Madras, besieged by the French 1768 

545 Sagan, Prussians and Russians 1759 

103 Bergen, French and Allies April 1.3, 1759 

2S4 Minden, defeat of the French Aug. 1, 1759 

216 CuNNERSDORF, Russiaus and Prussians Aug. 12, 1759 

365 Maxen, Austrians and Prussians 1759 

250 Fort Niagara, besieged by the English 

July 7, 1759 

501 Quebec, besieged by the English July 30, 1759 

502 Montmorenci, English and French .... July 9, 1759 

503 Plains of Abraham, death of Wolfe and 

Montcalm Sept 80, 1759 

504 Quebec, besieged by the French May 18, 1760 

566 Schweidnitz, captured by the Austrians 1761 

244 Almeida, taken by the English 1762 

567 Schweidnitz, besieged by the Prussians Oct 9, 1762 

702 Wyoming, massacre of the settlers .... Oct. 14, 1768 
506 Schellenberg, Marlborough and the Bava- 
rians. 1764 

433 Ostbak, defended against 30,000 Turks 1768 

99 Bender, besieged by the Russians 1770 

585 Silistria, besieged by the Russians 1773 

329 Lexington, Americans and English... April 19, 1776 
329 Concord, Americans and English April 19, 1775 

112 Boston, invested by the Americans April, 1775 

113 Bunker's Hill, Americans and English 

June 17, 1775 

631 TicoNDEROGA, captured by Col. Ethan Allen, 

May 10, 1775 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 



719 



PAOB A- »• 

T02 Wyoming, civil war among the settlers 1775 

417 Great Bridge (Dismal Swamp), Americans and 

English Dec. 9, 1775 

504 Quebec, Montgomery slain Dec. -81, 1775 

417 Norfolk, Americans and Englisii Jan. 1, 1776 

396 Moore'8 Creek Bridge, Americans and En- 
glish Feb. 27, 1776 

173 Cuaeleeoi (Fleurus), French and Austrians. . . 

May 26, 1776 

249 Charleston, Moultrie's defense June 28, 1776 

127 Brooklyn (Long Island), Americans and En- 
glish Aug. 27, 1776 

276 Harlem Heights, Americans and English 

Sept. 16, 1776 

693 "WuiTB Plains, Americans and Englisii 

Oct. 28, 1776 
253 Fort Washington, captured by the British 

Nov. 16, 1776 

646 Trenton, Americans and English Dec. 25, 1776 

488 Princeton, Americans and English Jan. 3, 1777 

280 HuBBARDTON, Americans and English.. July 7, 1777 
99 Bennington Heights, Americans and Enghsh, 

Aug. 16, 1777 

250 Fobt ScnnYLER, besieged by the English 

Aug. 6, 1777 

251 Obisk ANT, Fort Schuyler relieved Aug. 22, 1777 

689 Be.mi3' Heights, Americans and English 

Sept. 19, 1777 

690 Stillwater, Americans and English Oct. 7, 1777 

596 Saratoga, surrender of Burgoyne Oct. 17, 1777 

124 Brandywine, Americans and English 

Sept. 11, 1777 

470 Paoli, Americans and English Sept. 20, 1777 

260 Gbr.mantown, Americans and English, Oct. 3, 1777 

612 Red Bank, Americans and English Oct. 22, 1777 

387 Monmouth, Americans and English... June 28, 1778 

705 Wyoming, massacre of the settlers July 2, 177S 

666 Schoharie, Americans and Indians July 2, 1778 

601 QuakerHill, Americans and English, Aug. 29, 17T8 
179 Cherry Valley, m.assacre of the settlers 

Nov. 11, 1778 
563 Savannah, captured by the British. . . .Dec. 29, 1778 
126 Briar Creek, Americans and English, March 3, 1779 

175 Charleston, besieged by the English, May 11, 1779 
593 Stono Ferry, Americans and English, June 20, 1779 

423 NoRWALK, burnt by the British July 12, 1799 

699 Stony Point, captured by General Wayne 

July 15, 1799 
664 Savannah, besieged by Americans Sept. 23, 1799 

176 Charleston, besieged by the British May 9, 1780 

693 Waxiiaw, massacre of Buford's men... May 29, 17S0 
609 Ramsour's Mills, American patriots and royal- 
ists June 19, 1780 

683 Springfield, Americans and English, June 23, 1780 

271 Hanging Rock, Americans and English 

Aug. 7, 1780 

147 Camden, Americans and English Aug. 15, 1780 

315 King's Mountain, Americans and English 

Oct. 7, 1780 

201 CowPENS, Americans and English Jan. 17, 1781 

201 Cowan's Ford, Americans and English, Feb. 1, 1781 

273 Haw, Americans and English Feb. 25, 1781 

266 Guilford, C. H., Americans and English 

March 16, 1781 

275 Hobkirk's Hill, Americans and English 

April 19, 1781 

250 Fort Ninety-Six, besieged bv Americans 

May 22, 1781 

68 Augusta, besieged by Americans May 23, 1781 

290 Jamestown, Americans and English. .. .July 9, 17S1 

410 New London, taken by Benedict Arnold 

Sept. 5, 1781 

411 Fort Griswold, captured by the British 

Sept. 5, 1781 
239 Eutaw Springs, Americans and English 

Sept. 8, 1781 
707 YoRKTOWN, surrender of Lord Cornwallis 

Oct. 19, 1781 
105 Blue Licks, Americans and Indians. ..Aug. 19, 1782 
487 Porto Novo, Hvder Ali and the British, Dec, 1782 

314 Kin BURN, KussLins. and Turks 1787 

447 Paris, the French R,-v<.Iut ion 1789 

623 Rimnik, Turks iin.l tlio Allk'S 1789 

93 Belgrade, besi,'i.v'l I'v the Austrians 1789 

284 Ism \il, besieged by the Russians 1790 

670 Serinqapatam, besieged by the English 1791 

80 Bangalore, besiesed by British ". .March 6, 1791 

666 8 avindroog, taken by the British 1791 



PAGE *•_"• 

112 BossuT LES Walcoto 1'92 

670 Valmy, French and the Allies Sept. 28, 1792 

291 Jkmappes, French and Austrians Nov. 6, 1792 

640 TouRNAi, taken by the French Nov. 8, 1792 

401 Namub, taken by the French Nov. 30, 1792 

408 Neeewinden, French and Austrians, March 18, 1793 

681 Warsaw, Poles and Russians April 17, 1793 

640 Tournai, captured by the French April 30, 1793 

347 Lyons, besieged by the French May 29, 1793 

357 MANHEI.M, French and Allies May 30, 1793 

669 Valenciennes, besieged by the English 

July 21, 1793 
635 Toulon, Napoleon first distinguishes himself, 

Aug. 23, 1798 

231 Dunkirk, besieged by the English Sept. 5, 1793 

474 Peripignan, French and Spaniards Sept., 1793 

853 Maestrioht, besieged by the French Sept., 1793 

478 Pebmasin, French and Prussians Sept. 14, 1793 

335 Lisle, French and Austrians Sept. 14, 1793 

693 Mauberg, besieged by the Austrians. .Sept. 29, 1793 

692 Wattignies, Austrians and French Oct. 15, 1793 

183 Cholet, Vendeans and Republicans Oct. 17, 1793 

179 Chateau Gothiere, Vendeans and Repubhcans 

Oct. 23, 1793 

254 FouGiKEis, Vendeans and Republicans 

Nov. 15, 1793 

548 Saint Florent, besieged bv the English 1793 

357 MoNS, Vendeans and Republicans Dec. 12, 1793 

186 Coblentz, taken by the French 1794 

204 Gembloux, French and Austrians 1794 

655 TuscoiNG, French and Austrians May 17, 1794 

237 EspiEERES, French and Austrians May 22, 1794 

172 CuARLEROi (Fleurus), French and Allies 

Juno 26, 1794 

681 Warsaw, besieged bv the Russians July, 1794 

120 Boxtel, French and Allies Aug. 14, 1794 

549 St. Sebastian, taken by the French 1794 

640 Toubnai, besieged by the French 1794 

147 Calvi, taken by the British 1794 

618 Wabsaw, Poles and Russians Oct. 10-12, 1794 

543 RoNCQ, French and Austrians 1794 

104 Beegen-op-Zoom, besieged by the French 1794 

889 MoNS, besieged by the French 1794 

353 Maestbicht, besieged bv the French 1794 

857 Manheim, French and Allies Sept. 20, 1795 

53 Aenheim, Prussians and French 1795 

336 Loano, French and Austrians Nov. 23, 1795 

149 Cannstadt, General Moreau and the Austrians, 1796 

390 Montbnotte, French and Austrians April, 1796 

887 Mondovi, French and Sardinians April 21, 1796 

337 LoDi, French and Austrians May 10, ljp6 

513 Renohen, French and Austrians June 28, 1T96 

841 LoNATo, French and Austrians Aug. 8, 1796 

156 Castiglione, French and Austrians Aug. 5, 1796 

25 Amberg, French and Austrians Aug. 24, 1796 

701 WuRTZBERG, French and Austrians Sept. 3, 1796 

84 Bassano, French and Austrians Sept. 9, 1796 

60 ( Arcola, French and Austrians, Nov. 15, 16, 17, 1796 

50 ( Caldiero, French and Austrians 1 ' 96 

680 ViLLiMPENTA, French and Austrians 1796 

472 Pavi A, captured by Napoleon :J,an 

542 Rome, besieged by the French *^^e 

384 Milan, besieged by Napoleon 17J6 

417 Nordlingen, Austrians and French ■•■■• t:'^^ 

3.57 Mantua, besieged by the French .Jan. 7, 1797 

580 RivoLi, French and Austrians Jan. 14, 1<97 

246 FoRLi, taken by the French 1797 

141 Cadorb, French and the Austrians 179( 

245 Fishguard, Lord Cawder defeats French 1797 

264 Gorey, English and Irish June 4, 1797 

18 Alb.xandria, besieged by Napoleon 1798 

497 Pyramids, French and Turks July 21, 1798 

158 Castlebar, English and Irish Aug. 22, 1798 

4:34 Otricolli, French defeat General Mack 1798 

897 MoRGARTEN, Swiss and French 1798 

6.34 ToRTOSA. besieged by the French 1798 

298 Jaffa, besieged by Napoleon March 13, 1798 

597 Stockach, French and Austrians. . . .March 26, 1798 

84 Bardis, Turks and French April 6, 1799 

399 Mount Tabor, French and Turks April 9, 1(99 

12 Adda, French and Allies April 26, 1799 

570 Seeing apatam. Tippoo slain May 4, 1799 

19 Alessandria, French and Allies May 17, li99 

714 Zurich, French and Allies June .'), 1.99 

644 Trebia, French and Allies June 19, 1799 

899 MountTabor, French and Tnrks May, 1799 

9 St. Jean D'Acke, besieged by the French. ... 

May 20, 1799 



720 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 



PAOB A. D. 

5 A BOiTKiB, French and Turks July 25, 1799 

357 Mantua, besieged by the Allies July 80, 1799 

423 No VI, French and Allies Aug. 4, 1799 

263 Gibraltar, besieged by French Sept. 12, 1799 

566 Savigliano, French and Austrians . . . Sept. 18, 1799 

103 ( Bergen, Allies and French Sept. 19, 1799 

21) Alkmaer, Allies and French Sept. 19, 1799 

84 Bassano, French and Austrians Oct. 2, 1799 

260 Gaza, besieged by the French 1799 

400 MuoLTA, French and Russians 1799 

384 Milan, besieged by Suwarrow 1799 

274 IIeliopolis, French and Turks 1800 

2.37 Engen, French and Austrians May 2, 1800 

884 MoESKiRCii, French and Austrians May 6, 1800 

■889 MoNTEBELLO, Austrians and French June 9, 1800 

359 Marengo, French and Austrians June 14, 1800 

277 HoiiBNLiNDEN, French and Austrians. ..Dec. 3, 1800 
384 Milan, besieged by Napoleon 1800 

18 Alexandria, French and English March 21, 1801 

318 Lasawaree, English in India 1803 

19 Alighur, taken by the English Sept. 4, 1803 

61 AssATE, Wellesley and Schindah 8«pt. 23, 1803 

12 Agra, English defeat Mahrattas Oct. 10, 1803 

52 Arguam, "Wellesley and Schindah Nov. 29, 1803 

147 Caldiero, French and the Austrians 1805 

428 Oporto, taken by the French 1805 

2-31 Durrenstein, French and the Allies 1805 

665 Ulm, surrender of General Mack Oct. 17, 1805 

68 Austerlitz, Napoleon and the Allies Dec. 2, 1805 

135 Buenos Atres, besieged by the British 

June 21, 1806 

544 Saalfeld, French and Republicans Oct. 10, 1806 

292 Jena, French and Prussians Oct. 14, 1806 

64 Auerstadt, French and Prussians Oct. 14, 1806 

269 Halle, French and Prussians Oct. 17, 1806 

495 PiTLTusK, French and Russians Dec. 26, 1806 

127 Breslau, taken by the French Jan. 8, 1807 

240 Eylau, French and Russians Feb. 8, 1807 

223 Dantzic, besieged by the French May 5, 1807 

136 Buenos Ayres^ besieged by the British. May 9, 1807 

273 Heilsberg, French and Russians June 9, 1807 

256 Friedland, French and Russians June 14, 1807 

136 Buenos Ayres, defeat of the English. . .July 6, 1807 

195 Constantinople, besieged by the English 1807 

357 KioGB, Danes and English 1807 

835 MoiiRUNGEN, French and Russians 1807 

535 Sieta Agnas, French and Spaniards 1808 

523 Rio 8 ECO, French and Spaniards July 14, 1808 

630 ViMiERA, Wellington and the French and 

Spaniards Aug. 21, 1808 

549 St. Sebastian, taken by the French... Feb. 23, 1808 

649 Tudela, French and Spaniards 1808 

80 Barcelona, taken by the French 1808 

562 Saragossa, besieged by the French 1808-9 

200 Corunna, Sir John Moore slain Jan. 16, 1809 

661 Innspruck, taken by the Tyrolese April 10, 1809 

5 Abensburg, Austrians and French April 20, 1809 

232 EcHMUiiL, Napoleon and the Austrians April 22, 1809 

510 Ratisbo.n, taken by Napoleon April 23, 1809 

428 Oporto, French and English May 11, 1809 

661 WoRGL, defeat of Austrians May 13, 1809 

56 ( Asperne, Napoleon and Archduke-Charles 

■{ Mav 22, 1809 

58 ( EssLiNO, French and Austrians May 22, 1809 

15 Alcaniz, French and Spaniards May 23, 1809 

507 Raab, Austrians and French June 14, 1809 

93 Belciiite, French and Spaniards June 18, 1809 

680 Wagbam, French and Austrians July 6, 1809 

616 Talavera, French and Allies July 27, 1809 

662 Brenner, Tyrolese and French.. . .Aug. 4 to 11, 1809 
662 Sterzingumons, Tyrolese and French.. Aug. 11, 1809 

25 Almonacid de Zouita, French and Spaniards 

Aug. 11, 1809 
662 Berg Isel, Duke of Danzig defeated .Aug. 13, 1809 
245 Flushing, bombarded by the British. .Aug. 1.5, 1809 

662 Malek, Tyrolese and French Oct. 16, 1809 

585 Silistria, besieged by the Russians 1809 

670 Valls, French and Spaniards 1809 

99 Bender, stormed by the Russians 1809 

825 Lerida, taken by the French 1810 

134 CiuDAD RoDKiGO, beslcgcd by the French 

June 11, 1810 

24 Almeida, besieged by the French. . . . Aug. 15, 1810 
1.33 BuSACO, Wellington and the French. .Sept. 26, 1810 

94 Baza, Spaniards and French 1810 

684 Tortosa, surrender of General Lille Tan. 2, 1811 

64 Bariosa, French and Allies March 6, 1811 

T5 Badajoz, besieged by French March 11, 1811 



259 FuENTEs d'Onore, French and English Mjiy 4, 1811 

24 Almeida, besieged by the French. . May 16, 1811 

14 Albueka, French and English May 16, 1811 

546 Saguntum. French and Spaniards Sept. 28, 1811 

55 Arroyo del Molino, English and French 

Oct. 28, 1811 

631 Tippecanoe, Americans and Indians.... Nov. 7, 1811 

617 Tarifa, besieged by the French Dec. 20, 1811 

223 Dantzic, sun-endered to the AUics Jan. 1, 1812 

185 CiUDAD RoDRiGo, bcsieged by the English.. 

Jan., 1812 

77 Badajoz, besieged by the English March, 1812 

24 Almaraz, French and English May 18, 1812 

433 OSTROVNO, French and Russians July 20, 1812 

567 Salamanca, French and Allies July 22, 1812 

I 483 Ostrovno, French and Russians July 26, 1812 

126 Beownstown, Americans and English.. Aug. 5, 1812 
I 225 Detroit, surrender of General Hull. . .Aug." 16, 1812 

585 Krasnoi, Russians and French Aug. 15, 1812 

585 Smolensk o, Russians and French Aug. 16, 1812 

109 MosKWA, French and Russians. Sept. 7, 1812 

I 107 Borodino, French and Russians Sept. 7, 1812 

i 897 Moscow, burnt by the Russians Sept. 9, 1812 

136 BuEGos, Castle of, besieged by the Allies 

I Sept. 18, 1812 

426 Ogdensbueg, Americans and English Oct. 2, 1812 

226 DoROGOBOozH, Russians and French... Oct. 12, 1812 
506 Queenstown, Americans and English. .Oct. 18, 1812 

855 Malo-Yaroslavetz, French and Russians 

Oct. 23, 1812 

I 585 Krasnoi, French and Russians Nov. 17, 1812 

I 101 Beresina. French and Russians . . .Nov. 26, 1812 

, 317 KowNO, French and Russians Dec. 13, 1812 

255 Frencutown, Americans and English.. Jan. 28, 1813 
426 Ogdensburg, Americans and English.. Feb. 21, 1813 
156 Castalla, French and the Austfians..April 13, 1818 

; 707 York, Americans and English April 25, 1813 

344 LuTZEN, French and Allies April 30, 1813 

248 Fort Meigs, Americans and English.. May 1, 1813 

85 Bautzen, French and Allies May 20, 1813 

269 Hampton, Americans and English May 25, 1813 

248 Fort George, Americans and English.. May 27, 1813 
544 Sackett's Harbor, Americans and English. . . 

' ' May 29, 1813 

598 Stont Creek, Americans and English.. June 8, 1813 

312 Kanth, French and Prussians 1813 

566 ScHELLENDORF, French and Prussians 1813 

126 Breslau, taken by the French 1813 

i 680 ViTTORiA, French and English June 21, 1813 

, 440 Pampeluna, French and Allies June, 1813 

203 Cranet Island, English and Americans 

June 22, 1813 
104 Black Rock, Americans and English.. July 11, 1813 

498 Pyrenees, French and Allies July 26, 1813 

252 Fort Stephenson, Major Crogan's defense 

Aug. 2, 1813 
226 Dresden, Napoleon and the Allies.... Aug. 26, 1813 

812 Katzbacii, French and Prussians Aug. 26, 1813 

817 Kulm, French and Allies Aug. 30, 1813 

249 Fort Mimms, Aug. 30, 1813 

661 San Marcial, French and Allies Aug. 81, 1813 

224 Denewitz, French and Allies Sept. 6, 1813 

549 St. Sebastian, besieged by the English 

Sept. 8, 1813 

620 Thames, Americans and English Oct. 4, 1818 

821 MocKERN, Bluchcr and Ney Oct. 14, 1813 

320 Leipsic, French and Allies Oct. 16-18, 1813 

269 Hampton's Defeat, in Canada Oct. 21, 1813 

269 HANAr, French and Bavarians Oct. 30, 1813 

63 Arniieim, French and Prussians Nov., 1813 

205 Tullusiiatchee, Americans and Indians 

Nov. 8, 1813 

95 Beaverdams, Americans and English 1813 

183 Curysler's Fields, Americans and English.. . 

Nov. 11, 1813 

206 Talladega, Americans and Indians.. .Nov. 8, 1813 
90 B a yonne, French and Allies Dec. 13, 1813 

250 Fort Niagara, taken by the British.. Dec. 19, 1813 
206 Tallapoosa, Americans and Indians... Jan. 9, 1814 
206 Emucfau Americans and Indians Jan. 22, 1814 

206 Enotochopeo, Jan. 23, 1814 

207 ToHOPEKA, Americans and Indians Jan. 27, 1814 

129 Brienne, Napoleon and Blucher Jan. 29, 1814 

179 Champaubert, French and .Miles Feb. 10, 1814 

895 Montmirail, French and Alli,-8. ...Feb. 11,12, 1814 

890 Fontainbleau. French and Allies Feb. 17, 1814 

890 Montereau, French and Allies Feb. 18, 1814 

93 Obthes, French and Allies Feb 27, 1814 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 



721 



PA.GB A. D. 

84 Bar-stik- Atjbe, French and Allies Feb. 27, 1S14 

244 Fbbk Cuampenoise, French and Allies 

Feb. 2S, 1814 

104 Bbrgen-op-Zoom, besieged by the English 

March 8, 1814 

818 Laon, French and Allies March 9, 1814 

515 RiiEiMS, Russians and French March 13, 1814 

49 Abcis-sur-Aubb, French and the Allies 

March 20, 1814 
818 La Cole Mill, Americans and British 

March 30, 1814 

464 Paris, entered by the Allies March 31, 1814 

638 Toulouse, French and English April 10, 1814 

434 Oswego, Americans and English May 5, 1814 

543 St. Dizier, French and Allies June 27, 1814 

181 Chippewa, Americans and English July 3, 1814 

413 Niagara (Lundv's Lane) July 25, 1814 

247 Fort Erie, Americans and English July 25, 1814 

593 Stonington, bombarded by the British Aug. 8, 1814 

105 Bladensbubg, Americans and English 

Aug. 25, 1814 
687 "Washington, burnt by the British . . . . Aug. 25, 1814 
484 Plattsburo, Americans and English. .Sept. 11, 1814 

811 Fort MoHexry, Americans and English 1814 

81 ( Baltimore, Americans and English.. Sept. 12, 1814 
247 Fort Boyer, Americans and English.. Sept. 15, 1814 
472 Pexsacola, taken by Gen. Jackson. . .Nov. 20, 1814 
410 New Orleans, Americans and English. .Jan. 8, 1815 

333 LioxY, French and .VUies t.... June 16, 1815 

689 Quatbe Bkas, French and Allies June 16, 1815 

689 Waterloo, Napoleon and Wellington, June 18, 1S15 

690 Wavkbs, Grouchy and Prussians 1815 

464 Paris, surrendered to the Allies July 3, 1815 

216 CuRNOUL, besieged by the British Dec. 14, 1815 

20 Algiers, bombarded by the English Aug. 2, 1816 

561 Santiago, battles of, in Peru 1817-1818 

503 E AGDiER, taken by the British 1818 

623 THBRM0PYL.E, Greeks and Turks Tuly 13, 1821 

867 Messolongiii, Marco Bozzaris slain 1823 

865 Mrrgui, taken by the British 1824 

266 GuAMAGA, Spaniards and Peruvians 1824 

69 Ayaoucho, Spaniards and Peruvians Dec. 9, 1824 

865 Megaspelion, besieged by the Turks 1828 

643 Tripolitza, besieged by the Greeks 1826 

643 Tripolitza, taken by Ibrahim Pacha 1828 

671 Varna, taken by the Kussians 1828 

81 Balkan, Turks and Russians July 2G, 1829 

535 Silistria, besieged by the Russians 1829 

465 Paris, French Revolution July, lS-30 

266 Gkochow, Poles and Russians Feb. 19, 1831 

432 Ostrolenko, Poles and Rus-sians Feb. 30, 1831 

682 SiEDLECB, Poles and Russians April 10, 1831 

483 O^TROLBVKO, Poles ?ind Russians May 26, 1831 

684 WiLK A, Poles and Russians June 12, 1831 

685 WiLNA, Poles and Russians June 18, 1831 

483 Prague, Poles and Russians Aug., 1831 

686 Warsaw, Poles and Russians Sept. 6, 1831 

44 Antwerp, besieged by the French Dec. 8, 1832 

247 Fort Dade, massacre of M.ajor Dade and troops, 

Dec, 18-35 
559 San Jacinto, Texans and Mexicans... April 21, 1836 

104 Bilboa, besiesed by the Carlists Dec. 25, 1836 

508 R.vmales, Carlists defeated 1837 

245 FoNTERABiA, defeat of the Carlists 1837 

696 Windmill Point, Canadian patriots and royal- 
ists 1837 



page a. d. 

186 Constantina, French and Arabs Oct. 13, 188T 

397 Morella, taken by the Carlists 1838 

262 Ghuznee, taken by the British July 23, 1839 

417 NisiB, Ibrahim Pacha and Turks 1839 

318 KuRROCiiEE, taken by the British 1839 

149 Canton, bombarded by Brilish June 28, 1840 

11 St. Jean d'Acke, bombarded by the English, 

Nov. 3, 1840 

397 Morella, taken bv Espartero 1840 

149 Canton, bombarded by British Feb. 26, 1841 

149 Canton, bombarded by the British May 25, 1841 

26 Amoy, bombarded by the Brilish Aug. 27, 1841 

313 KuuRD Kabool, English and Aflghans 1841 

268 GuNDAMircK, massacre of British troops 1842 

396 MooDKEE, British and Sikhs 1845 

21 Aliwal, British and Sikhs Jan. 28, 1846 

588 SoBKAON, British and Sikhs Feb. 10, 1846 

439 Palo Alto, Americans and Mexicans, May 7, 1846 
513 Resaca de la Palma, Americans and Mexicans 

May 9, 1846 
391 Monterey, Americans and Mexicans.. Sept. 24, 1846 
131 BuENA Vista, Americans and Mexicans 

Feb. 27, 1847 
672 Vera Cruz, besieged by Gen. Scott, March 26, 1847 
163 Cerko Gordo, Americans and Mexicans 

April 17, 1847 
180 Cherubusco, Americans and Mexicans 

Aug. 10, 1847 
490 Puenta Nacional, Americans and Mexicans 

Aug. 11, 1847 
198 Contreras, Americans and Mexicans.. Aug. IS, 1847 
385 MoLiNO del Key, Americans and Mexicans... 

Sept. 8, 1847 
170 Chapultepec, Americans and Mexicans 

Sept. 12, 1847 

381 Mexico, Americans and Mexicans Sept. 15, 1847 

280 IIuAMAULTA, Americans and Mexicans, Oct. 9, 1847 

617 Stuiileweissenburg, Hungarians and Aus- 

tiians Sept. 29, 1848 

618 Bud A, besieged by the Hungarians April, 1849 

618 Szoregii, Hungarians and Austrians.. .Aug. 5, 1849 

619 Te.meswar, Hungarians defeated 1849 

283 Instedt, Danes and Slcheswick-Holsteiners 1850 

427 Oltenitza, Russians and Turks Nov. 4, 1853 

312 Kalafat, Russians and Turks.. .March 11-16, 1854 

426 Odessa, bombarded by the Allies April 21, 1854 

586 Silistria, besieged by the Russians. . . May 17, 1854 
184 CiTATE, Russians and Turks June 6, 1854 

22 Alma, Russians and Allies Sept. 20, 1854 

571 Balaklava, charge of the 600 Oct. 2.5, 1854 

571 Sevastopol, invested by the Allies Sept. 28, 1854 

283 Inkermann, Russians and Allies Nov. 5, 1854 

237 Eupatoria, Russians and Turks Feb. 25, 1855 

577 TcHERNAYA, Russiaus repulsed Aug. 16, 1855 

578 Sevastopol, final assault Sept. 5, 1855 

237 Eupatoria, Russians and Turks Sept. 29, ia55 

312 Kars, Russiiins and Turks Sept, 29, 1855 

283 Ingour, Russians and Turks Nov. 6, 1855 

312 Kertcii, Russians and Allies Dec. 16, 1855 

525 Rivas, Gen. Walker and Nicaraguans, June 29, 1855 
627 Santa Rosa, Nicaraguans and Costa Ricans... 

March 20, 1856 
527 RivAS, Nicaraguans and Costa Ricans, April 11, 1856 

530 Massaya, Walker and Nicaraguans Oct. 12, 18.56 

530 Granada, Walker and Nicaraguans. . . .Oct. 13, 1856 



ALPHABETICAL INDEI. 



Abares, the khan of, besieges Constantinople, 187. 
Abel de Bbidieus de la Gardampe, a knight of Malta, 

killed at the siege of Malta, 856. 
Abderame, or Abdenahman, king of the Moslems, killed 

at the battle of Tours, 642. 
Abdoulmoumen, an Arab monarch, at siege of Tunis, 650. 
ABDtr-En-RAHMA>', a Moorish chieftain at siege of 

Zamora, 718. 
Abimei.ecii, son of Gideon, killed at siege of Thebes in 

Palestine, 622. 
Aboo-Melik, a Moorish chieftain, at the siege of Eonda, 

5*3. 
Abou-Obeidah enters Antioch, 27. 
Abaux AtouB.captaiii at third siege of Conslantinople,lS7. 
Abradates, king of Lusiana, anecdote of, 627; his death, 

628. 
Abkaham, the patriarch, 314. 
Abrahim Bky. at battle of Heliopolis, 274 
Abured, colonel, at Dundee, 230. 
Abydenians, defeated, 6. 

AcciEN, grandson of Malek Schah, besieged in Antioch, 
28 ; unsuccessful attack of, on Crusaders, 30 ; makes 
a truce with Crusaders, 82; his death, 35. 
Accius Varus, killed at battle of Munda, 400. 
AcHAB, king of Palestine, at the battle of Samaria, 559. 
Acii^ANS, at Corinth, 195. 
AcH^AN League, 197. 
Achat, reduced to a Roman province, 197. 
AciiAN, the Judean, stoned to death with his family, 14. 
Aohabd, General, 44. 
AciiMET, Pacha, at Citate, 184. 
AcuLAND, Major, at battle of Bemus' Heights, 589; 

•wounded at battle of Stillwater. 593. 
Ad AD, king of Syria, at the siege of Samaria, 558. 
Adams, Brigadier, at battle of the Alma, 24. 
Adams, Sir Francis, at Waterloo, 691. 
Adams, Samuel, ordered to be arrested, 829. 
Adiibmar, bishop, at Antioch, 30. 
Admetus, a general of Alexander the Great, killed at 

siege of Tyre, 657. 
Adrian, a magistrate of Leyden, his heroism at the siege 

ofLeyden, 382. 
Adrian, Pope, calls upon the aid of Charlemagne against 

Didier, king of the Lombards, 470. 
Adrastus, king of the Argives, 621. 
JElius Adrianus, 300. 

uEmilius, L., chosen consul of Rome, and fights Hanni- 
bal at Caniiw, 148. 
jEtius, the Roman general at the siege of Orleans, 428; 

at battle of ChiUons, 170. 
Afdiial, Emir, in command of Egyptians at Areola, 55; 

his sorrow and despair, 56. 
Afoiians, at Ghuznee, 262; at Gundamuck, 268; at 

Khurd Kabool, 313. 
Afranius, at the battle of Pharsalia, 474. 
Agamemnon, king of Mycenas, at siege of Troy, 649. 
AoESiLAUs, appointed to the coinniand of the Lacedae- 
monian army, 320; at the battle of Mantinea, 368. 
AoiAS, an Arcadian, killed by the Persians, 216. 
Agnkw, Brigadier-General, killed at Germantown, 262. 
Agricola, in command of Scots, at Grampian Hills, 264. 
Ahaz, king of Judaji, at siege of Jerus.aleni, 295. 
Ahenoiiarbus, in command of the fleet of Brutus, 477. 
Ainadin, battle of, 228. 

AiSQUiTH, captain, at skirmish of Bear's Creek, 82. 
Alario, king of the Goths, at the siege of Rome, 537; 

besiet'es Rome a second time, ihid. 
Alava, General, at the battle of Salamanca, 556. 
Albert, Archduke of Austria, at the siege of Lisle, 835. 
Alebrt, Constable d', slain, 70. 
Albert, king of Sweden, at battle of Falki''ping, 244. 
Albergotii, Lieutenant-General, at siege of Turin, 655. 



Albiqbois, crusade against the, 637. 

Albinus, a Roman general at the battle of Lyons, 347 ; 

death of, 347. 
Albion, king of the Lombards, at the siege of Pavia, 470. 
Albubtis, Captain, killed at the siege of Vera Cruz, 672. 
Alcibiades, besieges Byzantium, 1.39. 
Alcaldes, appointed by Pizarro, at Cuzco, 216. 
Alcimus, a general of Demetrius, at the siege of Rhodes, 

519. 
Alderete, an officer of Cortez, at the siege of Mexico, 379. 
Alexander, the Great, heroism of, at Arbela, 48 ; defeats 
Darius, ildd.; at Athens, 63; first distinguishes him- 
self at battle of Chccronea, 167; at the battle of the 
Granieus, 265; at the siege of Gaza, 259; at the siege 
of Thebes, 621 ; takes Jerusalem, 296 ; at the siege of 
Tyre, 656; his cruelty, 658; visits the camp of the 
Athenians before the battle of Platwa, 4S(i ; at the 
battle of Issus, 287 ; at the battle of the Hydaspes, 
281; divides his kingdom among his generals, 516; 
at Persepolis, 472. 
Alexander I., Emperor of Russia, ISO; at Warsaw, 680; 
at the battle of Dresden, 228 ; at Bautzen, 87; at 
battle of Leipsie, 820. 
Alexander, or Paris, son of Priam, carries oflF Helena of 

Troy, 649. 
Alexander, Prince of Wirtemberg, in command of in- 
fantry at Belgrade, 97. 
Alexandrian, library destroyed, 16. 
Alee, adherents of, in the battles of Seefln, 568. 
Alenoon, Duke of, at the siege of Pavia, 471 ; slain at 

Azincour, 70. 
Alexius, son of Isaac Angelns, Emperor of Constanti- 
nople, implores succor for his father from Christian 
princes, 1S7; his cowardice, 36; crowned Emperor 
of Constantinople, 189 ; assassinated, 191. 
Ali, Hyder, at the battle of Porto Novo, 487. 
Ali Khan, proclaimed Viceroy of Bengal, Bahar, and 
Arixa, 140; puts Suraja-ul-Dowlah, iho Nabob, to 
death, 147. 
Allatus, a Syracusan, discloses scheme of Marcellus to 

capture Syracuse by intrigue, 615. 
Allen, Mr., a clergyman, bravery of, at Bennington, 100. 
Allen, General Charles, in command of British troops at 

Bayonne, 90. 
Allen, Ethan, Col., at the capture of Ticonderoga, 631. 
Allonvillb, General, at battle of Eupatoria, 237. 
Almonte, a Mexican General, at battle of San Jacinto, 

560 ; made prisoner, 561. 
Almagro, an officer of Pizarro, 5. 
Alonzo el Sabio, at the battle of Merida, 365. 
Alton, General, wounded at Salamanca, 658. 
Alphonso I., at Saragossa, 568. 
Alphonso, a prince of the house of Burgundy, assumes 

the title of King of Portugal, 885. 
ALPnoNso VL, at Tbleda, 633. 
Alphonso, king of Arragon, at siege of Naples, 402. 
Alva, Duke of, in command of the army of Philip IL, 

553 ; at siege of Naples, 403. 
Alvarado, an officer of Cortez, at battle of Ceutla, 165; 
cruel scheme of, at Mexico. 366; at the siege of Mex- 
ico, 375 ; his famous leap, 375. 
Alvarez, General, in command of Mexicans in battle of 

Molina del Rey, 386. 
Alvinzi, an Austrian general, at battle of Areola, 51 : at 

battle of Rivoli, 530. 

Amuercrombie, General, at Ticonderoga, 630. 

Ambercrombie, Col., killed at battle of Bunker's Hlll,^116. 

Ambkrcrombie, Lieutenant, at siege of Yorktown, 710. 

Americans, at siege of Augusta, 68; at Baltimore, 81 ; at 

Fort McHenry, ihid.; at skirmish of Bear's Creek. 81 ; 

at Beaverdams, 94; at Bemus' Heights, .')92; at Ben- 

ninston Heights. 9'.t; at Black Rock, 104; at battle 

of Bladensburg, 105 ; at battle of Blue Licks, 105 ; at 



ALPHABETICAL LN'DEX 



723 



the siege of Boston, 112; at Bunker's Hill, 112; at 
the battle of the Brandy wine, 124 ; at Briar Creek, 
126; at Brooklyn (Long Island), 127; at Buena Vista, 
131; at Briar Creek, 126; at Brownstown, 126; at 
Camden, 147; at Cerro Gordo, 163; at Chapultepec, 
ITO; at Charleston, 173; at Cherry Valley, 179; at 
battle of Chippewa, 181 ; at Chrystler's Fields, 183; 
at Contreras, 198 ; at Cowan's Ford, 201 ; at battle of 
the Cowpens, 201; at Crauey Island, 2u8; at Detroit, 
225 ; at battle of Eutaw Sprinsrs, 2:J8 ; at Fairfield, 24o|; 
at Fort Boyer, 247; at Fort Brown, 515; at Fort du 
Quesne, 122; at Fort Erie, 247; at Fort Griswold, 411 ; 
at Fort George, 248; at Fort Meigs, 249; at Fort 
Mimms, 249 ; at Fort Niagara, 250 ; at Fort Ninety-Six, 
250 ; at Fort Schuyler, 250 ; at battle of Oriskany, 251 ; 
at Frenchtown, 255 ; at Fort Washnigton, 253 ; at Fort 
Stephenson, 252 ; at Fort Talladega, 206 ; at German- 
town, 260; at Guilford 0. H., 266; at Hampton, 269; 
at Hanging Eock, 271 ; at Harlem Plains, 271 ; at 
battle of the Haw, 273 ; at Hobkirk's Hill, 275 ; at 
Hubbardton, 2S0 ; at Huamantia, 280 ; at Jamestown, 
290 ; at La Cole Mill, 318 ; at Lexington, 329 ; at Mexico, 
881 ; at Molina del Key, 3S5; at Monmouth, 387; at 
Moore's Creek Bridge, 396; at Monterey, 391 ; at New 
London, 410 ; at New Orleans, 411 ; at Niagara (Lun- 
dy's Lane), 413 ; at Norfolk, 417 ; at Norwalk, 423; at 
Ogdensburg, 426 ; at Paoli, 470 ; at Palo Alto, 439 ; at 
Pequot Hill, 473; at the battle of Plattsburg, 484; at 
battle of Princeton, 4S8; at Puenta Nacional, 490; at 
Quaker Hill, 501; at Quebec, 501; at Queenstown, 
506; at Ranisom's Mills, 509; at Eed Bank, 513; at 
Eesaca de la Palma,513; at Backett's Harbor, 544; 
-at Saratoga, 592 ; at siege of Savannah, 562 ; at Scho- 
harie, 566; at Springfield, 588; at Stillwater, 592; at 
Btonington, 598; at Stony Point, 599; Stony Creek, 
698; at Stono Ferry, 598; at Talapoosa, 206; at Tal- 
lushatchee, 205; at battle of the Thames, 620; at 
Ticonderoga, 631 ; at Tippecanoe, 631 ; at Trenton, 
646; at Tripoli, 648; at Vera Cruz, 672; at Waxhaw, 
693; at White Plains, 693; at Windmill Point, 696; 
at York, 707; at Yorktown, 707. 

Amanus, Admiral, of fleet of Licinius, defeated by fleet 
of Constantine, 140. 

Amherst, Lord, at the siege of Louisburg, 341. 

Amilcar, a Carthaginian general, killed at first siege of 
Cremona, 207. 

Amilcar, at battle of Crimesus, 210. 

Amilo AR, Barca, a Carthaginian general, at siege of Tunis, 
649. 

Ampudia, General, in command of Mexicans at Monterey, 
3',)4. 

Amuratii I., his singular dream, and its fulfillment in his 
death, 156. 

Amuratu IL, at battle of Varna, 671 ; besieges Belgrade, 
95. 

Amuratii IV., at siege of Bagdad, 81 ; anecdote of, ibid. 

Amrou, Lieutenant of the Caliph Omar, besieges Pelis- 
ium, and Alexandria, 16; destroys the Alexandrian 
library, ibid ; razes the walls of Alexandria, 17 ; at the 
Siege of Gaza, 26i». 

Anchiala, city of, built by Sardanapulus in one day, 287. 

And AGES, an Ostrogoth noble, kills Theodoric, king of the 
Visigoths, 170. 

Andelo r, brother of Coligny, at siege of Calais, 146. 

Andre', John, Major, his capture, trial, and execution, 590. 

Andre', a Spanish commander, at battle of Jerba, 294. 

Andrekbn, Maislial, mane prisoner at battle of Poictiers, 
487. 

Andrews, Colonel, at b.ittle of Molina del Key, 386. 

Anditslu, Pacha, made prisoner at the siege of Ismael, 
285. 

Anecdotes, of Philip of Macedon, at Abydos, 7; of 
Colonel Vernon, at St Jean d' Acre, 11 ; of Constan- 
tine the Great, 12 ; of Amrou, the Saracen, 17 ; of 
Caliph Omar, 27 ; of Florine, wife of Eudes I., Duke 
of Burgundy, 29; of Bohemond, Prince of Tarentum, 
80 ; of the Bishop of Puy, 30 ; of Peter the Hermit, 
87; of Arbogastes the Frank, 46; of Napoleon Bona- 
parte, 49 ; of the same, 51 ; of PjTrhus, 52 ; of 
Marshal Turenne, 54; of Bonaparte and Lannes, 61 ; 
of the dog of Xantippns, 62 ; of Sylla, 63 ; of same, 
64 ; of Darius, king of Persia, and Zopyrus. 73 ; of 
Semiramus, 75, of Colonel Eidgeat siege of Badajoz, 
80; of the Sultin Amurath IV. and the musician, 
81 ; of Francis Key. the author of the " Star Spangled 
Banner,"' 82; of Croquart. 85; of Napoleon and 
Duroc, 89; of General Stark and the parson, at Ben- 
nington Heights, 100 ; of Major McGarry, at battle 
of Blue Licks, 106; of Napoleon, 108; of Colonel 



Prescott at Bunker Hill, 114; of Major Pltcairn 
at battle of Bunker Hill, 116; of Kichard III., 119; 
of Philip I., of France, 120; of Otho, Emperor of 
Germany, 120; of William, Prince of Orange, 122; 
of George Washington, 123 ; of General Braddock, 
123 ; of Napoleon at Brienne, 130 ; of Napoleon at 
Smolensko, 587; of General Taylor at Buena Vista, 
135; of Edward III., of England, his queen, and the 
knights of Calais, 145; of the heroic citizens of Calais. 
144 ; of Mary, queen of England, 146 ; of Asdrubal, 
the treacherous Carthaginian, 152 ; of the wife of 
Asdrubal, 154; of Colin Zannequin, the fisherman, 
155; of Amurath L, 156; of General Talbot, 158; of 
Attila, king of the Huns, 169; of>St. Just, com« 
mander of the French before Charleroi, 172 ; of 
Serjeant Jasper at siege of Fort Moultrie, 175 ; of the 
American deserters at Cherubusco, 181; of General 
Scott at Chippewa, 182 ; of Dandolo, Doge of Venice, 
18S: of Mourzoufle, 191 ; of Caius Marcius at CorioUi, 
197; of Joan d'Arc, ISS; of Colonel Washington and 
Tarleton, 203; of the king of Bavaria at Cressy, 205; 
of Edward III. at Cressy, 204; of Prince Eugene at 
the siege of Cremona, 209; of Xenophou and Cyrus, 
213; of Hernando Pizarro and the Inca Manco, 217; 
of Caulah, sister of Derar, 223; of Philip the Good at 
Dinant, 226 ; of Cond6 and Montmorency, 229 ; of 
James IL, 231; of Mohammed the Prophet, 312; of 
Major Ferguson at battle of King's Mountain, 815; 
of Archidamia, a heroic woman at the siege of Lace- 
da'mon, 318; of Adrian, governor of Leyden, 332; 
of the women of Livron and Henry III, 336; of Gu«- 
tavus Adolphus at; battle of Lutzen, 343 ; of Napoleon 
at battle of Lutzen, 846 ; of Marshal d'Estrades, 852 ; 
of Mustapha Pacha and the gallant knights of Malta, 
857 ; of Calias, a treacherous Greek, 859; of the Con- 
stable de Bourbon, 862 ; of Isodus, son of Pha'bidas, 
363; of Epaminondas, 365; of Cortez and a Mexican 
warrior, 371 ; of Montezuma, 307 ; of Al varado at tho 
battle of the Causeway, 375; of the Chevalier Bayard 
and the Duke of Milan, 384; of Prince Eugene'and 
the Marquis de la Florida, 384; of Duncan at battle 
of Molina del Eey, 386; of General Washington and 
General Lee at battle of Monmouth, 888 ; of Cicsar 
at the battle of Munda, 400; of Charles the Bold. 
Duke of Burgundy, at siege of Nancy, 401 ; of a tailor 
at the siege of Naples, 402; of the Duke of Alva, 403; 
of Charles XII. at Battle of Narva, 405, 407 ; of tho 
Czarafis Arteschelon, 406; of Hannibal the Great, 
410 ; of Colonel Ledyard and his murderer, Bromfleld, 
411 ; of Colonel Miller at battle of Niagara, 414; of 
Colonel Jessup and a Serjeant at Niagara, 415; of 
Joan of Arc and Charles VII., 431 ; of Sir William 
Douglas and Hotspur, 435 ; of Zenobia, queen of 
Palmyra, 4;'.8; of Bishop Gauzlin, 441 ; of Henry III. 
and his murderer, the monk Clement, 445; of M. 
Foulon, 4>4; of Komulus Augustulus, 470 ; ofMolac 
do Kercado at the siege of Pavia, 472 ; of Thais, an 
Athenian courtezan, 4r3 ; of Brutus and Cassius, 477 ; 
of Porcia, wife of Brutus, 478: of the Cardinal de 
Perigord before the battle of Poictiers, 486; of Ed- 
ward the Black Prince, and King John of France, 4S7 ; 
of General Mercer, at the battle of Princeton, 489 ; of 
Peter the Great, 494 ; of Wolfe and Montcalm at the 
siege of Quebec, 503 ; of Count Eaymond of Toulouse, 
638 ; of Brennus and the Romans, 536; of Burbot in 
the defense of the mill, 532; of the Duke of Anjou, 
531 ; of Jean Guiton, 5.32 ; of Porus and Alexander, 
282 ; of the woman who ate her child at Jerusalem, 
298; of the pig and elephant at siege of Edessa, 234; 
of Camillas, Dictator of Eome, 243 ; of the dog Mus- 
tapha at the battle of Fontenoy, 246 ; of Baldwin and 
the Prince of Edessa, 234; of Caliph Amrou, 260; of 
Megrel, upon witnessing the death of Charles XII., 
255; of the Horatii and 'Curiatii, 279 ; of Francisco, a 
brave Virginian, at battle of Guilford, 268 ; of Philip 
IL of France, 264; of Charles XII., 255 ; of Alexander 
the Great at Gaza, 260 ; of Napoleon at Friedland, 
257; of Egesimachusand Nicanor, 281 ; of Napoleon 
and Caulaincourt at battle of Hanau, 270; of Henry 
III. of England, 240; of Caractacus, 585; of Marshal 
Ney, 587 ; of a citizen of La Eochelle, 5.33 ; of Rutilus, 
a Roman oflicer, at the siege of Rome, 539 ; of Chor- 
samantes at the siege of Rome. 538 ; of Alaric, king of 
the Goths, 537 ; of the death of Count Pulci at Rome, 
541 ; of the Hermit of Eome, 541 ; of the Duke of 
Bburbon, 541 ; of Trajan, a Eoinan oflicer, 539 ; of a 
Gotli at the siege of Rome, 538; of TorLila, king of 
the Goths, 540 ; of Azzes, a Eoman oflicer. ,o39 ; of 
the Duke of Wellington, 556; of Joram, King of Pal- 



724 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



cstine, and the woman of Samaria, 559 ; of Elijah the 
Prophet, 559; of Deaf Smith at the battle of San 
Jacinto, 560; of Lord Monmouth, 568; of Arnold von 
Winkelreid, 570; of Lieutenant Kidd at siege of 
Sevastopol, 576; of a wounded soldier at Sevastopol, 
576 ; of Tarmut, an ally of the Romans, 539 ; of Ser- 
geant Jasper at Savannah, 565; of the Hessians at the 
surrender of Burgoyne, 594; of Colonel Cilley at 
battle of Stillwater, 593; of Colonel Windham at 
siege of Sevastopol, 5S2 ; of Burgoyne and Gates at 
the surrender of Burgoyne, 596; of Peter the Her- 
mit, 805; of Colonel Zebulon Butler, 705; of Sinan, 
the Jew, and Barbarossa IL, the celebrated pirate, 
653; of General "VVayne at Stony Point, 600; of Con- 
rad, son of Marquis of Montfcrrat, 661 ; of Vauban, a 
French general, at siege of Valenciennes, 668; of 
Nicias, commander of the Athenian army besieging 
Syracuse, 607 ; of Milo, the Crotonian Hercules, 603 ; 
of Charles XII. and his secretary, 602; of two monks 
at battle of St. Jacob, 548; of Archimedes, the 
mathematician, 616; of Tlmoclea, a Theban lady, 
622; of Marcellus at siege of Syracuse, 614; of Col. 
Aves at siege of Buda, 618 ; of Leonidas, the Spartan, 
623; ofCohorn, the engineer, 654; of Alexander the 
Great, 621; of Marshal "de Marsin, 655; of the Green 
Knight, 660; of Abradates, King of Lusiana, and his 
wife Panthea, 627 ; of Eleocles and Polynices, sons 
'^f (Edipus, King of Thebes, 621 ; of Louis XII. at 
siege of Tournai, 639; of Philip VL of France, 638; 
ofFontrailles, a French officer, atsiege of Therouanne, 
63S ; of Charles Martel at battle of Tours, &^i2 ; of 
Joan d'Arc at Troyes, 649; of Picton at Waterloo, 
69; of Cato, 666; of Julius Casar, 667; of the Indian 
women in Wyoming, 701; of the Princess D'Epinoi, 
639; of the Count do Serini at siege of Vienna, 676; 
, of Edward IV. and the Lancasterian Prince of 
Wales, 619; of Esther, an Indian queen, 705; of 
Abimelech, son of Gideon, 6^2; of Andrew Jackson, 
693; of a soldier at siege of Vienna, 676; of Charles 
II., 700 ; of Colonel Ethan Allen, 631. 

Aneli-o, a mason, conducts troops of Alpbonso into 
Kaples, 402. 

Angei.l'S, Isaac, emperor of Constantinople, dethroned 
and imprisoned by his brother, 187 ; reinstated, 1S9 ; 
his death, 191. 

Angouleme, Duke d'. Insults Marshal Marmont, 469. 

Anhalt, Prince of, at siege of Straslund, 6ol. 

Anjou, Duke of, at battle of Jaruac, 291. 

Anne of Austria, death of, 640. 

Anschenc, Bishop, conduct of, at siege of Paris, 441. 

Antioonus, one of the Generals of Alexander the Great, 
attains great power in Macedon, 516; at siege of 
Tyre, 058 ; killed at battle of Ipsus, 284. 

Antigonus, Deson, at siege of Corinth, 195. 

ANTiocntrs, king of Syria, at the battle of Eaphia, 510. 

Antipater, a general of Alexander the Great, 63, 621 ; 
atCranon,203. 

Anthony, Lieutenant, at Fort Stephenson, 253. 

Antony, Mark, at the battle of Pbilippi, 476; at the 
battle of Pharsalia, 474 

Ap-Tiiomas, Sir Kice, 118. 

Appius Claudius, at the siege of Messina, 865 ; at siege 
of Syracuse, 613. 

Appolonides, deprived of his rank and occupation for 
opposing Xenophon, 216. 

Aqueduct of Naples, used to gain admittance to that 
city, 401,402. 

Arabs, at Constantina, 186; at Tunis, 650-653; at battle 
of the Pyramids, 497 ; at battle of Tours, 640 ; at 
Aquileia, 46; at Jerusalem, oUO; at battle of Neha- 
wund, 409. 

Araspks, a Median nobleman, at battle of Thymbra, 626. 

Abatus, chief of the Achaans, forms project of taking 
Corinth, 195. 

Arbaces, governor of Media, at siege of Nineveh, 417. 

Arbogastes the Frank, assassinates Augustus, 46; his 
character and intrigues, ibid. ; elevates Eugenius to 
the throne of the Empire of the West, ibid. ; defeated 
at battle of Aquileia. 47 ; his death, ibid. 

Arbutiinot, Admiral, at Charleston, 1780, 176. 

Arc, d', see Joan. 

Akciielaus, a lieutenant of Mithridates, king of Pontus, 
heroism of, 64, at battle of Chseronea, 167; takes 
possession of Athens, frx 

AKniiMRDEs, the mathematician, invents machines for 
the defense of Syracuse, 614; killed by a Roman 
soldier, 616. 

Aechidamus, son of Agesilaus, at the battle of Leuctra, 
327 ; at Mantinca, 363 ; at the siege of Plata-a, 481. 



ARniiAS, a Spartan governor of Thebes, killed, 621. 

Arciiidamia, a heroine at the siege of Lacedirmon, 318. 

Arcon, Chevalier D', at siege of Gibraltar, 263. 

Ardaric, king of the 6epid:v in command of the left 
wing of the army of Attila, at battle of Chnlons, 170. 

Arentsciiild, General, at the battle of Salamanca, 557. 

Argenteau, D', General, at battle of Montenotte, 890. 

Arget, kills twenty-seven of the enemy, iu the siege of 
Odessa, with his own hand. 233. 

Akgives, battle of the, 52 ; at Argos, 62. 

Argyle, Earl of, at battle of Flodden. 245. 

Argyle, Duke of, at battle of Dumblane, 230. 

Arimnestus, kills Mardonius, 481. 

Arista, General, in command of the Mexicans at the 
battleof Palo Alto, 439. 

Aristaphernes, a general of Darius, at the battle of 
Marathon, .358. 

Akistides, the Athenian general, at battle of Marathon, 
358; at the battlf of Plataa, 480. 

Aeistius, 52. 

Ariston, death of, 64. 

Aristobuhs. 296. 

Armagnac, D', general at the battle of Bayonne. 

Armagnacs, the, at siege of Paris, 441. 

Arminius, his famous victory over the Romans under 
Varus, 696. 

Armstrong, John, general, at battle of Germantown, 261 ; 
at Charleston, 173. 

Armstrong, Major, his gallant defense of Fort McHenry, 
82. 

Arnold, Benedict, at Quebec, 504; -wounded, 506; at 
the battle of Bemus' Heights, 590; his valor at the 
battle of Stillwater, 593; wounded, 594; his treason,^ 
590 ; at New London, 410; character of, 590. 

Arnold, of Winkelried, a knight of Unterwalden, slain 
at the battle of Sempach, 569. 

Arnoul, of Kohcs, chaplain of the Duke of Normandy, 
304. 

Aknsa, Don Joseph de, at the siege of Magdeburg, 355. 

Arran, Earl of, at the battle of Piiikey, 478. 

Aer.es, a Persian general, in command of barbarian forces 
collected by Cyrus, 211. 

Arsinoe, wife and sister of Ptolemy, heroism of, 510. 

Artagnan, Count d', killed at the siege of Maestricbt, 
351. 

Artapolis, the favorite of Cyrus, killed at Cunaxa, 214. 

Artaxerxes, elevated to the throne of Persia, 211 ; at 
Cunaxa, 213. 

Artaxerxes Longimanus, king of Persia, sends an army 
against luarus, 139. 

Artemisia, widow of Mansolus of Caria, besieged by 
Rhodians in Halicarnassus, 515. 

Aetesciielon, son of the king of Georgia, taken prisoner 
at Narva, 406. 

Artiu'r, Prince, killed by John of England. 544. 

Artillery, used first at battle of Cressy, 204 ; first used 
at sieges, 543 ; enormous pieces of, cast by Moham- 
med, 194; a novel piece of, constructed by Carey at 
Wyoming, 703. 

Artimisia, at the siege of Rhodes, 516; at the battle of 
Salamis, ibid. 

Arundel, Earl of, at the siege of Paris, 442. 

Assassinations, of the Duke of Guise by Poltrot, 482 ; 
of Adjutant General Duphot, 542; of Amu rath I., 
156; of the governors of Syracuse. 616; of Henry VL 
by the Duke of Gloucester, afterward Richard III., 
620 ; of Odoacer and his son, by Theodoric, 511 ; of 
Odenathus, king of Palmyra, by Malonis, 435; of 
Herod, son of Odenathus, 486 ; of Henry III., 446 ; 
of the Prince of Conde, 291 ; of James III., 562; of 
Ledyard, by Bromfleld, 411; of tlie Cardinal de 
Lorraine, 444. 

Asdrubai., revenges an insult given him by the Cartha- 
ginians, 1.52, 154; his wife, deserted by her husband 
when in danger, destroys her children and then her- 
self, 154. 

AsDRUBAL, brother of Hannibal, at Utica, 665; defeated 
and killed at battle of Metaurus, 409. 

AspAsiA, the mistress of Cyrus, captured by Artaxerxes, 
214. 

Asii, John, General, -with Lincoln, 176; at battle of Briar 
Creek, 126. 

Asn-woRTii, General, in command of Portuguese at Ba- 
yonne, 91 : wounded, 91. 

Aston, Sir Arthur, at the siege of Drogheda, 229. 

Astyages, king of Media, death of 625. 

Assyrians, at the battle of Ragau, 508 ; at Samaria, 559. 

Atiieling, Edgar, atsiege of Jerusalem, 302. 

Atuenians, at Byblos, 139; at Byzantium, 139 ; at siege 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



725 



of Cbasronsea, 167 ; at battle of Plataea, 480 ; at siege 
of Plataea, 481 ; at siege of Sardte, 502 ; at Bolygia, 
583 ; at siege of Syracuse, G(I3 ; at Torone, 637. 

Atlee, Colonel, made prisoner at battle of Long Island, 
129. 

Athuallpa, Inca of Peru, vanquishes his brother, 159; 
taken prisoner by Pizarro, 101 ; death of, 161. 

Attalus, at battle of Issus, 288. 

Attila, king of the Huns, at the siege of Orleans, 428 ; 
his disastrous defeat at Chalons, 169. 

AuDELBY, Lord, at the battle of Poictiers, 486. 

AuDLEY, Lord, a leader of the Cornish rebels, executed, 
104. 

AuDLEY, Lord, commander of Lancasterian army at battle 
of Bloreheath, slain, 105. 

Aher, Colonel, death of, 618. 

AuGEitEAU, Marshal, wins battle of Castiglione, and re- 
ceives title of Duke of Castiglione, 157 ; wounded in 
the battle of Eylau ; at Jena, 293; at Loano, 336; at 
Leipsic, 320. 

Augustus, Prince, at battle of Leipsic, 323. 

AuGUSTLTLUs, Komulus, Kmperor of the West, banished 
by Odoacer, king of the Heruli, 470. 

AuLiCK, Captain, at siege of Vera Cruz, 673. 

AuBELiAN, Emperor of "Rome, at siege of Palmyra, 437; 
celebration of his '• triumph," 438. 

AuBEi'p, General, killed at battle of Mohrungcr, 385. 

AusTKiANs, at Abensburg, 5; at the battle of the Adda, 
11 ; at Alessandria, 19 ; at Almanza, '24 ; at Amberg, 
25; atArafing, 26; at Arcis-sur-Aubj, 49; at Areola, 
50; at Aspern and Essling, 56; at Austerlitz, 68; at 
Barcelona, 84 ; at Bassano, 84 , at Bautzen, 86 ; at 
Belgrade, 95; at Bossut-les-Walcour, 112; at Brcs- 
lau, 126; at Brienne, 129; at Cadore, 141; at Cal- 
diero, 147; at Cannstadt, 149; at Castiglione, 157 , at 
Ceresole, 163; at Charleroi, 172; at Coblentz, 186; at 
Dennewitz, 224; at battle of Dresden, 226; at Kck. 
muhl, 232 ; at Engen, 237 ; at Espieries 2-37 ; at battle 
of Friedburg, 256; at Gembloux, 260; at battle of 
Hanau, 209; at Hochkirchen, 277; at battle of 
Hohenlinden, 277; at battle of Jemappes, 291 ; at 
battle of Leipsic, 320; at siege of Lisle, 335; at battle 
of Loano, 33(j ; at Bridge of Lodi, 337 ; at Lonato, 341 ; 
at battle of Lutzen, 342 ; at the siege of Magdeburg, 
855; at battle of Marengo, 359; at Maxen, 365; at 
Moeskirch, 384; at Molwitz, 386; at siege of Mons, 
889; at Montebello, 3S9; at Montonotte, 390; at 
Montereau, 391 ; at Morgarten, 397; at Neerwinden, 
409; at Nordlingen, 417; at battle of Novi, 423; at 
Parma, 470; at Peter warden, 473; at Prague, 488; 
at battle of Raab, 507 ; at Ratisbon, 510 ; at Renchen, 
613 ; at Rimnik. 523 ; at Rivoli, 530 ; at Roncq, 643 ; 
at battle of Sacile, 541; at Savigliano, 566; at 
Bchweidnitz, 567 ; at Sempach, .570 ; at Stockach, 597 ; 
take part in the Hungarian w.ir, 618 ; at the Trebia, 
644; at Tuscoing, 655; at LTlin, 665; at the siege of 
Vienna, 675; at Villempenta, 680; at Wattignies, 
681 ; at Wurtzburg, 701 ; at Zurich, 714. 

AuTEMARiiE, Gen. d', at the storming of the MalakoflP, 579. 

AviLA, Alonzo de, an officer of Cortez, at the battle of 
Tabasco, 524. 

Atlva, Baron d', in command of the garrison of Maes- 
tricht, 353. 

AzzES, a Roman officer, wounded at the siege of Rome, 
539. 

B. 

Babel, Tower of, 71. 

Babylon, description of, 71 ; destruction of, 74. 

Babylonians, inslaved by Cyrus, 73; throw off Persian 
yoke, 74; 3,00i) impaled alive by Cyrus, 75; at siege 
of Jerusalem, 295; at battle offhymhra, 62.5. 

Bacchus, Captain, at siege of Monterey, 392. 

Backus, Lieutenant, killed at battle of Sackett's Harbor, 
544. 

Bagrathion, Prince, at battle of the Adda, 11 ; of Evlau, 
241 ; at battle of Friedland, 257 ; at battle of Novi, 
424; at battle of the Trebia, 644; at battle of Snio- 
lensko, 586 ; mortally wounded at battle of Borodino, 
112. 

Bailey-, General, at battle of Bemus' Heishts, 589. 

Bailey, M., Mayor of Paris, his conduct during the 
Revolution in France of 1789, 455. 

Bailie, General, in command of Covenanters at battle 
of Alford, 19. 

Baird, David, Sir, wounded at battle of Corunna, 200. 

Baird, James, Sir. at the siege of Savannah, .563. 

Balcabra. Earl of, at battle "of Bemus' Heights, 589. 

Baldwin, the Crusader, at siege of Jerusalem, 301 ; taken 
prisoner by the Saracens, 301. 



Baldwin I., crowned Emperor of Constantinople, 192. 

Baldwin II., 192. 

Baldwin, brother of Godfrey the Crusader, at siege of 

Edessa, 234. 
Balfour, William, Sir, at Edgehill Fight, 2.35. 
Balist, an arrow from, transtixes a Goth to a tree, 638. 
Balloon, made use of by the French for recounoiterii:g 

purposes, 173. 
Bankiiead, Colonel, at the siege of Vera Cruz, 678. 
Babbarossa, Frederic, Emperor of Italy, at siege of 

Milan, 653. 
Barbarossa IL, at Algiers, 19; at siege of Tunis, 66-". 
Barbesieux, commander of the French at siege of Mar- 
seilles, 802. 
Baebot, condemned to the galleys for his valorous iIl- 

fense of Lebrand, 632. 
Barclay de Tolly, General, defeats troops of Bertrairi, 

86; at Arcis-sur-Aube, 49 ; at battle of Bautzen, S'!; 

at Borodino, 109; at Brienne, 130; at Pultusk, 495: 

at Smolensko, 5s6. 
Barak, at the battle in the plains of Esdraelon, 286. 
Barry', Lieutenant, at siege of St. Sebastian, 553. 
Barre', Colonel, wounded at Quebec, 503. 
Barnard, Colonel, at Badajoz, 78; at Ciudad Rodrigo, 

185. 
Babneseabe, Captain, in command of the battery at 

Quebec which killed Montgomery, 505. 
Barnes, General, at the battles of the Pyrenees, 49'): 

wounded at Bayonne, 92. 
Barney, Commodore, heroic conduct of, atBladensburg. 

105. 
Baetiiolomey, Pierre, a priest, discovers hiding-plai:e 

of the Holy Lance, 37. 
Basset, Lord, at siege of Calais, 14.3. 
Basset, Philip, at battle of Lewes, 328. 
Basseville, the French envoy at Rome, massacred, 64i 
Bastile, capture of the, 4.^)0. 
Battel Roll, the, made by William the Conqueror afi.cr 

the battle of Hastings, 272. 
Batteries, floating, constructed by the Chevalier d'Arcoii 

at siege of Gibraltar, 263. 
Battle, the first fully recorded in history, 621. 
Baudincourt, governor of Vanconlers, his interview 

with Joan of Arc, 431. 
Bavaria, Duke of, at battle of Blenheim, 105. 
Bavarians, at Blenheim, 105; at battle of Ilanau, 26:); 

of Nordlingen, 417; of Schellenberg, 566 ; at siege of 

Vienna, 677. 
Baxter, Colonel, at Fort Washington, 254. 
Bayard, Chevalier, made prisoner at Milan, 384. 
Baylor, Lieutenant, heroism of, at Fort Stephenson, '28.1. 
Bayonets, when invented, 90. 

Beajeau, Captain de, at battle of Fort du Quesne, 122. 
Beabnais, at siege of Cahors, 143. 
Beasbley, Major, at Fort Mimms, 249. 
Beaumonoir, Marshal of, killed in battle of the Thirty, 

85. 
Beauvais, Bishop of, singular bravery of at battle of 

Bouvines, 120. 
Beck, General de, at siege of Schweidnitz, 517. 
Beckwitii, General, at battle of Hampton, 269. 
Beresford, General, in command of British at Bueiuis 

Ayres, 135. 
Begarnd, Sieur, massacred after the capture of the Bas- 
tile, 452. 
Berkley, Admiral, defeated at Brest, 126. 
Beggaes, King of the, 31. 

Belesis, governor of Babylon, at siege of Nineveh, 41 T. 
Belknap, Lieutenant, at battle of Palo Alto, 439. 
Belgians, at Dinant, 2:i6. 
Belisaeius, the Roman general, called to the defense of 

Constantinople, ISO ;"at siege of Naples, 401 ; at siege 

of Ravenna, 512; succors Rimini, 523; at siege of 

Rome, .538; repeoples Rome, and repulses TortiUi, 

640 ; his character, 511. 
Bellegardb, General, at battle of Novi, 424; at Aspern 

and Essling, 57. 
Belsiiazzar, king of Babylon, terrified by a vision, 7; ; 

killed by the Persians, 73. 
Bem, General, takes part in the Polish Revolution, 681 ; 

espouses the cause of the Hungarians, 618 ; wounded 

at battle of Temeswar, •■)19. 
Bembeug, Anhalt. Prince, at battle of Stockach, 598. 
Bembeo, killed, 85. 

Benbeck, Deist, lords of, at the battle of Ransbeck, 510. 
Beneventu.m, Prince of, at siege of Naples, 402. 
Benningsen, General, at battle of Eylan, 242; of Fried- 
land. 257; of Heilsburg, 274; of Mohrungen,385; of 

Pultusk, 495. 



T26 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



Bkbk, M^or, at the battle of Pultowa, 402. 

Ukkeskokd, General, at battle of Albucra, 15 ; at Bayonne, 
90; at Salamanca, 5o7 ; wouiuled, o5b; at Pultowa, 
492 ; at Olevenza, 76. 

Bbbmiek, General, destroys fortifications of Almeida, 25. 

Bkrkadotte, Prince of Ponte Ciorvo, afterward Charles 
XIV., King of Sweden, at baitle of Austerlitz, OS ; at 
battle of Auerstadt, 57 ; at battle of Charleroi. 172 ; of 
Dennewitz, 224; of Halle, 269; of Mohrungen. 385. 

Bernard, de, St. Vallier, at siege of Jerusalem, 307. 

Brbnard, Duke of Weimar, at battle of Lutzuu, 343; of 
Nordlingen, 417. 

Berrt, Duke de, rebels against his brother, Louis XL, 
44;3. 

Bertkand, General, at battle of Leipzic, 321 ; at Bautzen, 
88 ; at Lutzen, 3-i4. 

Bertrand, of St. Giles, at Tripoli, 648. 

Berthier, Alexander, General, at Rome, 542. 

BERTitiER, M., son-in-law of M. Foulon, his death, 455. 

Berwick, Duke of at battle of Almaraz, 24. 

Berwick, Marshal, at siege of St. Sebastian, 550. 

Bkruret, General, at the storming of the Malakolf, 580. 

Bessieres. Marshal, Duke of Istria, at battle of Austerlitz, 
63 ; of Asperne and Essling, 5T ; at battle of Klo Seco, 
523 ; killed, :H4. 

Bessus, a Roman governor, cupidity of, 539. 

Betis, commander of Gaza, cruelly put to death by Alex- 
ander, 259. 

Beveun, Prince of, at Belgrade, 97. 

Bevern, Prince, at battle of Breslau, 126. 

Bev, Achraet, defoeted at Constantiiia, 186. 

Bet, Rustem, General, killed at battle of Eupatoria, 287. 

Bey, Skender, Colonel, at battle of Citate, 104, 

Bicetre. castle of (formerly Wicestre), pillaged, 442, 

BiDTACK, Captain, burnt alive by the Indians, 705. 

Biiiop. Hugh, at the battle of Lewes, 329. 

Bird, Lieutenant-Colonel, killed at battle of German- 
town, 262. 

BisEMBi;'!<;, a mountain in Austria, 57. 

Bishop, Colonel, kille'i at Black Rock, 104. 

BissEL, Colonel, at battle of Bueua Vista, 182. 

Black Hole of Calcutta, 146. 

Blake, General, at battle of Alcaniz, 15 ; at Belchite, 99 ; 
at Baza, 94 ; at Rio Seco, 523 ; at siege of Saguntum, 
547. 

Blake, Admiral, his expedition to Algiers, 19. 

Blenheim, battle of, called bv the Germans and French, 
the battle of Hochstadt, 277. 

Blois, Count de, the standard-bearer of the Crusaders, 
his desertion, 36. 

Blount, Walter, Sir, killed at the battle of Shrewsbury, 
584. 

Bll'oiier, Marshal, at battle of Auerstadt, 65 ; of Bautzen, 
87; of Brionne, l-'9 ; his imminent danger, 129; at 
battle of Jena, 292 ; at Katzbach, 312 ; of Laon, 318 ; 
of Mockern, 321 ; of Lutzen, 844 ; of Ligny, 688 ; of 
Waterloo, 692. 

Boabdil, king of the Moors, defeated by the Spaniards, 
261. 

BoADioEA, Queen of the Iceni, her defeat and death, 106. 

Bokstler, Colonel, defeated at battle of Beaverdams, 95. 

BoGUE Forts, at Canton, taken by the English, 149. 

BoHEMOND, Prince of Tarentum, a Crusader, at siege of 
Antioch, 28 ; his barbarous expedient to prevent the 
enemy's spies from entering his camp, 29 ; defeats 
Sultans of Aleppo and Damascus, and takes city of 
Harem, SO ; defeated bv Saracens, ibid. ; slighted by 
Baldwin, Prince of Edessa, 32; quarrels with the 
chiefs of the Crusaders, 32 ; his jealousy, and his 
stratagem to take Antioch, 32 ; wounded, 3fi. 

BoHM, Henry de, killed by Robert Bruce in single-handed 
combat, 83. 

BoiRoiMiiE, Brian, king of Ireland, defeated at battle of 
Clontarf, 186; his death, ihid. 

Bombs, invented by Venloo, 667, 

Bo.MiLCAE, a general of Carthage, at siege of Syracuse, 
616. 

BoN, General, at St. Jean d'Acre, 10; at the battle of the 
Pyramids, 399 ; at battle of Mount Tabor, 399 ; killed, 

n. 

BoNAMi, General, made prisoner at battle of Borodino, 

110. 
Bonaparte, Jerome, at battle of Waterloo. 690. 
Bonaparte, Joseph, in command of the city of Paris, 

464; appoiMte<l ambassador to Rome, 542 ; at baitle 

ofTalavera. CI 6. 
Bonctiamps, Gener.al. at battle of Cholot, IS."?. 
Boniface, Marquis of Montferrat, instructs Alexius, 

emperor of Constantinople, la the art of war, 190. 



Bonnet, General, wounded, 55T. 
BoNNEVAL, General, at the siege of Paris, 443. 
Bunnevet, Admiral, his heroic conduct at the siege of 

Pavia, 471 ; his death, 472. 
BooNK, Daniel, with his son, at the battle of Blue Licks, 

105. 
BosciiA, General, in command of the army of Nicaragua 

at the battle of Rivas, 52.5. 
Boscawen, Admiral, at the siege of Louisburg, 341. 
Borgia, C;esar, killed at Mendovia, 365. 
BoROSDi.M, General, at battle of Borodino, 109. 
Bose, General, at battle of Guilford Court House, 268. 
Bosquet, General, at the storming of the Malakoff, 578 ; 

wounded, 579. 
BoTiiwELL, Earl of, at battle of Flodden, 245. 
Bougainville, General de, at siege of Quebec, 503, 
BouRBAKiR, General, wounded at the storming of the 

Malakoff, 580. 
Bourbon, Constable de, at siege of Marseilles, 362. 
Bourbon, Duke of, killed at the siege of Rome, 541 ; 

funeral obsequies of, 542. 
Bourbons, 94; at siege of Rome, 541. 
BouRciiER, Sir Thomas, joins army of the Earl of Kich- 

moud, at Bosworth l<"ield, 118. 
BouRDONN.WE, General, at the siege of Tournai, 640. 
Boulogne, Earl of, valor of, at battle of Bouvines, 120. 
Bowles, Colonel, at battle of Buena Vista, 132. 
Boyd, General, at siege of Gibraltar, 208. 
BoYD, General, at battle of Chiystler's Fields, 183. 
BozzARis, Marco, killed at battle of Messolonghi, 366. 
Brabant, Duke of, slain at Azincour, 70. 
Braddock, General, his defeat and death. 122. 
Branciii, General, at battle of Dresden, 226 ; of Monte- 

reau, 391. 
Beadsiiaw, Colonel, at Ticonderoga, 630. 
Brandon, Sir William, standard bearer of the Earl of 

Richmond, slain by Richard III., 119. 
Brandon, Captain, at battle of Ramsom's Mills, 509. 
Bragg, Captain, at battle of Buena Vista, 133; at siege 

of Monterey, 392. 
Brahe, General, at the battle of Lutzen, 3-12. 
Bkant, Joseph, an Indian Sachem, joins British army, 

250; at siege of Fort Schuyler, 251. 
Brass, Corinthian, origin of, 197. 
Bravo, General, at battle of Chapultapec, 171. 
Breckenbeidge, Captain, wounded at battle of Eivas, 

528. 
Bremoi, General, wounded, 846. 
Bre.mer, Sir George, at Canton, 149. 
Brennieke, General, at battle of Salamanca, 556. 
Bbennus, at siege of Rome, 535 ; defeated by Camillus, 

536 ; in command of the Gauls at the siege of Cln- 

sium, 534. 
Brentano, General, at the siege of Schweidnitz, 567. 
Breten, Gencr,il, killed at storming of the Malakoff, 579. 
Bbeteuil, Baron, appointed President of Finance of 

France, 448. 
Bretons, in the battle of the Thirty, 85. 
Breton, Cape, falls into the hands of the English, 342. 
Brbyman, Colonel, at battle of Bemus' Heights, 589; of 

Bennington Heights, 99 ; mortally wounded, 594. 
Beiciietts, General, at battle of Bemus' Heights, 589. 
Bridge, famous one, of Prince of Parma, at Antwerp, 42. 
Brikhfield, Colonel, killed at battle of Ramillies, 5o9. 
Brissac, Duke of, at siege of Paris, 447. 
Britons, defeated bv Romans, 106; at battle of Crayford, 

203 ; of Shropshire, 5S4. 
Brock, Isaac, General, at Detroit, 225 ; killed at Queens- 
town, 506. 
Brockenrury, Sir Robert, killed at Bosworth Field. 119. 
Bboglio, Marshal, appointed French Minister of War, 

443. 
Bromfield, Maior, murders Colonel Ledyard, after the 

capture of Fort Griswold, 441. 
Brompton, battle of, 126. 
Brooke, Colonel, in command of British in attack on 

Fort McHenrv, 82. 
Brooks, Major, at battle of Bunker's Hill, 113. 
Brooks, Captain, at battle of Chapultepcc, 171. 
Brooks, Colonel, at battle of Bemus' Hcishts. ,589. 
Brown, Colonel, at Augusta, 67 ; at Hanging Rock, 271 ; 

at Eutaw Springs, 2-39. 
Brown, General, at battle of Alkmaer. 22. 
Bro^-n, Sir George, General, wounded at battle of the 

Alma, 24. 
r.RowN, Christian, Captain, at Schoharie, 566. 
Brown, Lieutenant-Colonel, at siege of Burgos, 138. 
Brown, General, at battle of Chippewa, 181 ; at siege of 

Fort Erie, 248; at battle of Lundy's Lane, 247; 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX 



121 



of Ogdensburg, 427; of Sackett's Harbor, 544; of 

Niagara, 414. 
Bbown, Major, his gallant defense of Fort Brown in 

Mexico, 513; iiis (loath, 514. 
Bbuce, David, liing of Scotland, invades England, 232 ; 

made prisoner at the battle of Durham, ibid. 
BuucE, Edward, besieges castle of titii ling, 83; killed at 

battle of Dundalk, ^30. 
Bkuck, Robert, the "hero-king" of Scotland, at battle of 

Bannockburn, 83; at battle of Dundalk. 230. 
Brunet, General, killed at the siege of Sevastopol, 576. 
Brunswick, Duke of, wounded at battle of Auerstadt, 

66 ; killed at battle of Quatre-Bras, G89. 
Bbutus, in command of Corinthians at battle of Solygia, 

588. 
Brittus, Marcus, at the battle of Philippi, 477; his 

death, 478. 
Buohan, Earl of, at battle of Dunbar, 229. 
BiroHE, Captal d', at the battle of Poictiers, 4S6. 
BuOKER, Lieutenant, at battle ofBuena Vista, 133. 
BuFOBD, Colonel, massacre of his troops at Waxhaw, 693. 
B0GAWOURT1I, General, at Borodino, 109. 
BuRooYNE, Lieutenant-Colonel, wounded at siege of St. 

Sebastian, 553. 
BuBGOYNE, General, 99; arrives in America, 112; at bat- 
tle of Bemus' Heights, 590 ; surrender of, at Saratoga, 

596. 
BiJKOUNDiANs, at siege of Baza, 94; at battle of Chalons, 

170; at siege of Compiegno, 197; at siege of Dinant, 

226 ; of Laon, :ilS ; of Liege, 832; at battle of Morat, 

896 ; at siege of Nancy, 401 ; of Paris, 441 ; of Troyes, 

649. 
Burleson, Colonel, at the battle of San Jacinto, 500. 
BuTLEit, John, General, at battle of Guilford Court 

House, 266. 
BCTLER, Colonel, at Stony Point, 599. 
BuTLKK, Major-General, at siege of Monterev, 3)2. 
Butler, John, Colonel, at siego of Fort Schuyler, 251 ; 

his conduct in the valley of the Wyoming, 7v)4. 
Butler, Walter N., his incursion into Cherry Valley, 179. 
Butler, Zebulon, Captain, his conduct in the valley of 

the Wyoming, 7o3. 
BiryaoN, De, General, wounded at Camden, 147. 
Bdzks, Governor of Edessa, cupidity and treachery of, 

233. 
Btng, General, at the battle of the Pyrenees, 500. 
Btkon, Lord, his "Childe Harold" quoted, 396. 
Byzantines, defend themselves against Alcibiades, 189; 

decree a crown of gold to Athens, 140. 

C. 

Cabrera, General, at the battle of Morella, 897. 
Cakn, General de, at battle of Hohenlinden, 279. 
Cj!3ak, Julius, at Ale.\andria, 15 ; defeats army of 

Ptolemy Bacchus, king of Egypt, 16 ; at the siege of 

Marseilles, 362; at battle of Munda, 400; at battle of 

Phirsalia, 474; at siege of Rimini, 523; at siege of 

Utica, 666 ; at battle of Zela, 713. 
Cadwallader, Lambert, Colonel, at the attack on Fort 

Washington, 25t. 
Cadwallader, John, General, at battle of Monmouth, 

887. 
Cadwallader, General, at battle of Chapultepec, 171 ; 

at Mexico, 382 ; at battle of M<diuo del Rey, 385 ; at 

Contveras, 199. 
Cairo, fall of, 223. 

Calkd, the "Sword of God," defeats the Romans, 228. 
Calias, cupidity of, after the battle of Marathon, 859. 
Calhoratbs, a Spartan, kills Epaminondas, 364. 
Calveblv, made prisoner by the Bretons, 85. 
Calvinus, Dominitus, defeated at sea by fleet of Brutus 

and Cassius, 477. 
Galvo, Count, at the siege of Maestricht, 352. 
Cameron, General, at Bayonne, 92. 
Cameron, Captain, killed at Savannah, 563. 
Camels, used at battle of Thymbi-a, 626. 
Camillus, Furius, defeats the Gaals,535; at war with the 

Falerii, 243; at siese of Veil. 671. 
Campans, General, wounded at battle of Borodino, 109; 

wounded at Leipsic, 324. 
Campbell, Sir Colin, at battle of the Alma, 24. 
Campbell, Sir John, killed, 575. 
Camphbll, Colonel, at the siese of Quebec. 506. 
Campbell, Colonel, at battle of Cerro-Gordo, 164. 
Campbell, Colonel, sent with British troops into Georgia, 

175; at siege of Savannah, 563. 
Campbell, Thomas, the poet, his ode to Hohenlinden, 

279. 
Campbell, William, Colonel, of Virginia, at battle of 



Eutaw Springs, 239 ; of Guilford, 207 ; of Hobkirk'* 
' Hill, 276; of King's Mountain, 315; wounded, 240. 
Ca.mpo-Ba88o, Count of, treachery of, at Nancy, 401. 
Camulogenes, in command of the Gauls, and killed in 

the defense of Paris, 440. 
Camville, Nichola, 834. 
Canaanites, at the siege of Jericho, 294; at the battle 

ofEsdraelon, 236. 
Canadians, at battle of Bennington, 99; of Bemus' 
I Heights, 590 ; at Fort du Quesne, 122 ; of La Cole 

! Mill, 318 ; at Schenectady, 566. 
i Candocier, John, mayor of La Rochelle, his conduct 
1 during a siege of that city, 581. 
Cannon, first employed in battle, 204; first used at 
sieges, 543; enormous icannon founded by Moham- 
med IL, 194; leathern cannon constructed by Gus- 
tavus Adolphus, 318 ; portable cannon used at battle 
of Leipsic, 318 ; novel piece constructed by Carey 
of Wyoming, 703. 
Canrobekt, General, at battle of Alma, 23. 
Canute, king of Denmark, wounded in single combat 

by Edmund Ironsides, 25. , 

Capliers, Count de, at siege of Vienna, 676. 
Caphis, a friend of Sylla, sent to receive the treasures of 

the temple of Delphi, 63. 
Cappadocia, defiles of, 29. 
Cabacalla, emperor of Rome, orders a general massacre 

at Alexandria, 16. 
Cabactacus, made prisoner at battle of Shropshire, 584 ; 
i anecdote of, 5S5. 

I Carbo, at the siege of Rome, 537. 
i Cardigan, Lord, at battle of Balaklava, 571. 
Cardonna, Pierre de, 403. 
Cabew, Sir George, at siege of Cadiz, 141. 
Caelists, at battle of Fonterabia, 245; of Ramales, 508; 

of Sieta Agnas, 585. 
Carlton, Colonel, wounded at Quebec, 503. 
Caeroll, General, at battle of Enotochopeo, 207; of 
! New Orleans, 413. 

Cabbocio, the sacred car of the Milanese, described, 155. 
i Cabtaux, General, at battle of Toulon, 634. 
1 Cabtel, for the exchange of prisoners, first example of 
I in history, 516. 

; Caetiiage, ancient, description of, 150; contrasted with 
ancient Rome, 536. 
Carthaginians, atsiege of Agrigentum,18; defend their 
city against the Romans, 149; at Canna?, 148; at 
siege of Carthage na. 156; of Crimesus, 209; of Hy- 
mera, 282 ; of Motya, 399 ; at battle of the Metaurns, 
409; of Placencia, 479; at siege of Rome, 536 ; of 
Saguntum, 545; of Seliuntum, 569; of Syracuse, 613; 
of Tarentum, 617; at battle of Thrasymenus, 624; 
of Ticinus, 629 ; of the Trebia, 643 ; at siege of Tunis, 
649 ; of Utica, 665; at battle of Zama, 711. 
i Cartismandan, queen of Brigantes, 585. 
Cass, Lewis, Colonel, at the surrender of Detroit, 225. 
Cassander, a Macedonian prince, conspires against Aii- 

tigonus, 516. 
Cassius, Caius, at battle of Philippi, 476 ; his death, 477. 
Castles, ancient, detailed description of their defenses, 

' Castor and Pollux, 649. 

' Caswell, General, at battle of Camden, 147 ; of Moore's 

Creek Bridge, 396. 
; Cato, of Utica, 667 ; his death, 667. 
j Caulah, sister of Derar, made prisoner, 223. 
I Caulaincourt, General, his valor at the battle of Bant- 
I zen, 89 ; at battle of Hanau, 270 ; killed. 111. 
! Cavadez, king of Persia, repulsed at Edessa. 233. 
• Celestial Horsemen, seen by Crusaders at Antioch, 89. 
'■ Censoeinus, Marcius, Roman consul, advances against 
Carthage, 150. 
CnEPiiicus, a river, drawn from its channel by Sylla, 168. 
Cbpio, Roman consul, avarice of, 637 ; takes city of 

Toulouse, 637. 
Cebes, temple of, at Syracuse, plundered by the Cartha- 
ginians, 613. 
Cervantes, author of "Don Quixote," wounded at 

Lepanto, 325. 
Chabrey, Louisa, her interview with Louis XVI., 458. 
Ch/Broneans, at the siege and battle of Chivronea, 168. 
Chalier, a revolutionary commissioner at Lyons, con- 
demned to death, .347. 
Chalil, Sultan, at siege of Tyre, 661. 
Chalons, Jean de. Prince of Oranse, at siege of Paris, 4n. 
Chambers, General, at Fort Stephenson, 252. 
Champeaux. General, at battle of Marengo. 360. 
Championnet, General, defeats army of General Mack, 
542. 



T28 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



Chandos, Sir John, at the battle of Poictiers, 4S6. 

Chandler, General, made prisoner at btony Creek, 598. 

Charlemaone, t lie Great, takes Barcelona, 84 ; subdues 
Lombardy and dethrones Didier, 470 ; destruction 
of his rear-guard at the p«ss of Roneesvalles, 543. 

Charles I., of England, 862; at Kdgehill Fight, 2.35; at 
battle of Naseby, 407; of Newbury, 410 ; ofStratton, 
602. 

Charles II., of England, forms a league with Philip IV., 
231 ; his defeat at Worcester, and his remarkable 
escape, 701. 

Charles II., of Spain, 640 ; Charleroi named in honor 
of, 171. 

Charles IV., of Spain, compelled by Napoleon to restore 
sword of Francis I., 472. 

Charles V., of France, rewards the Eochellois for re- 
capturing their city, 531 ; at siege of St. Dizier, 548. 

Charles V., Duke of Lorraine, at siege of Vienna, 677. 

Charles V. (of Spain), emperor of Germany, his conduct 
toward Francis I., of France, 472 ; aids Muley Has- 
san against Barbarossa II., 653; his expedition to 
Algiers, 19 ; urges the Duke of Bourbon against 
Clement VII., 541; abdication of, 553. 

Charles VI., of France, civil wars of, 441 ; signs Treaty 
of Troyes, 429. 

Charles VIL, of France, disinherited by Treaty of 
Troyes, 429; favored by citizens of Compiegne 
against the Duke of Burgundy, 197 ; lays siege to 
Castillan, 157; at battle of Forhovo, 246; crowned 
at Eheims, 470 ; enters Troyes in triumph, 649 ; at 
siege of Paris, 443 ; his indifference to the fate of 
Joan of Arc, 197. 

Charles IX., causes the massacre of St. Bartholomew, 
444. 

Charles X. (Gustavus), at battle of Barranow, 84 ; of 
Praga, 488. 

Charles X., of Fr.ance, abdication of, 469. 

Charles XII., king of Sweden, 99 ; at battle of Narva, 
404 ; defeated at Pultowa, 492 ,• at battle of Pultusk, 
495 ; killed at siege of Fredericsbald, 255 ; at siege 
of Thorn, 624 ; at Strasbund, 600 ; at Warsaw, 680. 

Charles XIV., see Bernadotte. 

Charles, Duke of Anjou, at Benevento, 99; at siege of 
Messina, 366 ; his cruelty, the origin of the Sicilian 
Vespers, 435 ; at battle of Tazliacozzo, 616 ; at siege 
of Tunis, 652. 

Charles, Archduke of Austria, at battle of Asperne, 59 ; 
at battle of Caldiero. 147 ; of Cannstadt, 149 ; of 
Neerwinden, 409 ; of Eatisbon, 510 ; at Zurich, 714. 

Charles, Archduke of Austria, defeated at battle of 
Almanza (1707), 24. 

Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, at the siege of 
Beauvais, 94 ; the storming of Liege, 332 ; at battle 
of Morat, 396 ; killed at siege of Nancy, 401 ; at siege 
of Paris, 443. 

Charles le Gros, cowardice of, at siege of Paris, 441. 

Charles M artel, his prowess at battle of Tours, 641. 

Charles the Pretender, at battle of CuUoden, 210 ; of 
Falkirk, 244 ; of Prestonpans, 488. 

Charon, a Theban, at siege of Thebes, 621. 

Charolais, Count, at siege of Paris, 443. 

Chartell.^r, General, at battle of the Trebia, 644. 

Chasse, General, at Antwerp, 44 ; at Waterloo, 691. 

Cha8Till.\r, General, at battle of Dresden, 226. 

Chatres, Stephen, Count de, at Antioch. 28. 

Chatres, Duke of (afterward Louis Philippe), at battle 
of Jemappes, 292 ; at Neerwinden, 409 ; at Valmy, 
670. 

Chauncey, Isaac, Captain, at the capture of York, 707. 

Chavagnao, Governor of New Castle, in Naples, killed 
by the explosion of a mine, 403. 

CmiESEMAN, Captain, killed at Quebec, ."ioe. 

Cheunicmeff, General, killed at battle of Hanau, 270. 

Cheyne, Sir John, vanquished by Kichard III. on Bos- 
worth Field, 119. 

Chevy Chase, ballad of, 435. 

Chew, Judge, house of, occupied by British at battle of 
Germantown, 261. f 

CaiLiiKEN, formed into bands, and incited to fight in 
miniature battle, 31 ; kindness of to wounded sol- 
diers, at Bautzen, 89; massacred bv Romans in 
Carthage, 154 ; take part in defense of Constantino- 
ple, 195 ; massacred at Dundee. 230 ; of Christian 
parentage, detained prisoners by the Sar.acens, after 
the capitulation of Jerusalem, 311; deplorable fate 
of, at Lincoln, 385; massacred at Mans, .357; assist 
in the defense of Messina, 866; in the defense of 
Ehodes, 522 : of Tyre. 661 ; of Vienna, 676 ; made 
prisoners at Vienna, 679. 



Chilos, Colonel, at siege of Monterey, 895 ; at battle of 

Palo Alto, 439. 
Chilians, at battle of Chocabuco, 561 ; of Maypu, 562. 
Chinese, defend Canton, against the English, 149. 
CuoRSAMANTEs, One of the guards of Belisarius, his valor 

at the siege of Eome, 538 ; killed, 539. 
Chosroes, king of Persia, invades Egypt, 16 ; besieges 

Antioch, 26 ; at siege of Edessa, 233 ; surprises Pelu- 

sium, 16; takes Alexandria, ibid.; beheaded bv 

order of his son, ibid. 
Christian II., treachery of, at siege of Stockholm, 598. 
Christina, queen of Denmark, at Stockholm, 598. 
Christina, Gyllenstierna, her heroic conduct at siege of 

Stockholm, 698. 
Phitrciies, respected by the Goths in Eome, 537 ; spared 

by the army of Philip II., 556. 
CiLLEY, Colonel, at battle of Bemus' Heights, 589; of 

Stillwater, 593. 
CiMON, the Athenian, at battle of the Eurymedon, 288. 
Cinna, at siege of Eome, 537. 
Cities burnt. Antioch, 27; Charlestown, 115; Carthago 

154; Cassel, 156; Beaupereau, 1S3; Fairfield, 248; 

Liege, 833; London, 106; Lyons, 349 ; Moscow, 397 ; 

New London, 410 ; Norfolk, 418 ; Norwalk, 423 ; 

Persepolis, 472; Eamales, 509; Eome, 535-536; 

Sardis, 562 ; Washington, 687. 
Clairborne, General, 206. 
Clark, Sir Francis, aide-de-camp to Burgoyne, killed, 

594. 
Clark, Colonel, at Mexico, 3S2. 
Clark, Joseph, his account of the death of General Hugh 

Mercer, 489. 
Clark, Mrs. Sarali, her kindness to General Mercer after 

his wound at Princeton, 4.s9. 
Clarence, Duke of, concerned in the murder of the 

Prince of Wales, 620. 
Claudius, Emperor of Eome his treatment of Caractacus. 

the British chief, 585 ; at the battle of Naissu.s, 4<)-t. 
Clausel, General, at Bayonne, 90 ; at battle of the Pyr- 
enees, 498 ; of Salamanca, 657 ; wounded, 558. 
Claverhouse, defeated at battle of Drumclog, 229. 
Clay, General, at siege of Fort Meigs, 249. 
Clay, Lieutenant-Colonel, son of flenry Clay, killed at 

battle of Buena Vista, 135. 
Clay GRENADF.s,invented byBaron de Kielmansegge, 677. 
Clearciius, the Lacediemonian, in command of the 

Greeks at battle of Cunaxa, 211 ; killed by the Per- 
sians, 216. 
Clement, Albric, at St. Jean d'Acre, 9. 
Clement, Jacques, a Dominican priest, the assassin of 

Henry III., 445. 
Clement III., Pope, places himself at disposal of Charles 

v., 541. 
Cleombrotus, king of LacediEmonia, killed at battle of 

Leuctra, 327. 
Clemenus, king of Sparta, at the battle of Selasia, 568. 
Cleon, an Athenian general, at siege of Torone, 634. 
Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, 16. 
Cleret, valet of Louis XVI., his fidelity to his master, 

461. 
Cleremont, Marshal, killed at battle of Poictiers, 487. 
Cleveland, Col., at battle of King's Mountain, 315. 
Clifford, Sir Convers, at siege of Cadiz, 141. 
Clifford, Lord, kills Lord Fitzwalter, and is killed by 

Lord Falcon bridge at battle of Towton, 642. 
Clifford, Lord, slain at battle of St. Albans, 547. 
Clinton, George, General, 127-173. 
Clinton, Sir Henry, arrives at Boston after the battle of 

Bunker's Hill, 112 : makes preparations to attack 

Charleston by sea and land, 174 ; arrives on coast of 

Georgia, with British fleet, 176; advances against 

Charleston, 176 ; at battle of Monmouth, 887 ; at 

Stony Point, 599 ; at battle of Whiteplains, 698. 
Clinton, Jame-s, Col., at battle of Yorktown, 709. 
Clinton, Lord, at the battle of Pinkev, 478. 
Clinton, General, at battle of Castalla, 156 ; of Orthes, 

93; of Salamanca, 5.57. 
Clitus, preserves life of Alexander the Great, 205. 
Clive, Col., his operations in India, 146. 
Clodio L, at siege of Tournai, 638. 
Cloelia, a Roman maiden, heroism of, 534. 
j Clovis, the founder of the French monarchy, 441. 
] Clusium, siege of 534. 
Coburg, Prince of, at battle of Charleroi, 172 ; of Neer- 
winden, 40!l. 
CocKutrRN, Admiral, at Hampton, 269. 
I Cochran, General, at Baltimore, 81. 
' CoDRiNGTON, Sir E., at the assault of the Great Eedan, 
I at siege of Sevastopol, 582. 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX 



729 



CoFFEF, General, at the battle of New Orleans, 411 ; of 
Tallapoosa, 2U(> ; of Tallushatchee, 205 ; heroism of, 
207 ; wounded, 205. 

Coffin, Captain, at the battle of Eutaw Springs, 239. 

OoLBEiiT, General, at the battle of Kaab, 5il8. 

COLDBUKX, Lieutenant-Colonel, at the battle of Orthes, 
93. 

CoLDWELL, Captain, 705. 

Cole, General, at the battle of the Pyrenees, 499; 
wounded at Salamanca, 55S. 

Colli, General, in command of Sardinians at battle of 
Mondovi, SSI. 

CoLLiGNi, Admiral, at the battle of St. Quintin, 554; 
made prisoner, 556. 

Collier, Admiral, at Stony Point, 599. 

CoLLOKEDO, General, at the battle of Dresden, 226. 

Collyer, Captain, killed at the siege of St. Sebastian, 
553. 

Colville, at Badajoz, 78. 

CoMiNius, Consul of Rome, at Coriolli, 197. 

COMNBNUS, Isaac emperor of Cyprus, laden with silver 
chains, by liiehard II., 8. 

Condk', Prince of, at Arras, 53; made prisoner at battle 
of Dreux, 229 ; at battle of Enghien, 23r ; of Senneffe, 
570 ; assassinated at battle of Jarnac, 291. 

CoNNEit, Commodore, co-operates with General Scott in 
the siege of Vera Cruz, 673. 

CoNNEit, Captain, at battle of Buena Vista, 132. 

CoNON, of Montaign, at Jerusalem, 307. 

Conrad III., Emperor of Germany, at the siege of Da- 
mascus, 223. 

Conrad IV., Emperor of Germany, at the siege of 
Naples, 610; battle of Tazliacozzo, 616. 

CoNBAD, son of the Marquis de Montferrat, at the siege 
of Tyre, 660. 

CoNSTAULE, Sir Marmaduke, at battle of Flodden, 245. 

CONSTANTiNE, the Great, at battle of Adrianople, 12; at 
the siege of Marseilles, 362; besieges Byzantium, 
140 ; at the battle of Turin, 654. 

CoNSTANTiNE, Empcror of Constantinople, his noble re- 
ply to Mahomet II., 194; his death, 194. 

CoNSTANTiNE, the Grand Duke, at battle of Heilsburg, 
273; hia brutality excites a revolution in Poland, 
681 ; his death, 682. 

CoNSTANTiNE, SOU of the EmpcTor Heraclius, his attempt 
to assassinate the Caliph Omar, 29. 

CoNSTANTiMOi'LE, fall of, 194 ; state of in 1453, 193. 

" CoifVENTioN," the, orders General Doppet to reduce 
Lyons by Are and sword, 84S. 

CoNvvAY, General, at battle of the Brandywine, 125; of 
Germantown, 261 

Cook, General, at battle of Bemus' Heights, 590, 

Cooke, General, 205. 

CooTB, Sir Eyre, at the battle of Porto Novo, 487. 

Cope, Sir John, at battle of Prestonpans, 488. 

Copts, at battle of the Pyramids, 497. 

CoBBiNEAU, General, valor of, 101 ; rescues Napoleon 
from imminent peril, 130. 

CoRiOLANus, Caius Marcius, raises the siege of Rome on 
the entreaties of his mother, 534. 

Corny, M., at the capture of the Hotel des Invalides, 
450. 

Cornish Rebels, defeated at Blackheath, 104. 

CoRNWALLis, Lord, 127-178; at Bangalore, 81; at the 
battle of the Brandywine, 124; of Camden, 147; of 
Castlebar, 15S; at Charlestown, 178; at battle of 
Guilford, 266; of Jamestown, 290; of Monmouth, 
388; of Trenton, 647; his surrender at Yorktown, 
709. 

Cobtez, Fernando, 366; sets sail from Cuba with a force 
intending to invade Mexico, 523; his standard, ibid. ; 
attacked by the natives at Tabasco, 524; at battle of 
Tzonipach, 661 ; invades Mexico, 631 ; receives en- 
voys from Montezuma, 632 ; defeats TIascalans, 633 ; 
at the battle of the defile, 223; of Ceutla, 165; sub- 
dues Montezuma, 161 ; advances against the Spaniards 
un<ler Narvaez, at Cempoalla, and gains a complete 
victorv, lil, 16i; in Mexico, 367; wounded, 369; the 
battle 'of the Biidges, 371 ; at the battle of the Cause- 
way, 372 ; of Otuinba, 427 ; at siege of Mexico, 427. 

CossAoivS, at the passage of the Beresina, 102; at battle 
of Borodino, 107; of Brienne, 129; ofEylau, 241; of 
Hanau, 27o; of Kertch, 812; of Malo-Taroslavetz, 
855; at siege of Ismail, 284; at battle of Pultowa, 
495; of Smolensko, 586; of the Trebia, 644. 

CosTv. RiHANs, at the battles of Kivas, 527; of Santa 
Rosa. 526. 

CoTTi>N, Sir Stapleton, at the battle of Salamanca, 557. 

CouRTBNAY, Robert de, 193. 



CoirsTON, General, wounded at the storming of the Mala- 

kotf, 579. 
CouRTRAi, siege of, 5S8. 

CouTHON, Commissioner, at the siege of Lyons, 349. 
Covenanters, at battle of Alford, 19 ; of Bolhwell Bridge, 

119; of Drum clog, 229. 
Covington, General, killed at battle of Chrystler's Fields, 

183. 
Covered "Way, first used, 107. 
Cox, Colonel, killed at the battle of Oriskany, 251. 
Cranch, a British officer at the siege of Badajoz, 80. 
Craterus, an officer of Alexander the Great, at battle of 
Cranon, 208 ; of the Hydaspes, 2S1 ; of Issus, 288. 

Crawford, General, 25; at battle of Busaco, 139; at 
siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, 185. 

Crealock, Captain, at the assault of the Gieat Kedan at 
Sevastopol, 582. 

Crknan, Marquis de, mortally wounded, 208. 

Creutz, General, at the battle of Pultowa, 491. 

Crequi, at the siege of Paris, 443. 

Crispinus, Consul of Rome, at the Eiege of Syracuse, 
615. 

Crispus, son of Constantine the Great, in command of 
his father's fleet, 140; defeats the fleet of Licinius, 
140. 

Croats, at the battle of Leutzen, 342. 

Crockett, David, Colonel, killed at the Alamo, 559. 

Croenus, a general of Alexander the Great, at battle of 
the Hydaspes, 281 ; of Issus, 288. 

Ckcesus, king of Lydia, his great wealth, 625; declares 
war against the Medos and Persians, 628; at the 
battle of Sardis, 562; of Thymbra. 626. 

Croguan, Major, his heroic defense of Fort Stephenson, 
252 ; promoted, 255. 

Ceoi, Duke of, at the battle of Narva, 404. 

Cromston, Baron de, at the siege of Bergen-op-Zoom, 
104. 

Cromwell, Oliver, the "Protector," captures city of 
Berwick, 104 ; at the siege of Drogheda, 2;9 ; at the 
battle of Dunbar, 229 ; sends troops into Flanders, 
231 ; at the battle of Marston Moor, 368 ; of Naseby, 
407; at Perth, 474; at battle of Worcester, 700. 

Croquar, made prisoner by the Bretons, 85. 

Crosier. Napoleon's aide-de-camp, killed at St. Jean 
d'Acre, 9. 

Cross, Holy, taken by Persians from Jerusalem, 300. 

Crotonians, at the siege of Sybaris, 002. 

Cruger, John, Colonel, at the battle of Eutaw Springs, 
239 ; at siege of Fort Ninety-Six, 250. 

Crusaders, at the siege of Antioch, 27; at battle of 
Asoalon, 55; before Constantinople, 187 ; at the siege 
of Damascus, 223 ; of Edessa, 234 ; of Jerusalem, 301 ; 
character of the, 308; at siege of Nice, 416 ; of Tri- 
poli, 648; of Tunis, 650. 

CaESTA, General, at the battle of Eio 8eco, 52^. 

Cl'itlahua, brother of Montezuma, elevated to the 
throne of Mexico, 867 ; killed by Cortez at the battle 
of Otumba, 427. 

Culpepper Battalion, at Norfolk, 418. 

Cummin, of Badenoch, at battle of Falkirk, 244. 

CuMBKRLAND, Duke of, in conmiand of royalists at battle 
of Culloden, 210; at battle of Fontenoy, 246. 

Cunningham, Major, at the battle of the Cowpens, 201. 

CuRRiAL, General, at the battle of Ilaynau. 270. 

CuRKiNGTON, Lieutenaut-Colonel, at the siege of York- 
town, 709. 

Curtis, a soldier at the battle of San Jacinto, anecdote 
of, 560. 

Cyaxares, king of Media. 625; joins in revolt against 
the king of Assyria, 417 ; at the battle of the Halys, 
269. 

Ctn.«girus. brother of the pOet ^schylus, killed at 
battle of Marathon, 358. 

Cyrus, king of Persia, besieges Babylon, 71 ; turns the 
channel of the river Euphrates, 72; at battle of Sar- 
dis, 562 ; of Thvmbra, 626. 

Cyrus, son of Darius, king of Persia, appointed com- 
mander of the Persian army. 625; revolts against his 
brother, Artaxerxes. king of Persia, 211 ; slain at the 
battle of Cunaxa, 218. ^ 

CzERwiKY, General, killed at the battle of the Tcher- 
naya, 578. 



Dabood Khan, at the siege of Madras, "50. 

Dacrrs. Lord, at battle of Flodden, 245; of Solway 

Moss. 585. ^ ^ ^. 

Dade, Major, massacred with his troops by the Indians, 

247. 



730 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



Daogeewoeth, Sir Thomas, 84. 

D'Allbmagne, General, at the battle of Lodi, 337, 

Dalmatians, conquered by Amurath I., 156. 

Dames, a Mussulman, defeated iu single combat by 
Ncstorius, a Roman, 27. 

Damii'pus, sent as an envoy of the Syracusans to the 
Macedonians, made prisoner bi the Romans, G15. 

Dammartix, Count de, at battle of St. Jacob, 548. 

Danbury, General, defeats Coruish rebels, 104. 

Dandblot, brother of Admiral Colligni, at tho battle of 
8t. Quintin, 554; made prisoner, &56. 

Dandolo, Doge of Venice, at the siege of Constantino- 
ple, ISS. 

Danes, at battle of AIney, 25; of Clontarf, 186; at Con- 
Stan tinople, 183; at battle of Hemmingstedt, 275 ; of 
Flensborg, 245; of Instedt, 283; of Kiiige, 317; of 
Luncarty, 342; of Nyeborg, 425 ; of Stockholm, 598 ; 
ofStraslund, 601 ; of Udevalla, 6C5. 

Daniel, the Prophet, interprets the vision to Belshazzar. 
73. 

Dardanelles, castle of, constructed by Mohammed II., 
193. 

Dabkmont, General, killed at Constantina, 186.^ 

Daeius I., king of Persia, ascends the Persian throne, 
73; besieges Babylon, 73; his cruelty, 74; his army 
defeated by the Greeks at Marathon, 858. 

Darius ill., king of Persia, at the battle of the Granicus, 
265 ; his magnificent line of march before the battle 
of Issus, 286; his disastrous defeat, 287; his wife 
made prisoner, 289 ; defeated at Arbela, 47. 

Darmstadt, General, killed at siege of Barcelona, 84. 

Datis, a general of Darius I., defeated at battle of Mara- 
thon, 3.J8. 

Daum, Count, at the battle of Hochkirchen, 567; at 
Vienna, 6T6. 

Daum, Marshal, at the siege of Schweidnitz, 567. 

David, king of the Jews, at the siege of Jerusalem, 295. 

David, king of Scotland, at battle of tho Standard, 589. 

Davidson, William, General, kUled at the battle of Cow- 
an's Ford, 201. 

Davie, William, Major, at the battle of Eamsour's Mills, 
509. 

Davis, Colonel, at the battle of Buena Vista, 135. 

Davoust, Marshal, at tho battle of Austerlitz, 68; of 
Asperne, 59 ; of Auerstadt, 64 ; wounded at Borodino, 
109,; at battle of Eckmuhl, 232; of Eylau, 24:3; of 
Heilsberg, 273 ; in command of the army for the 
defense of Paris, 464; at tho battle of Smolensko, 
586. 

Dr or D'. Names with these prefixes may be found 
under the initials of their adjuncts, as, for D' Albert, 
ee6 Albert; De Heister, see IIeister, etc. 

Dead, the plain of the, 470. 

Dkarhuun, Major, made prisoner at Quebec, 506; at 
battle of Bemus' Heights, 590. 

Deborah, the Prophetess, at the battle in the plains of 
Esdraelon, 236. 

Dbhac, a Mussulman, defeats Iftstorious, a Roman, in 
single combat, 27. 

Dblalaurde, Sir Thomas, executed, 588. 

Dblancy, General, 467. 

Delmas, General, at battle of Leipsic, 824. 

Dblok, Eenard, murdered by the Flemish rebels, 156. 

Dblzon, General, in command of Italians at Borodino, 
111; at the battle of Malo-Yuroslavetz, 355. 

Dembinski, General, takes part in the Polish Revolution, 
684; defeated, 618. 

Demetrius, son of Antigonus, at the battle of Gaza, 259 ; 
of theHydaspes, 282; of Ipsus, 283; at the siege of 
Rhodes, 516; of Tyre, 658. 

Demetrius, a Roman, taken prisoner and laden with 
chains by the Goths, 658. 

Dbmosthenes, the Athenian general at the siege of Syra- 
cuse, 609 ; taken prisoner, 612 ; his death, 613. 

DaMOSTiiENES, the Orator, his reply to Python, 167; 
his timidity on the battle-field, 167. 

Denizofp, Orloff, General, at the battle of Hanau, 270. 

Denmark, liberated from the dominion of Sweden, 425. 

Dennison, Colonel, 705. 

Derfelden, General, at battle of Novi, 425. 

Des Essarts, Prevot, at the siege of Paris, 442. 

Desgardens, General, wounded at the battle of Eylau, 
242. 

Des Gravieus, General, killed at the battle of Salamanca, 
558. 

Dessaix, General, killed at the battle of Marengo, 861 ; 
at the battle of the Pyramids, 497. 

Devtees, Hubert, a squire of Henry of Anjou, preserves 
his master's life, 531. 



Devon, Earl of; made prisoner and beheaded, 643. 

Diaz, Rodrigo, at Toledo, 633. 

Dickinson, Philemon, General, at the battle of Mon- 
mouth, 3S7. 

Dickinson, Lieutenant-Colonel, at tho siege of Vera 
Cruz, 672. 

Dictral, General, killed at the battle of Mondovi, 887. 

DiDiER, king of the Lombards, at the siege of Pavia. 470. 

Diebitch, General, establishes the fearful battery of the 
Beresina, 101 ; at the passage of the Balkan, 81 ; at 
battle of Grochow, 266 ; in command of the Russian 
army in Poland, 681 ; his death, CS2. 

Dieu et mon Droit, 264. 

Dillon, Count, at the siege of Savannah, 565. 

DiMicK, Major, at the battle of Contrcras, 11^9. 

DiMocLus, the Syracusan commander, at siege of Syra- 
cuse, 604. 

Dinar, Viscount de, at Jerusalem, 802. 

Diocles, at Corinth, 195. 

Diocletian, emperor of Rome, besieges Alexandria, IC. 

Dionysus, defeats Caithaginians, 613; at the siege of 
Motya, 399. 

DioNYSius, the Younger, at Syracuse, 613. 

Divers, employed at the siege of 8t. Jean d' Acre, 9. 

DoAzoN, M., a captain of the Paris militia, 4G!i. 

Doctokoff, General, at tho battle of Borodino, 109; of 
Malo-Yaroslavetz, 355. 

Dog, that of Xantippus, 62 ; anecdote of the dog, Mus- 
tapha, at battle of Fontenoy. 246. 

Dolly, Quamino, a negro guide, 563. 

Do.MiNiTLs, at the battle of Pharsalia, 474. 

DoNOP, Colonel, at Bordentown, 647 ; at battle of Red 
Bank, 512; killed, 513. 

Donaldson, Lieutenant, at tho battle of Buena Vista, 
134. 

DoppET, General, ordered by tho " Convention" to re- 
duce Lyons by fire and sword, 34S. 

DORiA, Roger, Admiral, at the siege of Massena, 366. 

DORNBERG, 67. 

DoROKHOOFF, General, killed, 355. 
Doeuance, Colonel, 705. 
Dorset, Earl of, taken prisoner, 26. 
Douglass, Captain, at the siege of Fort Erie, 248. 
Douglass, Sir James, killed, S3. 
Douglass, Sir William, killed, 4-35. 
Douglass, Regent of Scotland, killed, 269. 
DouzA, John, the Latin poet, 830. 
Dowlet Row SiNCLEA, defeated by the English, 818. 
Downie, Captain, killed at the battie of Plattsburg, 485. 
Dracut, Pacha, besieges Malta, 356. 
Drake, Sir Francis, at the siege of San Domingo, 559. 
Drinkwater, Captain, his history of the siege of Gib- 
raltar, 264. 
Drucak, Chevalier de, 842. 

Drum, Captain, at the battle of Chapnltepec, 171. 
Drummond, General, at the battle of Oswego, 484; of 

Niagara, 414. 
Deummond, Colonel, at the siege of Fort Erie, 247. 
Drummond, Captain, killed at the battle of Windmill 

Point, 696. 
Deuot, General, at the battle of Hanau, 270 ; of Leipsic, 

320 ; of Lutzen, 340. 
Dubois, General, at the battle of Cliarlcroi, 172. 
DuBOURG, Herbert, his brave defense of Dover, 226. 
Du Camas, Colonel, killed at battle of Iiikermann, 572. 
Duchesne, General, at the battle of Montcrau, -391. 
Duckworth, Admiral, his expedition to Constantinople, 

195. 
Dudley, Colonel, mortally wounded at Fort Meigs, 289. 
Dudley, Lord, made prisoner, H'O. 
DuFAY, Godemar, governor of Tournai, 638. 
Dugua, General, at the battles of the PvTamids, 497. 
DuHESME, General, at the battle of Briciine, 130. 
Dulac, General, at the storming of the Maliikoff, 579. 
DuMAS, Mathieu, Count, at the siege of Yorktown, 710. 
Dumbrowsky-, General, at battle of the Trebia, 644. 
Dumont, General, at Waterloo, 690. 
DuMOUKiER, 291, 346, 409, 6=34. 
Duncan, Ensign, at Fort Stephenson, 2.''i3. 
DuNCVN, Maior, at Mexico, 382; at battle of Palo Alto, 

439 ; of Molino del Rey, 385. 
DuNDAS, Admiral, at the bombardment of Odessa, 426. 
DuNDAS, Lieutenant-Colonel, at the battle of Jamestown, 

291. 
DuNDAs, Lieutenant-Colonel, at the siege of Yorktown, 

708. 
Dundee, of Claverhouse, at the battle of Killiecrankie, 

313. 
DuNMOKE, Lord, at Norfolk, 417. 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



131 



DtJNois, at Caen, 141 ; at Orleans, 4S2. 

DnPiiKT, Adjutant-General, assassinated at Rome, 542. 

DiTRAS, Charles, at the siege of Naples, 402. 

DuKKNcj, General, killed at the siege of Straslund, C02. 

DiTKKEE, Colonel, 702. 

DiTBTjTTB, General, at the battle of Leipsic, 324; of Eaab, 
50T. 

Dcrnoc. General, Duke of Fruili, killed, 89 ; monument 
ordered to his memory by Napoleon I., 90. 

DuToii, at Almanza, 24; at Antwerp, 41: at Bayonne, 
9D; at Bergen -op-Zoom, 103; at Blenheim, 105; at 
Bommel, 107; at Boxtel, 120; at the battle of the 
Boyne, 121; at Cadiz, 141; at Charleroi, 172; at 
Fouteuoy, 246 ; at Gibraltar, 2m ; at Haarlem, 2GS ; 
at Leyden, S-SO ; at Maestricht, 352 ; at Namur, 401 ; 
at Ostend, 433 ; at Vachtendonck, 607 ; at "Waterloo, 
691. 

Dykt?, .'.-.a famous one of Cardinal de Eiclielieu, 532. 

Dymock, Captain, killed at the battle of the Ingour, 2S3. 

Dyke, Lieutenant-Colonel, at JTort Talladega, 206. 



Earth and Watek, the demand of, a token of demand- 
ing submission, 622. 

Earthquake, account of one that occurred during the 
battle of Thrasymenus, 624. 

Eaton, General, at the battle of Guilford Court House, 
266. 

Eoi.ii'31! of the moon, during the siege of Syracuse, 610. 

Eclipse of the sun, during the battle of the Halys, 269 ; 
before the siege of Jerusalem, 309. 

Ecclesiastics, regiment of formed at Paris, 446. 

Ki)iNBi7KG, taken by Cromwell, 230. 

Edmund Iroxsides, of England, defeats Canute fn 
single-handed combat, 25 ; murdered, 25. 

Edward 1., king of England, 229; at the siego of Brechin, 
126; accepts the challenge of the Count of Chalons 
to a friendly tournament, 171 ; at the battle of Eve- 
sham, 240 ; of Falkirk, 244 ; of Lewes, 323 ; captures 
city of Perth, 474; at the siege of Tunis, 652. 

Edward II.,' king of England, 2o0 ; at the battle of Ban- 
nockburn, 82. 

Edward III., king of England, invades France, 141; 
lays siege to Calais, 143; bis cruel conditions to the 
citizens of Calais, 145 ; anecdote of, ibid. ; at the 
battle of Cressy, 203 ; invades Scotland, 232 ; at the 
battle of llallidon Hill, 269; his generous treatment 
of his prisoner, John II., of France, 40; at siego of 
Kheims, 515; of Tournai, 638; his character, G3S. 

Edward IV., king of England, at the battle of Barnet, 
84 ; his coi-onation, iiii ; at the battle of Tewkesbury, 
ere ; of Towton, 642. 

Edward VI., 312. 

Edward, of Caernarvon, son of Edward L, first Prince 
of Wales, 653. 

Edward, the Black Prince, at the siego of Limoges, 333; 
at the battle of Poictiers, 4sG ; his generous treat- 
ment of John II., of France, 437; at the siege of 
Eomoratin, 543. 

Effinqham, Lord High Admiral, at the siege of Cadiz, 
141. 

Egesimachus, his death, 281. 

EaoLESTON, Major, in command of Americans at Augusta, 
68 ; at the battle of Eutaw Springs, 239. 

EoMONT, Count, at the battle of 8t. Quintin, 555. 

Ed Yi'TiANS, at St. Jean d' Acre, 11 ; at Alexandria, 15; at 
Azoth, 70 ; at the battle of Darik, 223 ; at the siege 
of Gaza, 26 J ; of Jerusalem, 295; destroyed in the 
Red Sea, 513 ; at the battle of Thrymbra, 626. 

Elam, king of, 314. 

Elbke, General d', at the battle of Cholet, 183. 

Elbert, Colonel, at the siege of Savannah, 563. 

Eleazbr, the Zealot, 297. 

Elephants, at the siege of Agrigentum, 14 ; of Argos, 52 ; 
of Carthage, 149 ; at the battle of Cynocephalie, 221 ; 
at the siese of Edessa, 234 ; at the battle of the Ily- 
daspes, 281 ; of Issus, 283 ; of Raphia, 510 ; taken 
over the Alps hy Hannibal, 516; at the battle of 
Thrasymenus, 624; of the Trebia, 644; ofZama, 712. 

Elijah, the Prophet, 559. 

Elizabeth, queen of England, imprisons Mary, queen of 
Scots, 318. 

Ellershausbn, General, at the siege of Schweidnitz, 567. 

Elliot, Sir "William, at the siege of Gibraltar, 263. 

Elliott, Colonel, at Fort Stephenson, 252. 

Elliott, Susanna, Mrs., presents flag to the South Caro- 
lina Regiment, 565. 

E.MANTKL, Duke of Savoy, at the battle of St. Quintin, 
554. 



Emerson, 'William, chaplain of the American army, 117. 

Engklbkrt, of Tournay, at the siege of Jerusalem, 307. 

Enghien, Duke d', killed at the battle of St. Quintin, 555. 

English, at St. Jean d' Acre, 8 ; at Agra, 12 ; at Aiguillon, 
14; at Albucra, 15; at Alexandria, 18; at Alighur, 19; 
at Algiers, 19 ; at Aliwal, 21 ; at Alkma;r, 21 ; at the 
Alm.i, 22; at Almanza, 24; at Almaraz, 24; at Al- 
meida, 25; at Alney, 25; at Alnwick, 25; at Amoy, 
26; at Ancram, 26; at Anet, 00; at Anjou, 26; at 
Antioch, 29 ; at Arguam, 52 ; at Arroyo do! Molino, 
55 ; at Assaye, 61 ; at Aughrim, 67 ; at Augusta, 67 ; 
at Azincour, 69 ; besiege French in Badajoz, 76 ; take 
fortress of Olivenza, 76; atrocities committed at 
Badajoz by Ensrlish soldiers, 80 ; at Bangalore, 81 ; 
attack on Baltfmore. 81 ; at Fort McHenry, 81 ; at 
Bannockburn, 83; at Barnet, 84; at Barrosa, 84 ; at 
Bayonne, 91) ; defeated by the Bretons, 85 ; at 
Baza, 94; at Beaverdams, 94; at Belgrade, 95; at 
Bennington Heights, 99; at Bergen-op-Zoom, 103; 
at Bergen-op-Zoom, 104; at Berwick, 104; at 
Blackhoath, 104; at Black Rock, 104; at Bladens- 
burg, 105; at Blenheim, 105; at Bloreheath, 105; 
besieged in Boston by Americans, 112 ; at Bunker's 
Hill, 113; at Bosworth Field, 118;" at Bothwell 
Bridge, 119 ; at Boulogne, 120 ; at battle of Bcmvines, 
120 ; at Boxtel, 120 ; at the Boyne, 120 ; troops of 
Braddock defeated by French, 128 ; at the Brandy- 
wine, 124; besiege Brechin, 126; at Brest, 126; at 
Briar Creek, 127 ; at Brooklyn (Long Island), 127 : 
at Brownstown, 126 ; at Buenos Ayres, 135 ; at 
Burgos, 137 ; at Busaco, 138 : at the siege of Cadiz, 
141 : at battle of Caen, 141 ; at siege of Calais, 143 ; 
of Calvi, 147; at Camden, 147; at Canton, 149; at 
Caslatta, 156; at Castlebar, 153 ; at Caverypauk, 159: 
at Chalons, 172 ; at Charleston, 173 ; at Chippewa, 
181; at Chrystler's Fields, 183; at Constantinople, 
195 ; at Oompeigne, 197 , at Corunna, 200 ; at Cow- 
an's Ford, 201 ; at Cowpens, 201 ; at Craney Island, 
3U3 ; at Cressy, 203 ; at Curnoil, 216 ; at Detroit, 225 ; 
at Dittengen, 225; at Dunbar, 229; at Dumblane, 
230 ; at Dundalk, 230 ; at Dundee, 230 ; at Dungan 
Hill, 230; at Dunkirk, 281; at Durham, 232; at 
Edgehill Fight, 235 ; at Enghien, 237 ; at Espierres, 
237 ; at Evesham, 240 ; at Fairfield, 243 ; at Falkirk, 
244 ; at Flodden Field, 245 ; at Fontenoy, 245 ; at 
Formigny, 246 ; at Fort Boyer, 247 ; at j'ort Erie, 
247; at Fort George, 249 ; at Fort Niagara, 250 ; at 
Fort Ninety-six, 250 ; at Fort Schuyler, 250 ; at 
Oriskany, 251 ; at Fort Stephenson, 252 ; at Fort 
"Washington, 253; at Freteval, 256; at Fuentes de 
Onore, 259; at Germantown, 260; at Ghuznee, 
262, at Gibraltar, 263 ; at Gisors, 264 ; at Gorey, 
264; at Guilford Court House, 266; at Hallidon 
Hill, 269; at Hampton, 269; at Hanging Rock, 271; 
at Harlem Plains, 271 ; at Hastings, 271 ; at Hex- 
bam, 275; at Hobkirks Hill, 275; at Hubbardton, 
290; at the Ingour, 283; at Inkerman, 283; at 
Jamestown, 290: at Kars, 312; at Kertch, 312; at 
Khurd Kabool, 313; at King's Mountain, 815; at 
Kiiige, 317 ; at Laon, 318; at Lassawaree, 318; at 
Lavul, 318: at Lewes, 328; at Lexington, 829; at 
Ligny, 689 ; at Limoges, 838 : at Lincoln, 8-38 ; at 
Lisbon, 835 ; at Lisieux, 336 ; at Londonderry, 338 ; at 
Loudon Hill, 341 ; at Louisburg, 341 ; at Madras, 850 ; 
at Mans, 357; at Marston Moor, 863; at Mayenne, 
365 : at Mergui, 365 ; at Monmouth, 887 ; at Mon- 
tereau, 391 ; at Moodkce, 396 ; at Mowbray, 400 ; at 
Namur, 401 ; at Naseby, 407 ; at Neerwinde"n, 408 ; at 
Newark, 410 ; at Newbury, 410 ; at New London, 411 ; 
at Fort Griswold, 411 ; at New Orleans, 411 ; at Nor- 
folk, 417 ; at Norwalk, 423 ; at Odessa, 426 ; at Ogdens- 
burg, 426 ; at Oporto. 428 ; at Orleans, 429 ; at Orthes, 
93, 433 ; at Oswego, 433 ; at Otterburn, 434 ; at Pam- 
peluna,440; at Paris, 464; at Paoli, 470 : at Parma, 
470 ; at Patay, 470 ; at Pensacola, 473 ; at Perth, 474 ; 
at Piiikey, 478 ; at Plattsburg, 484 ; at Poictiers, 486 ; 
at Portsmouth, 437 ; at Porto Novo, 487 ; at Preston- 
pans, 438 ; at Princeton. 488 ; at the Pyieneos, 493; 
at Quaker Hill, 501 ; at Quatre Bras, 689 ; at Quebec, 
503; at Queenstown, 506; at Rajdeer, 508; at 
Ramillies, .509 ; at Red Bank, 513 ; at Rennes, 513 , 
at Rheims, 515; at La Rochelle, 632; at Sackett's 
Harbor, 544; at St. Alban's, .547 : at St. Florent, 548; 
at St. Sebastian, 549; at St. Quintin, .554 ; at Sala- 
manca, .556; at San Dominiro, 55',); at S.-iii Marcial, 
561; at Savannah. 5G3; at Savindroog. 5(ir. ; at Sen- 
neffe, 570; at Seringapatam, 570 ; at Sevastopol, 571 ; 
at Shrewsbury. 584; at Sobraon, 585; at Solway 
Moss, 533; at Springfield, 583; at second battle of 



V32 



ALPHABETICAL IN"DEX. 



the Spurs, 
Standard, C 



!; at Stamford, 588; at battle of the 
at battle of Bemus' Heights, 589 ; at 
Saratoga, 594; at Stillwater, 592 ; at Stonington, 598 ; 
at StoDO Ferry, 598; at Stony Creek, 598; at Stony- 
Point, 599; at Stratton, 6U2; at Talavera, 616; at 
Tarifa, 617; at Tewkesbury, 019; at the Thames, 
620; at iherouanne, 624-638; at Ticonderoga, 630; 

at Toulon, 635; at Toulouse, 638; at Towton, 643; 

at Trenton, 646; at Vimeira, 6So; at Washington, 

687; at Waterloo, 689; at Waxhaw, 693; at While 

Plains, 693 ; at Windmill Point, 696 ; at Worcester, 

699 ; at York, 707 ; at Yorktown, 708. 
Enns, a chief of the Isaurians, at the siege of Eome, 539. 
Entkagues, Chevalier d', at Cremona, 208. 
Epaminondas, the Theban, at the battle of Lenctra, 827; 

of Mantinea, 363; his heroism, 364; his death, iOid. 
Epicydes, an Athenian general, 623; at Syracuse, 613. 
Epinoi, Princess d', her valiant conduct at the siege of 

Tournai, 639. 
Ebbillon', General, at the battle of the Tchernaya, 578. 
Eeginus, the Corinthian, 195. ' 

Erlon, Count d', at battle of Bayonne, 91; of the 

Pyrenees, 498 ; of Waterloo, 690. 
Ernest, Pierre, at the siege of Vachtendonck. 667. 
Erskine, General, 127 ; at the battle of Trenton, 648. 
Esmonde, Captain, at the siege of Sevastopol, 575. 
Espartero, General, assisted by several British ships-of- 

war, defeats Carlists, at the siege of Bilboa, 104 ; at 

the battle of Morella, 397 ; of Eamales. 508. 
Essex, Earl of, at the siege of Cadiz, 141 ; at Edgehill 

Fight, 235. 
Estaing, Count d', In command of the French fleet, 175; 

at the siege of Savannah, 564; wounded, ibid.; in 

command of the National Guard of Versailles, 456. 
Estiiek, an Indian Queen, her cruelty to prisoners, 705. 
ESTONVILLE, D', 69. 
Eteocles, son of CEdipus, king of Thebes, engages in 

single combat with his brother, Polyuices, in which 

both are slain, 621. 
Eu, Count of, Constable of France, made prisoner at 

Caen, 141. 
EucLiDEs, brother of Cleomenus, at the battle of Selasia, 

568. 
EtTDES, Count, at the siege of Paris, 441 ; at the battle of 

Tours, 642. 
Eugene (Beauharnais), Prince, at the battle of Borodino, 

109 ; of Leipsic, 320 ; of Lutzen, 844 ; of Eaab, 507 ; 

of Sacile, 544. 
Eugene, Prince, of Savoy, at the battle of Blenheim, 105 ; 

of Cassano, 155; at siege of Cremona, 208; at the 

battle of Malplaquet, 355; at siege of Milan, 384; of 

Mons, 389; at the battle of Oudenarde, 435; of 

Peterwardin, 473; at the siege of Temeswar, 617; of 

Turin, 654. 
Eugexius, the Ehetorician, made Emperor of the West, 

by Arbogastes, 46 ; defeated by Theodoslus, 4T ; his 

death, ibid. 
ErpiiKATES, the river, 72. 

Eup.ybiades, in command of Grecian fleet, 623. 
EuRYLOCiius, slain at the battle of Olp.p, 427. 
EuRYMEDON, at the siege of Syracuse, 609 ; his death, 

610. 
Eustaciie, brother of Godfrey of Bouillon, the Crusader, 

at the siege of Jerusalem, 302-306. 
EuTiiVDRMUs, at the siege of Syracuse, 608. 
Evans, General, at Fonterabia, 245. 
EvERS, Lord, killed, 26. 

Evrard, of Preysaic, a Crusader, at Jerusalem, 307. 
EwiNG, General, at the battle of Trenton, 647. 
ExACESTES, in command of the fleet of Ehodes, defeated 

by Demetrius, 518. 
ExMouTir, Lord, Admiral, at Algiers, 20. 
Eyee, Colonel, killed at Fort Griswold, 411. 
Eyre, Major-General, at the siege of Sevastopol, 575. 



Fabius, Consul of Eome, at the siege of Tarcntum, 617. 

Fairfax, Sir Thomas, at the battle of Marston Moor, 
363; ofNaseby, 407. 

Falconbep.s, Lord, kills Lord Clifford at the battle of 
Towton, 643. 

Falls, Captain, at the battle of Eamsom's Mills, 509. 

Falstofe, Sir John, at the siege of Orleans, 430. 

Famines, of Agrigentum, 13; of Antiocli, 29; of Athens, 
62-64;of Kyzantium, 140; of Callahorra,143; of Calais, 
143;: of .Jerusalem, 295, 298; of Kars, 812; of Leyden, 
832; of Londonderry, 840; of Lvons, 349; of Naples, 
402; of Paris, 446; of Eavcnna,'511; of La Eochelle, 
532 ; of Eome, 537, 539 ; of Samaria, 559 ; of Tunis, 649. 



Fannings, Lieutenant, at the battle of Sackett's Harbor, 

544. 
Farjaux, Governor, at the siege of Maestricht, 851. 
FAKUSBorKC, siege of, 648. 
Faustus, Corneillius, son of Sylla, 296. 
Febiger, Christian, Colonel, at Stony Point, 599. 
Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria, at the battle of Nord- 

lingen, 417. 
Ferdinand IV., of Spain, takes Gibrtiltar, 263. 
Ferdinand V., king of Castile and Arragon, at the siege 

of Grenada, 264; wrests Naples from France, 403; 

at the siege of Eonda, 543. 
Fekey, Colonel, mortally wounded, 558. 
Fergent, Alain, Duke of Brittany, at siege of Jerusalem, 

302. 
FuLLAiie, at the battle of the Pyramids, 497. 
Fellows, General, at the b.-ittle of Bemus' Heights, 589. 
Ferguson, Major, at the battle of King's Mountain, 315; 

killed, 316. 
Ferte, Marshal de la, at Arras, 54. 
Ferrand, General, at siege of Valenciennes. 668. 
Feeuars, Lord of Chartlery, slain in Bosworth Field, 119. 
Fessart, Albert de, a Swiss knight, at the battle of St 

Jacob, 548. 
Feuillade, Marshal, at the siege of Valenciennes, 668. 
Feversiiam, General, at the battle of Sedgenioor, 567. 
Fielden, Major, at the siege of Sevastopol, 575. 
FiNLEY, Captain, at the battle of Guilford Court House, 

Finnlanders, at the battle of Leipsic, 382 ; of Lutzen, 343. 

Fire, balls of, seen In the sky by the Crusaders, 39. 

Fire-Pots, used at the siege of Edessa, 233 ; at Jeru- 
salem, 306. 

Fiee-Siiips, 60, 610. 

Fike Worshipers, 300. 

Fisiiback, General, at the battle of Citate, 184. 

Fitzwalter, Lord, killed by Lord Clifford, 642. 

Flag, Union, first unfurled over American camp, 117. 

Flails, armed with iron balls, 66. 

Flaminius, Titus Quintius, appointed a consul of Eome, 
221. 

Flaminus, Caius, the Eoman consul, at the battle of 
Thrasymenus, 624 ; killed, 625. 

Flaminus, Eoman consul, at battle of the Adda, 11. 

Flanders, Count of, at Constantinople, 187; at Jeru- 
salem, 812. 

Flanders, Earl of, wounded and made prisoner at battle 
of Bouvines, 120. 

Flank Movement, of Napoleon, first successful applica- 
tion of, 886. 

Fleming, Captain, killed at the battle of Princeton, 489. 

Flemings, at Antwerp, 41 ; at Arras, 53; at Cassel, 156; 
at Lisbon, 335; at Maestricht, 350; at the first battle 
of the Spurs, 588 ; at the siege of Valenciennes, 667 ; 
of Westrooseberke, 693. 

Flesselles, M. de, killed at the storming of the Bastlle, 
452. 

Fletohbr, Sir E., Lieutenant-Colonel, wounded at the 
siege of St. Sebastian, 550; killed, .553. 

Fletcher, Colonel, killed at B.adajoz, 77. 

Fleury, Colonel de, at Stony Point, 6'W. 

Floeine, daughter of Eudes L, Duke of Burgundy, her 
death, 29. 

Floyd, General, 205; wounded, 206. 

Flue, Louis de, commander of the Swiss Guards at Paris, 
450. 

Fonteailles, his stratagem at the siege of Terouanne, 
638. 

Ford, Colonel, at the battle of Guilford, 268; mortally 
wounded at Hobkirk's Hill, 276. 

FoEDYCE, Captain, at the battle of Trenton, 647. 

Forev, General, at the battle of Inkerman, 572. 

FoRSTER, General, at the battle of Novi, 424; of the 
Trebia, 645. 

FoESYTHE, Major, at Ogdensburg, 427; at York, 707. 

FoET Beown, defense of, 514. 

Fort Niagara, condition of, during the American 
Eevolution, 250. 

FoRTEscirE, Sir Faithful, at Edgehill Fight, 285. 

Foster, Captain, at the battle of Molino del Bey, 886. 

FouLON, M., appointed Intendant of the French navy, 
448; his character and death, 454. 

FouLQUET, Bishop, his treachery, 637. 

FoY, General, at the battle of Bavonne, 91 ; of Busaco, 
139; of Salamanca. 5.5S; of Waterloo, 690. 

FEANrE, state of, in the time of Louis XIV., 531. 
Franoesohi, General, at the battle of Corunna, 200. 
Franois I., emperor of Austria, at the battle of Leipsic, 
320. 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



V33 



Feanck I., of France, at the battle of Marignan, 361 ; at 
the siege of Marseilles, 362 ; of Pavia, 471 ; made 
prisoner by the Spaniards, 472. 

Francis II., of France, 40. 

Fkancis, Duke of Anjou, created sovereign of the Neth- 
erlands 40 ; besieges Antwerp, 49. 

Fkancis Alijert, Duke, at battle of Lutzen, 343. 

Fkancis, Duke of Guise, at the siege of Naples, 403. 

Francis, of Lorraine, at the siege of Pavia, 471. 

Fkancis, Colonel, 702; killed at battle of Hubbardton, 
2S0. 

Francisco, a brave Virginian, bis feats at the battle of 
Guilford, 268. 

Francisoo, an officer of Cortez, 16r). 

Prankish Empire, divided between the sons of Louis le 
Debonnaire, 24b. 

Franklin, John, Captain, 706. 

Franks, at the battle of Chalons, 170; of Eoncesvalles, 
543; of Tours, 64L 

Fraakr, General, at the battle of Corunna, 137. 

Ff.askr, Lieutenant, at the siege of Burgos, 137. 

Fraser, General, at battle of Bemus' Heights, 589; 
mortally wounded at second battle of Stillwater, 593. 

Fkanquet, commander of Burgundian army, made pris- 
eoner by Joan d'Arc, 197. 

Frederic Augustus I., king of Saxony, at the battle of 
Lelpsic, 325. 

Frederic I. (Barbarossa), emperor of Germany, at the 
battle of Bassano, 155. 

Frederic IL (the Great), 85, 566; at the battle of Cun- 
nersdorf, 216; of Friedburg, 256; at the siege of 
Oldmutz, 427; at the battle of Pirna, 479 ; of Prague, 
483; ofKossbach, 513. 

Fkedbeic William III., king of Prussia, at the battle of 
Auerstadt, 65 ; at siege of Straslund, 601 ; at battle 
of Leipsic, 820. 

Frederic iV., king of Denmark, at the siege of Stras- 
lund, 601. 

Frederic, General, killed at the battle of Leipsic, 324. 

Frederic, Archduke of Austria, 13, 22 ; made prisoner 
at Amfing, '2G. 

Freibourg, Baron de, killed at the siege of Cremona, 
209. 

Friere, General, at Baza, 94. 

■FuENCii, at Abonsburg, 5 ; at Aboukir, 5; at St. Joan d' 
Acre, 8, 9; at the Adda, 11; at Alguebelle, 14; at 
Aiguillon, 14 ; at Albuera, 15 ; at Alexandria, 18 ; at 
Alcaniz. 15; at Allessandrla, 19; at Alkmaer, 21 ; at 
the Alma, 22; at Almanza, 24: at Almaiaz, 24; at 
Almeida, 25 ; at Almonacid, 25 ; at Amberg, 25 ; at 
Anjou, 26 ; at Antioch, 27 ; at Antwerp, 40, 43 ; at 
Arcis-sur-Aube, 49 ; at Areola, 50 ; at Arguam, 52 ; at 
Arnheim, 53 ; at Arras, 53 ; at Arroyo del Mollno, 55 ; 
at battles of Aspern and Essling, 56 ; at Auerstadt, 64; 
ot Ansterlitz, 6S ; at Azincour,69 ; besiege Badajoz, 75 ; 
take fortress of Olive rza, 75 ; besieged in Badajoz by 
English, 76 ; generosity to wounded English soldiers, 
77 ; take Barcelona, 84 ; at Bardis, 84 ; at Barrosa, 
84 ; at Bar-sur-Aube, 84 ; at Bassano, 84 ; at Bautzen, 
86; defeat Prussians, near Weissig, 86; at Bayonne, 
90; at Baza, 94; besieged In Beauvais, by Charles 
the Bold, 94; at Belchlte, 98; at Benevento, 99; at 
the passage of the Beresina, 101 ; at Bergen. 102 ; at 
Bergen-op-Zoom, 103 ; at Blenheim, 105 ; at Borodino, 
107; at Bosent-les-Walcour, 112; at Bolougne, 120; 
at Bouvlnes, 120 ; at Boxtel, 120 ; at the Boyne, 121 ; 
defeat Braddock, 123 ; at Breslau, 126 ; at Brest, 126 ; 
at Brihuega, 126; at Brienne, li'9; at Burgos, 136; 
at Busaco, 138; at siege of Burgos, 186 ; at Busaco, 
139 ; at Cadore, 141 ; at Caen, 141 ; at Cahors, 142 ; 
at Calais, 143 ; at Caldlero, 147 ; at Canustadt. 149 ; 
at Cassel, 156; at Castala, 156; at Castiglione, 157; 
at Castillon, 157 ; at Castlebar, 158 ; at Caverypauk, 
159 : at Ceresole, 163 ; at Charleroi, 171 ; at Chiilons, 
171; at Champaubert, 179; at Chateau Gothiere, 
179; at Cholet, 183; at Ciudad Rodrigo, 184; at 
Coblentz, 186; at Constantina, 186; at Constantino- 
ple, 188; at Corunna, 200; at Courtrai, 688; at 
Cressy, 208 ; at Cremona, 208 ; at Dantzic, 223 ; at 
Dennewltz, 224 ; at Dorogaboozh, 226 ; at Dresden, 
226; at Eckmuhl, 232; at Engen, 237; at Espierres, 
237; at Eupatoria, 287; at Eylau, 240; at Fere 
Champenoise, 244; at Fontenoy, 245; at Forli, 246; 
at Formigny, 246 ; at Fornovo, 246 ; at Fort Niagara, 
250 ; at Fort Saint David, 252 ; at Fougieres, 254; at 
Friedland, 256 ; at Fuentes de Onore, 259; at Gaza, 
260 ; at Gembloux, 260 ; at Gibraltar, 263 ; at Halle, 
269; at Heidelburg, 273; at Heliopolis, 278; at 
Heilsberg, 273 ; at Hohenlinden, 277 ; at Inkerman, 



283 ; at Jaffa, 290 ; at Jemappes, 291 ; at Jena, 292 ; 
at Kaiith, 312 ; at Katsbach, 312 ; at Kowno, 317 ; at 
Krasnoi, 5So ; at Kulm, 817 ; at Laon, 318 ; at Laval, 
313 ; at Leipsic, 320 ; at Mochern, 821 ; at Lerida, 
325; at Liege, 332; at Lignv, 383, 68S; at Limoges, 
833; at Lisieux, 386; at Lisle, 885; at Livron, 336; 
at Loano, 336,- at Lodi, 837; at Lonato, 841; at 
Louisburg, 841 ; at Lutzen, 344 ; at Lyons, 847 ; at 
Madras, 350 ; at Malo-Taroslavetz, 355 ; at Malpla- 
quet, 355 ; at Mannheim, 357 ; at Mans, 857 ; at 
Mantua, 357 ; at Marcians, 359 ; at Marengo S59 ; at 
Marignan, 301; at Messina, 366; at Milan, 384; at 
Minden,884; at Moeskirch, 884 ; at Mohrunsren,385; 
at Mockcrn. 3S4 ; at Mons, 3S9 ; at Montebello, 389 ; 
at Montenotte, 800; at Montereau, 891 ; at Mont- 
mirail, 395; at Morgarten, 397; at Mount Tabor, 
899 ; at Muolta, 400 ; at Namur, 401 ; at Nancy, 401 ; 
at Naples, 4^'3 ; at Neerwinden, 409 ; at Nordlingen, 
417 ; at Novi, 423 ; at Oporto, 428 ; at Orthes, 98 ; at 
Oatrovno, 4:33; at Oswego, 438; at Otricolll, 484 ; at 
Pampeluna, 440; at Paris, 405; at Parma, 470; at 
Patay, 470 ; at Pavia 471 ; at Permasln, 473 ; at Per- 
pignan, 474 ; at Poictiera, 486 ; at Portsmouth, 48T ; 
at Prague, 488 ; at Pultusk, 495 ; at the Pyramids, 
497 ; at the Pyrenees, 498 ; at Quatre Bras, 689 ; at 
Quebec, 503 ; at Eaab, 507 ; at Eatisbon, 511 ; at 
Eenchen, 513; at Eennes, 513; at Eheims, 515; at 
Eio Seco, 523 ; at Eivoli, 580 ; at La Eoehelle, 531 ; 
at Eoncq, 54^3; at Eossbach, 548; at Saalfeld, 544; 
at Sacilo, 544 ; at Saguntum, 547 ; at St. Dizier, 548 ; 
at St. Florent, 548 ; at St. Jacob, 618 ; at St. Sebastian, 
549 ; at St. Quintin, 554 ; at Salamanca, 556 ; at San 
Marcial, 561; at Saragossa, 562; at Savigliano, 566; 
at Schellendorf, 566; at Schenectady, 560; at Sen- 
neffe, 570; at Sevastopol, 571 ; at Inkerman, 572; at 
Tchernaya, 577 ; at Sieta Agnas, 585 ; at Sniolensko, 
585 ; at Krasnoi, 585; at battles of the Spurs, 588 ; at 
Stockach, 597 ; at Talavera, 616 ; at Tarifa, 617 ; at 
Therouanne, 624; at Ticonderoga, 680; at Toulon, 
634 ; at Tortosa, 634 ; at Toulose, 688 , at Tournai, 
540 ; at the Trebia, 644 ; at Tudela, 649 ; at Turin, 
654 ; at Tuscoins, 655 ; at Ulm, 665 ; at Vails, 670 ; 
at Valmy, 676; at Villaviosa, 680 ; at Villimpenta, 
680; at Waterloo, 689; at Westroosebeke, 693; at 
Wattignies, 693; at Wavres, 603; at Wurtzburg, 
701 ; at Yorktown, 708; at Zurich, 714. 

French Eevolutions, of 1789, 447; of 1830, 465; of 1848, 
469. 

Fkiant, General, at the battle of Heliopolis, 275; at 
Auerstadt, 66 ; killed at Waterloo, 692. 

Fribourg, siege of, 246. 

Friday, an unlucky day, 310. 

Fronde, the war of the, 447. 

Frossakd, General, at the storming of the MalakoflF, 580. 

Frv, Colonel, at the battle of Elvas, 527. 

Fugurres, killed at Aboukir, 1. 

FuLvius, the Eoman Consul, besieges Ambracia, 25. 

FuRurs, Lucius, at the battle of the Adda, 11 ; at the 
siege of Cremona, 207. 

Furstemberg, Prince, at the battle of Leipsic, 323; 
kUled at the battle of Stockach, 598. 



Gage, Thomas, General, in command of British in Boa- 
ton, 112 ; his expedition against Concord, 329 ; his 
conduct toward the inhabitants of Boston, 112 ; 
holds council of war before battle of Bunker's Hill, 
113. 

Gage, Lieutenant-Colonel, wounded at the battle of Fort 
du Quesne', 128. 

Gaines, Captain, at battle of Eutaw, 239. 

Gaines, General, at the siege of Fort Erie, 247. 

Galezier, M., appointed Comptroller-General of France, 
448. 

Galoacus, in command of Picts at battle of the Gram- 
pian Hills, 264. 

Gall, De, General, at battle of Bemus' Heights, 589. 

Gallitzen, General, at the battle of Friedland, 257 ; of 
Krasnoi, 587. 

Gallus, at battle of Chasronea, 168. 

Galway, Lord, defeated at Almanza, 24. 

Gansevookt, Peter, Colonel, at the siogo of Fort 
Schuyler, 251. 

Gardner, Colonel, mortally wounded at battle of Bun- 
ker's Hill, 164. 

Gardner, Lieutenant, at the battle of Cerro Gordo, 164. 

Garland, Colonel, at Mexico, 382 ; at battle of Mollno 
del Eev, 385 ; at the siege of Monterey, 392. 

Gabbatt, Major, 705. 



734 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



Gascons, at battle of Roncesvalles, 54S. 

Gabton, of Beam, at Jerusalem, 3ii2. 

Gatf.8, lloialio, General, at battle of Bemns' Heights, 
5S9 ; in command of the Americans at Camden, 147 ; 
at tlie battles of Saratoga and Stillwater, 689; his 
conduct toward Arnold, 5yo; his interview with 
General Burgoyne, 096. 

Gaucort, De, 69. 

Gauls, at the battle of Cannne, 14S ; at Cremona, 207 ; at 
the sieg« of Paris, 4!;i; of Eome, 5o5; defeated by 
Hannibal, 546; at the battle of Thrasymenus, 625; 
of the Trebia, 618. 

Gautemozin, emperor of Mexico, his heroic defense of 
his capital, 37S ; put to tlie torture by Cortez, 881. 

Gauzlin, Bishop, killed at the siege of Paris, 441. 

Gawbaa, Sir Peter, at the battle of Pinkey, 479. 

Geese, save Rome, 535. 

Gems, taken by the Crusaders, 40. 

GEKABn, Marshal, at Agra, 12; at Antwerp, 43; at battle 
of Brienne, 130; of Borodino, 109; at the battle of 
Lutzen, 345 ; wounded, 346 ; takes part in the French 
Revolution, 467. 

Gerard, of Rousillon, at Jerusalem, 307. 

Gbebaut, valor of, 441. 

Gelon, a Syracusan general, at the siege of Hymera, 282. 

Germans, at Aquileia, 46; at Argentaria, 52; at Arras, 
64 ; at Bouvines, 120 ; at Bayonne, 91 ; at Burgos, 
ISi; at Cassano, 155 ; at Charleroi, 172; at Constan- 
tinople, 183; at Cremona, 208; at Fleubourg, 245; 
at Leipsic, 318 ; at Lutzen, 342 ; at Paris, 448 ; at St. 
Quintin, 554; at the battle of the Spurs, 588; of 
Tours, 642 ; at Vienna, 677 ; their victory over the 
Romans under Varus, 696. 

Geoffrey, of Charni. at Calais, 144 

George II., in command of Allies at the battle of Dittin- 
gen, 225. 

Ghebellines, of Pavia, at the battle of Marcinago, 359. 

Ghent, men of, at Westroosebeke, 693. 

GnoRi, Sultan, at battle of Darik, 223. 

Giambelli, the famous Italian engineer, invents the 
" infernal machine," 42. 

Gibbon, James, Lieutenant, at the storming of Stony 
Point. 600. 

Gibbs, General, wounded at the battle of New Orleans, 
413. 

Gibraltar, description of, 262. 

Gibraltar, Little, 035. 

Gibson, Captain, at the siege of Fort Erie, 24S. 

Gl-EN-ZWA-TAK, 705. 

GiELGOD, General, killed, 6S4. 

GiETA, Colonel, wounded at the battle of Pultowa, 492. 

GiMAT, Colonel, at the siege of Yorktown, 709. 

GiMBERGHRN, Lords of, at the battle of Ransbeck, 510. 

GiNKELL, General, at Aughrim, 67 ; at Limerick, 3*3. 

GiRTY, Simon, 105. 

Gist, Major, noble conduct at the battle of Long Island, 
129. 

Gtolay, General, at Arcis-sur-Aube, 49 ; at Asperne, 57 ; 
at Brienne, 130 ; at Dresden, 226 ; at Leipsic, 321. 

Gladiatoks slain at the triumph of Aurelian, 433. 

Glazier, Colonel, at the siege of Savannah, 505. 

Glengarry, a Celtic chief, at the battle of Killiecrankie, 
313. 

Glohoester, Earl of, nephew of Edward IV., slain at 
Bannockhurn, 83. 

Glovi-.r, General, at the battle of Bemus' Heights, 539; 
of White Plains, 605, 

Godfrey III., of Belgium, 510. 

Godfrey, the Crusader, at Antioch, 27 ; bis valor, 30 ; at 
Jerusalem, 302. 

Godryas, a general of Cyrus, at Babylon, 71. 

Goethe, the poet, his record of the sensations he expe- 
rienced at the battle of Valmy, 670. 

Goi, an officer of the Annagnacs, at the siege of Paris, 
443. 

Gold, immense quantities of, taken by the Crusaders, 
40. 

Gold of the Holy Sepulcher, converted into coin, 809. 

Goldsmiths' shops iu Rome, put up at auction by Han- 
nibal, 536. 

GoLLowiN, Count, at the battle of Pultowa, 491. 

Gomez, Ruy, confidential minister of Philip II., 554. 

Gomorrah, the kings of, 314. 

GoNDiAN, Captain, endeavors to save Louis XVI., 460. 

Gongylus, a Corinthian officer, at the .siege of Syracuse, 
606. 

GoNSALvo, a general of Ferdinand V., at siego of Naples, 
403. 

Gordon, Lord, killed at the battle of Alford, 19. 



Gorget, Arthur, General, takes part in the Hungarian 
revolution, Ols. 

Gorman, Major, at the battle of Buena Vista, 132. 

GoR.\jT, General, at the battle of Marston Moor, 36-^. 

Gortchakoff, Prince, at the battle of Borodino, 107 ; of 
Friedland, 257 ; of Heilsburg, 273 ; of the Trebia, 
644. 

Gortschakoff, Prince, at the battle of Kalafat, 312; in 
command of the Russians at the siege of Sevastopol, 
577. 

Goths, at Aquileia, 46 ; at the battle of Chalons, 888 ; at 
the siege of Milan, 3S3 ; at battle of Naissus, 404; at 
the siege of Ravenna, 511 ; of Rome, 537 ; of Sara- 
gossa, 562 ; at the battle of Sarnus, 502 ; of Tagina, 
616 ; at the siege of Toledo, 633. 

GouGH, Sir Hugh, at Canton, 149; at the battle of 
Sobraon, 5SS. 

GouRGAUD, rescues Napoleon from imminent peril, 1.30. 

Graham, Sir Thomas, at the battle of Barrosa, 84; at the 
siege of Bergen-op-Zoom, 104; of St. Sebastian, 049; 
at the battles of the Pyrenees, 499. 

Grant, General, 124, 127. 

Gray-, Sir Thomas, concerned in the murder of Prince 
Arthur, 620. 

Gray-, Lieutenant, killed at the battle of Rivas, 529. 

GRF.G9RY VII., Pope, at the siege of Rome, 541. 

Gregg, Lieutenant-Colonel, at the battle of Bennington, 
100. 

Greeks, at the siege of Byblos, 139; of Constantinople, 
188; at the battle of Cranon, 203; 13,000, engaged 
by Cyrus of Persia, 211 ; retreat of the 10,000, 216 ; 
at the battle of the Granicus, 265 ; at the siege of 
Hymera, 282; at the battle of Issus, 288; of Man ti- 
nea, 363; of Megaspellon, 865; at Missolonghi, 8C6; 
of Nisib, 417; of Thermopylie, 622; at Tripolitza, 
648; at the siege of Troy, 649. 

Greek Fire, 9. 

Greene, Christopher, Colonel, the "Hero of Red Bank,'' 
512. 

Greene, Nathaniel, General, at the battle of the Brandy- 
wine, 125; at battle of Long Island, 127 ; of Bunker s 
Hill, 114; of Eutaw Springs, 238; rewarded with a 
gold medal, 240 ; at the siege of Fort Ninety-Six, 
250; at the battle of Guilford Court House, 266; of 
Hobkirk's Hill, 276 ; of Monmouth, 389 ; of Spring- 
field, 588 ; of Trenton, 646. 

Green, Lieutenant, 527. 

Green Knight, The, 661. 

Greenwood, Mr., wounded at Ciudad Rodrigo, 1S6. 

Grenades, 667. 

Grenier, General, at the battle of the Adda, 11 ; of 
Hohenlinden, 27S; ofRaab, 507; of Wurtzburg, 701. 

Grenouilly, Rigoult de, Rear Admiral, at the siege of 
Sevastopol, 579. 

Grey, General, at the battle of Germautown, 260 ; of 
Paoli, 470. 

Grey, Lord, at the battle of Pinkey, 479. 

Griswold, Fort, taken by the English, 411. 

Gribeaunel, an engineer, 567. 

Grillets, General, 12. 

Grouchy, General, at Borodino. 109; at Hohenlinden, 
277; at Novi, 424; at Eaab, 507 ; at Wavres, 693. 

Groves, Sacred, of Athens, 65. 

Grovao, Major, at the battle of the Tchernaya, 578. 

GuELFs, of Milan, at the battle of Marcinago, 359. 

Guiscard, the Norman, 641. 

Guise, Duke de, at the siege of Calais 145; killed at the 
I siege of Orleans, 482. 
I Guise, Duke de, .assassinated, 444. 

GuiTON, Jean, Mayor of La Rochelle, his valor, 532. 

GuiTRi, De, 69. 

GuizoT, M., takes part in the French Revolution of 1880, 
467. 

GuNBY, Colonel, at the battle of Guilford, 268; of Hob- 
kirk's Hill, 276. 

GuNDECHtLDE, wifc of Baldwin, 234. 

GuRTH, brother of Harold II., killed at the battle of 
Hastings, 272. 

Gustavus'/Vdolphus the Great, at the battle of Leipsic, 
318 ; killed at the battle of Lutzen, 84;3 ; his tomb 
preserved by Napoleon I., 344. 

Gylippus, a Spartan general, at the siego of Syracuse, 
606. 



Hachcett, Joan, the heroine, in tlie defense of Beauvais, 
I 94. 

IlADurcK, General, at the battle of Marengo, 860 ; at tlin 
I siege of Schweidnitz, 567. 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX 



735 



Hapiz, Pacha, at the battle of Nisib, 417. 

Hagnek, Captain, at the battle of Chapultcpec, 171. 

IIalicarnassus, siege of, 616. 

IIalket, Sir Peter, killed at the battle of Fort du Qnesne, 

123. 
Hall, Colonel, at Fort Talladega, 206. 
IIalsb, Colonel, at the battle of Salamanca, 55S. 
IIalyattes, king of Lydia, his kindness to the Scythians, 

269. 
Hamelin, Admiral, at the bombardment of Odessa, 426. 
Hamer, General, at the siege of Monterey, 394. 
Hamilcak, the Carthaginian general, at the battle of 

Hymeria, 282 ; killed, 283. 
Hamilcai!, the Carthaginian general, 614; at the siege of 

Syracuse, 615 ; death of, 616. 
Hamilton, Alexander, General, at Torktown, 709; at 

White Plains, 695. 
Hamilton, Brigadier, at the battle of Bemus' Heights, 

5S9. 
Hamilton, Robert, in command of Covenanters, at the 

battle of Drumclog, 339. 
Hamilton, General, at the battle of Pultowa, 491. 
Hammel, General, at the battle of Eaab, 50S. 
Hampton, Wade, Colonel, at the battle of Eutaw Springs, 

239. 
Hampton, General, his defeat, 269. 
Hancock, John. 329. 
Hand, Colonel, at the battle of Trenton, 647; at White 

Plains, 695. 
Hannibal the Great, defeats the Romans at the famous 

battle of Canna;, 148 ; at the battle of Plaeencia, 479 ; 

besieges Rome, 536; at the siege of Saguntum, 545 ; 

crosses the Alps, 546 ; at the battle of Lake Thrasy- 

menus, 62 i; his speech to his troops before the bat- 
tle of Ticinus, 629; gains a great victory on the 

banks of the Trebia, 643; his despair on hearing of 

the defeat and death of his brother, Asdrubal, 410; 

his interview with Scipio, 711; defeated at the great 

battle of Zama, 712. 
Hannibal, sou of Gisco, at the siego of Selinuntum, 

569. 
Hanno, the Carthaginian general, 13. 
Hanoverians, at the battle of Fontenoy, 246. 
Hardin, Colonel, at the battle of Buena Vista, 132; 

killed, 135. 
Hardin, Captain, at the battle of Ramsom's Mills, 509. 
Harney, Colonel, at the battle of Cerro Gordo, 164. 
Harold XL, defeated and slain at the battle of Hastings, 

272. 
Harraii, Count, at the siege of Belgrade, 97. 
Harris, General, at the siege of Seringapatam, 570. 
Harris, Colonel, at the siege of Charleston, 176. 
Harrison, William Henrv, General, at the siege of Fort 

Meigs, 249 ; at the battle of the Thames, 631 ; of 

Tippecanoe, 631. 
Hartley, Captain, 706. 

Harvey, Colonel, at the battle of Salamanca, 557. 
Haskill, Colonel, at the battle of Cerro Gordo, 164 
Haslet, Colonel, at the battle of Long Island, 123 ; of 

White Ph-iins, 695; of Princeton, 4S8; killed, 489. 
Hastincs. Lord, concerned in the murder of the Prince 

of Wales, 620. 
Hawrs, Lieutenant-Colonel, at the battle of Hobkirk's 

Hill, 276. 
Hawley, General, at the battle of Falkirk, 244. 
Hay, the founder of the Errod family, at the battle of 

Luncarty, 34.3. 
Hays, Colonel, at the siege of Monterey, 829. 
Haytians, at the siege of San Domingo, 559. 
Hayman, Captain, wounded at the siege of Sevastopol, 

575. 
Haynau, General, at the siege of Temeswar, 617. 
Heath, General, at Bear Creek, 82 ; at the battle of White 

Plains, 694. 
Hkderwick, Captain, at the siege of Burgos, 137. 
Hbister, General de, 127. 
Helena of Troy, abducted by Alexander, or Paris, son 

of Priam, 649. 
Hklepolis, an enormous machine, invented by Deme- 
trius, described, 518. 
Hkndelet, General, wounded at the battle of Eylau, 242. 
Henderson, Colonel, at the battle of Eutaw Springs, 289. 
Henderson, Colonel, killed at the battle of New Orleans, 

413. 
Henderson, General, at the siege of Montcrev, 392. 
Hengurst, the Saxon, defeated at Crayford, 208. 
Henley, Major, killed at Montressor's Island, 09.5. 
Henry II., king of France, at war with Spain, .''x)4. 
Henry III., king of England, compelled to fight against 



his own cause, and wounded at the battle of Eves- 
ham, 240 ; at the battle of Lewes, 327 ; made pris- 
oner, 828. 

Henry HI., king of Germany and Italy, at the siege of 
Rome, 541. 

Henry III., of France, disgracefully repulsed by women 
at Livron, 386 ; his character, 445 ; at the siege of La 
Rochelle, 531 ; causes the massacre of the Leaguers, 
444; his excesses, 445; assassinated by the monk 
Clement, 446. 

Henry IV., king of England, at the battle of Shrews- 
bury, 584; at the siege of Laon, 318. 

Henry IV., of France, proclaimed king, 446; defeats the 
Leaguers, 26 ; his valor at the siege of Cahors, 142 ; 
at the siege of Lisieux, 836 ; of Paris, 447. 

Henry V., of England, invades France, 69, 429. 

Henry VI., king of England, 338; at the battle of St. 
Albans, 547; wounded, ibid. ; at the b.attle of Tow- 
ton, 642; declared king of Franco by Treaty of 
Troyes, 429 ; murdered, 620. 

Henry VII. (the Earl of Richmond), defeats Richard III. 
in Bosworth Field, 119. 

Henry VIII., king of England, at the siege of Bolougne, 
120; of Therouanne, 638. 

Henry, son of David I., of Scotland, at the battle of the 
Standard, 589. 

Henry, brother of Peter the Cruel, at the battle of Nax- 
era, 408. 

Henry, brother of the Count of Flanders, at Constanti- 
nople, 18S. 

Henzi, General, in command of the garrison of Buda, 
618 ; his death, ibid. 

Heraclius, emperor of the East, 300 ; treachery of, 16 ; 
at the siege of Damascus, 223. 

Herbert, Sir Walter, 118. 

Hercules, the Pillars of 268. 

Herbois, CoUot d', his cruelty, 349. 

IIerki.mer, General, at the battle of Oriskany, 250. 

IIeiile, at the siege of Maestricht, 850. 

IIermocrates, at the siege of Syracuse, 605. 

Herod the Great, at the siege of Jerusalem, 296; rebuilds 
Samaria, 559. 

IIerod, son of Odenathus, killed by Mallonis, 435. 

Heerick, Colonel, at the battle of Bennington Heights, 
100. 

Herrings, the battle of the, 430. 

IIesse-Homberg, Prince Leopold of, 846. 

IIe.sse-Piiilipstadt, Prince of, 103. 

Hessians, at the battle of Bennington, 99; of the Brandy- 
wine, 124; of Brooklyn (Long Island), 127; their 
brutality, 12S ; at the siege of Charleston, 178 ; at the 
battle of Dittingen, 2i5; at the siege of Fort Wash- 
ington, 253; at the capture of Fort Griswold, 411; 
at the battle of Guilford, 267 ; of Germantown, 262 ; 
of Hubbarton,280; of Monmouth, 38S ; of Red Bank, 
512 ; at Savannah, 563 ; at the battles of Bemus' 
Heights, Stillwater, and Saratoga, 594; anecdote of, 
596; at battle of Trenton, 646; of White Plains, 698. 

Hewett, Captain, 704. 

Hexapylum, the celebrated gate of Syracuse, 608. 

HiERO, of Syracuse, at the siege of Messina, 365. 

Hill, Sir Rowland, at Badajoz, 77; at the battle of 
Bayonne, 91 ; of Orthes, 98; of the Pyrenees, 501. 

Hill, Colonel, at the battle of Hubbarton, 280. 

Hill, Lord, 55 ; at the battle of Almaraz, 24. 

IIiLLiBRS, Baraguav d', at Asperne and Essling,57; at the 
battle of Raab", 507. 

HiMiLoo, at the siege of Syracuse, 618. 

HiNDMAN, Colonel, 415. 

Hippocrates, 618, 615. 

Hitchcock, Colonel, at the battle of Princeton, 489. 

Hockley, George W., Colonel, at the battle of San 
Jacinto, 560. 

Hoc/s Island, skirmish of, 113. 

lIoFER, the Tyrolean Hero, 661. 

Hoiienloiie, Count, General, 41 ; at the battle of Auer- 
stadt, 64 ; of Jena, 292 ; of Saalfeld, 544. 

Hoiienstauffen Dynasty, termination of, in Italy, 616. 

IIoiiENzoLLF.RN, General, at the battle of Asperne, 57; 
of Eckmuhl, 232. 

Holakoo, at the siege and sack of Bagdad, 81. 

Holmes, Lieutenant, at the siege of Burgos, 187. 

Holstein, Duke of, at battle of Hcmmingstadt, 276. 

Holy Lance, the, found at Antineli. 37 ; borne in the 
final battle of Antioch, by Raymond, 38. 

Holy Sepulciier, the, 809. 

Homberg. Hesse, Prince of, wounded at the battle of 
Leipsic, 323. 

HoMEB, his narration of the siege of Troy, 649. 



736 



ALPHABETICAL rtTDEX. 



HooRNE, General, at the battle of Pultowa, 491. 

Hoi'E, Sir John, General, at the battle of Bayonne, 90; 
wounded, 94 ; at the battle of Corunua, 200 ; of Sala- 
manca, 65S. 

JIORATII AND CtJRATII, 279. 

HORATIU.S, Codes, destroys bridge over the Tiber, and 

swims that river, 533. 
HoKNSBT, General, at Granada, 529. 
HoKTENSius, a Lieutenant of Sylla, at the battle of ChiB- 

ronea, 16S. 
HosEA, king of Israel, made prisoner, 559. 
IloTiiAM, Commodore, in command of the English fleet, 

Hotspur (Lord Percy), at the battle of Oudenard, 434 ; 
killed at the battle of Shrewsbury, 5S4. 

IIoTZA, General, at the battle of Wurtzburg, 701; of 
Zurich, 714. 

IIotJSTON, Sam, General, at the battle of San Jacinto, 
559 ; wounded, 560. 

Howard, Colonel, at the battle of Hobkirk's Hill, 276 ; at 
Bear Creek, 81. 

Howard, John Eager, at the battle of (he Cowpens, 201. 

Howard, Sir Edward, at the battle of Flodden, 245. 

Howard, Lord, at the battle of Flodden, 245. 

Howard, Thomas, Lord, at the sioge of Cadiz, 141. 

Howe, George, Lord, slain at Ticonderoga, 630. 

HowK, Kichard, Lord, admiral of the British fleet for 
America, an-ives at Staten Island, 127 ; at the battle 
of White Plains, 694. 

Howe, Eobert, General, at the battle of Long Island, 127 ; 
at the sie^re of Savannah, 175, 563. 

Howe, Colonel, at Norfolk. 418. 

Howe, Sir William, arrives in America, 112 ; in com- 
mand of *he British troops in Boston, 118; at the 
battle of Bunkers Hill, 114; wounded, 116; evacu- 
ates Boston, 118; arrives at Staten Island, 127; at 
the siege of Fort Washington. 253 ; at the battle of 
Germantown, 260 ; of Ked Bank, 512, 

HuESTON, Captain, killed at the battle of Eivaa, 528. 

Ht'GEK, Isaac, General, at the sietce of Charleston, 178 ; 
at the battle of Guilford, 267 ; of Hobkirk's Hill, 276 ; 
at Savannah, 563, 565. 

HtJGBK, Captain, 385. 

Hugh the Great, 39. 

HiTGii of St. Paul, at Jerusalem, 307. 

Huguenots, erect Fort Carolina in Florida, 247; de- 
feated by the Spaniards, ibid. ; at the battle of 
Jarnac, 291 ; at the siege of La Eochelle, 531 ; of Or- 
leans, 432 ; of Paris (St. Bartholomew's night), 446 ; 
of Valenciennes, 667. 

Hull, Isaac, General, at the battle of Bemus' Heights, 
589 ; his cbnduct at Detroit, 225. 

Human flesh, eaten at Athens, 64. 

Humbert, M., at the storming of the Bastile, 451. 

Humbert, General, in command of the French army in 
Ireland, 1.5S. 

Hume, Lord, at the battle of Flodden, 245. 

HuMiEREs, Marshal, at the siege of Valenciennes, 663. 

Hungarians, conquered by Amurath I., 156 ; at the bat- 
tle of Engen, 237; of Mohacz. 385 ; of Nicopolis, 416 ; 
of Temeswar, 617; of Varna, 671. 

Hungarian IIevolution, origin of, 617. 

Hungerford, Sir Walter, 118. 

Hungerford, Lord, made prisoner, and executed at 
Hexham, 275. 

Huniades, John, a Hungarian general, at the battle of 
Varna, 671. 

HcN8, at the battle of Chi'ilons, 169; at the siege of Con- 
stantinople, ISO; of Nantes, 401 ; of Orleans, 428. 

Hunter, Captain, at Fort Stephenson, 253. 

Huntingdon, Earl of, taken prisoner, 26. 

Huntley, Earl of, at the battle of Glenlivet, 264. 

Hyder Ali, 570. 

Hypeuides, the orator, his bravery, 202; put to death by 
Antipater, 203. 

Uyrcanus, son of Simon Maccabeus, at the siege of 
Samaria, 559. 

I. 

Ibelin, Balean, d'. his heroism, 310. 

Iberians, at the battle of Aquileia. 46. 

Ibrahim Pacha, at the battle ofNisib, 417; of Megas- 

pellon, 365; of Tripolitza, 648. 
Ich Men, 205. 
Ireton, Oliver Cromwell's son-in-law, at the battle of 

Naseby, 408. 
Imilcon, at the battle of Motya, 899. 
Imaz, General, at Badajoz, 77. 
Inakus, declares himself king of Egypt, 139. 



India, conquered by the English, 570. 

Indians, at the battle of Beaverdams, 95; of Bennington, 
99; of Blue Licks, 105; of Brownstown. 12ti; of Fort 
du Quesne, 122; of Fort Schuyler. 281 : of Cherry 
Valley, 179; of Fort Talladega, 2u6; ofTallushatchee, 
205 ; at Detroit, 225 ; at Fort Meigs, 249 ; at Fort 
Erie, 248 ; at Fort Mlmms, 249 ; at Fort Niagara, 250 ; 
at the battle of Oriskany, 251; of Norfolk, 417; of 
Oswego, 434; of Pequot Hill, 473; massacre the 
settlers of Schenectady, 560 ; at Schohaire, 566 ; at 
Bemus' Heights, 690 ; at Sudbury. t02 ; at battle of 
the Thames, 620 ; of Tippecanoe, 631. 

Infernal Machines, invented and first used by Giam- 
belli, at Antwerp, 42 ; description of. 42. 

Inquisition, in Flanders, celebrated confederation 
against, 667. 

louKiNNA, a Saracen chieftain, at the siege of Tyre. 659. 

Irish, at the battle of Athenrv, 62; of Aughrim, 67; of 
Ballinahinch, 81 ; of Bannockburn, 83 ; of the Boyne, 
121 ; of Castlebar, 158 ; of Clontarf, 186 ; of Dundalk, 
230 ; of Dungan Hill, 230; of Gorev, 264 ; of Limerick, 
333 ; at the siege of Londonderry, 340. 

Iron Bridge, at Antioch, 39. 

Iron Chains, stretched across the Dardanelles, 193. 

Irving, Washington, his history of the siege of Granada, 
265. 

Isidore, Cardinal, Pope's legate at Constantinople, 193. 

Islenief, General, at the siege of Ismail, 284. 

Ismail, Pacha, at the battle of Citate, 1S4. 

Israel, the kingdom of the Ten TribeiS, ended, 559. 

Israelites, at the siege of Ai, 14 ; at the battle of Es- 
draelon, 236 ; at the siege of Jericho. 2P4 ; of Jeru- 
salem, 295; their safe passage through the Eed Sea, 
513 ; at the siege of Samaria, 559. 

Istekiiar-Eddanlah, at Jerusalem, 301. 

Italians, at the siege of Antwerp, 41 ; at the battle of 
Arras, 53 ; defeated by Barclay, 86; at the battle of 
Borodino, 111 ; of Lutzen, S44.' 



Jabin, king of Canaan, his death, 237. 

Jackson, Andrew, General, his conduct during the Creek 
war, 205; at the battle of Fort Talladeea, 206; of 
Tohopeka, 2u7 ; of New Orleans, 411 ; ofPensacola, 
473 ; at the battle of Washaw, 693. 

Jackson, Colonel, at battle of Bemus' Heights, 590 ; of 
White Plains, 695 ; of Montressor's Island, ibid. 

Jael, the wife of Ileber, kills Sisera, 2o7. 

Jalognes, Marshal, at the siege of Castillon, 157. 

James I., of Scotland, murdered at Perth. 474. 

James II., of England, at the battle of the Borne, 67; 
defeated by army of William III., 123 ; his narrow 
escape at the battle of Dundalk, 231 ; at the siege of 
Londonderry, 357 ; his conduct in regard to Lord 
Monmouth, 567. 

James III., of Scotland, defeated at the battle of Sauchie 
Burn, 562 ; his death, ihid. 

Ja.mjs IV., king of Scotland, at the battle of Flodden, 
244 ; killed, 245. 

Jamieson, Colonel, 178. 

Jasper, Serjeant, his heroism at the siege of Fort Moul- 
trie, 175; mortally wounded at Savannah, 565; anec- 
dote of, ibid. 

Jean IV., at the siege of Mons, 889. 

Jellacuich, General, his conduct in the Huntcarian war, 
617. 

Jeremiah, the Prophet, at the siege of Jerusalem, 296. 

Jerusalem, description of, 301; destruction of, 296,299; 
falls into the hands of the Mohammedans, 811, 

Jessup, Major, at the siege of Fort Erie, 248; at the 
battle of Niagara (Lundy's Lane), 415; wounded, 
416. 

Jews, at the siege of Kaibar, 312 ; at the siege of Jeru- 
salem, ,296; burnt alive, 308. 

Jezid, a Saracen captain, at the siege of Tyre, 659. 

Joan of Arc, the " Maid of Orleans," at the siege of 
Orleans, 431 ; wounded, 432 ; at the siege of Paris, 
442; wounded, 443; at the battle of Patay, 470; at 
the siege of Troyes, 649; defeats Burgundians, 649; 
at the siege of Compeigne, 196; made prisoner, 197; 
her sufferings, trial, and death, 198. 

Joan, first queen of Naples, excommunicated by Pope 
Urban V., 402. 

Joan, Countess Dowager of Hainault, 63S. 

Joab, at the siege of Jerusalem, 295. 

Joachim, kins of Jerusalem, 295. 

John, Archduke of Austria, at the battle of Hohenlindcn, 
277; ofKulm. 317; ofKaab, 507; ofSacUe, 544. 

John, King of England, 120, 226, 544. 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



ISl 



John, of Guscala, chief of the Zealots, 297. 

John II., of France, made prisoner at the battle of Poic- 

tiers, 4S7. 
John George, of Saxony, at the first battle of Leipsic, 

318. 
John George III., of Saxony, at Vienna, 677. 
John, of Pi-ocitla, plans the Sicilian Vespers, 435. 
John, Lord Birmingham, at the battle of Dnndalk, 230. 
(^BNSON, Lieutenant-Colonel, at Stony Point and Fort 

Fayette, 599. 
Johnson, James, Colonel, at the battle of the Thames, 

620. 
Johnson, Sir John, in command of the British army at 

the siege of Fort Schuyler and the battle of Oriskany, 

2S1. 
Johnson, Richard M., Colonel, at the battle of the Thames, 

619; wounded, 620. 
Johnson, Lieutenant, at Fort Stephenson, 253. 
Johnson, Sir William, at Fort Niagara, 250. 
JorNTiLLE, Prince de, a noble of Louis IX., at the siege 

of Tunis, 650. 
Jones, Colonel, made prisoner at the battle of Dungan 

Hill, 230. 
Jones, Lieutenant, made prisoner at the siege of St. 

Sebastian, 550. 
Jones, Commodore, made prisoner. 411. 
Jones, Captain, at the battle of Stillwater, 590. 
JoRAM, son of Achab, at the siege of Samaria, 559. 
Joseph, Lord, a leader of the Cornish rebels, executed, 

104. 
JoSEPHtrs, the Historian, at the siege of Jerusalem, 29S. 
Joshua, at the siege of Ai, 14; of Jericho, 294 
JocTBERT, General, at the battle of Montcnotte, 391 ; at 

Eivoli, 530; killed at the battle of Novi, 424. 
JouRDAN, Marshal, at the battle of Charleroi, 172; of the 

Pyrenees, 493; at the siege of St. Sebastian, 549; at 

the battle of Stockach, 597; of Talavera, 616; of 

Wattisnies, 692; of Wurtzburg, 701. 
Juan, Don, 231. 

JuBLONowsKi, General, at Vienna, 678. 
JuDAU, the tribe of, 295. 
Jupiter Belus, temple of, in Babylon, 71 ; destroyed by 

the Persians, 74. 
Julian, the Apostate, 441. 
JcSTiNA. empress of Italy, 45. 
Justinian, a Genoese, at Constantinople, 193. 
Justinian I., emperor of the East, 512. 
JuNOT, General, at the battle of Nazareth, 10; of Boro- 
dino, 109; of Lonato, 341 ; of Smolensko, 5SG. 



Kaim, General, at the battle of Marengo, SCO. 

Kains, William de, at Lincoln, 334. 

Kaitaisokf, General, at Borodino, 111 ; killed, 112. 

Ealb, Baron de, in command of right wing of American 

army at Camden, 147 ; his death, 148. 
Kamenskoi, General, at the battle of Heilsburg, 273. 
Karsuroff, General, 49. 
Keane, Lord, at the siege of Ghuznee, 262. 
Keane, General, wounded at the battle of New Orleans, 

418. 
Keinmayeu, General, at the battle of Hohenlinden, 277. 
Kellerman, General, at the battle of Dresden, 226 ; of 

Leipsic, 320 ; at Lyons, 347 ; of Marengo, 360 ; of 

Valmy, 670. 
Kelly, John, Colonel heroism of, 490. 
Kempt, General, at Badaioz, 78 ; at the battle of Waterloo, 

691. 
Keroado, Molac de, killed, 472. 
Ket, the Tanner, defeated and executed, 313. 
Kewen, Colonel, at the battle of Eivas, 528. 
Key, Francis, author of ''The Star-spangled Banner," 

82. 
Khaled, an Arabian chieftain, at the siege of Jerusalem, 

300. 
Kichmatter, a Swiss knight, wounded at the battle of 

St. Jacob, 549. 
KiDD, Lieutenant, killed while striving to save a wounded 

soldier, 576. 
Kielmansegge, invents clay grenades and a powder 

mill, 677. ^ 

Kilburn, Lieutenant, at the battle of Buena Vista, 133. 
KiRBY, Captain, at the battle of Molino del Eey, 386. 
Kirgener, General, 89. 
KiRKwooD, Captain, at the battle of Guilford Court 

House, 267. 
Kirk, General, at the siege of Londonderry, 3-38. 
Kleber, General, at the battle of Charleroi, 172; of 

Heliopolis, 273 ; of Mount Tabor, 399 ; of Mans, 357. I 

47 



Kleist, General, at the baltle of Leipsic, 823 ; of Bautzen, 
88. 

Klenau, General, at the battle of Dresden, 22G ; of Leip- 
sic, 320. 

Knights of St. John, capture Rhodes, 520. 

Knowlton, Thomas, Colonel, killed at the battle of 
Harlem Plains, 694. 

Knox, General, at Stony Point, 600; at Torktown. 709. 

Kniphausen, General, at the battle of Lutzen, 342. 

Knyphausen, General, in command of the Hessians, at 
the battle of the Brandywine, 124; in command of 
the garrison of New York, 176 ; at the siege of Fort 
Washington, 253 ; at the battle of Monmouth, 8SS ; 
at Springfield, 588; at White Plains, 695. 

Kollowrath, General, at the battle of Hohenlinden, 
278; of Stockach, 598. 

Konownitsyn, General, at the battle of Borodino, 110. 

Kosciusko, at the battle of Bemus' Heights, 589 ; at Fort 
Ninety-si.K, 250 ; at Warsaw, 681. 

Kossuth, Louis, Governor of Hungary, 618. 

Kremlin, the, at Moscow, 355. 

Keay, General, at the battle of Engen, 237 ; at the siege 
of Mantua, 357 ; at the battle of Moeskirch, 384; of 
Novi, 424 ; of Wurtzburg, 701. 

KuTusoN, General, at the siege of Ismail, 285. 

Kwan, a Chinese admiral, kilted, 149. 



Labarre, a French quartermaster, at the siege of Valen- 
ciennes, 669. 

Labedoyeke, General, at the siege of Ratisbon, 510. 

Labienus, a lieutenant of Julius. Ca?sar, at the siege of 
Paris, 440. 

Laborde, General, at the battles of Corunna, 200. 

LACED.EMONS, See Spartans. 

La Cour. Marshal, at the siege of Vienna, 677. 

Ladies French, the, at the siege of Marseilles, 362. 

Ladislaus, king of Hungary, at the battle of Varna, 671. 

Lafayette, Gilbert Morthier, Marquis de, at the battle 
of Brandywine, 124; wounded, 125; at the battle of 
Jamestown, 291 ; of Monmouth, 887 ; at the siege of 
Torktown, 709 ; takes part in the French Revolu- 
tion of 1789, 449 ; nominated Vice-President of the 
Council, and appointed Commander-in-chief of the 
National Guard of Paris, 453; his interview with 
Louis XVI., 460 ; takes part in the French Revolu- 
tion of 18-30, 467. 

La Feuillade, Duke de, at the siege of Turin, 654. 

La Florida, Marquis, his heroic answer to Prince Eu- 
gene, 384. 

La Guesle, aids m the a.ssassination of Henry III., 446. 

La Harpe, General, at the battle of Monteuotto, 890. 

Lahoussaye, General, at the battle of Corunna, 200. 

Lake, Lord, at the battle of Lasawaree, 318. 

Lally, at the siege of Madras, 350. 

Lamachus, an Athenian general, killed, 606. 

Laman, Colonel, at the battle of San Jacinto, 560. 

Lamb, Colonel, at the siege of Torktown, 7o9. 

Lambert, General, at the battle of New Orleans, 413. 

Lambesq, Prince, 448. 

Lameth, Charles de, Count, wounded at Torktown, 709. 

Lancaster, Duke of, at the siege of Eennes, 513. 

Lancastrians, at the battle of Hexham, 275 ; of St. 
Albans, 547 ; of Tewkesbury. 619 ; of Towton, 64=3 ; 
of Bloreheath, 105 ; of Wakefield, 680 ; of St. Albans, 
second battle, 547 ; of Stamford, 5S8 ; of Barnet, 84 ; 

Landero, General, at the siege of Vera Cruz, 674. 

Lane, General, at the battle of Buena Vista, 132. 

Langdale, Sir Marmaduke, at the battle of Naseby, 
408. 

Lanoeron,' Count de, takes part in the French Revolu- 
tion of 1789, 455 , at the battle of Leipsic, 324. 

Langueville, Duke of, made prisoner, 555. 

Lannes, Marshal, at the battle of Aboukir, 1 ; wounded 
at St. Jean d' Acre, 16 ; wounded at Areola, 51 ; at 
the battle of Asperne. 56 ; mortally wounded, 60 ; 
his dying words, 61 ; at the battle of Austerlitz, 68 ; 
of Eckmuhl, 232; of Friedland, 257; of Heilsberg, 
273 ; his generous treatment of the body of his ene- 
my. Prince Louis, 292; at the battle of Jena, 293; 
of Saalfleld, 544 ; of Marengo, 360 ; created Duke of 
Montebello, .389; at the battle of Pultusk. 495; of 
Ratisbon, 511 ; at the siege of Saragossa. 562. 

Lannoi, Viceroy of Naples, at the siege of Pavia, 471. 

Lapas, a Greek chief, at the battle of Thermopyla;, 624 

La Purcelle, Jean, see Joan. 

Laroche.iaquf.lin, Henri de. General, at the battle of 
Chateau Gothiere, 179; of Cholet, 183; of Mans, 
357 ; wounded, ibid. 



738 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



La Rosiere, M., 450. 

La Salle, Marquis de, takes part in the French Eevolu- 

tion of 1789, 449 ; at the battle of KivoU, 530. 
Lascarsis, Theodore, 188. 
Lasci, Marshal de, at the siese of Ismail, 285. 
Latimer, Colonel, at the battle of StUlwater, 590. 
Latins, at Constantinople, 188. 
Latrielle, the naturalist, anecdote of, 455. 
Laudon, General, at the siege of Schweidnitz, 566. 
Launay, Marquis de, governor of the Bastile, 450; his 

heroic defense of that fortress, 461 ; his death, 452. 
Laurens, Colonel, at the siege of Yorktown, TOD. 
Laurie, Major, killed at the siege of Burgos, 137. 
Lauriston, General, 86 ; at the battle of Bautzen, 88 ; 

of Busaco, 139; ofLeipsic, 320; of Lutzen, 344. 
La Veoa, General, made prisoner at the battle of Kesaca 

de la Palma, 514. 
Lawrence, Major, at Fort Boyer, 247. 
Lawbon, General, at the battle of Guilford, 267. 
Lawson, Colonel, at the battle of Niagara, 414. 
Leagi*er8, the, take Lisieux, 336. 

Learned, General, at the battle of Bemus' Heights, 589. 
Lbavenworth, Colonel, at the battle of Chippewa, 182; 

of Niagara. 414. 
Lb B<euf, General, at the storming of the Malakoff, 579. 
Lechelle, General, at the battle of Chateau Gothiere, 

179; ofCholet, 183. 
Lk Clerc, Bussv, governor of the Bastile, 44.5. 
Lb Cleec, General, at the battle of Eivoli, 530. 
Le Coh, General, at the battle of Bayonne, 91 ; wounded, 

92. 
Lecourb, General, at the battle ol Muolta, 400 ; of Moes- 

kircb, 884. 
Leda, mother of Castor and Pollux, 649. 
Ledtard, Colonel, murdered by Miyor Bromfleld, 411. 
Lee, Charles, General, at Charleston, 173 ; at battle of 

Monmouth, 387 ; his singular conduct, 388 ; court- 
martialed, 389. 
Lee, Henry, Major (afterward General), at the battle of 

Eutaw Springs, 238 ; of Guilford, 266 ; of the Haw, 

Lefebvre, General, at the battle of Charleroi, 172 ; of 
Jena, 293; at Paris, 445 ; at Schweidnitz, 567. 

Le Grand, General, at the battle of Asperne, 60 ; of 
Hellsberg, 273. 

Lege, de, 461. 

LEmi, taken by Cromwell, 280. 

Leitu, General, at the battle of Busaco, 139 ; of Sala- 
manca, 557 ; wounded, 658. 

Leitch Major, killed, 694. 

Le March ant, General, at the battle of Salamanca, 557. 

Lbmoine, General, at the battle of Novi. 424. 

Lenarmont, General, at the battle of Friedland, 253. 

L' Enfant, Major, at the siege of Savannah, 565. 

Lbnnezergues, General de, killed, 503. 

Lennox, Earl of, at the battle of Dunbar, 229 ; of Flodden, 
245. 

Leo X., Pope, preaches a crusade against Raymond, 
Count of Toulouse, 687. 

Leofwin, brother of Harold II., slain at the battle of 
Hastings, 272. 

Leon, Velasquez de, an officer of Cortez, at the battle of 
the Causeway, 378 ; of Cempoalla, 162. 

Leonard, Captain, at Fort Niagara, 250. 

Leonid as, a noble Spartan, his virtue, valor, and glorious 
death, 623. 

Leontidas, a Spartan tyrant, killed in Thebes, 621. 

Leopold William, Archduke of Austria, at the battle of 
Leipsic 320. 

Leopold, of Austria, at battle of Morgarten. -397. 

Leopold, Prince of Hesse-Homberg, killed at the battle 
of Lutzen, 846. 

Lepers, 559. 

Leslie, General, at the battle of Dunbar, 229 ; of Selkirk, 
569. 

Leslie, Norman, General, heroism of, 26. 

Leslie, Captain, killed at the battle of Princeton, 489. 

Leslie, Captain, at Norfolk, 417. 

Leslie, General, at the battle of Guilford. 267 ; of Har- 
lem Heights, 694; of White Plains, 695. 

Letodrcq, General, at the battle of Eylau, 241 ; of Mount 
Tabor, 399. 

Lethald, brother of Godfrey of Bouillon, at the siege of 
Jerusalem, 807. 

Leva, Antonio de, at the siege of Pavia, 471. 

L' Evans, Sir de, at the battle of the Alma, 23. 

Leveniiaupt, General, at the battle of Pultowa, 491. 

Levering, Captain, 81. 

Levi, General de, at the siege of Quebec, 504. 



Lewaciiou, General, at the battle ofLeipsic, 820. 

Lewis, Colonel, at Frenchtown, 255. 

Leyden, city of, description of, 830. 

LiANcouRT, Duke of, 453. 

Library, of Alexandria, 16; of Tripoli, 648. 

LiciiTENSTEiN, General, at the battle of Hohenlinden, 
278 ; of Novi, 425 ; of the Trebia, 645. 

LiciiTENSTEiN, Prijice, at the siege of Temeswar, 619. 

LiciNius, emperor, defeated by Constantine the Great, 
at Adrianople, 12 ; his fleet defeated, 140 ; his humil- 
iation and death, 140. 

LiEGEOis, the, at the battle of Montenachen, 390. 

LiGNEY, Captain de, at the battle of fort du Quesnc, 46L 

LiGNi, Prince de, at the siege of Ismail, 285. 

Lilleboem, General, at the battle of Arras, 54. 

LiLLi, General, his shameful surrender of Tortosa, 684. 

LiNBELFiNG, a page of Gustavus Adolplms, mortally 
wounded in the defense of his master, 343. 

Lincoln, Benjamin, General, appointed Commander of 
the American army in the South, 175 ; at the siege 
of Savannah, 564 ; his operations on Lake George, 
589 ; wounded at the battle of Stillwater, 594. 

Lincoln, the fair of, 385. 

Lindsay, Earl of, mortally wounded at Edgehill Fight, 

LiNiERo, a French officer in the Spanish service, takes 

Montevideo, 186. 
Liprandi, General, at the battle of Balaklava, 571. 
Lisle, Lord, son of General Talbot, killed at the siege of 

Castillon, 158. 
Littington, Colonel, at the battle of Moore's Creek 

Bridge, 396. 
Littleiialls, Colonel, at Oswego, 434. 
Livingston, Henry, General, at the battle of Bemus' 

Heights, 590. 
Livingston, James, General, 590. 
Livius, M., Roman Consul, at the battle of Metaurus, 

410. 
LoBAU, Count, at the battle of Lutzen, .340. 
LociiiEL, a Celtic chief, at the battle of Killiecrankie, 

813. 
Locke, Colonel, of Rowan, at the battle of Ramsom's 

Mills, 509. 
Lockyer, Captain, captures an American flotilla, 411. 
Logan, General, at the battle of Blue Licks, 105. 
Loueao, Marshal, at the siege of Castillon, 157. 
Lombard Monarchy, extinction of, 470. 
Londoners, 8000 slain at the battle of Lewes, 328. 
LoNGiNus, his death, 488. 
LoRGE, General, at the battle of Corunna. 200. 
LoRGES, Marshal, at the siege of Valenciennes, 668. 
LoRiNG, Major, at the battle of Cerro Gordo, 164. 
Lorraine, Duke of, at the siege of Antioch, 28; of Jeru- 
salem, 306. 
Lorraine, Duke of, at Mohaczs, 385. 
Lorraine, Prince of, at the battle of Mocskirch, 384. 
Lorraine, Cardinal de, assassinated, 444. 
Losme, Marquis de, 4.50 ; killed, 452. 
Louis L (Le Debonnaire), at the siege of Tortosa, 634; 

his sons at the battle of Fontenoy, 245. 
Louis VII., of France, at the siege of Damascus, 228. 
Louis VIIL, 226. 
Louis IX., of France, his ardent sympathy with the 

Crusaders, 650; at the siege of Tunis, 651 ; his death, 

652. 
Louis XL, engages in a war with Charles the Bold, 94 ; 

at the siege of Liege, 332 ; of Paris, 443 ; of Perig- 

nan, 443 ; at the battle of St. Jacob, 548 ; ransoms 

Queen Margaret, 620. 
Louis XII., at the siege of Therouanne, 624; of Tournai, 

Louis XIII., his troops at the siege of Nancy, 401 ; cap- 
tures Perignan, 474 ; at the siege of La Eochelle, 
532. 

Louis XIV., invades the Netherlands, 237; at the siege 
of Maestricht, 351 ; of Mens, 389 ; his troops, at 
Namur, 40 ; his character, 639; at the siege of Tour- 
nai, 640 ; plans the siege of Turin, 654 ; at the siege 
of Valenciennes. 668. 

Louis XV., 104 ; at the siege of Tournai, 640. 

Louis XVI., his conduct during the French Revolution, 
448 ; his reception by the people of Paris, 454 ; his 
trial by the Convention, 461 ; sentenced to death, 
462. 

Louis XVIIL, makes his public entrance into Paris, 
465. 

Louis Philippe I., king of the French, elevated to th« 
throne of France, 469. See Cuaetres. 

Louis, Duke of Bavaria, 26. 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



730 



Lotns, Frederic, Prince, killed at the battle of Saalfleld, 

544. 
Louis, de, condemned to death, 197. 
Louis, king of Hungary, killed, 385. 
Louis, of Mousson, at the siege of Jerusalem, 807, 
Louis Napoleon, emperor of France, 469. 
LouKMEL, General de, killed at the battle of Inkerman, 

572. 
Lorrvois, General, at the siege of Valenciennes, 668. 
Lowell, Ralph, 333. 
LowENDAHL, Count de, lays siege to Bergen-op-Zoom, 

103; made Marshal of France, 104. 
Lotes, General, at the battle of Moeskirch, 384. 
LuBERViE, General, at the battle of Waterloo, 690. 
LuBOMiSKi, Prince, at the siege of Vienna, 677. 
LuoAN, Lord, at the siege of Sevastopol, 572. 
Lucas, General, at the battle of Marston Moor, S68. 
LucuLLUs, Consul of Borne, 26. 
LuDovic, Duke of Milan, his interview with Chevalier 

Bayard, 384. 
Lttmsden, governor of Dundee, killed, 280. 
LuNDiE, Colonel, 121. 

LuNDOHN, Marshal, at the siege of Belgrade, 98. 
LusiGNAN, General, at the battle of Rivoli, 580. 
Luther, Lieutenant, wounded at the battle of Palo Alto, 

440. 
LuxEMBOKO, Marshal, at the battle of Charleroi, 172; of 

Enghien, 237; of Neerwinden, 408; at the siege of 

Valenciennes, 668. 
LuzEAC, Marquis de, at the siege of Bergen-op-Zoom, 

104. 
Lynch, Colonel, at the battle of Guilford, 267. 
Lycophron, a Corinthian general, killed, 588. 
Lysandek, at Athens, 62. 
Lysioles, the Athenian general, his valor, 167. 
Lysi.maciics, the Macedonian, conspires against Antigo- 

nus, 516; at the battle of Ipsus, 288. 



MoAkbi-e, Captain, at the battle of Eivas, 527. 

McArthur, Major, at the battle of the Cowpens, 202. 

Mc Arthur, Colonel, at the surrender of Detroit, 225. 

McCall, Colonel, at the battle of the Cowpens, 202. 

MoCali., Captain, at the battle of Eesaca de la Palma, 514. 

Macdonald, Marshal, at the battle of Arcis, 50; of 
Bautzen, 86; of Hanau, 270; of Katzbacb, 312; of 
Leipsic, 829; of Lutzen, 345; of OtricoUi, 4.34 ; of the 
Trebia, 644. 

Macdonald, an Irish officer, at the siege of Cremona, 
209. 

Macdonald, Colonel, at the battle of King's Mountain, 
315. 

McDonald, Donald, General, at the battle of Moore's 
Creek Bridge, 396. 

Macdonald, Serjeant, death of, 175. 

McDoNouGii, Commodore, at the battle of Plattsburg, 
485. 

MoDouOAL, General, in command of "West Point, 599 ; 
at the battle of Germantown, 261 ; of White Plains, 
695. 

McDowell, Captain, at the battle of Ramsom's Mills, 
509. 

McDowell, Charles, Colonel, at the battle of the Cow- 
pens, 201. 

Macedonians, at the siege of Abydos, 6 ; at the battle of 
Arbela, 47; at the siege of Corinth, 195; at the bat- 
tle of the Issus, 2S7 ; of the Hydaspes, 231 ; of 
Pharsalia, 563 ; of Selasla, 568; at the siege of Thebes, 
6il ; of Tyre, 656. 

McFarland, Major, at the battle of Niagara, 414. 

McGarry, Major, his heroism, at the battle of Blue Licks, 
105. 

Machines op War, 306, 518, 528, 614. 627. 

Mack, General, at the battle of OtricoUi, 434; defeated 
by the French, 542 ; his conduct at Ulm, 665. 

Mackall, General, at Mexico, 383. 

Mackay, General, at the battle of Killiecrantie, 313. 

McKavett, Captain, killed at the siege of Monterey, 



McKee, Colonel, at the battle 
killed, 135. 



Buena Vista, 



McKensie, Captain, at the battle of Chapultepec, 171. 
Mackenzie, General, at the battle of Castalla. 156. 
McKlnnon, General, at the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, 176: 

killed, 185. « ' ' 

.MoIntosh, Colonel, killed at the battle of Molino del 

Rey, 385. 
McIntosh, General, at tLe siege of Savannah, 565. 
MoIntosh, Lieutenant-Colonel, 529. 



McLeod, Captain, killed at the battle of Moore's Creek 
Bridge, 396. 

McLeou, Captain, at the battle of Guilford, 267. 

M'Mauon, General, at the storming of the Malakoff, 
679. 

McNeil, Major, at the battle of Chippewa, 182 ; of 
Niagara, 414. 

Macunne, General, 188, 506. 

Madison, Major, at the battle of Frenchtown, 256. 

Maele, Louis, Count de, at the battle of Westroosebeke, 
693. 

Maelonis, murders his uncle, Odonathus, 436 ; killed by 
order of Zenobia, queen of Palmyra, 436. 

Mag AW, Colonel, at the siege of Fort Washington, 254. 

Mago, brother of Hannibal the Great, at the siege of 
Carthagena, 15; at the battle of Cannse, 147 ; dis- 
patched to Carthage with the news of the victory, 
148 ; at the battle of the Trebia, 643. 

Mayo, Captain, at the siege of Vera Cruz, 673. 

Mahon, Captain, at the battle of Rivas, 528. 

Mahoney, Captain, at the siege of Cremona, 209. 

Mahomet, see Mohammed. 

Mahomet II., the Great, 194; at the siege of Constanti- 
nople, 192; constructs Castle of Dardanelles, 193; 
at the siege of Rhodes, 520 ; his death, ibid. 

Mahomet, Ibn Abdallah, king of Morocco, at the battle 
of Novas de Toloso, 408. 

Mahmoud, of Ghiznee, at the siege of Meerut, 865. 

Makovv, General, at the battle of Mohrungen, 385. 

Maillabd, Stanislaus, 452. 

Maitland, Colonel, at the siege of Savannah, 664 ; at 
the battle of Stono Ferry, 593. 

Malakoff, capture of the, 578. 

Malcolm, king of Scotland, slain, 25. 

Malcolm's Cross, 25. 

Malesherbes, Counselor of Louis XVI., 461. 

Malta, knights of, 356. 

Mamelon, capture of the, at the siege of Sevastopol, 574. 

Mancinus, Lieutenant of Piso, at the siege of Carthage, 
151; rescued from imminent danger by Scipio, 152. 

Mancius, a general of Demetrius, at the siege of Rhodes, 

Manco, Inca of Pern, 217. 

Manfred, king of Naples, slain at Bencvento, 99. 

Mandizable, General, 75. 

Manecho, the Spanish governor of Badajoz, killed, 75. 

Maneenus, at Argentaria, 52. 

Manlius, Consul of Rome, at the siege of Carthage, 150. 

Manners, Major, at Ciudad Rodrigo, 176. 

Manny, Sir Walter, at the siege of Calais, 143, 145. 

Mansfield, Major, at the siege of Monterey, 892. 

Mansfield, Colloredo, Count, 41 ; at the battle of Kulm, 

317. 
Marc Antony, 47. See Antony. 
Marceau, General, at the battle of Charleroi, 172 ; of 

Mans, 357. 
Marcellus, Consul of Rome, 613. 
Marcbllus, brother of Maximus, 45. 
Maroius, Caius, 477 ; his bravery at the siege of Coriolli, 

Makdonius, a lieutenant of Xerxes, king of Persia, at 
the battle of Plat:ea, 479 ; killed, 481. 

Marechaud, General, at the battle of Busaco, 139. 

Marre, Earl of, at the battle of Dunbar, 229. 

Margaret, queen of England, at the battle of St. Albans, 
548 ; of Tewkesbury, 619 ; made prisoner, and con- 
fined in the Tower of London, 620; ransomed by 
Louis XI. of France, 620. 

Margaret, queen of Denmark, 244. 

Marguerite of Austria, Duchess of Parma, her conduct 
in regard to the Inquisition of Flanders, 667. 

Maria Louisa, 464. 

Maria Theresa, 640. 

Marina, Donna, 631, 632. 

Marius, at the siege of Rome, 536. 

Marlborough, Duke of, at the battle of Blenheim, 105; 
of Mens, 889 ; of Ramillies, 509. 

Marle, Count de, killed, 70. 

Marmont, Marshal, at the siese of BadaJoz, 77; at the 
battle of Bautzen, 87 ; of Brienne, 130; of Dresden, 
226; of Hanau, 271 ; of Leipsic, 323 ; of Lutzen, 34'-j ; 
of Marengo, 86i) ; of Paris, 464 ; appointed commander 
of the garrison of Paris (in 1830), 465; his plan for 
the defense of the city, 466; at the battle of Sala- 
manca, 506; wounded. 5.57. 

Marollks, General de, killed at the storming of the 
Malakofi; 508. ' 

Maroto, General, at the battle of Kamales, 508. 

Marshal, H., Colonel, at the battle of Buena Vista,^82. 



•740 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



Marshal, Lieutenant, wounded at the siege of St. Sebas- 
tian, 563. 
Massin, Marshal dc, at the siege of Turin, 654; wounded 

and made prisoner, 055; his dcatli, ibid. 
Maktigny, Count, at the siege of Belgrade, 96. 

Martin, Governor, of Korth Carolina, 396. 

Martinegere, de, the inventor of the method of deteet- 
ing mining operations, 522. 

Martel, Charles, see Charles. 

Martel, a Norman knight, at the battle of Hastings, 272. 

Mary (Tudor;, queen of England, 146, 554. 

Mart, queen of Scots, 318. 

Masistius, a Persian general, killed, 4S0. 

Mason, John, Captain, at the battle of Pequot Hill, 473. 

Mason, Captain, at the battle of Molino del Rey, 885. 

Mason, Captain, at the battle of Rivas, 528. 

Massacres, of Abydos, 7; of Agrigentum, 14; of Ai, 14; 
of Alexandria, 16; of Antioch, 27; of Athens, 27; of 
the Alamo, 560; of Bagdad, 81 ; of Berwick, 104; of 
London, 106 ; of Bolougne, 120 ; of Byzantium, 140 ; 
of Caen, 141 ; of Carthage, 154 ; of Caxamalca, 1 60 ; 
of the two hundred virgins, 17; of Cherry Valley, 
179; of Cholet, 183; of Constantinople, 195; of 
Corinth, 197; of Tohopeka, 207; of Cremona, 208; 
after the battle of Culloden, 211 ; of 8000 citizens of 
Dinant, 226 ; of the garrison of Droglieda, 229 ; of 
Dundee, 230; of Fort Carolina, 247; of Major Dade 
and his troops in Florida, 247 ; of the Americans in 
Frenchtown, 256 ; of Fort Minims, 249 ; of Gaza, by 
order of Alexander, 260; of the Protestants at Har- 
lem, 268; of the English at Gundamuck, 268; of 
Hymera,2S3; of Ispahan, 286 ; of the Turks at Jaffa, 
by order of Napoleon, 290; of the Assvri.ins at 
Jerusalem, 295 ; of Jerusalem, 296 ; of the Jews, by 
Herod the Great, 296 ; of the Jews who had swal- 
lowed gold. 298 ; of the Saracens in Jerusalem, 308 ; 
of the English at Khurd Kabool, 313 ; of Liege, 3S2 ; 
of LincoIVi, 334; of the Saracens in Lisbon, 335; of 
Lyons, 349; of Maestricht, 850; of Mans, 357; of the 
Mexican nobles by Alvarado, 367 ; of the Mexicans 
by Cortez, 381 ; of the inhabitants of Naples, 402 ; of 
the Christians in Jerusalem. 300; of Ismail, 286; of 
Tunis, 653; of the Americans at Paoli, 470; of the 
Americans at Fort Griswold, 511; of the Huns In 
Orleans, 429 ; of the French in Palmero, commonly 
called the "Sicilian Vespers," 435; of Palmy r.a, 458; 
of St. Bartholomew, 444; of the Indians at Pequot 
Hill, 474; of the Scots after the battle of Pinkey, 
479 ; of the Persians after the battle of Plataa, 481 ; 
of the Platii-ans after the surrender of Plata-a, 484 ; 
of Rebastens, 503; of the Roman senators by the 
Gauls, 535; of the Gauls in Rome, 535; of the 
Romans, 537; of the Mexicans, 561 ; of Schenectady, 
566; of Selinuutum, 569; of Stockholm, 598; of the 
Sybarites, 603 ; of the Macedonians, 621 ; of Toulon, 
636; of the Lancasterians, after the battle ofTowton, 
64;3 ; of Tyre, 658 ; of Cholula, 661 ; of the Poles, 
681; of Colonel Buford's men at Waxhaw, 693 ; of 
"Wyominz, 705. 

Masbena, Marshal, at the battle of Almeida, 28; of 
Areola, 51 ; of Asperne, 56; of Bassano, 84; of Busa- 
co, 139; of Caldler6, 147; of Castigllone, 157; at the 
siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, 184 ; at the battle of Loano, 
886; of Montenotte, 390; of Muolta, 400; of Rivoli, 
530; created Duke of Rivoli, ibid.; at the battle of 
Stockach, 597; of Zurich, 714. 

Massigli, General, at the siege of Belgrade, 95; killed, 96. 

MATHiA8,«on of Theophilus,"Pope, 297. 

Mathas, a seditious Carthaginian general, at Troves. 
649; his death, 650. & & ' J' . 

Matilda, daughter of Henry VI., 3.33. 

Matthew, of Montmorency, at the siege of Constanti- 
nople, 188. 

Matthews, General, at the siege of Fort Washington, 
254; at the battle of Germantown, 262. 

Maubourg, Latour. at the battle of B.TOtzon, 86; of 
Dresden, 226; of Friedland, 258; of Leipsic, 320; 
wounded, 821. 

Maule, Sir Thomas, slain, 126. 

Maurice, Prince. 107. 

MAtiRicE, General, at the battle of the Tchernaya, 578. 

Maitsoleum, origin of the word, 515. 

Mausolfs, king of Caria. subdues Rhodes, 515; his 
death, and the splendid monument erected to his 
memory by his widow, i?nd. 

Mawhood, Colonel, at the battle of Princeton, 488. 

Maxentius, defeated by Constantine, 6ri4. 

Maximilian, Emanuel, elector of Bavaria, at the siege ot 
Vienna, 677. 



Maximilian, Count of Staremburg, at the siege of Bel- 
grade, 97. 
Maximia.n, Hercules, at the siege of Marseilles, 362. 
Maximts, Emperor of the West, his death, 46 
Maxwell, William, 124 ; at the battle of Monmouth, 

May, Lieutenant-Colonel, at the battle of Buena Vista, 
1-32; at the siege of Monterey, 892; his gallant 
charge at Resaca de la Palma, 514. 
Mayence, General, defeated at Anct, 26. 
Mayenne, Duke de, at the siege of Paris, 446. 
M.VYRAU, General, killed at the siege of Sevastopol, 576. 
Mazens, a Persian general, at Arbela, 48. 
Mazeppa, General, at the battle of Pultowa, 498. 
Meade, Lieutenant, at the siege of Monterey, 392. 
Meander, an Athenian officer, at the siege of Syracuse. 

608. * 

Mechlin, Lords of, at the battle of Rannsbeek, 510. 
Meculenberg Strelitz, Prince, killed at the battle of 

Lutzen, 256. 
Medes, at the siege of Babylon, 71; at the battle of 

Ch.-eronea, 168; of Halys, 269; of Ragan, 508. 
Medinaoeli, a Spanish commander, at the battle of 

Jerba, 294. 
Medino, Duke of, 141. 

Meeks, Lieutenant, at the siege of Fort Stephenson, 263. 
Meerfeld, General, at the battle of Leipsic, 821 : of 

Stockach, 597. 
Megrel, a French engineer, at the siege of Frederic- 

shald, 54. 
Meigs, Colonel, at the storming of Stony Point, 599. 
Melac, General, his cruelty at Heidelburg. 273. 
Melas, General, at the battle of the Adda, 12; of 

Marengo, 859; ofNovi, 425; of the Trebia, 644. 
Mellinet, General, wounded at the storming of the 

Malakoff, 680. 
Mellobeandes, at the battle of Argentarla, 52. 
Melon, Viscount de, the " Carpenter," 29, .36. 
Menelaus, king of Sparta, chosen husband by Helena 

of Troy, 649. 
Menon, General, at the battle of Buena Vista, 134. 
Menon, of Thessaly, 211 ; his death, 216. 
Mentas, Sir Peter, at the battle of Pinkey. 479. 
Menzikofp, Prince, at the battle of Pultowa. 491. 
Mercer, Hugh, General, at the battle of Trenton, 646 ; 

of Princeton, 487; killed, 488. 
Mercer, Colonel, at Oswego, 433 ; killed, 484. 
.Mercer, Fort, 512. 

Merci, General, at the siege of Belgrade, 97. 
Merle, General, at the battle of Corunna, 200. 
Mermet, General, at the battle of Corunna, 200. 
Merie, General, killed at the battle of Busaco, 139. 
Mesebales, a eunuch, anecdote of, 214. 
Metellus, consul of Rome, 196. 
Metezan, Louis, at the siege of La Rochelle, 532. 
Methuen, Chevalier, at the siege of Turin, 656. 
Metsko, General, killed at the battle of Dresden, 228. 
Mexicans, at the battle of Buena Vista, 181; of Ceutla, 

165; of Cerro Gordo, 165; of Chapultepec, 171 ; of 

Contreras, 198; of Huamantla, 28; at the siege of 

Mexico, 366; of Molino del Rey, 885; at the siege of 

Monterey, 891 ; at the battle of Otumba. 427 ; of Palo 

Alto. 489; of Puenta Naclonale, 490 : of Resaca de la 

Palma, 613; of Fort Brown, 515; of San Jacinto, 

559 ; at the siege of Vera Cruz, 672. 
Mexico, description of the ancient city of, 866. 
MiFFUN, Fort, 512. 
Migrel, M., anecdote of, 255. 
Miguel, Don, his cause favored by the inhabitants of 

Oporto, 428. 
Milanese, at the battle of Cassano, 155; of Fornovo, 

246. 
Milardowitch, General, at the battle of Bautzen, 86 ; of 

Novi, 425; of Krasnoi, 587. 
Miles, Colonel, at the battle of Long Island, 128. 
Miller, Colonel, at the siege of Fort Erie. 248; of Fort 

Meigs, 249 ; at the battle of Niagara, 414. 
Miller, Captain, at the siege of Monterey, 391. 
MiLO, the Crotonian, at the siege of Sybaris, 603. 
Millard, Henry, Lieutenant-Colonel, at the battle of 

San Jacinto,"560. 
Miltiades. in command of the Greeks, at the battle of 

Marathon, 358. 
MiLTocYTHES, the Thracian, surrenders himself to tho 

king of Persia, 21.5. 
MiNDAHirs, slain at the battle of Cyzicum, 220. 
Mines, invented by Peter of Navarre, 403 ; a method of 

detecting, invented by De Martinegere, .522. 
MiNEROius, killed at the battle of Cannse, 148. 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



741 



MiNGETODT, Colonel, killed at the battle of Red Bank, 
513. 

MioMANDKE, M., wounded in Paris, 459. 

MiEABEAU, Count de, takes part in the French Revolu- 
tion of 1798, 453. 

MiEANDER, General, at the battle of Neerwinden, 409. 

Mitchell, Colonel, at Oswego, 434. 

MiTHRiDATES, king of Pontus, 63 ; at the battle of Zela, 
713. 

MiTROtiSKi, General, at the battle of Areola, 51. 

MoAwiNYAU, adherents of, at the battles of Seefln,568. 

MoHAMMBD, 16; atthe siege of Kaibar, 312, poisoned by 
Zalnab, ibid. 

MoLiTOK, General, 57 ; at the battle of Moeskirch, 884. 

MoissAC, a French cornet, his heroism, 669. 

MoKvTN, William, 333. 

MoNCEY, General, at the battle of Sieta Agnas, 585. 

MoNCRiEF, Colonel, at Charleston, 178 ; at Savannah, 564. 

MoNCKTON, Colonel, killed at the battle of Monmouth, 389. 

MoNCKTON, General, shot at Quebec, 503. 

MoNDEAGON, General, at the siege of Antwerp, 41. 

MoNESTiER, a French officer, his death, 669. 

Monk, General, takes the city of Berwick, 104, at Dun- 
dee, 230. 

MoNiER, General, at the battle of Marengo, 860. 

Monroe, James, wounded at the battle of Trenton, 647. 

MoNEOE, Major, at the battle of Buena Vista, 134. 

Monmouth, Duke of, son of Charles II., at the battle of 
Bothwell, 119 ; assumes to the throne of England, 
667 ; made prisoner at the battle of Sedgemoor, 567 : 
his execution, ibid. 

MoNSEL, Philip, made prisoner, 531. 

Montague, Archbishop of Sens, his character, 442. 

MoNTAiGN, General, at the battle of Charleroi, 172. 

MoNTALiVKT, in Paris, 464. 

Montbrun, General, at the battle of Borodino, 110 , 
killed, 111 ; at the battle of Kaab, 508. 

Montcalm, Marquis de, at Oswego, 433 ; at the battle of 
Montmorenci, 502 ; killed at Quebec, 503 ; at Ticon- 
deroga, 630. 

MONTECUCUTI, General, at the siege of Belgrade, 97. 

MoNTEMARLE, M., takcs part in the French Revolution 
of 1830, 468, 

MoNTESPAN, the mistress of Louis XIV., 640, 

Montesquieu, the murderer of the Prince of Conde, 291. 

Montezuma, emperor of Mexico, subdued by Cortez, 
161 ; his death, 369. 

Montluo, a young French officer, his gallant conduct at 
the siege of Marseilles, 362. 

Montfebkat, Marquis de, at the siege of Constantinople, 
188 ; made prisoner at the baltlc of Tiberias, 661. 

Monteort, Simon, Earl of Leicester, his 'character, 637; 
a leader of the Crusade against the Albigeois, ibid. ; 
defeats Count of Toulouse, ibid. ; his" disgraceful 
death, 637. 

Montfort, Simon, Earl of Leicester, son of the above, 
gains the battle of Lewes, 328 ; killed at the battle 
of Evesham, 240. 

Montfort, Guy de, son of the Earl of Leicester, at the 
battle of Lewes, 328. 

Montfort, Henri de, 328. 

Montgomery, at the battle of Hastings, 272. 

Montgomery, Richard, General, at the siege of Louis- 
burg, 341 , at the siege of Quebec, 505 ; killed, 506. 

Montgomery, Major, killed at Fort Griswold, 411. 

Montigny, Captain, 45. 

Montmorency, Constable of France, made prisoner at 
the battle of Dreuz, 229 ; at the battle of St. Quintin, 
554 ; wounded and made prisoner, 555. 

MoNTPELiER, William de, at the siege of Jerusalem, 302. 

Montpensier, Duke de, made prisoner at the battle of 
St. Quintin, 555. 

Montrose, Marquis de, 19 ; at the battle of Selkirk, 569. 

Moore, James, Colonel, at the battle of Moore's Creek 

^ Bridge, 896. 

MooRE, James, Captain, at the battle of Princeton, 489. 

Moore, John, Colonel, at the battle of Ramsom's Mills, 
509. 

MooEE, Major, killed at the battle of Bunker's Hill, 115. 

MooRE, Sir John, killed at the battle of Corunna, 201. 

Moors, at the siege of Baza, 90 ; of Granada, 264 , at the 
battle of Merida, 365 ; at' the siege of Moxacar. 400 , 
at the battle of Navas de Tolosa, 408 : at the siege of 
Ronda, 543 , of Saragossa, 562 ; of Toledo, 683 ; of 
Tortosa, 634 ; of Tunis, 650; at the battle of Zamora, 
713. 

Mora, President of Costa Rica, 527. 

Morales, General, governor of the garrison of Vera 
Cruz, 674. 



Morand, General, at the battle of Auerstadt, 66. 
Moreau, General, defeated by Suwarrow, 19; at the 

battle of Cannsladt, 140; of Dresden, 227; killed, 

228 ; at the battle of Engen, 237 ; of Moeskirch, 384 ; 

of Novi, 425 ; of Permasin, 473 ; of Renchen, 513. 
MoEENO, Colonel, at the siege of Monterey, 394. 
MoEET, General, wounded, 557. 
Morgan, Captain, an English officer at the siege of Ber- 

gen-op-Zoom, 101 
Morgan, Major-General, at the siege of Dundalk, 230. 

at the battle of Dunkirk, 231 
Morgan, Daniel, General, at the battle of the Cowpens, 

201 ; of Monmouth, 387 ; of Stillwater, 589 , at the 

siege of Quebec, 505 , made prisoner, 506. 
Morgan, General, at the battle of New Orleans, 411. 
MoELAND, General, at the battle of Borodino, 109. 
Morlot, General, at the battle of Charleroi, 173. 
Morris, Major, killed at the battle of Princeton, 489. 
Morris, Captain, of the British ship BrudoL, wounded, 

174. 
Morrison, Colonel, at the battle of Chrystler's Fields, 

183. 
Morrison, Major, at the battle of Buena Vista, 134. 
Mortier, General, at the sicse of Badajoz, 75 , at the bat- 
tle of Bautzen, 89 ; of Brienne, 130 ; of Friedland, 

257 ; of Heilsberg, 273 ; of Leipsic, 322 ; of Lutzen, 

846 ; at Moscow, 355 ; at the battle of Muolta, 400 ; 

of Paris, 464 , of Saragossa, 562. 
Mortimer, Roger, his barbarous treatment of the body 

of Simon de Montfort, 240. 
MosA, an officer of Cortez, at the battle of Ceutla, 166. 
Moses, the Prophet, 513. 
Mosquito Fleet, the, 673. 
Motteeouge, General, at the storming of the Malakoff, 

579. 
MouLAC, anecdote of, 508. 
Moulder, William, Captain, at the battle of Princeton, 

489. 
MouEAD Bey, at the battle of the Pyramids, 497. 
MouRAViEFP, General, at the siege of Kars, 312. 
Moultrie, Fort, 174. 
MouLTEiE, William, Colonel, his gallant defense of Fort 

Moultrie, 174. 
MouEzouFLB, the assassin of Alexius, 19. 
MouTiioLON, General, killed at the battle of Asperne, 59. 
Mowbray, Philip de, surrenders the Castle of Stirling, 

83. 
MuHLENBURG, General, at the storming of Stony Point, 

599. 
Muley-Hassan, king of Tunis, implores the aid of 

Charles V., against Barbarossa, 563 , at the siege of 

Tunis, ibid. 
MuLGRAVB, Lord, at the siege of Toulon, 635. 
Mummiits, appointed Consul of Rome, 196 ; at the siege 

of Corinth, 197. 
Muiron, Napoleon's aide-de-camp, killed, 51. 
MuR^NA, an officer of Sylla, at the battle of Cha?ronea, 

168. 
MuRAT, Marshal, at the battle of Austerlitz, 68 ; of 

Aboukir, 1 ; of Borodino, 107 ; of Castalla, 156 ; of 

Dresden, 228 ; of Eylau, 241 ; of Friedland, 256 ; of 

Heilsberg, 278 ; of Leipsic, 320 ; of Mount Tabor, 

899 ; of Ostrovno, 433 ; of Krasnoi, 585 ; of Smo- 

lensko, 586. 
MuEFEY", Major, at the storming of Stony Point, 5S9. 
Murray, Ciptain, at the siege of Londonderry, 338. 
Murray, Earl of. Regent of Scotland, 818. 
Murray, General, at the battle of Montmorenci, 502. 
MuEiLLo, General, at the battle of the Pyrenees, 500. 
MuEViEDEO, the ancient Saguntum, 545. 
MusGKAVE, in command of the English at the battle of 

Solway Moss, 588. 
MusGRAVE, Colonel, at the battle of Germantown, 261. _ 
MuSTAPHA, a general of Soliman the Magnificent, his 

valor at the siege of Rhodes, 522; ordered to be shot 

by Soliman, 523. 
MusTAPHA, Kara, Grand Vizier, at the siege of Vienna, 

675. 
Mustapha, a dog, anecdote of, 246. 
MuTius, Sctevofa, his heroic conduct when put to the 

torture, 584. 



Nansouty, General, at the battle of Borodino, 110 ; of 
Friedland, 258 ; of Hanau, 270 , of Leipsic, 324. 

Napier, Sir William, his history of the Peninsular War, 
562. 

Napier, Major, leads the storming party at the siege of 
Ciudad Rodrigo, 185 ; killed, 186. 



742 



ALPHABETICAL ESTDEX. 



Napoleon Bonaparte, at the battle of Abensburg, 1 ; 
of Abonkir, 1 ; at the siege of St. Jean d' Acre, 9 ; 
of Alexandria, IS; his expedition into Kgypt, 19; at 
the battle of Aicis-sur-Aube, 49 ; his heroic conduct, 
51 ; at the battles of Asperne and Essling, 56 , his 
interview with Marshal Lannes, 61 , at the battle of 
Austerlitz, 68, his massacre of the fugitives after 
that battle, 69 , at the battle of Bassano, b4 , of Baut- 
zen, 86; his imminent peril, 88; orders a monument 
to be erected to the memory of Duroc, 9U , at the 
passage of the Berisina, 101 ; at the battle of Boro- 
dino, 107, of Brienne, 129; anecdote of, 130; at the 
battle of Castiglione, 15T ; of Dresden, 2iS ; of Eck- 
muhl, 232; of Eylau, 241. of Friedland, 256. of 
Hanau, 269; in imminent peril, 2T0; at the battle of 
Heliopolis, 273; of Heilsburg, 2T4, at Jatfa, 290; at 
the battle of Jena, 293 ; of Laon, 318 ; of Leipsic, 320 , 
of I.igny, 6S8 ; of Lodi, 337 ; of Lonato, oil ; his let- 
ter of consolation to the wife of- Marshal Bessieres, 
344 ; at the battle of Lutzen, 344 ; at the siege of 
Mantua, 35V ; at the battle of Marengo, 359 , of Mon- 
dovi, 387 ; of Montebello, 390 ; of Moiitereau (Fon- 
tainebleau), 391 , of Montmirail, 396 ; of Mount Tabor, 
399 ; at Fontainebleau, 464 ; deposed, 464 ; his return 
from Elba, 464; at the siege of Pavia, 472, causes 
the sword of Francis I. to be restored, 472, at the 
battle of the Pyramids, 497 ; at the siege of Eatisbon, 
510; wounded, 511, at the battle of Rheims, 515; 
of Eivoli, 530; at Rome, 542; at Smolensko, 585; 
sent to St. Helena, 465; at the siege of Toulon (where 
hefirstdistinguished himself), 635; at the battle of 
Waterloo, 691. 

Narses, 540 ; at the battle of Tagina, 616. 

Nakvaez, sent by Velasquez, to Mexico, to seize Cortez 
as a rebel, 161 ; defeated by Cortez, 161 ; wounded 
and made prisoner, 162. 

National Bapge of France insulted, 456. 

Natzmar, Don Bruno, Colonel, at the battle of Eivas, 
527. 

Neal, Captain, killed at the battle of Princeton, 4S9. 

NeboplassaPv, revolts against the Assyrian king, 417. 

Nkbttciiadnezzar, king of Babylon, 71 ; at the siege of 
Jerusalem, 295 ; at the battle of Eagan, 508. 

Nbckar, M., 448, 449, 450. 

Negro PONT, Bailiff of, one of the knights of Malta, killed, 
357. 

Negroes, heroism of, 417. 

Nehk-miah, rebuilds fortifications of Jerusalem, 296. 

Nelson, Thomas, Governor of Virginia, at the siege of 
Yorktown, 709 ; his valor and patriotism, 710. 

Nemours, Duke de, at the siege of Paris, 446. 

Nepos, emperor of the "West, abandons his throne, 470. 

Nebiglissik, king of Babylon, engages in a war with the 
Medes and Persians, 625 , killed, 626. 

Nkeo, emperor of Rome, 296. 

Nkeo, C. Claudius, Consul of Rome, at the battle of the 
Metaurus, 409. 

Nestorius, a Roman soldier, anecdote of, 27. 

Nevers, Count of, slain at the battle of Azincour, 70. 

Nevees, Duke of, son of Louis IX., his death, 651. 

Nevers, Count de, his rashness at the battle of Nicopolis, 
416. 

Nkwerofskot, General, at the battle of Borodino, 109 ; 
of Krasnoi, 586; of Smolensko, 586. 

Newmarsh, Major, at the battle of the Cowpens, 202. 

Net, Marshal, 49, 86 ; at the battle of Borodino, 109 ; of 
Brienne, 130 ; of Busaco, 139 ; erects monument over 
the remains of Sir John Moore, 201 ; at the battle of 
Dennewitz, 224 ; of Dresden, 226; of Eylau, 241; of 
Friedland, 257 ; of Heilsburg, 273 ; of Hohenlinden, 
278; of Jena, 293; of Kowno, 317; of Mockern, 
821 ; of Lutzen, .344 ; of Krasnoi, 585 , of Smolensko, 
586 ; of Quatre Bras, 6S9 ; of Waterloo, 691. ^ 

NiCANOR, a Macedonian general, at the battle of Issns, 
288; killed, 281. 

Nicaragua, sketch of Walker's expedition into, 525. 

NiOETAS, the historian, 191. 

NicnoLAb, emperor of Russia, 681. 

NiciioLLS, Colonel, at Fort Boyer, 247. 

NioiiOLS, Colonel, at the battle of Bennington Heights, 
100. 

NiciAs, the Athenian general, at the siege of Syracuse, 
603 ; his celebrated despatch from Syracuse to Athens, 
607 ; made prisoner, 612 ; his death, 613. 

NiciAS, son of Nicerotus, at the battle of Solygia, 588. 

NirtiRniES, an Arcadian, killed by the Persians, 215 

NiEF, General, at the storming of the Malakoff, 580. 

NiEL, General, at the storming of the Malakoff, 578. 

N^ght of the Sacrifices, in Paris, 454 



Nightingale, Florence, Miss, 572. 

NiKETiR, General, at the battle of Brienne, 130. 

NiNus I., king of Assyria, at the siege of Bactra, 74. 

NiNus II., at the siege of Nineveh, 417 

NiTOCRis, mother of Belshazzar, king of Babylon, 73. 

Nixon, General, at the battle ot Stillwater, 595. 

Noailles, Marshal, at the battle of Dillengen, 225. 

NocTUe Triste, 873. ^ ' 

Norfolk, Duke of, slain, 119. 

NoBicARMES, Seigneur de, at the siege of Valenciennes, 

NoRMAND, Captain, at the siege of La Eochelle 533 

Normandy, Duke of, 27, 3(J2. 

Normans, at the battle of Hastings, 271 at the siege of 

Nantes, 401 ; at Palermo, 435 ; at Paris, 441 ; at Kouen, 

543 ; at Troyes, 649. , , -, 

Northampton, Marquis of, defeated by Ket the Tanner. 

313. ' 

Northmen, the, take the city of Boulogne, 120 , their 

battles on the Western continent, 418. 
Northumberland, Earl of, at the battle of St. Albans, 

547; of Shrewsbury, 584; ofTowton, 642. slain, 643. 
Nostitz, Count, at the battle of Leip.sic, 320. 
Nothilda, wife of Richard the Lion Heart, 308. 
Nott, General, at the battle of Ghuznee, 262. 
NoYER, Miles de, at the siege of Cassel, 156. 
NuAROFF, General, at the battle of Friedland, 25T. 
Numidians, at Agiigentum, 13 ; at the battle of Canns, 

148 ; at Carthage, 149 , at the battle of the Trebia, 

643; at Utica, 665; at the battle of Zama, 712. 
Nuns, 193 ; murdered at St. Jean d'Acre, 13. 



Oak of Reformation, 813. 

O'Brien, Captain, at the battle of Buena Vista, 183. 

OcTAVius, at the battle of Philippi, 476. 

Odenatiius, king of Palmyra assassinated, 436. 

Odoaoer, king of the Heruli, reduces the Empire of the 

West, 470 ; his valorous defense of Ravenna, 511 ; 

his death, ihid. 
O'Donnell, Carlos, Don, General, at the battle of the 

Pyrenees, 498; at the siege of Saguntum, 547 
Odyssus, at the battle of Thermopyla-, 623. 
OEdipus, king of Thebes, 621. 
OgdjIN, Amos, Captain, 702. 
Ogden, Nathan, brother of Amos Ogden, 703. 
Oqilvie, Captain, at the battle of Queenstown, 507. 
O'Hara, General, at the battle of Cowan's Ford, 201 , 

of Guilford, 267 ; wounded, 268. 
O'Hara, General, at the siege of Toulon, 634; wounded, 

635. 
Oil, Boiling, 9, 802, 429. 

OiSE, son of Hengrist, at the battle of Crayford, 203. 
Olid, Christoval de, an officer of Cortez, 162, 875. 
Olivenza, fortress of, 75. 
Olsoofief, General, at the battle of Brienne, 129; of 

Montmirail, 396. 
Olympia, Temple of, at Syracuse, 604. 
Olympiodorus, at the battle of Plat^-a. 480. 
j Omar, Caliph, 27; at the siege of Jerusalem, 300. 
Omar Pacha, at the battle of the Ingour, 283; of 

Oltenitza, 427. 
O'Neil, Major, at the battle of Rivas, 527. 
Oracle of Delphi, 62. 

Orange, Prince of, at the siege of Bergen-op-Zoom, 108. 
Ordaz, Diego de, an officer of Cortez, 166, 374. 
Ordnance, see Artilleev. 
O'Regan, Captain, 122. 
Orestes, 470. 

Orlando Furioso, and Innamorato, 543. 
Orleans, Duke of, at the siege of Turin, 654. 
Orleans, Maid of, see Jo.vn 
Ornano, General, at the battle of Borodino, 110. 
Orthes, battle of, 98. 
Osma, Bishop of, intercedes with Charles V. for Francis 

I., 472. 
Ossuary, the, a monument of bones at Morat, 896. 
O-stekmann, Tolstoy, Count, at the battle of Eylau, 241 , 

of Kulm, 317 ; of Ostroviio, 433 ; of Pultusk, 495. 
Otuo, emperor of Germany, his heroism at the battle of 

Bouvines, 120. , 

O.'^trogoths, foundation of the kingdom of in Italy, 511. 
Oswald, Eleazar, Colonel, at the battle of Monmouth, 

388. 
Ott, General, at the battle of the Adda, 11 , of Marengo, 

8.59; of Montebello, 390; of No vi, 424. of the Trebia. 

644 , of Tuscoing, 655. 
Oui'iNOT, Marshal, 15 ; at the battle of Bar-sur-Aube, 84 ; 

at the passage of the Beresina, 101 ; at the battle of 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



743 



Bautzen, 86 ; of Brienne, 130 ; of Friedland, 259 ; of 
Leipsic, 320 ; of Lutzen, 844 ; of Montereavi, Syl. 

OaTAKOFF, General, at the battle of Borodino, 110. 

Otalle, General, at the battle of Sieta Agnas, 5S5. 

OxATHEs, brother of Darius, king of Persia, at the battle 
of Issus, 289. 

OxEX, 55, 533. 



Pack, General, at the siege of Ciudad Eodrigo, 186 ; at 

the battle of Salamanca, 557. 
Packenuam, Sir Edward, at the battle of New Orleans, 

412; killed, 413. 
Paokenham, General, at the battle of Salamanca, 558. 
Page, Captain, mortally wounded at the battle of Palo 

Alto, 439. 
Paget, General, at the battle of Corunna, 200. 
Pahlk;^, General, 50 ; at the battle of Brienne, 129. 
Pal/eologus, Constantine, emperor of Constantinople, 

193. 
Pal^ologits, Michael, 193. 
Palafax, General, at Saragossa, 562. 
Palfi, Marshal, at the siege of Belgrade, 96. 
Palmyra, destruction of, 438. 

Panokatius, the Armenian, at the siege of Edessa, 234. 
Panthea, wife of Abradates, 627. 
Pappeniieim, Count, at the battle of Leipsic, 318; of 

Lutzen, .342 ; killed, 343. 
Paris, or Alexander, Bon of Priam, abducts Helen of 

Troy, 649. 
Paris, University of, 198. 
Paris, Colonel, at the battle of Oriskany, 256. 
Parker, Hyde, Commodore, 175, 563. 
Parker, Sir Peter, Admiral, 173. 
Parma, Prince of, at the siege of Antwerp, 40 ; of Bergen- 

op-Zoom, 103 ; of Maestricht, 350; of Toiirnai, 639. 
Parmenio, a general of Alexander the Great, at the bat- 
tle of Arbela, 43: of Issus, 289; of the Granicus, 

265. 
Partonneaux, General, 101. 
Paskiewitcii, General, at the battle of Borodino, 110 ; in 

command of the Russian array in Poland, 684. 
Pasitilidas, governor of Torone, made prisoner, 634. 
Patterson, General, at the battle of Bunker's Hill, 114 ; 

of Stillwater, 589. 
Pattebsov, General, at the siege of Vera Cruz, 672. 
Paul of Cilicia, his gallant conduct, 540. 
Paul IV., Pope, at war with Philip IL, 553; troops of 

at the siege of Naples, 403. 
Paplinus, the Roman general, defeats Boadicea, queen 

of the Iceni, 106. 
Pausanius, the Grecian general, at the battle of Platsa, 

480. 
Pavia, Aimeny de, his treachery, 144. 
Paysieux, Colonel de, his conduct at the siege of Paris, 

441. 
Pbaece, Colonel, at the capture of York, 707. 
Peok, General, at the battle of Busaco, 139. 
Pedregal the, in Mexico, 198. 

Pedro, Don, of Arragon, at the siege of Messina, 868. 
Peel, Captain, wounded at the siege of Sevastopol, 576. 
Peqion, General, made prisoner at the battle of Lonato, 

341. 
Pekaii, king of Israel, at the siege of Jerusalem, 295. 
Pblbt, Raymond, at the siege of Jerusalem, 307. 
Pelissieb, General, at the siege of Sevastopol, 573; at the 

storming of the Malakoff.'"574. 
Pkllbport, Marquis de, killed at the storming of the 

Bastile, 452. 
Pelopidas, the Theban, at the battle of Tegyr», 826 ; 

in command of the Sacred Band, at the battle of 

Leuctra, 327 ; at the siege of Thebes. 827. 
Peloponnesian War, commencement of the, 4S1. 
Pembroke, Earl of, at the battle of St. Quintin, 554. 
Pembroke, Marshal of England, at the battle of Lincoln, 

334. 
Pencader, skirmish at, 124. 
Penn, Richard, governor of Pennsylvania, 703. 
Penn, "William, 702. 

Pennefeatheb, General, at the battle of the Alma, 24. 
Pbrohb, Count de, killed at the battle of Lincoln, 8;35. 
Percy Lord (Hotspur), see Piekov. 
Percy, Lord, 127 ; at the siege of Fort Washington. 254 ; 

at the battle of Harlem Heights, 694; of White 

Plains, 696. 
Peki, a lieutenant of Soliman IL, at the siege of Rhodes, 

521. 
Pksicord, Cardinal de, endeavors to prevent the battle 

of Poictlers, 486. 



Perky, Commodore, co-operates with General Scott iiv 
the siege of Vera Cruz, 673. 

Persians, at the siege of Alexandria, 16; of AnUoch, 
26 ; at the battle of Arbela, 47 ; of Artimisium 55 ; 
at the siege of Athens, 62 ; of Babylon, 72 ; of Bag- 
dad, 81 ; of Bedlis, 95 ; at the battle of Byblos, 139 ; 
of Cunaxa, 212 ; at the siege of Edessa, 233 ; at the 
battle of the Granicus, 265 : of Issus, 287 ; at the 
siege of Jerusalem, 300 ; at the battle of Marathon. 
858 ; of Nehawund, 409 ; of Plataea, 480 ; of Sardis, 
562; ofThymbra, 625; of Thermopyl;e, 622. 

Peruvians, at the battle of Ayacucho, 69; at the siege of 
Cuzco, 216 ; at the battle of Guamanza, 266. 

Pesoara, Marquis de, at the siege of Marseilles, 362; of 
Pavia, 471. 

Peterbokoi'Gii, Earl of, at the siege of Barcelona, 84. 

Peter the Cruel, at the battle of Naxera, 408. 

Peter the Great, emperor of Russia, at the battle of 
Narva, 404 ; of Pultowa, 491 ; his elation after the 
defeat of Charles XII., 494. 

Peter the Hermit, his conduct at the siege of Antioch, 
29 ; sent to the camp of the Saracens, and unsuccess- 
fully exhorts them to peace, 37 ; urges the Crusader J 
to battle, 38 ; his conduct at the siege of Jerusalem, 
305. 

Peter of Navarre, the inventor of mines, at the siege of 
Naples, 403. 

Pbyronney, Captain, killed at the battle of Fort du 
Quesne, 123. 

Phamoeas, a Carthaginian, 150. 

Pharaoh and his hosts destroyed in the Red Sea, 513. 

PiiARNABAZUs, a Peloponneslau general, at the battle of 
Cyzicum, 220. 

Pharnaces, at the battle of Zela, 713 ; his death, 714. 

Puilibert Emanuel, Duke of Savoy, at the battle of 
St. Quintin, 554. 

PniLiDAS, a Theban, at the siege of Thebes, 621. 

PuiLip I., king of France, his heroic conduct at the bat- 
tle of Bouvines, 120. 

Puilip II., Augustus, of Franco, at the siege of St. Jean 
d' Acre, 8 ; at the battle of Freteval, 256 ; of Gisors, 
264 ; at Lisieux, 336. 

Philip II., of Spain, 444; at war with Pope Paul IV., 
553 ; endeavors to introduce the Inquisition into 
Flanders, 607. 

Philip HI., of France, at the siege of Tunis, 652. 

Philip IV., of France, bis measures to meet the invasion 
of France by the English, 141 ; advances to the relief 
of Calais, 143 ; his death, 640. 

Philip VI., of France, at the siege of Cassel, 155; at 
the battle of Cressy, 203 ; at the siege of Tournai, 
638. 

Philip of Macedon, 220 ; at the siege of Abydos, 6 ; of 
Byzantium, 140; of Cha-ronea, 167; at the battle of 
Cynoscephalff, 221 ; at Thebes, 621. 

Philip, son of John IL of France, at the battle of Poic- 
tlers, 486. 

Philip the Bold, his death, 474. 

Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, at the siege of 
Dinant, 226 ; at the siege of Mons, 3S9. 

Philip, a Spartan governor of Thebes, killed, 621. 

Philip, an Indian king, 602. 

PuiLippA, queen of Edward III., raises an army to re- 
pulse David of Scotland, 232. 

Phillipon, General, his heroic defense of Badajoz, 77. 

Philips, Major-General, at the battle of Bemus'' Heights, 
589. 

Philop(emen, at the battle of Selasia, 568. 

Piiilotas, a general of Alexander the Great, 621. 

PiiiROUS, his conduct at the siege of Antioch, 32. 

Phocion, an Athenian, at Byzaiitium, 140. 

Phkaortes, king of Media, defeated at the battle of 
Eagan, 507 ; his death, 508. 

PicHEGRu, General, at the siege of Manheim, 357: of 
Tournai, 640. 

Pickens, Andrew, Colonel, at the battle of the Cowpens, 
202. 

Picton, General, at the siege of Badj^joz, 77 ; wounded, 
80 ; at the battle of Orthes, 93; of Busaco, 139 ; of the 
Pyrenees, 499 ; of Quatre Bras, 690 ; wounded, 691 ; 
at the battle of Waterloo, 691 ; killed, ibid. 

Picts, at the battle of the Grampian Hills, 264. 

Pierce, Franklin, General, at the battle of Cherubusco, 
180. 

PiERCY, Harrv (Hotspur), at the battle of Otterburn, 4-34 ; 
made prisoner, 435 ; at the battle of Shrewsbury, 
583 ; killed, 584. 

PiEKCY, Sir Robert, at the battle of Bosworth, 118; 
killed, 119. 



744 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



Pigeons, carrier, employed at the siege of St. Jean 

d'Acro, 9. 
PiGOT, General, in command of the British at Bunker's 

Hill, 144; at the battle of Quaker Hill, 501. 
Pike, Captain, at the battle of Buena Vista, 133. 
Pike, General, at the capture of York, 706 ; killed, 707. 
Plllovv, General, at the battle of Cerro Gordo, 164 ; of 

Chapultepec, 170; wounded, 171; at the battle of 

Contreras, 199 ; at the siege of Vera Cruz, 672. 
PiNKNET, Charles Cotesworth, in command of Fort 

Moultrie, 176. 
Piper, Count, at the battle of Pultowa, 492. 
Pio, Ludivico, at the siege of Barcelona, 84. 
Piso, Calpurnius, Consul of Eome, at the siege of Car- 
thage, 151. 
PrrcAiRN, Major, in command of the British at the bat- 
tles of Concord and Lexington, 329 ; at the tattle of 

Bunker's Hill, 115 ; killed, 116. 
Prrr, William, the British statesman, 501. 
Puts VI., Pope, 542. 

PizARKo, Francisco, his invasion of Peru, 159 ; his con- 
duct toward the luca Athuallpa, 160; at the battle of 

Caxamalca, 160 ; wounded, 161 ; at the battle of Puna, 

490. 
PizAKRo, -luan, brother of Francisco, 217, 219, 220. 
PizAiiKO, Hernando, brother of Francisco, at the siege of 

Ciizco, 220. 
Plagues, of Leyden, 832; of Jcnisalem, 295; of Eome, 

537; of Syracuse, 613, 616 ; of Tunis, 651. 
Pi.ATXA, destruction of, 484. 
Plato, Jean Baptiste, the famous engineer, 42. 
Platokf, General, at the battle of Eylau, 241. 
Plunkett, Colonel, 708. 

Poison, used at the siege of Eavenna, by Belisarius, 511. 
Poland, account of the Eevolulions in, CSl. 
Pole, Lord, brother of the Earl of Suffolk, at the siege 

of Orleans, 430. 
Pole, EicharU de la, at the siege of Pa via, 471. 
Poles, at the battle of Barranow, 84 ; of Czenstochow, 

222 ; of Grochow, 266 ; of Kalisk, 312 ; of Novi ; 424 ; 

of Ostrolonka, 483 ; of Praga. 488 ; of Pultowa, 493 ; 

at the siege of Vienna, 677 ; of Warsaw, CSl ; at the 

battle of Wilna, 696. 
PoLTf:NAC, Prince, his conduct during the French Eevo- 

lutionofl830, 467. 
Polk, Colonel, at the battle of Eutaw Springs, 239. 
PoLT^OT, a Calvinist, assassinates the Duke of Guise, 432. 
Polynices, son of CEdipus, king of Thebes, slaiu in single 

combat, 621. 
PoLYSEMiDos, his vlctory over the Eomans, 8. 
Polytechnic School of Paris, take part in the French 

Et>volntionofl830, 466. 
PoMEROY, General, at the battle of Bunker's Hill, 114. 
PoMPEius, Sextus, 478. 
Po.Mi-EY the Great. 362 ; at the siege of Calagurris, 143 ; 

of Jerusalem, 296; at the battle of Munda, 400; of 

Pharsalia, 474 ; his death, 476. 
PoMPEY, a negro spy, at the storming of Stony Point, 

599. 
PoNiATOWSKY, Princc at the battle of Borodino, 108; of 

Leipsic, 230 ; killed, 325. 
PONIATOWBKY, Priuce, at the battle of Pultowa, 492. 
PoNSONBY, Sir William, at the battle of Waterloo, 691. 
PoNTEVES, General de, at the storming of the Malakoff, 

679 ; wounded, 580. 
Pontius, Count of Tubali, at the siege of Tyi-e, 659. 
Poor, General, at the battle of Beraus' Heights, 589. 
Pope, Lieutenant, at the siege of Monterey, 392. 
PoPHAM, Sir Home, at Buenos Ayres, 136. 
PoKCiA, wife of Brutus, her death, 478. 
PoRSENNA, king of Clusium, 53.3. 
Porter, General, at the siege of Fort Eric, 24S ; of Fort 

George, 248; at the battle of Lundy's Lane, 414. 
POETBR, M^or-General, at the battle of Marston Moor, 

363. 
Portraits of the kings of France, a chronological series 

of, destroyed, 442. 
Portuguese, at the battle of Almeida, 25 ; at the siege 

ofBadaioz, 75; at the battle of Bayonne, 90; at the 

siege of Burgos, 137; at the battle ofBusaco, \H9; at 

Ciudad Eodrigo, ia5; at the battle of Frontierra, 

2.59 ; at the siege of St. Sebastian, 552 ; at the battle 

of Salamanca. 5.56; of San Marcial, 561. 
PoRvs, king of India, at the battle of the Ilyda-spes, 280 ; 

made prisoner, 281; his interview with Alexander 

the Great, 2«2. 
PoTF.MKiN, Lioutcnant-General, at the siege of Ismail, 

284. 
Pox Gi:;;N.vi)Es. 6"7. 



Potter, Colonel, killed at the battle of Princeton, 489. 
Powell, Brigadier, at the battles of Stillwater, 689. 
Practhod, General, at the battle of Eaab, 607. 
Praslin, Marquis de, at the siege of Cremona, 208. 
Prescott, William, Colonel, his heroism at the battle of 

Bunker's Hill, 113,114. 
Peeston, Hon. S. T., his address at King's Mountain, 

quoted, 315. 
Prevost, Augustine, General, 175, 176, 568, 564, 598. 
Prevost, Sir George, in command of the British forces 

at the battle of Plattsburg, 484. 
Prevost, Sir James, at the battle of Sackett's Harbor, 

541. 
Prevost, Lieutenant-Colonel, 126. 
Priarius, king of the Germans, killed at the battle of 

Argentaria, 52. 
Prideaux, General, 501; killed at Fort Niagara, 250. 
Primus, a lieutenant of Vespasian, at the siege of Cre- 
mona, 208. 
Prisch, General, at the battle of Leipsic, 828. 
Proctor, General, at the siegaof Fort Meigs, 249 ; at the 

battle of Frenchtown, 255 ; at the assault on Fort 

Stephenson, 252 ; at the battle of the Thames, 620. 
Proserpine, temple of, at Syracuse, plundered by Ihe 

Carthaginians, 613. 
Prothulus, governor of Thebes, 621. 
Peoxenus, at the battle of Thymbra, 211 ; killed by tho 

Persians, 216. 
Provera, General, at the battle of Areola, 51. 
Prussians, at the battle of Auerstadt, 64; of Bautzen, 

85 ; of Weissig, 86 ; of Breslau, 126 ; of Brieiine, 129 ; 

of Cunnersdorf, 216 ; of Dennewitz, 2'24; of Dresden, 

226 ; of Friedberg, 251 ; of Halle, 269 ; of Hochkir- 

chen, 277 ; of Jena, 292 ; of Kanth, 812 ; of Katz- 

bach, 812 ; of Kulm, 317 ; of Laon, 818 ; of Leipsic, 
• 820; or Ligny, 688; of Mockern. 822; of Lutzen, 

844; of Malen, 865; of Molwitz, 3S6 ; of Montereau, 

891; of Montmirail, 396,- at the siege of Paris, 464; 

at the battle of Permasin, 473 ; of Pirna, 479 ; of 

Prague, 48S ; of Eossbach, 543 ; of Saalfleld, 544 ; 

of Sagan, 545; of Schellendorf, 566; at the siege of 

Schweidnitz, 567; of Straslund, 601 ; of Thorn, 624; 

at Warsaw, 681 ; at the battle of Waterloo, 691 ; of 

Wavres, 693. 
Psammbtichus, at the siege of Azoth, 70. 
Ptolemy I., king of Egypt, at the battle of Gaza, 259 : of 

Issus, 2S9 ; of Eaphia, 510. 
Ptolemy XL, of Egypt, at the siege of Alexandria, 15; 

defeated by Cssar, and drowned in crossing tho 

NUe, 16. 
Pulaski, Casimir, Count, at the siege of Charleston, 

176 ; at the battle of German town," 262; at the siege 

of Savannah, 564; killed, 565. 
PuLCi, Count, his death, 541. 
Punic War, the first, commenced, 866; origin of the 

second, 545 ; commencement of the third, 1.50. 
Putnam, Israel, General, at the battle of Bunker's Hill, 

127 ; at Brooklyn, 116. 
PuY, Bishop of, at the siege of Antioch, 28, 80. 
Pyle, Colonel, at the battle of the Haw, 273. 
Pyerhus, king of Epirus, at the siege of Lacedtemon, 

318 ; of Argos, 52 ; his ignominious death, ibid. 



Qcailes, Captain, at the battle of Enochopes, 207. 
QuASDANOviTCH, General, at the battle of Eivoli, 580. 
Quitman, General, at the battle of Chapultepec, 171 ; at 

Mexico, 382; at the siege of Monterey, 8S2 ; of Vera 

Cruz, 672. 
QxTLiLxocniTT, PriucB of Tezcuco, at the siege of 

Mexico, 378. 



Eaepfskoi, General, at Smolensko, 586. 

liAGLAN, Lord (Fitzroy Somerset), at the battles of the 

Pyrenees, 499; at the battle of the Alma, 22; at tlio 

siege of Sevastopol, 572 ; his death, 576. 
Eaibff'sky, General, 49. 

Eambaro of Orange, at the siege of Jerusalem, 802. 
Rajewskoi, General, at the battle of Borodino, 109. 
Kall, Colonel, at the battle of White Plains, 695 ; of 

Fort Washington, 254 ; at the battle of Trenton, 646 ; 

killed, 647. 
Raimbaiii), General, killed, 10. 
Ramiro II., at the siege of Zamora, 713. 
Rampon, Colonel, at the battle of Alexandria, 18; of 

Montenotte. 390. 
Ramsay, Colonel, at the battle of Monmouth. S'^S. 
Eamsay, Captain, at the siege of Monterey, 892. 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



V45 



Eamsay, Sir James, at Edgebill Fight, 285. 

Kansom, Lieutenant, at the battle of Contreras, 199 ; of 
Chapultepec, 170 ; killed, 171, 

Bansoms, of Caen, 141 ; of Athuallpa, Inca of Peru, 161 ; 
of the prisoners at Antioch, 2b3 ; of Rome, 587 ; of 
the Carthaginians, 613; of the citizens of Toulon, 
636. 

Rape of the Sabine women, 538. 

Rapp, General, at the battle of Borodino, 109. 

Eatclipfe, Sir Richard, killed at the battle of Bosworth 
Field, 119. 

Eawdon, Francis, Lord, at the battle of Camden, 147 ; 
ofHobkirk'sHill, 2T5. 

Kawling, Colonel, at the siege of Fort Washington, 254 

Raymond, of St. Giles, at the siege of Antioch, 28, 30, 38. 

Raymond, of Toulouse, the Crusader, his heroism at the 
siege of Jerusalem, 802, 304 

Raymond, Count of Toulouse, besieged in Toulouse, 637; 
defeated and compelled to fly, ibid. ; his death, 638. 

Read, General, killed at the battle of the Tchernaya, 578. 

Reed, Colonel, at the battle of Bunker's Hill, 114 ; of 
Princeton, 488. 

Regnieh, General, at the battle of Busaco, 139; of Hello- 
polis, 275 ; of Leipsic, 323 ; of the Pyramids, 497. 

Ebgulus, commander of the Roman army, made prison- 
er by the Carthaginians, 160. 

Rehoboam, son of David, at the siege of Jerusalem, 295. 

Reillb, General, at the battles of the Pyrenees, 500 ; 
of Waterloo, 690. 

Bene, of Anjou, at the siege of Naples, 402; of Nancy, 
401. 

Eenschii.d, General, at the battle of Pultowa, 491 ; made 
prisoner, 492. 

Retkrats, of the Athenians from Syracuse, 393; of 
Napoleon from Moscow, 397 ; of the 10,000 Greeks, 
403; of Charles XXL to Bender, 493. 

Eeuss, Prince of, at the battle of Hanau, 269. 

Revel, Count de, at the battle of Cremona, 208. 

Reynolds, Lieutenant, at the battle of Buena Vista, 183. 

Reynolds, Major, at the battle of New Orleans, 412. 

Reynolds, a general of Cromwell, in Flanders, 231. 

Rezin, king ofSyria, at the siege of Jerusalem, 295. 

Ruodes, Captain, killed at the siege of St. Sebastian, 553. 

Rhodians, at the siege of Halicarnassus, 515; their ob- 
stinate defense of Rhodes, against Demetrius, 56. 

Eh(ksaoes, a Persian General, his encounter with Alex- 
ander the Great, at the battle of the Granicus, 265. 

KiALL, General, at the battle of Chippewa, 181 ; in com- 
mand of the British, at the battle of Niagara, 413. 

RiBAS, Admiral, at the siege of Ismail, 284. 

Eibeaumont, Sir Eustace de, his single combat with Sir 
Walter Many, 145, 

RiOARD, General, at the battle of Leutzen, 346. 

Richard I. (the Lion Hearted), in command of the Cru- 
saders at the siege of St. Jean d' Acre, S ; at the bat- 
tle of Gisors, 264 

Richard III., of England, concerned in the murder of 
the Prince of Wales, 620; at the battle of Tewkes- 
bury, 619; the supposed murderer of Henry VI., 
620 ; at the battle of Bosworth Field, 118 ; slain, 119. 

Richards, Colonel, 337. 

Richards, Lieutenant, at Algiers, 21. 

RicuELiEtj, Cardinal de, plans the siege of La Rochelle, 
532. 

Richelieu, Duko de, Colonel, at the siege of Ismail, 285. 

RiCHENPANSE, General, at the battle of Engen, 237 ; of 
Moeskirch, 385; of Hohenlinden, 277. 

Ridge, Colonel, killed at the siege of Badajoz, 80. 

RiDGELV, Lieutenant, at the siege of Monterey, 398; at 
the battle of Palo Alto, 439 ; in command of Ring- 
gold's battery at the battle of Eesaca de la Palma, 
514 

EiBDBSEL, Baron de, at the battle of Bemus' Heights, 
589 ; of Hubbarton, 2S0. 

RiBSCH, General, at the battle of Hohenlinden, 278. 

Riley, General, at the battle of Cerro Gordo, 164 ; of 

Contreras, 199. 
Ringgold, Major, killed at the battle of Palo Alto, 439. 
Rings of j^rold, 149. 

Ripley, Maior, at the siege of Fort Erie, 247; at the bat- 
tle of Niagara, 415; of Chippewa, 181. 
RivAS, President of Nicaragua, his abdication, 529. 
Rivet, General, killed at the storming of the Malakoff, 

579. 
Roane, Lieutenant-Colonel, at the battle of Buena Vista, 

134. 
RoBBiNs, a Texan soldier, at the battle of San Jacinto, 

anecdote of, 560. 
Robert, of Flanders, the Crusader, at the battle of 



Ascalon, 55; at the siege of Antioch, 28; of Jeru- 
salem, 305. 
Robert, of Normandy, the Crusader, at the battle of 

Ascalon, 55; at the siege of Antioch, 28, 29; of 

Jerusalem, 305. 
Robert, Earl of Gloucester, 333. 
Roberts, Colonel, at the siege of Savannah, 563. 
Roberts, Colonel, at Fort Talladega, 206. 
Robespierre, 463. 
Robinson, General, wounded at the battle of Bayonne, 

92. 
EoccA, Major, at the siege of Schweidnitz, 566. 
Roceavina, General, at the battle of Montenotte, 390; 

wounded, ibid. 
Eociiambeau, Count de, at thp siege of Torktown, 708. 
Roche, General, at the battle of Castalla, 156. 
RocHELLOis, the, -their heroic defense of La Rochelle, 

531. 
Rochembeau, General, killed at the battle of Leipsic, 

Rockets, first used in war, 824. 

EoDziwiLL, General, at the battle of Grochow, 266. 

Roger, of St. Lary-Bellegrade, defeated disgracefully by 
women, 836. 

Rogers, Captain, at the battle of Buena Vista, 132. 

Rogers, Major, at the battle of Rivas, 528. 

RoGUET, Genera], at the battle of Krasnoi, 587. 

Roland, the brave knight of Charlemagne, killed at the 
battle of Roncesvalles, 543 ; his song sung by the 
troops of William at the battle of Hastings, 272. 

Romans, at the siege of Agi-igentum, 13 ; of Alexandria, 
16 ; at the battle of Ambracia, 25 ; of Amisus, 26 ; at 
the siege of Antioch, 27 ; at the battle of Aquileia, 
45 ; of Aradus, 47 ; of Argentaria, 52 ; at the siege of 
Argos, 52; of Athens, 63; defeat Queen Boadicca, 
106 ; at the siege of Byzantium, 140 ; at the battle of 
CanniB, 148 ; at the siege of Carthage, 149 ; of Car- 
thagena, 154; at the battle of Cha-ronea, 168; of 
C;halons, 169 ; at the siege of Constantinople, 186 ; of 
Corinth, 196 ; of Coriolli, 197 ; of Cremona, 207 ; of 
Edessa, 233; of Jerusalem, 296; at the battle of 
Lyons, 347 ; at the siege of Marseilles, 362 ; of Mes- 
sina, 365 ; at the battle of Munda, 400 ; at the siege 
of Naples, 401 ; at the battle of Naissus, 404 ; of the 
Metaurus, 409 ; at the siege of Orleans, 429 ; of Paris, 
440 ; of Pavia, 470 ; at the battle of Pharsalia, 474 ; 
of Philippi, 476 ; of Placencia, 479 ; at the siege of 
Rome, 533, 534; at the battle of Sarnus, 562; of 
Shropshire, 584 ; at the siege of Syracuse, 613 ; at 
the battle of Tagina, 616; at the siege of Tarentum, 
617; at the battle of Thrasymenus, 624; of Ticinus, 
629 : at Toledo, 633 ; at the battle of the Trebia, 648 ; 
at the siege of Utica, 665 ; of Veil, 671 ; at Winnefeld 
(defeat of Varus), 696 ; at the battle of Zama, 711 ; 
ofZela, T13. 

Rome, Ancient, contrasted with Carthage, 536. 

RoMANA, General, his death, 70. 

Romulus, Augustulus, Emperor of the West, 470. 

Ronault, Marshal de, 95. 

Roncesvalles, the pass of, 498. 

Rooke, Sir George, at the siege of Gibraltar, 268. 

Roos, General, at the battle of Pultowa, 491. 

RoQUiLAUSE, at the siege of Cahors, 142. 

Rosen, Marshal, at the siege of Londonderry, 340. 

Rosenberg, General, at the battle of Essling, 58 ; of Eck- 
muhl, 232 ; of the Trebia, 644. 

Ross, General, at the capture of Washington, 687 ; at the 
battle of Baltimore, 81 ; killed, 82. 

Ross, Lord, made prisoner at the battle of Hexham, and 
executed, 275. 

EouBAis, Marquis de, at the siege of Antwerp, 41. 

Eounditead, an Indian chief, at the battles of French- 
town, 255. 

EuBicoN, the passage of the, by Cnesar, 523. 

RucHEL, General, at the battle of Auerstadt, 64; of Jena, 
292 ; wounded, 294 

Rudetzky, General, 618. 

Rudler, Captain, at the battle of EivaS, 528. 

EuDOLPH, Captain, at the battle of Eutaw Springs, 2S9. 

EuKOWENA, Lieutenant Field-Marshal, at the siege of 
Temeswar, 619. 

Eupert, Prince, at Edgehill Ficht. 235; at the battle of 
Marston Moor, 863 ; of Naseby, 408. 

EuscA, General, at the battle of the Trebia, 644 

EussELL, Colonel, 205. 

EussiANs, at the battle of the Adda, 11 ; of Alkmaer, 21 ; 
of the Alma. 22 ; of Arcis-sur-Aube, 49 ; of Auster- 
litz, OS; of Balaklava, 571; at the passage of the 
Balkan, 81 ; at the battle of Bar-sur-Aube, 84 ; at 



lie 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



Bender, 99; at the Bcrcsina, 101; at the battle of 
Borodino, 107 ; of Brienne, 129 ; of Champaubeit, 
1T9; of Citate, 1S4; of Cunuersdorf, 210; of Uorogo- 
boozh, 226; of Dresden, 226; of Eupatoria, 28T; of 
Eylau, 240 ; of Friedland, 256 ; of Grochow, 266 ; of 
Heilsberg, 273; of the Ingour, 2a3; of Inkerman, 
2S3 ; at the siege of Ismail, 2b4 ; of Kalafat, 312 ; of 
Kai-s, 312; at the battle of Kinburu, 314; of Kowno, 
817 ; of Krasnoi, 685 ; of Kulm, 317 t of Leipsic, 820 ; 
of Lutzen, 844 ; of Malo Yaroslavitz, 355 ; at Mantua, 
857 ; at the battle of Mohrungen, 385 ; of Montereau, 
891 ; of Montmirail, 895 ; of Muolta, 400 ; of Narva, 
404; of Novl, 423; at Odessa, 426; at the battle of 
Oltenitza, 427 ; of Ostrovno, 433 ; of Otohakov, 434 ; 
of Pultowa, 491 ; of Rheims, 515 ; of Eimnik, 523 ; 
of Sagan, 545; at the siege of Sevastopol, 571 ; of 
8ili3tria,585; at the battle of Smolensko, 585 ; of the 
Tchernaya, 577; take part in the Hungarian war, 
618 ; at the battle of the Trebia, 644; at Varna. 671 ; 
at Vilmanstrand, 680 ; at Warsaw, 681 ; at the battle 
ofWlIna, 696. 

EiTTHEEFouD, General, at the battle of Eainsour''s Mills, 
509. 

RuTiLus, killed at the siege of Rome, 539. 

EuTLEDGE, Edward, 173, 176, 177. 



Sabar, a Persian general, at the siege of Jerusalem, 300- 
Sabiehus, a Eoman noble, killed at the battle of Mundai 

400. 
Sabines of Cures, at the siege of Eome, 533. 
Sabine Women, rape of the, 533. 
Sacken, General, at the battle of Borodino, 130; of 

Eylau, 241 ; of Montmirail, 396 ; at the battle of 

Pultusk, 495. 
Sacken, Osten, General, at the battle of Eupatoria, 237. 
Sacred Band, the, at the battle of Tegyrse, 326 ; at 

Leuctra, 327. 
Sadlee, Sir Ealph, at the battle of Pinkey, 479. 
Sajnt-Agnau, Bishop, his zeal at the siege of Orleans, 

428. 
Saint-Aldegonde, Mayor of Antwerp, his heroism, 41. 
St. Andre, Marshal, made prisoher at the battle of St. 

Quintin, 55. 
St. Arnaud, Marshal, at the battle of the Alma, 22; his 

death, 571. 
Saint Baetiiolomew, massacre of, 444. 
St. Clair, General, at the battle of Princeton, 488. 
St. Cvr, General, at the battle of Aspernc, 54; of Engen, 

237; of Heilsburg, 273; of Novis, 424; of Stockach, 

597; of Vails, 670. 
St. Fremont, Lieutenant-General, at the siege of Turin, 

655. 
St. Hillaire, General, at the battle of Asperne, 54; 

mortally wounded, 61 ; of Heilsberg, 273. 
St. John, knights of. 520. 
St. Lazare, house of, in Paris, 448. 
St. Ledger, General, at the siege of Fort Schuyler, 251 ; 

at the battle of Oriskany, 252. 
St. Mark, the great standard of, 188. 
St. Martin, Captain, at the siege of Cahors, 142. 
St. Nicholas, the patron saint of Eussia, 407. 
St. Paul, Count de, at the siege of Paris, 442. 
St. Pierre, Eustace de, a citizen of Calais, his noble coa- 

duct, 144. 
St. Pol, Count de, .at the siege of Constantinople, 188. 
Saint Pol, General, killed at the storming of the Mala- 

koflf, 580. 
St. Priest, General, at tho battle of Borodino, 109; 

wounded, 110. 
Saint Ruth, General, killed at the battle of Aughrim, 67. 
Saladin, the Saracen, 18; at the siege of St. Jean 

d'Acre, 8 ; his character, 809 ; at the siege of Jerusa- 
lem, 310 ; his generosity, 311 ; at the siege of Tyre, 

660. 
Salamanazae, king of Assyria, at the siege of Samaria, 

559. 
Salamis, the sea-battle of, 559. 
Salazar, General, executed by order of General Walker, 

529. 
Salbrai, Losmc, an officer of the. Bastile, massacred, 

452. 
Salignac, Baron de, at the siege of Cahors, 142. 
Salin, General, at the battle of the Trebia, 644. 
Salisbury, Earl of, defeats Lancasterians at the battle of 

Bloreheath, lu5. 
Salisbury, Earl of, at the battle of Poictiers, 486. 
Salisbury, Montague, Earl of, at the siege of Orleans, 

429; kiUed,430. 



Salisbury, Earl of, defeated and made prisoner in single 
combat, by the Bishop of Beauvais, 120. 

Sallaffus, Curtius, burnt alive, 47. 

Salles, General, at the storming of the Malakoff, 578. 

Sally, M., in command of tho French at Fort St. David, 
252. 

Salt, sowed by Barbarossa on the ruins of Milan, 884. 

Salter, Captain, at the Kittle of Eivas, .528. 

Sambuca, the, a machine prepared by Marcellus, at the 
siege of Syracuse, 614. 

Samaria, rebuilt, and named Sevasta, in honor of 
Augustus, 559. 

San Auoustin, city of, 198. 

Sanders, Lieutenant-Colonel, at the battle of Eivas, 527. 

Sanders, Captain, at the siege of Mouterc}-, 392. 

Sandor, Nagy, General, at the siege of Temeswar, 618. 

Sandoval, Gonzala de, a general of Cortcz, at the battle 
of Cempoalla, 162; in the battles in the city of Mex- 
ico, 372 ; at the battle of the Causeway, 874 ; at the 
siege of Mexico, 875. 

Sangiban, king of the Alani, suspected of treachery, 170. 

San Martin, General, at the battle of Chacabuco, 561; 
of Maypu, 562. 

Santa Anna, Antonio Lopez de. General, 198; in com- 
mand of the Mexicans at the battle of Buena Vista, 
132 ; at the battle of Cerro Gordo, 163 ; at the battle 
of San Jacinto, 559 ; made prisoner by the Texans, 
561. 

Sapor, king of Persia, his death, 437. 

Saracens, at the siege of St. Jean d' Acre, 8 ; of Alex- 
andria, 16; of Antioch, 27; at the battle of Ascalon, 
55 ; at the siege of Gaza, 260 ; of Jerusalem, 800 ; of 
Lisbon, 335 ; of Rhodes, 520 ; of Rome, .541 ; at the 
battle of Eoncesvalles, 548 ; at the siege of Saragossa, 
562; at the battle of Tours, 640; at the siege of 
Tilrin, 650: of Tyre, 658. 

Sakacus, king of Assyria, his death, 417. 

Sardanapall's, king of Assyria, builds cities of Taurus 
and Anchiala, in one day, 287 ; his luxurious manner 
of living, 416; his death, 417. 

Sardinians, at the battle of Mondovi, 887 ; of tho 
Tchernaya, 677 ; at the siege of Sevastopol, 578. 

Savary, General, at the battle of Heilsberg, 278. 

Savoy, king of, 14. 

Saxb, Marshal, at the battle of Fontenoy, 245 ; at tho 
siege of Maestricht, 853. 

Saxon Monarchy in England, fall of, 272. 

Saxons, at Crayford, 203 ; at the battle of Fontenoy, 245 ; 
of Friedberg, 256 ; at the siege of Lisieux, 836 ; at 
the battle of Pirna, 479; of Pultusk, 495; at tho 
siege of Straslund, 601 ; of Vienna, 677. 

Scam.mel, Colonel, at the battle of Stillwater, 5S9. 

Scarrit, Lieutenant, at the siege of Monterey, 393. 

Schaii-Culi, a musician, anecdote of, 81. 

Scheffer, Colonel, at the battle of Trenton, 647. 

ScHERER, General, at the battle of Loano, 836. 

Schlessinger, Louis, Colonel, defeated at Santa Rosa, 527. 

ScHiNDAii, chief of the Maharattas, 52, 61. 

ScHOMBERG, General, killed at the battle of the Boyne, 
122. 

ScnoMBERG, Marshal, at the siege of Valenciennes, 668. 

ScuwAETZENBERG, Prince, at the battle of Arcis-sur- 
Aube, 49; wounded at the battle of Bar-sur-Aube, 
82 ; at the battle of Dresden, 226 ; of Leipsic, 320. 

ScHWEiKOWSKY, General, 424. 

ScHUYLFJt, General, 99, 504. 

SciPio Africanus, appointed Consul of Eome, 150 ; at 
the siege of Carthage, 151 ; of Carthagena, 144 ; first 
distinguishes himself at the battle of Ticinus, (;30 ; 
at the siege of Utica, 665; his interview with Han- 
nibal, 711 ; defeats Hannibal in the battle of Zama, 
712. 

SciPio PuBLTus Cornelius, father of Scipio Africanus. 
Consul of Eome, 546; at the battle of Ticinus, 629; 
wounded and made prisoner, ibid. ; rescued by his 
son, 680. 

Scipio PuBLius jEmilianus, sent into Spain, 546. 

Soipio Cornelius Metellus, at the battle of Pharsalia, 
474. 

Scots, at the battle of Alnwick, 25; of Ancr.im. 26; of 
Bannockburn, 83; of Berwick, 104; of BothwcU 
Bridge, 119; of Dunbar, 229; of Dumblane, 230; of 
Durham, 233; of Falkirk, 248: of Flodden, 245; of 
Glenlivit, 264; of Grampian Hills. 264; of Hallidon 
Hill. 269; of Killiecrankie, 813; of Langside, 318; 
of London Hill, 841 ; of Luncarty, 842 ; of Marston 
Moor, 363; of Pinkfiv, 478; of Prestonpans, 488; of 
Sauchit) Burn, 562 ; of Selkirk, 569 ; of Solway Moss, 
588; of the Standard, 5S9. 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



747 



8coTT, Wlnfleld, Geoeral, at the battle of Cerro Gordo, 

163 ; of Chapultepec, 171 ; of Cherubusco, 180 ; of 

Chippewa, Isl ; of Coiitreias, 199; of Fort George, 

21S ; captures the city of Mexico, 3S2 ; at the battle 

of Niagara (Lundy'a Lane), 415; wounded, 416; of 

Queenstown, 507 ; his invasion of Mexico, 672 ; re- 

connoiters the city and castle of Vera Cruz, 673; 

commences the siege of Vera Cruz, 673; his reply to 

the consuls of the neutral powers at Vera Cruz, 674; 

his despatch announcing the result of the siege, 

674. 
Scott, Captain, of the British ship-of-war Experiment, 

wounded, 175. 
Scott, Martin, Major, killed at the battle of Molino del 

Key, 886. 
8cTTnE8, back-handled, invented and used at the siege of 

Maestricht, 352 ; chariots armed with, described, 168, 

213. 
SoYTntANS, at the battle of Chferonea, 168; of Chalons, 

170 ; of the Halys, 269. 
Sebastiani, General, at the siege of Antwerp, 14; at the 

battle of Areis-sur-Aubo, 49; of Hanau, 270; of 

Leipsic, 320. 
Sbolandokf, Marshal, at the siege of Belgrade, 97. 
Sbleucus, a Macedonian general, conspires against Anti- 

gonus, 516; at the battle of Ipsus, 283. 
Skkvogel, General, at the battle of St. Jacob, 548. 
Scui.EswioK-IIoLSTEiNERS, at the battle of Instadt, 

233. 
Sklim P acua, General, killed, at the battle of Eupatoria, 

237. 
Skmikamis, queen of Assyria, 75. 
Semmes, Lieutenant, at the siege of Mexico, 382. 
Sbmpronius, Longus, Consul of Eomc, 545; at the battle 

of the Trebia, 643. 
Sexnaciibuib, king of Assyria, at the siege of Jerusalem, 

295. 
Serbs, at the battle of Kossovo, 317. 
Serginus, a Roman Tribune, at the siege of Veil, 671. 
Sbrini, Count de, valor of, at the siege of Vienna, 676. 
Serruribr, General, at the battle of the Adda, 11 ; of 

Oastiglione, 157 ; of Loano, 336. 
Sertorius, at the siege of Rome, 537, 
Servians, incited to insurrection, 617. 
Servilius, at the battle of Thrasy menus, 624; of Canme, 

147; killed, 143. 
Sevastopol, description of, after the siege, 583. 
Skvbrus, emperor of Rome, at the siege of Byzantium, 

140; of Lyons, 347. 
Sevier, John, Colonel, at the battle of King's Mountain, 

815. 
Sevire, Lieutenant, wounded at the assault of the Great 

Redan, 532. 
Seymour, Edward, Lord, at the battle of Pinkey, 479. 
Shah Abbas, the Great, at the siege of Ispahan, 286. 
Shah Nadir, at the siege of Ispahan, 2S6. 
SuEAFPB, General, at York in Canada, 707. 
Shelby, Isaac, Colonel, at the battle of King's Mountain, 

315. 
Shields, General, at the battle of Cerro Gordo, 164 ; 

wounded, 165; at the battle of Chapultepec, 170; 

wounded, 171 ; at the battle of Cherubusco, 181 ; of 

Contreras, 199 ; at Vera Cruz, 672. 
Sheffield, Lord, killed, 313. 

Sherbmbtoff, General, at the battle of Pultowa, 492. 
Sherman, Colonel, at the battle of San Jacinto, 560. 
Sherman, Captain, at the battle of Buena Vista, 133. 
Ship, Ensign, at the siege of F'ort Stephenson, 253. 
Shippbn, Captain, at the battle of Princeton, 489. 
Shishak, king of Egypt, at the siege of Jerusalem, 295. 
Shover, Captain, at the battle of Buena Vista, 132 ; of 

Palo Alto, 4:39. 
Short, Colonel, killed, at the assault on Fort Stephenson, 

253. 
Shrewsbury, Earl of, at the siesre of Therouanne, 624. 
Shurley, General, at the battle of Oswego, 433. 
Sibley, Captain, at the battle of Cherubusco, 181. 
SicoN, Prince of Beneventum, at the siege of Naples, 

402. 
Sicilian Vespers, the, 366, 485. 
SiQiSMiTND, king of Hungary, at the battle of Nicopolis, 

Sikhs, at the battle of Aliwal, 21 ; of Moodkee, 396 ; of 

Sobraon, 58S. 
BiLCKNEs, son of Odoacer, killed, 511. 
SiMMONDS, Colonel, at the battle of the Ingour, 283. 
Simon MACOABEtrs, .559. 
Simon, Patriarch of Jerusalem, 302. 
Simon, son of Gioras, 297. 



Simpson, General, in command of the English, at the 
siege of Sevastopol, 577. 

SiNAN, the Jew, intercedes for Christian slaves at Tunis, 
653. 

Sinclair, Oliver, at the battle of Solway Moss, 588. 

Single Combats. Edmund Ironsides and Canute the 
Great, 25; Nestorius and Dames, 27; Uehac and 
Nestorius, ihid. ; Earl of Salisbury and the Bishop 
of Beauvais, 120 ; Edward III. and Sir Eustace de 
Eibeaumont, 145 ; Captain "Waldron and a French 
officer, 157 ; Colonels Washington and Tarleton, 203 ; 
Artaxerxes and Cyrus, 214; Sir Henry Piercy and 
Sir William Douglas (Chevy Chase), 435 ; Polynices 
and Eteocles, 621. 

Sirocco, or hot wind, 148. 

Sisera, the captain of the army of Jabin, defeated at 
Esdraelon, 236 ; assassinated by Jael, wife of Heber, 
237. 

Skippen, General, at the battle of Naseby, 408. 

Skrzynecki, General, takes part in the Polish Revolu- 
tion, 681. 

Skulls, pyramid of, in the island of Jerba, 294. 

Slaves, Inhuman treatment of, at the siege of Constanti- 
nople, 193 ; Christian slaves at Tunis, 653 ; treachery 
of two, 63. 

Slipen'bak, General, at the battle of Pultowa, 491. 

Slocum, John, Captain, killed at the battle of Moore's 
Creek Bridge, 396. 

Small, Major, at the battle of Bunker's Hill, 115. 

S.MALLWOOD, Colonel, at the battle of Long Island, 128 ; 
of Camden, 147 ; of Germantown, 260. 

Smettan, General, at the battle of Auerstadt, 65 ; killed, 
66. 

Smith, Captain, made a baronet for his valor at Edgehill 
Fight, 235. 

Smith, Captain, kills Colonel Stuart, at the battle of 
Guilford, 268; at the siege of Savannah, 563. 

Smith, Colonel, at the battle of Lexingion, 329. 

Smith, Lieutenant, at the battle of Contreras, 199. 

Smith, Deaf, at the battle of San Jacinto, 560. 

S.mith, p. F., General, at the battle of Chapultepec, 171; 
of Contreras, 199 ; at the siege of Vera Cruz, 674. 

Smith, General, at Baltimore, 81. 

Smith, Colonel, at Fort Mifflin, 512. 

S.mith, Sir Sidney, at the siege of St. Jean d' Acre, 9; of 
Toulon, 636. 

Sobieski, John, of Poland, his order of battle at Vienna, 
678 ; his triumphal entrance into Vienna, 679. 

Socrates of Achiea, defeated by Cyrus, 211 ; killed by 
the Persians, 216. 

SoDO.M, the kings of, 314. 

Sodowitoh, General, at the siege of Ismail, 284. 

Soissons, Bishop of, at the siege of Constantinople, 192. 

Solaberry, Colonel de, 269. 

Soliman II., the Magnificent, at the battle of Mohacz, 
385 ; his character, 520 ; at the siege of Rhodes, 521 ; 
ofTemeswar. 617; of Vienna, 675. 

SoLis, Don Ferdinand de, 54. 

Sombreuil, M., Governor of the Hotel des Invalides, 
450. 

Somerset, Edward, Lord, at the battle of Salamanca, 
557. 

Somerset, Fitzroy, see Raglan. 

So-MERSET, Duke of, at the battle of Hexham, 275 ; made 
prisoner and executed, ihid. 

So.MERSET, Duke of, at the battle of Pinkey, 478 ; slain 
at the battle of St. Albans, 847. 

Somerset, Duke of, at the battle of Tewkesbury, 619. 

Somerset, Duke of, captured with 4000 troops by Dunois 
in Caen, 141. 

Somerset, Earl of, at the battle of Anjou, 26. 

SopHRONius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, 300. 

80RBIEB, General, at the battle of the Borodino, 109. 

Sorbonne, the, 445. 

80REAS, John, a Huguenot leader, killed, 668. 

80REL, Agnes, mistress of Charles VII., 430. 

SoTALCES. king of Thrace, at the battle of Issus, 288. 

SouHAM, General, at th^ battle of Stockach, 597; of Tus- 
coinff, 655. 

SouLT, Marshal, at the battle of Albuera, 15 ; of Auster- 
litz, 68 ; at the siege of Badajoz, 75 ; at the battle of 
Bautzen, 88; of Bayonne, 90; at the siege of Baza, 
94; at the battle of'Corunna, 200; of Eylau, 241 ; of 
Heilsberg, 273 ; of Jena, 298 ; of Pampeluna, 440 ; of 
the Pyrenees, 498 ; of San Marcial, 561 ; of Stockach, 
597 ; of Toulouse, 638. 

SPALDiNd, Captain, 706. 

Spaniards, at the battle of Abancay, 5; of Aiguobelle, 
14; of Algiers, 19; at Antwerp, 41; at Arras, 53 ; at 



748 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



Barrosa, 84 ; at Bayonne, 90 ; at Baza, 94 ; at Belchite, 
9S; at Bergen-op-Zoom, 103; at Bilboa, 1U4; at 
Bommel, 107 ; at Bovino, 120 ; at Buenos Ayres, 
135; at Caniia', 14S ; at the battle of Castalla, 166; 
invade Peru, under Pizarro. 159 ; at the battle of 
Cempoalla, 162; of Ceutla, lOo; of Charleroi, 1T2; at 
the siege of Ciudad Kodrigo, 1S4; ofCuzco, 210; of 
Fort Carolina, 24T ; at the battle of Frontiera, 263 ; 
at the siege of Gibraltar, 263; of Granada, 264; at 
the battle of Guamanza, 266; at the siege of Haar- 
lem, 268 ; of Lepauto, 325 ; at the siege of Leyden, 
830; of Maestricht, 350 ; at the battle of Merida, 365; 
at Mexico, 375 ; at the siege of Mons, 389 ; of Naples, 
403 ; at the battle of Otumba, 427 ; at the siege of 
Oporto, 428 ; of Ostend, 433 ; of Pavia, 471 ; at Pensa- 
cola, 473 ; at the battle of Perignan, 474 ; of Puna, 496 ; 
of the PjTcnees, 500; of Eamales, 509; of Rio Seco, 
623; of Rio Tobasco, 523; at the siege of Saguntum, 
547 ; at the battle of St. Quintin, 554 ; of San Marcial, 
561; at Saragossa, 562; at the battle of Chacabuco, 
561 ; of Maypu, 562 ; of Sieta Agnas, 585 ; at Toledo, 
633; at Tortosa, 634; at Toulon, 635; at the battle of 
Tudela, 649 ; of Tzompach, 661 ; at the siege of 
Valenciennes, 667 ; at the battle of Vails, 670 ; of 
Villaviosa, 680. 

Spakke, General, 491. 

Spartans, at the battle of Artcmisium, 55 ; at the siege 
of Athens, 62 ; at the siege of Laceda'mon, 318 ; at 
the battle of Tegyra-, 326; of Leuctra, 327; of Platica, 
480 ; at the siege of Platiea, 4S1 ; at the battle of 
Selasia, 568 ; at the siege of Syracuse, 608 ; of Thebes, 
621 ; at the battle of Thermopylae, 628. 

Spartan Womex, heroism of, 318. 

Spbcut, General, at the battle of Bemus' Heights, 589. 

Speed LOVE, Major, at the battle of Bunker's Hill, 116. 

Spencer, General, at the battle of Busaco, 139. 

Spezzicasoo, Marino, a gentleman of Naples, assists 
Alphonso In the capture of that city, 403. 

Splitlog, an Indian chief, at the battle of Frenchtown, 
255. 

Spfnola, General, at the siege of Bergen-op-Zoom, 108; 
at the siege of Ostend, 438. 

Spohis, at Belgrade, 98. 

Spurs, 8000 taken from vanquished knights, 588. 

Stafford, Sir Sidney, bombards St. Jean d'Acre, 11. 

Stafford, Earl of, wounded at the battle of St. Albans, 
54T ; killed at the battle of Tewkesbury, 584. 

Stair, Earl of, at the battle of Dittingen, 225. 

Stanuope, Lord, at the battle of Brihuega, 126. 

Stanley, Sir Edward, at the battle of Flodden, 245. 

Stanley, Sir William, at the battle of Bosworth Field, 
119. 

Stanley, Lord, at the battle of Bosworth Field, 119. 

Stapleton, General, wounded at the battle of Salamanca, 
558. 

Starenberg, Count de, at the siege of Vienna, 676; 
wounded, ihid. 

Stark, General, at the battle of Bemus' Heights, 589 ; of 
Bennington Heights, 99; anecdote of, "100; at the 
battle ofBunker's Hill, 114. 

Steen, Captain, at the battle of Buena Vista, 132. 

Stephen, Count of Chatres, 36. 

Stephen, Count of Blois, 9 ; at Constantinople, 188. 

Stephen of England, 333; made prisoner by William de 
Kaims, 334. 

Stephens, General, at the battle of the Brandywine, 124. 

Stephens, Colonel, at the battle of the Brandywine, 126. 

Stephen, the Physician, 2-33. 

Steon, Edric, murders Edmund Ironsides, 25. 

Stenau, General, in command of the Saxons, at the bat- 
tle of Pultusk, 495. 

Steuben, General, at the siege of Yorktown, 709. 

Stevens, Edward, General," at the battle of Camden, 
147 ; of Guilford, 267 ; of Norfolk, 418 ; of Trenton, 
640. 

Stevens, Ebenezer, Lieutenant-Colonel, at the siege of 
Yorktown, 709. 

Stewart, Colonel, at the battle of Monmouth, 888. 

Stewart, John, Major, at the storming of Stony Point, 
600. 

Stewart, Lazarus, at Wyoming Valley, 702. 

Stirling, Lord, Major-General, at the battle of the 
Brandvwine, 125; at the battle of Long Island, 128; 
made prisoner, 129 ; at the siege of Fort Washington, 
2.14; at the battle of Monmouth, 888; of Trenton, 
646. 

RTrrn, Lieutenant, at the battle of Rivas, 528. 

Stockwell, Lieutenant, at the siege of Fort Schuyler, 



Stofflet, General, at the battle of Cholet, 183. 

Stone, Lieutenant, at the battle of Chapultepec, 171. 

Stkozzi, a Catholic general, held at bay with his troops 
by one man, 532; his cruelty, 532. 

Strange, Lord, son of Lord Stanley, 118. 

Stratagems, of Sylla, at the battle of Ch»ronea, 168, of 
Belisarius at the siege of Constantinople, ISO; of 
Aratus at the siege of Corinth, 195 . of Clearchus, 
212 ; of Mancho, the Peruvian Inca, 217 ; of Alcibia- 
des, at the battle of Cyzicum, 220; of James II., to 
effect his escape at the battle of Dunkirk, 231 , of 
Alexander the Great, at the battle of the Hydaspes, 
281 ; singular one of Admiral Boisot, at the siege of 
Leyden, 381 ; of the Liegeois, at the siege of Liege, 
882 ; of the Spaniards, at the siege of Maestricht, 850 , 
of Appius Claudius, at the siege of Messina, 365 , 
cruel and unsuccessful one of Kosen, at the siege of 
Londonderry, 340 ; of Belisarius, at the siege of Paris, 
440 , of Pescara, at the siege of Pavia, 471 , of the 
garrison of Plat*a, 483 ; of Artemisia, widow of 
Mausolus, 510; of John Candocier, Mayor of La 
Rochelle, 581; of Nicias, at the siese of Syracuse, 
603; of Hermocrates, 612; of Mafcellus, 615; of 
Bishop Foulquet, 63T; of Fontrailles, a French 
officer, at the siege of Therouanne, 688 ; of Washing- 
ton, 708. 

Strato, death of, 478. 

Stricker, General, 81. 

Stuart, General, at the siege of Seringapatam, 570. 

Stuart, Lieutenant-Colonel, at the battle of Eutaw 
Springs, 238; killed at the battle of Guilford, 268. 

Suoiiet, Marshal, at the battle of Alcaniz, 15; of Belchite, 
99: of Castella, 156 ; of Lerida, 825; of Saalfeld, 544 ; 
at the siege of Saguntum, 547. 

SuciE, General, at the battle ot Guamanza, 266. 

Suffolk, Earl of, at the siege of Orleans, 4;}0. 

Suffolk, Earl of. at the battle of Poictiers, 486. 

Sullivan, General, at the battle of the Brandywine, 
125; in command of the Americans in Brooklyn, 
127; at the battle of Long Island, 129; of German- 
town, 260; of Quaker Hill, 501. 

Suliman Paciia, in command of the Turks, at the battle 
of the Alma, 28. 

SuLPicius, Publius, 536 ; at the battle of Octolophos, 221. 

SuMNEE, Major, at the battle of Cerro Gordo, 164 ; of 
Molino (iel Rey, 886. 

Sumter, Thomas, General, at the battle of Hanging 
Rock, 271. 

Suwarrow, General, at the battle of the Adda, 11 ; de- 
feats Moreau, 19 ; at the siege of Ismail, 284 ; at the 
battle of Kinburn, 314 ; of Muolta, 400 ; of Novi, 428 , 
of Rimnik, 523; of the Trebia, 644; at Warsaw, 081. 

Swedes, at the battle of Barranow, 84 ; of Falkiiping, 
244; of Fehrbellen, 244; at the siege of Frederics- 
hald, 245; at the battle of Leipsic, 318 ; of Lutzcn, 
342 ; of Narva, 404 ; of Nveborg, 425 ; at the siege of 
Oldmutz, 427 ; at the battle of Pultowa, 491 ; of Pul- 
tusk, 495 ; of Stockholm, 59S ; at the siege of Thorn, 
624 ; at the battle of Udevalla, 665 ; of Vilmaus- 
trand, 680. 

Sweno, Prince, son of the king of Denmark, his heroic 
conduct and death, 29. 

Swiss, at the siege of Antwerp, 40 ; of Bergen-op-Zoom, 
104; at the "battle of Marignan, 361; .of Morgarten, 
897 ; of Morat, 396; of Prasa, 488 ; of St. Jacob, 548 ; 
of Sempach, 509 ; of Zurich, 714. 

SwiNETON, Sir Allan, 26. 

Sword Fight, 238. 

Sybarites, their luxurious and indolent manner of living, 
602. 

Sylla, at the siege of Athens, 63 ; despoils the temple 
of the Delphi, 08; his brutal treatment of the priests 
of Athens, 64; defeats army of Mithridates, king of 
Pontus, at Chicronea, 107 ; at the siege of Rome, 
530. 

Symonds, Colonel, at the battle of Bennington Heights, 
100. 

Syphax, king of Numidia, at the siege of Utica, 665. 

Syracuse, description of the ancient city, 603. 

Sysioambis, mother of Darius, king of Persia, made pris- 
oner by Alexander of Macedon, 289. 



Talbot, Geoffrey, 383. 

Talbot, General", killed at the siege of Castillon, 158. 

Talbot, Sir Gilbert, his conduct at the battle of Bos- 
worth, lis. 

Tali, mu), M.irshal, made prisoner at the battle of Blen- 
heim, 105. 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



749 



Talletrakd, Prince, 464. 

Talon, General, at Paris, 4G4. 

Tancebd, the Crusader, his conduct at Jerusalem, 301. 

Tangred's Tower, 305. 

Tandy, Napper, the Irish insurgent, 153. 

Tappin, liis famous defense of Alaestricht, 350. 

Tardivet, du Eepaire, M., 459. 

Taeentines, at the siege of Tarentum, 617. 

Tarif, (Eben Zarca,) erects a fortress on the Rock of 
Gibraltar, 263. 

Tarleton, Banastre, Colonel, at the skirmish of Biggin's 
Bridge, ITS ; at tho battle of the Cowpens, 201 ; at 
the battle of Waxhaw, 093; at the siege of York- 
town, 708. 

Tarmut, wounded, at the siege of Rome, 539. 

Tabpeia, the Traitress, her death, 533. 

Tarpeian Rock, the, 533. 

Takquin the Superb, at the siege of Rome, 533. 

Tartars, at the siege of Canton, 149 ; of Mokhauso, 
3S5. 

Tasso's " Jerusalem Delivered," 304. 

Tate, Captain, at the battle of tho Cowpens, 201. 

Tatnall, Commander, at the siege of Vera Cruz, 673. 

Taucarville, Count de, made prisoner at the battle of 
Caen, 141. 

Tauenzein, General, defeated by Bernadotte, 292. 

Taurus, city of, built in one day by Sardanapulus, 287. 

Taylor, Captain, at the battle of Cherubusco, 180. 

Taylor, Zachary, General, at the battle of Buena Vista, 
131 ; anecdote of, 135 ; at the siege of Monterey, 391 ; 
of Palo Alto, 439 ; of Resaca de la Palma, 514. 

TcHrciiA<iOPP, General, at the passage of the Bereslna, 
101. 

Tecumsrh, the Indian sachem, at the siege of Port 
Meigs, 249 ; at the massacre of Fort Mim'ma, 249 ; at 
Fort Stephenson, 252 ; killed at the battle of the 
Thames, 620. 

Teedyuscung, an Indian sachem, his death, 702. 

Teqyr.b, battle of, 326. 

Tehaplitz, General, at tho passage of the Bereslna, 101. 

Teias, declared king of the Goths. 616 ; his death, 562. 

Teligni, Governor of Therouanne, 624. 

Telly, a Sybarite, at the siege of Sybaris, 602. 

Temple of Jerusalem, destruction of, 299. 

Tknbroeok, General, at the battle of Bemus' Heights, 

Terror, Reign of, 463. 
Texans, at the battle of San Jacinto, 560. 
Tkzid, son of the Caliph Moavias, at the siege of Con- 
stantinople, 187. 
Thais, an Athenian courtezan, the mistress of Ptolemy, 

causes the destruction of Persepolis, 473. 
Thbbans, at the battle of Tegyra;, 326; of Leuctra, 327; 

at the siege of Thebes. 622 ; of Platiea, 4S1. 
Theilman, General, at the battle of Wavros, 693. 
Themistocles, the Athenian, 62, 237, 358, 623. 
Theodelrert, king of Austrasia, at the siege of Milan, 

883. 
Tueodoric tho Great, at the siege of Ravenna, 511. 
Thbodoric, king of the Visigoths, at the siege of Orleans, 

423 ; slain at the battle of Chalons, 170. 
Thkodosius, emperor of the East, 16 ; at tho battle of 

Aquileia, 46. 
Therouanne, Bishop of, at the siege of Paris, 443. 
Thirty, battle of the, 85. 
Thiers, M., takes part in the French Revolution, of 1830, 

467. 
Thomas, John, General, at the siege of Boston, 116. 
Thomiere, General, at the battle of Salamanca, 658. 
Thomson, Colonel, at the siege of Charleston, 173. 
Thor, the war-god of the Scandinavians, 612. 
Thornton, Colonel, at the battle of New Orleans, 413. 
Three Musketeers, the foundation of a scene in, 532. 
Thuringians, at the battle ofChulons, 170. 
Tigris, the river, a tradition of, 417. 
Tilly, Count, his cruelty, 273 ; at the battle of Leipsic, 

318; wounded, 319; his barbarity at the siege of 

Magdeburg, 353. 
Tilsit, peace of, 259. 
Timoclea, a Theban lady, her revenge on the violator 

of her honor, 622. 
TiMOLBON, tho Corinthian, at the battle of Crimesus, 209. 
TiMouR the Tartar, at the siege of Ispahan, 286; of 

Moerut, 365. 
TiNTENiA, wins the praise of valor, 85. 
Tippoo Saib, killed at the siege ol Seringapatam, 570. 
TiRioT, Jean, at the siege of La Rochelle," 532. 
Tissaphebnbs, a Persian general, causes Cyrus to be 



arrested for treason, 311 ; his barbarity and treachery 
215. 

Titus, son of Vespasian, at the siege of Jerusalem, 297. 

Toon, Captain, at the battle of Blue Licks, 105. 

Todleben, the Russian engineer, at the siege of Sevas- 
topol, 571. 

Toledo, son of the Duke of Alva, at the siege of Harlem, 
268. 

Tollendall, Lally, Count, 453. 

ToLMiDAS, the Athenian, at the battle of Chieronea, 
167. 

Tone, Wolfe, the celebrated Irish leader, his death, 159. 

ToNNERE, Clermont, Marquis, 453. 

Tormasop, General, at the battle of Krasnoi, 687. 

ToBisMOND, declared king of the Visigoths, on the field 
of Chalons, 170. 

Torres Vedras, the lines of, described, 633. 

Totstbnson, General, at the battle of Leipsic, 320. 

Totila, king of the Goths, at the siege of Naples, 402 ; 
of Rome, 539, 540 ; killed at the battle of Tagina, 
616. 

Totten, Colonel, at the siege of Vera Cruz, 675. 

ToucKOFF, General, at the battle of Borodino, 119 ; killed, 
112. 

Toulon, description of, 634. 

Tournaments, of the Crusaders, 80; of the English and 
French, 171. 

TouRNAY, a Freflch soldier, breaks the locks and bolts of 
the Bastile, 450. 

Tours, battle of the, Arab account of, 640. 

Townsiiend, General, at the battle of Montmorency, 502 ; 
at Quebec, 503. 

TowsoN, Lieutenant, at tho battle of Chippewa, 182 ; at 
the siege of Fort Erie, 247. 

TR.ELiou,General, at the battle of Novl, 421. 

Traqan, the Roman, wounded, 539. 

Trail, Major, at the battle of Buena Vista, 133. 

Traitors, Benedict Arnold, 590 ; Asdrubal, tho Cartha- 
ginian, 152 ; Count of Campo-Basso, 401 ; Buzes, 
governor of Edessa, 233 ; Mourzoufle, grand cham- 
berlain of Ale.\ius, 191; Aimeny, de Pavia, 144; 
Colonel de Paysieux, 441 ; Phamseas, the Cartha- 
ginian, 150; Phirous, 34. 

Travis, Lieutenant, 418. 

Tremouille, Louis do la, killed at the siege of Pavia, 
472. 

Trepezj;e, a French officer, at Ticonderoga, 630. 

Tremel, General, at the battle of Hanau, 271. 

Tbiballians, conquered by Amurath I., 156. 

Trigg, Captain, at the battle of Blue Licks, 105. 

Triplet, Captain, at the battle of the Cowpens, 201. 

Tkogiiu, General, wounded at the storming of the Mala- 
koff, 579. 

Trojan War, the, 648. 

Troluk, General, at the battle of Asperne, 60. 

Trouohet, a councillor of Louis XVI., 461. 

Troutfetre, Colonel, in the retreat of Charles XIL, after 
the battle of Pultowa, 493. 

Troyes, Bishop of, at Constantinople, 192. 

Troyes, Treaty of, 429. 

True Cross, wood of the, 9. 

Trumbull, Colonel, at the siege of Savannah, 563. 

Tryon, Governor, at Fairfield, 243 ; at Norwalk, 423. 

Tufton, Sir Lewis, at the battle of Cressy, 203. 

TuLLus Hostillus, 279. 

Tunis, description of, 650. 

TuRENNE, Marshal, at the siege of Arras, 53; at the battle 
of Dunkirk, 231; of Enghien, 287; at the siege of 
Tournai, 640. 

Turks, at the battle of Aboukir, 5 ; at the siege of St. 
Jean d' Acre, 9 ; at Alexandria, 17 ; at the battle of 
the .\lma, 23 ; at the siege of Antioch, 27 ; at the bat- 
tle of Ascalon, 55 ; at the siege of Bagdad, 81 ; at the 
passage of the Balkan, 81 ; at tho siege of Belgrade, 
95; at the siege of Cassovia, 156; at the battle of 
Citato, 184 ; at the siege of Constantinople, 193 ; at 
Damascus. 223; at the battle of Darik, 2>i3; of Eupa- 
toria, 237; of Heliopolis, 273; of the Ingour, 283; of 
Jeerba, 294; at Jaffa, 290; at Jerusalem, 307; at 
Kalafat, 312 ; at Kars, 312 ; at the siege of Kaibar, 
312; at Kertch,312; at Kinburn. 314; at the battle 
of Kassovia, 317 ; .at Lepanto, 325; at Mohacz. 385; 
of Mount Tabor, 399 ; of Megaspellon, 365 ; of Mes- 
solonghi, 366; at the battle of Nicopolis, 416; of 
Nisib, 417; of Oltenitza, 427; at the siege of Ostrok, 
4.33; at Otranto, 4:U; at the battle of Peterwardin, 
473 ; of the Pyramids, 497 ; at the siege of Rhodes. 
521; at tho battle of Rimnik, 523; at the siege of 



750 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



Bevastopol, 671 ; of Silistria, 5S5 ; at the siege of 

Temeswar, 617; at the battle of Thennopvhp, 623; 

at the siege of Tunis, 653; of Tyre, 601; at the battle 

of Varna, 6T1 ; at the siege of Vienna, 675. 
TiTRPiN, chronicle of, 543. 
Tuscans, at the ba' tie of Marcians, 859. 
TuTSCiiAKOFF, General, at the battle of Eylau, 241. 
TuxiLEs, a general of Mithridates, at the battle of Chse- 

ronea, 168. 
Twioos, General, at the battle of Cerro Gordo, 164; of 

Cherubusco, 180 ; of Contreras, 199 ; at the siege of 

Monterey, 392 ; of Vera Cruz, 672. 
TYRCONiNEL, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 121. 
Tyndarus, king of Sparta, father of Castor and Pollux, 

649. 
Tyke, description of the city of, 659. 



Udevalla, battle of, 665. 

Ulm, surrendered by General Mack, 665. 

Uly^es, at the siege of Troy, 649. 

Uriais, nephew of Vitiges, at the siege of Milan, 383. 

Urban VI., Pope, excommunicates Jean I., queen of 

Naples, 402. 
Urban, General d', at the battle of Salamanca, 55G. 
Utica, besieged by the Romans under Ca;sar, 661. 



Valencia, GoneTal, in command of the Mexicans at the 

battles of Contreras, 199. 
Valence, General, at the battle of Valmy, 670. 
Valence, William de, at the battle of Lewes, 329. 
Valentinian, emperor of the West, his death, 46. 
Valentiners, a Roman officer, heroism of, 538. 
Valesquez, Governor of Cuba, 161, 524. 
Vallette, Jean de la. Grand Master of the Knights of 

Malta, 356. 
Van Artevelde, Peter, leader of the revolted Men of 

Ghent, killed, 693. 
Vajj Courtlandt, General, at the battle of Bemus' 

Heights, 590. 
Vandamme, General, at the battle of Kulm, 817; of 

Ligny, 688 ; at the siege of Paris, 465. 
Va-npeleur, General, at the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, 

185. 
Vandermaers, General, killed, 561. 
Vandreuil, Governor-General of Canada, 504. 
Vane, Sir Ralph, at the battle of Pinkey, 479. 
Van Rensselaer, Solomon, Colonel, wounded at the bat- 
tle of Queenstown, 505. 
Van Rensselaer, Stephen, General, at the battle of 

Queenstown, 506. 
Van Slyke, Captain, at the battle of Oriskany, 251. 
Vaegos, a general of Philip II., at the siege of"Maestricht, 

850. 
Varner, Sir Edward, slain at Edgehill Fight, 235. 
Vaero, C. Terentius, Consul of Rome, at the battle of 

CanniP, 148. 
Varrus, defeated by Arminius, 696. 
Vauban, General, at the siege of Turin, 654; of Valen- 
ciennes, 663. 
Vaddemont, Count de, killed at the battle of Azincour, 

70. 
Val-oiian, Adjutant, killed at the battle of Buena Vista, 

134. 
Vaugiian, General, 173, 599. 
Vendeans, at the battle of Chateau Gothiore, 179 ; of 

Cholet,183; of Fougieres, 254 ; of Mans, 357. 
Vendome, Dukede, at the battle of Briliuega, 126; of 

Cassano, 155. 
Vendome, General, atthebattlc of Villaviosa, 6S0. 
Venetians, at the siege of Constantinople, 188; of Tyre, 

Vent, Vidi, Vtci, Cssar's celebrated dispatch, 711; 

applied to Kapoleon, 511. 
Venloo, the inventor of bombs, 607. 
Verdirr, General, at the battle of Castiglione, 157. 
Verb, Sir Francis, at the siege of Cadiz. 141. 
Vermanpois, Count de, at the .siege of Antioch, 28. 
Vernor, a heroic French officer, killed at St. Jean 

d'Acre, 11. 
Versailles, palace of, 456. 
Versey, General, at the siege of Temeswar, 618. 
Vespasian, elevated to the imperial throne of Rome, 

207, 297. 
Vessels transported over land, by Cortez, 875; by 

Mahomet II., 194 



Vetueia, mother of Coriolanns, preserves Rome, 634. 

Vial, General, at the battle of the Pyramids, 497 ; killed 
at the battle of Leipsic, 823. 

Victor, Marshal, at the battle of Barrosa, 84; of Bautzen, 
86 ; his heroism at the fearful passage of the Beresina, 
101; at the battle of Dresden, 226; of Hanau. 270; 
of Leipsic, 820; of Marengo, 859; of Montebello, 
890 ; of Montereau, 391 ; of Tarifa, 617: of Talavera, 
616; of the Trebia, 644. 

Vienna, description of, 675. 

Vienna, John of, in command of the garrison of Calais, 

Villa-Her.mosa, Duke of, at the siege of Maestricht, 

352. 
ViLLAiRi), Foulques de. Grand Master of the Knights of 

St. John, conquers Rhodes, 520. 
ViLLARS, Marshal, at the battle of Malplaquet, 855. 
Villeroi, Marshal de, made prisoner at Cremona, 208. 
ViLLEHAEDouM, the Historian, at Constantinople, 189. 
Villemair, M., takes part in the French Revolution of 

1830, 467. 
ViLLiERS. de risle-Adam, Grand Master of the Knights 

of St. John, at the siege of Rhodes, 521. 
Vincent, General, at Fort George, 248. 
Vinton, Captain, at the siege of Monterey, 395. 
ViOMENiL, Baron de, at the siege of Yorktown, 708. 
Virgins, two hundred tortured and massacred, 171. 
ViRGiNius, at the siege of Veil, 671. 
Visigoths, at the battle of Chulons, 170. 
Vitiges, king of the Ostrogoths, at the siege of Ravenna, 

511 ; of Rimini, 523 ; of Rome, 527 ; anecdote of, 

ibid. 
Vivian, General, made prisoner at the battle of Kertch, 

Volscians, at the siege of Rome, 534 ; defeat the Romans, 

197. 
Von Winkelreid, Arnold, a brave knight, killed at tha 

battle of Sempach, 570. 



Wadsworth, Samuel, killed at Sudbury, 602. 

Walcott, General, at the battle of Bemus' Heights, 
589. 

Wales, Prince of son of Henry VI., his death, 620. 

Walker, General, wounded at the siege of Badajoz, 80. 

AValker, Captain, killed. 280. 

Walker, William, General, sketch of his expedition into 
Nicaragua, 525. 

Walker, Mr., a clergyman, his conduct at the siege of 
Londonderry, 338. 

Wallace, Sir William, at the battle of Falkirk, W4. 

Wallaciiianb, conquered by Amurath I., 156. 

Wallenstein, Albert, Duke of Friedland, at the battle 
of Lutzen, 343. 

Wallis, General, at the battle of Zurich, 714. 

Walton, Colonel, wounded at Savannah, 563. 

Walworth, Captain, at the capture of York, 707. 

Ward, General, at the siege of Boston, 112 ; at the bat- 
tle of Bunker's Hill, 114. 

Warren, Joseph, Dr., his heroism and death at the battle 
of Bunker's Hill, 116. 

Warren, Major, at Saltillo, 132. 

Warren, Sir John Borlase, 158. 

Warrene, Earl, at the battle of Dunbar, 229 ; of Lewes, 
329. 

Warner, General, at the battle of Bennington, ^9; of 
Bemus' Heights, 589; of Hubbardton, 280. 

Wartensleben, General, at the battle of Amflng, 25; 
of Auerstadt, 65. 

Warwick, Earl of, at the battle of Poiotiers, 486. 

Warwick, Earl of defeats Ket the Tanner, 813. 

Warwick, Earl of, at the battle of Barnet, 84. 

Washington, George, General, 173, 127 ; elected com- 
mander-in-chief of the American army, 116; his 
march from Boston to New York, 118 ; at the battle 
of Fort du Quesne, 123; anecdote of ihid.; at the 
battle of the Brandy wine, 121 ; witnesses the fall 
of Fort Washington, 254 ; at the battle of German- 
town, 260 ; of Guilford, 267 ; of Monmouth, 887 ; 
of Princeton, 488; plans the capture of Stony Point, 
599 ; at the battle of Trenton, 646 ; of W hite Plains, 
69.5,; anecdote of 694; at Harlem Heights, 694; his 
advance to Yorktown, 708 ; at the siege of York- 
town, 709. 

Washington, William A., Colonel, 178; at the battle of the 
Cowpens, 201 ; his encounter with Colonel Tarleton, 
202 ; at the battle of Eutaw Springs, 239 ; wounded, 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



^51 



240; at the battle of Guilford, 267; of Hobkirk's 
Hill, 276; of Trenton, 6i7. 

■Washington, Captain, at the battle of Buena Vista, 
132. 

Waterloo, description of the field of, 690. 

Waters, Captain, at the battle of Rivas, 527. 

Watrin, General, at the battle of Montebello, 390. 

Wattevillb, General de, at Oswego, 434. 

Watts, Lieutenant, at the battle of Chippewa, 182. 

Wayne, Anthony, General, at the battle of tlie Brandy- 
wine, 126 ; "of Gcrmantowu, 260 ; of Jamestown, 
291; of Monmouth, 887; of Paoli, 470; at the cap- 
ture of Stony Point, 599; wounded, 600. 

Wkatiiersfobd, the Indian sachem, defeated by Gen- 
eral Clairborne, 206. 

Webber, Major, at the battle of Eivas, 528. 

Webster, Lieutenant-Colonel, at the battle of Camden, 
147 ; at Charleston, 178 ; at the battle of Guilford, 
267 ; at the capture of Stony Point, 599. 

Webster, Captain, at the battle of Buena Vista, 132 ; at 
the siege of Monterey, 392. 

Weimar, General, killed at the battle of the Tchernaya, 
578. 

Welles, Sir Robert, made prisoner at the battle of 
Stamford, and executed, 5S8. 

Wellington, Duke of (Arthur Wellesley), at the battle 
of Arguam, 53 ; of Assaye, 61 ; at the siege of 
Badajoz, 77; at the battle of Bayonne, 90; at the 
siege of Burgos, 137; of Ciudad Rodrigo, 184; 
proclaimed Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo, and created 
an Earl, 136; at the battle of Kiiige, 317; at the 
Siege of Oporto, 42s ; at the battle of Ortlies, 4:32 ; 
of the Pyrenees, 499; at the siege of St. Sebastian, 
551 ; at the battle of Salamanca, 556 ; wounded, 
55S; his celebrated lines of Torres Vedras described, 
633 ; at the battle of Toulouse, 638 ; of Talavera, 
616; of Quatre Bras, 689; of Waterloo, 691. 

Welsh, the last battle of the, 395. 

Wemmel, Lords of, at the battle of Eansbeck, 510. 

Wenlock, Lord, killed by the Duke of Somerset, 619. 

Wentwortii, Lord, at the siege of Calais, 145. 

Wesserm.el, Lords of, at theT)attle of Ransbeck, 510. 

Wesson, General, at the battle of Bemus' Heights, 590. 

West, Empire of the, its fall, 470. 

Wbsterman, General, at the battle of Mans, 357. 

Wheeler, Captain, at the battle of Buena Vista, 134. 

Whipple, General, at the battle of Stillwater, 589. 

White, General, 205. 

White, Major, wounded at the battle of Molino del Rey, 
386. 

Whitelook, General, in command of English troops at 
Buenos Ayres, 136. 

White Tower, capture of the, at Sevastopol, 574. 

Wicestrb, castle of, pillaged, 442. 

Windisohgratz, Prince, his conduct during the Hun- 
garian war, 618. 

Wild, Prevost of Liege, killed, 332. 

WiLKESBARRE, 703. 

Wilkinson, General, at the battle of La Cole Mill, 318. 

Willbt, Colonel, at the battle of Oriskany, 251. 

William I., of England, surnamed the Conqueror, at 
the battle of Hastings, 272; captures the city of 
Mans, 357. 

William III., of England, wounded at the battle of the 
Bovne, 122; defeats army of James II., 122 ; at the 
battle of Enghien, 237; captures the city of Lim- 
erick, 333 ; at the siege of Namur, 401 ; at the battle 
of Neerwinden, 40S; of Senneffe, 570. 

William of Tyre, 303. 

William of Nassau, Prince of Orange, surnamed Taci- 
turn, 667. 

William Ritfus, of England, 25. 

Williams, Major, killed at the battle of Bunker's Hill, 
116. 

Williams, Major, made prisoner, at the battle of Still- 
water, 593. 

Williams, Colonel, at the battle of Guilford, 267; of 
Eutaw Springs, 239; of Hobkirk's Hill. 276. 

Williams, James, Colonel, at the battle of King's 
Mountain, 815. 

Williams, Captain, at the siege of Monterey, 892. 

Williams, General, at the siege of Kars, 312. 

Wilmot, Lord, at the battle of Edgehill, 235. 

Willoughby, Lord, at the battle of Cressy, 203. 

WiLLoironnY, Lord, made prisoner at the battle of 
Edgehill, 235. 

Wilson, Admiral, at Calcutta, 146. 

WiLTSuuiE, Earl of, made prisoner and executed, 643. 



Winchester, General, at the battle of Frenchtowii, 
255. 

Windham, Colonel, killed in the assault on the Great 
Redan, at Sevastopol, 581. 

Winston, Major, at the battle of King's Mount.ain, 815. 

Winter, General, at Baltimore, 81 ; made prisoner at 
the battle of Stony Creek, 598. 

Winters, Lieutenant, at the battle of Eivas, 528. 

Winzingerode, General, at the battle of Lutzen, 844; 
made prisoner at Moscow, 355. 

Wirte.mberg, Prince Royal of, at the battle of Arcis-sur- 
Aube, 49 ; of Brienne. 130 ; of Halle, 269 ; made 
prisoner at the battle of Pultowa, 492. 

Wittgenstein, Count de, 101 ; wounded, 84; at the bat- 
tle of Castalla, 156 ; of Lutzen, 844 ; of Montereau, 
391. 

Wolfe, General, at the siege of Louisburg, 341 ; at the 
battle of Montmorenci, 502 ; killed at the siege of 
Quebec, 503. 

WoLSBY, Bishop of Tournai, 689. 

Women, heroism of, at the siege of Antioch, 41 ; women 
of Arcadia defeat the Spartans, 49 ; their kindness 
to the wounded at the battle of Bautzen, 89 ; their 
heroism at Beauvais, 94 ; at Carthage, 150 ; at the 
siege of Constantinople, 195; drowned at Cholet, 
183; made prisoners at Damascus, 223; massacred 
at Dundee, 230; heroism of the Spartan women, 
318; deplorable fate of women at Lincoln, 334; ply 
their distaffs on the walls of Livrou, during a siege 
of that town, and repulse the French, 836 ; their 
heroism at the siege of Londonderry, 339; placed 
before troops as a rampart, and become warriors, at 
the siege of Maestricht, 350 ; massacred at Mans, 
357 ; take part in the defense of Marseilles, 862 ; at 
the siege of Messina, 866; at the siege of Orleans, 
429 ; at Paris, 456; rape of the Sabine women, 583; 
their valor at the siege of Rhodes, 522 ; dishonored 
and immolated at Rome, 537 ; take part in the de- 
fense of Selinuntum, 569; at the siege of Tortosa, 
634 ; of Tyre, 661 ; of Vienna, 675 ; killed by their 
hushands at Vienna, 679. 

Wood, Colonel, at the siege of Monterey, 892. 

Woodford, Captain, at Norfolk, 417. 

Wool, General, at the battle of Buena Vista, 131 ; of 
Queenstown, 507. 

Wooster, General, at Quebec, 506. 

Worth, General, 198 ; at the battle of Chapultepec, 171 ; 
of Cerro Gordo, 164; of Chippewa, 182; at Mexico, 
382; at the battle of Molino del Rey, 385; at the 
siege of Monterey, 392 ; of Vera Cruz, 672. 

Woktley, Stuart, Major, at the siege of Sevastopol, 576. 

Wrede, Marshal, 49; at the battle of Brienne, 130 ; of 
Hanau, 269 ; wounded, 271. 

Wright, Major, at the battle of Molino del Rey, 385. 

Wrimpffen, General, at the capture of the Malakofif, 
580. 

Wukassowitch, General, 11. 

WuRMB, General, at the siege of Burgos, 138. 

WuKMSER, General, at the battle of Bassano, 84; at 
Castiglione, 157 ; at the siege of Mannheim, 357. 

Wynkoop, Colonel, at the battle of Cerro Gordo, 164. 

Wyoming, the valley of the, sketch of its settlement, 
701. 



Xantippps, the Spartan, 149. 

Xbnophon, the Historian, at the battle of Cunaxa, 213 ; 
leads the famous retreat of the 10,000 Greeks, 216. 

Xerxes, king of Persia, 282, 516 ; ascends the Persian 
throne, 622 ; invades Greece, ibid. ; his passage of 
the Hellespont, ibid. ; his forces enumerated, 622 ; 
at the battle of Thermopyhv, 623; his inhuman 
treatment of the body of Leonidas, 623 ; at the bat- 
tle of Salamis, 516. 

Xicotencall, a Mexican noble, 224 ; 661. 



Tea, Colonel, at the battle of the Ahna, 23 ; killed at the 

storming of the Malakoff, 574. 
Yell, Colonel, at the battle of Buena Vista, 132 ; killed, 

134. 
Yeo, Sir James, at Oswego, 434; at the battle of 

Sackett's Harbor, 544. 
Yoland, of Arragon, queen of Sicih', her visit to Joan 

d' Arc, 431. 
York, Lieutenant-Colonel, at the battle of Jamestown, 

291. 




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